Baby Girl

Oh, my gosh, it's been forever since I made a baby card, and I have to say this was so much fun for a change!  It had to be done.  My friend is expecting a great-grandbaby girl so she asked for a card to celebrate the occasion.

I have a lot of baby stamps, papers, dies, you name it.  My head was swimming, but I couldn't put it all on one card, even if it is a rare opportunity these days.  I narrowed it down one by one, changing my mind several times along the way.  Made a whole other card, didn't like it, started over... then settled on the following:

It was easy to choose a very old and still favorite Rubbernecker stamp, name unknown as it came to me unpackaged.  I stamped in Memento London Fog and colored softly with Copics.  Added a cute sentiment from a Power Poppy set.  The pink scallops and banner are gingham designer paper.  The flowers are punched, the leaves die cut.  I punched 1/8" gray circles for the flower centers and applied Stickles Stardust glitter glue.  Spellbinders Hydrangea Blooms 2D embossing folder provided a leafy mat with tiny blooms to match the punched flowers.

No challenges today, not even NBUS (never before used schtuff).  Just feeling the fun and a great appreciation for a roomful of crafty toys.  I'd better get back to the Christmas cards now.

See you again soon!

Stamps:  Rubbernecker baby carriage name unknown, Power Poppy Precious Baby  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 & 110 lb, pale pink Bazzill card base, SU Going Gray, MFT Homespun Gingham designer paper  Ink:  Memento London Fog, Ranger Archival Watering Can  Dies:  Lawn Fawn Outside In Stitched Scalloped Rectangle Stacklets, Taylored Expressions Stitched Rectangle Stacklets, La-La Land Random Flags Banner, Impression Obsession Leaf Cluster  Other:  Spellbinders Hydrangea Blooms 2D embossing folder, flower punch, 1/8" circle punch, Stickles Stardust glitter glue

Double D Challenge: April Showers

Hello crafty friends!  It's Double D Challenge time and the board Diane created is irresistibly cute:

Gosh, look at all the possibilities.  I would have loved a red umbrella, but I made mine yellow with white polka dots like the boots in order to have more contrast with the fox.  He's from a Rubbernecker set I used a lot last spring.  The diagonal lines of the card base remind me of rain.  There was a lot of fun in the making of this card.

There is a prize for a random winner, and the team votes on creative favorites.

You don't want to miss the team's inspiring cards on display at Double D.  I hope we'll see you in the gallery!

Stamps:  Rubbernecker Fox Set  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 110 lb, SU Pool Party, Park Lane printed cardstock for card base  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black  Coloring:  Copics  Dies:  Frantic Stamper Rainy Day Necessities (umbrella), Poppystamps Stitched Cloudline, MFT Die-namics Stitched Rectangle Frames  Other:  Nuvo Simply White Crystal Drops, foam mounting tape

For The World's Best Dog Dad

Hello!  Father's Day fast approaches, but I'm ready now.  I made The World's Best Dog Dad a card from Wally and LuLu.  All these old materials still serve their purpose:  A Great Impressions wood block sentiment stamp and a Rubbernecker dog which slightly resembles Wally.  The colorful designer paper has been around for a while.  It also provided some of the sentiments.

I put LuLu on the inside.  Not an exact match, but the die gives a suggestion of her girly sweetness.  I know Rich will be touched.  He'll also like the Rib Eye steak dinner that goes with it.

That's all folks!  Stay well and stay cool.  I hope to see you again soon!

Little Yellow Birds

Hello friends!  I have finally pulled the last Rubbernecker stamp from my NBUS basket.  Happy dance!  I loved these birds the first time I saw them, but waited a while before I bought them, and then waited a good long while before I used them for the first time.  Silly me.  They're so quick and simple and cute!

I colored with Copics on Neenah Solar White, added flower sequins and polka dot paper.  The sentiment is NBUS Rubbernecker, too.  Inside says, "Have a tweet birthday", again NBUS Rubbernecker.

I stayed with all yellow and white in order to play along with the Double D Challenge which asks for white and only one other color.  I'm hoping the black outline image and black sentiment are okay.

Double D:  White with One Other Color Only
NBUS Challenge #39 -- First time use for the birds.

 

Altogether this Rubbernecker focus has involved 11 individual stamps and one whole stamp set.  That's all the NBUS Rubbernecker I had in the basket.  It's about time they got used, don't you think?  I'm on a mission to clear out those baskets -- two for stamps and one for dies and embossing folders.  I'm bad but I know I'm in good company.

See you again soon!

Stamps:  Rubbernecker Be Yourself (birds), RN On Your Terms sentiment  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 lb, retired SU designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Queen & Co sequins, SU Subtle embossing folder, Taylored Expressions Stitched Rectangle Stacklets

Mini-slimline Garden

Hi there!  I have flowers today.  These Rubbernecker leaves and the flower are the same I used on this card for the subtle background.  The leaves have been in my collection for a long time but it was a first time use for the flower, and before I put it away I felt it should have another go.  One leaf stamp and one flower stamp gave me a nice little garden.

I inked the rubber directly with Tombow markers and then stamped on Neenah 110 lb cardstock.  I did not mist, but the markers gave a somewhat watercolor effect.  This one layer mini-slimline card is 3 1/2" x 6".  Easy and quick!

No challenges today.  Just me stamping and wishing you a happy day.  Take care!

Stamps:  Rubbernecker Silhouette Flower #4, Rubbernecker Leaves (name?), Rubbernecker Smiles and Thinks of You sentiment  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 110 lb  Ink:  Tombow markers, Memento Tuxedo Black

Fish Splishin'

Hello and happy day to you!

Things haven't been going right in my stamp room lately.  I can't color worth a darn, equipment fails me, techniques don't turn out... just to name a few.  I decided to quit worrying about it and do another Rubbernecker week.  This week will wrap up the last of the not-yet-used Rubbernecker stamps in my basket -- hooray!  Today it's a stamp called Fish Group.  I love these guys.  It's an older stamp and I think no longer available.  I must have gotten the last one.

For this card I watercolored with Twinkling H2Os.  You can't see much twinkle, but I like the colors.  I'm trying to show the bubbles in the picture below.  I spent a good amount of time cleaning the nozzles on all my Nuvo drops, so I'll be using them more often now.  They have to be rinsed clear after each use or they clog.  At least that's my experience.  They're an awesome product when properly cared for.

I cut a Big Splash Border (Memory Box 2013) and stenciled make-believe sunrays.  It's all just fun and whimsy as I work my way through this mojo slump.

I hope these fish faces will make you smile with me a little bit.

Sharing at Darnell's NBUS Challenge #39.

More Rubbernecker coming later this week.  Have a happy day!

Stamps:  Rubbernecker Fish Group, Stampendous Ocean Sayings sentiment  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot pressed watercolor, Neenah 80 lb white card base  Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, SU Summer Sun  Coloring:  Watercolor with Twinkling H2Os  Other:  WOW Super Fine Clear and Super Fine Black embossing powder, Nuvo Sea Breeze translucent Jewel Drops, MFT Ray of Light stencil, Memory Box Big Splash Border

California Poppies

Friday greetings, friends!  Today's card will wrap up the Rubbernecker for this week.  Next week, if stamping happens (and I'm pretty sure it will) I'll do something different.  However, I still have another week of Rubbernecker to share later.  I know!  I let things pile up, but this idea of sorting my NBUS by company and staying focused on one company at a time has really helped make a difference in the overflow of those baskets.

Today I'm using Poppies, which was another clearance item.  I did not have any sweet little poppies like this so was happy to add them to my collection.  They're  colored very simply with Tombow markers and blender.  The sentiment is also Rubbernecker, but one I've had for many years.

I did outside the box die cutting, then popped up and tied the ribbon.  Feeling good about using that ribbon.  No big bulky bow to hinder mailing, so this works for me.  The card base is vanilla on vanilla, with the layer partially embossed.

I'll be sharing my poppies at Darnell's NBUS Challenge #38 again today.  Pretty sure I'll never run out of NBUS no matter how hard I try!

I'll also share again at Can You Handle The Pressure?  I did not use the optional "pastels" twist, but the embossing is a prominent part of the card.  I really appreciate how this challenge has nudged me toward my embossing folders more often.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Enjoy your weekend!

Stamps:  Rubbernecker Poppies, RN Just Because sentiment  Paper:  Arches 140 lb hot press watercolor, Cougar 100 lb vanilla, pale green Bazzill  Ink:  Palette Noir  Coloring:  Tombows and blender pen  Other:  Gingham ribbon, linen thread, Cuttlebug Birds and Swirls embossing folder, miscellaneous rectangle die, foam mounting tape

Fox with Hearts and Flowers

They say "to plant a tree is to believe in tomorrow", and I figure the same goes for making Valentines in May.  Purple Valentine hugs.

Continuing with the Rubbernecker cards, I'm using another of the fox critters I colored in April.  It was their first time out of the package and before I put the set away I colored the whole bunch with Prismacolor pencils and odorless mineral spirits.  The heart paper is 110 lb printed cardstock, a nice weight for a simple card, and I had just the right shade of purple for the die.

Inside is a friendship sentiment from the Fox set, with the addition of a Valentine sentiment from an older SU set.  I decorated with more of the heart paper.

No challenges today.  Just me stamping.  I gave the foxes a good run and I'm happy about that.  Flowers coming Friday.  I hope to see you then!

Stamps:  Rubbernecker Fox Set, SU Holiday Wishes (Valentine sentiment inside)  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White for coloring, Park Lane 110 lb printed cardstock, Memory Box Wisteria  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black  Coloring:  Prismacolor pencils and Gamsol odorless mineral spirits  Dies & other:  Poppy Scribble Daisy Heart Frame, Poppy Hugs Heart

Pastel Bird

Hi!  I'm back with another week of Rubbernecker.  I've seriously been having fun with these stamps.  Honestly, what gets into us that makes us wait so long to use our purchases?  You might be the rare person who gets right on them, but I know I'm not alone in my habits.  I'm trying to change my ways.

Today my Rubbernecker is in the sentiment and the dreamy background.  I've had the sentiment and leaves for a while, but the flower is relatively new and not used till now.  I don't do much with silhouette stamps, so I danced around this one for a while and then I found my way.

The background is the Versamark resist technique.  I stamped on glossy white cardstock with Versamark ink, let it set for a day while I was busy doing other things, then came back and blended the inks over top.  The pastel shades gave me a very soft and delicate background for the Memory Box Serene Bird and Branch, which is also being used for the first time.  Colors and other details are listed in the recipe below my signature.

Two challenges today:

Can You Handle the Pressure?  Card must use an embossing folder, and their optional twist this time is pastels.  I embossed the entire Blush Blossom card with a Wicker Weave folder, then swiped the front with a white pigment pad to make the color even more soft and sweet.

I'm also sharing at Darnell's NBUS challenge #38 because my Rubbernecker flower and the bird & branch die set are first time use.

I'll be back soon.  Happy crafting!

Stamps:  Rubbernecker Smiles and Thinks of You sentiment, Silhouette Flower #4, Rubbernecker Leaves (name?)  Paper:  Glossy white, textured semi-gloss white, SU Blush Blossom, Neenah 110 lb white for bird and branch  Ink:  Versamark, SU Certainly Celery, Apricot Appeal, Cameo Coral, white pigment ink (to lighten card base), Memento Tuxedo Black for sentiment  Dies:  Memory Box Serene Bird and Branch, Spellbinders Hemstitch Rectangles (image panel), Taylored Expressions Stitched Rectangle Stacklets  Other:  Cuttlebug Wicker Weave embossing folder, gold cord

Coffee

Hi!  I've got one more Rubbernecker card this week.  I know... enough already... but I did enjoy myself.  I even have more RN cards for later, but at the moment I'm working on something else.  Not sure how well that's going...

So... today it's a coffee card.  The sentiment is new to me, but probably not new to Rubbernecker.  The coffee cup stamp is also Rubbernecker, but an oldie and I don't even know the name of it.  I don't know why I thought I needed the coffee sentiment seeing as how I have practically zero coffee stamps, but I like this one.  It sounds like an Irish blessing.

The stamps are embossed with copper EP.  The caramel background was dry embossed and then swiped over with a white pigment ink pad.  It reminds me of the swirls in a fancy latte by a skilled barista.  A border of ancient designer paper, a hand cut glitter mat, and some Nuvo pearl drops finish it off.

That's all for this week.  Oh, wait... one last thing:

Still as precious as ever.  Love to all.

Stamps:  Rubbernecker May Your Coffee sentiment and Rubbernecker coffee cups (name unknown)  Paper:  Neenah 110 lb, SU Creamy Caramel & Purely Pomegranate, copper glitter cardstock, old SU designer paper, vanilla card base not visible  Ink:  Versamark, white pigment  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Copper embossing powder, Nuvo Crystal Drops - Rhubarb Crumble, Cuttlebug Musical Flourish embossing folder

Brushed Flowers

Hi there!  I have more Rubbernecker today, but a complete about face in style from Monday's card.  I've long been a fan of the RN Brushed Flowers but I think they're all being discontinued.  I think.  Honestly, I have a hard time with the Rubbernecker site as the categories and the search field don't always seem to jive.  Maybe it's just me.

Anyway, I found these Brushed Flowers in the clearance category back in January.  They're easy to color and work nicely for clean and simple cards.  I masked and sponged a corner of each image panel, then stamped the flower image lightly for a background effect.  Coloring was done with Copics.

Cool colors on the first card.  The hello die is also Copic colored.  I added little dots of white acrylic paint to the flower centers.

Warm colors for this one.  Actually, both flowers are colored almost exactly as shown on the stamp packages.  It makes for easy color choices.

The inside of each card is finished in a similar fashion with this sentiment, which is also a never-been-used Rubbernecker stamp.

There's more info regarding colors, etc. in the recipe below.

Once again I'm taking my Rubbernecker cards over to the NBUS Challenge #37 where Darnell has provided us with a good reminder to keep plugging away at all our never been used schtuff.  Thanks, Darnell!

I will try to get back here by Friday.  I always have the best intentions, but once I get on with my day it's hard to get back to the computer.  I'm sure you know how it is.  Take care of yourselves and have a beautiful day!

Stamps:  Rubbnecker Brushed Flower #1 and Brushed Flower #4  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White, SU Almost Amethyst and More Mustard  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Almost Amethyst, So Saffron, More Mustard  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  SU Subtle 3D embossing folder, Paper Smooches Hello Words

Fox Friends

Monday greetings, friends!

How about something fun today?  I'm always organizing and reorganizing my stamps... the truth is, I simply enjoy being in my room whether I'm creating or organizing or just looking out the window.  In this case I was looking through my NBUS baskets and I took a notion to bag them up by company.  That led to card making and and some real quality time with my Rubbernecker stamps.

These critters are from a set called Fox.  I can't help but smile at them.  They're colored with Prismacolor pencils and Gamsol odorless mineral spirits.  There are matching dies which I did not buy because I could see how easy they are to cut out.  The frame is put together with parts from my card parts drawer.  I hand drew the dotted butterfly flight trail and added the blue dots to the background with an oldie SU stamp.  Everything is listed below.

I'm sharing at Darnell's NBUS Challenge #37 (never before used schtuff).

More Rubbernecker coming this week.  I have lots in that bag and I just kept pulling from it.  We had a good time together.  Wishing you a beautiful day!

Stamps:  Rubbernecker Fox Set, SU Itty Bitty Backgrounds  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White, Echo Park Happy Summer designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Brocade Blue  Coloring:  Prismacolor pencils with Gamsol odorless mineral spirits  Dies & other:  Impression Obsession All-In-One Frames-Square

Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge: May

Hello, there!  This is one of two posts I have scheduled for today, so you may have to scroll up or down to catch the other one.  Thanks!

It's Halloween in the merry month of May and the Two Old Bats have a very cute inspiration board to go along with this month's challenge:

As always, we can use the board for inspiration, but are not required to do so.  I have the most fun choosing something from my collection of Halloween stamps, digis, dies, and papers that will fit with a corner of the board.  This month I knew I wanted to use the Penny Black dog stamp and the window die, and then the rest of it evolved from there.

The brick wall embossing folder made an easy background.  Some grass in the front and autumn leaves overhead.  The "trick or treat" has a rhinestone for the "i" dot.  I decided there should be a cat in the window so I borrowed one from a Rubbernecker Stamp.  To make it look a little more Halloweeny I added the die cut spider with dots of white acrylic paint for eyes.

All coloring was done with Tombow markers, a blender pen, and lots of smiles.  I hope you'll check out the samples by the team and our awesome guest designer, NanaConnie, on the Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge blog, and then share something by YOU.  We'd love to see it!  Thanks so much for your time today.  Enjoy!

Stamps:  Penny Black Beware of Dog, Rubbernecker 3 Cats in Tree  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 110 lb, black, Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb watercolor  Ink:  Palette Noir  Coloring:  Tombow markers and blender  Dies:  Impression Obsession Window with Shutter and Trick or Treat, MFT Die-namics Fresh Cut Grass, Die-namites Leafy Flourish, Poppystamps Spider Banner  Other:  Sizzix Brick Wall embossing folder, rhinestone, Wink of Stella, white acrylic paint

Twofer Flowers

Hey, there!  It was a dark and rainy day when I made these cards to play along in the Twofer Card Challenge #34 ~ Flowers.  Later that night our power went out for several hours.  It was quite stormy!  You can probably imagine I needed a little sunshine... so I gave it to myself!

The Twofer Challenge requires two different card designs for two different occasions using the same stamp, stencil, and/or die.  All is explained quite nicely on the challenge blog.  I have a "cheer up" card and a birthday card.  Same colors, but switched around.  The card designs/sketches are completely different.

My stamp in common is Rubbernecker Sketch Daisies which I bought before Christmas and had not yet used.  The sunshine card has a sentiment from a Sizzix stamp and die set.  I drew the vertical lines with a black marker, added the dots.  Black Diamond Stickles on the dots, flower centers, and butterfly body.

All coloring was done with Copic markers.   The birthday card has a designer paper card base and random dots courtesy of retired SU Itty Bitty Backgrounds set.

Twofer Card Challenge #34 ~ Flowers

NBUS Challenge #22 -- My flower stamp is fresh out of the package.

Both cards are destined for the mail ASAP, and I hope they'll arrive with sunshine and smiles intact.  Have a happy day!

Stamps:  Rubbernecker Sketch Daisies, Sizzix Sending You Sunshine stamp & die set (first card), SU On Your Birthday and Itty Bitty Backgrounds (second card)  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 & 110 lb, black, Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Tempting Turquoise, Prismacolor black marker, SU green marker  Coloring:  Copics  Dies:  Memory Box Stitched Circle Layers, Impression Obsession Medium Butterflies, unlabeled random Spellbinders rectangle die (first card), Lil' Inker Silly Stitched Die Set, Impression Obsession Butterfly Set (second card)  Other:  Black Diamond Stickles