Double D Challenge, Oct 2026: Windows

Hello friends!  How about a "Windows" challenge today at Double D?  They make such a lovely home panel or focal point.  A beautiful way to start a card!  Here's some inspiration for you:

I have a few different window dies, and my Simon Says Stamp Window Trio hasn't been out to play quite often enough yet, so that's what I reached for.  It's looking out onto a beautiful fall day in the neighborhood thanks to La-La Land's In the City designer paper.

I've mixed up some older dies to add a potted plant and two cats to the card front.  SU's retired Subtle embossing folder gives a textured look to the "wall", and a sentiment from Power Poppy's retired Lavender set was hand cut and glued down to complete the scene.  The entire front panel is popped up for dimension.

The Double D team has more inspiration for you, and we'd love to see your creation in the player's gallery.  Come play with us!

Have a beautiful day!

Stamps:  Retired Power Poppy Lavender sentiment  Paper:  SU Going Gray, Basic Gray, Naturals White, Neenah 110 lb white for vine and pot, other black, La-La Land In the City designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black for sentiment, Apricot Appeal and Pumpkin pie for vine, Copics to color pot  Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Window Trio, Memory Box Blooming Vine, Tim Holtz Sizzix Cactus (pot), Impression Obsession Cats  Other:  SU Subtle embossing folder, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Sunflower Card and Mini-Art Journal

Hello my friends!  I hope you're in the mood for lots of photos because I had a busy World Cardmaking Day, plus I wanted to try out my new iPhone 18 Pro Max.  Would you believe my old phone was an iPhone 6?  That's quite a jump!  The idea was to have it for when I'm out and about and not have to carry an extra camera (especially for the dogs).  Not sure I'm ready to switch for card photos, but I think it did a pretty good job.

Enough about that... let's see a card.  I have two first time uses here --- SSS Sunflower Blooms die set, and 3 Quarter Designs Sunflower Elixir designer paper.  I believe I got the designer paper on Amazon, along with a few other ultra-gorgeous paper pads which I hope to use soonish.  The sunflower and sentiment are ink blended with brushes, and I sponged the edges of the designer paper and the card base as well.  Three layers of petals, three layers of sentiment.

It's very simple, actually, but in a rather stately and mature kind of way.  A little bit vintage maybe.

My efforts Saturday mostly focused on my new interest, art journaling.  Let's be frank and call it an obsession.  Many evenings while Rich is playing solitaire on the computer I've immersed myself in art journaling videos (YouTube on the TV).  I've made two books and purchased one.  The book I'm sharing today is made from envelopes with the workable page space measuring approximately 3 1/2" x 5 1/4".  It ties closed with ribbon.

The video I learned from is here.  I used 5 x 7 kraft envelopes which someone found at a yard sale and gave to me.  It's a cute little book and the small pages are good for a beginner.

However, anyone who makes cards cannot be called a beginner.  Art journaling is simply a way to do more of what you love without hurrying, and the only one you're trying to please is YOU.  The following is art journaling done my way.

There's die cutting, stamping, painting splattering, and more of that gorgeous Sunflower Elixir paper.  It's probably retired.  This 6x6 pad has 12 single sided pages.  Heavyweight and semi-gloss.  You know I had to use the Golden Retriever first thing.  I stamped paw prints along the edges in Ranger Archival Watering Can in order to bring the dog and flowers more together.

The frame is a Taylored Expressions oldie.  I painted it with acrylic Distress Paint in Iced Spruce, and then brushed over it randomly with white acrylic paint.

The small flowers and foliage are from the SSS Country Basket Bouquet set.  I love how the added paw prints suggest the dog has been politely walking along the edge of the flower garden.  To finish, Distress Vintage Photo ink was sponged around the edges, and white acrylic paint splatters added over all.

Sharing at Darnell's NBUS Challenge #91 with my SSS Sunflower Blooms die set and 3 Quarter Designs Sunflower Elixir designer paper as my never before used schtuff.

That's all for today.  I think I'll just wrap this up and get busy with my day.  Much as I'd like to stay there's lots to be done outside my craft room.  I enjoyed catching up with your crafty creations this weekend, and I'm happy you stopped by to see me today.

Have a beautiful day!

Sunflower and Asters

Greetings friends!  I have fall colors today and another photo-filled post.  This time of year I always try to play with the last of my summer flower purchases.  I don't like to rush so I never catch up, but it doesn't matter... I'll have plenty of flowers left over to brighten the winter days.

Today I have late summer - early fall blooms, starting with a cute little Golden Sunflower that came free with a Simon Says Stamp purchase.  Several sentiments and the butterflies are included in the set.  Very nice!

I used three different stitched dies, a tad bit of designer paper, and a border of leaf ribbon that comes out of the drawer most every fall.  I also pulled out some very old Prismatics Papaya Puree Dark and Prismatics Crabapple Dark cardstock.  Maybe you can see the lightly hammered texture.  The sunflower stamp was colored with Copics, and the image panel brushed with ink.

The next two cards focus on the SSS Daisy Frame set.  Stamped and cut with the matching dies, I thought they could also look like asters or perhaps chrysanthemums if I colored them as such.  I added more texture with Spellbinders Scallops embossing folder.

A rather traditional aster color for the next card.  Simpler, a bit of designer paper for the arched frame, and an old Cuttlebug Diamonds in the Rough embossing folder was used for texture within the frame.  Both asters cards were colored with Tombow markers and blender.

Forgive me for not writing a supply list, but I think I covered the essentials.

I'll be sending my sunflower card to the following challenges:

Triple B Challenge --  always birds, blooms, or butterflies.  The have such a gorgeous yellow inspiration board this month.
NBUS Challenge #90 -- The Golden Sunflower stamp set is my never before used schtuff.

 

Thank you so much for stopping by.  Enjoy your day!

Deco Blossoms

Hello!  There's something brand new in my collection today -- Simon Says Stamp Deco Blossoms.  It's not at all like anything else in my toy box so that's why I was drawn to it.  I ordered it with the matching die set which cuts the blossom panel, the individual blossoms, and the corner flourishes.  It's fun to play with, whether simple or fancy.  I guess I went a bit fancy this time.

I stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black and layered up using old-timey Spellbinders dies and a not-so-old-timey Spellbinders 3D Tile Motif embossing folder.  The blossoms were die cut and colored with Copics.  They're not popped up, but they're shaped a little.  The sentiment, as well as others, came with the set.

Challenges today:

Addicted to Stamps and More #523 -- Birthdays
Triple B August Challenge -- Always birds, butterflies, or blooms.

NBUS Challenge #89 -- My never before used schtuff is the SSS Deco Blossoms stamp and die set.

 

Thank you for visiting!  Have a craft-happy day!

Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp Deco Blossoms with dies  Paper:  Hammermill Premium 100 lb white, black from stash  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Spellbinders Divine Eloquence, Labels Twenty Eight, 3D Tile Motif embossing folder, miscellaneous small rectangle for sentiment

Soaring Home

Hello and welcome back!

You know I've been enjoying the oldies lately, but today I decided to switch my focus to some not yet used supplies.  I felt this Simon Says Stamp Soaring Layered Bird and Cozy Birdhouse paired up nicely.

It's a bit busy, perhaps, with the designer paper and everything on an A2 card, but I was determined to fill this garden with warmth and flowers.  I die cut some flowers from the SSS Country Basket Bouquet to grow in front of the birdhouse post and give it the impression of being in the garden rather than simply in front of it.  The post, by the way, is not part of the birdhouse set.  To finish, I managed to tuck in a little "hello".

Coloring is all ink blending with brushes.  Love the woodgrain on the birdhouse.  I'll be having more fun with that later!

I'll be sharing in the following challenges:

Love those Pretty Papers -- Anything goes or optional pastels
NBUS Challenge #87 -- My never before used schtuffs are the SSS Soaring Layered Bird and Cozy Birdhouse.

 

Aside from crafting, I've been planting flowers and enjoying the garden.  I pause to throw the ball for Ridley and visit with the passersby.  Sophie has taken on the job of Neighborhood Greeter and is not to be resisted.  Everyone knows her and Ridley.

I hope you're having a lovely day wherever you are.  Thank you so much for dropping by!

Stamps:  Inside greeting only  Paper:  Lightly hammered green cardstock from stash, Cougar Vanilla, Hammermill Premium 100 lb white for die cuts, Paper Rose Bees & Butterflies designer paper  Ink:  Various Stampin' Up  Coloring:  Ink blending with brushes  Dies:  SSS Soaring Layered Bird, Cozy Birdhouse, and Country Basket Bouquet, Cottage Cutz sentiment from Telephone set, Penny Back wood floors for birdhouse post, Spellbinders Essential Arches

Double D Challenge: Add a Bow

Hello friends!  Double D has a challenge for you today that is bound to inspire some pretty cards -- put a bow on it!

I knew I wanted to use my pretty SSS Double Loop Bow, and might as well use the SSS Country Basket Bouquet which I bought at the same time.  The brown basket was a spare already made up, so I commenced to filling it with flowers.  So much fun!  As it happens, I had two spare Chickadees from the SSS Chickadee Gathering 3D embossing folder with dies, so I colored them as well.  Too dark on the wings and tail feathers, oops, but there's always a next time.  I think they look very comfortable tucked into the flowers!

The background was embossed with the Chickadee Gathering folder and brushed with ink.  Just enough of it shows to add texture and to help the card appear a lot more dimensional than it actually is.  As I made this card near Mother's Day I was thinking of my mom who passed years ago, and I may never mail it.  I still have the card I made while thinking of her on last year's Mother's Day.  I wish I'd started a card tradition years ago... a special collection just for Mom.  It's not too late to start.

Lastly, I added some tiny SSS gold star embellishments, and a sentiment from The Ton.  Further details are in the recipe below my signature.

Drop by Double D and see what the team has to share with you.  Pretty stuff there!  I hope you'll have time to share yours as well!

Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions w/dies  Paper:  Hammermill Premium 100 lb white, brown scraps for basket  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black and Versamark for sentiment, Distress Oxide Shabby Shutters for leafy background, SU Close to Cocoa to shade basket  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  SSS Country Basket Bouquet and Double Loop Bow, SSS Chickadee Gathering 3D embossing folder with dies, Ranger Princess Gold embossing powder for sentiment, SSS gold star embellishments, Scotch brand foam mounting tape to pop up basket

Double D Challenge: Tea or Coffee

Hello friends!  It's Double D Challenge time again and for this go around Darlene is asking for tea or coffee themed projects.  The pretty inspiration board is designed to help warm us up and get started.

 

The prize for a random winner is two packs of very pretty peel off stickers -- butterflies and teapots & cups.  I think I would love to color those teapots!

The team votes for creative favorites.  As always, there's more information on the Double D blog.

Let's play!

**********

Did I make a bird card or a coffee card?  Well... both, and it was a lot of fun!  I considered making this for our previous "Humor" challenge, but then I knew the "Tea or Coffee" challenge was coming up, so I saved it for now.

Simon Says Stamp Birdies met up with Cottage Cutz Cup of Love and opined with Art Impressions See You with a Latte sentiment.

I chose the very old BasicGrey Phoebe designer paper to play with because the swirly pattern from which I cut the frame loosely reminds me of a fancy latte.  In fact, the birds, cups, branch, and flower accents were all cut from the Phoebe paper.

The white eye dot was made with white acrylic paint and a very skinny brush.  Sometimes I forget the eye dot, but it really does add more life to a character.

A little note about using the designer paper for die cuts:  I like to glue a layer of designer paper onto cardstock before cutting.  It firms up the DP and saves cutting twice and then trying to match up the layers.  That was especially helpful with the branch and the birds' beaks and legs.  Maybe you do this, too?

I hope you'll visit the Double D blog, enjoy the team's cards, and then play along with yours.  Have fun, and have a beautiful day!

Stamps:  Art Impressions See You with a Latte  Paper:  Hammermill 100 lb premium white, BasicGrey Phoebe designer paper  Ink:  Ranger Archival Jet Black for sentiment, various SU inks for shading die cuts  Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Birdies, Cottage Cutz Cup of Love, Taylored Expressions Stitched Rectangle Stacklets  Other:  White acrylic paint for eye dot

A Tisket a Tasket A Bunny in a Basket

One more Easter card before the weekend.  I would have liked to do more, but I dallied too long.  Thankfully my bunnies will still be good for next year.  They're the only things I purchased exclusively for Easter, and I'll wager they could make the occasional appearance throughout the year as well.

This card is a mix of Simon Says Stamp and other brands.  The bunny and embossing folder are new to me from SSS.  The flowers are older, but a new-to-me find on Amazon when I was looking for something else not even craft related.  See, that's what happens.  Surely you understand.  They're by Sizzix and I like them a lot.  I thought about draping them across the top of the basket, but then remembered the Easter Eggs.  Now I have both!

About that basket -- I cut it in two shades of gray, but didn't like it for Easter so I smooshed all over with white pigment ink and embossed with some very old Stampin' Up Winter White embossing powder.  Sort of a creamy white.  You can see the powder gave it some texture, too, and now I think it's okay.

As for the embossing folder... well, it's a pretty thing that gives you all those flowers with a space in the middle to use however you like.  It provided just enough non-busy white space to highlight the bunny basket.  Also, you can see it's brushed with color.  I used pink and light orange, but it turned out disappointingly dark... so here comes that white ink pad again.  Smooshed all over and came up with it looking all soft and pretty.

Darnell has started a new month with her 85th NBUS Challenge (never before used schtuff), so I'm linking there with my SSS Fable Cute Bunny and Flower Frame 3D embossing folder, and my Sizzix Woodland Borders (flowers).

Thank you for your visit!  Happy Easter Weekend!

Stamps:  Retired Power Poppy sentiment  Paper:  Hammermill 100 lb premium white, two shades of gray, BasicGrey Sugar Rush designer paper  Ink:  Various Stampin' Up, Memento Tuxedo Black  Coloring:  Ink blending with brushes  Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Country Basket Bouquet (basket only), Fable Cute Bunny, Nested Eggs, Poppystamps Lovely Gift Bow, Sizzix Woodland Borders (flowers), Impression Obsession Grass  Other:  Simon Says Stamp Flower Frame 3D embossing folder, SU Winter White embossing powder (very old)

Easter is Coming

Yes, Easter is coming and I just now mailed my Easter cards.  I made only three this year, but had three left from last year.  I'm lagging behind, but it seems there's so much going on outside my craft room lately.

Today's card is one that made me very happy as I brought all the parts together.  I splurged on a few things from the SSS Beautiful Moments collection and this card represents several of them:  Country Basket Bouquet, Sweet Bunny, Double Loop Bow, Leaf Spin 3D embossing folder.  The tag and sentiment are from my toybox.

I'm delighted with all my new toys but, ohhhh, that Leaf Spin embossing folder... it does speak to my leaf-loving heart!  It made the prettiest background for the basket.  Every bit of color comes from ink blending with brushes.  The card is 4 1/2" x 6".  That little bit extra allows a lot more play.

Linking up with Darnell's NBUS Challenge #85.  Everything except the tag and sentiment is never before used schtuff.

I have little time to linger today as there are many other things that need doing, but I'll be back with one more Easter card shortly.

Enjoy your day, and happy upcoming Easter!

Stamps:  Retired Power Poppy sentiment  Paper:  Hammermill 110 lb premium white, gray scrap  Ink:  various Stampin' Up  Coloring:  Ink blending with brushes  Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Country Basket Bouquet, Sweet Bunny, Double Loop Bow, Poppystamps Stitched Main Street Tags  Other:  Simon Says Stamp Leaf Spin 3D embossing folder, Scotch brand foam mounting tape