Double D Challenge: Fresh Picked

 

It's time for another Double D challenge, friends!  Diane made a delicious and refreshing board to inspire us:

Anything fresh picked other than flowers.

It's the yummiest, and I have a stamp or digi for everything on the board.  Most of them are old-ish, but that's okay.  If they haven't been purged it means I still like them, as is the case with the simple little stamp I used today.  It's from the SU Giggle Greetings set.

I played with designer paper from The Vast Hoard, too, and that was fun.  In 2021 when I did a whole-house declutter I went through my paper pads sheet by sheet and took out all the sheets I was less likely to use.  I ended up with a sizeable give-away pile and considerably more room in my paper cupboard.  Here we are, 2 years later, and I'm full to overflowing again, sigh.  Such is Life.

I layered the image circle onto a same size red circle in such a way that only a single rim of red shows at the lower edge.  Added stamped sprinkles, a branch, and a natural thread bow.  The red base is plain cardstock which I embossed with the SU Subtle embossing folder, retired.

I saved the rest of the sentiment for the inside:

Isn't that the truth?

There's a cute prize for a random winner, plus we'll vote on creative winners.  It's all good fun.

Come see all the fresh picked goodness the rest of the team is sharing at Double D.  I hope you'll share yours as well.  Have a good day!

Stamps:  Stampin' Up Giggle Greetings, Itty Bitty Backgrounds  Paper:  Neenah 110 lb Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White, SU Poppy Parade, Memory Box green cardstock and Brioche designer paper (old timey)  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Kiwi Kiss for sprinkles  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Linen thread, Memory Box Stitched Circle Layers, die-namites Leafy Flourish, SU Subtle 3D embossing folder

A Valentine, A Spring Greeting, and a Birthday

Hello and welcome!  I'm happy to be back with another collection of cards to share.  When I look at all the cards I haven't posted yet it surprises me that I've actually done that much crafting.  Today's cards are the most recently finished.  The plan was to get ahead on Valentines for next year so I pulled out an old and well loved Stampin' Up set called Send a Celebration.  Anyone remember it?

I've loved this stamp set enough to keep it over many years and many purges.  It seemed to me it deserved another run before I put it away again.  I turned this into a self challenge:  Use all three image stamps and the same DCWV Baby Girl paper pad for each card, and color all with the same Copic markers (mostly) to coordinate with the paper.

The umbrella stamp in the next card has been used in the past for "under the weather" and baby showers, but today it's a spring greeting.  April showers bring May flowers!

The last card gave me the most trouble as I wanted it to look like a celebration, but was running out of celebratory-looking papers from this pad of sweet baby papers.  The embossing folder helped.  I cut a window to frame the image, added some die cut stars and little bits of extra sparkle and shimmer.  The paper, itself, has sparkles, too.

My Valentine card is representing in the Snippets Playground Challenge #422.  Each of my cards are all about snippets -- I stamped on scraps of Neenah white and colored with Copics, then designed with scraps of baby-themed designer paper (use it or lose it).  I keep the smallest pieces of everything because you never know when you might need to punch a few small hearts, such as those on my Valentine card. 

I'll be back next week and I hope you'll come visit again.  Be happy!

Peace on Earth, November -- Team Darlene

Hello again!  It's time for a new Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge.  Can you believe it's only a month till Christmas?  Heck, we haven't even had Thanksgiving yet here in the US.  Ah, well, some things we just cannot change, other than to learn not to stress.  I gave that up a long time ago!

The inspiration board today is focusing on a lot of blue, white, and silver.  Use it if you wish, or go your own way.

I've been trying to pull from my spare parts drawers as much as possible, and it just happens that I had a white card base stamped with blue snowflakes, so that was my starting point.  I pulled the white frame from the spare parts, too, and then the rest of the card was created new -- the die cut snowflakes, embossed panel, and sentiment banner.

The snowflakes started as bright blue cardstock, but they became much more special when I smooshed with Versamark and embossed with an iridescent embossing powder.  Mine is quite old -- called Iridescent Peacock -- but there are many others similar on the market.  I'll confess, I originally had a sequin and small gem in the middle of each snowflake, but they looked like hubcaps so I finally pulled them off and replaced with just the one gem.  Much better.

If you're already done with this year's cards, now is the time to start on next year's.  We can do it!  Come and see us at Peace on Earth for all the important info and inspiring team samples.  We'd love to have you play along.  Happy holidays!

Stamps:  Lawn Fawn Winter Wavy Sayings, SU Serene Snowflakes (retired)  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 & 110 lb, SU Brilliant Blue  Ink:  SU Brilliant Blue and Bashful Blue, Versamark  Dies:  Spellbinders Create-a-Flake Five, Lawn Cuts Fancy Wavy Banners  Other:  Iridescent Peacock embossing powder, blue gems, Sizzix Snowfall embossing folder

CAS Mix Up Reminder - Mixed Media Botanical Prints

Hello!  The creative good times continue with our mid-month reminder for the CAS Mix Up Challenge where our host, Bonnie, has asked us to bring the outdoors in and make some botanical prints.  We're in the mixed media cycle this month, so all cards must include stamping and at least one other mixed media element.

For today's card I tried one of the easier and more reliable techniques which also gives awesome results.  Serendipitously a leaf from our Purple Smoke Tree had been tracked in on a shoe and was lying damply on the floor.  I scooped it up and went straight to my stamp room.  Pressed it into inks, then onto paper, and was surprised with how distinct the impression was.  Naturally, I went outside and picked another leaf or two so I could change inks... ended up with a way cool background.

I didn't use very much of the background because I have to keep it CAS for the challenge, but you can clearly see the results.  You would never guess it had been done with a real leaf.  I inked the underside of the leaf so the veins would show.  I used an old SU stamp set for the gold and copper leaves.  The sentiment is from the same set, but wish I'd used something else.  Hindsight, you know.

To meet the mixed media requirement I did stamping, embossing, and fussy cutting.  The wood grain card base is 111 lb Gmund Limba White which can be found at different sites if you search.

The team and our guest designer, Izzy, have the most creative and beautiful botanical print samples for you to see at the CAS Mix Up blog.  They all really got their game on for this one!

Thank you so much for stopping by today.  Wishing you happiness!

Stamps:  A real leaf from my garden, SU Autumn Leaf Prints (retired)  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 & 110 lb, white wood grain cardstock  Ink:  SU Riding Hood Red, Rich Razzelberry, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Versamark  Other:  Ranger Princess gold EP and SU Classy Copper EP (retired?), copper cord

CAS Mix Up, Mixed Media - Botanical Prints

Hello, and welcome to our October CAS Mix Up Challenge!  Bonnie is our host this month and she has chosen something very fun for all of us to try:  Botanical Prints.  We are to incorporate real nature in our cards -- leaves, flowers, ferns, whatever.  There are a number of video links on the Mix Up blog, or maybe you have some ideas of your own.  It's a mixed media challenge this month, so be sure to include stamping and at least one other mixed media element.  There is a sample list on the sidebar of the challenge blog.

I couldn't wait to get started!  I tried my hand first at pressed flowers with hot pink and bright orange Impatiens and blue Lobelia.  I also used a heart-shaped leaf from a violet plant, but it didn't transfer much color.  Maybe too late in the season for it.  So where is all that hot pink and orange?  Somehow it came out as pastel lavender and pale plum/pink, but that's okay, too.

My garden pickings made a nice background for this Penny Black Peaceful Time bird and lattice border.  Mixed media elements in addition to the stamping include wet embossing (the bird), die cutting, coloring, and, of course, the pressed flower background.

The pressed flower technique I used is easy peasy.  Place flowers or leaves between two sheets of watercolor paper, sandwich between cutting plates, and run through your die cutting machine.  That's an abbreviated version, but it really was simple.  Do watch a video.  I ended up with two good background pieces, front and back of the flowers.  You really couldn't tell the difference.  While I was at it I made two more cards for different purposes.  Supplies are listed below my signature.

The CAS Mix Up team and our lovely guest designer, Izzy, will blow your minds with their creations for this challenge.  Beautiful stuff!  I hope you'll give it a try, too.  See you again soon!

Bird Card:  Stamps:  Penny Black Peaceful Time, SU Itty Bitty Backgrounds (splatters, retired), Paper:  Fabriano Artistico ExtraWhite 140 lb hot press watercolor, Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 & 110 lb  Ink:  Versamark, SU Bashful Blue, Memento Tuxedo Black  Coloring:  Tombow markers and homemade blender  Other:  Black embossing powder, Spellbinders retired Lattice Border, dimensionals to pop up bird

Hello Card:  Stamps:  Hero Arts sentiment, SU Itty Bitty Backgrounds (retired) Ink:  SU Bashful Blue & Lovely Lilac  Other:  Poppystamps Petal Ribbon die, pearls

Anniversary Card:  Stamps:  SU Stippled Blossoms, Power Poppy Love sentiment  Ink:  SU Pale Plum/Perfect plum, Barely Banana/Summer Sun, Wild Wasabi/Garden Green  Other:  Lace, ric rac, pearls, Poppystamps Stitched Main Street Tags die, scrap designer paper

Blossoms in Bloom

Happy Monday, friends!  I hope this finds you well and ready for a brand new week.  We continue to carry on here with the work around the house, checking things off the list.  I'm ready for the day everything returns to normal routine.  Before I temporarily lose my stamp room I'm getting a few cards done and some posts written up.  I would not want to lose touch with you all!

Today I have a couple of cards made with the SU Blossoms in Bloom set which I received as a very nice gift from a dear friend.  I'm playing around, getting a feel for the stamps and I can see there are a lot of different ways to use them.  The first card is a  4 3/4" square, all filled up with flowers, and just for fun I added a bird from a Spellbinders die set.  It was already made up and set aside so I might as well use it, right?

The next card is fun and simple with only the smaller flowers scattered around.  The letters were cut from a stamped piece left over from the first card.  The scalloped card base is from a full and fabulous package of goodies sent by another friend.  I'm a lucky girl to have such friends.

Colors and other card details are listed below.  We do have fun, don't we?

Seeing as how this is a first time use of Blossoms in Bloom I'm going to share over at Darnell's NBUS Challenge #26.

Thanks for dropping by and I'll see you again soon!

Stamps:  Stampin Up Blossoms in Bloom  Paper:  SU Whisper White, Ballet Blue, other yellow  Ink:  SU Cameo Coral, Ruby Red, So Saffron, Ballet Blue, More Mustard, Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery, Old Olive  Other:  Corner Punch, unknown scallop die for card base, Spellbinders bird from Sweet Birdie Thanks Scene, Memory Box Stitched Circle Layers, Memory Box Wooden Alpha

Finally Forever Fern

Hello on a Monday!  I hope you're all well.  Even though my posts have been scant, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth.  Our home improvement projects are taking up most of my time, but we're currently on somewhat of a break before everything is turned upside down for the floors.  I'm stamping while I can, and trying to get other things done, as well.  Please bear with me, friends!

I finally sat down to play with my Stampin' Up Forever Fern set.  By the time I bought it I'm sure everyone had had enough of looking at it, but that was a long time ago... it's been in my NBUS basket for quite a while.  It really is the most lovely stamp set and I'm glad I took a turn.  I started out with the Split Four Technique, but after the initial stamping I added more here and there.  I needed to enhance my stash of sympathy cards, so each card has a beautiful old SU sentiment on the front with a nice sympathy message inside.

I'm still using my original SU inks, which are listed in the recipe at the end.  To attain a more saturated ink color I re-stamped two or three times using my old Stamp-A-Ma-Jig for assistance.  The cardstock bases are in matching colors.  All bases were embossed with the SU Subtle embossing folder for texture.

Just a couple of extra pictures...  The gold cord on the card below helps to disguise a stem that was floating in mid-air.  The sentiment on this card may appear black in the picture, but is, in fact, Handsome Hunter.  These old colors still serve a purpose.  I have all the reinkers, too, so I'll be using them until the pads wear out.  In almost 20 years I've had only one pad wear out, and that's because I was abusing it by rubbing it on background stamps.

The next card is the result of dropping a stamp in the middle of the white space, sheesh.  I almost discarded the whole piece, but decided to cover it up instead.  It seemed a bit too busy at first, but it's growing on me.  I quite like it, actually.

So there you have it.  We need to talk about how the current Feedburner email subscription service is going away.  I'm too preoccupied to wrap my head around the issue right now, but I still recommend Feedly for following blogs.  See options in my sidebar.  If there's something I can fix about the emails, I will certainly do that.  July 1st is the deadline.

Lastly, I'm popping my cards over to Darnell's NBUS Challenge #26 (never before used schtuff).  She gets a lot of entries!

Thanks for visiting with me today.  Hugs all around!

Stamps:  SU Forever Fern, SU All Year Cheer (2002)  Paper:  SU Whisper White, Brocade Blue, So Saffron, Soft Sage  Ink:  SU Brocade Blue, So Saffron, Soft Sage, Creamy Caramel, More Mustard, Handsome Hunter  Other:  Gold Cord, SU Subtle embossing folder for card bases, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Elves

Hey there!  I hope you can bear another Christmas card post.  Time's running out to play along in the CAS Christmas Card Challenge as the current "Elf" challenge ends on the 24th.  I honestly was thinking I didn't have any elf stamps.  Suddenly I remembered one digi stamp, and just as I finished coloring it I remembered the elves in an old Stampin' Up set.  Now I have two elf cards -- oh, happy day!

Pictured below is the card I did first.  It's an old Sassy Cheryl's digital stamp which is no longer on the site, so apparently discontinued.  It's called Delivery Boy Santa, meaning, I suppose, "Santa's Delivery Boy" because this sure looks like an elf to me.  I watercolored with Tombow markers.  Very clean and simple with just an image and a sentiment from my stash.

Next are the elves from the retired Stampin' Up Holiday Line Up.  Quickly colored with Copics on X-Press It Blending Card.  It's probably evident that I didn't put much effort into the coloring, but they still look pretty cute.  I added some designer paper trim to this one.  Another sentiment from my stash, not part of the SU set.

I'm thrilled to say... Total Christmas cards so far this year:  17

Many thanks to the CAS Christmas Card Challenge crew for the inspiration!  Have a happy day!

Twofer Challenge #15: Zoo Animals

It's Twofer Card Challenge time, friends!  We're doing Zoo Animals this time around and I have a feeling we're going to see some fun cards for this one.  I love critters!

I could have gone with a dozen different stamps for this challenge, most of them cute stamps that would have made very cute cards.  However, I went with the oldest of the oldies for my two cards and made them both masculine.  Similar colors, but completely different designs.  The animals are from the Stampin' Up! set called In the Wild.  Remember that set?  I know... I really should update some of my stamps.

The first one is a birthday card for a guy friend.  Some miscellaneous dies and stamps helped out with the design.  I added a fence so it would resemble a zoo scene, not that all these animals would be in the same enclosure, but we can pretend.  The cheetah has already escaped and the zebra is on its way out as it jumps over the fence.  They're going wild per the sentiment.

Next is a card that can be a simple love card, but I think it will be my husband's 2020 Valentine, or maybe anniversary.  Either way, it's a different occasion and a different layout per the challenge rules.  I really wanted to use this designer paper that I've had forever and have only used once.  I love it a lot, but just don't have the stamps for it.  Again, I should update some of my stamps.  The main background on this card is the retired SU! On Safari background stamp, and the "wild" is retired SU! Headline Alphabet set, stamped and hand cut.

Designer paper is Bo Bunny Zoology (probably retired, too), and the leaf dies are MFT Die-namics Wild Greenery.

That's enough talk from me.  Hop over to the Twofer Blog to see some samples, including from our Guest Designer, Susan.  Have a happy day!

Twofer Wreath Challenge

Hello on a Monday, friends!  Yippee skippee, I got some cards made in time for the November Twofer Challenge.  Two different designs for two different occasions using the same stamps, stencils, and/or dies.  The prompt this month is "Wreath".  We're supposed to photograph the two cards together for the link up, so I've done that first.

Thinking I could make some quick cards with no coloring, SU's Wondrous Wreath was the first stamp set to pop into my head.  I made the Christmas card first, stamping and turning and stamping multiple times, but still had some blank spots due to a flawed stamp that SU did not want to replace (grrrr), so filled in with die cut Poinsettias and a bow.  Lots of stamping, die cutting, gluing, applying Stickles.  A clean and simple and not so quick card.  Ultimately, I like how it turned out.

The second card was much quicker.  I used only one stamp from the multi-stamp set, whereas I used three on the first card.  Gee, I hope that's okay for the challenge.  It's the same stamp, two different ways, right?   In this case, the flawed part of the stamp is under the gingham designer paper, and I stamped it three times in a row, somewhat like a garland.  Added little flowers punched from glitter paper.  Rhinestone centers.  The flower on the sentiment has die cut leaves.

Honestly, if it wasn't for the Twofer Challenge I may not have ever used this wreath again, but now I love it to pieces because of that sweet garland.  You just never know.

Supplies listed below.  Have a happy day!

Stamps:  SU Wondrous Wreath, Your Next Stamp Whatnot Sentiments Eleven (thinking of you)  Paper:  SU Whisper White and Cameo Coral, Coral glitter paper, Bazzill tan, Prima Julie Nutting designer paper  Ink:  SU Wild Wasabi and Garden Green, Memento Tuxedo Black  Accessories:  Black Stickles and gold Stickles (Christmas), rhinestones, flower punch (thinking of you card)  Dies:  Memory Box Seraphine Laurel (Poinsettias), Impression Obsession Large Bow,  Sue Wilson Pierced Flags, Taylored Expressions Ric Rac Borders, Impression Obsession Leaf Cluster