Mushrooms for Autumn

Hello everyone!  I'm happy to share my first fall card of the (almost) season.  We still have a few days of summer left so I'm not letting it go yet, but I do love fall cards.

I've had this Spellbinders Mushrooms From Me To You 3D emboss & cut folder for approximately a year.  I bought the Scallop Labels and Tag dies at the same time and have used them quite a lot, but this is the first time for the mushrooms.  I don't have a good excuse for why I waited so long.  It's so cool how it works!  The dies go right into the folder with the paper so it literally cuts and embosses at the same time.  I guess I was under a rock again because I did not expect that.

So this is my result after simultaneously cutting and embossing, then "painting" with Tombow markers and blender, and embossing again just for good measure.  After all that I decided to smoosh it all over with Versamark ink and emboss with ultra-thick embossing enamel.  Loved it.  Slipped it into the folder and embossed again.

I embossed the entire folded grocer's kraft card base with my Tim Holtz Lumber 3D embossing folder.  Lined the inside with vanilla cardstock and will save the sentiment for later.

With all this embossing going on I naturally want to share in the Can You Handle the Pressure Challenge.  It's plain to see I did not go with the optional "Balloons" twist.

I'm also sharing in the following challenges:

The Four Seasons Challenge -- Fall
NBUS Challenge #78 -- Never before used schtuff -- Mushrooms From Me To You 3D emboss & cut folder

  

Thanks so much for visiting.  It's been busy as ever here, especially now that Ridley has joined the family.  Two Golden Retrievers are definitely better than one!  Have a happy day!

Stamps:  None  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, Stampin' Up Old Olive, grocers kraft, Cougar Vanilla  Ink:  Versamark for wet embossing  Coloring:  Tombow markers and blender  Other:  Spellbinders Mushrooms From Me To You 3D emboss and cut folder, Tim Holtz Sizzix Lumber 3D embossing folder, Spellbinders Scallop Labels and Tag dies, Ranger Ultra-Thick Embossing Enamel

Bird with Pansies

Hi, and welcome to a new month!  One more card for this week.  This is the Penny Black Perch set again and definitely the stamp that sold me the set.  I just love the sweet bird.  It looks like it's smiling.

It's colored with Tombow markers and blender on hot press watercolor paper.  Sometimes I just stamp a set's images, then color and cut out and think about the cards later.  That's the case here.  It seems there are more options (and more fun) with the card design when I'm working with a collection of homemade ephemera.  The same goes for dies.  Gee, I think I'll get started on a bagful today!

I used some of that JarThenaAMCS paper again, an Amazon find.  I especially love this piece.  You'd think they could make the name more appealing.  It's actually quite nice paper.

I'm moving over to the other side of the room now, where I have a few things on my table waiting for playtime.  I hope we can visit again real soon!

Stamps:  Penny Black Perch and Enchantingly (sentiment)  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 lb, designer paper from Amazon  Ink:  Ranger Archival Shadow Grey, Stampin' Up Mellow Moss  Coloring:  Tombow markers and homemade blender  Other:  Spellbinders Scallop Labels and Tag, Memory Box Fairy Jewels

Spring Flowers in July (almost August!)

Hi friends!  I thought I'd do some stamping and coloring this week.  I haven't had so much crafty time , but I can generally find a few minutes to color a flower or two.  With that in mind I stamped some Penny Black and got to work.

This stamp is from the Perch set, which I think was released this year.  I'm so far behind in my not-yet-used goodies that I lose track of time.  The sentiment is also Penny Black, very old (2011) and I still use it lots.

Coloring was done on hot press watercolor paper with Tombow markers and homemade blender solution (recipe found online).  Fill a blank Copic marker and use it very much like a watercolor brush.  It sure seemed like the green was a better match with the paper, but the camera will do what it wants.  You know how that goes.  I hand cut the image and sentiment, tucked the flowers into a wonky-curved pocket made with oval dies, then stuck all that onto a background embossed with a favorite old Cuttlebug folder.  Only the sentiment is popped up.

About that leafy paper... I found it through an Amazon ad on Pinterest and the only name on it is JarThenaAMCS.  Apparently it's a whole store.  You just never know what you're going to come across next.

No challenges today.  Just me having a play with my toys.

Wishing you a lovely day!

Stamps:  Penny Black Perch, Penny Black To You  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 lb for background, 110 lb for sentiment, Prism Dark Herbal Garden (old), JarThenaAMCS designer paper (from Amazon)  Ink:  Ranger Archival Shadow Grey, Memento Tuxedo Black  Coloring:  Tombows and blender  Other:  Spellbinders Classic Ovals, Cuttlebug Birds and Swirls embossing folder, Memory Box Fairy Jewels gems, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Playing with Sweetly Scented

Hello friends!  It's been a busy couple of weeks here with a few routine appointments, some outings with friends, and several days of gardening.  The wind died down and the weather was incredible.  I'm working to restore the garden after too many negative factors made me almost give up.  Let's hope I'm not simply inviting the deer to a fresh smorgasbord.  Wish me luck!

Morning coffee time, however, is for playing in my room.  Today I'm sharing my first attempt with a brushstroke stamp.  Now I'm hooked, but I won't rush out and buy more just yet.  I've got a lot of catching up to do.

Penny Black's Sweetly Scented waited too long in the NBUS basket.  It's such a pretty thing and easy to work with, a good one for beginners.  The first card was done the usual way on watercolor paper with markers and spritzing lightly with water.  I worked with Tombows in smallish areas at a time.  I stamped a lower corner with PB's Nature's Paintbrushes (2015), then sponged the edges, added stamped sprinkles and a sentiment.  Finally, I dotted with Nuvo Crystal Drops.

The second card was an experiment which I would really like to play with a little more.  I used wedge-tipped sponge applicators to brush on Distress Oxide inks -- Milled Lavender and Seedless Preserves on the petals, Wild Honey for the flower centers, Shabby Shutters and Pine Needles on the leaves.  I used regular Neenah super smooth white cardstock and didn't spritz with water.  Its a different sort of look, not perfect, but it doesn't have to be.  I would also like to try it with spritzing.

Since my Sweetly Scented is out of the package for the first time I'll share here:

NBUS Challenge #75 -- Never before used schtuff.  Darnell is celebrating 75 months of the challenge.  Visit her and read all about it.  Thank you, Darnell!

The busy times continue with more of the same, and I hope that will include card crafting.  I'm glad we could visit today.  Take care!

Stamps:  Penny Black Sweetly Scented, Nature's Paintbrushes, Thinking of You, Stampin' Up Itty Bitty Backgrounds (sprinkles)  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot pressed watercolor (first card), Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 lb (second card)

Ink for first card:  Tombow markers, various possibly retired Stampin' Up for sponging and sprinkles, PTI Dark Chocolate for sentiment, DOX Antique Linen for Nature's Paintbrushes

Ink for second card:  Distress Oxide Milled Lavender, Seedless Preserves, Wild Honey, Shabby Shutters, Pine Needles, Stampin' Up for sentiment and sprinkles

Other:  Nuvo Sugared Almond Crystal drops on first card

Tweet Embossed Birthday

Hello, and happy Monday!  I have a very pastel birthday card to share today.  I'm still enjoying the March kit from Simon Says Stamp.  The embossing folder here, the stamps, the silver cord are all from the kit.  Honestly, this embossing folder was a huge selling point for me.  It's so pretty!

For this card I embossed on hot pressed watercolor paper and colored with Tombow markers and blender.  I kept it very pastel because if I was going to use it as a background I didn't want it to compete with the focal image.  Silly me, this folder deserves to be the main image with only a sentiment, perhaps.  However, the little bird and birdbath looks cute, too.

 

This angle shows how the "birthday" sentiment and the little music notes are silver-embossed to match the silver cord.  The bird and birdbath were embossed in white so they wouldn't be too stark a contrast.  The sentiment and music notes are cut with the matching dies (not included in the kit), but I hand cut the bird and birdbath.

Surprise(!) -- I used a bit of lace from my shoebox-sized container of lace and trims.  That's not counting the drawerful of ribbon.  Most of the lace and trims are from my days of sewing dolls and doll clothes and stuffed critters.  It was fun while it lasted.

I'm going to send my card to the following challenges:

Can You Handle the Pressure -- The current optional theme is "weather".  I think this card suggest a pretty spring day with blossoms blowing in the breeze... that's the weather outside my window as I type this.  The wind through the cherry tree is sending pink snow across the garden.
NBUS #73 -- Never before used schtuff.  First time use of the embossing folder.

 

Supplies are listed below.

Wishing you a beautiful spring day!

Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp Tweet Friend with dies  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, Neenah white card base  Ink:  Versamark, SU Tempting Turquoise  Coloring:  Tombow markers with blender  Other:  SSS Drifting Flowers 3D embossing folder, lace, silver cord, silver embossing powder, white embossing powder, misc. rectangle die from stash, Scotch brand foam mounting tape to pop up bird and birdbath

Love Blooms in Purple

Hello and welcome back!

Sometimes it just has to be a simple splash of color against an all white background.  More of my Penny Black Love Blooms flowers today.  So quick and easy.  Colored with Tombows and blender.

 

It's nearly impossible to see in the photo, but the white card base is woodgrain.   I stamped a Penny Black Super Day sentiment and called it done.  Maybe this saves time for some of those other cards that take all morning to finish, sheesh.

Have a happy day!

PB Love Blooms

Hi there!  I'm sending happy thoughts today with a brand new Penny Black stamp set -- Love Blooms -- cut with its matching dies and colored with Tombow markers and blender.  It's paired with a sentiment from the Happy Builder set.

I thought I would go with Jill's Sketch #4 as it was my favorite.  I improvised the frame with some old timey Spellbinders dies, and added a border of gingham paper at the top.  Memento Toffee Crunch was used for the stamp outline, the shading, and for coloring the skinny edge strip.  Spellbinders Branching Out embossing folder added yet more texture, and I finished with some homemade glossy accents.

I think that covers the essentials so I'll keep it short and simple today.  Linking to:

Darnell's NBUS Challenge #70 with my never before used Love Blooms stamp set.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a happy day!

Watercolored Pleasant Perch

Hello, friends!  I've been playing around with dies and embossing folders for the last few cards, but now it's time to get back to coloring as I have so many wonderful stamps yet to see ink.  Today it's Penny Black's Pleasant Perch.  This was a birthday gift (October) from a friend who knew exactly how much I would love it.  I think you know I have a great fondness for the outdoors, particularly if there's a forest or fur or feathers involved.

I stamped in Ranger Archival Watering Can and watercolored the bird and branch with only three Tombow markers:  Green 177, blueish-green 249, and brown 969.  I used a black permanent marker on the eye, and white acrylic paint for the eye glint

The background was watercolored with smooshes and splatters of Stampin' Up inks from reinkers -- Creamy Caramel and Brocade Blue.

The sentiment is from another Penny Black set, Thinking of You.

It's not flowery or flamboyant, but this little bird on her piney perch imparts a sense of peace and comfort.  In my real life world I appreciate that.

Pictured below is one of my most appreciated local spots where I can walk for miles and Sophie can run off leash.  This is a winter pond -- dry in the summer, but good for Sophie's splashing and swimming in the winter.

I'll send my card along to the following challenges:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge -- Anything goes or optional "something new".  I'm calling my Pleasant Perch stamp new because this is its first use.
Triple B Challenge -- Anything goes with birds, blooms, or butterflies.  Mood board optional.
NBUS Challenge #70 -- Never before used schtuff.

 

Thank you for visiting!  Wishing you a happy day.

Stamps:  Penny Black Pleasant Perch and Thinking of You  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, grocer's kraft  Ink:  Ranger Archival Watering Can  Coloring:  Watercolor with Tombow markers plus Stampin' Up reinkers for background and splatters, black permanent marker for eye, white acrylic paint for eye dot  Die:  Hero Arts Wood Frame

Daisies and Denim

Hi there!  Another daisy card today.  I made two Lisa Horton Tall Daisies cards one right after the other.  This was the second.  This time I embossed, but did not cut.

I gave my hot pressed watercolor paper a spritz on both sides from the water bottle before embossing.  Heat dried, then commenced watercoloring with Tombow markers.  It looked like a hot pressed mess at times, but in the end I think it's safe to call it "artsy".  I did some splattering, added a decorative border.  Before I glued it down I also cut and embossed more daisies to layer underneath and help keep the top layer plumped up.  All that was layered over the 2013 designer paper which I vowed to use on every card until it was gone (getting close).  Lastly, I added the sentiment and a generous scattering of iridescent sequins up the side.

The Tall Daisies are now put away with the rest of the embossing folders.  Only a few (ahem) left waiting for their first turn.

Wishing you a wonderful day!

Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot pressed watercolor, Neenah 110 lb white for sentiment and 80 lb for card base, SU Taken With Teal for border edge, My Mind's Eye Notable designer paper (2013)  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black for sentiment  Coloring:  Watercolor with Tombow markers  Other:  Lisa Horton Tall Daisies 3D embossing folder with die, Spellbinders A2 Bracket Borders One, Iridescent sequins

Double D Challenge -- Christmas Trees

Hello!  It's Double D Challenge time again.  Maybe you need a last minute Christmas card?  That's the name of my game this year.  However, I see the light at the end of the tunnel.  It's a good thing I love making the cards, but it would be nice if everything else would slow down while the work is in progress.

Darlene has created an inspiring board for us today, all about the Christmas tree.  That's a fun subject!  See the board and a prize that's up for a random winner:

 

As always, the team votes on creative favorites.  You all don't make it easy with so many fabulous choices!

My eyes went straight to the wheelbarrow on the inspiration board, knowing I had a similar Power Poppy stamp.  It's called Season's Greenings.  I stamped on extra white watercolor paper and colored with Tombow markers and blender.

The wheelbarrow and Santa are two separate stamps.  I hand cut Santa and placed him down front to create more of a scene.  The background die is Spellbinders Infinity Punch & Pierce Plate.  It's not a Christmas die but I liked it for the eyelet-type openings resembling leaves with the green card base peeking through.  Festive guy that he is, Santa has decorated the garden with red and gold tinsel ropes.  Apparently he loves glitter and that's a good thing because so does the friend I sent this to.

The team has more inspiration for you on the challenge blog, and we'd love to see your Christmas tree creation in the Double D gallery if you have the time.  Be merry!

Stamps:  Power Poppy Season's Greenings  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, Neenah white 80 lb, SU Garden Green card base  Ink:  Ranger Archival Watering Can, SU Garden Green and Bashful Blue  Coloring:  Tombow markers and blender  Dies:  Spellbinders Essential Arches, Infinity Punch & Pierce Plate, Memory Box Tinsel Ropes  Other:  Stickles Xmas Red, Golden Rod, Patina glitter glue, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Bringing in the Harvest

For my final autumn card this year I used the second dog in my Inky Antics Autumn Dogs stamp set.  Six dies, one embossing folder, two stamp sets, and two patterned papers later I ended up with this scene.

I know, it's a lot.

Honestly, I intended to make a simple card with the dog and Sunrays (Spellbinders) embossing folder.  Then along came the Whittle Field and Trees (Poppystamps), an additional rolling hill, a fence, a butterfly because the dog seemed to be looking up at something.  I puzzled over where to put the sentiment, and finally made a tag and slipped it under his carefully trimmed and lifted paw.  Sheesh.  Autumn papers, Tombow coloring on the stamps, brushed and sponged ink on the die cuts and embossing.  Oh, and I cut a scalloped circle for the sun just for an extra touch of whimsy.

It will be sent as a Thanksgiving card.

Playing along here:

Four Seasons -- Fall season November 2024.  Anything fall themed.
Love those Pretty Papers -- Anything goes, optional yellow and brown.
NBUS Challenge #68 -- Poppystamps Whittle Field and Trees is my never before used schtuff.

The Sisterhood of Crafters -- Landscape

  

Thank you for visiting!  Enjoy your weekend!

Umbrellas are Not Just for Rain

Hello, and welcome to a new week on the blog!

It's still autumn and though I need to double down on the Christmas cards, I took the time to make a card that won't even be sent till next year.  It's good to have extras in the box.  This is one of those simple cards -- stamp and do some quick coloring with Tombows and blender.

I stenciled the background and added a sentiment.  Gave it the narrowest red border.  The stamps are Penny Black and the stencil is a Creative Expressions mini.  Everything is listed in the recipe.  Sometimes I think I talk too much, so I'm keeping this brief.

I had the following challenges in mind for this card:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge -- It's "anything goes" with the option to "make a scene".  Well, you know how I love to make a scene, but I held back this time.
Stencil Fun Challenge -- Anything goes with the option to "make it sparkle or shine".  No sparkle or shine for me today.
NBUS Challenge #68 -- Never before used schtuff.  The Penny Black Fall Breeze stamp is new to me and being used for the first time.

 

That's all, folks!  See you here again real soon.  May your day be filled with beauty!

Stamps:  Penny Black Fall Breeze and Super Day  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot pressed watercolor, red, Neenah white  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black and Rich Cocoa, Distress Tea Dye (for stenciled bricks)  Coloring:  Tombows and blender  Other:  Creative Expressions Brick Wall mini-stencil