Double D Challenge: Color Red

Hello friends!  The Double D team is seeing red today... in a good way.  Everything in Blogland seems to be red or pink this month, and why not?  'Tis the month to let red have its way, so that's our challenge -- show us your red.  Here's a lovely mood board for inspiration if you so desire:

Creative winners are voted on by the team, and the prize pictured below will go to a random winner.

Penny Black Across the Miles premium 3.25" x 4.5" cardstock

For my sample I used Stampendous Mailbox Spring with a sentiment from another Stampendous set.  I colored with Copics and covered the card base with Echo Park Love Notes paper.  I'm sure this Valentine has been received by now, but no telling with the crazy weather it has to go through to get there.

I ink-sponged the edges of the image panel and flicked a little water.  Added Wink of Stella to the butterflies.

I love red and think it should get to come out and play more often.  I'll work on that.  In the meantime, I hope to see your red in our gallery at Double D.  Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Stampendous Mailbox Spring and Flower Frame sentiment  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 lb, scrap red, Echo Park Love Notes designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Bashful Blue, Pink Pirouette, and Old Olive for image edges  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Lil' Inker Silly Stitched Die Set, SU 3-in-1 Heart Punch, Wink of Stella on butterflies

A Valentine for my Sweetie

Hello, friends!  Today I'm sharing the Valentine I made for my sweetie.  I generally make him something humorous or cute with critters, but thought I'd surprise him with a pretty card this year.  I've used Penny Black's Winsomely.  Just the one rose, stamped twice, colored and hand cut.  I opted not to get the dies for this set.

Jill's Sketch #4 from her latest series for Penny Black was one of my favorites.  It's so simple, but practical and it takes a plain white background out of the ordinary.  I love it so much that I made five card bases in this layout, but with different embossing folders.  While I was at it I made two with another of her sketches, and then I ran out of time, but I'll get back to it.  I like the idea of having these made up and ready for whenever I take a notion to add a splash of color or cuteness.

I nested Spellbinder's dies to make the frame, layered three times and popped up on foam tape.  The "love" is a Frantic Stamper die layered three times.  The black cardstock on the top "love" layer was made glossy by covering with clear packing tape before cutting.  Same with the hearts.  Thanks to Natalie Bowers at NB Cards for that trick.

I'm playing along here:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge -- Optional hearts
NBUS Challenge #71 -- My never before used schtuff is the Winsomely stamp set.

 

I hope you all had a lovely Valentine's Day.  Sending love and hugs all around!

Stamps:  Penny Black Winsomely  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 lb, scrap black cardstock  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Spellbinders Devine Eleoquence and Labels Twenty-Eight, Frantic Stamper Sending Love/Hugs, hearts from spare parts, Spellbinders Scallops embossing folder, clear packing tape

Double D Challenge: Hearts

Hello, friends!  Double D is at it again.  A new challenge starts today and this time Diane is asking for hearts.  Little hearts, big hearts -- 'tis the month for hearts.  See the pretty inspiration board...

... and a prize for a random winner:

I'm still working my way through not-yet-used supplies, and that will go on for a long time.   You'd think I was a craft survivalist with the way I've stockpiled.  Today it's the cute little envelope with flowers from the Stampendous Mailbox Spring stamp set.  The large kraft heart was a spare part.  I embossed it with an old folder and tapped all over with a freshly reinked white pigment pad.

The glossy dots are punched cardstock circles with Diamond Glaze added.  The die cut sentiment  is two layers. I used the packing tape trick on the top layer -- applied clear packing tape to red cardstock, then die cut.  Instant glossy cardstock.  After I hand cut the stamped envelope and flowers I coated with Versamark and clear embossing powder.  Maybe sometime I'll try the packing tape on a hand cut image.

This little 4 3/4" card will be a Valentine for a friend.

My teamies have used their hearts in some clever and beautiful ways.  Come along and spread some love with us by sharing your hearts in our Double D Challenge.

Have a happy day!

Stamps:  Stampendous Mailbox Spring  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 110 lb, kraft, Cougar Vanilla, Stampin' Up Ridinghood Red and Groovy Guava, red glitter cardstock  Ink:  Memento Toffee Crunch, Stampin' Up White Pigment ink, Versamark  Coloring:  Copics  Dies:  Tutti Stitched Nesting Hearts, Impression Obsession For You  Other:  Cuttlebug Seeing Spots embossing folder, 1/8" & 1/4" circle punches, heart punch, JudiKins Diamond Glaze, clear packing tape, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Love Letters

Hello friends!  Valentine month is not over yet and so I'm going to jump right in here and share two Valentines I made for next year.  The Cottage Cutz die set has never been used, but I ran out of time for this year.  I'm going to try to do better on all my occasion cards by prepping ahead.  I hope you'll bear with me when I stamp out of season.  Thank you in advance!

The stamped sentiments are pulled from my stash.  The first is a cute Stampendous set which will be used more later.  It's in the NBUS line up.  The designer paper is from a 6x6 Echo Park Love Notes pad which I received free with a recent Scrapbook.com order.  I can't even remember what I ordered, but I'm sure it's still sitting in the NBUS basket.  Both of these cards are 4 1/4".  Petite and cute for Valentines.

The bird and branch and all the little hearts were in the same set.  I colored with Copics and stenciled some clouds on this card.  One cloud layer is upside down, darn it.  I almost always goof when I use this stencil.  It shouldn't be so hard, sheesh.  Still cute.  I've used a sentiment from a 2011 Penny Black set.

That's all from me.  I'll be moving right along to the next project soon.

Sharing in Darnell's NBUS Challenge #59 -- The Cottage Cutz Love Letters die set and Echo Park Love Notes designer paper are both used for the first time.

I'm glad you could visit today.  You know I love it when you stop by.  Take care till next time!

Stamps:  Stampendous Mailbox Spring, Penny Black To You  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 lb, Echo Park Love Notes designer paper  Ink:  Pixie Pink & Poppy Parade (1st card), Memento Tuxedo Black & Pink Pirouette (2nd card)  Coloring:  Copics  Dies:  Cottage Cutz Love Letters, MFT Die-namics Woodgrain Fence  Other:  Heffy Doodle Cloudy Skies stencil, SU 3-in-1 Heart Punch, Fiskars scallop scissors, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Valentine Cats

Hello!  Today is Valentine's day and I hope you're all feeling cherished, whether it be by a significant other or any friend or family member, including the furry kind.  Most of my Valentines go to friends because, you know, friends are the family you choose yourself.

Gosh, I hope I'm not sending these cats to the same people again, but I just love this little Gerda Steiner cutie pie with the XOXO.  I did one in pink and one in red.  The fun thing I'd like to tell you about these cats is that I colored them with ink and small blending brushes from Amazon.  Some are angled, some flat, sized small to tiny.  Not as dense as more expensive brushes, but they work nicely.  I was mainly planning to use them for stenciling but this was fun, too.  I like how they gave the image a shaded look without any extra effort from me.

One in pink, one in red.  I covered the card bases with some random loose designer paper sheets from The Vast Hoard.  Supplies are listed below so I won't go on too much about details.

My goal today is to eat chocolate and do no chores (in my dreams).  How about you?  Happy Valentine's Day!

Stamps:  Gerda Steiner All Cats  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White, SU Real Red, designer paper from stash  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Real Red, Pretty in Pink, other for coloring  Coloring:  Inks applied to cats with small stencil brushes -- Memento London Fog on pink card, SU Apricot Appeal and Pumpkin Pie on red card  Other:  Die-namics Wonky Stitched Squares, Poppystamps Clothesline Hearts, Memory Box Fairy Jewels, Wink of Stella

Inky Antics Valentines

Hi and welcome to a new week!  It's Valentine week and I'm still lagging behind.  I need to start working on next year's cards because this holiday comes too soon after Christmas for me to get any steam behind it.  I did make a few with my oldies but goodies.  It starts to feel as though I'm sending the same cards over and over, but when you've got favorites you just have to use them, don't you?

I wasn't thinking of Valentines when I pulled out my Inky Antics dogs and stamped and colored and cut out every single one of them.   Actually, the image on the first card was already stamped and in my card parts drawer so hooray for getting it colored and on a card.

All coloring was done with Copics.  To the card below I added a background from Rubbernecker and some little hearts from (?) -- an unlabeled stamp.  The gray scalloped mat was already cut so I built on that.

At some point along the way I looked up Inky Antics to see if they still make and sell stamps, and I found a whole website.  Well, you know what happened then.  Three sets into my cart.  Not new, but new to me.  I think it's important that we create what makes us feel happy in the making, and Inky Antics have been making me feel happy for years.

Sending sweet Valentine wishes to all!

Stamps:  Inky Antics Puppy Love (1st card), Puppy & Kitty Love #2, Rubbernecker dog stuff background(?), nameless heart flowers stamp (latter 3 all on 2nd card)  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 & 110 lb, grocer's kraft, SU Going Gray & Pink Pirouette (2nd card), scrap designer paper (1st card)  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Rose Red  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Poppystamps Heart Hugs and Scribble Daisy Heart Frame, Tutti Designs Stitched Nesting Hearts, Taylored Expressions Stitched Rectangle Stacklets, Lawn Fawn Stitched Scalloped Rectangle Stackables, rhinestones, foam mounting tape

Double D Challenge: Heartfelt

Hi again!  It's Double D Challenge time, friends.  Diane is asking for hearts and she's given us a pretty board for inspiration.  See it below along with the prize for a random winner.

Heartfelt

A challenge can take you to some very nice places.  When I looked at the board I decided I liked the cocoa mug with the flowers behind it.  After only a little bit of head scratching I pulled out one of my all-time favorite stamp sets -- WPlus 9 Hello & Thanks.  It has the lighthearted playful look I love, and it comes with matching dies.  I also liked the aqua blue in the lower right corner of the board, so I went with that as well.

With the help of a Cottage Cutz die set I added a dollop of whipped cream and a placed a heart cut out on the side of the cup.  The teensiest hearts around the edges are from that CC die set, too.  "Best friends" is an ages old stamp (name unknown) from my stash.  Isn't that the prettiest cut and emboss edge?  It's another oldie from my stash that needs to come out to play more often -- Joy Crafts Stylish Border.

This is a special Valentine for a dear friend.

Simple coloring was done with Copics.  This was so much fun, and in my book that's what it's all about.

I hope you'll come play with us at Double D.  The team has some great samples you'll want to check out.  We always have creative winners and the one prize winner.   Most importantly we just want you to have fun.

Catch you again real soon!

Stamps:  WPlus 9 Hello & Thanks w/matching dies, sentiment from stash (unknown)  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 & 110 lb, pink sandable cardstock, scrap designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Bermuda Bay & Pool Party  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Joy Crafts Stylish Border, Cottage Cup of Love (partial), SU 3-in-1 heart punch, Cotton Candy Stickles

Barnyard Romance

Hi there!  I'm getting ready for the next holiday on the list with a Valentine for my one and only.  In fact, I hope to concentrate more on all the holidays and birthdays this year until I've got everything covered.  This card came about when I was going through my drawer of friend shares.  Dang, I'd forgotten all about this lovable pair of piggies.  They came all the way from Alabama.

I found the stitched heart and the larger heart negative panel in my card parts drawer and thought they'd make a good background.  I embossed the stitched heart with flowers and dots, added a banner.  I wanted to keep it simple, but the couple really needed a fence and some grass in their barnyard.  I'll settle for simple-ish.  All that cuteness is on a card base of the retired sand-able cardstock from Stampin' Up that I need to stop hoarding.

I think Rich will get a laugh from this card.  Who doesn't need a laugh?  He'd probably fall over if I ever gave him a serious card.

Enjoy your day and we'll get together again soon!

Stamps:  Pigs of unknown source, Lawn Fawn Wavy Sayings  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White, SU Green Galore, SU sand-able cardstock for card base, other pink  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  MFT Die-namics Woodgrain Fence and Fresh Cut Grass, Lawn Cuts Fancy Wavy Banners, Tutti Stitched Nesting Hearts, Sizzix Flowers embossing folder

A Valentine Note

Hi there!  How about another Valentine today?  I believe I mentioned I was having a lot of fun with them.  However, by the time I was done I was breathing a sigh of relief.  It's hard for me to stay on one card-making subject for too long.

This card was made with a Marianne's Designs stamp and die set called Typewriter.  I adore the set.  It has lots of sentiments and the dies are simple.  It's an oldie, but I've only used it once before (if memory serves correctly).  The little envelope is from the Cottage Cutz Puppy Love Letter die set I used recently.

The framing mats are a combination of unrelated dies which I've listed in the recipe.  They appear as though they belong together.  Sweet and pretty designer papers.  You know how I love my papers and the Valentines have prompted me to have a nice stroll through my paper cupboard.

I'll be moving on from the Valentines now, but I've sure enjoyed them.  We're all just crafters having a good time, right?

Take care of yourselves and have a happy day!

Stamps:  Sentiment from Marianne Designs 'Typewriter' stamp and die set  Paper:  Neenah white 80 & 110 lb, SU Pink Pirouette, mix of older designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Pink Pirouette to sponge typewriter edges  Dies:  Marianne Designs 'Typewriter', Lawn Fawn Outside In Stitched Scalloped Rectangle Stackables, Taylored Expressions Stitched Rectangle Stacklets, envelope from Cottage Cutz Puppy Love Letter  Other:  Pink rhinestones, Fiskars scallop paper edgers (scissors)

Cups of Love

Hello and welcome to another week on the blog.  I'm not sure if I'll have anything other than Valentines this week seeing as how every available crafting moment has been spent on them.  I would love more crafting moments, but there's always a lot of starting and stopping, getting called away, running off to do other things, sigh.  The two cards today were finished over a matter of days.

The first is a Valentine for my one and only sweetie.  Part manly, part feminine, his cup and mine, together forever.  I used a new-to-me Cottage Cutz die set called Cup of Love.  It's paired with Tutti Stitched Nesting Hearts.  Cute paper and ribbon.  I know -- ribbon!

I cut on watercolor paper and colored with Tombow markers.  I love that teensy bird.

There are a lot of parts to this die set and by the time these two cards were done I'd used all of them.  There are so many ways you can mix it up.  The next card is for a friend.  I've also used a heart punch, Spellbinders Scored and Pierced Rectangles, and Poppystamps Heart Sprinkle Sash -- mostly older dies that still get a lot of love from me.

When I was working with this die set -- coloring parts, picking up with my sticky tool, moving things around with my pokey tool, fitting and gluing everything together -- I was reminded of guys with their model cars, ships, airplanes or whatever.  It's the same deal, but with paper.  I liked that idea.

Since my Cottage Cutz Cup of Love die set is brand new-to-me and used for the first time I'll pop one of these cards over to Darnell's NBUS Challenge #47 where it's all about using the "never before used schtuff".  Thanks, Darnell!

I hope you're having a good day wherever you are and whatever you're doing.  Love you much!

Double D Challenge: Hearts

Hello!  I have a Valentine today, this time for the Double D Challenge which is asking for hearts.  It doesn't have to be a Valentine, of course.  I mean, look at those pretty Bleeding Hearts flowers in the inspiration board:

This Valentine will be for a friend.  I love to send them, but don't always make enough.  Happily, I have three cards set aside that I made in early 2022, thinking we make Christmas cards all year, so why not for other holidays, too?  It was a start.  Today's card was inspired by the wire basket of hearts in the inspiration board.  I have a bucket rather than a wire basket, but I love it just as much!

I used an old Stampin' Up 3 in 1 heart punch and some pretty designer paper.  Layered each heart onto 110 lb white for dimension.  All die cuts are layered for dimension.  The frame is from my bag o' frames.  The Impression Obsession All-in-one-Frames-Square cuts six frame pieces in consecutive sizes all at once so I can keep plenty on hand.  Mix and match.  I generally cut them in white so I can add any color/pattern if desired.  Today I chose to leave them white.

I stitched a border, stamped an old timey JustRite sentiment from a favorite set, put it all together on a pretty pink Bazzill card base.  It's a petite 4 1/4" square.

As always, we'll have creative winners chosen from among the many fabulous entries.  You all make it very hard to choose!  Pictured below is the prize that will go to a random winner.  Pretty!

Come visit the team at Double D and say hello while you're there.  I hope to see you in the gallery!

Stamps:  JustRite A Warm Hello Set  Paper:  Neenah white 80 & 110 lb, pink Bazzill, kraft, Prima Julie Nutting designer paper (old)  Ink:  SU Crumbcake and Rose Red for sponging, Memento Rich Cocoa for sentiment  Dies:  Impression Obsession Pail, Impression Obsession All-in-One-Frames-Square  Other:  SU 3 in 1 heart punch, SU 1 1/4" circle punch, pink twine

Puppy's Valentine for a Friend

Hi friends!  I hope you're well and having a nice day.  I'm feeling pretty good at the moment seeing as how I've been in my happy place again.  Some new-to-me Cottage Cutz dies came in the mail and I got started right away making Valentines.  I generally avoid dies with too many small parts, but this guy was too cute to resist and really not much problem.  Those eyebrows though... thank goodness for my sticky pick up tool.

I colored him with Copics.  Sponged pink on one of the stitched hearts (Tutti dies) so it would stand out from the background.  The dog looked better on white so I layered another heart.  I love that cute little envelope.  I can use it all by itself any ol' time.  The speech bubble is from another Cottage Cutz set.  The paw prints embossing folder is an oldie.  Gee, this card has just about everything I love most about card making.  No wonder it was so fun!

All supplies are listed below my signature.

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

Sisterhood of Crafters --  Something new.  My Cottage Cutz puppy set is new.
NBUS Challenge #46 -- Never before used schtuff.  Again, the puppy is fresh out of the package.

 

Thanks for your visit.  I hope you you enjoyed yourself.  Have a happy day!

Stamps:  Stampendous Pop Rose Teacup sentiment  Paper:  Neenah white 80 & 110 lb, grocer's kraft, Prima Julie Nutting designer paper (old)  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Pink Pirouette for sponging large heart, Copics for coloring  Dies:  Cottage Cutz Puppy Love Letter, Cottage Cutz Telephone (speech bubble), Tutti Stitched Nesting Hearts  Other:  Rhinestones, Darice Paw Prints Background embossing folder