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!

This is the Life

Hello there and welcome back!

We're not done with summer yet, but pretty soon we'll be thinking "fall".  In fact, I already am.  Geez, it's so close!

My Sleeping Mouse from Colorado Craft Company is from one of several "card kits" I created directly after Christmas last year.  This kit had the makings for three cards with focal images stamped and ready to color, card bases made up with designer paper, as well as embellishments chosen and tucked into the bag.  They were infinite fun from start to finish.

 

This little guy was colored with Copics, cut with the matching die, and set onto an oldie Poppystamps Woodland Oval.  The designer paper is Brutus Monroe Autumn Tapestries with Freshly Made Sketch #707.  The flower is Cottage Cutz.

All three cards from my made-up kit are pictured below -- Colorado Craft Company This is the Life and Sleeping Mouse.

I think they'd make a cute little gift set tied up with raffia, and I have a friend with a fall birthday who might just love them.

No challenges today, just playing in my room.  Our son is coming this weekend and I have a big, hearty soup to make, so I'll be in the kitchen after a friend and I take our pretty girls for long walk in our hilly neighborhood.  Sophie's sweet friend, Myrtle, is a mini-Australian Shepherd who lives just around the corner.  The two of them make quite a pair!

One more of just Sophie with her new collar from one of the craft booths at our local Blackberry Festival last weekend.  It's only for dress up, not for everyday.

Thank you for joining me.  I wish you a lovely day!

Whimsical Houses for Three Occasions

Greetings friends!  I haven't had this much fun playing house in a long time!

In June I bought the entire Whimsical Village Collection by Vicki Papaioannou for Spellbinders.  They went straight to my use-next basket and here we are at the end of August and I'm just now getting around to them.  I LOVE them!  For each card I brought in a little something extra from the toy box.  See under each picture for noteworthy mentions.

***  FALL  ***

Spellbinders Whimsical Houses, Village Companions (clouds & dog), Whimsical Wishes sentiment
Poppystamps Stitched Landscapes, Cottage Cutz Fall Barrel (sunflowers)

***  HALLOWEEN  ***

SB Whimsical Village, PS Stitched Landscape & Stitched Cloudline
Cheery Lynn (long since out of business) Happy Halloween
Ghost sequins
(The Happy Halloween and the cloudy background were both spare parts --hooray for spare parts!

***  CHRISTMAS  ***

SB Whimsical Houses, Whimsical Wishes, Whimsical Skies 3D embossing folder + white ink
Memory Box Slender Pine Trees, Poppystamps Stitched Landscapes

Total Christmas cards in the box:  23

I had way too much fun playing with this collection and getting three more cards done for the upcoming busy cardmaking season.  I meant for the first card to be for Thanksgiving, but as soon as I glued down the sunflowers I realized they would not be in bloom in late November.  Oh, well, a fall card is good, too!

Challenges:

NBUS Challenge #89.  Everything from the Whimsical Village Collection is never before used schtuff.
Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge.  Anything goes or be inspired by the mood board.
Peace on Earth Challenge #118.  Anything goes or be inspired by the mood board.

 

Thank you!  Happy crafting!  

Seize the Birthday Challenge -- Add a Tag

Hi there!  It's my pleasure to be guest designing with the amazing team at Seize the Birthday for their current challenge.

The topping for this go around is "Add a Tag", but anything goes as long as it's a birthday theme.  I love to play the toppings!

Looks like I got my seasons mixed up but, hey, the tag was already embossed and waiting for me to color it.  I chose some Mintay Golden Days designer paper which was gifted to me at Christmastime for one of my favorite go-to layouts, in this case using Spellbinders Hemstitch Rectangles.

The tag is from the Spellbinders Mushrooms from Me to You 3D cut and emboss folder.  The folder makes three arched panels at once.  I used one last fall, and still have a mid-sized panel yet to design with.  Fall seems such a short card-making season with Christmas so close on its heels, so it's probably not a bad idea for me to occasionally enjoy it ahead of time.

The tag is cut from watercolor paper and colored with Tombow markers and blender.  The enamel dots are 1/4" and 1/8" burgundy cardstock coated with Diamond Glaze.

We all need birthday cards, and tags are fun, so play along with us at Seize the Birthday and enjoy yourself!  Thanks so much for your time today.  Take care!

Stamps:  Retired Stampin' Up birthday greeting  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico 140 lb hot press watercolor, Hammermill 100 lb premium white, scrap burgundy, Mintay Golden Days designer paper  Ink:  Retired SU Baroque Burgundy  Coloring:  Tombow markers and blender  Other:  Spellbinders Mushrooms from Me to You 3D cut and emboss folder, Spellbinders Hemstitch Rectangles, 1/4" & 1/8" hole punches for dots, burgundy string, rectangle die from stash (for sentiment), JudiKins Diamond Glaze

Double D Challenge: Fall Colors

Hi everyone!  Fall Colors is our theme for the Double D challenge today.  Have a look at our inspiration board below.  Don't you just love all that scenic gorgeousness? 

A maple leaves mini-stencil is our prize for a random winner.  Creative winners are by team vote.

I hope it's not too late in the fall for a sunflower card.  I had a Cottage Cutz die I wanted to be sure and use this year, but mostly it's the Brutus Monroe Autumn Tapestries patterned paper I'm in love with, sigh.  So rich against the black.  Too bad its season is so short, but fortunately there are a few floral pieces in the collection that will work for any season.

It wasn't a good picture day and I'm having some trouble with my camera... or my eyes... something.  Behind the die cut image I used vanilla CS which I embossed with SU's retired Subtle embossing folder.  The sprinkles were punched from the patterned paper and coated with glossy glaze.  Just a little autumn fun for a November birthday.

There are all kinds of fall colors to see on the Double D blog, so come check out the team's cards and then help fill the gallery with your beautiful fall color choices.  I'll be looking forward to seeing you there!

Have a happy day!

Stamps:  Oldie Stampin' Up sentiment  Paper:  Cougar Vanilla and SU Really Rust for mat, Neenah 110 lb white for die cut image, Brutus Monroe Autumn Tapestries designer paper  Ink:  Various Stampin Up for coloring, Memento Tuxedo Black for sentiment  Coloring:  Ink blending with brushes  Other:  Cottage Cutz Fall Barrel, Poppystamps Stitched Main Street Tags, SU Subtle 3D embossing folder, linen thread, Cinnamon Stickles, JudiKins Diamond Glaze, 1/4" & 1/8" hole punches

Pure Sunshine

Hello there!  I'm glad you could drop in.  As I write this I'm about to put my feet up for a while before dinner, but first wanted to get this post scheduled -- two cards for four challenges.  Honestly, I really wanted to color something and you know how I love my Penny Black stamps.  This Pure Sunshine stamp is large and in charge, but it has a somewhat playful nature and that's what I love about it.

I put it in my MISTI along with two A2 watercolor cardstock panels side by side, then stamped right over top of the joint, half on one panel, half on the other.  I watercolored each with my oldie Stampin' Up Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Earth Elements.

I also lightly stenciled the background of each, brushed on just a little bit of ink for barely there shading, and stamped with a retired SU splatter stamp -- Itty Bitty Backgrounds.  I'm sending the first card to The Flower Challenge where they're asking to see the word "thanks".  I wasn't sure how literal I needed to be, but I played it safe and chose a sentiment with the actual word.

The next card is going to the other three challenges which I've listed below.  I had each of them specifically in mind as I made my design choices.

 

The Flower Challenge #108 -- Thanks

Penny Black Saturday Challenge -- Anything Goes or Optional Music
Triple B -- Birds, Blooms, and/or Butterflies

Stencil Fun Challenge -- Anything Goes or Use Gold

 

  

Can we agree that Triple B always has the most gorgeous inspiration boards?

Well, this was fun!  Supplies are listed below.  I generally list everything, even if it's no longer on the market because I'm sure we all have a mish mash of supplies in our collections.

Off to the couch for a bit!  I'm sure I'll be joined by something soft and lovable, either white or red... you know what I'm talking about.  Take care and have a beautiful day!

Stamps:  Penny Black Pure Sunshine, retired Power Poppy and Impression Obsession sentiments, retired Stampin' Up Itty Bitty Backgrounds splatter stamp  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, Cougar Natural card base  Ink:  Ranger Archival Watering Can for outline, SU Chocolate Chip for sentiment, Close to Cocoa for splatter stamp, Ranger Adirondack Sandal (old stash) for stenciling  Coloring:  SU Earth Elements Watercolor Wonder Crayons (retired)  Other:  5" Stencil from a large set found on Amazon