Mice, Mice Baby

Hi there!  I have a card here that I wasn't expecting to share today, but along came The Paper Players Challenge with the theme "For the Little Ones".  I had recently sat down with my Penny Black Especially Micey set and stamped, colored, and created cards.  The others were shared previously, this one is the fourth and final.  It feels good to have enjoyed every stamp in the set.

I colored with Tombow markers and blender, chose some old designer paper and coordinated all colors around that, including the Cougar Natural card base.  Wishing I'd used white, but hindsight, sigh...  Nevertheless, the stamps are cute.  Penny Black never lets me down!

The Paper Players Challenge -- For the Little Ones

Thanks everyone!  I'm so glad you stopped by!

Stamps:  Penny Black Especially Micey, Stampin' Up retired All Year Cheer  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, Cougar Natural, Stampin' Up Gable Green, stash DCWV designer paper  Ink:  Ranger Archival Jet Black  Coloring:  Tombow markers and blender  Other:  Spellbinders Hemstitch Rectangles, Scrapbook.com Mini Flowers, Cuttlebug Seeing Spots embossing folder

Baby Girl

Oh, my gosh, it's been forever since I made a baby card, and I have to say this was so much fun for a change!  It had to be done.  My friend is expecting a great-grandbaby girl so she asked for a card to celebrate the occasion.

I have a lot of baby stamps, papers, dies, you name it.  My head was swimming, but I couldn't put it all on one card, even if it is a rare opportunity these days.  I narrowed it down one by one, changing my mind several times along the way.  Made a whole other card, didn't like it, started over... then settled on the following:

It was easy to choose a very old and still favorite Rubbernecker stamp, name unknown as it came to me unpackaged.  I stamped in Memento London Fog and colored softly with Copics.  Added a cute sentiment from a Power Poppy set.  The pink scallops and banner are gingham designer paper.  The flowers are punched, the leaves die cut.  I punched 1/8" gray circles for the flower centers and applied Stickles Stardust glitter glue.  Spellbinders Hydrangea Blooms 2D embossing folder provided a leafy mat with tiny blooms to match the punched flowers.

No challenges today, not even NBUS (never before used schtuff).  Just feeling the fun and a great appreciation for a roomful of crafty toys.  I'd better get back to the Christmas cards now.

See you again soon!

Stamps:  Rubbernecker baby carriage name unknown, Power Poppy Precious Baby  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 & 110 lb, pale pink Bazzill card base, SU Going Gray, MFT Homespun Gingham designer paper  Ink:  Memento London Fog, Ranger Archival Watering Can  Dies:  Lawn Fawn Outside In Stitched Scalloped Rectangle Stacklets, Taylored Expressions Stitched Rectangle Stacklets, La-La Land Random Flags Banner, Impression Obsession Leaf Cluster  Other:  Spellbinders Hydrangea Blooms 2D embossing folder, flower punch, 1/8" circle punch, Stickles Stardust glitter glue

Final Twofer Challenge: Dog/Cat

I just had to put everything else aside and make time to play in Darnell's Final Twofer Challenge.  We all know how Life requires us to step back from extra responsibilities now and then, and Darnell has made the most wise decision for her.

The theme this month is Dog/Cat.  I recently searched Amazon for oldie Inkadinkado woodblock stamps and purchased a small variety.  I could not resist this Golden Retriever puppy because it looks exactly like both Wally and LuLu at that age.  I'm using it for the first time here.  I have a hugs/thinking of you card and a new puppy card.

I'm making an effort to use more of my patterned papers.  I just finished going through every bit of it, sheet by sheet, pulling out the sheets I don't care for, and keeping only what I love.  I could not believe all the fabulous papers I've been overlooking, tsk tsk.  The puppy hugs card below is a quite mix of patterns.  I used a sketch I saved on Pinterest... easy and fun and a favorite thing to do in my stamp room.

The new puppy card below is not my most favorite card ever.  I like the idea of a new puppy card, but this one is too much of a good thing.  Just saying... things happen and then no time to start over, you know?

I'm not listing supplies because the list for two cards would be forever long.  I do, however, have three things that are being used for the first time:  Inkadinkado Puppy, Amy Design Baby Carriage, and Cottage Cutz Picket Fence Mini.

Twofer Challenge #41, Final Challenge -- Dog/cat

NBUS Challenge #29

Thanks so much, Darnell, for 4 years of a unique and fun challenge, and thank you everyone else for dropping in.  It's been fun!

Twofer Spring Animals

Hello, friends!  I hope this day finds you well because you've been taking extra good care to stay out of harm's way.  All is well at my house.  I heard card making helps ward off viruses, so I've been keeping myself busy with that.

Today I'm playing along in the Twofer Challenge:  Spring Animals.  I was pretty sure there was something in my not-yet-used basket that would be just the ticket and, sure enough, SSS Woodland Whimsy was the one for me.  I have a "hello" card and a baby card featuring the little fawn.

I knew I would love this set.  Isn't it sweet?  I used the fawn once before, but this is the first time I've sat down and really played with the set.  I used 13 of its stamps on these two cards and there's a lot more to go.

For the "hello" card I stamped the fawn, then stamped a patch of foliage around her without masking.  Colored with Copics, sponged the background with distress oxide inks.  Drew a few grass sprigs.  Nothing spectacular, but cute and fun.  Cut out and popped up the trees and the sentiment.

Inside is shown below.  These little foliage and flower stamps are fun to work with.  It has almost a folk art look.  With the "hello" on the front and it being blank inside I can use it for any number of occasions.

It's been a while since I made a baby card and I've always enjoyed them, but this is quite different from most I've made.  However, I love it to pieces.  Again, those flowers make a pretty accent.

Inside is more of the patterned paper and a flower sprig and this very heartfelt sentiment that chokes me up a little bit.

Well, I'm sure glad I took the time to make these cards.  It felt great!  Thanks, Darnell and all the Twofer team for such fun inspiration!

You all have a happy day and I'll see you again later this week, I hope.

Stamps:  SSS Woodland Whimsy  Paper:  Neenah white, Moda Scrap Forever Green designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Distress Oxide Shabby Shutters and Salty Ocean  Coloring:  Copics  Accessories:  Scotch brand foam mounting tape  Dies:  Cottage Cutz Double Stitched Square Set, Memory Box Stitched Circle Layers, Tutti Designs Stitched Nesting Hearts

Twofer Card Challenge #16: Things with Wheels

It's time for another Twofer Card Challenge, friends!  We're doing "Things with Wheels" this time, so put your thinking caps on and go traditional or unconventional with your trains, planes, and automobiles, bicycles, wheelbarrows, lawn mowers, whatever... you get the picture.  This should be fun!

Below are the rules in a nutshell, but please see the Twofer Blog for more info.

I used another one of my new acquisitions for my Twofer cards.  It's Spellbinder's Truckin' Through the Seasons, which was the October 2018 large die of the month.  It was available for a while to non-club members, then not available, then available again... I kept missing out.  This time when it became available I snatched it right up, no hesitation.  As I write this it appears to be unavailable again.  Whew, I feel lucky!

So... I have a birthday card and a baby card:

The birthday card will be mailed to a guy friend in July.  Nothing like stamping ahead!  I put a frame over a pre-made Distress Oxide ink background, then the truck over that.  I had to slip a dog from another die set into the truck.  Wally or LuLu?  Our friend will appreciate it.  Frame is Memory Box Pine Forest Frame and dog is Amy Designs Cats and Dogs.  Sentiment from Poppy Stamps Sending Scribbles set.

Baby boy gets a plaid truck.  Why not?  Wouldn't it be fun to see this driving down the street?  Maybe I'll do polka dots next.  I have a feeling I'll use this truck a lot!  Banner is La-La Land Random Flags Banner and sentiment is an older Impression Obsession set called Straight From Heaven.

Well, that was fun!  I just know we'll see all kinds of your fun wheeled things in the Twofer gallery before it wraps up on the 24th.  You'll get a kick out of all the team samples on the Twofer Blog, so be sure and pop over there.  We have Hilary Jane and Cornelia guest designing for the May challenge, too.  Happy day!

See you again soon.  Wishing you all things wonderful!

Double D Challenge: If the Shoe Fits

It's Double D time again and I sure had fun with this one!  Our challenge is "If the Shoe Fits", so take a peek at our mood board and be inspired.  First, my card:

Our mood board:

Top creative winners are chosen by team vote, but there's also a prize for a random winner:

I can travel many twists and turns when designing a card.  This one started with the baby booties which were already made and sitting in my card parts drawer.  The clouds and hearts were already cut, too, and I laid everything this way and that before I settled.

The gray parts are Copic coloring, as are the blue booties.  White polka dots were added to the booties with a gel pen.  Soft blue polka dot background is SU's Cool Caribbean embossed with an old Cuttlebug folder and sponged with white ink.  I hand cut an older SU sentiment into the banner shape.  Designer paper on the frame... enamel dots... sigh...  love this stuff.

The card is 5" -- my favorite square size.

The team samples are a must see.  I always enjoy the inspiration they provide.  I hope you can play along with us at Double D!

Stamps:  SU Small Sayings  Paper:  Neenah Classic White, SU Cool Caribbean, baby print designer paper of forgotten origin  Ink:  Ranger Archival Watering Can (sentiment), SU Craft White, blue and gray Copic markers  Accessories:  Enamel dots, Signo Uniball white gel pen, Cuttlebug Seeing Spots embossing folder, Scotch brand foam mounting tape  Dies:  Spellbinders small, medium, and grand squares, Cottage Cutz Fancy Baby Booties, Memory Box Precious Clouds

Precious Baby

Flowerful Friday greetings, friends!  More stamping from before vacation... I don't even need a baby card at the moment, but this little buggy full of flowers is too pretty to be denied.  It's one of my new Power Poppy sets -- Precious Baby.  Adorable, and I do love baby cards!

Here's the particulars:  Stamped the buggy in Ranger Distress Tea Dye ink on X-Press It Blending Card and colored with Copics.  The lattice oval was cut in white and then colored with an R30 Copic, brushing over it with the side of the marker to hit mostly the high spots so it has a somewhat shaded look.  Layered a Spellbinders Elegant Ovals die over that, and a La-La Land Random Flags Banner cut from lightly patterned designer paper.  I'll sum up all the ingredients in the recipe at the end.

Inside is simple, decorated only with some of the hearts that popped out of the banner.

I should be tending to more immediate card needs, but sometimes it's fun to make a card "just because", isn't it?  Let's do this again soon.  Take care!

Stamps:  Power Poppy Precious Baby clear set  Paper:  X-Press It Blending Card, other white, wood grain white, Prima Sweet Fairy designer paper  Ink:  Ranger Distress Tea Dye, SU Close to Cocoa, Copics for coloring  Accessories:  Marianne Designs Anja's Oval, Spellbinders Elegant Ovals, La-La Land Random Flags Banner

Vintage Baby

Hello, friends!  Well, it's Shop Till You Drop Day or, as in my case, Stay Home and Craft Day.  I've got a baby shower to go to tomorrow and I finished the card in the nick of time.  Easiest card I ever made, too, seeing as how the paper did all the work.

It's busy times like these I'm happy I've got a cupboard full of designer paper.  The mom to be loves vintage so I pulled out this Graphic 45 "Precious Memories" collection.  Oh, I thought about fancying it up a bit more, but in the end I just cut a scalloped edge and added ribbon and buttons.  The folded card measures 3 3/4" x 6 3/4".

There's not much to shout about except to say it's okay to go easy on yourself sometimes.  It's still a hand crafted card and Graphic 45 did a much better job than I could have done in a pinch.  Now I'm heading back to the coloring table for a while.  Have a happy day!

Baby Sweet Pea

What, no Christmas card today?  You wouldn't believe the rate at which I've been making them.  It's all this rain.  Nice weather for hiding out in my stamp room.  Well, the babies keep coming with no regard for the time of year, and they're always a delight.  This card welcomes a third little girl to the family next door.

It's all die cuts so relatively quick... you'd think.  These things still take time.  The Die-namites "Sweet Pea" front and center is another of my bargain basement finds at Dies R Us.  I might be doing a good job of clearing them out as this one is gone now.  It's bigger than I expected, even though dimensions are clearly written on the packaging, but it all worked out in the end.

Other dies are as follows:

Spellbinders Grand Squares --  for the pink frame
Joy Craft Square -- all pretty with lattice for the peas to grow on
Memory Box Stitched Scalloped Circles
Memory Box Precious Hearts

More Christmas cards coming next week, but there's another baby on the way, as well.  I'll see you soon.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Blue and White for Baby Boy

It seems ages since I made this card.  A month, maybe?  I was celebrating the arrival of a baby boy in May, so I looked ahead to Double D Team Diane's Blue & White Challenge which starts today.  So, you see, it's a color challenge.  Your choice of theme, stamps, dies, design, shade or tone... just make it blue and white.

Necessity and supplies at hand brought me to the baby card I created, but just look at the beautiful inspiration board below, sigh...

As of this writing I'm making a plan for another card based on an image in that board.  Hope it pans out.  The team has the very difficult task of voting on favorites, but you know there's always a prize for a random winner, as well.  Check it out:

My card has a lot going on with all the die cuts and pearls, stamps, stitching, embossing, glitter...  It was hand delivered so I could make it lumpy.  I wanted to use real ribbon but, believe it or not, I didn't have anything that looked quite right.  All that ribbon... drawers and drawers of it... and nothing worked.  I will not use that as an excuse to buy more ribbon!

The hearts were punched and the onsie and socks are stamped and cut out.  To make things easier I'll list the dies here:

• Cheery Lynn French Pastry Doily
• Memory Box Stitched Circle Layers
• Spellbinders Standard Circles Small
• Tattered Lace Washing Line Just for You
• Die-namites Beautiful Bow

Other ingredients are listed in the recipe below my signature.

Be sure to stop by the Double D blog to see all the blue and white samples.  The teams did a beautiful job interpreting the inspiration board.  You'll want to see the winners of our previous challenge, too, which are listed in a separate post.  Also, a heads up:  You can get a peek at our next two challenges in the sidebar at Double D, just in case you like to think ahead.

That's all folks!  Have a happy day!

Stamps:  Darcie's Play Time  Paper:  Neenah 110 lb white, SU Soft Sky, Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid designer paper  Ink:  Copic BG53 to color "Just for you", SU Taken with Teal  Accessories:  Pearls, SU heart punch, Stickles Stardust glitter glue, We R Memory Keepers Quilted embossing folder, dies as listed above

One for Grandma and One for Baby

Hi, friends!  I have two cards today.  I was going to do two posts, but they're related and similar, so I combined them.  Quite a few photos, but photos are fun, aren't they?

My grandma-to-be friend asked for an elephant baby card for her mom-to-be daughter.  I have a few elephant stamps and digis, but only a couple of them work for baby cards.  The cutest of my ellies are from Wild Rose Studio.  They aren't actually for baby cards, but I couldn't resist coloring up one of them, anyway.  So, the first card here is just for my friend to tell her daughter how happy she is about the news.

Bella with Posy:

The sentiment is from an older MFT set -- Because You're Special.

I colored with Copics on X-Press It Blending Card using gender-neutral colors.  Added glitter to the flowers because my friend would have a fit if there was no glitter.

These are the Copics I used:

Next is the actual baby card.  It's relatively clean and simple, but it has some fun elements.  I like how the embossed card base and the little punched flowers match.

The elephant is from an old Our Craft Lounge (out of business) set called Circus Circus, and the sentiment is an even older A Muse stamp.

True story:  I spent all afternoon making a whole other baby card that had a lot more bells and whistles on it.  I was forcing myself to do something I wasn't really feeling and it was disastrous.  I undid and redid more than once and eventually scrapped the whole thing.  After dinner I sat down and made both of these cards in record time.  They're cleaner and simpler and they just felt right to me.  My comfort zone changes from one stamping interlude to the next, so it's best to just go with the flow.  My friend loved them, thankfully.

I have two challenges I'm linking to today.  Both cards work for both challenges, but I can only link one to each so here goes:

The Sisterhood of Crafters "The Letter B" (first card).  Use anything that starts with the letter B.  I have a baby Bella elephant, buttons, a bow, and a little bit of blue in the designer paper.

Retro Rubber "Button It!" (second card).  Use buttons and any stamp more than a year old.  The ellie stamp goes back to 2011 and the sentiment is even older.  Love using the old stuff!

   

Whew, long post!  I'll leave you to it now.  Have a happy day!

Card #1.  Stamps:  Wild Rose Studio "Bella with Posy", MFT "Because You're Special"  Paper:  X-Press It Blending Card, Apricot Bazzill, Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics as pictured above  Accessories:  Buttons, linen thread, Stickles Stardust glitter glue, Taylored Expressions Rectangle Stacklets, TE Ric Rac Borders

Card#2.  Stamps:  Our Craft Lounge "Circus Circus", A Muse sentiment  Paper:  Neenah 110 lb white, SU Apricot Appeal, Green Galore, Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics for coloring  Accessories:  Buttons, linen thread, Stickles Stardust glitter glue, pearls, flower punch, Sizzix Flowers embossing folder, MFT Die-namics Stitched Rectangle Frames, La-La Land Random Flags Banner, Impression Obsession Leaf Cluster, Scotch brand foam mounting tape (elephant)