Golden Autumn with Birds

Hello again!  I've come back to the mini art journal today.  This is the one made from envelopes -- 10 pages available to decorate, each page measuring approximately 3 1/2" x 5 1/4".  You can see the beginning of it here.  It's not a junk journal, not a diary, not a planner, nothing profound... it's just a flip-through collection of my own little mixed media artsy pieces created in much the same manner as a card.  I can hardly express how much I'm enjoying this genre.

I decided to dedicate this little journal to the beauty of nature's flora and fauna with the additional goal of using designer paper on each page.  Today's pages use an Amazon find via Pinterest ad -- Embossed Blades.  That's the title, but there is no brand name on the pack.  It's full of neutrals, blues, purples, all with different patterns of golden leaves.  I thought it would work nicely for an autumn theme.

I altered the paper with stamped script, leaf tiles, splatter, and sponged edges.  I would have been afraid of messing up the paper, but by channeling my inner Vicky P I think it turned out okay.  I brushed gold Lunar Paste here and there on the die cuts, and added gold self-adhesive trim to the inner edge of each page.

Cottage Cutz Spring Bird w/Vine, Tim Holtz Sizzix Funky Wreaths,
IO Small Leaf Set (dies), retired Power Poppy sentiment, Hero Arts oldie leaf tiles,
other retired script stamp

The purple page is done in the same manner.  It's not a spread, but the two pages coordinate.  This time I cut out some of the oldie HA leaf tiles and adhered them as well as stamping directly onto the page.  The bird die set comes with flowers which I switched out for leaves.  The two larger leaves are cut from designer paper with a gold metallic pattern.  I brushed autumn colors over them, and since the ink did not stick to the gold metallic pattern I was able to wipe them clean.  This page has more white splatters than the other.

Cottage Cutz Spring Potted Flowers w/Bird, Penny Black Wildwood twig frame

Most everything on these pages is from my 'previously enjoyed' stash, but it's a first-time use of the Embossed Blades designer paper and the Gold Rush Lunar Paste.  Therefore I'm sharing in Darnell's NBUS Challenge #91.

Lots of words today.  Thank you for indulging me.  Wishing you a wonderful day!

Double D Challenge: Wings

Hi friends!  Double D has a challenge starting today that gives you all kinds of opportunities -- Wings!  Have a look at our inspiration board:

I made a very simple card today using Freshly Made Sketch #751 which I loved and saved, thinking it would help me with my desire to get better at CAS.  I still love the sketch, but the urge to overwork it was strong.  I just don't have the CAS gene!

However, I'm so glad to have the cute little bee, the stitched dies, and the SSS Leaf Spin embossing folder in my toy box so I can play with them again any ol' time I choose.

The Double D team has some fabulous creations to share with you and I hope you'll share yours with us.  I know you've got some winged ideas just waiting to get onto a card or other project.

Happy crafting!

Stamps:  Colorado Craft Company Bee You with matching die  Paper:  Neenah 110 lb white for die cuts, Hammermill Premium 100 lb white, SU Marigold Morning, Panalisa Honey Flower designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Cottage Cutz Nested Wacky Rectangles, Lil' Inker Silly Stitched die set, Spellbinders Standard Circles, SU Subtle embossing folder (card base), SSS Leaf Spin embossing folder (background), 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!

One More Daisy Card

Hi again!  Pardon me while I slip in a card I made way back in early August.  This was my third use of Spellbinders Fresh Picked Daisies and I think maybe my favorite.  I pulled a watercolor background from my stash and coordinated that with a Stampin' Up Marigold Morning card base, and Marigold Morning ink on the sentiment.  The daisies and leaves are Copic colored.

It's interesting how the leaves in this die set are very pretty and graceful, and the daisy flowers rather fun and funky.

I think I can put the daisies away for a while.

I'll leave you with the recipe, below, and a wish for a daisy kind of day!  Thank you!

Stamps:  Inside only  Paper:  Hammermill Premium 100 lb white, Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, Stampin' Up Marigold Morning  Ink:  Marigold Morning, other forgotten for watercolor background  Coloring:  Copics for image, watercolor smooshing for background  Dies:  Spellbinders Fresh Picked Daisies, Creative Expressions Happy Birthday sentiment  Other:  Stampin' Up Subtle embossing folder for card base

Guest Designing with Penny Black Saturday Challenge

Hello there!  I'm honored to be guest designing alongside Denise (The Crafty Den) at the Penny Black Saturday Challenge this month.  The theme is always "anything goes", but with an optional prompt.  This month the option is "use a die".

 

I'm all for using a die!  In this case I colored the wisteria blooms and leaves from Penny Black's Wings of Joy set, then cut the curve with PB's Curved Stitch die.  From my already-made-up stash I plucked a Memory Box dragonfly which happened to be just the right colors.

I watercolored with a mix of Stampin' Up inks and Tombow markers.  Did the background first, then the blooms.  The leaves were stamped separately and hand cut to drape over the blooms and add texture without too much dimension which enables the card to be easily mailable with no extra postage.  Finished with a few sequins for a touch of garden magic.

The sentiment is from the Penny Black Serene Beliefs set.  I've been using this set a LOT since its summer release, mostly for the insides.  Every word is beautiful.

I hope you'll join us at the Penny Black Saturday Challenge.  I just love seeing all the PB goodness by the talented team and those who play along.  Have a super day!

Stamps:  Penny Black Wings of Joy and Serene Beliefs  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico extra white 140 lb hot press watercolor, Hammermill Premium 100 lb white  Ink:  Memento Toffee Crunch for image, Stampin' Up Brocade Blue for sentiment  Coloring:  Watercolor with Stampin' Up reinkers and Tombow markers  Dies and Other:  Penny Black Curved Stitch, Memory Box Azure Dragonflies, sequins, Wink of Stella on dragonfly wings

Double D Challenge: Vases and/or Pitchers

Hello again, friends!  It's Double D time, and Diane has the prettiest board to inspire you.  Today the challenge is Vases and/or Pitchers.

I love everything on the board and I could make one or more of each.  However, I went with the watering can because I've only used my Spellbinders Sprinkle & Grow die set once and I didn't care for the card despite how cute the die set is.  That's on me.  Today I'm much happier!

I brought in a few extras from the toybox -- a pretty frame, some fun designer paper, a bit of grass, and a cute sentiment.  The scalloped corners of the panel within the frame were done with a punch I've had since my early days of paper crafting.  I love how it works with the frame as though it was meant to be.  The sentiment was cut from the designer paper.  The glossy dots were punched from it, too -- 1/4" & 1/8" hole punches -- then glossy glaze applied.

Sometimes everything comes together in harmony.  I wish that was always the case.

We would love for you to come play with us at Double D.  The team has some pretty vases and/or pitchers, and I just know you have some, too.

Thank you for taking the time to visit with me today!

Stamps:  None  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb watercolor, Hammermill Premium 100 lb white, Stampin' Up Going Gray, Polkadoodles Peeling Paint designer paper  Ink:  Stampin' Up Gable Green and Almost Amethyst for blended background  Coloring:  Tombow markers for watering can, Copics for flower arrangement, ink blending with brushes for background  Dies:  Spellbinders Sprinkle & Grow, Simon Says Stamp Teardrop Pinpoint Frames, Creative Expressions Mini Hello & Hi, Impression Obsession Grass Border

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!

Nest Building Bird

Hi again, friends!  Nesting season has passed here in the northern hemisphere, but it's always anything goes in my craft room.  I still have some bird dies not yet used so I set about rectifying the situation.  This one is a PTI die, Feathered Friends 14.  I recently moved it from my not-yet-used-dies basket to my use-next all purpose basket (stamps, dies, embossing folders) and it wasn't long before it became a card.

For the life of me I couldn't figure out what kind of bird this is supposed to be (any ideas?) so I spent way too much time searching for something likely.  I finally settled on a Crested Bunting which lives in China.  Even still, I took some liberties -- the white spots, for instance.  It's nest building in a thicket courtesy of Memory Box Bird's Nest and Poppystamps Thicket Frame.  The parts are all ink blended with brushes.

Every now and then I like to send a card "just because" and I especially like to make them!

I'll be sending my feathered friend along to the following two challenges:

Triple B Challenge -- Always birds, butterflies, or blooms.
NBUS Challenge #89 -- My never before used schtuff is the PTI Feathered Friends 14.

Thanks for your visit!  I love when you stop by.  Have a good weekend!

Stamps:  Stampin' Up retired Itty Bitty Backgrounds (sprinkles)  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 110 lb, Cougar Natural, SU Close to Cocoa  Ink:  SU Close to Cocoa, Really Rust, Old Olive, Ranger Distress Soot Black  Coloring:  Ink blending with brushes, Copic for eye, white acrylic paint for eye glint and spots  Dies:  PTI Feathered Friends 14, Memory Box Bird's Nest, Poppystamps Thicket Frame, Creative Expressions Stacked Just Because  Other:  Scotch brand foam mounting tape to pop up bird body

Penny Black on a Saturday

Hello, crafty friends!  I hope you're all enjoying a nice weekend doing whatever makes you happy.  I've been retired for going on 11 years now, but I still find something special about the weekends.  After all those working years I just don't get over the feeling of release that comes with a Friday night.

I'm here today to share in the Penny Black Saturday Challenge where the optional theme is "Things with Wings".  That's my cue to color up my newest Penny Black stamp, Wings of Joy.  It's easy for me to go overboard with my Penny Black purchases because I'm such a fan, but I've been conservative lately.  This stamp though, sigh... and the Serenity Edger die set... they were a quick hop into my basket.

I stamped the bird and branch in Memento Toffee Crunch, and the sentiment in Palette Noir on extra white hot pressed watercolor paper and watercolored with Tombow markers.  Sponged the edges with Stampin' Up More Mustard ink.  After layering onto a card base of ivory textured Bazzill I applied the watercolored die cut "serenity" and a few iridescent sequins.

The set has a larger wisteria chain and extra leaves which I've already stamped and will try to turn into a card soon.  Penny Black has just released a Christmas collection and I'm currently trying to make my conservative choices.  I'm thinking poinsettias and a sentiment/die set.  It's never ending.

Challenges:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge -- Things with Wings, or optional anything goes.
NBUS Challenge #89 -- My never before used schtuff is the Penny Black Wings of Joy stamp set.

 

Thank you so much for spending a little time with me today.  I do enjoy our visits!

Stamps:  Penny Black Wings of Joy  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico 140 lb hot press watercolor, ivory Bazzill for card base  Ink:  Memento Toffee Crunch for image, Palette Noir for sentiment, Stampin' Up More Mustard for brushing image panel edges  Coloring:  Watercolor with Tombow markers  Other:  Penny Black Serenity Edger die set, iridescent sequins, white acrylic paint for eye glint