Penny Black Saturday Challenge: Anything Goes or On the Water

Oh, happy day, I'm honored to be this month's guest designer at the Penny Black Saturday Challenge!

 

The theme is always "anything goes", with this month's option being "on the water".  I had to think about that one, but then I remembered the skateboarding kitty from the Happy Times set... so I cut off the wheels and made him a surfer kitty.  Too much fun!

I also used Penny Black Super Day for the sentiment, and the Background Basics stencil set for help with the background.  I first placed a circle positive mask and brushed on the sky, then placed the negative of that same circle and filled in the sun.

The waves and white splash are courtesy of Memory box.  A few gems were added to enhance the idea of splashes or bubbles, and I coated his cool shades with Diamond Glaze.

This is going to be my Rich's birthday card in October.  He was a southern California surfer dude way back when.  Then he moved to Oregon and became a fishing dude.  He's still that guy at heart, but these days it's only from his armchair.

You know there are some awesome samples on the PBSC blog, so treat yourself to a look-see.  Hope you can play along!  Have a super day!

Stamps:  Penny Black Happy Times and Super Day  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 110 lb  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Cool Caribbean, Summer Sun, Pumpkin Pie  Coloring:  Copics and ink blending  Other:  Memory Box Waves 3D embossing folder, MB Big Splash Border, Penny Black Background Basics stencil set, rhinestones, JudiKins Diamond Glaze

Double D Challenge -- Going Green

Hi, friends!  A new Double D challenge begins today and this time Diane says we're "Going Green".  Anything green will do.  There's a beautiful mood board for inspiration.  It certainly did inspire me!  See the board and a prize pictured below:

The prize goes to a random winner, and creative favorites are voted on by the team.

My inspiration came from the upper left and the lower right corners of the board which, happily, prompted me to pull out a Lavinia Forest Leaf stamp which was a birthday present in October.

I colored with Copics, and Lavinia's Mooch came along to see how it turned out.  Inspired by the painted wall, upper left corner of the board, I swiped ink up the image panel directly from pad to paper.  Burgundy sprinkles were stamped as a finishing touch.

The Double D team has some beautiful ideas to share with you, so check them out.  We'd love to see your green, too!  Have a happy day!

Stamps:  Lavinia Forest Leaf, Lavinia Mooch, Stampin' Up Itty Bitty Backgrounds sprinkle (retired), Hero Arts Moments sentiment  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 lb, Stampin' Up Always Artichoke, Mellow Moss, Bravo Burgundy  Ink:  Same as cardstock plus Memento Tuxedo Black for Mooch, and Versamark for sentiment  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Stampin' Up Subtle embossing folder on card base, WOW white embossing powder for sentiment, label die

His and Hers Birthday Cats

Hello and welcome back!  Just some fun and frivolity today.  I thought I would share the the last of the Penny Black Birthday Critters I colored earlier this month.  It was a treat to pick a stamp set and a pack of paper, then just sit with my Copics and color to match.  Saves some of the decision making.  Not only that, but it helped me finish off a paper pad.

The first looks like a boy card to me.  Maybe it's the colors, maybe the cat?

A close up below shows the glossy balloon and sparkly stars.  The balloon gloss comes from packing tape over cardstock before die cutting.  I love that trick.  I used a Ranger Distress embossing pen and sparkly embossing powder on the stars, baker's twine for the string.  A little apricot ink brushed over the pennants-embossed background.

The next one is actually a gift tag made with Spellbinders Scallop Labels and Tag.  The designer paper is in the die cut Happy Edger (Penny Black).  Other sentiments are Penny Black as well -- Happy Builder and Carefree Wishes.  Ribbon and eyelet (!) from the vast neglected hoard.

I'm rushing off again.  It's been a busy week with all the home and life stuff that's not necessarily a lot of fun, but has to be done.  Our son is coming for a long weekend so I'll be able to slow down and enjoy more then.  See you again soon!

Mooch in the Moment -- A Lavinia Card

Hi there!  Mooch is the cat, in case you were wondering.  I dipped into my Lavinia stamps and endeavored to use some that have not yet seen ink.  In this case it's Mooch and the crows.

When I start adding ink I'm am not always sure where I'll end up.  Maybe this is a big harvest moon, but I can't say that was exactly the plan.  Inks are Memento Tuxedo Black and Stampin' Up.  I didn't do anything special or extra.  It's just plain old stamping and lots and lots of color.  The sentiment is from a retired Power Poppy set.

I'll send my card over to Darnell's NBUS Challenge #59 because I was pleased to use Mooch and the crows for the first time.

All the Lavinia stamps are listed below.  Thank you for coming to visit.  I'll be back when something crafty happens.  Enjoy your weekend!

Lavinia stamps:  Mooch, Bird Collection, Tree Branch, Leaf 1 Mini, Willow

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

Double D Challenge: Everything is Coming Up Green

 

It's time for another Double D challenge, friends.  March is the month of green and that's what Diane is asking for in this first challenge of the month.  Check out the inspiration board she put together for us:

When I went to my room to create I was thinking of that darling kitten in the teacup.  Well, you know how inspiration works -- one thing led to another and I ended up with the following card:

It's nothing like the picture, but definitely inspired.  I never would have come up with it otherwise.  The stamping is heat embossed in white, and the dry embossed panel was brushed with white pigment ink, directly from pad to paper.  The ric rac trim is a bit of color, cut from designer paper.  It's interesting to me how much I actually like this funny little thoroughly green card.

The Double D's have a prize for a random winner, and you know the team votes on creative favorites.

Come see what the team got up to with their delightfully green samples.  I hope you can join us at Double D with your own green creation.  Have a happy day!

Stamps:  Inkadinkado Cats, Nellie's Choice Roses Corner  Paper:  SU Green Galore, black, Mintay Lovely Day designer paper  Ink:  Versamark, white pigment ink  Other:  White superfine embossing powder, Sizzix Branches with Leaves #2 embossing folder, Paper Smooches Hello Words, Taylored Expression Ric Rac Borders

Double D Challenge: Anything Birthday Related

Hi everyone!  Welcome to my first post of 2023.  Today is a big deal because we're celebrating the 7th birthday of the Double D Challenge.  Yippee!  Happy birthday Double D, and thank you for 7 years of great fun and inspiration!

Our celebratory challenge asks for anything birthday related, and the DD's have provided you with a mood board full of colorful birthday inspiration:

I focused on the balloons so I could color these cute Penny Black critters.  It's an older set that's new(ish) to me.  I recently purchased a few PB critter sets because I find them especially adorable and collectible.  The birthday sentiment is also Penny Black.  I added grass and splatters with some ages old non-PB stamps from my stash.

The card is one layer, 3 3/4 x 6 3/4 -- not a full-size slimline, but bigger than my usual mini-slimline.  I stamped, then masked the critters so I could brush on an inky background.  I used a curved border die to cut a mask for the landscape.  Used a cloud stencil in the sky.  I tried to keep it simple.  Sponged ink around the edges to add depth and framing to the scene.

Coloring was done with Prismacolor Pencils and Gamsol odorless mineral spirits.

I hope you'll pop over to the Double D challenge blog to see the team samples, say "happy birthday", and check out all the prizes that are up for random winners.  As per usual the team will vote on creative winners.  I can't wait to see you in the gallery!

Have a happy day!

Stamps:  Penny Black Time to Celebrate and Birthday Love (sentiment), SU Itty Bitty Backgrounds (splatters), Posh Impressions Wild Grass  Paper:  Neenah super smooth 110 lb white  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Old Olive, Bashful Blue, Brilliant Blue  Coloring:  Prismacolor pencils and Gamsol odorless mineral spirits  Other:  Heffy Doodle Cloudy Skies stencil

Cat Nap

Hi everyone!  I made a card for my long-time friend's birthday.  She likes to quilt and take naps, so I thought of this old-timey wood block stamp that's been in my collection longer than I can even remember.  It's dated 1999 and that's probably about the time I got it.  It's a Gary Patterson design for Stamps Happen (out of business).  Love love love Gary Patterson's art, but if you can find the stamps these days it will cost an arm and a leg.

I know I'm dating myself, but I have to say it -- they just don't make 'em like this anymore.  "They" do make other awesome stamps, however, so thank goodness for that.  I would not want the art of stamping to fade away.

This is a 4 3/4" square card, one layer.  Clean, but not exactly simple.  The coloring took quite a while.  I used Prismacolor pencils and Gamsol odorless mineral spirits.  This coloring medium does not show through the cardstock (Neenah 110 lb).

Time for me to sign off now and get busy on many other things.  Wishing you a happy day!

Stamps:  Stamps Happen Cat Nap (1999 Gary Patterson), Your Next Stamp Whatnot Sentiments Eleven  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 110 lb  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black  Coloring:  Prismacolor pencils and Gamsol odorless mineral spirits

Halloween Cat Trio

Hi!  I have a fun card today.  I got the idea for the cats from a card on Pinterest, but my card design is different.  When I clicked the Pinterest pic it didn't go anywhere so I can't give credit, but maybe you can see the pin here.  Not sure if that will work for you.  I just love them!

It's plain to see the cats are simply flag die cuts -- I used Sue Wilson Pierced Flags, a group of 3 different sizes.  Googly eyes, brads for noses, dental floss for whiskers.  The white circle separates them from the background and gives the suggestion of a moon.  The background is orange ink brushed through a Visible Image Fibres stencil.  First orange, then a little black swiped down from the top.  It looks like there's a fire in the background, yikes.

I'm playing in two challenges today, as listed and pictured below.  Two Old Bats is celebrating its anniversary this month so there are prizes.  Just sayin'.

Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge
Colorful Options -- Orange or rainbow

 

I hope you're enjoying a nice autumn where you are.  We were 100 degrees on our south deck yesterday and today we're wearing jackets.  That's fall for you.  We're safe and dry and we have our home, and not everyone can say that right now.  I'm reminding myself how fortunate I am.  Thank you for coming to visit.

Stamps:  Hero Arts Halloween Message  Paper:  Black, Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White  Ink:  SU Only Orange, Pumpkin Patch Spectrum pad, Memento Tuxedo Black  Other:  Googly eyes, brads, dental floss, Visible Image Fibres stencil, Sue Wilson Pierced Flags, Memory Box Stitched Circle Layers, miscellaneous rectangle die for sentiment, foam mounting tape

Pup and Mog

Hi there!  It took a while, but I finally made it back to the blog after finishing some cards.  I used a NBUS Woodware set called Pup and Mog.  Who can say what attracts any of us to a particular stamp set or to any of the crafty things we buy?  All I know is that these simple open line images made me smile at the time and they still do.

The frolicking Pup was stamped in Versafine black and clear embossed.  I colored with Tombow markers, no water and minimal use of the blender pen.  Pulled a stenciled background and a watercolored frame from my bag o' backgrounds and created the base.  Added Pup and some die cut flowers.  I think he's happy!

I saved the sentiment for the inside because it would crowd the front and I really wanted to say "happy dog day" to one of my doggy loving friends.  National and International Dog Day are both on August 26th.  Okay, so I'm a little ahead but might as well be ready.  Pictured below is the inside:

Mog, the cat, is relaxed and simply wishing a happy day.  It could be for anything, really.  I watercolored this one with SU inks and designed with some super old (2009) BasicGrey papers.  I inked up and stamped the cat's hearts a second time and colored, cut and glued over top to add just a tiny bit of texture.  One small gem for accent.

Editing to add my card to Darnell's NBUS Challenge #34 because my Pup and Mog stamps are fresh out of the package.

I apologize for not listing every detail, but it's probably not necessary.  I will mention that the fun stencil I used on the first card is from a large collection I found on Amazon.

I hope to pop in again soon.  I'm enjoying the time with Rich and Wally and LuLu, keeping options open as to how we spend our time.  I hope the new year is treating you well.  Hugs to all!

Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge - October

Hi, everyone!  Another month, another bunch of challenges that all start at the same time.  Once again I'll mention that you might want to scroll down to see all, or click here for the Four Seasons Challenge and here for the CAS Mix Up Challenge.

Today it's all about Halloween with Two Old Bats.  We have an inspiration board if you'd like a jumping off point, but this challenge is always anything goes.  Complete details can be found on the challenge blog.

When I saw the inspiration board I made a note to self about the pumpkin and black gingham.  The first place I looked was my pile of not-yet-used Bugaboo Halloween digis, and so this card came about:

I'm very sorry to say that the Bugaboo site is down due to technical problems and it's not certain that it will return, sniff sniff.  I feel especially bad for the owner because it was her livelihood.  I don't know much other than that, but I believe there was a lot of info on Facebook where I'm not a participant.

At any rate, I will continue to enjoy what I have because they're so darned much fun!  This one was colored with my go-to Tombow markers and homemade blender pen, then the card designed with a mix of very old papers and trim.  You just have to smile, don't you?

Play along with us.  The team and guest designer, Lena, have some great samples to show you, and whenever the participant number reaches 50 the Two Old Bats have a prize for a random winner.  Last month was fantastic and I'm sure this month will be, too!

I shall return tomorrow with the launch of a brand new challenge.  I hope to see you then.  Take care, friends!

Stamps:  Bugaboo digi Cat with Pumpkin  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, orange card base (not visible in photo), very old designer papser scraps  Ink:  Printer  Coloring:  Tombow markers with homemade blender  Other:  Spellbinders square die, K&Co Halloween trim

Picture Perfect Smiles

Hi, there!  Having fun "just because" with today's cards.  I had an urge to play with designer paper and, in the process, finish something that's been bagged up for a while.  I had all the not yet used stamps from my MFT Picture Perfect set all stamped out and cut into squares, with a few spare parts thrown in the bag for possible use.  Their time had come.  I'm sharing two of them today.

The first card has a frame that was the leftover after cutting a square die.  I covered it with designer paper and sanded the edges.  Die cut the "smile" into the orange strip, then filled it with white letters that were left from something else.  Added a cute floral border and a single flower for embellishment.  The glitter dot in the flower center is a 1/4" punched circle with glitter added, then covered with glossy glaze.

Just scraps of designer paper on the next card, figuring a way to use it without being the same old same old.  The orange smile letters are what popped out of the first card.  I layered over two more spare sets of smile letters.  The card measures 3 1/2" x 6".  All coloring was done with Copics.

This was a lot of fun!  I'm determined to use up this pad of designer paper that I've had for years.  It has been a favorite and it's almost gone.  Being a fan of designer paper and having a vast hoard, it sometimes bothers me that I don't use it more often.

Have a good day and take care till we meet again!

Stamps:  MFT Picture Perfect  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 & 110 lb, SU Bermuda Bay, My Mind's Eye Notable designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black  Coloring:  Copics  Dies:  MFT Die-namics #captions, square die for frame cut out, Poppystamps Floral Dotted Border, Sue Wilson String Flowers, Die-namics Wonky Stitched Squares  Other:  Stickles Stardust Glitter Glue, 1/4" circle punch

Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge: May

Hello, there!  This is one of two posts I have scheduled for today, so you may have to scroll up or down to catch the other one.  Thanks!

It's Halloween in the merry month of May and the Two Old Bats have a very cute inspiration board to go along with this month's challenge:

As always, we can use the board for inspiration, but are not required to do so.  I have the most fun choosing something from my collection of Halloween stamps, digis, dies, and papers that will fit with a corner of the board.  This month I knew I wanted to use the Penny Black dog stamp and the window die, and then the rest of it evolved from there.

The brick wall embossing folder made an easy background.  Some grass in the front and autumn leaves overhead.  The "trick or treat" has a rhinestone for the "i" dot.  I decided there should be a cat in the window so I borrowed one from a Rubbernecker Stamp.  To make it look a little more Halloweeny I added the die cut spider with dots of white acrylic paint for eyes.

All coloring was done with Tombow markers, a blender pen, and lots of smiles.  I hope you'll check out the samples by the team and our awesome guest designer, NanaConnie, on the Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge blog, and then share something by YOU.  We'd love to see it!  Thanks so much for your time today.  Enjoy!

Stamps:  Penny Black Beware of Dog, Rubbernecker 3 Cats in Tree  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 110 lb, black, Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb watercolor  Ink:  Palette Noir  Coloring:  Tombow markers and blender  Dies:  Impression Obsession Window with Shutter and Trick or Treat, MFT Die-namics Fresh Cut Grass, Die-namites Leafy Flourish, Poppystamps Spider Banner  Other:  Sizzix Brick Wall embossing folder, rhinestone, Wink of Stella, white acrylic paint