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

1, 2, 3 Snowpeople for Christmas in July

Greetings, friends!  I couldn't let July get away from me without some Christmas cards, could I?  The CAS Christmas Challenge reminded me to finally play with The Snow Notes from Spellbinders which I loved at first sight and promptly added to my not-yet-used basket... and there they sat until now.

The first is a solitary snowman, hopefully CAS enough for the challenge.  I embossed with Tim Holtz Sizzix Snowfall folder and tucked him into a snow bank made with Poppystamps Stitched Cloudline.

CAS Christmas Challenge -- Snowman

The second card, below, is possibly my favorite.  The two of them are belting out a song which I'm sure is their sentiments exactly.  More of the Stitched Cloudline -- above them for clouds and below them for snow.  The falling snow comes from the button holes of all six snowpeople.

Last, but not least, we have all three of them caroling their hearts out.  The Starry Night is a Taylored Expressions cutting plate from way back.  Hmmm... maybe this one is my favorite?  I can't decide, not that it matters anyway.  They look somewhat like they're caroling in the clouds.  Snow angels?  

The three carolers are representing The Snow Notes as my never before used schtuff in Darnell's NBUS Challenge #88 -- Mutual Appreciation Celebration.  Check it out!

Total Christmas cards in the box:  20

This crafty interlude was a whole lot of fun!  I balk at making Christmas cards this time of year, but once I sit down to it I really enjoy it, especially when I've got something cute to work with.

Thank you, everyone, for stopping by.  Take care of yourselves and have a wonderful day!

Christmas Dove for May

Hi friends!  I have failed this month to reach my goal of two or more Christmas cards, but I do have one, and it's made with oldies I uncovered during the extensive cleaning, tidying, organizing project I've undertaken in my craft room.  The most time consuming project is the process of consolidating my dies to group several dies or die sets onto one magnetic sheet.  I'll have to share more on that later, but it's saving a lot of space and looking much tidier.  It's a long process and I'm not even done with the birds yet.  There are a LOT more letters in the alphabet!

Anyway, that's where this card comes in.  I found two doves already made up and sitting with the die in its envelope.  Per this organizing project I'm no longer keeping the spare cuts in with their dies because that was adding bulk, so there goes another whole job of organizing the spare parts.  In this case I decided to simply layer the two doves and make a card.

At the start of the project I went through all the dies to see what I might possibly relinquish.  There are currently 10 die sets sitting on the give-away pile, and this wreath was up for consideration, but I decided its time has not yet come.  When I opened its envelope I found one wreath cut in green, so I cut another in white and layered it.  To make the die appear more dimensional I Copic colored just the bow (it's all one die), then went over the bow with a Ranger Distress Embossing pen and embossed with clear powder.

The sentiment was already stamped, cut, and waiting.  In the photo below you can almost see that the card base was stamped in Versamark with my old SU Flannel Plaid background and embossed with clear powder.  It makes for a glossy textured card front with a hint of pattern, much more visible in real life (and actually very cool).  Put it all together and there's one more Christmas card for the box.

That's lots of talk for one rather simple card, but there's so much more to this craft than just putting a card together.  The thing is, I love all of it -- shopping, creating, organizing, sharing.  I feel so fortunate to have such an interest.  How about you?

Total Christmas cards in the box:  14

Happily, I'm able to play along with Jo and Guest Joanne in the Christmas Kickstart Challenge this month as their theme is Season's Tweetings.  I do have a bird or two in my collection (ahem).

Thanks for putting up with me.  Stay crafty, my friends!

Stamps:  Poppystamps Christmas Banners (dies included), SU Flannel Plaid  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 & 110 lb, SU Always Artichoke (bottom wreath layer)  Ink:  SU Real Red for sentiment, Versamark for Flannel Plaid background (barely visible on card base)  Coloring:  Copics for bow  Dies:  Cheery Lynn Peace Dove, Tutti Designs Wreath with Bow  Other:  Ranger Distress embossing pen, detail clear embossing powder, Scotch brand foam mounting tape to slightly lift dove's wing and tail

Double D Challenge: Christmas Wrappings

Hello, friends!  Thanksgiving is over and our sights turn to Christmas.  In my home it's more low-key these days, but the spirit and the young-at-heart delight is still evident.  At Double D we're enjoying "Christmas Wrappings" of all kinds -- bows, ribbons, tags, packages.  Even designer paper can become Christmas wrappings for our challenge.  Just have fun with it!

Creative winners are by team vote, and there's a fabulous prize for a random winner:

I went with an oldie but goodie die for this one.  It's an out of business Die-namites die called Hanging Presents.  It couldn't be easier and I suppose that's why I've used it many times over the years.

Cut in gold and hung on Christmas plaid, it makes for a festive card with little effort.  I placed the pop out pieces below each present with a couple more stars down by the sentiment.  I could have made a bunch of these, but I'm terrible about producing multiples... it just doesn't happen.

Do pop over and visit the team at our Christmas Wrappings Double D Challenge.  You'll love the samples and I hope you'll enjoy this theme as much as I did!

Happy holidays!

Three More Cards for Christmas in July

Hello friends!  It's good of you to stop by again.

I was determined to devote a good lot of my July card making time to Christmas.  I can't say I made as much progress as I'd hoped, but with these cards I've managed seven for Christmas in July.  It's better than zero.

I focused on not yet used Cottage Cutz again.  These are somewhat simple cards, certainly as compared to my usual.  Nevertheless, they were fun to make and I think rather pretty.  First a window with overhead branches and a little birdie perched on the sill.

I stippled the pine branch corners with white acrylic paint, and applied Stickles glitter to the sill and window pane corners.  Behind the widow is vellum colored on the backside with Copic markers.

The next two cards feature ornaments cut from glitter cardstock.  In the background is one of my new favorite embossing folders from a Spellbinders warehouse sale -- Pinecones & Berries.  The sentiment is an oldie from Stampin' Up.

All the cards are mini-slimline, 3 1/2" x 6".  I like this size as it fits in a standard envelope with no extra postage.

I think that wraps it up for Christmas in July... or not.  We'll see what happens next week.  Believe it or not, I will be back with one more card tomorrow.  Have a happy day!

Stamps:  Retired Stampin' Up  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 110 lb, coppery gold for ornaments, vellum, green scraps for pine bough corners  Ink:  SU Garden Green for sentiments  Coloring:  Copics on vellum for window  Dies:  Cottage Cutz Classic Arched Window, Partridge, Angel 1, Poppystamps Whittle Birds, Wispy Pine Needle Corner, Spellbinders Classic Long Rectangles  Other:  Spellbinders Pinecones & Berries embossing folder, white acrylic paint, Diamond Stickles

Butterflies -- Two Cards, Three Challenges

Hi, friends!  I'm happy to be back near the end of a busy week which didn't allow much time in my craft room.  I feel much better having finished these two clean and simple cards.

When I saw the Can You Handle the Pressure Challenge with the optional twist of butterflies I immediately pulled out one of my oldest embossing folders.  It's still such a pretty thing!

Firstly, I embossed, then watercolored with Stampin' Up Cameo Coral ink on hot press watercolor paper.  The fine lines and dots were colored with a Copic marker.  Also, the insides of the butterflies' wings were done with gray Copics which gives them that soft, almost vellum-like appearance.  All the dots were sparkled with Stickles Diamond glitter glue.

I somehow managed to smudge the sentiment with my fingers and then transferred more smudges here and there on the card front.  Hence, four extra dots were punched and added.  Can you spot them?

Darice Butterflies in Corner embossing folder
Altenew Wishing You sentiment

I'll be sending the first card to the following challenges:

Can You Handle the Pressure? -- Anything goes with an embossing folder, or optional twist of butterflies.
Neglected Stuff -- It's been years since I used this Butterflies in Corner embossing folder.

 

Card #2 was not destined to happen until I saw Michele's sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.  I always love their sketches, but a one week challenge is difficult for me to manage unless all the stars line up just right.  In this case I had an extra embossed panel of Cameo Coral which I'd cut down for the spare parts drawer.

Memory Box Wooden Alpha
Tim Holtz Sizzix Snowfall embossing folder

I flipped the sketch to the opposite side, and my butterfly curve is a border rather than a free-standing element, but I hope it's still okay.  I brought the Snowfall embossing in from the side which looks very cool in real, but sorry it doesn't show up more in the picture.

Here's the challenge link and the sketch:

Freshly Made Sketches #691

Well, this was fun!  I appreciate how challenges bring out the old familiars from my toybox.  Thanks, everyone!  Have a great weekend!

Love Blooms in Purple

Hello and welcome back!

Sometimes it just has to be a simple splash of color against an all white background.  More of my Penny Black Love Blooms flowers today.  So quick and easy.  Colored with Tombows and blender.

 

It's nearly impossible to see in the photo, but the white card base is woodgrain.   I stamped a Penny Black Super Day sentiment and called it done.  Maybe this saves time for some of those other cards that take all morning to finish, sheesh.

Have a happy day!

Double D Challenge: Winter

 

Hello friends!  Is it cold yet where you are?  We're feeling the chill here on the Oregon coast.  Double D Darlene is asking us to "Get Ready for Winter" today.  The inspiration board makes me shiver just looking at it:

 

When you visit the challenge blog you'll learn about the prize that's up a random winner (pictured below).  There are always creative winners as well.

Brrrr.  The two friends I chose to depict on my card are perfectly happy to be sitting in the snow, gazing at the stars above.  I think they're the sweetest -- Penny Black Star Gazing Friends.

First, I want to tell you about the sentiment.  It comes from the inside of a commercial Christmas card which I received as a gift from a charity to which we donate.  Ordinarily I pass those cards along to a friend, but this time I thought I might like to use some of the inside sentiment panels.  There is dark printing on the back of the panel which could be seen easily when held up to the light, so I had to layer the arch onto another arch and then mount it on a colored card base.  It worked out fine.

Aren't they just perfect with the sentiment?   I stamped in Memento London Fog and ink blended the background.  By blending around the stars and characters it left just the right amount of glow.  Coloring was done with Prismacolor pencils because it was the only thing that worked on this paper.  Lastly, I sprayed lightly with sheer shimmer sparkle.

It's a simple card with no embellishment.  Just peaceful.

Come see all the chilly beauty the team is sharing at Double D.  I hope you'll find time to play along.  Happy holidays, including the upcoming Thanksgiving in the US.  Enjoy!

Stamps:  Penny Black Star Gazing Friends  Paper:  Main image panel cut from commercial card, sentiment included, Stampin' Up Night of Navy  Ink:  Memento London Fog, SU Bashful Blue and Night of Navy  Coloring:  Prismacolor pencils and Gamsol odorless mineral spirits  Other:  Spellbinders Essential Arches, Imagine Sheer Shimmer Sparkle spray, SU Subtle embossing folder for card base

Umbrellas are Not Just for Rain

Hello, and welcome to a new week on the blog!

It's still autumn and though I need to double down on the Christmas cards, I took the time to make a card that won't even be sent till next year.  It's good to have extras in the box.  This is one of those simple cards -- stamp and do some quick coloring with Tombows and blender.

I stenciled the background and added a sentiment.  Gave it the narrowest red border.  The stamps are Penny Black and the stencil is a Creative Expressions mini.  Everything is listed in the recipe.  Sometimes I think I talk too much, so I'm keeping this brief.

I had the following challenges in mind for this card:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge -- It's "anything goes" with the option to "make a scene".  Well, you know how I love to make a scene, but I held back this time.
Stencil Fun Challenge -- Anything goes with the option to "make it sparkle or shine".  No sparkle or shine for me today.
NBUS Challenge #68 -- Never before used schtuff.  The Penny Black Fall Breeze stamp is new to me and being used for the first time.

 

That's all, folks!  See you here again real soon.  May your day be filled with beauty!

Stamps:  Penny Black Fall Breeze and Super Day  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot pressed watercolor, red, Neenah white  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black and Rich Cocoa, Distress Tea Dye (for stenciled bricks)  Coloring:  Tombows and blender  Other:  Creative Expressions Brick Wall mini-stencil

Double D Challenge: Nautical

Hi everyone!  A new Double D challenge starts today.  Here's Diane's fabulous board and a prize.  I love it all to pieces!

I was inspired to make something relatively clean and simple with a mix of dies and stamps.  No coloring, just colored cardstock.  It was rather nice for a change!

Penny Black Immense Enjoyment die and Enjoy Builder stamp set.  Two layers.
Impression Obsession Sailboats.
Frantic Stamper Making Waves.  I cut right across the card front, then separated the pieces, backed with the same blue as the big "enjoy".  Smaller wave dies from the set were used inside the immense "O".

I borrowed a banner die from a Poppystamps sentiment set, and those little black stars popped out of a background I cut for a Christmas card a while back.

That's the gist of it.

Come see the team's inspired samples at Double D.  Play for fun and maybe you'll win a prize or become a top favorite in the process.  Enjoy!

Christmas Fun

Hi there!  Just for fun today I'm playing along with the Christmas Kickstart Challenge #87 where the prompt this month is "It's a Gift".  I sure do have a LOT of stamps I could have used for this, but I chose one of my not yet used Penny Black critters because I think it's just so darn cute.  It worked out nicely for a clean and simple card with only the stitched border to frame it.

The critters were stamped on watercolor paper and colored with Tombow markers and blender.  I added a sprinkling of my new favorite thing -- homemade resin dots.  Per usual I punched 1/4" and 1/8" circles, glued in place, and coated with Diamond Glaze.  In the close up you may be able to see that I used patterned paper for the dots.  The sentiment is retired Power Poppy.  "Oh, what fun" is exactly what I was thinking while making this card!

I'll link up with the two challenges I'm playing in today:

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #87 -- It's a Gift
NUBS Challenge #63 -- Never before used Penny Black Christmas Fun stamp

 

I'm so glad you could stop by today.  I do love visitors!

Stamps:  Penny Black Christmas Fun, Power Poppy sentiment (retired)  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot pressed watercolor, scraps designer paper  Ink:  Palette Noir  Coloring:  Tombow markers and blender  Other:  Lil' Inker Silly Stitched Die Set (out of business), 1/4" & 18" punches, Judikins Diamond Glaze