Thanksgiving Rescue

Hi there!  I decided to make a Thanksgiving card with a not-yet-used stamp which I thought was so cute and would be fun to color.  Sure enough, it was fun!  However, something about the stamp got to bothering me as I was coloring... I don't know why I didn't think about it before:  The turkey is alive and plucked and laying in a roasting pan!

I know it's all for fun, but at that point I couldn't unsee it.  With the "grateful for you" sentiment in a speech bubble I hoped to convey the impression that the dog had rescued the turkey from... well... you know.  Now they're running off to enjoy the pie together.  Whatever.

I watercolored with some paints that came free in a kit, plus some Stampin' Up inks, and a Tombow marker or two.  Played with designer paper and an older embossing folder, added white splatters and a twine bow.

I'm sorry to be rushing off, but that's how my week has been.  Our son came to visit over the weekend, and I'll be out of town for a few days this week.  It's been busy, but fun.  Pictured below is Saturday's outdoor excursion with Sophie and Ridley:

We were in the dunes again.  There's so much room to run and explore.  My beautiful children.  I'll miss snuggling and loving on them for the next few days as they're staying home with Rich (😔).

I'll catch up with you later.  Till then... have a wonderful week!

Stamps:  Purple Onion Designs Thanksgiving is here, Impression Obsession Grateful for You  Paper:  Arches 140 lb cold press watercolor, Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White, DCWV Fall Forest designer paper  Ink:  Ranger Archival Jet Black, various other  Coloring:  Watercolor  Other:  SU embossing folder (name forgotten), Impression Obsession Small Leaf Set, Cottage Cutz speech bubble from Telephone set, Scotch brand foam mounting tape to pop up sentiment

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!

Weekend Update

When you don't have grandkids... 

I hope you don't mind a few photos of my other obsession -- Sophie and Ridley.  They're the biggest part of my life these days.

Thank goodness for them.  I'd like to think they're living their best life because they sure make mine a whole lot better.

Love

💕

Daffodil Trio

Hello, and welcome to a new week at my happy place!

While spring is still fresh and young I thought I'd color some daffodils.  Those in my garden have long since come and gone, but Penny Black's not-yet-used Flower Scoops from last year will work nicely for a friend's birthday later this month.

The SSS Teardrop Pinpoint Frames on the pretty designer paper provided an extra feminine starting point for the base.  The additional mat was measured and cut with my paper trimmer, and the corners punched with an oldie but goodie decorative corner rounder.  I brushed the edges with Stampin' Up Mellow Moss ink and stamped a sentiment from another PB set.  Off to a good start!

The daffodil bouquet was colored with Tombow markers and blender on watercolor paper, then hand cut and shaped from the backside with a roller ball type stylus.  It's popped up on foam tape, plump in the middle with the edges curled back.  Three iridescent sequins finish the card.

Speaking of springtime and happy place...

Ridley's happy place is anywhere with a ball.  You can probably guess that on this April day he'd been chasing it quite a bit.  It can be hard to get any work done out there, but he's worth it.  The forsythia has now dropped a lot more blooms as the green leaves push them out of the way to have their turn in the garden.

Challenges today:

Triple B Challenge:  Birds, Butterflies, Blooms  -- Today I have blooms.
NBUS Challenge #85 -- My never before used schtuffs are Penny Black Flower Scoops and Simon Says Stamp Teardrop Pinpoint Frames.  I feel like a broken record as many times as I've linked to this challenge.

 

That's all for today, friends.  Wishing you peace and happiness and plenty of crafty time.  Thank you for visiting!

Stamps:  Penny Black Flower Scoops, Super Day  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, Hammermill Premium 100 lb white, Paper Rose Flower Shoppe designer paper  Ink:  Memento Toffee Crunch for image outline, Memento Tuxedo Black sentiment, SU Mellow Moss shading on mat  Coloring:  Tombow markers and homemade blender  Other:  Simon Says Stamp Teardrop Pinpoint Frames, Marvy decorative corner rounder, iridescent sequins, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Doggie Beach Day

How about a little Sophie and Ridley today?

It was almost like summer last Monday when my son and I took the kids to the beach.  It was Ridley's first time at the actual ocean shore as opposed to the bay and he loved it.  Everything's okay as long as his big sister Sophie is with him.

Low tide and gentle waves on a warm and windless day -- perfection.

I accidently got in over my ankles with my shoes on, so might as well have fun with it.

Ridley is now 10 months old, Sophie 2 1/2 yrs.

The photo below is my favorite of the day with the way they're leaning into each other, sharing their joy.  I never fail to appreciate how lucky I am to have the two of them in my life.

Wishing you a perfect day!

New Year Update

Hello, friends.  Maybe you've noticed the sparseness of my posts lately.  I'm behind in everything and everywhere I turn there's another job to do, another matter to address.  Do not worry, I'm okay, I've made a few cards and will start posting them soon and then I'll be ready to get behind again.  Isn't that the way it goes sometimes?  As Rich's health grows worse there is more required of me.  Just in the last month there has been a big change and I'm still adjusting.  I'd hoped it was a temporary setback, but perhaps not.  Nevertheless, we keep on enjoying what we can whenever we get a chance to do so.

The photo below was taken the Sunday after Christmas when my son and I took Sophie and Ridley for a fun doggie day in the dunes.  My favorite part of the dunes are the woodland trails where we can walk for miles.  Here we had stopped for a rest in a mossy patch.  You can tell the dogs had been having a good time by how their tongues are hanging.  Our Ridley is growing into a fine young man, isn't he?  He's 8 months old now.

Pictured below is Christmas day -- Sophie wants ALL the toys!

That's all I have for now.  Cards are coming soon.

Happy new year!

On the Lookout for Santa

Hello friends!  Just one sweet Anita Jeram card today, aptly named On the Lookout.  I have a very similar picture of my son when he was little, so this one tugs at my heart strings.

I watercolored with my trusty Tombows, matted with red, and then glued to an embossed grocer's kraft card base.  The gold glittery stars were cut from two different Tim Holtz Sizzix sets.  There is also glitter applied to the white stocking trim.

Short and sweet!  The days are full of life stuff and I'm off and running again.  Take care of you and have a beautiful day!

Stamps:  Colorado Craft Company On the Lookout  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico 140 lb hot press watercolor, red CS, grocer's kraft CS, shimmer white for sentiment circle, gold glitter for stars  Ink:  Ranger Archival Watering Can, Memento Tuxedo Black for sentiment  Coloring:  Watercolor with Tombow markers  Other:  Stickles Stardust glitter, Memory Box Pinecone and Berries embossing folder, ancient Spellbinders small circle die, stars from two different TH Sizzix sets

Sunday Moment

Aside from the many activities involved in running a household and managing life in general...  there's mornings in my craft room (they're always with me):

Afternoon in the woods:

Weekend at the bay:

And a spectacular winter sunset view from my front yard:

Just wrapping up the week, keeping in mind the things that bring joy.

I hope you find some joy today.

💓

Taking a Moment

Pausing mid-play in the back yard to appreciate my favorite fall colors... of the furry variety.

💗

Outside my kitchen patio door is the promise of a beautiful day.

Sometimes I just have to take a moment.

Wishing you a beautiful and joy-filled day.

Guest Designing with Just Us Girls

Hi all!  It's an honor and great fun to be guest designing with the team at Just us Girls this month!  Today marks their 800th challenge and that's something to celebrate, so let's get to it!

Some of the team members are offering prizes along the way, so you'll want to be sure and visit all the  blogs and leave them some love to be eligible.

I couldn't help myself... I set aside all the fall and Christmas supplies so I could color up this little Penny Black guy who knows how to have a good time.  Could I possibly be missing summer already? 

I stamped him right over top of my stenciled circle (sun?) and then colored with Copics.  The grass is an oldie from my stash, as is the flower border and polka dot paper.  In fact the dog is an oldie, too, but newish to me as I continue to collect some favorite older Penny Black sets.

I punched dots for the flower centers and to scatter along the image panel.  Keeping it simple, but fun!

Come and play with us at Just Us Girls!  The team has lots of fabulous celebratory samples to inspire you.

Take care and have a joy filled day!

Stamps:  Penny Black Good Times dog and To You sentiment, Posh Impressions Wild Grass  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White, Bazzill kraft, Echo Park designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Up Barely Banana  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Lil' Inker Silly Stitched Die Set, Poppystamps Floral Dotted Border, 1/8" & 1/4" hole punches, JudiKins Diamond Glaze

Endless Summer

Hi there!  Back to card making today and happy to have a good play with some of my newer NBUS.  I started with the Simon Says Stamp Ocean Horizon die which I thought was the coolest thing.  Who knows what will appeal at any given time, but this one really got to me.  I couldn't help but combine it with one of my recently purchased Cottage Cutz super sale items -- Surfer Van.

The Endless Summer is a 1966 semi-documentary film about surfing.  I've never watched all of it, but my Rich has watched it a few times over the years and still watches clips on YouTube now and then.  He was a surfer guy in his youth and he enjoys reliving the thrill of it.  Naturally, I made this card with him in mind.

l tried using this background die three different ways and as far as the application of color goes, this is my favorite.  I cut the die -- it comes out in 16 pieces, including the skinny frame -- then I glued each piece to a separate white panel, and commenced brushing on the inks.  I like the way the edges of each die cut section grabs the ink.  It's subtle, but it makes a difference.  The colors I used are similar to those on the die package.  All Stampin' Up inks.  I'll list them below.  I hand cut a sandy beach on which to park the van.

I'll be sending my endless summer over to the following challenges:

A Cut Above -- Anything goes with dies.
NBUS Challenge #78 -- Never before used schtuff.  As mentioned, the Surfer Van and Ocean Horizon dies are NBUS.

 

Wrapping up now... I'll be back shortly to share what I've made.  Things are hopping here with lots going on and I'm surprised to have made any cards at all, but glad I'm able to manage it somehow.

Take care, and stay cool!

Dies:  Cottage Cutz Surfer Van, Simon Says Stamp Ocean Horizon
Inks:  Stampin' Up (top to bottom) Summer Sun, Pumpkin Pie, Pixie Pink, Melon Mambo, Purely Pomegranate, Cool Caribbean, Not Quite Navy, Creamy Caramel, Gable Green.  Memento Tuxedo Black for sentiment
Coloring:  Ink blending with brushes.  Small parts of van colored with Copic markers