Double D Challenge: Pretty in Pink

Hello and welcome!

We're doing PINK this time around for the Double D Challenge.  Have a look at our inspiration board:

I was inspired to pull out my Spellbinders Truckin' through the Seasons die and make a Valentine.  It can't hurt to think ahead!

Everything here is Spellbinders except the sentiment.  I filled that truck so full of hearts and flowers you can barely see the cab.  There's Diamond Glaze on the tail lights, the flower centers, and the dotty accents.  The cute embossed background is Spellbinders Spring Burst 3D folder, out of the NBUS basket for the first time.

The months are going by so fast, aren't they?  Pretty soon it will be spring again, sheesh!  

I think you'll enjoy all the pretty in pink goodness the team has to share at Double D.  Come along and play with us!

Have a beautiful day!

Dies:  Spellbinders Truckin' through the Seasons, Whimsical Blooms, Classic Hearts, Scalloped Hearts, Big Scalloped Ovals, Classic Ovals  Other:  Spellbinders Spring Burst 3D embossing folder, Stickles Stardust glitter, JudiKins Diamond Glaze, 1/4" & 1/8" hole punches

Christmas in September -- Six Cards

Hello on a Saturday!

It's been a whirlwind of a week and whatever crafty time I had available was spent making the six Christmas cards I'm sharing today.  It all started with Jo's Christmas Kickstart Challenge #114 -- Reindeer Games.  That sounded like fun to me!

I chose my previously enjoyed Cottage Cutz Santa w/Reindeer Buddy.  You can use Santa and the reindeer together or separately.  I cut the whole works four times and proceeded firstly with the two joyfully cavorting reindeer pals.  This is the card I'm sending to Christmas Kickstart.

Card base embossed with TH Sizzix Lumber 3D EF, Hero Arts Wood Frame (spare part)

Each of the reindeer cards also feature Tim's Holtz Sizzix Big Tidings and various spare parts.  I was determined to use as many spare parts as possible, therefore all three designs are different.  I believe this next card is my favorite.

The yellow background, black Waffle Flower Dreamy Frame, and smallest white stars are all spare parts.

All the reindeer appear a little bug-eyed due to my heavy hand when applying white acrylic paint for the eye glint.  Oops.  Do they look like they've been drinking?

I managed to use a little more designer paper on the next card.

Poppystamps Wispy Pine Needle Corner and Spellbinders Blossom Nestabilities are both spare parts.

I finished up with three identical Santa cards.  Each Santa has a snowflake on his beard, strategically placed to cover a smudge.  Hmmm, maybe these are my favorites.  Santa is just such a fun and happy guy!

Penny Black Crystal Frame, Memory Box Pretty Presents,
Impression Obsession Ho Ho Ho and Small Snowflake Set

Total Christmas cards in the box:  29

Along with my cavorting reindeer I'm sending thanks to Jo and her elf, Loll, at Christmas Kickstart for prompting me to get a few more cards in the box.  Thank you, too, for visiting.  Have a happy weekend!

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

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

Whimsical Houses for Three Occasions

Greetings friends!  I haven't had this much fun playing house in a long time!

In June I bought the entire Whimsical Village Collection by Vicki Papaioannou for Spellbinders.  They went straight to my use-next basket and here we are at the end of August and I'm just now getting around to them.  I LOVE them!  For each card I brought in a little something extra from the toy box.  See under each picture for noteworthy mentions.

***  FALL  ***

Spellbinders Whimsical Houses, Village Companions (clouds & dog), Whimsical Wishes sentiment
Poppystamps Stitched Landscapes, Cottage Cutz Fall Barrel (sunflowers)

***  HALLOWEEN  ***

SB Whimsical Village, PS Stitched Landscape & Stitched Cloudline
Cheery Lynn (long since out of business) Happy Halloween
Ghost sequins
(The Happy Halloween and the cloudy background were both spare parts --hooray for spare parts!

***  CHRISTMAS  ***

SB Whimsical Houses, Whimsical Wishes, Whimsical Skies 3D embossing folder + white ink
Memory Box Slender Pine Trees, Poppystamps Stitched Landscapes

Total Christmas cards in the box:  23

I had way too much fun playing with this collection and getting three more cards done for the upcoming busy cardmaking season.  I meant for the first card to be for Thanksgiving, but as soon as I glued down the sunflowers I realized they would not be in bloom in late November.  Oh, well, a fall card is good, too!

Challenges:

NBUS Challenge #89.  Everything from the Whimsical Village Collection is never before used schtuff.
Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge.  Anything goes or be inspired by the mood board.
Peace on Earth Challenge #118.  Anything goes or be inspired by the mood board.

 

Thank you!  Happy crafting!  

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

Magnolia Wreath

Hello there!  I was on my way to making something else entirely when a magnolia wreath happened instead.  I can't tell you what a common occurrence that is in my craft room.  I believe I was looking for foliage in my spare parts at the time.  Ah, well, no regrets.

This will be for a local friend's September birthday, and she won't care one whit that the flowers are entirely out of season.

I used all the spare leaves left over from past cutting of my Memory Box Curved Magnolia Branch.  I just added ink and arranged on a die cut circle.  Behind the flowers I have bits of The Greetery Pine Bough in white, and a super oldie Spellbinders Floral Flourishes which was also in my spare parts already embossed in gold.

For the front and inside sentiments I happily broke out a brand new Simon Says Stamp set -- Daisy Frame.  The set with dies is worth it for the sentiments alone, but I can't wait to color the pretty flowers that come with it, too!  Oh, if only I had more time in my craft room!

I'll play along in the the AAA Birthday Challenge #88 where their theme this month is "flowers".

I'm also just in time to play with the girls at Just Us Girls Challenge #835 -- Die Week.

 

Thanks everyone!  I'm glad we could visit today!

Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp Daisy Frame sentiment  Paper:  Hammermill Premium 100 lb white, pale pink Bazzill  Ink:  Stampin' Up Old Olive, Close to Cocoa, Barely Banana, Pretty in Pink, Versamark for sentiment  Coloring:  Ink blending with brushes  Dies:  Memory Box Curved Magnolia Branch, The Greetery Pine Bough, Spellbinders Floral Flourishes  Other:  Ranger Princess Gold embossing powder, foam tape to pop up one flower

Magical Fuchsia

Greetings, friends!  How about wrapping up the week with some fuchsias?  Spellbinders Layered Magical Fuchsia embossing folder and stencil to be exact.  After my first attempt at stenciling was a big flop, I decided to simply emboss and then color with Copics.  It's brighter than I had intended, but still pretty.

Hammermill 100 lb white, Spellbinders Essential Arches,
Brutus Monroe Spring Splatter Designer paper

I added a retired Power Poppy sentiment and a few clear gems, and brushed the arched panel with SU Soft Sky and Certainly Celery. 

*********

Pictured below is the only halfway usable picture I managed of Stenciling Attempt #2.  I followed my friend Pam's lead for the second card.  I embossed first, then stenciled, but still didn't like it so I brushed over the image with brown ink -- SU Creamy Caramel.  Not the same ink Pam used, and I went a lot darker because I was rather liking it.  Later I had to remove some of the ink from around the fuchsias by splattering water, then brushing with water and pressing with a paper towel.

I inset the gold sentiment and splattered the image panel with gold paint.  We'll call it vintage.  The cover panel is SU Blackberry Bliss.  I love that color, but have barely touched it.  I'm thinking I should use it more often.

Spellbinders Essential Stylish Ovals, sentiment from SB Stylish Oval Hello You Floral,
SB Infinity Punch & Pierce Plate

That's it for me and my Magical Fucshia today.  I'm working on more fuchsias for later.  Some other cards may come along first, though.  There are so many fun things in my use-next basket!

Have a magical day!

Red Daisies on Black for The Color Hues Challenge

Hi there!  I didn't feel right about putting the daisies away without using them in the manner that first attracted me, so here they are, filling up the card and popping in red and white on black.  This one's for The Color Hues Challenge.

I added a favorite sentiment and a pretty little butterfly.  It's different, but I think I like it.

Not much talk today.  You probably don't mind, do you?  Sophie is laying in my craft room doorway making sad, neglected puppy noises which means it's past time for our walk.

Thanks for sharing your time with me.  Have an amazing day!

Stamps:  Rubbernecker Smiles and Thinks of You  Paper:  Hammermill Premium 100 lb white, black cardstock  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Up Real Red  Coloring:  Ink blending with brushes  Dies:  Spellbinders Fresh Picked Daisies, Impression Obsession Medium Butterflies, Spellbinders Long Classic Rectangles  Other:  Three tiny red pearls on the butterfly's body

Birthday Wishes

Hello again!  Wrapping up the week with a second-time use of these Spellbinders flowers.  They're so easy I could go on and on with them, and maybe I will when my not-yet-used baskets are empty.  In my dreams, right? 

The embossing folder, circle dies, and sentiment are all Spellbinders, too.  For the yellow embossed panel I used a double sided sticky sheet to adhere thin vellum to SU's Barely Banana cardstock.  The reason I ever started doing this with the vellum and sticky sheets in the first place is because I have a whole pack of vellum that's way too thin, and I have a whole pack of sticky sheets that I can't imagine ever using up, so I put them together and it's magical!

Moving along...  I've been very busy both in and out of my stamp room lately and I have a tidy garden and a surprising lot of cards to show for it.  I hope I'll be back with more soon.

Today I'd like to play along at The Sisterhood of Crafters where the theme this month is flowers.  They have a really cute inspiration board:

I'm so glad you stopped by.  Take care and have a happy day!

Stamps:  Spellbinders Very Best Wishes with dies  Paper:  Hammermill 100 lb premium white, Stampin' Up Barely Banana, very lightweight vellum  Ink:  Stampin' Up Regal Rose, Rose Red, Blue Bayou, Memento Tuxedo Black  Coloring:  Ink Blending with brushes  Dies:  Spellbinders Stylish Oval Hello You Floral, Blossom Nestabilities, Standard Circles Small  Other:  Double sided adhesive sheet, Memory Box Fairy Jewels, dimensional foam dots, Spellbinders Criss Cross Motif 3D embossing folder

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!