Mushrooms for Autumn

Hello everyone!  I'm happy to share my first fall card of the (almost) season.  We still have a few days of summer left so I'm not letting it go yet, but I do love fall cards.

I've had this Spellbinders Mushrooms From Me To You 3D emboss & cut folder for approximately a year.  I bought the Scallop Labels and Tag dies at the same time and have used them quite a lot, but this is the first time for the mushrooms.  I don't have a good excuse for why I waited so long.  It's so cool how it works!  The dies go right into the folder with the paper so it literally cuts and embosses at the same time.  I guess I was under a rock again because I did not expect that.

So this is my result after simultaneously cutting and embossing, then "painting" with Tombow markers and blender, and embossing again just for good measure.  After all that I decided to smoosh it all over with Versamark ink and emboss with ultra-thick embossing enamel.  Loved it.  Slipped it into the folder and embossed again.

I embossed the entire folded grocer's kraft card base with my Tim Holtz Lumber 3D embossing folder.  Lined the inside with vanilla cardstock and will save the sentiment for later.

With all this embossing going on I naturally want to share in the Can You Handle the Pressure Challenge.  It's plain to see I did not go with the optional "Balloons" twist.

I'm also sharing in the following challenges:

The Four Seasons Challenge -- Fall
NBUS Challenge #78 -- Never before used schtuff -- Mushrooms From Me To You 3D emboss & cut folder

  

Thanks so much for visiting.  It's been busy as ever here, especially now that Ridley has joined the family.  Two Golden Retrievers are definitely better than one!  Have a happy day!

Stamps:  None  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, Stampin' Up Old Olive, grocers kraft, Cougar Vanilla  Ink:  Versamark for wet embossing  Coloring:  Tombow markers and blender  Other:  Spellbinders Mushrooms From Me To You 3D emboss and cut folder, Tim Holtz Sizzix Lumber 3D embossing folder, Spellbinders Scallop Labels and Tag dies, Ranger Ultra-Thick Embossing Enamel

Double D Challenge: Music Theme

 

What a fun challenge the Double Ds have for us today!  It's a music theme, as I'm sure you've already determined, but there are so many possibilities -- sheet music, musical instruments, singers and songs (be sure to tell us which song you've used) -- let your imagination have fun with it!

As always there's a prize for a random winner.  Today it's a cool Spellbinders Cable Knit stencil.  Creative favorites are voted on by the team.

At this point I'm taking every opportunity to get another Christmas card done, and I had all kinds of fun putting this one together.  I've used a Memory Box bear, landscape, and sentiment, with an oldie music border die overhead.  The music border had been cut from an inky, glossy background and set aside, forgotten, long ago.  It's what determined my color scheme, and I'm all the happier for it!

You're probably familiar with the song, "Winter Wonderland".  My bear might be happier on an ice floe, but she seems to be enjoying the current change of scenery.  What's a winter wonderland without a little sparkle?  You may not be able to see it in the photo, but I added red Stickles to the holly berries, and Diamond Stickles to the landscape.

Sometimes card making is almost too much fun!

Have a look at the fabulous inspiration the Double D team is sharing.  I hope you'll sing along with us!

Have a beautiful day!

Stamps:  Memory Box Holiday Wishes  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 & 110 lb  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Up Bashful Blue  Coloring:  Copics  Dies:  Memory Box Wintertime Bear, Evergreen Sky Collage, Yvonne Creations Holly Jolly Music Border  Other:  Diamond and Candy Cane Stickles

Guest Designing with Christmas Kickstart -- Sept. 2025

 

Hello there, and happy September!  I'm honored to be guest designing with Jo at Christmas Kickstart this month.  We're going to have all kinds of fun playing with Santa!

 

I had a few new-to-me-not-yet-used Santas in my collection, mostly from last year, but one or two from this year as well.  I used three of them in an earlier post, and Jo's challenge will see to it that I use the rest of them.  Well... maybe with one tiny little Santa left over.

Today I'm using last year's Layered Festive Santa from Memory Box.  In fact, all the dies and the sentiment are Memory Box.  Everything is listed in the recipe at the end.  There are a lot of parts to this guy, but a lot of fun, as well, if you enjoy that sort of thing, and you know I do enjoy it.

All coloring is Copics, except the presents which were cut from designer paper.  They're a separate die set and not just for Christmas.  With all these parts to deal with I didn't do anything special with the coloring.  The die parts are intended to create their own shading.

That's about the gist of it.  I do have two posts today, a few hours apart.  I'd rather not pile them up on top of each other, but it's just the way it worked out.  I hope you'll see both.

Now I'm hoping I'll see your Santa over at the Christmas Kickstart Challenge!  Have a happy day!

Stamps:  Memory Box Holiday Wishes with die  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 & 110 lb, scraps designer paper  Ink:  Ranger Archival Watering Can for sentiment  Coloring:  Copics  Dies:  Memory Box Layered Festive Santa, Pretty Presents, Oval Master Frame  Other:  Tim Holtz Sizzix Snowfall embossing folder

Double D Challenge: Butterflies

Is there a soul among us who doesn't love the sight of a beautiful butterfly?  That's our challenge at Double D this time around.  Have a look at our gorgeous inspiration board:

So many colors to delight the eye!

The DDs offer a prize for a random winner, and the team votes on creative favorites.

I played off the blue and pink in the upper left corner of the board.  My butterfly is an oldie by Impression Obsession.  The die cuts the open scroll, but I managed to keep the inner parts together long enough to secure a solid background.  It's cut from shimmery paper and brushed with inks.

What better place to alight than a rose garden?  It's Tim Holtz Sizzix Roses 3D embossing folder, a gift from a dear local friend who knew I would love it.  I'm using it for the first time here, brushed with inks and a butterfly-appropriate sentiment stamped in the corner.

Do stop by the Double D blog to enjoy all the team's butterflies, and then show us yours!

Take care, and have a wonderful day!

Stamps:  Power Poppy Lilac Time sentiment  Paper:  White shimmer CS for butterfly, Neenah 110 lb white for embossed panel and card base  Ink:  Stampin' Up Brilliant Blue, Bashful Blue, Old Olive, Certainly Celery, Mauve Mist, Memento Tuxedo Black  Other:  Impression Obsession Open Scroll Butterfly, Tim Holtz Sizzix Roses embossing folder, black gem

Guesting with Color Hues Challenge: Blue and Red

Hello crafty friends!  I'm having some fun today -- guesting with the Color Hues Challenge!  I was so pleased with the invitation and couldn't wait to get started.

As you can see, our colors for this challenge are blue and red, with neutrals welcome as well.  I can't help but think "nautical" when I see these colors, and I had the perfect guy for the theme.  I'm so glad to bring him out for his first play!

I joined the Spellbinders Small Die of the Month Club just so I could have the Shipmates set.  I definitely do not have a Walrus in my collection and I think he's so cute!  There's a seagull in the set, too.  Quite a deal I thought, and bigger than I expected.  He fills up the card quite nicely!  The anchor and sentiment are separate.  I fell back on my trusty (older) Mintay Marina paper for the background.

Check out the amazing samples by the Color Hues team, and then show us your blue and red.  It'll be fun!  Have a happy day!

Stamps:  Stampendous Ocean Sayings  Paper:  Stampin' Up Brilliant Blue and Real Red, neutral color scraps, Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 110 lb, Mintay Marina designer paper  Ink:  Real Red for sentiment, other matching for sponging  Dies:  Spellbinders Shipmates, Memory Box Stitched Circle Layers, KaiserCraft Anchors  Other:  Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Orange Sunshine

Hello friends!  I'd better get this last (for now) citrus card on the blog before I forget.  It's a single orange this time with a mix of dies from my stash.  Again with those improbably bright leaves courtesy of some very old Stampin' Up colors.

I pulled together a leafy background, scalloped border, and a very fun sentiment by Impression Obsession with sunrays from a Cottage Cutz set.  Lots of ink blending and some sparkle on the foreground dies splash against a very white background.

That's all for today.  I've got a lot of different things grabbing my time and attention right now, but you know I'll be back here again soon.  Can't stop those crafty hands!  I hope you all keep on crafting, too.

Group hug!

Stamps:  Impression Obsession Sending You Sunshine stamp & die combo for sentiment  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 110 lb  Ink:  Stampin' Up Gable Green, Green Galore, Summer Sun, Tangerine Tango  Coloring:  Ink blending with brushes  Dies:  Elizabeth Craft Fresh Fruit, Creative Expressions Leafy Frame, Impression Obsession Heart Scroll Valance, Cottage Cutz Hello Sunshine (sunrays only)  Other:  Diamond Stickles, Memory Box Fairy Jewels

Double D Challenge: Bee Happy

Hello and welcome to another Double D Challenge!  This one is all about the bees and bee-ing happy.  Have a look at our inspiration board:

And a prize for a random winner.  So cute!  Creative favorites are by team vote.

The idea is to use bees and/or the word "happy" on your card or project.  The concept automatically evokes happy thoughts of summertime, flowers, honey, warm colors -- so today I'm celebrating all of it with my card.

It's another opportunity to sit back and let the designer paper do most of the work.  Kinda sorta.  I started with a background of beautiful paper, added a decorative panel, and cut a trio of pieces from another page to place across the front.  It's a formula that always works and I could make a bunch and love them all.  Hmmm... maybe I will.  Heaven knows I've got plenty of designer paper!

Aren't those little die cut bees cute?  They're Memory Box Buzzing Bumblebees.  I was certain they'd be great for flower cards so I added them to my collection last summer and it only took me a year to get around to actually using them, sheesh.  Now I love them!  I made up a double batch so I'd be sure to use them again soonish.

The Double D team has all kinds of inspiration for you and I hope you'll play along.  I would love a gallery full of bee and/or happy cards!

Have a super day!

Stamps:  None except inside sentiment  Paper:  Cougar Natural for card base and bees, Memory Box Parsley, Paper Rose Bees & Butterflies designer paper  Coloring:  Copics for die cut bees  Other:  Impression Obsession Fancy Cut Out Border, Memory Box Buzzing Bumblebees, 49 and Market epoxy heart

Winged Creatures and Gorgeous Paper

Hello and happy Friday!  Yesterday I said I would have one more card today.  As it turns out, I have two.  It's all about the designer paper today, specifically Ciao Bella Sicilia, chosen for these cards because it prominently features lemons and all that beautiful yellow.  You know I love yellow!

Do you see the lemon slices around the edges?  I cut this 6x6 piece down to 5 1/4" square to cover the card, then simply added the die cuts -- Memory Box Serene Bird and Branch, and Sue Wilson Creative Expressions Just a Note.

The second card is another piece that did most of the work, but I did add a border for contrast, and a pretty dragonfly and sentiment -- Memory Box Azure Dragonflies, and Sue Wilson Creative Expressions Stacked Thinking of You.

This wraps up a week of citrus and Christmas.  It's a lot more crafting than I normally accomplish in a week, but I had some extra down time due to back and foot pain.  I'm fine, just had to limit certain activities, and am now feeling quite a bit better.

I'm happy to be playing along in the following inspiring challenge today:

Love Those Pretty Papers -- Anything goes with designer papers, or optional 'birthday'.

I keep saying I'm going to make a point of playing with my paper more often.  The Vast Hoard is overflowing with gorgeousness!

I plan to be back tomorrow with some pics of Sophie and the critters that visit our home on the edge of the woods.  Maybe I'll see you then.  Take care, and have a great weekend!

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

Lemon Branch

Hi there!  Yes, I am back so soon with another citrus card.  This one was inspired by the Color Hues Challenge where Bonnie is asking for yellow and green.  Not only do I love the color combo, but you know I have this new citrus set...

We have lemons today with a combo of sentiments from my stash and the Spellbinders Splish Splash embossing folder.  It's not even real apparent that the embossing is water splashes, and that's what I love about the folder now that I've finally used it for the first time after waiting far too long, sheesh.  I actually wanted it to look more like juicy lemon drops this time, but there's too much yellow and I didn't want to start over.  The thing is, I love how pretty and fun and versatile the folder is and I'll make a point of using it more often in the future.

Pictured below you can see glitter on the flower centers and glossy dots for accent.  The dots are 1/4" and 1/8" punched cardstock coated with Diamond Glaze.

I'll list supplies further down, but first to recap the aforementioned challenge and add one more:

Color Hues Challenge #114 -- Yellow and green.

NBUS Challenge #76 -- My never before used schtuff is the Splish Splash embossing folder.

 

Well, that was fun!  There's another citrus card still to come, but I'll save that for another week.  See you again soon!

Stamps:  Pinkfresh Lemons and Blueberries sentiment  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 & 110 lb, scraps yellow, white, black cardstock  Ink:  SU yellows and greens, Memento Tuxedo Black for sentiment  Coloring:  Ink blending with brushes  Dies:  Elizabeth Craft Fresh Fruit, Sue Wilson Creative Expressions Stacked Happy Birthday, Spellbinders Scallop Labels and Tag, small rectangle from stash  Other:  Spellbinders Splish Splash embossing folder, Diamond Stickles, 1/8" and 1/4" hole punches, JudiKins Diamond Glaze