Sunflower and Asters

Greetings friends!  I have fall colors today and another photo-filled post.  This time of year I always try to play with the last of my summer flower purchases.  I don't like to rush so I never catch up, but it doesn't matter... I'll have plenty of flowers left over to brighten the winter days.

Today I have late summer - early fall blooms, starting with a cute little Golden Sunflower that came free with a Simon Says Stamp purchase.  Several sentiments and the butterflies are included in the set.  Very nice!

I used three different stitched dies, a tad bit of designer paper, and a border of leaf ribbon that comes out of the drawer most every fall.  I also pulled out some very old Prismatics Papaya Puree Dark and Prismatics Crabapple Dark cardstock.  Maybe you can see the lightly hammered texture.  The sunflower stamp was colored with Copics, and the image panel brushed with ink.

The next two cards focus on the SSS Daisy Frame set.  Stamped and cut with the matching dies, I thought they could also look like asters or perhaps chrysanthemums if I colored them as such.  I added more texture with Spellbinders Scallops embossing folder.

A rather traditional aster color for the next card.  Simpler, a bit of designer paper for the arched frame, and an old Cuttlebug Diamonds in the Rough embossing folder was used for texture within the frame.  Both asters cards were colored with Tombow markers and blender.

Forgive me for not writing a supply list, but I think I covered the essentials.

I'll be sending my sunflower card to the following challenges:

Triple B Challenge --  always birds, blooms, or butterflies.  The have such a gorgeous yellow inspiration board this month.
NBUS Challenge #90 -- The Golden Sunflower stamp set is my never before used schtuff.

 

Thank you so much for stopping by.  Enjoy your day!

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!

Floral Hug in Blue

Hi friends!  I opened up another of my self-made card kits this week and commenced to coloring and making cards.  This kit's focus is on Penny Black's Floral Vines stamp set with matching dies.  I made three cards, but only sharing one today.  I let the Triple B Challenge be my inspiration this time. You can see their beautiful board at the end of this post.

The flowers are gold embossed and watercolored very simply with Stampin' Up inks.  All the die cuts are double-layered for a little extra dimension, and then placed against a leafy embossed background.

Two of the three cards I made with this kit are to be part of a gift set for a friend.  She likes pretty hand made cards with lots of room to write inside.

I thought I'd share a photo of the "kit", such as it is.  There's nothing especially clever about it.  All the stamps are embossed and ready to color, card bases prepped, and certain design pieces cut and ready.  I had a layout planned for all three cards.  Some of the parts were used for the other two cards, and certain finishing touches were added in later.  The larger single flowers were used for decoration inside the cards.

I have five remaining kits, all focusing on not-yet-used stamps, multiple cards per kit.  I look forward to playing with all of them!

Today's two challenges are as follows:

Triple B Challenge:  Birds, blooms, and/or butterflies
NBUS Challenge #82:  My never before used schtuff is the Penny Black Floral Vines stamp set

 

That's all for now.  I hope to see you again next week.  Have a beautiful day!

Stamps:  Penny Black Floral Vines with matching dies  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White  Ink:  Versamark, Memento Tuxedo Black  Coloring:  Watercolor with Stampin' Up Inks  Other:  Ranger Princess Gold embossing powder, gold cord, Spellbinders Branching Out embossing Folder, SB A2 Devine Eleoquence and Labels Twenty Eight, Impression Obsession Medium Butterflies

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!

Twirling Tulips Twice

Hello and welcome!  It was a beautiful holiday weekend which brought with it a change in the weather and I'm thinking it might stay with us for a while.  I've certainly been enjoying it, and so it stands to reason there's less time in my craft room.  However, it's just enough and I have supplies to last a lifetime.  I probably don't need to tell you how much of it has never yet been used.

When Spellbinders had their most recent Warehouse Sale I picked up a few things.  How could I not indulge in a 3D embossing folder or two for only $3 each?  But wait... the Twirling Tulips folder I used today was only $1 !!!  No matter that it was released a year ago, tulips are always beautiful.  Have a look:

There are no dies with this folder, but all the tulips I used on these two cards came from the folder.  I embossed a 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" sheet of Neenah 110 lb white -- lightly misted on both sides first to avoid cracking -- then cut out all the viable tulips and leaves.  I arranged them on a sticky sheet and colored with Stampin' Up! inks and sponge tipped eye shadow brushes.  I've been using this same set of brushes for a long time.  Rinse, squeeze, and they're ready to go again.

The first card is 4 1/2" x 6".  I covered the card base with an embossed panel of PTI Berry Sorbet, brushed with white pigment ink to enhance the pattern.  The layered Essential Arches were placed low on the card front to allow more of the embossing to show.  Added gems and a sentiment from my stash popped up on an oval.

The second card was made with leftovers which were too pretty to toss:

The decorative oval is from Spellbinders Infinity Punch & Pierce Plate, resting on one of their Essential Stylish Ovals.  The beautiful neutral designer paper is new-to-me Stamperia Dewdrops.  I recently won a $5 GC to A Cherry on Top and figured it would be just the right amount to apply to a paper pad.  Well... I ended up with five paper pads, but I have to say it was some fun shopping and I made wise choices in that all the papers I chose are specifically for backgrounds.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Sharing here:

Can You Handle the Pressure? -- Must use an embossing folder.  Anything goes or optional zoo/jungle animals.  I hoped to do the optional twist, but it remains to be seen if I'll have time.

Lots of talk today, and now I must rush off.  Thank you for visiting; I know you're busy, too.  Have a beautiful day!

Chickadees

Hello and happy Friday to you!

One recent day I was at Simon Says Stamp looking for something else entirely when I spotted the Chickadee Gathering embossing folder.  Well, it had to come home with me as birds are one of my many weaknesses when it comes to craft supplies.  I embossed on hot pressed watercolor paper and watercolored with Tombow markers and Stampin' Up reinkers.

There's a die for the birds which gives slightly more dimension.  When the coloring was finished I had another go at the white splatters.  I didn't want it to look as if it was snowing, but with the splatters and the large white sentiment I hoped to lighten up the overall appearance.  The Thinking of You sentiment is an older one, also Simon Says Stamp.

I'd like to play along in some favorite challenges today:

Triple B -- Birds, blooms, and butterflies.  Use one or all.  It seems I almost always use birds for this challenge.

NBUS Challenge #74 -- Never before used schtuff... that's my Chickadee Gathering embossing folder.

 

 

I'm heading out to the garden now.  The weather has been beautiful and I'm planting pots and puttering in the backyard where the deer can't go.  There's much to be done in the rest of the garden, too.  I'm hoping this spring and summer will be better than last with no unfortunate surprises.

Take care and enjoy your day!

 

Double D Challenge -- Designer Paper

 

Hello friends!  The Double D challenge that begins today is right up my alley in that Diane is asking to see our designer paper.  You all know about The Vast Hoard in my cabinet, right?  Well, let's get started!  First, the inspiration board:

And a prize for a random winner.  The team votes on creative favorites.  Not an easy task considering all the fabulous entries we have to choose from.

The designer paper I selected from The Vast Hoard is Whimsy Stamps gorgeous Floral Impressions.  I don't know if it's still available.  Mine was a gift maybe 2 or 3 years ago.  I have used it before, but today it's really showing off.  I've made three cards, each 4 1/2" x 6" with large die cut sentiments and coordinating cardstocks.  The sentiments are Simon Says Stamp Thinking of You, and Impression Obsession With Sympathy.

Each card is fully lined in white.  They are part of a gift set for a friend whose primary mode of correspondence is newsy letters, preferably written inside a pretty card.  It's just something she loves to do, and I love to make them.

I made two additional cards with this paper, different prints, equally gorgeous, but sorry I didn't spare the time to photograph them.  The days whoosh by too fast, don't they?  These are representing just fine, I think.

My friend recently sent me one of her newsy letters in which she mentioned she needed more cards.  I'll be happy to oblige.

Head over to Double D to see the team's inspiring cards, and then maybe you'll take a stroll through your designer paper and make something to share.

ETA:  Per invitation I'm adding my card to the Word Power Challenge -- Always about focusing on the sentiment

Have a happy day!

Watercolored Pleasant Perch

Hello, friends!  I've been playing around with dies and embossing folders for the last few cards, but now it's time to get back to coloring as I have so many wonderful stamps yet to see ink.  Today it's Penny Black's Pleasant Perch.  This was a birthday gift (October) from a friend who knew exactly how much I would love it.  I think you know I have a great fondness for the outdoors, particularly if there's a forest or fur or feathers involved.

I stamped in Ranger Archival Watering Can and watercolored the bird and branch with only three Tombow markers:  Green 177, blueish-green 249, and brown 969.  I used a black permanent marker on the eye, and white acrylic paint for the eye glint

The background was watercolored with smooshes and splatters of Stampin' Up inks from reinkers -- Creamy Caramel and Brocade Blue.

The sentiment is from another Penny Black set, Thinking of You.

It's not flowery or flamboyant, but this little bird on her piney perch imparts a sense of peace and comfort.  In my real life world I appreciate that.

Pictured below is one of my most appreciated local spots where I can walk for miles and Sophie can run off leash.  This is a winter pond -- dry in the summer, but good for Sophie's splashing and swimming in the winter.

I'll send my card along to the following challenges:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge -- Anything goes or optional "something new".  I'm calling my Pleasant Perch stamp new because this is its first use.
Triple B Challenge -- Anything goes with birds, blooms, or butterflies.  Mood board optional.
NBUS Challenge #70 -- Never before used schtuff.

 

Thank you for visiting!  Wishing you a happy day.

Stamps:  Penny Black Pleasant Perch and Thinking of You  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, grocer's kraft  Ink:  Ranger Archival Watering Can  Coloring:  Watercolor with Tombow markers plus Stampin' Up reinkers for background and splatters, black permanent marker for eye, white acrylic paint for eye dot  Die:  Hero Arts Wood Frame