CAS Christmas Card Challenge Reminder

Hello!  Back again with a mid-month reminder for the CAS Christmas Card Challenge.  We're almost halfway to mailing time and I've got less than half of my Christmas cards done, so any inspiration or encouragement is appreciated.  The prompt this month is "Gifts".

I pulled out a cute oldie Inky Antics stamp set for this one.

Colored with Copics and backed up with a grocer's kraft card base, which is one of my new favorite things.  I added a stripedy holly die cut and some glitter.  Keeping it simple, but fun.

Total Christmas cards so far this year:  20

Hop over to the CAS Christmas Card "Gifts" Challenge to pick up some inspiration and encouragement of your own.  Great samples over there!  It was a treat being guest designer for one of my favorite challenges this month.  Thanks, team!  Have a wonderful day!

Stamps:  Inky Antics Holiday Bazooples #2  Paper:  X-Press It Blending Card, grocer's kraft, Graphic 45 'Twas the Night Before Christmas designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics for coloring  Accessories:  Stickles Stardust glitter glue, red Viva Decor Pearlen Pen and red microfine glitter for holly berries  Dies:  Lil' Inker Silly Stitched Die Set, Cheery Lynn Holly Corner

Hummingbird Paradise

How about some color today and lots of it?  I went right to town as soon as Marcella at Power Poppy made this Hummingbird Paradise digital stamp available.  It's a dream!  Trust me, you don't have to color the whole thing, but I couldn't resist.  I used Prismacolor pencils on the flowers and bird, Copics on the background.  To finish, I dotted here and there with white acrylic paint.

What kind of hummingbird is this?  I have no idea.  I'm hummingbird challenged so I probably mixed a few different types together, but I like blues and greens and it fit right in with the flowers.  I chose pencils for the detail and the ease with which you can blend one color into the next, hoping for an iridescent quality.  I still need a lot of practice, but I'm working on it.

In the next photo you can get a better idea the texture added by the dots of white acrylic paint.

That's a lot of color, isn't it?  What a gorgeous digi set this is.

But wait... that's not all.  Check out Perched in the Orchids, another new digital set at Power Poppy.  I haven't had a chance to color it yet, but hope to before long.  It's already printed and waiting.

I'm heading back to the coloring table.  There's lots going on in my stamp room this month.  Stay well and I'll see you back here soon!

Peaceful Time

It's a most wonderful thing to sit in the garden on a quiet spring morning and listen to the birds in the trees, and that's why I find this Penny Black mini-set aptly named as Peaceful Time.

It's another new to me stamp, purchased with the matching die which makes it all the more versatile.  I've not always gone for the matching dies in the past, but that's going to change.  It's so much easier, especially when it comes to those inner parts where I need to use a craft knife.

I embossed the bird in black and watercolored very simply with my old SU Watercolor Wonder Crayons.  For the background and frame I used two different watercolor pieces which were made ahead and sitting in a drawer.  Having all kinds of spare backgrounds sure makes a card come together quickly!  Even the ivory card base was pre-cut.

Moving right along, I'll have another pre-scheduled and very colorful card on the 15th.   It's a busy month!  Enjoy your day!

Twofer Card Challenge No. 17: Bees

Hello and welcome back for Twofer Card Challenge #17!  Darnell is asking for bees this time.  I thought this sounded like a fun challenge and, sure enough, it was!

Remember the rules, and find more info on the Twofer Blog.

I've made a "hello" card and a "get well" card using a Frantic Stamper Lady Bug & Bee die and a few other wonderful things that live in my stamp room.  All these delightful toys, sigh... I love when I can really "play" with a card.

(Additional:  Cheery Lynn Chicken Wire Frame, purchased daisies, Power Poppy sentiment)

The first one was quick as a wink.  I pictured it almost immediately when I saw the challenge prompt, so when I got down to business it just fell together.  Best of all, I really like it!

The get well card was a bit more of a challenge.  I knew I wanted to use this sentiment and paper.  The layout was no problem.  But the jar...  Now, I know you're probably wondering where I got such a funky looking jar stamp.  Or maybe you already figured out that I drew the jar myself and that's why it looks so funky.  I know!  Hahahaha!  Nevertheless, it's functional, holding the one bee captive within its glossy glass confines, Stella-winked lid screwed on tightly.

(Additional:  Spellbinders Standard Circles Large and SB Blossom Nestabilities, Impression Obsession Grass and IO Leaf Cluster, flower punch, Whipper Snapper sentiment)

The bee in the jar was set flush into the card stock layer underneath.  I was hoping the gloss coating would smooth everything over, but it didn't quite manage.  Still looks cute, though.  You can see the expression of dismay on the captive bee's face, and her friends are fretting over how to get her out of there.  Don't worry... since I made the card I can also make up the story that she was later released in good health.

Come play along at Twofer.  It's an intriguing and fun challenge, and it really makes you think twice about your stamps.  The team and our guest designers have some fabulously inspiring samples.  Have a good day!

Just Checking In

On Goldens and Garden today.

Thank you!

Blue Peony

Hello and welcome!  I hope this Friday finds you in the pink, but today I'm sharing blue.  I sometimes forget how enjoyable it is to color in a monotone.  I stamped this flower in SU's Bashful Blue and watercolored with one Tombow #535 marker.  After coloring I fussy cut and layered onto an embossed background with a sentiment stamped in turquoise.  Very CAS and that's the point because I made this for the CAS Watercolor Challenge.  The theme this month is "Something Blue".

It's a beautiful stamp, isn't it?  Called Vintage Peony Inspiration, it was designed for Sparkle N Sprinkle by my friend, Donna Ellis, and sent to me as a gift.  Sparkle N Sprinkle is closing their doors, I believe at the end of this month.  They really do have some nice stamps.

The translucent blue embellishment dots are Viva Decor Glass Effect Gel - Crystal Clear - over Copic B05.  This clear gel is something in my stash I forget to use, but it's a favorite medium.  Never plugs, always goes on perfectly, dries firmly.  Great stuff!

Well, I think that's all the particulars.  Most of my posts this month were scheduled way ahead of time as I expect to be away a lot, but while I'm here I'll squeeze in a little something extra.   These things I find comforting and restful:  Coloring, gardening, and my Golden Retriever bubble.  Especially the latter.  Wally and LuLu have a most wonderful way of drawing me and Rich in when they sense we need some emergency happy.

Everyone should have some kind of bubble.

I'll leave you with a wish for a happy day and see you back here again on Monday.

CAS Watercolor Challenge - "Something Blue"

New Power Poppy Digital Stamp: Hydrangea Hype

Introducing a new digital stamp from Power Poppy:  Hydrangea Hype.  You know I love it, don't you?  Sigh...  I watercolored with Gansai Tambi paints and drew a border with a fine tip gray marker.

This one comes with or without the embedded sentiment, black line or light line, plus an extra sentiment which is perfect for either the inside or the front.

My watercoloring is loose and the colors vary slightly from one bloom to the next.  I looked at the hydrangea outside my dining room window for guidance.  Sometimes that bush produces rich blue blooms, sometimes more delicate like this.  I let the sentiment nestle into the blooms with similar colors, but just enough contrast to make it noticeable.

Such a relaxing interlude coloring this image.  Sometimes that's exactly what you need.  Thank you so much for stopping by today.  Take care!

CAS Christmas Card Challenge: Gifts

Hello, there!  I have the honor of guest designing for the CAS Christmas Card Challenge this month, so that guarantees at least two more cards added to my 2019 stash -- hooray!

Every month I look forward to the prompt, knowing I'm bound to have something usable in my collection, and the CAS-ness of this challenge will help me get a card made without too much fuss and bother.  This month we're doing "Gifts".

Sure enough, I have a 2015 Power Poppy set that was just the ticket.  Gee, four years old already?  I have a pile of 2018 Power Poppy Christmas sets waiting to be inked up this year, but the beauty of a challenge is that it's oftentimes a reason to revisit an old favorite.  This is the clear stamp set called Cozy Cupfuls.

Colored with Copics on X-Press It Blending Card, I was thinking "brown paper packages tied up with string", except one of the packages is tied up with ribbon and trim and a big, flouncy bow.  Still...


Carried the colors and patterns to the inside:

Total Christmas cards so far this year:  19

Many thanks to the CAS Christmas Card Challenge team for having me as a guest designer, and bunches of thanks to all of you who come by to visit and say "hello".  I don't know what I'd do without you.  Have a beautiful day!

Stamps:  Power Poppy Cozy Cupfuls  Paper:  X-Press It Blending Card, grocer's kraft, Graphic 45 'Twas the Night Before Christmas designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Real Red, Copics for coloring  Accessories:  Memory Box Cross Stitched Frame Borders, Poppystamps Prim and Proper Bow