Bee Happy

Hello friends.  I'm playing along with a couple challenges today...the DD - Bee Happy Challenge and the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge.  The DD challenge is obviously about Bee's and Kim from FMS's has a wonderful postage sketch to follow, so I combined the two.

And here's what I came up with combining the two challenges...

I'm a BIG fan of WF's Postage Collage stencils, stamps, and dies, and think there's only a couple of the many, many sets they have that I don't own!  For this card I used the die that cuts out the grid of postage stamps and then colored just 3 of them using the Postage Collage Coloring Stencil (for the gray & white stripe stamp) and the Postage Collage Rose Stencil for the other 2 stamps.  I then cut them apart for the individual stamps and layed them out in the sketch pattern on my card base.  

I also added a die cut honeycomb piece from SU!'s Honey Bee set, along with a large and smaller bee also from the same SU! set.  I used WOS on the bees wings, but obviously does not show up on my card.  The top right stamp has foam tape behind it for a little dimension, and also the sentiment strip from Gina K's All At Once Greetings.  Pretty CAS and I love the way this one turned out!

Lots of great inspiration from both DT's to get your mojo started, and you can check out the DD Challenge right HERE and the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge HERE.  The DD Challenge is open till Sunday, Aug. 17th @ 8:00PM and the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge is open till Monday, Aug. 11th @ 3:00PM.

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!

Double D Flower Pots Challenge

Hello friends.  Getting in under the wire, just a quick post today to play along with the gals over at the Double D Challenge where they are looking for Flower Pots.

One of my favorite sets from The Greetery (yes, I have MANY favorites!!) that I haven't played with since last year is their BotaniCuts: Geranium.  It's a fun and easy die set that when coupled with their Pretty Pot Die looks just like the pots of Geraniums that I put out in our front porch.

 I die cut the pot from kraft cs and inked the edges up a bit and then added the Geraniums (Cherry Cobbler cs) and leaves (Mossy Meadow cs) with a bit of extra inking on them too.  My card size is 3 1/2" x 5 1/2" and I added a piece of kraft dsp (PTI) to the bottom third, and a piece of kraft that I embossed with HB's Dogwood Blooms 3D and lightly went over the top with a white ink cube to make the flowers stand out a bit more.

I added a piece of seam binding ribbon where the two background pieces meet, and then arranged my flower pot and Geraniums on top.  I did add a bit of glitter to the Geraniums for a little sparkle and I'm not sure if I'm liking that addition, but a little late to change it now!  I left a sentiment off as I'm not sure which occasion I'll use this card for.

The DT has some absolutely BEAUTIFUL examples using FLOWER POTS that you can check out right HERE if you'd like to play along.  You'll have to be quick though as this challenge ends Sunday, July 13th @ 8:00PM.

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!

DD Beach Challenge

Hello friends.  Playing along with the DD Challenge today and they are looking for "Going to the beach" cards.  While I think my going to the beach days are long over, the weather here in my neck of the woods has been in the mid 90's with heat indexes over 100, so the beach is definitely the place to be!!

The timing of this challenge was perfect as I had just received some new goodies from Waffleflower that I think fit this challenge perfectly!  I actually have 2 cards to share with you, and the first one uses a stencil that I've had for over 2 years (I think) and never used, and also a small crab from WF's Happy Crabs Dies.  Take a look...

I stenciled the lined circle first (Newton's Nook Retro Sun & Palms stencil) with residual ink left on my pink, orange, & turquoise blending brushes, and then used the 2nd stencil to ink up the palm trees.  

 Isn't that little crab adorable?!  Well, I mean as adorable as a crab can be, right??!  I die cut the pieces from white cs and then ink blended with the same brushes I used for the lined circle.  You can just see the hint of blue underneath the top layer...I was going for a bit of a blue crab vibe here.  He was pop dotted for some dimension and to make him stand out a bit.  The sentiment is one of my all time favorites from Catherine Pooler called Vitamin Sea.  I finished with a few gems from PFS.

My 2nd card uses a few more new WF goodies, including the Coastline Die n Stencil, and the Inquisitive Crab Die.  I stenciled my background first with A Colorful Life Cloud Edger and then added the stenciled and die cut waves.  The ginormous crab was die cut from white cs and once again blended with coral inks from PFS.  I love, LOVE the size of this guy!!

I also added a strip of kraft cs at the bottom for my sandy beach and then finished with another Catherine Pooler sentiment from her Hook, Line and Sinker stamp set.  I also added a few gems from PFS.  

The DT has so many wonderful beach scene cards to inspire you to play along and you can find them all right HERE.  This challenge is open till Sunday, June 29th @ 8:00PM.

I'm also adding this card to Darnell's NBUS Challenge #75 since the Retro Sun & Palm stencil is a little older and never been used...cough, cough!!

   

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!

Double D Challenge - FRAMES

Hello friends.  Playing along at the Double D Challenge where they are looking for FRAMES.

My frames are not quite as ornate as the ones in the photo, but I did have fun making a set of 4 cards using The Greetery's Sweetest Frame stamp and die set.  I also used The Greetery's Best Bouquet Details die to add the florals on this set of cards that will be going to a dear friend of mine as part of her birthday gift in August.  All 4 cards are the same except I changed up the colors of the flowers on each card.  Let's get started...

 I stamped the larger and smaller frames using crumb cake ink on cream colored cs and attahed to a kraft card base.  Next I die cut the greenery from Old Olive cs and then ink blended a bit of darker green ink to the bases of the leaves.  I die cut all the flowers from cream colored cs and then ink blended them with pinks and purples.  I added Sparkling Champagne metallic pearls to the pink flower centers and a few in random spots too, and then finished with a sentiment using Spellbinders Everyday Sentiments II that were foiled in gold on kraft cs.

Card number 2 is the same except for the flowers being in pinks and oranges and the sentiment being "Just A Note".  I love, LOVE pinks and oranges together...one of my favorite color combos!!

Card #3 was done using peach and yellows for the flowers and the sentiment is "Thanks A Bunch".  

Card #4 was done with a rainbow of colors on the flowers, and the sentiment is simply "Birthday Wishes".

I wish I had thought to take a picture of all 4 cards together...they really do make a lovely set of cards and I think my friend is going to be tickled!  Although I stamped the frames on these cards (I didn't want to add anymore bulk than there already is with the flowers), there is coordinating dies for the frames, and I think this set is going to be a staple in my supplies!  

There is lots of beautiful inspiration from the DT over at the Double D and you can find it all right HERE.  This challenge is open till Sunday, June 15th @ 8:00PM.

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!

Double D Challenge - Springtime Flowers

Hello friends.  Playing along with the gals over at the Double D Challenge again where they have a beautiful mood board to inspire us.

I was inspired by the mood board, but also by DT Member Barbara who had the most beautiful card (HERE).  I just loved the addition of the Pussy Willows to the colorful Crocuses and the Market Basket...all of which I have in my stash!  I didn't want to completely copy Barbara, so I added tulips instead of crocuses.  Here's what I came up with...

I die cut my tulips using The Greetery's BotaniCuts: Tulips with white cardstock and then ink blended them with yellow, red, & coral inks.  I die cut my pussy willows (The Greetery - BotaniCuts: Pussy Willow) from kraft cs and then used white pigment ink for the little buds. 

The Market Basket (also The Greetery) was die cut from silver matte cs and lined with printed wax paper (from a roll I've had for years that is supposed to make die cutting intricate details release from the die easier...not sure it really works, but I like the vintage look to the paper and keep it around for different projects.).  My background panel was die cut with an oval die and then I used SSS's Floral Butterfly Bouquet embossing folder, and then attached to a white card base.

 To finish this card I added a small two layer butterfly from Poppystamps Butterfly Buttons and then a bunch of glitter to the Pussy Willow buds and tulip leaves.  Thanks so much Barbara for the inspiration and helping me to use some dies that hadn't seen the light of day in quite awhile!!

The rest of the DT has some absolutely beautiful cards for inspiration too, and you can find them all right HERE.  This challenge is open till Sunday, May 4th @ 8:00PM.

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!

Double D Challenge - Easter

Hello friends.  Playing with the gals over at the Double D Challenge where they have a wonderful mood board depicting all things Eater.

I've had bunnies on the brain since my latest Greetery order came, most specifically the Bunny Tales stamp and die set.  I ended up making two cards because, well, I had everything out already, so why not?!  Here's the 1st one...

I started by stamping the wreath and bunnies, and then die cut them both several times for a bit of dimension.  My background was made using the Bitty Botanicals (stamp & stencil set) and the Diamond Ribbons stencil (both are also new from The Greetery) and attached the panel to a white card base.  I also used the Frosted Frames die set (also The Greetery) with a light yellow cardstock to frame out my little bunny scene.

I finished this one with a sentiment from the Bunny Tales stamp set and also added a bow from the It's a Wrap: Posy Pocket die set to the bottom of the wreath.  I also stamped and die cut a few of the Bitty Botanicals to add to the wreath. Somewhere in my craft room I have teeny tiny white pompoms that I want to add to the bunny's tails...

My 2nd card was basically made the same as the first except for color changes and instead of the frame around the outside of the card, I used a PTI die cut (Reflections: April) over my background with foam tape and then added the wreath and bunny's over the top of that.

The sentiment, the extra flowers on the wreath, and the bow were all added just like on the first card.  I don't send out lots of Easter cards each year, but a few and I definitely had fun making these two!!

There is lots of wonderful inspiration from the team over at the DD and you can find it all right HERE.  This challenge is open till Sunday, April 13th @ 8:00PM.

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!

Double D Challenge - BIRDS

Hello friends.  Today I'm playing along with the gals over at the Double D Challenge where they have a fabulous mood board and are looking for BIRDS!

They are all so colorful and beautiful, but I went in a bit of a different direction so I could use Unity's Flock Talk stamp set that Bonnie made enabled me to buy!  I just can't get enough of these crazy birds and used 3 of the 4 that come in the set to make a fun birthday card.  Take a look...

Aren't they a hoot?!  I stamped them in Versafine Black Onyx and then heat set them with clear embossing powder so I could water color them.  The middle one that I water colored with Lovely Lilac (retired SU! ink that I still LOVE!!) reminds me of an actress from back a ways...those of you old enough might remember Phyllis Diller?  I always thought she was a hoot and for some reason this bird just really reminds me of her!  I trimmed around the top of the 3 birds and added it to a plaid panel of Green Parakeet dsp from PTI, and then both layers to a white card base.

I couldn't capture it with my camera, but I did add WOS to Phyllis's hair do...it just seemed to fit her character!  Haha!!  My birthday sentiment comes from The Greetery's Opposites Attract stamp and die set and I finished with a few purple gems from PFS.  Simple but fun and I'm sure it will give the recipient a good chuckle.

There are sooooo many beautiful birds from the talented DT and the players also, so check them all out right HERE and then play along.  This challenge is open till Sunday, March 30th @ 8:00PM.  

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!

Those First Little Peeks of Spring

Hello friends.  The first signs of Spring for me here in West Michigan are when my Snowdrops first pop up, so getting out my Spring Snowdrops dies from The Greetery seemed like the perfect choice to play along with Double D and the Four Seasons challenges.  Here's what I came up with...

I started with a white card base and then added a panel of Pear Pizzazz that I used PFS's Stitched Diamonds coverplate die on.  Next I die cut 3 Ornate Oval Frames (PFS also) and placed over my Pear Pizzazz layer.  I used one of the inside ovals leftover from die cutting the frames and stamped The Greetery's Windowpane Plaid Background stamp in Pear Pizzazz ink on it before placing it inside the Ornate Oval Frame.

I stamped and die cut the snowdrops with Pear Pizzazz and Old Olive inks and then added foam tape behind the whole bouquet to add even more depth.  I finished with a little bow from PFS's A Bow and then added glitter around the edges of the bow and also on the snowdrops.  Double D asked for mostly GREEN for this challenge, and other than the neutral white I think I've got that covered!

  

I am SOOOO ready for Spring and it felt so good to make a Spring card.  I left a sentiment off mine as I'm not sure what I'll use it for yet, but it will most likely have to be hand delivered because of the bow.  It was a perfect fit though, so I couldn't not add it!!  You can play along with the Double D Challenge until Sunday, March 16th @ 8:00PM and with The Four Seasons Challenge until Tuesday March 25th @ 12:00AM (links for both challenges at top of post.)   

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!

Double D Challenge - The Color RED

Hello friends.  I'm playing with the Double D Challenge today where they are looking for the color RED.

I was gifted the PB enchantingly stamp and die for my birthday a couple weeks ago and thought I would give the rose a try with Jill Foster's water coloring techniques.  Not as easy as Jill makes it look!  But try I did and also used one of her sketch ideas.  Here's what I came up with...

The rose was stamped on Canson 140lb watercolor paper and then water colored with Gina K re-inkers.  Re-inkers are very concentrated ink and therefore very dark, so there is definitely a learning curve to watercolor with them.  A couple things I learned were, because they are so concentrated you only need a micro-dot of re-inker on your brush along with very small amounts of water.  Always let dry before adding a 2nd layer of color!!  Use just plain water (small amounts) to move your color around.  When I stamped my image in black, I also used clear embossing powder over it as it helps to keep the watercolor in the section you're working on.  However, I'm not sure I like the glossy look of the black in the photos!  I will keep watching Jill and trying again as I really do love the watercolor look!

  

I used the same watercolor paper for my card base and sketch design.  The center 2" strip was embossed with SSS's Canopy Vine embossing folder and then a skinny strip of the same paper was added on the top and bottom of the embossed strip.  I also used the watercolor paper for the die cut frame (PB's - classy frames) and attached over the embossed strip along with the die cut rose.  The sentiment is an OLD SU! wooden block stamp that I love and that finished this CAS card.

The DT has a lot of beautiful inspiration done up in RED for you to check out right HERE.  This challenge is open till Sunday, March 2nd @ 8:00PM. 

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!

Double D - Hearts Challenge

Hello friends.  Playing with the gals over at the Double D where they are having a Hearts Challenge and my Valentine for my youngest granddaughter fit perfectly!

Isn't this such a sweet mood board?!!  Although the colors are all pretty much pastels, I went with the traditional reds and a little bit of pink and came up with this for my sweet Bella. 

Aren't those little snuggle bunnies just so CUTE??!  This is an Anita Jeram set from CCC called Snuggle Bunny and although I think it was made for adult snuggle bunnies, my youngest granddaughter (she's 7 weeks old) just LOVES to be held and snuggled, and hey, it's a tough job, but somebody has to do it, right??!!  So anyway, back to my card!  I stamped and Copic colored my bunnies and then die cut them with the coordinating die.  My first background layer uses Honey Bee's Fluttering Hearts Pierced Cover Plate, and my 2nd layer that I stenciled is from Honey Bee's Hearts in Bloom stencil set.  My "hugs" die cut was an attempt to try another of PB's Jill Foster sketches where you die cut just the top portion of the die, but I goofed and cut the top half of the hugs off with my diagonal cut, so I had to do a little surgery!  I used a piece of vellum to cut the backer piece and I think it covered up my booboo pretty well!  The actual "hugs" was die cut 3 times with the top one having the packing tape placed over the Real Red cs first and then die cut.  LOVE how shiny it comes out!!

 I used The Greetery's Nordic Hearts Dies with foam tape behind it so you can see the white scalloped heart from the stenciled background, and then added the snuggle bunnies with more foam tape to the heart.  I finished with a little sub-sentiment that came with the stamp set, and it's good to go for Bella's 1st Valentines Day card. 

And here's my little snuggle bug.  She just melts my heart!!  You'd think after #5 I wouldn't be so giddy about another grandbaby, but she has my heart just like the other 4 that came before her!  God is so good!!

The DT over at the Double D has some beautiful inspiration if you're looking to finish up those last minute Valentines, so check them out and play along.  This challenge is open till Sunday, Feb. 16th @ 8:00PM.

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!