Double D Challenge - EASTER/CHURCH/CROSS

Hello friends.  Playing along with the current DD Challenge where they are looking for EASTER/CHURCH/CROSS cards.

 I used a new SB's PRESS & FOIL plate called Tulips & Dafodill's designed by Yana Smakula to come up with 2 cards.  The first one was foiled with gold and the 2nd one with silver.  I was extremely inspired by Nichol Spohr's cards that you can find HERE.

   I started by foiling the image in gold and then used the coordinating stencils to color and blend the daffodil's and tulips. I stamped over the top of the image with an older (and retired) SU! background stamp called En Francais and then cut the panel down to fit on The Greetery's Postage Die set.  Before adding to the postage panel, I did do some light ink blending around the edges with Antique Linen DI.

 I wrapped twine around the postage panel and then added foam tape behind before attaching to the card base for some dimension.  My sentiment was die cut 3 times for a little more dimension (Poppystamps - Easter Wishes), and then called it finished.

My 2nd card is basically the same except for different colored tulips and no foam tape for added dimension.  I also used a different sentiment (IO - DIE257-D) and cut it from silver mirror cs and then finished with a couple silver gems (PFS).  

I do like this silver one, but I think I like the gold one a bit better...it seems warmer!  But anyway, they were both so much fun to do and I have a feeling that this press & foil plate & stencil bundle is going to be a staple each Spring...I love it!!  Make sure you check out all BEAUTIFUL inspiration from the DT and then play along right HERE.  This challenge is open till Sunday, March 29th @ 8:00PM. 

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

Double D Challenge - Books/Bookmark & Postal/Postage

Hello friends. When I saw the new DD Challenge, I knew I had to play!  If you've followed me for any length of time, you know I LOVE postal themed stamps, dies & stencils!  The only real challenge was what one to use...I do have a few!  Haha!

Obviously the bottom two photos inspired me with all the floral postage stamps pictured, and so I went with a stencil set from The Ton called Wildflowers. Here's what I came up with...

The directions on the packaging suggest using 3 shades of pink for ALL the flowers, but I am so hungry for Spring that I used multiple colors...did a bit of easy masking so I could use multiple colors, and it turned out beautifully IMHO.

I added the postage amounts using WF's Postage Collage mini stamp set and then attached the panel to a Highland Heather (SU!) panel and a white card base.  I finished with a die cut sentiment from MB Just A Note Posh Script in black and then finished with a few Disco Ball Sequins from Gina K.

I have a twofer for you today as I actually didn't line my first stencils up too well and only half of the stamps looked good to me.  I cut them apart and used 3 that still looked good and made this card...

I used SSS's Floral Butterfly Bouquets ef for my background and then added the stamps, a vellum butterfly (Poppystamps) and 2 little gold butterflies from SU!. The sentiment is the same as on the first card. Two Spring cards that are totally making me happy!!  Now if only the weather would actually cooperate!  (Although I do have Snowdrops blooming and my Daffodil's are just starting to poke up through the ground!!)

The DT as usual have FABULOUS inspiration for you, so check it all out right HERE and then play along.  This challenge is open till Sunday, March 15th @ 8:00PM.

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

Double D Challenge - Vintage/Shabby Chic

Hello friends.  The gals over at the Double D Challenge are playing with Vintage/Shabby Chic this time around and I couldn't resist playing with them.

I don't usually make vintage/shabby chic cards, but with Valentine's Day just a few days away and some new products from The Greetery, it was definitely a match made in heaven!  Here's what I came up with...

 I started with kraft cs and The Greetery's Rosemal Reflections ef and Capsule Basics dies.  For the outside embossed area I used a white pigment ink pad to make the embossing stand out a bit more.  This part looks to me like I embossed on vellum, and while that was not my intention, I really like the look!  The inside area was ink blended with brown to make it stand out, and then I used matte gold cs to die cut the Capsule Filigree Border Die to separate the two embossed areas.  

At this point I added the Coquette Heart ef to red cs and then added the Filigree Heart Die with the same matte gold cs to match with the filigree capsule and tie it all together.  I also used the matte gold cs to die cut my bow from the Regency Bow No. 1 die and then finished with a Ruby Red Gem (PFS) adhered to the center of the bow.  I left a sentiment off the front as I think it's pretty obvious that it's a Valentine card. 

The DT has made some incredibly BEAUTIFUL vintage cards that you can check out HERE for inspiration.  This challenge is open till Sunday, Feb. 15th @ 8:00PM.

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

Double D Challenge - FRIENDS

Hello friends.  We've been buried under so much snow and COLD lately, but I have to admit that it makes for more time in the craft room as I'm not a fan of venturing out in this stuff!  Playing along with the gals over at the Double D Challenge where they are looking for cards with FRIENDS...

Isn't that just the sweetest mood board?!  I've been blessed with so many wonderful friends in my lifetime, including my hubby, and Penny Black has such a sweet image from their cute couple stamp set that I thought worked beautifully for this challenge.  Take a look...

My hair isn't that long anymore and hubby doesn't have ANY hair anymore, but otherwise it's us! I colored the image with my Copics and then used the coordinating die to cut it out.  For my card base, I die cut the one end with a heart border die from PB's stitched xoxo and then added a strip of red cs to the inside of the card...when the card is closed the hearts are red.  Next I masked the heart border and then stamped SSS's Friendship Text Background with light gray ink.

Next I added The Greetery's Heart Arrow Die to the card base and then stamped my sentiment from another PB stamp set called flood of hearts.  Hubby and I were attached with foam tape for a little dimension and then I finished with a few Disco Ball Sequins (Gina K) and some red & white baker's twine.  Hubby won't show much emotion when I give him this card, but he's saved every card I've ever made for him, so they must mean something to him! :0)

The DT over at the DD have some AWESOME cards that evoke friendship, so if you're in need of inspiration, you can check them all out right HERE.  This challenge is open till Sunday, Feb. 1st @ 8:00PM. 

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

Eat Cake & Celebrate

Hello friends.  Playing along with the current Freshly Made Sketches Challenge and the DD Ten Year Birthday Challenge with this fun card...

I haven't played with these cute chefs in ages (MFT's Recipe For Happiness) and figured they were due some ink!  My birthday stash got seriously depleted this past Fall, and I was so busy making Christmas cards that I just never got caught up.  I stamped the 3 chefs with Versafine Black Onyx ink and then Copic colored and cut out with the coordinating dies.  My background was done following the sketch that Amy at Freshly Made Sketches showed using Gina K's Brick Wall stencil in a light gray ink and the bottom portion using PTI's Pure Poppy Bitty Big DSP.

I used a thin strip of black cs to mark the different layers and for the chefs to stand on, and then added my sentiment from The Greetery's Sentiment Suite: Birthday.  I so badly wanted to add some glitter or sequins to this birthday card, but since I think it would work for a masculine birthday card too, I left the sparkle & shine off!

The DD is celebrating their 10th Birthday and I thought this card would work perfectly for their challenge too!  CONGRATS on 10 Years DD!!

You can check out the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge HERE and the DD 10 Year Birthday Challenge right HERE.  Lots of fabulous inspiration from both challenges, so check them out and play along.

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

Sweet Nordic Snowman

Hello friends.  Are you ready for Christmas? We had our big family Christmas with all the girls and the grandkids yesterday, so today I get to relax and just enjoy the rest of the week! We'll bring dinner over to my mom on Christmas day, but it will just be hubby and I and my mom, so real low key but fun none the less!

I have a card to share with you today that is a combination of 2 gifts I received.  My background panel was a piece of really shimmery white cs that my sweet friend Leslie sent to protect the Christmas card she mailed me and I embossed it and used it for my card.  The 2nd gift I received was the darling little Sweet Nordic Snowman die that my friend Jeanne sent me in her Christmas card.  I combined the two and came up with this...

 Isn't he just the cutest little snowman with his coat, scarf & hat?!  The die for this Sweet Nordic Snowman (Poppystamps) is all one piece, so I cut it from white and then used my Copics to color in the hat, coat & scarf (B91, B93, B95). I did add glitter to the pompom on his hat and on the pompoms at the ends of his hat to add a little more sparkle.  The background that I embossed (SSS's Snowflake Visions) is so shimmery too, so lots of sparkle going on with this card!

I used PB's posted stamp and die to place over my embossed background, and then used a small piece of PTI's Bitty Big Blueberry Sky DSP in the center of the postage die cut.  I added the little snowman to the dsp with foam tape for some dimension, and then added the 2 strips of cs for my sentiment (SSS's Tiny Words Christmas).  I finished with a few Iridescent Clear Drops from PFS.

I followed the sketch from the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge and will be adding this to their gallery, along with also the Double D Challenge where they are looking for Santa and/or Snowman on our cards.

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

Double D Challenge - Christmas Wrappings

Hello friends.  Playing along with the gals over at the Double D Challenge where they have a wonderful mood board depicting all kinds of fun WRAPPINGS!

I went with bows and tags and have a card and a tag to share with you featuring a new stamp from Unity called A Little Ho Ho Ho.  They were offering pre-black Friday sales and I just couldn't resist this little guy!  Take a look...

Doesn't he kinda melt your heart?!  He sure did mine!!  I stamped him in black and then Copic colored him before adding a PTI Bold Borders: Polka Dot Die in Real Red cs to frame him out.

I've been in love with The Greetery's Regency Bow No. 1 die and have been putting bows on everything!!  I used silver mirror cs for this bow and I think it frames my little Santa dude perfectly!!  The card is busy enough with all the polka dots, so I left the greeting off the front and saved it for the inside.

When I stamp something I'm going to color, I always stamp 2 in case I mess one up. If I don't mess up, then I have an extra for something else, which in this case was super easy to make a tag out of for one of the grands Christmas gifts.  I used an older Casual Fridays tag die  and simply tied a piece of bakers twine through the tag hole. Easy peasy and done.

The DT has some awesome inspiration for you using wrapping ideas on cards and you can check them all out right HERE.  This challenge is open till Sunday, Dec. 14th @ 8:00PM.

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

Freshly Made Sketches #713

Hello friends.  Playing along with the gals over at the Freshly Made Sketches challenge where Jen B has a wonderful sketch for us to follow this week.

While digging through my stash I found an older PB stencil (promenade - 2014) that I think I used once when I first got it and then wondered why I bought it!  I did some ink blending using Fall colors this time and here's what I came up with...

 Extremely CAS but I love the way it turned out!!  I started with Red Velvet ink, then blended into Tangerine Twist and followed with Wild Dandelion ink (all Gina K inks).  I framed the image with a Pierced Feature Frame die cut (PTI) and added my sentiment on a banner die cut from Gina K's ML#5 die set.  The sentiment is from PTI's Autumn Hills stamp set.  

I adhered my stenciled panel, the frame and the banner all to a top folding white card base and then finished with a few PFS Sparkling Champagne Metallic Pearls.  Easy peasy and done.

I am also going to add this card to the current DD Challenge where they are looking for Fall Colors...

 The Freshly Made sketches challenge is open till Monday, Nov. 24th @ 3:00PM and the Double D challenge is open till Sunday, Nov. 30th @ 8:00PM. 
   

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

Fall Wreath

Hello friends.  Does it still feel like Fall to you where you live?  The past few days here in West Michigan have been very windy and a good portion of the colorful leaves are all over the ground instead of being on the trees yet...ie, LOTS of raking to be done!!  I raked up a few leaves here in my craft room and made a Fall wreath to play along in a couple challenges, and here's what I came up with...

 This past Summer my sweet friend Bobby gifted me a Tim Holz Festive Wreath die set and I've been having more fun with it...it's meant for Christmas and I've already made a Halloween card with it (HERE), and now a Fall card. I guess I need to get busy and make a Christmas card with it, but I'm not ready to wish Fall away just yet!  So anyway, for this card I started with a piece of rustic white cs (PTI) and embossed it with an ancient Cuttlebug embossing folder with all sorts of Fall words on it (rustling leaves, hot apple cider, thankfulness, Autumn, blessings, etc.). Then I started building my wreath by die cutting all the small pieces that Tim is so famous for. Here's a closer up so you can see better...

The base of the wreath is kraft card stock using the grapevine die, but I also added another layer to the wreath using one of the dies from PFS's Tied with Cheer die set from a darker green cs.  I used a lot of scraps of the Sizzix sandable cs for the pinecones, orange slices (I LOVE those!!), berry sprigs (in orange & purple), leaves, and more greenery sprigs. Other than the background ef and the one layer of the wreath using the PFS die, everything is from the Tim Holtz set.  I did not add a sentiment as there are already words embossed from the ef and I didn't want to clutter up the card with anything else. Lots of fiddly work on this card but I love the way it turned out! 

Kim over at the Freshly Made Sketches challenge has a wonderful sketch that works beautifully for a wreath, so I will be entering my card over there, as well as with the gals over at the Double D Challenge where they are looking for Fall Wreaths.

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

Another Christmas Playdate with Michele & A Bit of Halloween

Hello friends.  Michele and I had another playdate last week and worked on some more Christmas cards, and even a tiny bit of Halloween!  It's always so much fun when we can "borrow" each others supplies when we get together, and this time was no different!  We started with a new Christmas stencil set from Kristina Werner and Concord & 9th called Holiday Icons. I had played with this set before, but Michele had not and absolutely loved it...I knew she would!!  Of course I didn't mind playing with it again (it's one of those that's kinda addicting!!) and picked out 5 very non-traditional ink colors to stencil with...

Well the green is Christmas-y, but not so much the oranges and teals...I still like the color combo though.  Inks are C&9 and the joy sentiment is from The Greetery's Opposites Attract Holiday and PTI's Say It Simply: Merry & Bright sentiment is on the right hand card.  I love that the stenciling does all the work and you just add a sentiment!!

We also played with a Impression Obsession trio of birdies (E19968 by Lindsay Ostrom) I've had for ages and made into this simple card...

I kept my coloring of the birdies very simple (grays & brown Copics) and greens and red for the leaves and berries.  I fussy cut around the bottom edge of the leaves (and tail) and added a piece of plaid from Paper Rose's Merry Little Christmas Patterns. 

I finished with a very thin strip of red glitter cs behind the trio and a sentiment from PTI's Think Big Favorites: #20. Oh and a leftover snowflake from IO with a red gem in the center.  

This little shopping bear is from Michele's PB stash and is part of the Teddy Tidings stamp set.  I colored her with my Copics and then added her to a little scene complete with snowy trees ( PB's tree border) die and a few IO snowflakes.

 I'm not real thrilled about the way I colored the shopping bags, but by the time I added the trees and glitter, the snowflakes & the Double Frames that Michele brought along, the card didn't turn out too bad!  The sentiment is from PB's tiny tinsel stamp set and fit perfectly in the little bit of space I had.

And now a little break from Christmas for a spooky little Halloween card...just kidding! NOT spooky at all!  This sweet little witch is from PB's fa-boo-lous set and I once again colored her up with my Copics.  

After fussy cutting her out, I placed her on a background I embossed with SU!'s Subtle ef and another of Michele's frames (PB plated frames circle dies).  I also added a couple of PB's abstract pumpkin die cuts using sandable cardstock in orange and yellow.  The sentiment is from MFT's Spooktacular Friends. I colored in the stars on her little witch's costume with a silver sparkle pen, so in real life, this card does SPARKLE!! I bought this particular stamp set because of the ghosts, but ended up loving this sweet little witch even more!!  

I will be adding this last card to the current Double D Challenge and also the Penny Black Saturday Challenge.

Once again, we had a fantastic time hanging out together and working on cards...and of course laughing, chatting, and eating too!  I made chilli (even though it was in the low 80's last week) and Michele brought her yummy cornbread and lemon brownies...yummmmmmm!!  You can check out what Michele did while she was at my house right HERE.  I know we'll be blown away as usual!!  Hope you all have a good friend to stamp with too...one of the best treasures I've been blessed with!! :0) 

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