Elegant Christmas

 Hello friends, I hope you are doing well today! Being very behind on my Christmas cards I decided it was time to get into the holiday spirit!  This makes TWO Christmas cards completed. The gals at The Paper Players suggest a color challenge of the traditional colors of red and green, with the elegance of gold added. 

Here's my take on the challenge. I'm happy it prompted me to get making! 

The beautiful wreath image is from Simon Says Stamps Today and Every Day stamps. I just love this wreath, and although not a Christmas set, that's the way I envisioned it today. The wreath is actually made up of leaves and flowers and I love that versatility. 

I embossed the image with gold ink onto Fabriano Artistico watercolor paper. I used Distress Inks to watercolor the design. For the sparkle, I added berries cut with a punch out of red glitter paper. A gold bow added more elegance.  

I am happy you've come to visit me today. Let's do it again soon!

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Challenges I'm playing with: 

NBUS the wreath stamps are new
The Paper Players 
Paper Funday Challenges   ATG - Thanksgiving or Christmas
Peace on Earth Christmas
Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog

Supplies: 

SSS - Today and Every Day stamps
Sentiment - from WPlus9 (ret.)
Bow - the Greetery
Inks: Distress Oxide reinkers - Peeled Paint, Forest Moss, Evergreen Bough

Pink, Orange and Butterfly Hugs

 How about pink, orange and butterfly hugs? Add plaid and polka dots, and I'm a fan! Setting out to join the PLAID theme at The Paper Players, here is what I came up with! 

I've been out of the craft room for a week or two, and today I just wanted to make something FUN. In my Pinterest file, I was reminded of THIS great card by Tina Smith. When I saw it over a year ago, I ordered that punch right away, just loving the idea of the three stacked tags. I have CASE'd her card with the utmost admiration of her style. I love watching her videos!

I'm hoping the paper is a true enough plaid for the Players challenge. The DT samples have amazing and beautiful cards with a little or a lot of pretty plaids. Be sure to have a look.

I've added a few gems and white thread for embellishments.

I'm sharing it with you today with this quick post to get myself back in the swing of blogging. Hope you like it! I'm glad to be crafting and I look forward to your visit with me today. Sending hugs and warm thoughts your way! See you soon. 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Supplies: (mostly from my oldies stash)
Tag punch; Paper from Penny Black; Sentiment die from Honeybee stamps; Butterfly die from Spellbinders

Added to: SSS Wednesday Challenge - Bling It On ; Little Red Wagon - ATG; A Cut Above 

Happy Hello

A happy hello crafty friends! It's a lovely weekend and it's fun for me to begin it by sharing a new card. I no longer have any Halloween stamps, but you know the colors of orange and purple can be good for a fall floral. That's just the creative mood I was in. 

 I love messing with inks, embossing folders and sandpaper. That's a good summary of how I created the background. Sponging and blending the colors of orange and purple came first, then I ran it through the folder. I lightly brushed sandpaper over the panel to expose the white underneath on the raised portions. 

It's not too late for daisies! Cut from white card stock, the flower centers and leaves were inked then layered with the petals. 

I'll list supplies and the challenges I'm participating in below. Thanks so much for your visit today, I hope your day will be rich with beauty. 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Freshly Made Sketches
NBUS  the embossing folder and daisy stem die are new

Supplies: 

SSS - Margot Tile Embossing Folder, Jaunty Sunflower, 

Etched Layered Daisy Stems

Altenew - Soft Blossoms stamps

Inks - Distress Oxides Carved Pumpkin, Wilted Violet, Dried Marigold

Magical Christmas

Happy day to you!   

Making that first Christmas card for the coming season is magical! Also magical is the Flourish Bear die (SSS) that has been in my stash for months, just waiting for his moment to shine. 

It's time for a new challenge at Tic Tac Toe for Team X, and I had the fun of creating the board as your host.  

I began with a top folded square card. Next I created the home base panel from white card stock and blended inks in shades of blue, aqua and violet. Two more squares were added, one of turquoise glitter paper, and the other of deep navy card stock. The Radiant Burst Wafer Die (SSS) seems like a star that the bear is gazing at. I added one gem in the center and another on the bear's flower. 

Details were added to the bear with gel pens and a marker. 

I chose the middle row across, Animal, Glitter, and Square Card. It will be wonderful to see what you choose to use on your card! I gave some fall-ish choices and for fun the polka dots or stamped silhouette. Please be sure to see the fabulous samples of the team and the ones that we hope you will be adding to our gallery HERE.  

I am so glad you've stopped by! 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Supplies: the sentiment is from Penny Black stamps Sleigh Ride
Inks:  from Altenew -  Aqualicious, and Distress Oxides in Chipped Sapphire and Wilted Violet

Blessed Beyond Measure

 Fall is such a season of blessings! Each day of my favorite season is bringing more delights! Today the pumpkins return in a clean and simple design. 

Again, I used the 3D Pumpkin Wreath embossing folder (SSS) and added it's rich texture to kraft card stock. A light sponging of white craft ink highlights the wreath design. 

I embossed the same design on orange card stock, die cut the gourd and positioned it over the wreath for the focal point. 

I really love this wreath, and I think it too will become a favorite! 

I'm playing with the CAS theme chosen by lovely Stef at The Paper Players.  Making this was so much fun!  Time Out Challenges where they have an inspirational photo; ATG at Word Art Wednesday.

Inspiration Station Challenge has this cute prompt. 

May your day bring to mind some of your favorite things and a few smiles. It's been great spending this bit of time together!

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Supplies: 

Simon Says stamp - Pumpkin Wreath EF, Harvest Heirloom Wafer Dies

the sentiment is from Penny Black - Blessings Builder

Inking the Pumpkin Wreath

 Hi everyone! I hope you're having a lovely fall weekend. This has been a wonderful Carolina day here with cooler weather and sunshine. I still have pumpkins on my mind and today was a fun play inking up the SSS Pumpkin Wreath for a monochromatic card.

I began with a panel of burnt orange card stock and embossed with the Pumpkin Wreath folder. The design - by itself - was beautiful! Adding inking began with Carved Pumpkin Distress Oxide on the pumpkins, using a small brush and repeated inking so the lighter color would show on the darker card stock. More colors were added for the leaves in Dried Marigold, Rusty Hinge and Aged Mahogany. The berries were lightly tinged with white craft ink. 

With Walnut Stain, the corners and edges of the panel were brushed for even more contrast. 

Next came the gold splatters. Maybe I got carried away. But then I usually do when it comes to splatters! unfortunately, they show up in the photo looking white. I gold embossed the sentiment from the Greetery on a white die cut. 

I do miss the brighter colors I like to use. Although the colors are darker than I prefer, I enjoyed trying for a more elegant look with the contrasting monochromatic shades. 

Thanks so much for your visit today. I always enjoy hearing from you and I'm sending hugs your way. 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Challenges:
Freshly Made
NBUS - the EF is new 

Hey There Panda!

 Hello how are things going for you?

I had a lovely bit of craft time this morning. It felt so good to play around with older supplies as I was challenged to create using Ann's theme at the Paper Players of Nature's Landscape. Forest, mountains, lake, desert or sea?

How about a bamboo forest?

This cuddly panda is an oldie but goodie that seemed just right. One of my grands will probably enjoy this card sometime. I hope you enjoy it too!  

I appreciate your visit so much. Hope you have a wonderful weekend. Yeah, I know it's only Thursday, but hey! I'm retired and tomorrow has some fun things planned so I have weekend mentality. Every day. Take care!

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Joining  The Paper Players and Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Patterned Paper. 

Supplies: Altenew - Roaming Pandas stamps and dies, Bamboo Branches EF and stencils

Distress inks. 

Postal Dies are from The Greetery