What's Brewing in Your Mug?

 

Hello stamping friends! Our holiday celebration was wonderful! Now that we are back to quiet days, I feel ready to hop back on the crafting saddle. I made a card to share on this wintry cold day. Of course my cuppa is filed with brewed tea. Whatever is in yours,  I hope it warms you inside and out. 

 I pulled out a few stamp sets but started with a clean slate of what I wanted to create, enabling me to participate in some challenges. Freshly Made Sketches 

Inspired By Challenge  where I chose the colors, stripes, and curled ribbon.

and Tic Tac Toe

I chose the diagonal row: Wink of Stella (on the whipped cream), die cut and pearls on the row of hearts. 

Thanks for your visit! Wishing you a beautiful day.

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used:

Stamps: PTI - Merry Mug

Paper: Neenah Solar White, PTI Bitty Big DSP

INK: from Altenew - Rose Quartz, Morning Frost, Ocean Waves

Poinsettia Bouquets One stamp Three Cards

One week until Christmas! The cards are mailed, the packages are wrapped and the food is bought. I had time to play with a new purchase for the first time, the Poinsettia Bouquets stamps and dies from W Plus 9 Designs. Dawn's new release HERE is so beautiful and I love it! 
I love to watercolor, so I chose the bouquets to play with, and color them I did. Three different ways. Three cards to share with you today. 

 CLEAN and CLASSIC

This began with clear embossing over black ink, and coloring with Copic markers. A few dots with the white gel pen. I kept the lines clean and the embellishments simple - a gold embossed sentiment, and a few flat sequins.

SUBTLE SHIMMER

For the second card, I colored with watercolors mixed with Perfect Pearls in white. I began by embossing in gold onto watercolor paper. Mixing the pigment powder into each color gives a subtle shimmer and shine. I die cut the bouquet and then wondered what would set off the softly colored image. 

I decided to use a pale blue card stock run through the crimper. Lots of texture with a direct to paper inking of white craft ink on top of the ripples and lots of splatters. In gold and white. I finished it off with metallic thread, mirror paper mat, and pearls. IRL they are white. This was hard to photograph! It's my fav of the three cards because I love the texture.

Here is a better look at the shimmer.  And one more to go -   

BOLD ELEGANCE 5x7

This one is also embossed in gold onto watercolor paper and colored with Copics.  The gold mirror card stock is used minimally. This larger size is made easy by Dawn's dies for a 5X7 card. I loved having the extra space to make an impact! The bouquet was partially die cut and layered over Dove gray card stock. 

I am entering this at the NBUS Challenge. I'd love to know which of the cards is your favorite! Thanks for taking time to spend with me today. 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Color Hues #8

 Hello stamping friends, it's that time again!  Yes, mid-December. We are almost there to Christmas but my post today is all about our new challenge at Color Hues. After all the Christmas cards we've been making, how does Green and Blue sound? 

I'm enthused about these colors but making my card at the last minute brought on some pressure! Oh my goodness, as often as I kept telling myself to keep it simple, instead I fumbled and bumbled my way through the creative process.  For way too long.

I began with the English Rose Bouquet Die (Memory Box) which is gorgeous all by itself. But could I stop there? NO! I wanted to come up with something different. And I did. I wish you could see the pretty blue gems in the flower centers IRL. 

I made a background using Distress Oxide inks, metallic inks and gesso on white card stock. Lost of playing, lots of splatters, and it was fun. 

You can only imagine how things went from there! You don't need any more details. I urge you to go have some fun with these great colors. 

Simple or complicated, it's all up to you! Hope to see you soon! Thanks so much for your kind visit.

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Christmas Rose Bouquet

 I am still enjoying revisiting a few much-loved Christmas sets from my stash. Christmas Rose Bouquet from W Plus9 Design is one of those. I experimented with a couple mediums for adding color but liked watercolor the best. 

I stamped the image with brown ink onto watercolor card stock using the Misti and painted several layers of colors. I wasn't pleased with how it looked at first, but after it dried I decided to go with it.

A bit of wild spattering with white gouache added texture and from there I was liking the look. I added more texture by pulling out the paper crimper. Do you have that tool buried in the back of a drawer somewhere? I was so inspired seeing Dawn's gorgeous card (with her new release HERE) that I pulled mine out. I had almost forgotten how to use it! I lightly inked the kraft card stock directly with white craft ink.

I'm soon coming to the end of the line for "specialty" cards for this year. I'll pick a couple of simple designs to mass produce for the rest. 

Sadly, that there are two shipments with new stamps that have been stuck for days en-route. They currently reside at the post office hub that's only an hour away from me. Been there for days.

Thankfully I've wrapped up the Christmas gift packages we are sending and will soon mail the cards too. Hope and pray that you are staying well. Thanks so much for visiting with me today!

I am adding this to the theme challenge at The Paper Players. They come up with one great challenge after another!

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used:

Stamps: WPlus9 - Christmas Rose Bouquet; The Greetery - Written in Ribbon Christmas

Paper: Neenah Solar White, SU - Crumb Cake, water color card stock

INK: WPlus9 - Coconut Husk, Gala Red, Sweet Gelato, White pigment ink

Accessories: Altenew - watercolors

God Our Refuge

Hello, crafty friends! 

 A week or so ago I needed a sympathy card. It was not fun making one under pressure. Isn't it always that way? I decided to make a couple others so I could have them ready in my stash when needed.

I pulled out the stamps from The Greetery that I had bought just for this purpose and made two cards. They are just what I think a sympathy card should be: simple in design, light and airy, with peaceful soft colors and a meaningful sentiment.

I began with a partial inking of the Windowpane Plaid on the white panel, using the Caring Cross stamps, stencil and dies for the focal point. On the left, I sponged using the cross stencil, added stamped images and die cut the whole piece. On the right I included the die cut cross and greenery and a die cut palm branch.  A flower was added on each using a bloom from Fleur Impressions. 

I don't always like "with sympathy" for the sentiment,  I  prefer something more unique for the recipient. I chose this scripture verse from Papertrey Ink (called Inspired: God) and the coordinating die. Don't know if the picture shows it but the word was cut from Metallic gold card stock.

All my inking was done with Distress Oxides. 

It's the end of a week! I can't believe how fast the days are rolling by! I hope that you are staying warm and well, and that you've been inspired!

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Countdown to Christmas!

 I can't imagine how it's December already, can you? I am keeping going with the Christmas cards and I'm really only getting started using up newly purchased Christmas stamps and stuff. Oh my goodness, those Black Friday sales, happy new things coming to me! 

Speaking of new, I'm using a brand new digital set from Power Poppy.  The pretty paperwhites (HERE) and Christmas ornaments (or is it an orange?) caught my eye and seem perfect for as a Christmas card, Christmas thank you, or a winter birthday. 

Using Copics to color, I snipped out the image and combined it with the Snowy Day papers from Lawnfawn.

I've been hesitant to use Power Poppy stamps because the design team colors them exquisitely and with such talent! For this card, I was absolutely inspired by THIS gorgeous card by Nancy. 

I am playing along on the last day of the challenge at CAS(E) This. It's a great simple sketch. Classic and clean! 

I am also linking up to The Paper Players. I used patterned paper, red and coloring tool. 

Hope you have a great day! See you soon as I have more to share. I so appreciate every one of you that spend  a bit of time encouraging my crafty journey. Thank you! 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Color Hues #7

Have you been enjoying the Color Hues card challenge? We are loving seeing the inspiration and creativity in the gallery! 

Two weeks have gone by and it's time for a new challenge at Color Hues! We'd like you to use Blue and Magenta. 

These rich jewel shades make me think of classic elegance and bling. I've loved the Christmas cards I've seen this year with blues, so that's my theme. 

I stamped images from the Winter Sketches stamps by The Greetery on white card stock and die cut them. I combined them with a simple sentiment and a Pretty Frame die cut in white and blue glimmer specialty paper.  Wink of Stella shimmer pen, Stickles and Iridescent sequins make this one sparkly card! We can't wait to see what you make. You can find all the details HERE. Hope you can find time to play along!

Thanks so very much for your visit and kind encouragement. 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used:

Stamps: The Greetery - Winter Sketches stamps and dies, Christmas Eve

Paper: Neenah Solar White, Blue Glitter paper

INK: Altenew - Ultramarine, Artic, Puffy Heart, Purple Wine

Accessories: PTI Coverplate - Pretty Frame Die

Sending Holiday Cheer

 Hello friends, it's a holiday week in the US.  Thanksgiving! I will be cooking the turkey potatoes and gravy and the rest of the meal will be supplied by some of our family. I can't wait! 

I have a card wishing you holiday cheer for today. 

I combined some scraps of papers in my stash (PTI) and made a tag for this cute snowman. I think he looks kind of quirky. He's probable wondering why the owl is on his head? 

He's part of the "O Holy Night" stamp set from The Cat's Pajamas and as it's just the first time I've used it I can enter sweet Darnell's NBUS Challenge!

Coloring was done quickly with Copics. I added a clear glaze to his hat, enamel dots and a couple snowflakes.
The sentiment and die for the tab is from The Greetery. I use these Sentiment Suite Basics sets a ton! 

I am entering the Tag It challenge at TCP Tuesday too!
Signing out for the weekend, wishing all those in the states a very happy Thanksgiving! In the midst of difficulties the things we have to be thankful for mean even more.  

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

The More the Merrier

 Hello stamping friends! The more Christmas cards the merrier, that is! I am here with another one for you today as my pile of completed cards is growing! This idea of stamping many images and having them die cut and ready to go is really working for me. I had quite a few die cut holly leaves with berries leftover after THIS project and when I saw them on my desk the next morning I decided to make them into a wreath.

This is creativity at it's best! I began with a white die cut circle, and drew a light pencil line inside the circle to help me keep the shape as I filled in the die cut leaves and berries.  I added some stamped pine boughs behind the die cuts, and a few dots of different colors of Copics to help the eye see the circle.

 
Choosing to go for the bling, I used the Wink of Stella Shimmer pen on the berries, and added glitter here and there. And of course - sequins to go with the gold embossed sentiment. 

I am adding this to
the sketch at  Sunday Stamps, 

Tic Tac Toe Challenge where I chose the right row down.

and the Card Concept where I went with the Clean and Layered Style.

That's a lot of challenges in one post for me! Thanks for your visit today, and for sticking with me through this long post.

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used:

Stamps: The Greetery - Sentiment Suite: Christmas and dies, PTI- Seasonal Borders: Winter

Paper: Neenah Solar White, DSP from Rosy Cosy Christmas

Accessories: Sequins, Gold embossing Powder, Diamond Stickles, The Greetery - Nordic Frames Dies

The Merriest Ever

 Hello everyone! Here we are at mid-week again and I'm sharing from my latest rummage through my stash. I had time over the weekend to watch some card-making videos using card kits. You know how wonderful Vicky and Tina (and many others) are with whipping out the most amazing cards with paper and other bits from a kit? I marvel and learn something new about design each and every time. 

Whatever I made today just had to include elements from years past kits and lots of paper play! 

The "merriest" sentiment, the girl and the deer were die cuts from Papertrey Ink's Fairy Tale Christmas Kit.  I also used the pretty ribbon and papers from the kit and the stamped second part of the sentiment.
For the floral spray focal point I combined stamped and die cut images from The Greetery. 

In reflecting, I may have made this card too busy - I find the ten cards gals keep thing much simpler and I will keep that in mind for next time. But you know me - I had to add more than a few gold sequins and clear Nuvo drops to make it shine! 

If you are new to stamping, kits are a great value. I liked having a kit or two on hand when I was traveling for a month at a time. THAT seems like long ago! 

My fav part of this card is the "when we're together"  being the happiest of times. I hope you can find a way to be together with someone special in your life today!

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

ETA: Those cute circles with the pinked edges were from dies also included in the kit. It's retired now but shows that with some kits the items are useful long after. 

Color Hues #6 Pink for Christmas!

 Hi and welcome to Color Hues Challenge #6!  We are asking you to use pink and brown as your colors today, isn't that lovely? I have a confession. I've never used this combo. Ever. At all. That's what makes card challenges so fun!!

I was already thinking of Pink for Christmas, but when I saw the Pinkfresh Studio stamp and die called Pop Out Folk Christmas I was ready to go!

I can't tell you how delightful this creative and versatile set is to work with. I have plenty more ideas for using it! 

For today's card, I stamped using brown ink on several colors of card stock, then die cut the images and played with positioning them on the card. I added markings in white gel pen on the deer, and used Nuvo pink glitter drops to accent some of the berries. 

I die cut the deer also out of foam so the dimension helps them stand out. I added a shadow on the doves by layering a white image over the brown.

Please be sure to visit the challenge HERE to see inspiration from the fabulous team! You will not believe the gorgeous-ness! Can't wait to see what you make! 

Thanks so much for joining me today.

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used:

Stamps: Sentiment is from SSS - Holiday Hellos;

Paper: Neenah Solar White, SU - Pink Pirouette, Baked Brown Sugar, Melon Mambo

INK: SU - Baked Brown Sugar, Soft Suede

Accessories: Banner Die is from WPlus9

Wood Slices and Ribbon for Christmas

 I've missed a few days of posting but I need to get back to building my stash for Christmas. At the same time, I find I'm really enjoying fall, so how about a rustic theme for today's card? Stamping bits and pieces here and there has helped this card come together, using for the first time some fun new-to-me products from the Greetery: Wood Slices Dies, Written in Ribbons sentiments and the Fresh Sprigs stamps and dies. 

I didn't buy these when they first came out - but fell in love with the things I saw all over blogland and realized that I have nothing quite this style in my Christmas collection. For the wood slices, I used Bristol Smooth white card stock, and blended the pieces with Distress Oxide inks. After gluing them together, I spattered bits of brown inks. 

For the sprigs and greeting, I stamped in Altenew inks and die cut the pieces. After assembling the focal point, a bit more spattering with white acrylic paint completed the project. 

I'm playing with Freshly Made Sketches, The Paper Players and NBUS today.

Oops, I sort of missed seeing the silver or gold directive. Maybe the wood slice is golden? Thank you so much for coming by and I hope you are hanging in there with the continuing isolation situation. Stay well. 

Traditional Christmas with a Twist

 We made it to Friday, yaay! Although with COVID many of the days seem the same, I still find myself wanting to do something special for Friday.  I made Grain Free Waffles with buttered apples, bacon and whipped cream for breakfast. What have you been up to? 

And I have a Christmas card to share! Using traditional colors and a great sketch,  here's what I came up with. 

I love these flowers from the Potted Lily set (Waffle Flower designs) and I'm using them for the first time. For a twist I colored them like poinsettias using Distress Oxide inks to watercolor, and colored pencils for extra detail. I added a few Nuvo drops in the centers.

After fussy cutting I arranged the blooms on a banner, embossed with the  Dotted Swirls Debossing Die (Altenew.)  Fortunately I found the Snowday paper pack (Lawn Fawn) to be a perfect match for my coloring.  I like these patterns so much I've bought them twice! The sentiment  (from MFT) is embossed on a black die cut strip and layered over the flowers.  

I am delighted to add this to the terrific challenge at NBUS. Increasing my Christmas stash one card at a time. Thanks so much for coming by today!

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Pretty Papers Get Well

 Birdsong. Isn't that a sweet word? Singing birds are one of my favorite sounds in the mornings. The gorgeous paper pack of mintaypapers I used for today's card is called birdsong - - and I just love it! 

I needed a get well card and thought these feminine colors and vintage images were soothing and made a pretty combination. For a focal point, I inked a rose in several layers of colors and surrounded it with subtly stamped leaves. 

I trimmed the scripty sentiment with scissors along the curved lines, and used a die to cut the thin strip of the second phrase. Sequins and Nuvo drops are the simple embellishments. 

Freshly Made Sketches provided the layout inspiration for this design. After all my cute critter cards, it feels good to make something a bit fancy today.  You can be pretty sure I will be back with another post tomorrow. I find it hard to concentrate on many activities lately, how about you? But stamping holds my attention and using my hands to create is better than staring at my phone.

I am so glad that you keep coming back! Have a great day!

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used:

Stamps: Fleur Impressions, The Greetery; PTI - Warm Wishes

Paper: Neenah Solar White, SU - Crisp Cantaloupe, Mintay by Karola - birdsong