Just a Note to say HELLO

I am popping in today with another card featuring images from the Love Letters Collection which has already become a favorite of mine!
Have a look.  

 Until now I had not jumped onto the layered flower dies bandwagon but the Botanicuts Rose dies changed my mind. 

I began sponging Distress oxide inks onto white card stock in pinks and coral and spattering them with water and ink droplets. I purposely used a variety of colors for the rose layers. Being my first time to assemble the roses, I wasn't even intending to use these on a card, I thought I would just keep them for my samples. It turned out I really like the variegated look. Using a scrap left of the sponged pinks I stamped and die cut the small note card. 

The large panel was sponged also in blues, and die cut with the Postal Frames Die. This is one of those cards that will go to someone very special! I hope you've enjoyed it too. 

Be yourself

Delight in your craft 

Make something beautiful!

Supplies used from The Greetery

Stamps: Signed & Sealed Stamp Set

Accessories: Signed & Sealed Die, Postal Frames Die, Botanicuts Rose Die

I added Glossy Accents to the seal to add dimension. 

Pretty Mail

Hello and welcome to my blog! Hope your Monday is off to a good start. I'm always amazed at how quickly the weekend is over! 

Turns out I had time to stay warm and cozy and do some stamping with fabulous new products from The Greetery! When I open my order it almost feels like Christmas again. As you will see, I love all the mail themed things from the Love Letters release and much of it came in my package. 

The Pretty Postmarks stamps and dies contain multiple images for postal stamp elements and has tons of possibilities. Although this collection will make delightfully romantic projects, I wanted to try out a different style that could be gender neutral. By combining soft blues and tan I think I achieved a classic look. 

I added spatters in blue to the plaid-stamped panel, a cancelled mail die with black text and a wooden heart and twine as embellishments.

You will be seeing more with these goodies very soon. I can't wait to give them another spin. Thanks so much for your frequent visits, encouraging words and kind comments. I hope you know how very much you are appreciated. 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

 

Supplies used:

Stamps: The Greetery - Pretty Postmarks, Windowpane Plaid BackgroundPaper: Neenah Solar White, PTI - Blueberry Sky

INK: Simon Says Stamp - Intense Black; Altenew - Rocky Shore, Desert Night, Sea Glass

Accessories:  The Greetery - Postal Frames Die, Pretty Postmarks Die; twine, wooden heart

Holiday GIfts

Today I am presenting Christmas card #2! A result of my goal to make this year's cards well ahead of time. At first I was stumped by the challenge given to use gifts on our cards, the theme at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown. That prompted me to look through my stash and find the retired DSP (SU) that works well for the theme. And helps me to use up some of my hoard. That's why I love challenges so much.

Aren't the images on this paper sweet? I fussy cut two of the gifts, punched a star from glitter paper, adding a sentiment and a bow. Easily done! 

I'm also entering the holiday challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More. Supplies are listed below. Thank you so much for visiting! Wishing you a great day. 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

           Make something beautiful!

   

Supplies used:

Stamps: Gina K - Perfect Poinsettia (sentiment)

Paper: Neenah Solar White, SU - Cherry Cobbler

INK: Wplus9 - Siren Song 

Accessories: Bow and Circle dies - The Greetery; SU - star punch

Enjoy your day!

Hello and welcome! 
We did some traveling over the weekend and it all went well. We celebrated my dear mother in law's 95th birthday with three generations of family! It was a special event and now comes the time for me to rest up. That meant a bit of crafting. It's amazing how this hobby refreshes me. 

Now for the card. 

I'm not quite ready to jump into spring florals but I love the Potpourri stamp set. The colorful potted plants against a boldly striped paper square make a pretty focal point and can be created in many combinations. I loved adding a few ink splatters as the sketch suggested and a few black dots with a black pen.

I'm playing with CAS(E) this Sketch and happy to have another birthday card to add to my stash.

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used:

Stamps: The Greetery - Potpourri; WPlus9 - My Whole Life; SU - Gorgeous Grunge

Paper: Neenah Solar White, PTI 

INK: Versamark, Altenew - mini inks sets - Cool Summer Nights, Green Meadows, Tea Party; WPlus9 - Queen Bee

Accessories: White embossing powder, Sponge daubers, Greetery dies - Potpourri and Sentiment Suite Basic

Everything About You

Hello, wishing you well today! 
I'm winding up my week with a card inspired by many prompts. The cute winter scene fits right in with a change in our weather and gets me in the mood to think about Valentine's day. 

I love pulling out my older sets to use and Merry Kisses became mine two years ago. I just love coloring this furry couple snuggling in a shared scarf. 

Here are the Copics I used: C00, C1, RV 09, 14, and 52; V 01, 06, and 15; Y 17, 35, and 38; YR 16, 18, and 68; and E7. I did some masking and sponged the background with Tumbled Glass and Shaded Lilac Distress Oxide Inks. 

I added highlights and shimmer with a gel pen and WOS. Curving the sentiment and adding die cut hearts complete the embellishments. 
These challenges suggested using a winter scene: Fusion and Retro Rubber. I'm also playing with Freshly Made who gave this wonderful sketch. 

Thanks so much for taking a look today. Have a great weekend! I'll be back mid-week next week. See you then!

Be yourself
     Delight in your craft
          Make something beautiful!

Roses are Red

Hello, friends! 
Roses are red, Razzleberry is a rich purple. Add olive green and you've got the colors of today's thank you card! 

I only knew that I wanted to use layered dies for the sentiment, and the quilted stencil (FranticStampers). Putting it all together with the Rennie Rose stamps and dies from Altenew was really fun! Coloring was done with Copic markers and the Paper Players provided the combo. 

 I am so happy that you came by to visit. 

         Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today!

Be yourself
     Delight in your craft
          Make something beautiful!

Pine Branches Winter Birthday

Hello, friends! 
I have a hard time with masculine cards, but when it came time to make this one I knew I had supplies to make something special. For someone very special, our son. 

I'm sure by now you've realized that there are new stamping goodies in the house! I've been using the BotaniCuts Pine Bough Die (The Greetery) but I'm excited today to have added the Cozy Flannel Cover Die (Altenew). I love being able to create the look of a buffalo plaid so easily.

I began with card stock for the boughs and pine cone cuts and added sponged inks and colored pencil shading. The sentiment is from Uplifting Thoughts (SSS) and continues inside to say, " You are every bit of wonderful." 

I'm happy to have the layout from Cas(e) This Sketch to kick off my stamping.  My entry from last week was a CTS Honorable Mention!

Hope it's the beginning of a wonderful day for you and a great week. 
I appreciate your visit very much. 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

          Make something beautiful!

Elegant Winter Birthday

Happy Friday! I'm posting quickly as evening approaches. 
Do you ever have a card that just doesn't turn out the way you thought? And you're not sure if you like it? Or maybe it's the photo that doesn't turn out right? 

I answer yes to all three of those with today's card. I almost didn't post it. I thought I'd let you decide! 

One thing I'm sure of is that I need to use these gorgeous stamps again without the glitzy add-on. The Winter Sketches stamps (The Greetery) are beautiful when layered with inks. I wanted to use my new to me Rose Gold Powder (from Altenew) so I tried ending with the optional fifth layer for highlighting the branch and outlining the buds and embossing it.

I backed the black panel with Rose Gold foil paper. I rarely use black for my main panel but I love the affect when others do it, so I am giving it a try as well. 

The card layout is from the Freshly Made Sketch Challenge, and the inspiration photo from The Card Concept had lovely black and gold elements with shine that inspired my card. I'm classifying this as a Classy/Elegant card. 

That's it for me today! I hope you have a weekend that is wonderful in every way. Thanks so much for your kind words!

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

All dies and the stamps are from The Greetery. which has quickly become my favorite stamp company!

Snowy Day Joy

Hi there, glad you're here! 
I have an intention of making my cards for Christmas 2020 throughout the year. In addition to making them ahead of the time crunch, I want to finish the inside of every card as I make it. A big goal? Yes, one of many I've been making lately! 

This card all started with the Snowy Day Remix papers. I got a few sheets in a card kit years ago, and loved them so much I jumped at the chance to purchase a pack when they were released again recently. 

Using the sheet music paper required a sentiment having to do with a song. I got carried away from there and used the sketch provided by Christmas Card Throwdown.

and the lovely inspiration photo from Time Out Challenges

I love the tiny hearts on these papers! The Joy die cut has shine from red foil paper. The message on the inside reads, "May the miracle of Christmas fill your heart with joy."
Also joining The Paper Players challenge. My something new: both stamp sets and die, and my first NEW card for my Christmas 2020 stash. 

The supplies are listed below. Enjoy your day!

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used:

Stamps: Hero Arts - Joy Stamp and Cut, Honey Bee - Miracle of Christmas (inside)

Paper: Neenah Solar White, SU - red foil, Chocolate Chip, Lawn Fawn - Snowy Day Remix 6x6 pack

INK: Versamark

Accessories: White Embossing Powder; The Greetery - Fit to Be Tied  and Basic Sentiments Dies

Pine Blossoms Just for You

Hello, I'm happy to greet you today.
I know that many card makers are ready to pull out the stops with spring colors and images. Just happens that I got so many new items for Christmas and winter that I still want to play with a bit longer. 

The Pine Blossoms set is just one of those beautiful bouquets that I think will be versatile for any season. I've been dreaming of stamping it out in many color combinations! 

For my first card with this set, I've featured the wintry hues of lavender and smoky blues. I decided the panel I had preciously watercolored with blue around the top and bottom edges would make a nice backdrop. The Nordic Frames Die adorns the edges of the panel, and the lilac card stock peeks out.

I love the "Just for You" sentiment that doesn't limit me to one occasion, giving me the option to decide before mailing.  

I thank you so much for coming by my blog today! I appreciate every one of your comments.

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used:

Stamps: The Greetery - Pine Blossoms stamps and dies

Paper: Neenah Solar White, Watercolor Paper - The Master's Touch

INK: Distress Oxides - Broken China, Chipped Sapphire, Mustard Seed; Altenew - Eastern Sky, Just Green, Rouge, Velvet, Wisteria, Hydrangea, and Ultraviolet

Accessories: The Greetery - Nordic Frames Die, Frosty Frames Stencil

Celebrate!

There are so many January birthdays in our family! I have most of those ready to go, so thought I'd get a head start on the cards for February. 

I've been wanting to give digital stamps a try, and I've bought a few so here is my first attempt. I printed out the pretty image, fussy cut it and colored it with Copics. I had a bit of trouble getting the size right, but it was easy enough that I think I'll try it again, although I really prefer ink and stamps. 

Here's a question for you. Is that coffee or tea in my cup, HA!

Inspired by the Color Throwdown and CAS(E) This sketch.

 I really rely on the challenges to get my creative mind back in gear! 

Its been a laid back Saturday and I'm loving it! Hope you are having a wonderful time where you are and thanks for spending some of it with me! 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used:

Stamps: The Greetery - Sentiment Suite Birthday stamp set and dies; Digi image is from Graciellie Design Shop

Paper: Neenah Solar White, Chocolate Chip - SU, Lawn Fawn Snowy Day Remix Paper Pack

INK: Versamark

Accessories: White Embossing Powder, MFT Stitched Rounded Rectangle Dies

For Someone Special

Popping in again to share a card I made for a very dear friend. I am so glad that quite a few of the cards I've made in 2019 got MAILED this week! 

I worked on this in bits and pieces throughout the holiday season using the beautiful Botanicuts Pine Bough Die. The branches were cut from aqua card stock, and sponged with shades of blue. The pine cones were cut from white, assembled and shaded with colored pencils. I just LOVE the Fit to be Tied die that made the pretty bow cut from deep blue card stock and silver glimmer paper for the topper. The sentiment also comes from The Greetery set called Pine Blossom. There's one more die that's newly acquired by me; the Lawn Fawn double stitched die adds a great embossed detail to the rectangle border. 

Getting back to stamping is happening more slowly than I thought. Lately I'd rather curl up with a good book! Challenges will help. I'm adding this to a new challenge. 

I hope you have a terrific weekend! Thanks so much for stopping by. 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!