Gifts of Fall

 It's been a low key Saturday and I've had some crafty fun with assorted elements for fall. I'm here to share! 

I've assembled lots of my old and new fall supplies in a box nearby, so hopefully I create with many of them before the next season and Christmas card making is in full swing. 

For today's card, I began with the sketch from Freshly Made. Choosing soft peach card stock, I made the triple panel from the sketch by using two colors and the same embossing folder. The large leaf as the focal point works well, and is backed with a vellum circle. I wish the photo could show the maple leaf's true color - more pink than orange. I had trouble getting a good picture!

I added a few small leaf dies and softly inked the edges. A  rose gold embossed sentiment and liquid pearls are the simple embellishments. 

Hope you have a great day and enjoy the gifts it brings you. Thanks for your visit! 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!     

Supplies:
cards stocks are from Spellbinders and Concord & 9
EF - Penny Black, Variegated
The large leaf - The Greetery, small leaves are from C9 Leafy Layers Die
Sentiment is Altenew - Build A Garden Elegant Tulips

Also added to:
SSS Wednesday Challenge  - add texture
The Four Season Challenge 
TicTacToe Challenge 
I chose the middle row: Ink blending ( on the small leaves), free, leaves

Dainty Daisies and Golden Moments

 Greeting you on this fall-ish day with a warm hello! I began wanting to use the Dainty Daisies stamps and dies (Penny Black) for today's card and I envisioned a simple clean card on a white base. As you can see, that is NOT what happened! The Double D asks for vases or pitchers for their challenge and that is what changed everything!

Finally deciding upon the vase I brought in the papers from Golden Moments (PB) to cut it out and then continued with a rusty/gold subtle pattern for the card front. I would not give up on using a vase even though I really didn't have one. Call me stubborn - or let's say tenacious! Altenew's Elegant Tulips supplied the vase and sentiment.

I do really like the daisies and especially the pretty border stamps with this set. Also available from Penny Black is a lovely vase in the perfect style and proportions. Maybe I did need it, laughing now. I did need and enjoyed a good challenge.

Thanks so much, it's been good to see you today! 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

I will be entering the challenges at:
Double D - Vases or Pitchers
NBUS - first time using the Daisies
Four Seasons - Fall
A Cut Above
Penny Black Saturday Challenge 

Sweet Chickadees

 Hey, isn't it great that September is here! It's one of my favorite months of the year. This morning I sat and listened as the birds were singing on the patio and splashing in the water from the sprinkler. I love birds almost as much as I love stamping. 

Finding a new embossing folder that comes with a die to cut the chickadees was intriguing and here you can see the result! 

I used Hammermill white card stock, and ran it through with the EF. Then using a damp brush and my watercolor paints I washed in a pale blue background around the leaves and branches. After letting it dry, the next step involved watercoloring the leaf images and branches, carefully. Lastly, the chickadees were die cut, then embossed, then colored with my colored pencils. I also used those to add details to the leaves. Popping up the birds adds dimension, and the texture of the embossing is so nice! 

I added Nuvo drops in black to accent the eyes, a banner with pearls and a birthday wish. 

Today is a special day! The birthday cake is in the oven. The family is gathering later. Life is good! Wishing you smiles and happy thoughts today!

I will enter this to:
The Paper Players Challenge, using Texture, Free and Things that Fly

NBUS - love the new EF and dies!
SSS Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Supplies: 
Simon Says Stamp - Chickadee Gathering Embossing Folder and Die
Card Stock from Spellbinders
Banner and Greeting - The Greetery

My Cup of Tea

 Hi, happy Friday to you, hope all is going well! I had a lot going on yesterday, I was preparing a meal to take to a friend who recently lost her husband, and in between cooking I puttered around with a few leftover bits in my craft room for today's card. No stamping, just paper and dies!

As I mulled over Michele's new design for Freshly Made Sketches, I remembered a floral image that I had already prepared with white over embossing and decided to make it into a pretty tea cup.

 The story proceeded from there!  I pulled out those pretty new papers in my hoard and was pleased to find this pattern with the same type of flower as those on the cup. AHA! 

You know my cup of tea always perks me up, so why not feature it on a get well card? Hope you have a great weekend, friends! Wish we could sit awhile over a cup of tea, what a nice visit that would be, especially with cooler weather we've been having. Be back soon. 
Supplies listed below, mostly oldies, I'm happy to say. 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Sharing this at:
Freshly Made Sketches
Love Those Pretty Papers
SSS Wednesday Challenge - Waffle Flower

Supplies: 

Card stock from SSS - I Want It All Card Stock    (Moon flower) 
DSP - La La Lands Crafts, Washi Paper
Dies: Frantic Stamper - Get Well Wishes; The Greetery - Cozy Cup Coastal Die; Waffle Flower Tea Cup Die
EF - Altenew - Piped Floral Lace

Perfect Peonies

Hi friends, it's time for a new way to play at Tic Tac Toe Challenge! Roseanne is our designer for the board for Team X. It's a good one! I was delighted to discover that Dawn Woleslagle designed a new stamp set for Honey Bee stamps; Perfect Peonies stamps and dies feature her beautiful images in a 6 x 8 format. 

I love that the set has large image options because I love to color and the blooms provide a large focal point. This time I used Copic markers in order to achieve the bright colors as called for in the challenge. I chose the vertical right column of Sparkle, Birthday, Bright Colors.  

I added shine with gold flat sequins which, if you know me, you know I LOVE to bling with.  Dotted flower centers were enhanced with a white gel pen. The lace border is the Eyelet Scallop Border from Spellbinders. 

There are so many options for your creations,  I hope you will have fun and join us. 

Thanks so much for visiting me today. I'm always glad to have you! 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Anchored in Hope

 Happy new day! 

Today I'm sharing a card made in honor of the 800th challenge at The Paper Players, can you believe it? Those designers have been inspiring us for a long time! I'm excited to remember that it was one of the first challenges that I took part in way back when I started my first blog (2007). It's still one of the best card challenges out there. I'm pleased to mention that I had the privilege of being on their design team for a year, it was wonderful. 

Back to today...I'm caught up in the last days of summer in my thoughts. Here's my card!

I took a literal version of this timeless sketch that is the same one the Players used on their first post. 

I began by choosing an aqua card stock for the base layer, and I sponged ink around the edges. It's my first time using the Waffle Flower Craft Dies - Floral Anchor. I love that these dies contain individual flowers and leaves but also included are two dies that feature the same flowers already arranged in groupings. That made it easy!  I embellished my clean and layered card with black twine and pearls. 

Thank you, Paper Players!! 
I'm playing also in the following challenges: 
NBUS where I'm using the new dies and sentiment
The Card Concept Summer by the Sea, clean and layered style is  inspired by the title
We Love Stamping Summer Blooms

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Supplies:
DSP is Pink & Main -  Bright Botannicals

sentiment is also Waffle Flower - Overlapping hugs Additions

Stars and Sunshine

 I'm back with another challenge card today, happy Friday, friends! 

You know how I love card challenges, they help by keeping me growing as a stamper and having fun as someone who has a bit of time on her hands (usually!). That translates to keeping me out of trouble. Yesterday's card (HERE) was for a sketch challenge and today I'm back with TAKE 2 on the same sketch from Cecile from Freshly Made Sketches.  I've been thinking on this sketch overnight. 

You'd be amazed both of my takes are from the same challenge idea, but it just shows how easy it is to focus on one thing or another thing altogether when creating from a sketch. It all depends how the inspiration strikes you! 

I used a square card this time (4.5 x 4.5"), with a smaller stitched die cut square featuring a scene. For the focal image I used a seaside image and the tall lighthouse mimics the diamond shape in the sketch. 

I stamped the images using a masking technique onto Canson watercolor paper with Watering Can Archival ink, and painted in the details with Distress Re-inkers. 

The sky shows the morning and night sky both to illustrate the sentiment, as its found on the stamp packaging. I dabbed a few stars with a white gel pen. 

I am so happy to be using the Grounded & Glowing set from Penny Black for the first time. I keep looking for stamps that vary from my normal flowers and feminine vibes, and this one is working for me! I loved having a reason to pull out the watercolors.

Speaking of inspiration, the DT samples for this sketch are fabulous!

Thanks so much for your visit, I will see you soon! 

Also playing with my new stamps at NBUS Challenge #89.  and Penny Black Saturday Challenge.

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Looking Forward to Fall

 Hi, I sure am looking forward to fall, especially since our temps are still high 90's and it's so very HOT! We were at the beach last week and we had a daily heat advisory so we couldn't be outside as much as we would have liked. Had a good time anyway! 

Back at home in my craft room, I put together today's clean and simple card using a fun mix of oldies for fall. 

I was inspired by The Paper Players challenge and Freshly Made Sketch Challenge. 

I"m also looking forward to some crafting with new goodies and more time to play next week. Hope you will stop back. I appreciate your visit, I'm wishing you a wonderful weekend! 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Blues for a Beautiful Day

 It's not my team up for the new challenge at Tic Tac Toe but I just couldn't resist playing along with the fabulous board created by Jeanie for Challenge #299. The monochromatic option got the creative juices flowing for me! 

It was a great opportunity to feature the Foliage Flair stamps and stencils by Pinkfresh Studios. I stamped the image in black ink, and used Distress Oxide Inks with the stencil to apply shades of blue, cobalt and teal to the design. The flowing lines of the foliage and blooms pair beautifully with the simple color combo.   

I went with the middle vertical row of Monochromatic, Gems and Coordinated Envelope. I love that I had the lovely blue gems from Altenew (Gem Sparkles - Deep Sea Sapphire.) They really sparkle!  

Happily it's my first time using the stamps and stencils so you know I'm headed to Darnell's fabulous NBUS challenge to share. 

I'm glad we had this chance to meet up today. I'm wishing you a beautiful day!

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Supplies: 

Foliage Flair bundle

DOX inks: Blueprint Sketch, Broken China, Salty Ocean
Sentiment is from Altenew Craft Your Life Watercolor Flowers kit  

Hearts A Plenty

 How's everything going for you, dear crafty friend? 

I spent some time in my craft space today. I was digging through my supplies one box and container at a time, looking for a set of dies that I KNOW I bought recently. The dies weren't in the envelope with the stamps and stencils where I normally keep them. Wondering where else I could have put it is like looking for a needle in a haystack. 

Well, I didn't find it. Has this ever happened to you? I wasn't going to create with it, I was just stressed that I couldn't get my hands on it. I feel sure I will stumble upon it some day when I least expect it!

This cute pair did turn up in my ready-made bin and since they were already colored, I set about to make a card in an attempt to re-focus.

I used reinkers to lightly watercolor the critters, cut them out and added a paper from my stash. Adding a die cut heart and rounded corners to the card base gives a playful vibe. 

 Verena designed the Freshly Made Sketch and it's lovely, as are the DT samples. I'm happy to play along! Also linking to the Penny Black Saturday Challenge.

It's so good of you to visit, hope you're having a great weekend. I appreciate you! 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Supplies: 
Penny Black - Hearts A plenty stamp
Altenew - Soft Blossoms (sentiment)

Celebrations and Wins!

 Hi to you friends, I can't believe that August is here. It seems that I should be posting cards today as the week is half over already, but how about if I post a quick update instead? 

The last week was really full, with a family celebration party at our house for 15 on Saturday and our son and family visiting for a few days afterward. Very good time! Very tired Mimi and Papa! 

Now for the wins part. Drum roll please!! I was a very lucky random winner at the SSS weekly challenge with the circles card from the last post - and it also was chosen as Queen of Clean at the Freshly Made Challenge!  I just love challenges - they keep me stamping and mentally stoked. PLUS a win???!!!

Lastly, dear Darnell hosted an amazing celebration of the NBUS anniversary, and I was a random pick prize winner! Shopping at Waffle Flower is in store for me. 

I am one tired but happy stamper today! Back with cards soon, but maybe not tomorrow. HA! 

Thanks for letting me share! Hugs. 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Pop Art for Freshly Made Sketches

 Just when I think I'm finished for the week with card-making and posting, another challenge kicks me into gear and I make just one more! 

I've been waiting patiently for the chance to use my geometric shapes and supplies and today I was inspired to pull them out.

From the SSS April card kit, I used the Pop Art stamps and dies. The printed sentiments and a batch of colorful textured card stock squares were  included. These items made creating with Kim's sketch at Freshly Made so easy. 

When I saw this kit, I thought it would make great cards for our grandson. Nice to have this ready to go. 

Speaking of ready to go - we are heading out to the pool for a little exercise this evening. The weather here was finally a bit cooler today. 

Hope you have a great weekend! It was so good of you to visit.

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

I'm adding this to
 Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Supplies: 
The small script sentiment is from Waffle Flower - Oversized Hello

Better at the Beach

 Waving hello friends! I wish I was packing my bag for a day at the beach, don't you? 

Here's my card to help us dream a little of the beach life. 

I created my beach tote using cut strips of card stock to make stripes, then added the sentiment, sunglasses, a shell and a towel to complete the focal point. Using Crystal effects makes the glass frames shiny IRL and there's a shimmer on the pink hearts. 

It's a center fold pop up card. For the pale blue base, I used an EF for a texture resembling water drops, smooshing a light layer of white ink over it. The scene is complete with patterned paper curving along the bottom, and a few clear gems. 

It's a new challenge for Team X at Tic Tac Toe. Here's our board of options for these next two weeks. 

I used the middle row across - Beach, Free and Fun Fold. My last name is Beach, of course I couldn't resist! 
We hope you will join us!

 Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Supplies: 

Stamps: Waffle Flower Beach Tote Stamps and Dies
Spellbinders Splatter EF 

Bold Bouquet

 Well here I am again! 

Just had to pop in and give a quick share of the card I made today. I was inspired by the great cards over at Just Us Girls, where they have a stencil week - anything goes! And so many great cards that I wanted to play along. In looking for a stencil, I ended up with a bundle! 

The Bold Bouquet stamp and die bundle (Altenew) includes stencils and an embossing folder. This has been in my stash for years and barely used. That's sad but we got re-acquainted. 

I embossed the bouquet, stenciled it, then die cut it. Now totally in stencil mode I added more color with the SSS stencil Petal Lattice in the bottom right corner. A few tiny dots with pens gave detail to the flower centers in black and gold, and a few sequins in pink made me happy. 

Off to post this now, as the challenge closes soon. I will see you tomorrow! Thanks so much for your visit. 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Love Blooms

Hello, hi, and welcome! Just when I tell myself I have enough  stamps   (never enough of those!) paper or ink I find this fabulous paper pack that is so different and I LOVE it! It's the main feature on today's card. 

I started by filing through the La La Land Crafts 6x6 pack called Washi, looking for the one that would be easy to design with. These two sided papers are amazing, with bold patterns and striking designs. Swoon worthy!

Also on my desk were the leftover die cuts from another day. I thought two of these would work well to house my focal point and still allow the pretty papers to be visible. I didn't want to cover it up! I stamped and watercolored the rose using distress inks for the bloom and metallic gold for the leaves, and placed them over a strip of gold mirror card stock. 

A bow of gold thread and a simple sentiment and it's done! For dimension, the die cuts are two or three layers stacked together. You will be seeing this paper again as I really enjoyed the challenge of playing with it. 

Wishing you a great day, and happy crafting! 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Challenges: 

Color Hues - Black and Red 
Love those Pretty Papers 

Supplies:
Penny Black  - Curvature Die, Love Blooms stamps and dies
Sentiment is from Altenew from this pretty set they sent me for free personalized with my name!  Charming Bouquet stamps. Boy, was I surprised!!