For my Dear Friend

 Hi there, hope you are doing well! Are you enjoying happy summer days, even with the heat dome? 

We are having the kind of sunny day that makes you wish you were at the beach. A perfect afternoon to make a  beach-y kind of card.  

I love collecting shells at the beach. Almost as much as I love collecting new stamps! When I saw that the Anchor of Hope stamps from Honeybee were retiring, I placed an order. It's a set filled with beautiful images and sentiments that are different from what I already have in my nautical stash. 

I began with a pale blush card stock for the card front. I swiped a squiggly line of blue Lunar Paste (Clear Skies) and next to it I added Stickles, suggesting a wave on a shore. 

The image was stamped on watercolor card stock, and colored with Distress Ink re-inkers, and metallic watercolors. Sorry, the photo just does not captures the shimmer and shine!  I fussy cut the image, and kept it simple with a sentiment. 

I was truly inspired to make this a clean and simple card for the Paper Players. Other challenges include Just Us Girls, and NBUS because the stamp is brand new to me. SSS Wednesday Challenge calls for Fabulous Florals. 

I appreciate you spending time with me today! Hope it's been an encouragement to you. 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Peonies for the Paper Players

 Hello and happy day to you! A beautiful new set of stamps designed by Dawn Woleslagle just had to join my collection of floral images recently. The Perfect Peonies stamps are from Honeybee Stamps. I love the timeless beauty of Dawn's illustrations, I am a huge fan. With some uncertainty about being able to do them justice, I began coloring with Copic markers. 

Most often I prefer using a damp brush and re-inkers, but I really enjoyed using the markers this time. I added a sentiment from Altenew, white gel pen accents and mini sequins. The image was on white card stock sponged with light pink ink.

I like the simplicity of this card - just stamps, paper, and ink!

I was happy to see that this fits the color challenge at The Paper Players, and I will also add it to the NBUS Challenge, and SSS Wednesday Challenge, Fabulous Florals. 

I know I'll enjoy using this set again. Keeping this short, hope you don't mind!

I hope you enjoyed your visit, thanks for coming by! See you soon. 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Enjoy the Little Things

 Hello! Well, you know what they say. If life gives you lemons, make lemonade. My version is fitting for those enduring this heat wave. If it stays HOT grab a lemonade and head to the stamp room to stay cool!

That's what I did this afternoon, and it was the perfect time to use some new supplies. 

I've had these pretty Lovely Layers: Dogwood dies from Honey Bee in the new-things-container since spring so I gave them a try for today's card. The layers and etching on the dies add lovely texture and details. I had trouble getting a good photo though. The papers from Concord & 9th are very pretty IRL but it was hard to capture these hues.

 I paired the flowers with the Immense Joy die and sentiment from Penny Black. I'll be entering the challenge at NBUS with dear Darnelle - who encourages us to share our never-been-used-stuff. And at the Flower Challenge, where they request CAS cards. Their DT samples are fabulous! 

I appreciate your visit to my blog today! Hope you've found a way to keep cool!

 

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Mixing it Up for Color Hues #56

 Our Color Hues challenge #56 is here! Sheri has chosen Pink and Red for us and to me that's all about Valentines's! I had fun mixing up products to create my card. 

Combining the Bicycle Builder dies from Honey Bee with elements from the Spellbinders Parcel Post Heart Decorations I came up with this card for my dear one. 

I just love the LOVE letters and cut them using silver Glitter paper. They are only glued at the bottom so they hang jauntily over the basket and hearts.

Papers from my stash supplied the heart theme.The sentiment is embossed in white on black card stock. It's retired (SU). 

My neutrals and white black and silver. We can't wait to see what you will make for this challenge!

I appreciate your visit, hope it's a great day for you. 

Be yourself.

     Find delight in your craft.

             Make something beautiful! 

I'm adding this to the challenge at TicTacToe where I chose the center row: hearts, free, red. 

Bicycle Birthday

 Hello, on this last Sunday of October!  I't's the day for a new challenge at The Paper Players! This week's challenge #615  is a grid allowing you to choose your options. I made a girlie birthday card using the Bicycle Builders Honey-Cuts from Honey Bee Stamps and designer papers. Isn't it cute?

Here's the challenge prompt from our lovely Anne Marie. I chose the middle row, top to bottom: Die-Cut, Texture, Birthday.

I knew I wanted to use this brand new-to-me die, and the stamps that coordinate have lovely sentiments to include a birthday. I know I'm really going to love using this! 

Texture. Maybe I went overboard but I added a 3D embossed white panel (Tim Holtz), cut the bike frame out of metallic card stock, and used a bit of sparkly tulle ribbon to wrap around the bike handles. 

The basket had textured details which I highlighted with shading, and I dabbed a shimmer pen on the flowers. I really got in some good time experimenting with what I wanted and what did or didn't work with this one. 

Can't wait to see what you will create! I'll see you tomorrow! 

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

I'm playing along at NBUS. Looking for inspiration? As I write this there are 135 entries for this month!

Pretty Poppies for Paper Players 593 with Honey Bee

Glad to welcome you to today's post featuring the Lovely Layers: Wildflower Honey Cuts from Honey Bee stamps. The Paper Players challenge is from our very talented artist Ann, and you know she loves flowers! I thought it would be great to feature these pretty dies for the first time.  

 These are beautiful in any presentation because they have embossed details on every die. I chose to cut them from watercolor paper and paint them with my watercolors. I added distressing and shaping with a stylus and and rounded tool, curling the edges as I glued the flowers together. I love the dimension!  

The Tic Tac Toe board suggested patterned paper. I ended up using the diagonal row, die cut/ floral/ribbons, but since I felt the design needed just a bit more of something, I kept in the paper. I have the option of adding a sentiment later. 

 

I can not wait to see what you will make! So many options make this an easy challenge to join, we hope you will play along! 
Thanks so much for your visit today! 

Be yourself.

     Find delight in your craft.

             Make something beautiful! 

 

I will add this to one of my fav places for inspiration, NBUS.  

Supplies used: 

Stamps: none
Ink: none

Paper: Ranger watercolor paper, Tea Boutique 6x6 Pad Stampin' Up!
Accessories - Lovely Layers: Wildflower Honey Cuts , Altenew 36 pan Watercolors, Waffle Flower Cover Die

You're A Classic

Good morning and happy Friday! Hope you're on your way to a great weekend.

I pulled out my Polychromos to color the car for a masculine card today. I liked being able to color this car as if it had a few dings and dents of a classic. Or vintage set of wheels.

 When I saw the argyle in the inspiration for the sketch I knew I would be adding another masculine birthday card to my stash.  And playing along with:

CAS(E) This Sketch 

Simon Says Stamp: Anything Goes. 

Now for the rest of the story. I keep thinking this card needs something. And it does. Because .... I lost the stamp I initially planned to use on it! You know how easy it is for polymer stamps to get stuck on something?  Well, the sentiment that says "Cruising by to say...." cruised itself right into hiding somewhere in plain sight. I chose a different sentiment after a long time of looking and left the banner mostly empty. Calling it done and squeaky clean!

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used:

Stamps: Honey Bee - You're A Classic, Car Show

Paper: Neenah Solar White, SU - Real Red, Smoky Slate

INK:Simon Says Stamp - Intense Black

Accessories: WPlus9 - Bold Banner Die, Wink of Stella, Polychromos Colored Pencils