Let's Make Two

Gratefully, we had some much needed rain yesterday and I had time to finish two cards that have been worked on bit by bit this week. No online challenges this time. Just my own goal of using a new to me die. I unwrapped that package and gave it a whirl! 

I began by combining the Curvature Die from Penny Black, and the Garden Party dies from Pinkfresh Studio. When I had a moment, I  randomly cut a bunch of these, a few in color, but mostly from white card stock. 

 Adding Altenew inks to color, I sponged with aqua, teal, pink and green, including the teal in the corner of the card front. These dies are fun to layer, the possibilities are endless! The Curvature die in white makes a soft home base for my focal point. The sentiment from SSS Happy Day is stamped and die cut. 

The fun part came with the leftover bits of flowers on my desk. Here's take 2! 

Even the Blush pink panel was already cut to size sitting there on my desk. Better to use it up! With the very simple layout, I jazzed it up a bit with  a small dot EF and a few clear crystal sequins. The sentiment is from Penny Black called Special Thoughts. My completed cards are overflowing their space, so I'm using generic sentiments in hopes of donating them. 

Thanks for visiting me today! 

I guess I do want to add this to Darnell's NBUS Challenge, the Curvatures Die is my new schtuff. That item is still on my desk, so there is more to come!

Honeybell Floral WIth Sympathy

Just a note to say hello. 

I know none of us really like to make sympathy cards, but there comes a time to send them. I don't usually like to keep them on hand. It seems more meaningful to me to make one that can be personalized and made special for the recipient when I get the sad news.  Now today, I need to send two! Here's the first one. 

I prefer light colors and simple layouts for sympathy cards. 

Choosing three shades of rose/pink I used the Honeybell Floral Wafer Die, cutting the images twice, and adding inking to the edges of the pieces. 

I found a fence die that's been camped out in my stash for a few years. It holds the flowers nicely!

I debated inking a cloud-filled sky versus keeping a white background. I decided to go very very light with the sponging, and I'm glad I did. Altenew Blue Horizon ink is my new favorite for clouds. 

A very light swipe of yellow for the butterfly completes the scene. 

I will wish you a happy weekend, enjoy sunshine and special times with the ones you love! See you next week. 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Playing at:
NBUS  Never-been-used-stuff 

Triple B - Birds, Butterflies, and Blooms 

Supplies: 

from my stash - sentiment, MFT prairie fence, MFT cloud stencil

New - first time use - Honeybell Floral Die - SSS

Butterfly is from Butterfly Escapade EF, dies, and stencils - SSS

Happy Easter Wish

 Hello there! I'm sorry to say that I don't often make Easter cards, even though it's an important holiday and there are so many lovely options to choose from right here in my stash. Today changed that.

I'm delighted to share it with you! 

The well-loved oldies came out first, beginning with the Cathedral Die and stencils from The Greetery. Some light sponging of pastel inks behind the windows and at the card base created a soft base for the bouquet. 

The flowers and leaves are from the very new-to-me Garden Party Die from Pinkfresh Studio, cut from white card stock and sponged with color. Also brand new, these Ethereal Butterflies from Memory Box seemed to round out the scene, with their rich texture and an added pearl. The sentiment is from Spring Day... by Penny Black. I got an extra nudge from the challenge at Double D,  Easter/Church/Cross. 

I'm so thankful to these ladies for their beautiful inspiration and hard work. 

I will add this to the lineup at NBUS  and Die Cut Divas  Celebrate Spring as well. I can't thank you enough for taking the time to come by today and say hello. See you again soon!

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Birthday Balloons for The Paper Players

 Hi, happy mid-week hello! It's on to the next challenge for me and this is a fun one!

The Paper Players ask for a clean and simple birthday card using balloons. I had a birthday sentiment prepared that's been hanging around on the corners of my desk all ready to go for a few weeks.

Happily, I had a new-to-me set of Balloon dies in my container of new and unused stuff. I used a retired background stamp to create some pale pink dots randomly on white card stock. This card measures 3.5 x 6". Adding just a bit of shading to the die cuts and white gel pen highlights, I used foam dimensionals for extra depth. 

I have two grands that love pink, when I know which one I'm giving it to, I may add the number on a ballon to represent their new age. 

I will add this card to the challenges at: 
NBUS
The Paper Players

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Supplies: 
DSP and enamel dots - Stampin' Up!
Birthday Die - Whimsy Stamps
Balloons - Simon Hurley Balloon dies

Winter Birthday

 Hello friends! The cold temperatures call for heavy sweaters and I have a few colorful ones to share with you today! Made of paper, of course. 

Most of my stamp supplies purchased in last months have focused on Christmas and winter themes. Seems I'd had enough of flower variations for awhile! I'm glad I've had a chance to use these fun images for a February birthday. 

The Sweater Season Dies from Concord & 9th include so many small dies to add details, like the hats, hearts, snowflakes, collars and cuffs and other elements you can see on my sweaters. That was a delightful challenge to make the sweaters unique designs. The coordinating stamps include a knit texture and other stamps to embellish the sweaters with. They also have a cute sentiment. I didn't use it here, instead I chose these sentiments from a retired PTI set. I love how it all worked together! 

What else do I love? Bright colors, stars, hearts and polka dots! Provided here by Concord & 9th card stock -  the colors are even a bit brighter IRL and pretty papers from Simple Stories. 

The Sisterhood of Crafters has a Spots and Dots challenge. A new one to me, check it out HERE. Thanks, Leslie! 

This card is a slimline ( 4 x 6.5) and follows the adorable sketch from Jaydee. I see now that I put my sentiment on the other side.

Happy to play today at The Paper Players. Stay cozy, won't you? 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft

                  Make something beautiful!  

Fabulous Flower

After making and mailing a slew of Christmas cards, I brought out a new-to-me flower for my card today. I know many of you around the country and Canada are having snow and I am so dreaming of snow. However. It's warm enough where I live today to actually try sun bathing.The air conditioner is on.

I might as well take a break from making winter cards, even if only for today. Here's a fabulous bloom creation made with the Lovely Layers Coneflower Dies from Honey Bee stamps. 

The  etched dies cut four layers for this flower and the dimension is amazing. I used two shades of pink card stock, and added sponged ink to vary the color a bit for each layer. When it was assembled I added more detail with flicking with Copic markers near the base of the flower. 

The sentiment is also from Honey Bee (Riding By) stamps. 

I know it seems early to get back to card making and posting but you may know how it is - the craft space is a happy place to relax and it requires no cooking or wrapping. Taking a mid-holiday crafty breather is good! 

Thanks so much for your visit. Hope you're having a great day! I'm sending this over to NBUS and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge to add a sentiment.

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Garden Silhouette

 Hello, all! It's full into summer now as we are on the last days of June. Hot weather makes for lots of afternoons inside. I was happy to get in some creative time. 

I love the card stock from Concord & 9th, the vivid colors are just my wheelhouse. I made this card, not an original - but a copy of their sample using the Eclectic Garden stamps and dies. My first time using these coordinating  products and you know what? Sometimes you just can't beat the designs that the company features to show off  their supplies! I not only fell in love with this card, I can't wait to use the pretty dies again! 

But for now, I am posting this for you to see, and to share one more card with Darnell's #75 NBUS Challenge too. Hope you enjoy it! 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Card stock colors: Aqua Sky, Oceanside, Clover, Juniper

Birthday Wishes

 Another card today ready for my birthday card stash.  I pulled out die sets for this bird and spring blooms from W+9 that I've had for over 2 years but had never used yet! 

I really like the details on the bird die. It will be fun to change the colors of the layers.

The scallops and stitching on the oval die (from Penny Black) and a few pearls are the only embellishments. 

Thanks so much for your visit today! 

 Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

I'm adding this to the following: 

NBUS #72 never-been-used-schtuff is my frequent fav challenge!
Seize the Birthday - anything that flies

Addicted to Stamps & More - Birthday
Krafty Chicks Challenge - Clean and Simple

Believe for Color Hues

 Greetings to you on this brand new month! On this first day of July we launch a new challenge at Color Hues, where dear Nancy asks us to use aqua and WHITE. Oh my does it ever make me scratch my head when one of our color duos is a NEUTRAL. I'm writing this post ahead of time, so I know that our designers will blow me away with their ideas for these colors. 

I decided on a die cut butterfly, a few flowers, lots of rhinestones and an upbeat sentiment. Here you go! 

I found an embossed bit of card stock in my things-ready-to-go pile. Adding a whoosh of sponged ink brought out the texture a bit. I die cut the butterfly outline from that, adding a delicate vellum die cut inside (both are from Spellbinders.). The leaves and flowers were made with Wplus9 dies, and the sentiment is from Stamp Simply. 

Because of all those gems I will hand deliver this to a friend who needs encouragement and hope she likes it! 

Please do join us to play along with the challenge! If your weather is at all like mine, it's a nice time of year to stay inside with the air conditioning!

Hope you're keeping cool.. Thanks for coming by!

The Flower Challenge #90 Add Layers

 What flowers are blooming in your part of the world? It's dogwood and azalea time in my state and the colors are fabulous! For April, at The Flower Challenge #90 we're asking for LAYERS in addition to featuring flowers, please! 

I began thinking about a die for a pretty layered flower but then thought, why not add layers of designer paper patterns too? So that is exactly what I did. 

 I pulled out papers from Lori Whitlock (Forward with Faith) that I've had for quite some time, knowing I'd love to use them. I also went with the new-to-me Sulphur Cosmos Die (Altenew) and proceeded to sponge colors onto white card stock and die cut the petals. This process took a very long time as I wanted to match the paper colors, thus trying out several shades of ink.

Finally I assembled the flower and spritzed it with Festive Berries Distress Ink spray. Spritzed is the wrong word. I doused it and was finally pleased enough with the color when it dried. The DSP had multiple journal cards and I cut one strip for the sentiment and will choose another one for this inside. 

 I hope you will join in the challenge with your layered floral cards! 

I can't wait to see what you will make.

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Sending Merry Christmas Wishes

 Hello! Here we are one week before Christmas, are you ready? It's time to remind you of The Flower Challenge #87 where we are still making cards that use gold. I've been wrapping Christmas gifts, and that theme carried over on today's card. 

An embossed white panel serves as the package wrapped in gold ribbon and adorned with a red poinsettia. I added shading with darker red ink to the blooms (Waffle Flower.)  The foliage is cut from SSS Velvet card stock which I love for it's softness. You just want to touch it! 

Our challenge continues through this month. I hope you will pay a visit to our blog and join in with your own creations. If you are celebrating Christmas, may it bring you much joy! 

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Good Things Take Time

 Good things do take time.  The arrival of spring, the growth of a flower, the struggle of an emerging butterfly, a sunset after rain. It's a new challenge at Color Hues #62 and I chose Purple and Green for our projects this fortnight. Even though Easter is over, there are lots of ways to use these shades.

I had summery vibes in mind and so out came the butterflies! 

Choosing two patterns of paper from Waffle Flower, I used the pale green dotted piece as a background, and the purple inside the butterflies. The beautiful layering dies are by Bibi Cameron for Spellbinders, as are the sentiment and border panel. 

As always, you'll find wonderful inspiration at the Color Hues blog, and we hope to see what you make as you play along.

Thanks for joining me today! 

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Under His Wings

This beautiful cardinal has been layered and assembled on my desk for quite some time. Today is a perfect time to feature him on this card inspired by Jaydee's CAS theme challenge at The Paper Players.  

Three different colors of red card stock provided the body layers. I added shading details with colored pencils.  Using white card stock for the bird's head and beak, also the greenery, I colored with Copic markers after cutting. 

The white strip was embossed for added texture. The sentiment is one that I just love! The set contains several Scriptures that pertain to birds, they are truly encouraging. Creating a mini slim card that measures 3.5" x 6" gave me a bit more playing room.

Thanks so much for visiting today! 

 Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

 

Stamps: God Will Take Care of You from Stamp Simply
Dies: Lovely Layers Winter Birds and Winter Greenery - Honey Bee Stamps
Other: Spellbinder's 3D Embossing Folder - Corrugated

Mail it on Monday

Hello, happy Monday to you! I've been on a buying spree with stamping products and enjoyed time in the craft room over the weekend trying to make a dent in the new things pile! I've gotten lots of dies and these Parcel and Post stamps and dies from Spellbinders are making their debut on my blog today. 

I will love dressing up this mail box for different occasions, it was so fun adding flowers for a birthday card today. 

I'm sharing this card in some challenges. 

Seize the Birthday is asking for many of something and I have lots of flowers.  I've made a matching envelope for Just Us Girls using the embossing folder to emboss the envelope, and adding a strip of the same washi tape I used for the tiny flap of the  envelope in the mailbox. Happy Little Stampers asks for dies, and I'm happy to share with Darnell and friends at NBUS. So glad to have you visit today!

Details: I used Stampin' Up! card stocks in Coastal Cabana, Bermuda Bay, Pink Pirouette, Strawberry Slush, and Pear Pizzazz. 
So happy to have you visit today!

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

It's Time for a Sketch! The Paper Players #606

Hello stamping friends! I am always surprised when I gather a bit of this and that of what's left out in my craft room and make a card. I end up with combinations that are out of my wheelhouse and I like them! 

We have a lovely sketch this week from Anne Marie, and this is what I came up with.  

 These hollyhock blossoms (The Greetery) are sponged and inked, with additional shading using colored pencils. They were easy to assemble over the arched panel. 

 I loved the sketch! This will come in handy to use another time.

 I sure hope you'll check the samples from the team and play along! Til next time, sending hugs. 

 Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

The Greetery supplies:  A2 Arches Die; Botanicuts Hollyhocks Die

The Paper Players #590 Freesia Florals

 It's Sunday! Welcome to my blog and challenge #590 at The Paper Players! I am loving my guest designer opportunity so much this year! Joanne has chosen wonderful colors for our challenge today, and they inspired an elegant floral encouragement card.

Dies are the star today, beginning with the white scrollwork cover plate. I liked using this to bring the brightness of white into the design. The flowers are from *new*to*me* dies that include embossed details and a stencil for adding inked accents. I applied ink to the edges of the leaves for shading. There are two different patterned papers I used for the images. 

Of course, I chose pearls to dress things up! 

 

I will be adding this to the Tic Tac Toe challenge choosing the middle row across: silver, flowers, layers. The bottom row works as well. Also, joining the lovely gallery at NBUS!

I can't wait to see what you will create for this challenge! I LOVE these colors together, can't wait to try them again. Thanks so much for your visit today! 

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Supplies used: 
Stamps: Waffle Flower - Sweet Sentiments
Ink:  Altenew - Rose Petal, Green Fields, Versamark
Accessories - MFT Floral Bouquet Builder dies and stencils; WPlus9 - Ironworks Cover Plate; PewterEmbossing Powder; Paper pads - MFT Colorful Canvas, Waffle Flower Half Lines Unicorn

 

Music of the Earth

 It's the first day of fall and as I write this the chilly weather really gets me in the mood! Just a quick post today of a card I made awhile back and I hope will inspire you. 

I love the Botanicuts Rose Die (The Greetery) and wanted to try cutting designer paper to form the petals. I found a paper in my stash with varying shades of yellow/gold and went with that. It makes the rose less bulky and I love the look! Adding more papers from my stash for the leaves, and a burst of white from the Inside & Out Berry Branch Die rounded out the focal point. 
Here's a close up of the lovely layers. 

Finishing out the card is a sentiment stamped on black ( from Penny Black: Blooming Sentiments) and embossed with white, and black Nuvo drops. 
Rushing to post this as I have 6.5 hours of ZOOM class coming up. This will take place every day this week, stretching my mind! Creativity will be coming in spurts, if at all. 
Thank you for coming to my blog. Hope you're surrounded by music for your heart today!

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!