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

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!  

Peaceful Season

 It's Thanksgiving Eve and I just finished photographing this card at my dining room table nestled among my centerpiece. Where all is beginning to be set for a family gathering tomorrow. 

I just couldn't resist putting a card together for Ann's pretty sketch at The Paper Players. I worked on it in snippets in between cooking and cleaning up, and all the other busy cozy holiday things. Also in time to wish my US friends a happy Thanksgiving!

Two vintage-y patterned papers from Scrapbook.com are paired with a sentiment and a buck from Nostalgic Christmas stamps and dies (SSS). I love the images of this set and look forward to using the tree and ornaments. It's brand new, so you know I'll be sharing it at the NBUS challenge where there are so many wonderful cards to inspire you!

Now I need to do a bit more cleaning up in the craft space. Love and holiday hugs to you! 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Cascading Leaves

 Do you ever see a sketch or card challenge and then mull it over for a day or night or two? The simple but fun sketch from Freshly Made inspired today's card. The designers have wonderful samples and a clever variety of images. I went with leaves. 

Using an old set that's no longer available (Ellen Hutson - Pumpkin Season) my leaves were stamped on  a colorful array of Concord & 9th card stock. Clean and simple, done! 

Freshly Made Sketches

Hope you have a wonderful day! 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Colorful Combo for Autumn

 Hello, how are things with you? Another rainy day had me wanting to stay cozy inside and so the stamps came out to play! Brand new leaf stamps arrived in my mailbox just in time to be inked up for the great color combo at The Paper Players.

Have a look!

I've long admired this set from Waffle Flower called Two Step Leaves Combo. Imagine my delight at winning a gift card to their store! Of course I added a few more supplies, ha! The Piercing Lines Texture Die also makes it's debut on today's card.

What I love about these leaf images is the detail created by the layering stamps, and the clean lines. Using mostly Distress inks to stamp resulted in a sketchy look for the leaves.  I had a hard time finding matches for the challenge colors, but I do like the result. The sentiment is from SSS and Gina K, as the Bold Summer Blooms set was still out from my recent session. Now I'm ready for one fall birthday in the family! 

I appreciate your visit today. I'll be sharing over at the The Paper Players and  the NBUS challenge. Seems there is a steady stream of never-been-used-stuff available in my craft closet! 

And one more. Tic Tac Toe challenge grid middle row asks for Any Color, FREE, and sentiment. I'm always inspired to play there, and I was happily a Designer's Pick!  

Hope it's a great day for you! 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful! 

Supplies:
Inks: Altenew - Ultraviolet, Crimson, DOX - Peeled Paint, Spiced Marmalade
Card Stock: Concord & 9th

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

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!

Color Hues #82 Turquoise and Green

 Hello, we're ready to go with Color Hues #82 on this first day of the month. Seriously! How can it be March? 

We have summery colors of Turquoise and Green which Tracey has chosen for us to create with. There are lots of themes possible for this one! 

I've been looking to add some cards for guys to my stash, or at least some cards that aren't all flowers. The Monstera dies from Altenew were on sale recently and I made a purchase. Pulling them out of my never-been-used-pile for today's card.

I began by using tone on tone inking in an ombre pattern with the Sketched Lines stencil - also new.  I think it provided just the right interest for the crisp colors of card stock. 

The layering dies add wonderful dimension too. 

I loved using these hues, and wait until you see the DT samples. How about your turn? We hope you'll play along with us at Color Hues!

Thanks for visiting today. I will see you again soon!

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Adding this post to: 

NBUS

Color Hues #71 Thanks

It's good to be with you on this first day of September! I love this month, the back-to-school time brings happy memories. And its the beginning of my favorite season. At Color Hues new challenge, Tracey has chosen Tangerine and Violet. Could be for a fall vibe? Or maybe you'd choose a Halloween theme? 

 I'm happy to be playing with a few supplies from my new goodies pile. I wanted to use the Postal Collage Bundle and the colors lead me in the direction of fall elements. How about leaf dies?

My thank you card was so much fun to put together. I can't wait to use the Postal Collage stencils to make a colorful bunch of paper stamps.

Please join us to play along, this is sure to be a great challenge! I hope to see you in the gallery. Thanks so much for your visit today. 

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Supplies: Concord & 9th card stock and Leafy Layers Dies

Sending Smiles for Freshly Made Sketches!

 There's a party going on and I'm not too late to join the fun! Freshly Made Sketches is celebrating their 600th sketch! This fabulous team of talented card-makers has inspired and delighted us for 12 years! 

I had to pop in and share a card for this big occasion. 

I pulled out autumn - themed dies and watercolors and created my card using the sketch as the starting point.  I've often played along at Freshly Made, and hope they continue their challenge for many more sketches to come!

Card supplies: 
I used Distress Ink reinkers to watercolor on watercolor card stock for the die cuts
Curio Autumn Finding Die and Rustic Wreath Twigs Die from The Greetery
Card stock: Peacock from Concord & 9th
Stamps: Paper Hugs Transparent Stamps from Penny Black

Thanks so much for visiting today! I hope you are having a wonderful day and I'm sending some hugs and smiles your way. 

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Starfish Wishes for Color Hues #69

Hi there! I know that it seems as if summer is over. That may be true in the stores who have back-to-school and fall things on display. In my book, on August 1, we still have a good month of summer left and I'm going to enjoy every minute. 

At Color Hues, we are starting the month with colors of Teal and Orange, chosen by Sheri! I know you will have many options for these delicious shades.

I decided to go with Sea Shells and a punny sentiment.  I used Distress inks to do some no-line watercolor, beginning with stamping the images onto watercolor card stock with pale tan ink. Next I added some spattered the panel and sponged the edges with teal. I heat embossed the sentiment on a tag wrapped with twine, and adhered a few clear bubbles completed the theme.  

 Next I added some spattered the panel and sponged the edges with teal. I heat embossed the sentiment on a tag wrapped with twine, and adhered a few clear bubbles completed the theme.   

Stamps used were Seashell, and Starfish Wishes, transparent sets from Penny Black. Distress Inks in Evergreen Bough, Peacock Feathers, Orange Marmalade, and Espresso. 

We are so grateful for those of you who fill our gallery with your amazing creations week after week. I can't wait to see what you will make! 

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Masculine Birthday

 As a scrapbooker turned card maker, I have always been drawn to designer papers. Last month I made the discovery of a tiny scrapbooking store in our very small town just a couple miles from my house! I met a new friend, thoroughly enjoyed having a look around and came home with a few papers. 

We live in a lake community so the papers from Simple Vintage Lakeside (Simple Stories) were a great find. They are featured on today's card. 

I layered two of my favorites pages with a white panel. Then die cut a

focal point with the boat extended past the die and trimmed with scissors. 

The only stamping? The sentiment! 

I'm playing with the challenge at The Paper Players. 

I am glad to have a masculine birthday card added to the stash. I really do appreciate your visit, and hope your day is enjoyable! 

 Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Reflections of Nature

 Hello everyone! Having a few rainy days in a row was restful and I got some stamp time in over the long weekend. 

I finally inked up a few stamps that've been in my "new things" pile for way too long. The Greetery Reflections layering stamps and die create pretty trees bordering a lake. Very much like the natural surroundings where I live. 

I sponged a sky for the background using Salvaged Patina and Chipped Sapphire Distress Oxide inks. Other inks were used with sponge daubers for the trees, trunks, sand and lake images. 

I really look forward to changing the colors and making different combos for the sky with this set. It's so easy to use!

This is a slimline card, made on purpose so that I could play along with Tic Tac Toe, using the top horizontal line: slimline, trees, green. 

It's great playing with challenges because I find myself reaching for that never-been used-stuff, so I'll add this also to NBUS. 

Thanks so much for joining me today, I will be back tomorrow!

 Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

s

Other supplies: Sentiment from Penny Black - Carefree Wishes 

Brother - from SU Family Reunion (retired); SU Cucumber Crush card stock

Black thread.  Dies - Honey Bee Slimline Dies. White embossing powder

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!  

Feeling Tropical

 Well, hello again, I am thankful that you're hanging with me on my blog today. The weather has turned gorgeous! I've added some wonderful and welcome activities to my week, thanks to a burst of very good health!**  But I did manage to pull a card together, here it is! 

I loved seeing the wonderful colors in my new card stock from Concord and 9th and the bright greens and blue inspired stamps and die cuts with a tropical theme. 

Stamping the florals and leaves from WPlus9, I used the Tropic Fever dies to cut them out. Other leaves were cut from card stocks using dies from MFT (Greenery - retired.) 

Amy's lovely sketch at Freshly Made inspired my card layout. I am glad you've come by to visit today. I'm enjoying your comments and visits so much!

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

** My page on Sarcoidosis awareness describes my struggles with this rare disease and chronic symptoms.  I also have fibromyalgia. My energy and abilities fluctuate daily, weekly, monthly but I'm in a great place right now! Thankful to God who is my everything.