JOY for Today

 Hi there on a Friday, hope you are doing well. I got a head start on some crafting and I have a card to share using mostly new supplies.  You know, I like mental challenges. Crossword puzzles and board games are fun. You won't be surprised that my favorite and best mental challenges come from -you guessed it- card challenges. 

My clues for today came from Freshly Made  Sketches challenge! 

Choosing papers was the easy part, I loved using the Washi Paper again (La La Land Crafts). Soft inking provides a bit of color on the die cuts of Serene Blooms (SSS), which have such lovely texture! I added a strip of gold mirror card stock  above the paper and die cut gold leaves.

The sentiment was stamped and hand cut, and added in keeping with the sketch. I really love the sentiments included with the new-to-me Today and Everyday Stamps (SSS.)

The sketch helped me come up with a card I never would have thought of. And I really like it! 

I'm adding this also the the SSS Wednesday Challenge - Clean and Simple. and Love Those Pretty Papers - Fall. 

I will be off now for weekend things. Probably taking the last chance to cool off in the pool. Hoping you've enjoyed your visit! I will see you again soon. 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Inks used: Altenew -  Heartbeat, and Distress Oxide - Antique Linen and Rusty Hinge

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

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!  

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)

Kindness in Bloom Birthday

 Hello, friends! I'm back with my last card for this week. Our weather has been super hot and in my craft room I'm keeping cool, busy, and contented. 

I decided to play along with Freshly Made Sketches, and pulled out the new-to-me Kindness in Bloom stamps and dies from Pinkfresh Studio. I love the wonky look of these flowers and appreciate the stripes on the leaves. Coloring with Zig markers, I followed the example on the stamps packaging and used bold strokes with white spaces on the flowers. 

I loved discovering (or being reminded?) that PFS dies cut out all the images at once, making this so easy! I used a border die to cut the accents for the line across the sketch. 

I appreciate you taking the time to come and visit with me. Hope you have a great weekend. 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

I'm entering this to these challenges: 
NBUS - new stamps and dies
Freshly Made Sketches 
A Cut Above 

Other Supplies: Hexagon Die is from WPlus9; Border Dies are from Penny Black; The Happy Birthday stamp and die are from Simon Says Stamp.

Best Birthday Wishes

 Another rainy day has come and is almost gone. Looking at the weather app, we are expected to have rain all next week, except maybe Tuesday. Thank goodness I have a stamp corner and lots of creative supplies to explore and play with! 

Today's card is for another dear granddaughter. Four of our grands have spring birthdays! Our only grandson has a winter birthday. And happy news! A new baby will arrive towards the end of October. Pause here for a BIG smile. 

Well, about the card.

You know I love a sketch, so here I am playing with another inspiring layout from The Paper Players. This sketch really called for patterned papers, and the Simple Stories Fun Times Paper Pad was just what I wanted.  

The ribbon image, "The Best" was cut from the DSP and placed on a die cut circle (PTI). Embossing the white panel with Birthday Sentiments EF (SSS) continues the theme. The sentiment is also from SSS, the Birthday Blitz stamps and dies. 

Happily, I had some tiny gold stars to add for a bit of bling. 

I'm adding this to the challenges at Just Us Girls (mood Board - inspired by the colors and geometric shapes)
and Love Those Pretty Papers.  

Wishing you a great night! I can't tell you how much it means that you stop by to say hello. 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Stenciled Blooms

 Earlier this week I hoped to add to the gallery at  Freshly Made as they have a lovely, simple sketch. The week has been busy but a rainy Saturday gave me time to create. I was happy to be hunkered down at the craft table this afternoon!

I brought out one of my favorite sets lately, Butterflies in Bloom (Pinkfresh Studio). These flower stencils have large open spaces making it easy to vary the intensity of the inking for a shading effect. 

I chose Altenew inks in soft Blush and added a pale yellow to the flower centers and a faint hint added to a couple of the blossoms on the outer edges.  I am challenging myself to learn to use a lighter hand when I stencil. It's a work in progress! 

Adding ink to white card stock, I created a background using mint green inks. For the leaves, I blended a yellow green with a blue-green. A gold pen supplied the butterfly body and the dotted flower centers. 

Mustering all my momentary restraint - I did not add any embellishments. Aren't you proud of me? I'm thinking the simplicity of the sketch is just enough. The bling will come out another day. 

Here's a look at the sketch! 

I enjoyed the time to stamp just for fun today. I need to do it more often!  I'm happy you came by for a visit too. 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft!

             Make something beautiful!  

Other supplies: Frame is from The Greetery; Sentiment is from Altenew 

A Bit of Fluff

 
A new stamp came out to play today and it's a cute bunny saying hello to spring! 

I made the background last month just playing around with a few stencils for a session. Using the Puffy Squares (Waffle Flower) I did two background panels in tone on tone colors of blue and yellow. Adding a dainty border and a tag today fits this right in with the challenge at Freshly Made. 

The new-to-me Spring Bunny Stamp Set (Concord & 9th) provided the focal point. I added a bit of bling for his bit of fluff tail. Sharing this also at the NBUS gallery. 

A clean and simple card. It's much brighter IRL. 

That's all for today! 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Santa is in the house!

 I've had a line up of Christmas cards for you, but for today's post Santa is making his first appearance. I found this die in my stash - don't remember who made it, but it came out to play. Or, I guess I should say, HE came out to play!

Again, I found a sketch and it prompted me to search for just the right elements. Much thanks to Freshly Made Sketches for the inspiration. 

I added a few shadows to his beard with markers, a bit of glitter for the hat and nose, and snowflakes embossed on the background. The sentiment and stitched circle die are from The Greetery. 

It's strange to me to post on Saturday night, but I need to get this in the gallery at Freshly Made. Thanks so very much for your visit! 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Under the Tree

 Hello and welcome to my blog on this cold, rainy day. A perfect kind of Monday to get creative with some new wintry die cuts to make a card for the sketch at The Paper Players. For winter and Christmas I seem to have acquired three new packs of DSP so I set out to use some for a snowy scene. 

I love to make snow men IRL but rarely have the chance since I'm living in SC. Making a die cut snowman brings fond memories of childhood play. Aren't all snow men just a little bit wonky? This one sure is. 

The new-to-me supplies are the papers from Doodlebug Design 6x6 Snow Much Fun pack; Snowcapped Tree Die from Waffle Flower, and Festive Snow Globe Dies from Concord & 9th. The sentiment is from a favorite from PB -  the Jolly Snippets set. 

Simple embellishment details come from Glossy accents added to the carrot and the hat, an iridescent white cord bow, and Stickles added to the snowflakes.

Here's the lovely sketch providing inspiration by the Paper Players.

 Also adding this to NBUS and the Christmas Kickstart Challenge. 

Thanks so much for coming by, hope it's been a great day for you!

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

ETA: what makes this snowman wonky? Well, the googly eyes for one thing. Secondly, the die doesn't include arms for this guy! So that he fits in the snow globe, I'm guessing. 

Sunshine and Love

Hi! It's a Friday evening heralding a long weekend for those in the US. The sun's begun to set I think I have time to write this quick post while our supper soup simmers. I love having the cooler weather. 

I'm sharing another card today using SSS supplies from the Birthday Blitz kit. Have a look! 

This time I've used the stamp set and dies that come with the kit, as well as the Birthday Sentiments Embossing Folder. I love the deep impression this folder makes and I had the idea to cut it twice in two colors for my background after pondering what to use for Judy's sketch at Freshly Made. 

I added three tiny sequins to the heart. They add just the right sparkle! You know I need some bling!

I think this makes a birthday card that could be for anyone! 

That's all for now~

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

I will be adding this to these challenges:
NBUS. The stamp dies and EF are all never been used Schtuff. 

Sweets with Birthday Blitz

 It's a new month and I pulled out a brand new box of goodies to play with!  The Birthday Blitz kit (SSS) appealed so much to me with bright colorful papers which contain printed tags and cute sayings. I mixed it up with other products so today's card uses only the papers from the kit. Did I say colorful? 

The star patterned paper makes a busy background and the paper I used for the cupcake liner repeats the star element. I cut the sentiment also out from one of the papers. The die cut additions are from Spellbinders Etched Birthday Wreath Add-Ons which I'm also sharing for the first time here. I colored the icing with markers and added shimmer to make it sparkle. And of course there are sequins! 

Bet you can guess that I'm sharing with these challenges today:
NBUS - never been used supplies
The Paper Players have a sketch. 

Double D asks for- "Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat."  It does not have to be Halloween related. 

Simon Says Stamp Card Kit Gallery The kit is sold out but many elements are available separately.  

I look forward to seeing you soon! For those who've been following me, we've finally arranged a space for me to stamp in our new home so I no longer have to haul things out to the living area. LOVE using the new space! Will work next on streamlining the photo process. 

Thanks for sticking with me to the end. I love that you come to visit me, and I wish you a great day. 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

A Little Perk

 Hi card makers! I love card challenges so much for the inspiration and incentive they give me to get crafty. Yesterday after seeing the sketch at The Paper Players, I got busy. Here you go! 

I'm setting aside a few older stamps to play with in coming days and had pulled out Cup of Kindness from Concord & 9th and a new paper pad from Penny Black. I really love the versatility of this set. It has great sentiments too! The card process is pretty self explanatory. Just die cuts with a little stamping. I spent more time getting a photo of this card than I did making it. Isn't that refreshing? 

Thanks for coming by. It means so much to me to have you visit. Hope your day is great!

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Challenges: 

The Paper Players 

Little Red Wagon  Make It Sew - I used a stitched rectangle panel
Love Those Pretty Papers

Floral Festivites

Hello there, how are my crafty friends on this chilly Monday? Monday is my catch up day and it's been a good day so far. Over the weekend I got some time to watercolor and I made my very first Christmas card for the year! 

I've invested in some Penny Black supplies that I can pull out and do a little watercoloring or dabbling with the card parts in spare moments. My first completion used the Floral Festivities stamp, inked on watercolor paper and colored in with Distress Ink re-inkers. My colors for pink and red ( Worn Lipstick and Fired Brick) came on a bit too strong, but I went with it anyway, fussy cutting the image. I used the circle dies to cut Concrd & 9th Grapefruit card stock, and a white circle that had been embossed with the PB folder called Variegated and colored with Distress ink to match the focal point. 

I'm just in time to enter this to play in these challenges:
NBUS as the stamps and EF are new
Penny Black Saturday Challenge and Freshly Made Sketches. 

Also: The Holly and the Ivy Christmas Challenge  this one is new to me, first time linking!) and Peace on Earth Christmas. 

Thanks so much for your visit today! I appreciate every one. 

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 
               Make something beautiful!