Teacups Hello

 Something new and something old. On day 9 of Spring Card Camp Jennifer taught Inlay die cutting with a new twist.  Here's my take on the technique. I had so much fun creating this tower of teacups and saucers! 

I used the WPlus9 stamps and dies called Hello and Thanks. I love this set, it's one of my favorites! The floral cluster was colored with Copics. The adorable Tea Boutique Papers from Stampin' Up! are a great mix and provide the patterns and colors. I added a bit of shading to each die cut with a gray marker. 

Now I'm off to make some tea in my red teapot, sip and eat a very late breakfast. Hope you have a beautiful day!

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

A Sketch Pretty Pansies TPP # 588

 It's Sunday, time for another great challenge at The Paper Players. Joanne has a unique sketch challenge for us, and I know you'll have fun interpreting this one! 

I used the Wplus9 stamps and dies, Modern Petunias for the flowers. The dark pink was colored with Copic markers. The other bloom and leaves were created with ink spatters onto white card stock that leaves soft shades of color and texture. 

In keeping with the mixed media, I added spatters on the card base after placing the focal images. I used pearls and a tiny butterfly for embellishments. 

Finding the right sized sentiment was important. The "keep smiling" came from a retired SSS set. I've been making an effort to use many of my older stamps and enjoying the results.  We hope you'll give this one a try! The gallery is filled with inspiration from our wonderful DT. 

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

The Paper Players! This is my year!

 Hello friends, 

Happy New Year!

I am thrilled to be one of the guest designers at The Paper Players for 2022! It's long been one of my favorite card challenges and will mean another weekly post for me as I play along. They have a wonderful line up of talented stampers who are such delightful people! 

The theme this week from Ann, is Sparkle! 

I loved the bright blue night skies and bokeh lights and gold sparkle! 

I put them together in today's card. 

I began by stamping the Christmas Rose image (WPlus9) and embossed it in gold. Masking allowed me to sponge Distress and Oxide inks just into the large blossoms for added shading and depth. 

A bit of splatters and gem stones added to the sparkle. I just love the sentiment (SU - Snowflake Wishes). I really like combining metallics on a card! I embossed the sentiment in Platinum. 

Can't wait to see how your cards sparkle! 

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Winter Sparrow Get Well

 Hello crafting friends! Today I am sharing a get well card made with the Winter Sparrow stamp set from WPlus9.  I love the pudgy birds and versatile images in this set. I inked them in fall shades using Distress Oxide and Altenew inks. 

Using my MISTI, I sponged ink with daubers onto the stamps, blending ink colors and layers. While arranging the die cut pieces, I was inspired with the sketch at Freshly Made. 

After getting ahead on some of my work for design teams, it was fun to create just for the joy of the process.  
I hope you are doing well and I thank you so much for your visit! 

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Inspired By... Colorful Fall

 Welcome back, it's time for a new challenge at Inspired By! Our weekly challenges are filled with inspiration and multiple options for your participation. I hope you will check them out and join us by adding your creation to the gallery this week! 

I love our theme of Colorful Fall.  Traditional fall colors are so beautiful, but I've been noticing a trend towards purple or pinkish leaves in the paper-crafting world lately. Here's my take on that combination. 

For the leaves, I used a sponge dauber to add layers of color until I was satisfied with the blend. I created a frame with kraft card stock, inking a leaf pattern with a stencil to add interest, adding all to a square card base. Here's the photo prompt for fall.

Here's another should you prefer to make a Holiday card. 

I will also be joining the CAS challenge at The Paper Players. 

I appreciate your visit today, thanks for spending a bit of time with me.

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Card supplies: 

Stamps: WPlus9 Autumn Leaves and dies; Gina K Stamps Autumn Wreath Builder

Inks:  WPlus9 - Hayride, Sweet Nectar, Cockleshell

Stencil: Gina K - Leafy Stencil

You Matter

Good morning! Welcome to a new week. I am ready for some delightful fall days and I've begun by enjoying the sunshine as I type here on my porch. Not cool weather yet, but it is coming! 

My card today is clean and simple and inspired by two challenges. I began by stamping the background stamp called You Matter (SSS) onto white card stock and adhering it to a white card base. 

The leaves are loosely (WPlus9 Autumn Leaves) painted with Zig Markers and spattered with a bit of black, also added to the background. I love that thanks to the text stamp this card can be for encouragement or a birthday and is gender neutral.

I assembled it thanks to the great prompt and lovely samples at Freshly Made Sketches

and Time Out Challenges. 

I am happily going to get on with my day now. Some cooking prep and a pile of laundry await. Hope your day is wonderful!

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Hi everyone! 

I hope your weekend was a good one. Today is still a holiday but it is also a Monday. Monday's for me are a pretty low key catch up day. Things were very slow moving by the time I got to the stamp room. You don't want to know how long this card took me to make, HA! Starting out, I made it much too complicated. Even though I knew I wanted clean and simple, I tried out new products and techniques, then scratched them and went with the basics. 

How basic, you say? Colored with Tombo markers, die cut and arranged on a card front with an embossed sentiment. Voila! 

The banner and the flower cluster above it were popped up to add dimension. I added brown sequins to give just a bit of contrast and shine. 

I made this for the wonderful challenge at CAS(E) This Sketch.

and the Anything Goes at 

Thanks for stopping by! Til next time ~

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used:

Stamps: Wplus9 - Autumn Blessings stamps and dies

Paper: Bitty Big Harvest Gold Paper Collection - PTI

Retro Rubber Guest Designer

Hello, welcome to my blog! I'm excited to be the guest designer in the Retro Rubber Challenge today and I can't wait to be part of their talented and fun group. 

If this challenge is new to you, the most important thing to remember is to use stamps that are at least more than one year old. Thus, we spread the love around instead of always using our newer items only. 

My card features the lovely images from WPlus9 Designs' Tropic Fever Set (May 2018).

The hibiscus flowers and leaves were stamped onto Bristol Smooth card stock, embossed with white, and then colored with blended Distress Oxide inks. I used a small sponge dauber to add layers of color.

The set also includes this striking background which was stamped in black. The sketch provided served as a good jumping off point for this card. 

We hope that you will play along! Look HERE if you want to check out the challenge. 

I can't wait to see what you will make! Thanks for stopping by ~

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Hello for a Sweet Friend

Hello to you! 
I'm happy to be finding just a bit of time each day to craft. Today I tried something new, hope you like it! 
I began with the sketch in mind. I wanted to try a new technique of making a background with inks. Beginning with lemon images in mind, I chose the pale pastel colors but you know how things go. Had to change my plans in the middle! 

I used a paper towel saturated with Distress Oxide inks and spritzed with water for the background, created on white card stock. If you look closely you can glimpse the texture of the paper towel in places. This looks pretty neat IRL! 

I used the Hand -Lettered Hello stamps and dies, and the Tossed Florals Border Die from WPlus9. All card stock used is white, and was inked for color. I added a hint of yellow with pale sequins.

Entering today's card at 
CAS Mix Up Challenge 

CAS(E) This Sketch

Thanks so much for your visit! Have a wonderful day!

Enjoy your day!

Hello and happy Monday to you! 
Breezing by with a quick card that features some of the patterned papers I had set out to use up. Making just a teeny bit of progress but there are way too many hoarded papers left. 

I stamped and die cut roses from WPlus9 ( I just LOVE the Rose Builder Stamps) surrounded by vintage floral patterns on the paper layers. 

I stamped a bunch of these roses awhile ago so I can't even name the specific inks used, but they are also from WPlus9. 
Thanks for spending time with me, I hope you enjoy your day!

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Just a quick Hello!

A quick hello....How often I start an e-mail or text this way, especially when the hello is overdue. Don't know how I missed posting this week as I had some cards ready to go. 

I recently pulled out some designer papers to use and today's card was planned around the pretty floral pattern from the Beau Jardin paper pack from Penny Black. I rarely use black as a background but decided it was about time to! Love the dramatic effect. 

Using the My Whole Life stamps and dies and the Welcome dies from WPlus9 made it easy to create the focal point.

I stamped a few black dots - meant to be flower centers - to anchor the sentiment die. The sentiment continues at the bottom of the card with "I just miss you" from the Hello and Thanks set. 

That's it for me today, hope your summer is going wonderfully! 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Simply Striped

A rainy weekend meant I had time in my craft room to stamp and sunshine was on my mind! I chose bold colors, simple stripes and softly watercolored images for my clean and simple card. I combined a few sets to make this, and was so happy to find the envelope from the Somebunny Love set was just the right size to pair with the cute bird. 

It was a delight to make using the rectangle stitched frames layered on the card base. I love it when a card turns out quickly, don't you? 
I'm playing with these challenges.

Thanks so much for your visit, have a great day! 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used:

Stamps: PTI Sending You, WPlus9 - Hello and Thanks, SSS - Somebunny Love (2 years old)

Paper: Neenah Solar White, PTI Bitty Big, Ranger Distress Watercolor paper

INK: WPlus9 - Warm Wool 

Accessories: Zig markers used for watercoloring, PTI - Pierced Feature Frames.

Stamping a Repeating Pattern

Hello and welcome to my blog today. While my husband and I watched our favorite team in the basketball play-offs over the weekend, I got in some stamping time. I was able to spend some time playing around with my inks since our team won by a good many points! Today I have a card to share!

I was intrigued by THIS video from Dawn Woleslagle, owner of WPlus9, showing how to make your own pattern for repeat stamping, and I admired the beautiful cards she made! Highly inspired by her work, I created my own patterns using different colors and sentiments. 

By creating a 6" square divided equally into 4 segments, you can easily repeat the same pattern by stamping and turning for each quadrant using the Misti. I can't wait to try this again with other stamps. 

After creating the patterned sheet I hated to cut it up but I trimmed it for an A2 card and die cut a hexagon from the center. I placed patterned paper behind it and used craft foam to lift the image. A die cut flower and leaves were added to embellish the layer. 

As always, I am thankful for each and every visit! I will list my supplies below. 

I am posting into three different challenges today. 
Virginia's "Show & Share"  for March,

the Double "D" Challenge inspired by gingham, 

and the Inspired By Challenge, Spring Lovelies. 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used are from WPlus9 unless noted

Stamps: Happy Wishes and dies, Basic Banners

Paper: Neenah Solar White, PTI - Bitty Big Paper Collection

INK: Bloomsberry, Cockle Shell, Last Leaf, Wild Mango, Ocean Drive

Accessories: Clear Cuts Stacker Dies - Hexagon

Merry and Bright

YAAY! Happy Friday! 

As I mentioned yesterday, I'm back again today with Take 2 of the sketch from CAS(E) this sketch. I took a more literal approach using bold stripes and a hexagon window. 

 The reindeer from the Merry and Bright stamp set (SSS) was colored with Copics. He is surrounded by two trees die cut of white card stock and also colored with Copics.  I arranged the scene on an inked background and topped it with the stamped sentiment banner. 

In case you need a refresher of the sketch, here you go! 

I'm pleased to be on a roll with stamping this week and happy to have quite a few Christmas cards finished. I hope you feel glad to have stopped by today. Enjoy your weekend!

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used:

Stamps: SSS - Merry and Bright

Paper: Neenah Solar White, red foil card stock

INK: Simon Says Stamp - Intense Black, WPlus9 - Gala Red

Accessories:  Hexagon dies - Plus 9, Copic markers, Glossy accents