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!  

Joy to you at Christmas

 It seems like I hit a roll on my preparations for Christmas yesterday. After getting into high gear most of the shopping is done! Today's focus will be decorating the tree. It just so happens that the tree in the Nostalgic Christmas set of stamps and dies (SSS) reminds me so much of Christmases past! I think it must be that teddy bear. Here's how it looks on today's card. 

Nothing fancy here, just a pretty die cut, bold stamped sentiment, a bit of DSP and sparkle! The re-inkers were used to color on watercolor card stock with a few details added with markers. 

Instead of embellishments I added the small image of stars to enhance the white space and the sentiment. 

I'm off just in time to add this to the challenge at The Paper Players!

When I saw vintage on Claire's grid I knew that I had to play. I chose vintage, patterned paper, sparkle but also got in trees, die cuts, Christmas and white. You'll want to check out the delightful inspiration from the TPP team. 

Hope your day has some sparkle in it too! Hope we can do this again soon. 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Saying Thanks with a Sunflower

 Greetings to you on a new day! I'm happy to turn the page to a new month too. That is always the case, but I love fall and November so much! 

I've made a fall thank you greeting combining a watercolored sunflower and some papers. 

This came together quickly because the image was already painted in my stash. In fact, I don't even know if I still own the stamp, and don't remember the name or company. It looks lovely and it's good I put it to use! The DSP is from SU and the frame from Penny Black. 

The theme is from The Paper Players,

the elements chosen from the grid offerings at the Tic Tac Toe Challenge  of  Thanks sentiment, FREE and Kraft cardstock  

 

and I've used for the first time a new set from Waffle Flower Sweet Lattice Sentiments so I'll link this with Darnell and friends at NBUS. 

Simon Says Stamp and Word Art Wednesday say Anything Goes.

I say a big thanks to you for stopping in. Enjoy your day!

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

A Sketch for the Paper Players

Hello friends! I'm back with a quick post today. I wanted to watercolor so I pulled out the images from this older set called "Just Breathe" from WPlus9. I love the image of the bird perched on the pretty peony that you see as my focal point. For this card, I created a background panel by randomly stamping only the flowers and leaves onto watercolor paper.

I stamped with Memento Toffee Crunch ink, and used Distress ink re-inkers to watercolor. I left this as a work in progress for a day or two. Then, inspired to join The Paper Players Sketch Challenge, I cut my panel in half and layered the focal image on the All-in-One Hexagon Die (Penny Black.)   

 Here's the sketch I followed. I really like the way cutting the panel worked out.

That's it for me today! Hope your day is going well. 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful! 

Sending BIG hugs

 Well, hello and Happy New Year! It's been a minute since I posted. Our move was almost two months ago, it all went smoothly but it's always a big change. Then there were family overnights and the holidays!

I'm here to share what I created in my crafty afternoon. Giving the stamping and blogging a try again on this chilly day!

Pulling out my re-inkers I colored this guy from the Penny Black AHOY set for my first Valentine. 

I love how the sentiments work out so well. Inside it says, "Sending a big hug so it's there when you need it."

I'm inspired to join the challenges at Color Hues (hello friends!)  NBUS, Penny Black Saturday Challenge  and Freshly Made. Hope you have a great day!

On Your Birthday for Color Hues #91

 It's time for new hues at The Color Hues #91 Challenge.  Our dear Stef has chosen Pink and Brown for this fortnight. Let us see what these colors inspire you to create! 

I'm using some never-been-used Penny Black products to create a birthday card in warm shades of pink and brown. 

Starting with the LOVE Immense Die, I cut two layers out of water color card stock and brushed color on the top layer with Distress ink re-inkers. I colored the bear the same way, the image and the sentiments are from PB Have A Nice One transparent stamp set. After dry embossing white card stock with the Dashed Design EF, I sponged Tea Dye and Vintage Photo DOX inks to add color. The flower is from the Petals metal dies. I felt it needed just a bit more, so I added shimmer to the flower with spray.

I enjoyed keeping the pieces of this card on my desk, and doing just a bit of work on it over several days. That's a fun way for me to play! 

I hope you enjoyed the post, please have a look at the fab samples from my team! 

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

I'm entering the NBUS Challenge today. 

Live Life in Full Bloom

 Hello crafty friends, I hope that your week has been going well and that you've been enjoying spring!

I recently found a card I made in early spring using watercolors, which is my favorite media. I find adding layers of color with a brush and re-inkers to be therapeutic. I think I may even have been sitting on our back porch when I colored this.

The stamp set is called Flutterby - although a very sweet image I chose to leave the butterfly off this time - by Penny Black. I stamped the tulips using Toffee Crunch Ink (Memento) and followed the package inspiration to color the florals using Distress ink re-inkers. I added several layers, letting them dry in between to create shading and dimension. With markers and a black pen I added details.

I adhered one of the Penny Black Background Basic stencils to mask the rectangle forming a frame. Sponging Toffee Ink lightly at the corners gave shape and added depth. The sentiment is also from Penny Black, from the Exuberance transparent set. 

I have acquired quite a collection of PB stamps this year and I love them all! I still can't decide if the artsy, cute ones or basic CAS are more my style, but as you see more of them used we can figure this out! 

I'm so glad that you are in my corner. Have a great day! 

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Playing in these challenges: 

Penny Black Saturday  ( I did not use the optional pastel)and NBUS with my new stamp

The Four Seasons Spring Challenge and 

Triple B May 2024 Challenge 

Winter Wonderland for Christmas

It's a bright sunny day today, but in my craft room I'm dreaming of snowy woodland scenes. Inspired by the amazing work of Jill Foster, I've been trying some watercoloring on my Christmas cards this year using Penny Black supplies. A quick post today to show you how it's going. 

For my first card, I CASED the card that's on the back of the stamp packaging. The stamps are individual parts of a scene, and you can combine them in many different ways to arrange your composition. Masking makes even more options possible and adds depth. 

For the second card, I created my own arrangement for the scene. I added the snowy hills with card stock and used Stickles and white spatters to enhance the snow and tall pine. 

The coloring was done with Distress Ink re-inkers with some touch ups from markers. For the berries I used Crystal Effects and added a die cut bow to the leaves. 

I appreciate you checking in with me today and hope all things are going well for you. Big hugs and happy wishes. 

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!

Penny Black stamps used: 

First Christmas 

Scenic Layers

Woodland 

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!  

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!  

More Penny Black

 Hello on this Friday evening, I hope your week is wrapping up well. 

I did complete another watercolored card using the delightful bear and balloons from Penny Black, Together Forever. Did you ever waffle back and forth with different answers when you were asked what you wanted to be when you grew up?  I feel just the same when I ping pong back and forth with different stamping styles. I usually like techniques, mixed media and layers with a twist towards elegant. Right now, simple and cute is what I'm seeking to do more of. Every card doesn't need to be over the top, right? 

Being able to change styles is one of the things I love MOST about stamping! The immense YOU die (PBS) makes it easy to combine elements and sentiments. I embossed the sentiment in white on kraft card stock, using a stamp from Technique Tuesday. Another card for Penny Black Saturday Challenge. 

I'm definitely wearing my CAS hat today! Thanks for checking in. 

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Color Hues #57

Hello, I'm happy to see you visiting today! 

 It's time to turn the calendar page, and I am very glad to see it's now February! Are you ready for the new challenge at The Color Hues?  Jules has chosen Coral and Sage for us this month. 

I'm always ready to bring out the Zig markers and do a bit of watercoloring. 

 After creating the background on watercolor card stock I used a vellum strip for the sentiment so it could shine through. 

We'd sure love to have you join us, can't wait to see your cards in our gallery! 

 Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Supplies used: 
Stamps: Waffle Flower Stamps - Bouquet Builder 6 
Ink:  Warm Wool - WPlus9
Dies - Simply Perfect Mix & Match Sentiments - Spellbinders;  Hugs die - Altenew

Color Hues I'm Thinking of You

 Hello, welcome to our mid month challenge! Our weather is still summery. I've had my card ready to go for the new colors chosen by Tracey for Color Hues Challenge #49, Yellow and Brown!

These are a perfect combo for fall or back to school cards. You know, I just had to go with florals and a bit of loose watercoloring. How will you be inspired? 

I used Distress Oxide Inks (Fossilized Amber) and a paintbrush to add yellow, including a splattering of ink for a more distressed vibe.  

The sentiment was stamped with Versafine Onyx ink and heat embossed clear.

I can't wait to see what you will make! Hope you can join us in the challenge. Thank you for coming by today! I love having you visit. 

 Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Supplies are from WPlus9:  Modern Pansies; 

Flora & Fauna 3

True Colors

 Hello! It's cooling off for us and the weather has been gorgeous and so lovely! We were able to boat yesterday, and aim to do that more often now that it's not so very hot! There's nothing better than relaxing in the sunshine on the water. 

Still there's this stamping hobby. Thank goodness I'm enjoying some extra mojo as I play with new stuff. Here's a second take on the new set, Just Breathe, from WPlus9. I wanted to do a bit more traditional style and achieve a cleaner look to the coloring. 

I used sponge daubers to ink the stamp in Distress Oxide inks - Saltwater Taffy, Wild Honey, and Peeled Paint. Spritzing very lightly with water gave more definition as I stamped the images. I scribbled a damp brush in spots, then fussy cut them.

Layering with The Postal Frames dies and some patterned paper gave a more simple vibe to this card. I didn't start out trying to use the papers, but this sheet from Honey Bee's pack Summer Stems seemed to set the images off nicely. 

I don't like this card as well as the ones I CASEd for my post HERE, but it's a beginning. I think I'll often enjoy using these stamps! I LOVE the sentiments.

Thanks so much for your visit today. I am wishing you lots of good things and happy moments. 

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful! 

 

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

The Paper Players Color Challenge Life Beautiful

 Hello and Happy Saturday! It's the day for a new challenge at The Paper Players! We have a lovely color challenge this week that inspired me to think spring! 

I pulled out the Sketchbook Rose stamps and dies (The Greetery) and my watercolors and got to creating. Here's the result.

 Spatters complete the sketchy vibe and loose coloring. My Altenew watercolors seemed the closest match to these gorgeous colors Anne Marie selected.  

It's a wonderful feeling to get crafty again! Hope you will join in the challenge and make sure to visit the team page for inspiration! Wishing you a beautiful day and a great weekend! I'm looking forward to a family gathering for some landmark birthdays. 

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!