Jump for Joy for The Paper Players

 Are you ready for a theme challenge for The Paper Players #607? You're here just in time for some Fall Fun! 

What could be more fun than jumping into a pile of leaves? Just for the joy of it! I added a die cut cover to a white card base, and topped it with a tag sporting a cute critter. 

He is a squirrel but I used Copics to color him in foxy colors. 

I can't wait to see what you will create. Have fun doing it! Thanks so much for your visit today. 

 Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Card Supplies: Stamps - Lawn Fawn; Cover Plate - Waffle Flower

Cozy Birthday for Color Hues

Welcome to a new month, yaay for September, it's one of my favorites. In the US, we're beginning a holiday weekend. Maybe you're traveling, or just maybe you're having a bit more time to craft. Either way you will love Sheri's color picks for us this month at Color Hues #48.

I put them to use designing a living room scene! I'm generally not fond of small dies, but I kept seeing these and just had to try them.  Turns out, they are so much fun. I love them! 

They inspired me to take a peek at my patterned papers. I just knew the navy floral was meant for curtains and matching pillows. 

I layered two die cuts for the plant image for added texture and accented with colored pencils for depth. Isn't the cozy birthday sentiment cute? 

This challenge is special because we are celebrating our 2nd birthday. We're asking you not only to use the colors, but to make a birthday card. Helping us to celebrate are our friends at Seize the Birthday! 

We hope you will join the party and create with us. 

 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

Ahoy! Nautical Theme for The Paper Players

 Hi friends! When we had children at home, and I was their teacher, I loved back-to-school days. As a retiree now, I want to hang on to summer for as long as I can! We still have another month of actual summer, so I'm sticking with it and the Nautical Theme at The Paper Players #605 is helping. 

Our wonderful hostess Laurie is asking for CAS cards as well. 

I have so many nautical stamps it was hard to narrow down which ones to use, but the You Anchor Me stamps from Memory Box won out as I love the sentiments. 

To make the anchor stand out as an interesting focal point, I embossed it in WOW! Perissa embossing powder. The mix of metallics and chunkiness of the powder really add texture to the image. 

I sure hope you will find time to play along with us in this challenge! We love seeing your creations in the gallery! 

Be yourself.

     Find delight in your craft.

             Make something beautiful! 

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! 

 

CASEing my Favorite Artist

 Hello there! If you've been visiting my blog for awhile you may know that I love the work of Dawn Woleslagle at WPlus9.  She's my favorite artist and the best teacher! I love that her goal is to show us how to use the supplies she creates in multiple ways to stretch not only our stamps but our creativity! 

Inspired by her release of a wonderful new stamp set called Just Breathe, I'm giving no fail watercolor a try.

I think the inks used were Wild Honey, Worn Lipstick and Rustic Wilderness.  I was in high creative mode and made three cards in one sitting.

Creating the background panel with inks, I added a length of canvas ribbon. 

For the second card, I changed the colors and went for a vintage look. 

Beginning with a white watercolor panel, I added the bird and flowers. This time using shades of Peacock Feathers and Faded Jeans.  I really like the card just that way but you know what happens when you just keep adding elements and ink! It was playtime and a girl has to have some fun, right! It's all about experimenting and trying new things. 

If you'd like you will find all the information and instruction from Dawn at her video HERE, as well as the gorgeous samples I have CASEd.  

I will enter this at NBUS as well.  I have one more that I will share tomorrow!

Thanks so much for visiting today. I want you to know that I really love sharing with you. I hope your day is going to be great! 

Be yourself.

     Find delight in your craft.  
          Make something beautiful! 

Does chocolate and mint make you smile? Color Hues #47

 Is the heat wave over in your neck of the woods? Are you still staying cool in this last month of summer? Is ice cream something you scream for, dream about or just enjoy? 

Sorry, I'm finding a play on words a bit delicious as I write this post! Our challenge from lovely Nancy at Color Hues is chocolate and mint. Even though it makes me think of ice cream, I went in a different direction.

My card features a bear and birthday balloons! I colored with Copics, adding polka dots and variations of mint shades. Even brown dots (to resemble chocolate chips?) and a shimmer pen. I used a die cut (no longer labeled in my stash) to cut the word smile out of Chocolate Chip and white card stock, and inlaid white letters for the sentiment. The background keeps up the dots theme with a large dot embossing folder. 

I hope my card inspires you today! Please be sure to check out the fab work of the design team with these colors, you will be so amazed! And I hope you will play along. 

 Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Supply List 

Stamps: Hello Bluebird - Balloon Buddies and dies
Ink: Black 
Other: Large Dot embossing folder