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 

A Pop of Color for The Paper Players #604

 Welcome to a wonderful new challenge at The Paper Players #604! For our colors Anne Marie has chosen Black, White and a POP of any color! How fun is that!

I went with a graphic look using BOLD colors. 

These happy energetic kids were fussy cut, colored with Copics and assembled as if they are tumbling down my card front. A full slimline provided plenty of space for their frolics!

Now it's your turn to create! I know you will find lots of options for this one.

I so appreciate your visit today. Hearing from you sure makes me smile! 

Be yourself.

     Find delight in your craft.

             Make something beautiful! 

Supply List 

Stamps:  Waffle Flower - Yippee! stamp set

Other:  Creative Cuts Dies from Mama Elephant - Slimfilm City

Calming Cluster Florals for Freshly Made Sketches

 Hi there, I'm here to share a quick post with you today. Crafting time has been sparse the last couple of weeks, but I was able to make this card yesterday, just for fun! 

I have a pile of new stuff I just couldn't wait to explore and play with! The Calming Cluster Stamp set from Altenew was first on my list. It comes with a matching set of dies, an embossing folder and stencils which I look forward to using later. 

I chose to use a new technique of coloring to me. Using Copics, it's two tone coloring, which involves no blending. It's so easy to do and fits with the whimsical style of the florals. Spatters of white ink. I just couldn't resist their playful addition. 

I was inspired by the great sketch at Freshly Made. 

and I will be entering this at NBUS as well.  It's so wonderful to have these challenges as a way to keep us stamping and inspiring each other. I appreciate your visit today! You are such an encouragement to me. Wishing you a very happy Friday! 

 Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Floral Delicacy Birthday for The Paper Players

Welcome to my blog today! Are you ready for a party? At The Paper Players #603 we are gearing up for a birthday party. Come join the fun for this week's theme challenge. 

I pulled out a stamp set that I'm getting lots of use from lately. It's the Floral Delicacy stamps and dies from The Greetery. 

 This time I combined the Every Day Labels and dies for an elegant design, stamping the sentiment in WPlus9 Old Gold.

The shades of pale peach and aqua are still favorites for summer, using sponge daubers and Distress Oxide inks. 

I added a die cut rectangle behind the sentiment piece and a bow tied with gold thread. 

We'd sure love to have you play along this week! 

Be yourself.

     Find delight in your craft.

             Make something beautiful!