Running With Scissors...

Double D Easter Challenge

 

It’s Double D Challenge time, folks, and Darlene has presented us with an Easter theme.  This is the third Easter card I’ve made this year and I hope to get them sent out soon, along with the spring cards.  I used an older Whipper Snapper stamp and colored with Prismacolor Pencils so I could get a nice, pastel look.  Hmmm… this is an unmounted stamp and I’m afraid I cannot tell you the name of it.  The sentiment, though, is from one of my Inky Antics dog sets.  It just fit so perfectly in the tag and seems a nice greeting for an Easter card.

 

 

I used a Basketweave embossing folder on CTMH Sunkiss Yellow paper and sanded a little to soften and bring out the pattern.  Added some Easter ric rac and some very old button brads from my stash.  Pictured below is the inspiration board:

 

 

Think eggs, flowers, cross, bunny, vintage, bird nests – whatever strikes your fancy when you look at the board.  And if that’s not enough of a spark, check out the prize:

 

 

So adorable!  Each challenge so far has awarded the most wonderful little prizes.  I would love to win this one but, alas, I’m not eligible.  You, however, are!  So join us at Double D, won’t you?  Have a happy day!

 

Stamps:  Whipper Snapper Easter basket, Inky Antics dogs sentiment  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, CTMH Sunkiss Yellow, MFT Homespun Gingham designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Pixie Pink  Coloring Medium:  Prismacolor Pencils and odorless mineral spirits  Accessories:  Ric rac, button brads, tag punch, Darice Basketweave embossing folder, Memory Box Stitched Scalloped Circles

Handmade Flowers in an Easter Basket

 

Hello, friends!  It’s time for a new challenge at the Dies R Us Challenge Blog and our theme for the next two weeks is “Handmade Flowers”.  I would think any die cut flower would work for this challenge.  I’ve made an Easter card today.

 

 

There is a stamped and Copic colored basket under all those flowers.  It’s an old CTMH stamp which served me well for this card.  The sentiment is Hero Arts.  I most certainly had fun playing with my dies for this one!  Here’s the list:

• Amy Design Butterfly Swirl Frame
• Sue Wilson String Flowers
• Dee’s Distinctively Small Pair of Leaves
• Impression Obsession Grass
• Cheery Lynn Bunnies
• Sue Wilson Pierced Flags

I added 1/4” punched green circles to the center of each flower and covered with Viva Décor Glass Effects Gel.  A little glitter on the flowers and some on the frame.  Good times!  Hope you can play along in our “Handmade Flowers” challenge and maybe win some Dies R Us $$.  Have a good day!

 

Sweet Easter Bunnies

 

In a recent shopping trip at Dies R Us I concentrated on Easter.  I did three searches – Easter, bunny, and bunnies.  All kinds of things came up.  I combined two of my new Easter dies with some previously purchased dies, and utter sweetness came out of it:

 

 

Here’s the die list:

• Poppystamps Thicket Frame (don’t bunnies live in thickets?)
• Memory Box Oval Master Frame
• Cheery Lynn Bunnies
• Die-namites Delicate Egg
• Sue Wilson String Flowers

Now, the thing is, only the fancy egg is exclusive to Easter.  The bunnies could be used on garden cards and baby cards, and the flowers and frames have many uses.  But isn’t that egg pretty?  I tell you, I’ve got a thing for those Die-namites dies!

 

I didn’t do one bit of coloring or shading or sponging.  It’s all clean, sweet pink and white.  So easy and I just love it!  The string flowers were cut from pink vellum and finished off with pearls.  I applied Stickles Stardust glitter glue to some of the open leaf spaces in the Thicket Frame.  Oh, and the bunnies have chocolate brown card stock scraps behind their eyes.  The Hero Arts sentiment was stamped in Versamark and white embossed.

 

 

I want to be sure and mention that the frames I used are sized to fit flush on an A2 card (4 1/4” x 5 1/2”), but I like a bit of a border, so I made my card 4 1/2” x 5 3/4”.  I also made a matching envelope with my envelope punch board.  You can see the envie peeking out behind the card in the photo below.

 

 

Can you believe it’s the last day of February already?  That means a new challenge starts tomorrow on the Dies R Us Challenge Blog, so be sure to get in on that and maybe win a gift voucher to the store.  Also, do visit the Inspiration Blog for new ideas every weekday.  I’ll be back to visit with you again soon.  Have a happy day!

 

One for the Hubby, One for the Son

 

It looks like I’ve made all the Valentines I’m going to have time for.  I finished these two with brand new-to-me Bugaboo digis.  The first is called Roses Poem and it’s for my darling hubby.

 

 

The next is Pup Hearts 01 and was made for my son.

 

 

Both were printed on X-Press It Blending Card and colored with Copics.  The second card was designed to go along with the current Bugaboo “Stella Says Sketch Challenge” which is good until Feb. 14.  Here’s the sketch:

 

 

It’s a quick post today.  Will wonders never cease?  Have a happy day!

 

Pink and Girly Valentine

 

I always thought this darling little Bella with Bouquet stamp from Wild Rose Studio would make a cute Valentine, so this year she’s sending love to a friend.  The “Hello friend” sentiment on the front is from Power Poppy’s Simply Camellias stamp set, but inside I used the “Sending love to you” sentiment that comes with Bella.  It’s quick Copic coloring and a simple card design, but I love it.  Makes me wonder why I generally fuss to do more when this makes me so happy.

 

 

I’ve picked out some challenges to play along with that look like fun.  The first:

Dragonfly Journeys “Pretty in Pink”    This one’s pretty self explanatory.  I used LOTS of pink! 

The second:

The Paper Players “Tic-tac-toe”     I went with die cuts, pink, and girly.  See the graphic below.

 

 

This also fits the Double D Challenge "Pretty Pink Hearts"  Check out their beautiful inspiration board:

 

 

I hope you enjoyed this little dose of mid-week sweetness!  See you again on Friday.  Enjoy your day!

 

Stamps:  Wild Rose Studio Bella with Bouquet, Power Poppy Simply Camellias (sentiment)  Paper:  X-Press It Blending Card, MFT Homespun Gingham designer paper, white card base  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Ranger Archival Watering Can (sentiment), Copics for coloring  Accessories:  Impression Obsession Heart Flourish

A Love Notes Valentine

 

Hello and happy Friday!  It’s about time to share a Valentine, I think, so that’s what I have for my Power Poppy offering today.  I’ve used the way-too-cute “Good Thinking:  Love Notes” clear stamp set, which I adore.  There’s so much to this set you could make your sweetie Valentines for years without repeating.  I’ve gone all traditional red and white and, honestly, this card could hardly be simpler.

 

 

I could have sworn I photographed the inside of this card.  It was some time ago.  Hmmmm… that must be on the laptop that crashed.  Oh, well… inside it says “Yay us!”.  I love that.  I cut the sentiment with a Spellbinders Floral Ovals die and added a big, fluffy bow and some rhinestones.  The pretty paper is Carte Bella Words of Love.  And that’s it!  Easy!

 

Speaking of Valentines, did you see Marcella’s latest Follow Your Heart digital stamp set?  Now, that makes some pretty Valentines!  I have yet to color it up, but there’s still time.  Let’s see who’s sharing Power Poppy goodness today:

• Julie
• Cindy
• Christine
• Tosha
• Allison
• Katie

Thanks so much for your visit today.  Now go forth and have a lovely weekend!

 

Our House

 

I felt a bit like a kid at a Playskool desk when I was making this card but, oh, what fun!  It’s good to let the inner kid out once in a while.  Our house is yellow with white trim.  We have trees and dogs and big, fat mustard-brown maple leaves scattered around.  I thought this would make a fun Thanksgiving card for one of our local friends.

 

 

Dies used:

• Memory Box Grand Forest Archway
• Poppystamps Leafy Sprig Border
• Impression Obsession Window With Shutter
• Impression Obsession Small Leaf Set
• Spellbinders Sprigs
• Impression Obsession Grass

I did a little nip/tuck on the vine and the grass to make them fit my needs.  Way more dies than I ordinarily use on a card but, hey, it was a rainy day.  I stamped, too.  The house is an MFT Wood Plank Background stamped in yellow on white.  I stamped a Weathered background (retired Stampin’ Up) on gray for the die cut trees.  And, of course, there’s the sentiment and the doggie in the window.

 

I meant for the leafy overhang to be a vine of some kind growing along the house, but after I made this I thought how it might work as foliage for these bare trees.  Maybe underneath and on top, slightly offset.  Sprinkle in a few small flowers for springtime.  I tell you these trees are one of my favorite dies ever.  I’ve had dozens of ideas in my head, and this wasn’t even one of them.  It just sort of happened.

 

 

Come visit us on the Dies R Us Inspiration Blog and the Challenge Blog (two challenges per month with a chance to win Dies R Us $$).  Find all the dies I used today and much, much more in the Dies R Us store.  The other day I typed the word “border” in the search field and came up with 416 matches.  I mean, really!  I’m telling you, huge selection!  Have a happy day!

 

Pumpkin Feast

 

Every few years I dust off this old Stampendous Pumpkin Feast stamp and use it for a Thanksgiving card.  It’s one of my favorites.  I haven’t made many Thanksgiving cards the last few years, but this year I’ve made six.  And here I thought I wasn’t really stamping all that much.  More focused, maybe?  They’re all going in the mail, too.  I’ve not been letting any moss grow under my cards lately.

 

So. . . A new challenge starts today on the Dies R Us Challenge Blog.  Our theme is “Thankful”.  I’m thankful that I have the opportunity to design with products I thoroughly enjoy.  I try to make selections from the Dies R Us store based on what I think I’ll use most and I’m getting better at making wise choices for me.  Below I’ve used some favorite dies with a favorite image.

 

 

• Frame:  Memory Box Cross Stitched Frame Borders
• Oval Mat:  Spellbinders Grand Ovals
• Leafy overhang:  Poppystamps Leafy Sprig Border
• Leaves:  Impression Obsession Small Leaf Set
• Swirls under leaves:  Spellbinders Sprigs

I cut two of the Cross Stitched Frame Borders together to make the frame and layered that over the oval mat with the Leafy Sprig Border sandwiched between them.  I cut the Leafy Sprig Border in white, then swiped the side of three different Copic markers over it to color.  A closer look:

 

 

When I photograph my cards in my small stamp room I have to clear off a space, set up the background, and move the lighting around.  If I forget to photograph the Copics before I change the room back to stamping mode, then they won’t get photographed, oops.  However, today I remembered:

 

 

I used quite a few oranges and yellows on the pumpkins.  E08, which is a brown, was used on the pumpkins for the darkest shading.  Probably more greens than necessary on the leaves.  The chipmunks were easy with just three browns.  Three BG’s and the colorless blender for the sky to make it smooth and seamless.  I’m not an expert.  I just like to color.  This image took me one hour.  I know!  Who’s got that kind of time?  Sometimes I talk too much, too, so I’ll let you go now.  Just a reminder to join us in our Dies R Us Thankful Challenge.  You could win some $$ to spend in the Dies R Us Store!  Have a happy day!

 

Let’s Talk Turkey

 

My husband said this is a lucky turkey because he’s so skinny.  In fact, that’s his name – Skinny Turkey.  But you can call him Clyde if you want to.  Might as well name him because he probably won’t be anybody’s Thanksgiving dinner, being so skinny and all.  He’s from QKR Stampede and I colored him up for our Turkey Challenge which starts today.

 

Clyde and I bonded instantly.  Just like the big ol’ white turkey that imprinted on my mom when we lived in Missouri.  It followed her everywhere until. . . you know. . . that day.  Guess it was a one-sided relationship, tsk tsk.  Clyde looks like the turkeys we see when we take the dogs out to one of our favorite let-‘em-run-wild places.  They’re supposed to be an elusive creature, difficult to hunt, but these turkeys don’t seem afraid of us at all.  They don’t mind the dogs, either, and the dogs don’t mind them.  The turkeys just stroll out of the way as Wally and LuLu run by, tossing their big Golden Retriever smiles over their shoulders as they pass.

 

I colored Clyde with Copic markers and put him on a tall, skinny card – 4” x 9”.  The leaf trim is some super cute May Arts ribbon which was a birthday gift from a super nice friend (thank you, Mary!).  I printed the “Gobble! Gobble!” when I printed the digi.  I have a “gobble” stamp, but decided it would be so much easier just to print it.  The designer papers are scraps, names forgotten, and the grass is an Impression Obsession Tall Grass die.  Linking up to Classy Cards 'n Such Gobble Gobble Challenge.

 

Well, I had fun with this, and if you feel like making a turkey card and sharing it on the QKR Turkey Challenge we’d love to have you.  Thanks for stopping by!

 

Harvest Colors

 

Hi, there!  Harvest Colors is the name of our challenge this week at QKR Stampede.  I surprised myself by not using a critter on my card, but I thought these pumpkins were so pretty all on their own.

 

 

I used two digital stamps:  18802 Pumpkin Vine and 18804 Small Pumpkin.  All QKR digis are available in unmounted rubber, as well.  I opened both images in Photoshop Elements and clicked the outer white space of each with the magic eraser tool to eliminate the white box around them.  Opened a new blank document, moved each image onto it and played around with their size and positions until I was happy.  That’s a rather abbreviated version, but really, if you have Photoshop Elements you just have to open it and play around before any of it can make sense.  The digi world is your oyster.

 

I colored with Copic markers, finishing up with a dotty base and a few purple dots around the pumpkins.  Added glitter to those, like a frosty autumn morning.  Flourishes and leaf gems dress up the corner. 

 

 

I’ll be using this card as a Thanksgiving greeting.  Bet you’ve got a pretty autumn card up your crafty sleeve.  Link it up with our Harvest Colors Challenge.  See you again soon!

 

 

Stamps:  QKR digi 18802 Pumpkin Vine and QKR digi 18804 Small Pumpkin, retired Stampin’ Up! sentiment  Paper:  X-Press It Blending card (white), CTMH Vineyard Berry, Bo Bunny Autumn Song designer paper  Ink:  Printer, Close to Cocoa (sentiment), various Copic markers for coloring  Accessories:  Leaf gems, Spellbinders Marvelous Squares and Floral Flourishes dies