More Orange and Yellow

Happy Monday everyone!! Since it's the third Monday of the month, Darnell (djkardkreations) and her IDEAS program participants are using E for embossing (wet or dry). I had the heat tool out for an upcoming Die Cut Diva post so went with wet embossing:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah White;

Paper Studio pastel A2 card; My Mind's Eye patterned

Stamps - Penny Black Soft Wings & Eloquence

Dies - Taylored Expressions Easy Strips 1/4 & Easy Strips 1/8

Other - Hero Arts Lemon Drop, Creamscicle & Pitch Black inks; 

Memento Tangelo ink; clear embossing powder;

Versamark ink

I decided to combine this theme with a couple of challenges & use up leftover Kaleidoscope strips from previous cards. Check out the current Group of Seven Cardmakers technique post to learn more. Since my strips were Orange & Yellow, I made another card for Color Hues #93. I chose a beautiful butterfly from Penny Black as my focal point so it work for the August Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Anything Goes (optional flowers).

I stamped and embossed the butterfly, then blended yellow & orange inks onto it. I've owned the stamp since 2012 & don't believe the coordinating die existed at that time. Didn't buy it later so I had to fussy cutting the image. Added it to a card onto which I'd arranged some patterned strips in the Kaleidoscope fashion. Stamped a sentiment from a PB clear set & left the rest plain. My card will go to a chorus friend who contracted Covid while on vacation - she's doing better after taking Paxlovid.

Speaking of plain, here's a bonus. I did a diagonal Kaleidoscope pattern on a second card and added a foiled sentiment (hard to photograph) from Memory Box (thanks Dave!). Simon Says Stamp has them - Happy Birthday Foil Greetings Black Circle Tabs. That uses up the strips I'd die cut.

That's it for today, friends. Chorus is singing at a senior's complex tonight so I'd better start organizing things. Thanks for stopping & happy crafting!!

Feel Better Soon!

Hi all - TGIF!! It's very gloomy here today with possibility of severe weather, though it'll probably stay further south. I'm popping in with a few cards made while sitting in front of the television. First up, a bouquet for a friend who broke her foot (a different friend than a previous post - we're accident prone, I guess):

Supplies: Paper - Neenah white; Paper Studio A2 card;

Betterpress Porcelain; scrap of black

Stamps - Spellbinders Celebrate Everything

(exclusive freebie in Issue #253 of Simply Cards and Papercraft)

BetterPress Plate w/Dies - Spellbinders You Are Everything Sentiments

Dies - A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape

I just did some simple Copic coloring on the floral image which I'd stamped on Neenah. Die cut it with a stitched rectangle. Adhered to A2 card & added a pressed sentiment w/shadow. Since the stamp is newly used, I'll add to Darnell's April NBUS Challenge, plus this is my card for her IDEAS program (see Darnell's inspiration HERE) - A=Anything Goes this week.

Next, a couple of sympathy cards I needed for this week. A cousin passed on Tuesday and one of Dad's Arizona neighbors lost their son to longtime illness. I went with a  couple Spellbinders sets ( Essential Floral Reflection & Floral Reflection) that I used before HERE and really love. For these I added a layer to the label and really liked it that way. Another Betterpressed sentiment finished them off. 

Which one do you prefer? I made the one on the right first but liked the deeper colors of the second one on the left.

Thanks for stopping & have a crafty day!!

Healing Hugs

Happy Monday - hope you had a great weekend! Today I'm joining Darnell (djkardkreations) for her IDEAS project: 2nd Monday of the month so this week D = Dies/Die Cuts. Here's my take with everything except the sentiment & gingham strip being die cut!

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane A2 card; Lawn Fawn Fruit Salad Petite;

Graphic 45 Artisan Style; various scraps

Stamps - Altenew Inky Bouquet (sentiment)

Dies - Memory Box Plumed Gypsy Butterfly;

Poppystamps Fern and Daisy Pop Up Easel Set;

Hero Arts Tag Frames Infinity Dies;

Spellbinders Blooming Pomegranate (DOML-AUG23);

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Hero Arts Grape Juice & Thistle inks

Caught up on some blog commenting this morning (including on Darnell's post) & was ready to do some die cutting! I need a card for a friend who broke her leg last week. Sweet Bonnie got knocked down by someone hurrying too much at work - freak accident, really. Luckily she could have surgery right away. We saw her the next day and she looked pretty good, though in pain. She has a long stint in rehab ahead of her so I'm planning a bunch of cards to cheer her up. 

I spotted a new-to-me Memory Box butterfly set on the craft table and decided to use it. Die cut the elements, stamped the sentiment on the label, and assembled on an A2 card with a gingham strip. Easy peasy! The leafy bits were cut from a scrap of smooshed green from last week's IDEAS card. The daisy, leaves & flower centers were cut with the Poppystamps set (see a pop-up card with it HERE) using a bunch of scraps. The small cream colored flowers were leftovers from my pomegranate card. Shaded the label with some Thistle ink.

I'm adding my card to Darnell's March NBUS Challenge since my butterfly set is newly used. 

That's it for today - thanks for stopping by!!

Ouch!

Hey crafty friends - I'm back with another paper doll card - this time for a young friend who broke her leg. Ouch!

Supplies: Paper - Spellbinders A2 card; Tim Holtz kraft;

Doodlebug Swiss Dots Rainbow Petite & some scraps

Stamps - Hero Arts Lifestyle Faces  

Dies - Hero Arts Lifestyle Forms;

Spellbinders How Does Your Garden Grow Alphabet;

Taylored Expressions Easy Strips 1/8"

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop

Other - white gel pen

You may remember my sister's honorary niece Jerriah who has played along in SSS Summer Kids Challenge (see HERE & HERE). She visited my parents on Saturday and it was great to see her; then she went home and fell on her stairs - poor dear! Now she'll be in a long cast for many weeks. 

I was thinking what kind of card to make for her. Hmmm - decided a paper doll would be cute with a cast on her leg. I had some rolled bandage that sticks to itself - perfect to simulate a cast! I hand cut the crutches. If you missed my earlier paper doll, go HERE if interested. I love the Spellbinders alphabet I'm using for only the second time (got it in 2020...). What a great value and it's on sale now so even better! Hard to see but I added a black shadow to each letter.

Hope you're enjoying your week! I need to get busy on Easter cards, then more Christmas cards for the stash. How are you doing with yours?

Thanks for visiting!!

Tropical green with bee

Hi all - normally I don't post more than once a day. If you're looking for my Die Cut Diva reminder, go HERE. I realized this morning when I spotted Hilary's card (here at her blog fiddling about) that I hadn't made a card for the February Let's Squash It!! challenge. We're to use green and an insect, plus an embossing folder of course. Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio; Momenta; Neenah

Embossing Folder - Park Lane Tropical Border

Dies - A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop;

Kat Scrappiness Get Well Soon Sentiment w/Shadow

Momenta Bee Happy 

Ink - Memento Bamboo Leaves

Other - Pink & Main enamel hearts; Crystal Stickles

I die cut a panel of the varigated green watercolor print using a stitched dot rectangle die, then embossed it with the tropical border. I ran a green ink pad over the raised parts for some definition. Next I die cut the sentiment & shadow and popped up with foam tape. Die cut the bee and stickled the wings. Added some enamels hearts - done! This card is going to an auntie who had surgery. 

That's it for today and be sure to check out the last day of the month post at Die Cut Divas!

 

A Framed Winter Scene

Hi everyone - I'm sharing at Die Cut Divas today using products from our sponsor, Kat Scrappiness. Our theme this month - Mini Slimline or Slimline cards, plus be sure to use a die cut or embossing folder in your design. I chose to make a mini slim; mine is 3.5x6" which is a standard size for some companies:

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts, Paper Studio,

Neenah, Kat Scrappiness Ugly Sweater Slimline

Dies - Kat Scrappiness Winter Essentials

& Reverse Scallop Mini Slimline w/Hello

Stamps - Sunny Studio Inside Greetings Holiday

(also available here at Kat Scrappiness)

Other - Memento Rhubarb Stalk ink; 

Kat Scrappiness Holiday Bliss Mix

I started by cutting a new KS reverse scallop frame from their ugly sweater paper, then added hills, trees and a deer from a winter set I bought last year. Assembled and stamped the sentiment (oops, a little crooked, oh well), then added some sequins from the Holiday Bliss Mix that KS sent me - thanks, so cute!! To finish, I used a white gel pen to dot some additional "snow" - done! Seems many of the DT used the Winter Essentials die set - tells you something, doesn't it? An awesome set at a great price point!!

I must mention the awesome customer service by Kat Scrappiness. I ordered October release products on a Monday and had the order in my hands on Thursday of the same week - from Washington to Minnesota - amazing!! Many thanks!!

Do you like my photo background? The birch logs are paper ones I bought at Target - had to laugh; the label says "do not burn"! The stack of three comes tied with the heavy twine - so cute!

And here's a bonus card using the same scallop frame, plus a new sentiment die from the KS October release. I gave this one a portrait orientation and stacked the die cut for dimension. I did no inking on the frame and love how the patterns seem to merge!

Additional supplies: Paper - Paper Studio;

My Mind's Eye The Sweetest Thing

Dies - Kat Scrappiness Get Well Soon

Other - Stamp on It vellum; Park Lane gems

You still have plenty of time to enter this month's challenge! Please add your card to the gallery by 9pm Pacific Time on November 30th.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Tone on tone Vivid Bloom

Hi everyone - I'm sharing the card below at Die Cut Divas today for inspiration. We're doing tone on tone this month - using variations of the same color (plus neutrals are allowed). 

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Dove A2 card;

Sunny Studio; Doodlebug; Paper Studio

Dies - Birch Press Design Vivid Bloom Stitched Layer Set;

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop

Stamps with Dies - Hero Arts Message Strips Stamp & Cut XL

The fabulous Birch Press Design sponsored us this month and has donated a lovely $20 gift card for our random winner (to be announced August 3rd). 

While I have loads of Memory Box and Poppystamps, I had only a few BPD items. No worries - a trip to my LSS plus some online shopping solved that in a hurry!! I found the amazing Vivid Bloom set at my LSS and was delighted with the value. Decided to cut all 6 layers in various yellows and stack them up rotated to the notches, rather than nesting. Kinda looks like a succulent, don't you think? Another pattern of yellow for my background and a sentiment strip - done!!

Loved doing this so much that I made another card, this time leaving off the background layer and using a die cut sentiment Big Thanks Sugar Script from my online order. I used shades of my favorite color for a thank you card to my sister.

Hope to see your lovely tone on tone creations in our Die Cut Diva July gallery (deadline July 31st at 9pm Pacific Time). Thanks for stopping!!

Day 27 and I'm coloring Grumplings!

Grumplings, you ask? For Day 27 of Kathy's (The Daily Marker) 30 Day Coloring Challenge, I'm coloring some fun animal characters by Taylored Expressions! Taylor has these characters in all sorts of situations (Christmas, Halloween, you name it!) but I only own the Exercise Grumplings. Here are my Grumplings colored:

I used Copic Makers, employing all the tips Kathy shared on Day 22. The Grumpling images are only about 1.25" tall so there's not much room for detailing. I did my best! And here's a card made with three of the Grumplings:

Supplies: Paper - A2 windowed card by ??

My Mind's Eye Happy Day 6x6 patterned;

Paper Studio Glitter; Momenta Watercolor 8x8 patterned;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110lb

Stamps - Taylored Expressions Exercise Grumplings (with matching dies)

Hero Arts CL483 Type (retired) - sentiment

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints 2 (retired);

Hero Arts DI199 Nesting Circles Infinity Dies

Other - Copic Markers & multiliner; black/grey pencils

Sorry I lost the packaging for the A2 card I used; bought the pack at one of those stamping conventions years ago. I designed and made up the card last night so all I'd have to do was color the Grumplings and add them today. I needed a card for a friend who's having back problems. I originally bought this set with Debbie in mind because she's always dieting and trying half-heartedly to exercise! She also appreciates grumpy characters like that Maxine at Hallmark. Well, with her back out, Debbie can't exercise and doesn't feel much like dieting either!! They say something in all caps is like shouting & that's what these Grumplings do - hence the GET WELL sentiment. Hope Debbie's back heals quickly!!

Here's a quick shot of the inside:

Isn't that sentiment a hoot? Sadly this set is currently out of stock at TE but maybe you can find it elsewhere, if interested, or use the Notify Me feature. My favorite sentiment: "Diet Day 1 - I removed all the bad food from the house. It was delicious!!" That would be my trick - LOL! Well, I'm off to the Post Office to mail today's card. Thanks for visiting and have a crafty day!!

Happy Healing

Hi all - just back from a visit with my parents.  Mom had foot surgery and is recovering nicely.  I helped her for three days with cleaning, cooking and laundry while she watched HGTV - we love that channel, especially House Hunters and Property Brothers!

Here's the card I made for her:

Jayne had done a Scramble over at the Hero Arts Flickr group a few weeks ago using polaroids and angles in the challenge. I had so much fun with them, I just had to use them again for this card.  I used a Hero Arts card base stamped in the corners with a flower from a Hero Arts/Sizzix set called Floral and Soft Pool ink.  The band-aid and foot stamp are from Crackerbox Palace, just purchased a couple weeks ago at a stamp expo.  Inside it says "Hope you're back on your feet soon".  I watercolored the band-aid and feet using a friend's pencils - not even sure which brand.  The little green polaroid frame came in a package of 15 by Studio Calico - just darling - love these! 

Hope you're having a lovely day and had time for some crafting!  I haven't had any time this past week so hope to get some projects started soon!!