A Dachshund Twofer

Yikes - I'm back with another Twofer! I can't seem to get enough of the 41st & final challenge!! This time I played with a freebie die Simon Says Stamp sent me - a cute little dachshund, perfect for the Twofer Card Challenge Dog/Cat. I'll also add at NBUS Challenge 29 since Mr. Dachshund is getting his first outing today!

I previously made two sets of cards featuring kitties for the final Twofer so thought it was time to give dogs their due. Here's a closer look with supply list:

Supplies: Paper - Spellbinders 8/2021 card kit,

Doodlebug, Lawn Fawn, Neenah

Dies - Simon Say Stamp Lil' Critters: Dachshund;

Honey Bee Bitty Buzzwords

Stamps - Penny Black Birthday Party

Other - Copic Markers, Stickles,

CZ Design Sentiment Strips Reverse Happy

Thanks again to my friend Jean (Right as Rain) who sent me a big box of crafty items she didn't need anymore, including the PB Birthday Party stamp set. I'll use everything eventually but it'll take quite a while!! I thought this cute mouse decorating a cake would be fun with the dachshund looking on. I created a boxy table with some strips of woodgrain paper, then fussy cut the cake image to sit on top, colored with Copics and added Stickles to the candle flames. I cut the dog in white and then cut again with a piece of Lawn Fawn bokeh that gave him a spotted look.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah white,

Paper studio brights & kraft, Ms Sparkle A2 card,

Momenta watercolor print, Stamp-on-it vellum

Dies - Simon Say Stamp Lil' Critters: Dachshund;

Honey Bee Bitty Buzzwords;

Taylored Expressions Birch Tree Cutting Plate;

Lawn Fawn Grassy Border

Stamps - Hero Arts Let's Chill (retired);

Spellbinders August 2021 card kit (friend)

Other - Copic Markers, wiggle eye,

Hero Arts clear lacquer

If you see a shadow on the birch trees, yes - I cut one in kraft to add offset behind, plus the white is stacked twice. I gave the grass two offset layers too. The birdie is from the same set I used for the fish on my second kitty Twofer. I thought she'd be cute in the trees with Mr. Dachshund saying hello!

That's it for today! Many thanks to Darnell for hosting Twofer all these years and to her great team too!!

Thanks for stopping!

More Twofer Kitties!

Hi all - I didn't need Darnell's reminder about Twofer Challenge 41 - I'd already started my second pair! Twofer takes a final bow this month so I had to play a second time!! Go here if you missed my first pair of kitty cards. Darnell chose the theme of Dogs/Cats for her final challenge - yay!

I shopped at JoAnn's last week and found stamping supplies 30% off. Picked up a darling kitty in a teacup set thinking the kitty could be popping out of something else for a second card. Considered a box, peeking out from foliage (Darnell did it brilliantly here btw), etc. before settling on a window. Here's a closer look with supply list:

Supplies: Paper - Spellbinders white A2 card;

Paper studio black, Neenah white;

various patterned papers

Stamps - Hero Arts Kit-tea Stamp & Cut,

All Occasion Msgs, It's All Good, & Let's Chill (all retired)

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints 32

Other - Memento Tuxedo Black ink,

Copic Markers, foam tape

My thoughts went first to designing the card with the brown kitty I'd cut off its teacup. I had an MFT rectangle that I thought looked like a window so cut it & added kitty, then a backing & mat layer. The patterned papers were loose ones so I don't know their original sets - all I know is, I'm going to have to find different ones for an upcoming Die Cut Diva project. Oops! 

What to do with the rest of the window? Then it hit me - thought bubble with a fish in it & a "thinking of you" sentiment. I considered the fish in a bowl that I used for my previous Twofer but ended up with a free swimming fish from a tropical stamp set. So fun! The thought bubble came from a 2013 Hero Arts set - no dies for it so I fussy cut.

Supplies: Paper - Spellbinders white A2 card;

Paper studio black, Neenah white;

Lawn Fawn Gotta Have Gingham 6x6

Stamps - Hero Arts Kit-tea Stamp & Cut,

Birthday Messages (retired)

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints 18

Other - Memento Tuxedo Black ink,

Copic Markers, foam tape

I decided to make card two quick & easy. Simply added a gingham "tablecloth" to a white card, popped the kitty cup on top & added a sentiment - done! The inside of this card has a puny sentiments from the set - "Have a tea-rific birthday". The sentiment flag was let over from the "kits" my sister asked me to make up for her. She had fun putting the cards together on Sunday but I totally forgot to take any photos - oh well...

Since my kitty got first play here, I'm adding the thinking of you card to Darnell's NBUS Challenge 29. I have one last entry available at Watercooler Wednesday's All About Occasions so I'll add the birthday card there.

Thanks for stopping and happy crafting!!

 

Boo Hoo - the final Twofer Challenge!

Hey friends - Darnell will close her Twofer Card Challenge after this month - sad, but understandable! So much work goes into a challenge blog and I've appreciated Darnell and her team these past four years!! Yes, I was there for Challenge 1 with my Feather cards and for many (sadly not all) subsequent challenges. I close my Twofer Chapter with this pair for Challenge 41 the Final Challenge to use a dog or a cat image:

And yes, I'm a cat lady!! I used the chunky kitty from an old Hero Arts stamp set as my common item. Here's a closer look at each card with supply list:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah White;

Paper Studio navy A2 card

Stamps - Hero Arts I Love My Cat, Frosty Wishes & 

Create your own Snowman (all retired)

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints 13 (retired);

Kat Scrappiness Crafters Essentials Winter;

Dies to match snowman set

Other - Copic Markers; Hero Arts inks;

Tim Holtz Prize Ribbon Distress Ink;

Taylored Expressions Salt Water Taffy

Supplies: Paper - Neenah White; Paper Studio black;

Poppystamps freebie dotted

Stamps - Hero Arts I Love My Cat (retired) &

Everyday Sayings

Dies - Taylored Expressions Mini Slim Square Window Cutting Plate

Other - Copic Markers; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

Had to laugh - those kitty paw prints look more like a wolf's but they were the only ones in kitty set! I saved the pieces cut out of the windows to make another poinsettia card like the second one on this post if you missed it. The fish bowl just had the fish in it but I added some "seaweed".

If you're still with me, I had to include another photo of my kitty niece Misty. She visited me for a couple weeks this summer and was very "helpful" with card making!

Misty has her eye on those little strips of white paper which she later pawed off the craft mat. Then she discovered the plastic cover to the scissors and she batted it off the table. She played with scissors cover for several minutes (I took video) before she went off for a nap - so entertaining!! Times like that I miss my two kitties who've been gone for over 10 years - time flies! One liked paper and the other liked ribbon when it came to crafty "help".

I'm adding my snowman card to the current Watercooler Wednesday All Occasions Challenge. I'm adding the kitty duo with fishbowl card to the current Sweet Stampin' Challenge to feature an animal.

Thanks for stopping and thanks again to all for fun challenges!!

 

Two birdie cards!

Hey crafty friends - I finally got a chance to work on cards for Darnell's Twofer Challenge 40 - Birds. Here's my twofer:

After thinking of all the bird stuff in my stash, I decided on a gorgeous color layering bird stamp. Originally I planned to color layer one bird & stamp just the outline on the other bird, coloring it with Copics. Well, on the second birdie I just Copic blended the wing then color layered the rest. With the white card stock I used, I ended up filling in some of the white patches with Copic coloring atop the layering stamps on both birds. I loved the very different looks from the two color schemes. Stamping & some die cutting - easy peasy!! Here's a closer look:

Supplies: Paper - DCWV A2 card; Paper Studio green;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110 lb

Stamps - Hero Arts Color Layering Dimensional Bird & 

Color Layering Trimmings

Dies - Hero Arts Branches Infinity Dies &

coordinating dies to stamps

Other - Copic Markers; various Hero Arts inks;

Simon Says Stamp Sentiment Strips Reverse Holiday

Supplies: Paper - DCWV A2 card; Paper Studio brown;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110 lb;

Momenta Watercolor print

Stamps - Hero Arts Color Layering Dimensional Bird, Friends, & 

Let the Angels Sing (musical note) - all retired;

Taylored Expressions Hand Lettered Sentiments

Dies - coordinating dies to stamps;

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop

Other - Copic Markers; various Hero Arts inks

Because my branch frame got its first play on card one, I'm also adding it to Darnell's July NBUS Challenge. Card one fits for Dawn's All Occasion Challenge at Watercooler Wednesday.

Thanks for stopping by and have a crafty day!!

 

Sunshine and watercoloring

Mornin' crafty friends! I've been working on an idea for the current Let's Squash It!! challenge and it all came together this morning. I included sunshine so made a second card to play along at the current Twofer Challenge too - gotta love getting two cards done this early!! Here's the Twofer:

My element in common is the sunray stamp; it's from a My Monthly Hero kit which I hadn't used yet. On the retirement card I used it once, on the thanks card I flipped it to stamp a full circle  - made into a flower. 

The Squash It challenge is to emboss a nature item and watercolor. My starting point was the Tall Pines embossing folder embossed into watercolor paper. I sectioned off the two banks and then watercolored a lake, sunrise and sky, then carefully watercolored the trees - got a bit messy in spots, oh well... Next I stamped the sun and rays, then the duck and cattails, finally the sentiment. The card will go to a guy friend so I kept it manly. What do you think of my cloudy sky? I was quite happy with how it turned out just swiping & splotching some blue around. Here's a closer look:

Supplies: Paper - Ms Sparkle & Co A2 card;

Strathmore 140lb cold press

Watercolors - Tim Holtz Distress Reinkers

Stamps - Dec2020 My Monthly Hero kit &

July2019 My Monthly Hero kit (both sold out)

Paper Smooches All Year Cheer (NIB)

Ink - Taylored Expressions Oreo

Embossing Folder - Tim Holtz Tall Pines (retired)

For the thank you card, I started by stamping the rays twice on watercolor paper and then filled in the center with some Mustard Seed reinker. Then added a bit of Worn Lipstick. Then I hand drew a stem and leaves with Twisted Citron and Rustic Wilderness. Once dry I stamped the sentiment, die cut with a dot stitched rectangle, matted with black & added to the card. Popped a gem on the flower for some interest - done!

Additional supplies - Momenta and Doodlebug paper,

Honey bee gem; Hero Arts Say it All sentiment;

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop

Since my sunray got first play today, I'm also entering the retirement card in the current NBUS challenge. Also in Watercooler Wednesdays All Occasion challenge. Thanks to all for the fun challenges and thanks to you for visiting!!

 

 

Twofer - your choice!!

Happy Sunday!! I've been missing in action this past week but just had to make time for the Twofer Challenge. For Challenge 36 Darnell & team offer the theme of "your choice"!! Here's my Twofer with my choice of dragonflies:

I'd been thinking of making a slimline card with the Hero Arts Color Layering Dragonfly so I started with that idea. When I put it together, I added the bitty dragonflies and I decided they would be my common element, rather than the bigger dragonfly. The slimline became a birthday card with the sentiment dividing the card in two. I die cut a Tulisa Collage from Poppystamps (sadly retired) into each half of the stitched panel, then backed it with a piece of printed watercolor patterned paper. Stitched panel came from an LDRS creative die set; my friend Lin (Sending Hugs) enabled me to purchase this set - a great value with 14 dies!! Here's a closer look with supply list:

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts (retired);

Momenta Watercolor; Neenah white

Stamps - Hero Arts Color Layering Dragonfly

Dies - Memory Box Little Dragonflies;

LDRS Creative Slimline Corner Scallop;

Poppystamps Tulisa Collage (retired);

Hero Arts Color Layering Dragonfly Frame Cuts

Spellbinders Glimmer plate - Everyday Sentiments II

Other - Crystal Stickles; silver foil

So, you need a different occasion for the second Twofer card, even though I had birthdays on my mind. Hmmm, had to think a minute. Then realized my brother and his wife plan to retire soon - I'll need a card for each!! Thought the bitty dragonflies would be pretty with a Spellbinders floral swag on an A2 card for my sister-in-law. Here's a photo of that one alone:

Supplies: Paper - DCWV A2 card;

Momenta Watercolor

Dies - Memory Box Little Dragonflies;

Spellbinders Floral Oval (retired);

Avery Elle Quilted Frame

Other - Michael's gems; Crystal Stickles;

CZ Designs Reverse Sentiment Strips - Happy

I'm also entering the retirement card at Watercooler Wednesday All Things Feminine.

That's it for today. Thanks for visiting and I hope to visit your blogs soon too!

 

Twofer Balloons!!

Happy Wednesday!! I'm finally getting around to finishing and posting my cards for the current Twofer Challenge with the theme of balloons. My friend Greta (ggcreations) is a guest designer so I started thinking about my cards the day the challenge opened last week. Here's my balloon twofer:

My balloon in common is from a retired (sadly) My Favorite Things Blueprints die set. It's made to cut just half a balloon so you can pop it into a corner. I stretched the die by cutting it into an oval for one balloon (with top trimmed off) for the slimline card. I used it as intended on card two along with the BIRTHDAY and bow dies from the Blueprints set. Here's each card separately:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio, Hero Arts, & 

 Pink Paislee Hello Sunshine (print)

Dies - My Favorite Thing Blueprints 26;

Sunny Studio Slimline Scalloped Frame

Stamps - Hero Arts Sweet Sprinkles Bold Prints (retired)

Other - CZ Designs Birthday sentiment strips;

Mustard Seed Distress Ink; Doodlebug string;

Honey Bee gems; foam tape

LOL - I was looking for my confetti stamp and instead used the sprinkles one, oh well - it kinda looks congratulatory, I hope!! Just love the sparkle on the birthday card - am really in love with this one and will definitely make another...

Thanks to Darnell and team for a fun challenge! Two more cards for the stash - yay!! And thanks to you for visiting - happy crafting!!

More Twofer Flowers

Hey everyone - thought I'd skate in before the January Twofer Challenge closes tomorrow! I went to the mailbox today and came back with my order from Sunny Studio - woo hoo!! I got right to work and quickly made a Twofer with some NBUS! 😁😁

I used Sunny's Botanical Backdrop as my common item. It's actually a leafy frame with a bunch of flower parts included. As with many brands, the dies come linked with thin metal that you need to snip if you want separate dies. In this case, the flower parts were linked inside the frame. Before I snipped them (maybe I never will...), I decided to dry emboss some backgrounds; you can see one on the Valentine. Here's a closer look:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio, BoBunny Love & Lace;

Lawn Fawn Watercolor Wishes

Dies - Sunny Studios Botanical Backdrop;

Hero Arts Valentine (retired) and

Nesting Hearts Infinity Dies

Other - Hampton Art Studio G gem

The die used on the pink flower can be a layer for a more solid flower as you can see on card two. I thought it went well with the lacy BoBunny paper on card one.

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio; Lawn Fawn

Dies - Sunny Studio Botanical Backdrop

Other - Versamark Ink; Ranger Princess Gold ep

Thankfully I don't need any sympathy cards but I ordered Sunny Studio's new sympathy set. Decided to try some of the sentiments with the leafy frame and a single flower (embossed & die cut for card one). I cut a second leafy frame in black to give a shadow to portions of the green one. Arranged the sentiment stamps to fit in the frame then stamped and gold embossed them.

Many thanks to Mendi for the fabulous items, including a sweet ladybug die freebie!! My cards today give a little sneak peek for an upcoming Die Cut Divas challenge (won't spill the month, nor the theme) when Sunny Studio will be our sponsor. We can't thank Mendi enough; I'm so excited to share even more new goodies then!!

Also sending my cards to the January NBUS Challenge - I'll just pop the Twofer photo since both contain NBUS. Thanks Darnell for the fun challenges!! Plus, I can add my Valentine to the current Hero Arts Stay Crafty with Hero Challenge (#19 already; I've missed the last few - sorry!) since I used a heart. Thanks Hero Arts!!

We're getting some snow today, expecting 2-5". I'm glad to be indoors, snug & warm & enjoying some crafty time. Thanks for stopping!!

More Twofer Flowers

Hey everyone - back as promised with another card for Twofer Challenge 34 Flowers, this time using goodies won at Twofer Challenge 33 back in November. Art Impressions gave Darnell a $20 gift card to award and I was the lucky recipient!! Here's my Twofer using Art Impressions Sweet Wishes:

Being a Valentine baby, I love to collect Valentine sets. I was delighted to add Sweet Wishes to the stash, thanks to AI and Darnell!! The set has four images, three sentiments and 2 dies to create a Tri-fold card. I tried it the intended way for the Valentine card - it's 4.5x11", scored at 3 5/8" from each end of the long side & folded in. You simply stamp the wreath on the front and die cut the center out. Next line up the mailbox on the next flap, stamp it & die cut the door. Finally stamp the birdie with heart on the inside. I colored with pencils to avoid any bleeding through of Copics. Here's a closer look at the front and second flap with inside showing:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Stamps & Dies - Art Impressions Sweet Wishes

Other - various pencils; scrap of ribbon; Hobby Lobby heart

I was lazy and didn't photograph the inside layer. I used the MISTI to align my images without penciling anything. The birdie could've been up a bit higher to show more of the heart but I went with it. I closed the card with a ribbon tied round it, nothing fancy. AI suggests their Clasp-Keeper which doesn't appear on their site anymore. Oddly enough, I have one of these around somewhere... oh well. 

For card two, I needed a birthday card for a childhood friend so stamped a second wreath. Used the die to cut the interior, then fussy cut the exterior. Colored with Copics (BV0000, BV00, BV12, YG41 & Y07). Placed it atop a diecut Sunny Studio panel - Frilly Frames Eyelet Lace which I'd embossed using the insert. Added Simon Says Stamp sentiment strips and some stickles - done! Totally forgot to take a photograph of card two by itself since I was in a hurry to get it in the outgoing mail...sorry!

I'm also adding the Valentine to Darnell's January NBUS Challenge since my rose wreath is getting first play and to Watercooler Wednesday's All About Occasions Challenge. 

Thanks for stopping by & have a crafty weekend!!