Friday, August 15, 2025

Christmas Wreath

Hi everyone.  Today's card is again inspired by several challenges.  I just received a new twig wreath die in the mail ... so perfect timing to use it right away for the Christmas Kickstart challenge.  I die-cut the wreath four times (2 from both light and medium gray card stock), and also did a little sponging around the outside edges with Basic Gray ink (SU!).  A simple hole punch was used to create the berries from Cherry Cobbler card stock.  The wreath is placed on top of an embossed card front (Snowflake Oval Frame - Simon Says Stamp embossing folder).  To finish, I added a die-cut sentiment in matching Basic Gray ink.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:
NBUS Challenge #77 - first time using wreath die and snowflake embossing folder





Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  N/A
Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Basic Gray, Smoky Slate, and Cherry Cobbler card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Basic Gray (SU!)
Accessories:   Wreath die, Snowflake Oval Frame Embossing folder (Simon Says Stamp), sponges, Handy Christmas Sentiments (Amy R - retired)

Challenges:

Monday, August 11, 2025

Summer Flowers

Hi everyone.  Today's card is inspired by four (now five!) challenges and I'm so happy that I was able to make a card that fits all of them - it's a first for me. :)

Starting off with We Love Staming - Flowers, couldn't resist making another card for this challenge. :)  The colours from AAA Colourful just scream summer.  I stamped the images in black ink, then die-cut using the matching die to the set.  The matching stencil was used to add the colours from the challenge (see below).  And then, used a new-to-me background die (for both IDEAS and NBUS Challenges) to cut a pretty design to use as the "lattice" for my summer garden. :)

I had lots of fun making this card.  That's what this hobby is all about! :)

Close-up ...

Here's the links to the challenges I'm entering with this card - thanks to all who take the time to run these challenges.  I know how much effort and energy it takes --- I appreciate YOU!

Edited to add:  Lisa let me know that my card fits the Just Us Girls Challenge #787 - Die Week - Florals.  Perfect.  Thanks Lisa!! :)

NBUS Challenge #77 - 2nd entry this month







Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Nature's Magic (Altenew)
Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Picked Raspberry, Ripe Persimmon, Mowed Lawn, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Nature's Magic dies (Altenew); Nature's Magic Stencils (Altenew); brushes, Geometric die (Background)


Friday, August 08, 2025

Happiest of Birthdays

Hi everyone.  I was inspired by three challenges for today's card - YAY! :)

I wanted to make a dainty, feminine card. :)  A layer of dry embossed vellum is added overtop of my card front.  I was hoping it would show more in the photo, but it looks as though I simply dry embossed my card front.  In real life, you can see the difference.  My card front this time is ivory ... not my usual white. 

The vase of flowers is stamped twice in black and heat embossed with clear before cutting out with matching die.  I watercoloured the flowers only on one of the images and cut out around the bottom of the flowers.  I popped the flowers up over top of my vase of flowers to add some extra dimension and then placed it inside a frame.

To finish, the sentiment is stamped in black ink and heat embossed in clear to match the rest of the stamping on the card front.

Close-up ...
Sending this card to the following challenges:
1)  We Love Stamping August Challenge - Flowers - hosted by my dear friend Hilary
2)  Penny Black Saturday Challenge - August - Optional:  Embossing (Heat or Dry) - 2nd entry - used both Heat and Dry Embossing



Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Wings and Vases (Penny Black); Watching Bloom Sentiment (Memory Box - retired)
Paper:   White card stock base (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Vellum
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Peeled Paint, Picked Raspberry, Festive Berries, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder, heat tool, watercolour brushes, Wings and Vases Cut Out (Penny Black), Whirl Frame Cut Out (Penny Black), Dots & Dashes embossing folder (Penny Black)

Monday, August 04, 2025

Sleding Sweetness

Hi everyone.  I pulled out a fairly new Penny Black set to play with (Sleding Sweetness) - my first time using this set.  Their critters are so adorable, especially the winter bears.  I had fun colouring these adorable images. :)

I started by sponging the card front with Distress inks (Mustard Seed, Salvaged Patina).  I stamped the branches in the background (Refined - Penny Black) in Hickory Smoke ink and added a torn snowhill at the bottom.  The bear and mouse are stamped in black and clear heat embossed on mixed media paper, before cutting them out with the matching dies (Sleding Sweetness Cut Out).  More Distress inks were used to watercolour.  I splattered the background and the images with diluted white acrylic paint before putting them all together.  A simple "JOY" sentiment (Full of Christmas - Penny Black) finishes the card.

Close-up ...
Sending this to Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 1 - Inks.  And I'm also sending it to Darnell's other challenge - NBUS Challenge #77.  Both these challenges help to keep me making cards and using a variety of my supplies, along with NBUS items that might normally languish in the cupboards for years!  Thank you, dear friend!!  :)

Also sending this to PBSC August Challenge - Optional:  Embossing.  I used heat embossing for my images and sentiment. :)


Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Sleding Sweetness (Penny Black); Refinded (Penny Black; Full of Christmas (Penny Black)
Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Salvaged Patina, Mustard Seed, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Lumberjack Plaid, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Hickory Smoke, Salty Ocean (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder, heat tool, sponges, watercolour paint brushes, Sleding Sweetness Cut Outs (Penny Black), diluted white acrylic paint