Have a Lovely Birthday

I have one last card to post for January, and it's one inspired by the use of a border die and comes from Shopping Our Stash.  

I love this set of bird stamps, and it came with a separate die to cut a leaf border.  I went with one of my favorite techniques . . . bring out the ink and shaving cream.  

 

I created my background piece first using some Neenah Solar White cardstock, shaving cream, a stencil and a few ink colors with some rosy tones.  I created a smaller panel with some green tones to cut my border die.  I cut the die with black ink as well, and I trimmed my rose tone panel to match the edge die.  I then paper pieced the leaves back into the black die.  

I didn't intentionally keep that lower right area lighter in tone on my piece, but it was the perfect spot for the sentiment.  I toyed with a die and a stamped image on a white tag.  Went with it on the piece itself.  

And my birds were stamped in the same tones used for the background.  I just love those little birds and have pulled them out a few times.  They're great for all seasons and so darn cute. 

I had a personal goal to create more in 2022, and I often use the challenge blogs to inspire me to create more and think outside of the box.  My overall goal is to post 100 times in 2022.  Make more cards . . . play less games on my phone!  So that's an average of 8 to 9 posts a month which I more than met for January.  

I believe I'm 15 down, 85 to go for 2022.  Honestly, so happy to be creating more.  

I hope you find some time to create and be happy!

Debbie

Supplies Used - Have a Lovely Birthday

Stamps and Dies:   Lovely Birdies Stamp Set and Dies and Birdies Branch Die (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Midnight, Spruce, Seafoam, Shea Butter, Tiara, Pink Champagne, Royal Treatment and Sangria (Catherine Pooler Inks);

Paper: Solar White Cardstock (Neenah) and Black Cardstock (American Crafts)

Other: Split Chevron Stencil and Crater Lake Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs); Diamond Stickles (Ranger);

Warm Wishes Card . . . Cookie Inspired

I look forward to seeing the inspiration photos at If You Give a Crafter a Cookie because those cookies are so beautiful.  I can't even imagine the work that goes into creating those artsy little treasures. 

I decided this year I want to be sure to play monthly, and here is my January submission.  

 

I took inspiration from the colors and that cute little polar bear cookie.  I had gotten this stamp set as part of Creative Journey Art Retreat, and it was created by Honey Bee Stamps exclusively for the group with images from Woodland Winter Animals Stamp Set.  I remembered the polar bear had a scarf, so I went digging.  

A little bit of sparkle makes it awesome!  

And I'm one for one at playing along.  

I hope you find some time to get crafty today.  Or to eat a cookie.  And why not both?

Debbie

Supplies Used - Sending Warm Wishes

Stamps and Dies:  Holiday Creative Journey Art Retreat 2021 Stamp Set (Honeybee)

Ink & Embossing:  Jet Black Ink (Lawn Fawn); Embossing Pad, Dress Blues Embossing Glitter and Opaque Bright White Embossing Powder (Wow); Salvaged Patina Distress Ink (Ranger); Rockin' Red Ink (Catherine Pooler Inks); Copic Markers;

Paper:  White Daisy Cardstock (Close To My Heart); Solar White Cardstock (Neenah);

Other:  Unicorn Stickles (Ranger);

So Very Merry for The Card Concept

The Card Concept had an inviting photo for their challenge, so I had to play along.  I went CAS for this one, and just added a little pop to my stamped images.  

I will share that those little circles came from  cards I made a year or two ago using a die that cut a circle from the center of another circle.  I stored them in a bag and vowed to use them one day.  I do love the color combination displayed in the inspiration photo. 

This means I cleaned some stuff off my desk!  One little bag of goodies down, and so very many to go.

I hope you clear a bag of goodies from your desk, in a very creative way.  

Debbie

Supplies Used - So Very Merry

Stamps and Dies:  Warm Hugs Stamp Set and Warm Wraps Dies (Stampin' Up);

Ink & Embossing:  Spruce, Over Coffee and Cranberry Fizz (Catherine Pooler Inks);

Paper: Premium White Cardstock (Catherine Pooler Designs); Heartwarming Hugs DSP (Stampin' Up);

Other: Celebration Confetti Mix (Pretty Pink Posh);

 

Little Town Inspired

It's a theme challenge at Christmas Card Throwdown, and the prompt was . . . 

 

 I have had this stamp and die set in my stash for over a year, and it's just time!  I feel as thought they were neglected, so created a little something . . . 

This is the set with the little doors that align with stamped images that you can purchase to go with it.  I used another set for inside the little peek-a-boo doors.  I'm always a fan of mixing sets and companies who manufacture the sets.  Behind the doors are small sentiments, strings of holiday lights, silhouettes and faces of elves . . . all little things! 

The weekend is here - and it's time to create.  I hope you find some time to fit some cut and paste into your life.  

Debbie

Supplies Used - Peek-a-boo Doors Holiday Card 

 Stamps and Dies:  Winter Village Peek-a-boo Clink Stamp, Peek-a-boo Circular Doors Fancy Die, Irreverant Elf Messages Stamp (Hero Arts); A Dash of Joy (Close To My Heart);

Ink & Embossing:  Tuxedo Black Ink (Memento); Copic Markers

Paper: Solar White (Neenah); Call Me Clover Cardstock (Stampin' Up);

Other:  Icicle Stickles (Ranger);

So Happy Together

I created an anniversary card inspired by the challenge at Sweet Stampin' Challenge.  

 

For this one my focus started with the background using a rose stencil and while it's hard to see, there is some shimmer to that background from some Perfect Pearls.  I layered a background stamp with script over the top of this one.  Script just adds a certain something-something to a background.  

 My sentiment and focal images were added right to the card.  I love the end result of this one. 

Supplies Used - So Happy Together

Stamps and Dies:  Love Note Background Stamp, Rose Stencil and Happy Together Stamp and Die Set (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Twilight, Midnight, Rockin' Red (Catherine Pooler Inks); Worn Lipstick Distress Ink and Perfect Pearls (Ranger); 

Paper: Premium White and Midnight Cardstock (Catherine Pooler); Bazzill Cardstock Card Base

Other:  Ivory Seashell Crystal Drops (Nuvo);

Snow Much Fun This Way

When creating this card, I was focusing on two different challenges.  The first was a challenge at StampNation in honor of the group's 11th birthday!  The focus was to stretch your stamps and supplies.  And then photo inspiration at Just Us Girls (which I've posted further below with my supply list) was my starting point.  The cute little snowmen.  So I took two stamps sets, one that was winter themed and one that was spring themed, and I meshed them together.  Now, admittedly this just looks like a winter card, but I "fashioned" a hat for my fox so he looked like he was trying to keep his little head warm while out playing with his friends in the snow.  

I also modified a mini coverplate die to fit in a smaller fashion on a slimline card.That's the piece you can see on the left.

The chunky glitter just makes my day. 

I hope you find some time to create today.  

Debbie

Supplies Used - A Little Hello

Stamps and Dies:  Snowflake Mini Coverplate Die, Build a Snowman and Puddle Play Stamp Set and Dies

Ink & Embossing:  Jet Black Ink (Lawn Fawn); Copic Markers; Over Coffee, Cove Blue, Tranquil, Pink Champagne, and Sparkling Berry Inks (Catherine Pooler)

Paper:  Accent Opaque Cardstock; Solar White (Neenah); Touch of Frost Pattern Paper (Catherine Pooler Designs); Pink Glitter Paper (Close To My Heart);

Other:  Chunky Glitter (Lawn Fawn); Unicorm Stickles (Ranger);

Thanks Bunches - Disney Style

I had a goal to post more cards this year, and so far I feel like I'm making some good progress there. I saw the post at Use Your Stuff to create a card inspired by Disney.  I had to play along with this one.  I just had to pull an item from my stuff that I just adore and have NOT used enough.  It was a stamp and punch set from Stampin' Up. I also had some strips of pattern paper that I had saved for some cards and so a card is born . . .

What I love about this stamp/punch combo is that micro-dot shading in the balloons which you can see on the yellow balloons. Seriously love it. 

I paired this with some Pretty Pink Posh sequins and love the result.  

I mixed some companies between all my supplies here - another thing I love to do.  

I hope you not only find some time to create, but that you mix it all up with yours supplies too.  

Debbie

Supplies Used - Thanks Bunches

Stamps and Dies:  Say It All Occasions (Close To My Heart); Balloon Celebration Bouquet Punch Bundle (Stampin' Up)

Ink & Embossing:  Midnight, Tiki Toch, Rockin' Red (Catherine Pooler Inks)

Paper: Premium White Cardstock (Catherine Pooler); Bazzill Cardstock

Other: Marigold Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh);

Added a Heart for Allsorts

 The challenge at Allsorts was to "Add a Heart", and I created a card with hearts in the pattern paper, but I added a stamped heart as well.

I love an infinity shaker, and this pattern paper just seemed to be perfect for a shaker.  So lots of hearts in the paper, with sequins to bring them to life, and then you just need to add a heart!  I picked some colors that would pop on that pattern paper.

Loving that dark teal!  I hope you find some time to create today.

Debbie

Supplies Used - I've Been Thinking About You

Stamps and Dies:  Notes of Love Die, Two Part Hearts Stamp Set and Dies (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Party Dress, Glitz, Uptown (Catherine Pooler Ink);

Paper: Premium White Cardstock and Lotsa Love Paper Pack (Catherine Pooler Designs); White Glitter Paper (Close To My Heart);

Other: Rehoboth Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs); stamp packaging plastic for shaker element

Balloon Inspired

Years back I used to post a weekly "Kit Craft Wednesday" and I would create cards from kits in my possession.  I stopped the posts, and the kits continued to arrive!  I'm sure I have more kits now than when I started, so I should have kept the weekly posts going.  I have been trying to pull the kits down and use the items in my stash and this card was created using product from a monthly kit from The Stamps of Life - and the kit is only three years old.  I was inspired to use it when I saw the challenge at Daring Cardmakers this week. 

The chipboard balloons seemed perfect to pop over a few balloons in some of the paper.  I did pull in an additional die for my label. 

 

I used twine from my kit, and split out the white pants.  

 

I hope you find some time to create . . . today, tomorrow, the next day!  

 

Debbie

 

 

Supplies Used - Hope Your Day

Stamps and Dies:  labels4jars (The Stamps of Life);  Sentiment Stamp Set*

Ink & Embossing:  Midnight (Catherine Pooler Inks);

Paper:  Cardstock and Pattern Paper*

Other: Twine, Gingham Bow, and Chipboard Balloons*

 

* From The Stamps of Life January 2019 Card Kit

Summer Inspired!

I was inspired to create a summery card inspired by Just Add Ink's challenge this week.  A few items in this card just scream summer to me!  Beach bags, sun glasses, and tropical drinks can turn even a trip to my backyard patio into summer.  But the color yellow always manages to make me think of summer.

I colored my images using a blender pen and some Catherine Pooler inks.  I included sparkly Stickles on my lime and flower, some popped letters that are slightly tone on tone, but not quite.  And you can't see it, but the Liquid Glass on my sunglasses lenses gives them a realistic pop!

I hope you found some time to create today.  

Debbie

Supplies Used - Friend

Stamps and Dies:  Sweet Summer Stamp Set and Dies and Friend Mini Cover Die (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Party Dress, Tutti Frutti, Tiara, Lime Rickey, Over Coffee, Twilight, Midnight (Catherine Pooler Inks); Blender Pen (Tombow);

Paper: Premium White Cardstock and Limoncello Prints (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Other: Crater Lake Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs); Liquid Glass (Close To My Heart); Diamond Stickles (Ranger); Peachy Keen Heart Gems (Trinity Stamps)

S is for Skating and Shopping Our Stash

The prompt at Shopping Our Stash for the current challenge is "Something Beginning with the Letter S".  

I went with "Skating" as my word.  But I also "Stenciled" some "Snowflakes" using "Shaving" cream and inks to create my background.

Lots more S was included in this card from that "Stitched" pond to the "Sequins" added.  

I love playing with my stencils, reinkers and shaving cream to create these stenciled backgrounds. 

Cute little bunny couple!  

I hope you find some time to be creative today.  

Debbie

Supplies Used - Warm Winter Wishes

Stamps and Dies:  Bunny Slopes Stamp Set and Dies (Catherine Pooler Designs); Stitched Pond Frame Die (Lawn Fawn);

Ink & Embossing:  Skylight, Stone Blue, Rouge, Hot Tub, Juniper Mist and Midnight (Catherine Pooler Inks);  Copic Markers;

Paper: Solar White (Neenah); Pearlescent Vellum (Lawn Fawn); Sea Glass Cardstock (The Stamps of Life);

Other: Snowfall Stencil and Crater Lake Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs); Barbasol Shaving Cream; 

I'm Lucky . . . Allsorts of ways!

I love card with black and white and a pop of a color.  With my quest to participate more in challenges in 2022, I saw this one and had to play along. The Allsorts Challenge which had the prompt of "Black and White plus One".  

My "Plus One" is yellow and inspired by the friendliest flower.  The daisy (Meg Ryan - character in You've Got Mail) says that daisies are the friendliest flower. 

 So no joke, a friend gifted this stamp set to me.  She sent me a bag of stamps to use.  So these truly are the friendliest stamped flowers. 

Love this stamp!  Thank you to my friend.  

I hope you find some time . . . soon . . . to create.  

Debbie

Supplies Used - Friend

Stamps:  Friend and Floral Stamps (Dab a Little Clear Stamps); Crafty Friends (Altenew)

Ink: Versafine Black Onyx Ink; Versamark

Paper:  Banana and Licorice Cardstock (The Stamps of Life); scrap of pattern paper from my scrap bin; Solar White (Neenah)

Accessories:  Detail White Embossing Powder (Ranger); Yellow Glitter from Pebbles, Inc; Circle Punch (Fiskars)

So Happy - Make 2022 Sparkle

 The Paper Players had a theme challenge this week - Make 2022 Sparkle.  I grabbed cardstock, watercolor and glitter paper and got busy creating something sparkly (but not too sparkly).

So the biggest sparkle is the "so happy" sentiment using some glitter paper.  But I also incorporated some Nuvo Shimmer Powders into my background. 

Always hard to pick up on that awesome shimmer from the powders. I do love this color combination.  

And a sentiment like that says you are already making 2022 sparkle.  This card is for a friend celebrating some amazing life changes.

Happy New Year, indeed!  I hope you find some time to create today!  

Debbie

Supplies Used - So Happy

Stamps and Dies:  Though the Prism Stamp Set, So Happy Die (Catherine Pooler Designs); Many Messages Stamp Set (Stampin' Up);

Ink & Embossing:  Wow Embossing Pad and Melting Powder (Wow); Storm Cloud, Cherry Bomb, Blue Blitz and Lilac Waterfall Shimmer Powder (Nuvo); Black Jack (Catherine Pooler Inks);

Paper: White Daisy Cardstock (Close To My Heart); Black Cardstock (American Crafts); Watercolor Cardstock (Canson);

Other: Dazzling Diamonds Glitter and Resin Hearts (Stampin' Up);

Beverage of the Day

Coffee is typically my second beverage of the day (after water), and the aroma is my fave.  And so the prompt at Just Us Girls was right up my alley. 

I love nothing more than getting the shaving cream out, along with some brown inks, and preparing a coffee card.  For this one, I included some metallic paint. 

My sentiment is a bit off, because I drink my water first.  But does water count?  

I do love using a mix of stencils, shaving cream inks and paints when creating backgrounds.  For this one I used only a strip of my background (the best most colorful parts) as my border.  Adding acrylic paint to the mix gives some texture which you can feel but not really see.  

I added some sparkly to my lid and that little heart in the sleeve.  And a mini shaker in a cup!  What's not to love?

I hope you found some time to create today. 

Debbie

Supplies Used - But First Coffee

Stamps and Dies: Life Love Latte Stamp Set and Dies (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Icing on the Cake, Orange Peel, Oer Coffee (Catherine Pooler Inks);

Paper:  Premium White Cardstock (Catherine Pooler); Ginger Snap Cardstock (The Stamps of Life); Daisy White Cardstock (Close To My Heart);

Other: By the Beans Stencil (CAS-ual Fridays); Barbasol Shaving Cream; Irridecent Prio Gold Paint (Pebeo); Seattle Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs); Fiery Volcano Stone Drops (Nuvo);

Snow/Winter Card and Crafty Goals for 2022

And it is 2022!  How the heck did we get all the way here?  

Appropriate that my first challenge of 2022 would be "Use Your Stuff".  That is one of my goals for 2022 (to use my stuff).  I have a few crafty goals, and why not document them just to be clear, but first a card inspired by Use Your Stuff where the prompt was Snow/Winter . . . and so I used my stuff from last year.  

Bunnies on ski's . . . if that isn't snow time, I'm not sure what is.  I used lots of "stuff" for this card. 

Some fun watercolor images!  

And now for those creative goals!  I slipped off in creativity a lot in 2021, mostly due to a new job.  But my goals for 2022 is to create more . . . send more . . . participate more!  

Create More - as in really use my stuff.  When I get new stamps and dies, use them as soon as possible by at least stamping and die cutting images that are ready to color.  If it's a background die, cut a few to have on hand.  If it's a stencil, get inky as quick as possible to have some background pieces ready.  

Send More - I do a really bad job when it comes to sending my cards.  That will be another focus for 2022 - send more cards.  (I also have this goal of setting up an Etsy shop . . . which I started, but haven't finished, so maybe "Sell More" too!)

Participate More - I want to be sure to participate in more challenges in 2022.  I really slacked off this year, and I find the challenges keep me creating.  So my goal is to really focus on challenges. 

I hope you find some time to create today.  

Debbie 

Supplies Used - It's Snow Time

Stamps and Dies:  Sweater Weather Background Stamp and Bunny Slopes Stamp Set and Dies (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Midnight, Hot Tub and Juniper Mist (Catherine Pooler Inks); Elementary Midtones and Hair & Skin Tones Highlight Pigmented Watercolor Pencils (Nuvo);  Embossing Pad and White Embossing Powder (Wow);

Paper: Premium White Cardstock (Catherine Pooler); Watercolor Paper (Canson);

Other: Icicle Stickles (Ranger);