Flowers Everywhere for SOS

The Shopping Our Stash Weekly Challenge prompt was "Flowers, Flowers Everywhere".  

I created my background using a coordinating stencil and stamp from Hero Arts.   

Rather than use the full panel for this card, I decided to add some interest by breaking the card into quadrants and having a black panel.  I think it helped to really "pop" the design. 

 

This is a beautiful set and while I bought it as a kit, I've heard recently that the individual stamps, dies and stencil are available now.  

Don't miss your opportunities for creativity.   

Cheers!

Debbie

Supplies Used - Just a Little Note to Say You are Amazing

Hero Arts Monthly Kit - April 2022 - Stamps, Dies, Stencil, Inks, Enamel Dots (Hero Arts);

Additional Supplies:  Solar White Cardstock (Neenah), Black and White Cardstock (American Crafts); Jet Black Ink (Lawn Fawn); Ribbon (Stampin' Up);

Thanks a Melon

 "Blending In" was the creative prompt at Shopping Our Stash.  And blending in was the process for my card today.  I used supplies from Concord & 9th's Summer Camp, and chose the watermelon stencil to create my card.   

Blending for watermelon slices is absolutely the perfect way to color them, because watermelon has so much variation in shading.  So I really loved how these came out on my card.  

 

Admittedly, I struggled a bit with my seeds.  I used Art Alchemy Matte Wax in Charcoal Black, and when lifting the stencil there were some stray splatters and drag marks.  Grrrr!  It's more noticeable in the pictures than it is on the actual card.  

I hope you find some time to do some creative blending today.  

Cheers!

Debbie

Supplies Used - Thanks a Melon

Stamps and Dies:   Oh So Sweet Stamp Set, Die and Stencil (Concord & 9th);

Ink:  Midnight (Catherine Pooler Designs); Honeysuckle, Parsley and Sprout (Concord & 9th);

Paper: White Cardstock (Scrapbook & Cards Today); Honeysuckle Cardstock (Concord & 9th);

Other:  Charcoal Black Matte Wax (Art Alchemy); Clear Drops (Concord & 9th)

 

Gnome in the Garden

I was never a fan of gnomes, but for some reason when they started showing up in pattern papers, stamps and dies I began to fall in love with the many different designs out there.  When Shopping Our Stash had gnomes as the inspiration this week, I pulled out one of my favorite sets.  

These little gnomes found some time to get out in the garden on a nice cloudy day. 

I love using the stuff in my stash and hope you can use some of your stash today.  

Debbie

Supplies Used - Just a Note w/Gnomes

Stamps and Dies:  Gardeners Greetings Stamp Set and Dies, Grass Border Die and April Showers Dies (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Tuxedo Black (Memento); Copic Markers; Black Jack and Aquatini (Catherine Pooler Inks); Izink Titanium Pigment; 

Paper: Solar White (Neenah); Wheatgrass (American Crafts); 

Other: Cloud Stencil (My Favorite Things);  Diamond Stickles (Ranger);

Back into the Challenge Game!

With so many crafty events, I seemed to have taken a step back from my blog, from challenges and from creating my own things.  I was getting off my challenge/crafty game, was ignoring my blog and I realized I needed to jump start myself back into the routine.  

The last few days I decided to focus on some upcoming challenges, and first up is one of my favorites, Shopping Our Stash. How appropriate, because while I wasn't creating, I was sure buying!  With every class I signed up for, my stash just kept growing.  

And so "the power of pastels" is the current challenge, and I pulled a few pastel colors out and worked on this creation.  

While I didn't fully stick with pastels, the fact that I was using blending brushes and stencils to add color will make most colors look pastel if you don't use a heavy hand. 

  

Such a fun card to create.  

I hope you find some time to create today.  

Debbie

Supplies Used - Let Whatever You Do Today . . .

Stamps and Dies:  Darling Dahlias and Floral Bunch Stamp Sets with Mini Slimline Essentials Bundle Dies (Pinkfresh Studio);

Ink & Embossing:  It's a Girl, Coral Cabana, Uptown, Lime Rickey and Garden Party (Catherine Pooler Inks); Jet Black (Lawn Fawn);

Paper:  Distress White Heavystock (Ranger); Accent Opaque Cardstock; Black Cardstock (American Crafts);

Other:  Darling Dahlias Stencil (Pinkfresh Studio); Something New Embellishment Mix (Trinity Stamps);

 

 

Veggies for Shopping Our Stash

Couldn't resist the urge to make a veggie card for Shopping Our Stash. I included the gardeners of the vegetables; credit where credit is due to them for their hard work.  

I love the view of the veggies growing under the dirt!  A little spring greeting for someone soon. 

I hope you find some time to use your stash!  

Debbie

Supplies Used - Spring Greetings

Stamps and Dies:  Gardeners Greetings Stamp Set and Dies, Grass Border Die and April Showers Stamp Set and Dies (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Tuxedo Black (Memento); Copic Markers; Midnight and Aquatini (Catherine Pooler Inks); Izink Titanium Pigment; 

Paper: Solar White (Neenah); Aquatini Prints (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Other: Crater Lake Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs); Cloud Stencil (My Favorite Things); 

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);

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; 

Merry Christmas - Gnome Shaker

I have a few gnome stamps, but decided to go holidays for this one.  This card was inspired by Shopping Our Stash.  And not just one gnome . . . but three.  Two are posing as elves.  One is posing as an elf in a tree costume?  

I decided to angle them and pop them into a shaker as if they are all trying to give silly greetings.  

 

I hope you find some time to create.  

Debbie

Supplies Used - Merry Christmas Shaker

Stamps and Dies:  Gnome for the Holidays Stamp Set (Simon Says Stamp); Picture Frame Dies (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Midnight (Catherine Pooler Ink); Copic Markers;

Paper: Kringle & Co. Pattern Paper (Photoplay); Schoolhouse Red Cardstock (Simon Says Stamp); Midnight Cardstock (Catherine Pooler); Solar White (Neenah);

Other: Acetate (Newton's Nook); Merry Confetti Mix (Pretty Pink Posh); Very Cherry Sprinkletz (Buttons Galore & More);

It's All About Family for SOS Challenge

This card is my attempt at "it's all about family" which was the prompt at Shopping Our Stash Weekly Challenge Blog.  

I had to do a Christmas card because this stamp just screamed family to me.  It made me think of Christmas when my girls were little and the enjoyment we had from watching them open gifts. 

My background piece was stenciled, and I used Copic Markers in varying colors/shades to color my images.  

Using stuff I have!  I hope you find some time to use up your stash.  

Debbie

Supplies Used - Merry Christmas

Stamps and Dies:  Newton's Christmas Kittens (Newton's Nook)

Ink & Embossing:  Midnight and Hot Tub (Catherine Pooler Inks); Copic Markers

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

Other:  Pop Art Stencil (Catherine Pooler Designs); Celebrity Confetti Mix (Pretty Pink Posh); Cincinnati Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Black and White and Red all Over?

The prompt at Shopping Our Stash was "What's Black and White and Red All Over?"  

The mere question takes me back to jokes as a child, but I just went with the creative piece here to create a piece with that color combination . . . 

I did add some silver for my bumper!  But for the most part, I stuck with the color combination.  I love this set from The Stamps of Life, and wanted to create a holiday shaker. 

Maybe not a ton of black . . . but check out my shiny tires.  

I hope you find some time to create today.  

Debbie

Supplies Used - Holiday Shaker

Supplies from The Stamps of Life December 2018 Card Kit:  Cardstock, Pattern Paper, Twine, and Glitter Foam Hearts

Other Supplies:   icecreamtruck2stamp Stamps and Dies, Licorice Ink (The Stamps of Life), Black Pigment Ink (Ranger), Versamark, Ranger Silver Embossing Powder, Rockin' Red (Catherine Pooler), Gold Coast Glitter Drops (Nuvo), Confetti Stars (Pretty Pink Posh), acetate sheet (The Stamps of Life)

Getting Messy for SOS - Trick or Treat

I definitely got messy for this Shopping Our Stash challenge.  I felt the pain, as my work area is not near the sink . . . so there was a bit of back and forth to the kitchen between the watercolor and the glitter gel/stencil.

My background piece was watercolor, but I also used watercolor paper for that focal image and did some fill-in coloring of  some images.  I used the Gina K Wreath Builder stencil to great the image. 

Love the shimmer of the Glass Bead Glitter from Faber-Castell.  

Messy is always fun!  I hope you find some time to get messy with your stash. 

Stamps and Dies:   Everything But the Broom Stamp Set (Catherine Pooler Designs)

Ink & Embossing:  Midnight, Flirty Fuschia, Grass Skirt, Tiki Torch, Tiara (Catherine Pooler Inks); Paper: Solar White (Neenah); Gumball Green (Stampin' Up); Canson Watercolor Paper

Other: Square Dance Stencil (Catherine Pooler Designs); Spooky Days Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh); Wreath Builder Stencil (Gina K Designs); Glass Bead Glitter Gel (Faber-Castell);

You're So Sweet for SOS

Created a mini shaker on my card for the Shopping Our Stash challenge, which had the prompt of "You're So Sweet." 

I used some daisy paper from my stash.  Love daisies.  Meg Ryan's character in You've Got Mail thinks they are "the friendliest flower".  I kind of have to agree with "Kathleen Kelly" on that one. 

The shaker is where my "sweet" sentiment would land.  

And behind the shutters is my sweet cupcake holding critter.  The cupcake papers were paper pieced and I used a blender pen to color my critter, frosting and candles.

I hope you have a chance to be creative this week.

Debbie

Supplies Used - You're Sweet Shutter Shaker

Stamps and Dies:  Scallop Hearts Die, Decorative Tag 2 Dies, Floral Hearts Stamp Set. Cupcake Critters Stamp Set and Pinata Party Stamp Set (Pretty Pink Posh)

Ink:  Midnight, Limoncello, Be, Mine, Icing on the Cake (Catherine Pooler Inks);

Paper:  White Daisy Cardstock (Close To My Heart); Free Spirit Pattern Paper (Little Yellow Bicycle);

Other:  Sparkling Clear Sequins, Watermelon, Sparking Clear and Lemon Drop Jewels (Pretty Pink Posh);

Mommy-to-Bee for SOS

Created a card for my friend, a mommy-to-be, and I used an old kit in my stash!  Just had to enter it in this weeks Shopping Our Stash. 

 I colored my bees using a blender pend and some inks.  And I created my card on pattern paper.  Love that heart heart shaped stitched bee trail.  I love how the mommy bee is holding her belly anticipating what is to come. 

Creating in Covid helps to pass the time!  I hope you find some time to create. 

Debbie

Supplies Used - Mommy to Bee

Stamps and Dies:  Bee Yourself Stamp Set and Hexagon Die (Simon Says Stamp)

Ink & Embossing:  Midnight and Tiara Ink (Catherine Pooler); Black Shimmer Pen (Close To My Heart); Wink of Stella; Blender Pen (Marvy);

Paper:  White Daisy (Close To My Heart); The Bees Knees Pattern Paper (Honey Bee Stamp); Black Cardstock (American Crafts);

Other: Black Sequins (Simon Says Stamp)

Brrrr-day Card for SOS Winter Blues

The challenge at Shopping Our Stash is "Winter Blues".  So I created a winter brrrr-day card. 

Pattern paper, a great die and sentiment, some sparkly and some sequins. 

I hope you find some time to create today. 

Debbie

Supplies Used - Well Hey There

Stamps and Dies:  Well Hey There Hexagon Die and Chillin' Snowflakes Stamp Set (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Hot Tub (Catherine Pooler)

Paper: Premium White Cardstock and Feeling Chilly Pattern Paper (Catherine Pooler Designs)

Other:  Diamond Stickles (Ranger); Cincinnati Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs)

Hallloween Card for Shopping our Stash

It was quite a few months ago when I started this wreath builder piece, and with Shopping Our Stash's Halloween prompt, I revisited it today and added additional elements before turning it into a card.  I used the Gina K Wreath Builder stencil.  (And the hardest part of revisiting this was finding the stencil!)

My witches hats were waiting for me to add some surrounding color . . . which I did with stars and 31's.  And I dropped some color onto those witch's hats.  

A little late for Halloween this year . . . but prepared to send next year.  

Supplies Used - Happy Halloween

Stamps and Dies:  Everything But the Broom Stamp Set (Catherine Pooler Designs); 

Ink & Embossing:  Midnight, Grass Skirt, Tiki Torch, Flirty Fuchsia (Catherine Pooler Inks); Versamark and White Embossing Powder (Wow);

Paper:  Orange Peel Cardstock (Bazzill); Watercolor Paper (Canson); Midnight Cardstock (Catherine Pooler); pattern paper from scrap stash; 

Other:  Wreath Builder Stencil (Gina K. Designs) 

Merry & Bright Greetings for Shopping Our Stash

I was inspired to create a Christmas card using my stash of items from leftover holiday kits.  My thanks to Shopping Our Stash for the inspiration to really use stuff in my craft room. 

For this one, I used sentiments that were on a 6 x 6 piece of pattern paper, and lined them up in different lengths and widths for added interested. 

 

This kit was from Simon Says Stamp "back in the day" so it was fun to revisit.  Still plenty of pattern papers to be used.  

I used the overall stamped sentiment of "Merry & Bright Greetings" in the upper corner that sums it all up. 

I hope you find some time to create . . . and to shop your own stash.  

Cheers.

Debbie

Supplies Used - Merry & Bright

Stamps and Dies:  Merry & Bright (Simon Says Stamp); Circle Die (Sizzix)

Ink & Embossing:  Versamark; White Embossing Powder (Hero Arts)

Paper: Cardstock (Simon Says Stamp), Pattern Paper (Doodlebug)

Other: Berry Bright Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh)

Punny Card for Shopping Our Stash

Created a punny card for the challenge at Shopping Our Stash.  I pulled from a Simon Says Stamp card kit, so this one doesn't match my current weather here. 

 Did a bit of doodling on the edge of the card base which is a bit out of my comfort zone. 

I hope you find some time to create today! 

Supplies Used - Snow One Like You

Stamps and Dies:  Snow Much Stamp Set (Simon Says Stamp);

Ink & Embossing:  Midnight and Orange Twist (Catherine Pooler); Blender Pen (Zig);

Paper: Celebrate Winter (Echo Park); Island Blue and White Cardstock (Simon Says Stamp);

Other: Glossy Accents (Ranger)

Cupcake Truck Birthday Card

Sharing a cupcake card for Shopping Our Stash.  I have been in love with this little truck and made a cupcake truck.  I used dies to make my truck and did some embossing of some pieces to give a metal look. 

My cupcakes are puffy stickers that were in a kit that I received.  And the awning of the truck was some pattern paper.

I hope you find some time to create today! 

Debbie

Supplies Used - Happy Birthday Cupcake Truck

Supplies from The Stamps of Life December 2018 Card Kit:  Cardstock, Pattern Paper, puffy stickers, ribbon and glitter foam heart

Other Supplies:   icecreamtruck2stamp Stamps and Dies, Licorice Ink (The Stamps of Life), Versamark, Wow Melting Powder, Silver Embossing Powder (Ranger), Gold Coast Glitter Drops (Nuvo);

Happy Birthday, Dude!

Inspired the "Happy Birthday Dude" prompt at Shopping Our Stash, I created a masculine card from a card kit that is my go to for masculine cards.  The stamps, dies and paper just lend themselves to cards for guys.

I love creating metal objects from a die cut using metallic embossing powder.  My shiny metal sailboat started as just white paper.  

And yes . . . ribbon isn't masculine, but the right color and how it's used makes a difference for sure. 

Go create!  :) 

Supplies Used - Happy Birthday

Stamps and Dies:  Sailboat2Stamp and Sailboat Dies (The Stamps of Life)

Ink & Embossing:  Versamark; Silver Embossing Powder (Ranger); Midnight (Catherine Pooler)

Paper:  Cardstock and Pattern Paper from The Stamps of Life February 2018 Card Kit

Other: Ribbon and Epoxy Star Stickers (The Stamps of Life February 2018 Card Kit); Silver Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh);

House Mouse LOVE

Shopping our Stash has a challenge out there that is all about "crazy for coloring".   I am crazy for coloring . . . but most of my coloring (90%) is with House Mouse images.  I am obsessed with them. 

How obsessed?

A friend and I buy and collect stamps all year . . . talking and comparing notes, praying we will not double-buy.

Once a year, we get together, bring our stamps . . . we stamp onto watercolor paper with Versafine, emboss with clear embossing powder, and we do about three images for each of us . . . or is it two.  I don't know, but my collection of images to color just grows and grows.  We have a scheduled date coming up to stamp away . . . just one week from Thanksgiving!  We also have containers with pre-stamped images stored . . . and ready to color.

So I pulled one for this challenge.  

This time around I colored using distress inks . . . sometimes I use watercolors or water color markers.  I like to switch it up.  What you can't see in the photo is the shimmer . . . I ran over those flowers with a shimmer liquid. 

So yep . . . I'm crazy, and crazy for coloring. 

Supplies Used - You Inspire Me

Stamps:  Label Love (Altenew); Painted Pansies House Mouse (Stampendous)

Ink: Versafine Black Onyx; Distress Inks for Watercolor (Ranger); Black (Hero Arts); Clear Embossing Powder (Ranger);

Paper:  Tangerine Tango (Stampin' Up); Solar White (Neenah); Canson Watercolor;

Accessories:  Spectrum Noir Clear Overlay