Thinking of You Card for Sweet Stampin' Challenge

 I had a lot of fun stamping this card. The embossed panel had been on my desk for quite some time, so I used that to choose colors for my color palette. I was also inspired to create a card that is "anything but a birthday card", inspired by Sweet Stampin' Challenge. 

I got a great match for that embossed panel. I really love the tones of these Spa inks from Catherine Pooler. 

Love some ink, some stamps, and some dies. They always make for a great time.

Cheers!

Debbie

Stamps and Dies:  Towering Blooms Stamp Set and Dies and Through the Prism Stamp Set (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Crushed Violet, Lilac, Matcha, Sage and Spruce (Catherine Pooler Inks);   Embossing Pad and Sugared Almond Embossing Glitter (Wow);

Paper:  Premium White Cardstock (Catherine Pooler Designs); Black Cardstock (American Crafts);

Other: Crater Lake Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Just Bee-cause Card

I've had such a creative week and weekend playing along with challenges. My card today was inspired by TGIF Challenges. 

I dug into the archive for this one. The inspiration at TGIF was to pop-up some items, and I went with the honeycomb. I used some Nuvo drops on the popped honeycomb and the sentiment. 

I love how the glasses turned out on this little guy. He looks so very smart!

I'm hoping I can keep my creative streak going.

Cheers!

Debbie

Supplies Used - Just Bee-cause Honeycomb

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

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

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

Other: Black Sequins (Simon Says Stamp); Morning Dew Clear Drops and Gold Luxe Dream Drops (Nuvo);

Taking the Positive with the Negative - Take 8

Another Positive/Negative card . . . this one using the negative image of a stencil.

I love that Inspirational's word prompt was perfect for my messy desk. I had quite the creative weekend, and one thing that I have an abundance of after is leftovers.

I don't know about anyone else, but I have a hard time giving up the ink that's on my stencils. I'll usually try to create a watercolor background that will be hit or miss and could end up int he garbage. A couple days ago I created the background for this card, then created a watercolor piece using the stencil. So this is the negative image of the stencil in watercolor.  

I love the subtle background; my one wish is that I had stamped off the dots in the stamp set. I did try to keep colors grouped together on this piece. 

And a bold sentiment . . . 

Cheers to creating with leftovers.

Debbie

Supplies Used - Hello Friend

Stamps and Dies:  Hello Daisy Stamp Set and Dies and Paper Confetti Layered Stencil (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Samba, It's a Girl, Tiki Torch, Limoncello, Grass Skirt and Something Borrowed (Catherine Pooler Inks);

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

Distress Watercolor Cardstock (Ranger);

Other: Mount Pearl Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Holiday Card in June - Inspired by Just Add Ink's Palette

Created a card today using the inspiration from Just Add Ink. 

The thin design of these nutcrackers had me leaning toward this pop-up card design. 

This particular card fits into an A2 envelope, but it packs some punch with fun fold providing a bit more surface space for the card. 

I went with a Christmas theme today, as I had an idea for a card using this palette. This one has a monochromatic feel to it.  

Nothing like some inky times. 

Debbie

Supplies Used - Wonder & Joy

Stamps and Dies:  Christmas Glory Cover Plate Die, Nutcracker Sweet Stamp Set and Dies (Catherine Pooler Designs); Sentiment Strip Dies (Pretty Pink Posh);

Ink & Embossing:  Dress Blue (Catherine Pooler Ink); Jet Black Ink (Lawn Fawn); Copic Markers;

Paper: White Cardstock (Scrapbook and Cards Today); Winter Lake Cardstock (My Colors);

Other: Silver Smooth Disc (Spellbinders); Clear Star Gelly Roll Pen (Sakura); 

Stenciling for Just Us Girls

There is something magical about the stencil reveal, so I had to play along with the Just Us Girls challenge this week. 

Some basic primary colors and for added interest I created a panel in the panel and popped the inner piece for some added interest.

I used the same inks to color my dies, so we get all the matchy match! 

Hello, in color.

Get colorful, yourself.

Debbie

Supplies Used - HelloStamps and Dies:  Hello Daisy Stamp Set and Dies and Paper Confetti Layered Stencil (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Samba, It's a Girl, Tiki Torch, Limoncello, Grass Skirt and Something Borrowed (Catherine Pooler Inks);

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

Other: Mount Pearl Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs); 

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Stenciling a Thank You Card for Make My Monday

 In my efforts to get back in the swing of posting, I created a card today inspired by the "Stencil" prompt at Make My Monday. 

I decided to use this awesome weave stencil from Catherine Pooler Designs and create a pretty simple card with a bold sentiment.

I love this summery palette, and the stencil is a fun one that really covers a background. 

I hope you have a chance to get all inky! 

Debbie

Supplies Used - Thanks, What You Did Was Just the Best

Stamps and Dies:  Thanks a Bunch Stamp Set and Dies and Funky Weave Layered Stencil (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Midnight, Lime Rickey, Tiki Torch and Do-Si-Do (Catherine Pooler Ink);

Paper: Premium White Cardstock (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Other: St. Tropez Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Summer Feathery Critters for Little Red Wagon

I've been trying to keep the creativity flowing, and today was inspired to use up some scraps from a scrapbook page to create a card using the inspiration from Little Red Wagon . . . feather, fur and fin. 

So I wasn't fully sure if penguins did have feathers, and I thought they may even have fins. But I got to the bottom of it and can confirm they do have feathers, a condensed and thick version of feathers. They do not have fins . . . but they do have wings that are tapered like flippers. 

I added some dimenstion to the page by folding down the double-sided pattern paper and dropping my sun there. 

Regardless of the feathers and flippers, how about some penguins enjoying lemonade and ice cream on a hot summer day. 

 I incorporated some stickers with some stamped and colored penguins enjoying some summer treats. Love these Pink & Main stamps. 

I hope you are enjoying some summer treats!

Debbie

Supplies Used - Savoring the Sweetness of the Season

Stamps and Dies:  Infinity Circle Dies (Hero Arts); Summer Penguins (Pink & Main);

Ink & Embossing: Jet Black (Lawn Fawn); Copic Markers

Paper: White Cardstock (Scrapbook & Cards Today); Sunny Days Ahead Pattern Paper (Echo Park); Gingersnap Cardstock (The Stamps of Life);

Other: Stardust Stickles (Ranger); 

Snowman Themed Card for Christmas Card Throwdown

 Oh my goodness . . . where have I been? It's been almost five months since I posted anything. The facts:

Work has been chaos and my brain has been too fried to organize myself to do challenges and post.

I'm still creating, and sometimes use the challenges for inspiration, but I've not been posting/entering.

I'm certainly still buying all the stuff!

But today I decided to create a card for a challenge, and I chose Christmas Card Throwdown. 

I created my cards using a number of different supplies that were within reach. 

I used stamps and dies from Lawn Fawn, along with some other supplies leftover from a kit I had done. I love the monochromatic background on this card. And come on! Penguins making a snowman in their own likeness? Genius.

I hope you found some time to get creative today! 

Debbie

Supplies Used - Stay Fa La La . . . For the Holidays

Stamps and Dies: Cross-stitched Rectangle Stack Die (My Favorite Things); Snow Cool Stamp Set and Dies and Fa La La La La Scripty Border Die (Lawn Fawn);

Ink & Embossing: Jet Black (Lawn Fawn); Copic Markers; Aquatini and Midnight (Catherine Pooler Inks);

Paper: White Cardstock (Scrapbook & Cards Today); Atlantic Shore Cardstock (My Colors); White Glitter Cardstock (Close To My Heart);

Other: Sparkling Clear Confetti (Pretty Pink Posh); Dyllusions Stickles (Ranger);

Lots of Heart for Lawn Fawnatics

Inspiration for today's card came from the fun and whimsy at the Lawn Fawnatics Challenge. "Lots of Heart" was the theme of the challenge, so I brought in lots of hearts in the form of some washi tape.

I created a background using two different washi tapes and some rectangle dies. I let that background show through my vellum heart where my focal images are displayed.

While it's a busy background, it works. I had so much fun creating this card.

Please have some fun today as you create!

Debbie

Supplies Used - Happy Valentine's Day

Stamps and Dies: Lacy Rectangle Stackables, Outside In Stitched Rectangle, I Heart Pandas Regular and Add-on Stamps and Dies, Stitched Happy Heart Die, Everyday Sentiment Banners (Lawn Fawn);

Ink & Embossing: Jet Black (Lawn Fawn); Copic Markers, Black Onyx Ink (Versafine);

Paper: White Cardstock (Scrapbook & Cards Today); Vellum (Spellbinders); Pint-sized Pattern Paper Summertime (Lawn Fawn);

Other: Pink Gingham and Conversation Hearts Washi Tape, Turquoise Lawn Trimmings (Lawn Fawn); Sparkling Clear Confetti (Pretty Pink Posh);

Friendy Flip Card (is "friendy" a word?)

Some blues were the inspiration for my card today, and specifically the inspiration from Inkspirational.

I had a card kit that had a pattern that came right to mind.

I do go a bit from the blue to a bit of blue violet, but tried to keep my elements all in blue!

And I do love this inside sentiment! I want to sing it to a particular tune. 

Lots of Pink & Main supplies for this card. 

Get creative!

Debbie

Supplies Used - Hello My Sweet Friend Flip Card

Stamps and Dies: Circle Flip Card Die and Hello Sentiments (Pink & Main); Everyday Sentiments Banner (Lawn Fawn);

Ink & Embossing: Mardis Gras, Fiesta Blue, Suede Shoes,  and Serenade (Catherine Pooler Inks);

Paper: White Cardstock, Watercolor Pattern Paper and Specialty Paper (Pink & Main); White Glitter Cardstock (Close To My Heart);

Other: Exclusive Confetti Mix  (Pink & Main); Frostbite Astro Base (Ranger Simon Hurley);

Meow!

The inspiration photo at the Newton's Nook Inky Paws Challenge made me super hungry. Well, maybe not hungry, but wanting to get some cookies to stock up on for Valentine's Day. I love a good frosted sugar cookie.

Here is my card . . . 

And here is the inspiration . . . 

I used that heart shape and the colors to create my card today. I created my own background with ink blending, stamping and some glittery die cut images. 

What's not to love about a card inspired by cookies? 

Debbie

Supplies Used - Meow

Stamps and Dies:  Heart Frames Dies, Newton's Antics Stamps, and Woof Pack Dies (Newton's Nook);

Ink & Embossing: Rockin' Red, Cotton Candy, Pixie Dust (Catherine Pooler Inks); Jet Black (Lawn Fawn); Copic Markers

Paper: White Cardstock (Scrapbook & Cards Today); Black Glitter Cardstock (Spellbinders); various scraps of glitter cardstock from my scrap stash

It's Snow Time

My card today was inspired by Just Add Ink. The prompt was to:

Snow and a skiing bunny . . . that's certainly seasonal!

I stamped tone on tone on my card base. My torn, snowflake background was created using some shaving cream and reinkers, along with some metallic paint. I do love this technique, but it's a bit messy. Winter is messy too! 

My skiing bunny was a watercolor image from Catherine Pooler Designs.

I hope you find some time to get messy and inky!

Debbie

Supplies Used - It's Snow Time

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

Ink & Embossing:  Midnight, Mint To Be, Melon Ice, It's a Boy (Catherine Pooler Inks); Elementary Midtones and Hair & Skin Tones Highlight Pigmented Watercolor Pencils (Nuvo); 

Paper: Coastal Cabana Cardstock (Stampin' Up); Premium White Cardstock (Catherine Pooler); Watercolor Paper (Canson);

Other: Snowflake Stencil (Pretty Pink Posh); St. Cloud  Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs);  

Happy Everything

Monochromatic cards are a favorite of mine. The color combination at Color Dare hooked me right in, and I got inky quick. 

For this card, to get some shades in, I used white pigment ink. I love the results here. It allowed me to get several shades.

For this card, to get some shades in, I used white pigment ink. I love the results here. It allowed me to get several shades. The depth of the embossing folder contributed to the contrast.

Try your hand at something monochromatic. Never a disappointment.

Debbie

Supplies Used  - Happy Everything

Stamps and Dies: All Together Happy Occasion Stamps and Dies, Bits and Blooms Stamps and Dies (Taylored Expressions);

Ink & Embossing:  Coral Cabana (Catherine Pooler Ink); Versafine Black Onyx Ink, Clear Gloss Embossing Powder (Wow); Yeti Ink (Lawn Fawn);

Paper: White Cardstock (Scrapbook & Cards Today); Cantalope Cardstock (The Stamps of Life);

Other: Fluttering Friends 3D Embossing Folder (Taylored Expressions); Gems (Spellbinders);

Christmas in January - Season's Greetings!

Making a Christmas card in January? Not sure what I was thinking, except that I was inspired by the challenge at Time Out Challenges. 

Not a shaker card, but it gives that appearance.

What's not to love about a little sparkle.

Hope your day sparkles!

Debbie

Supplies Used  - Seasons Greetings

Stamps and Dies:  Tree Pattern Cover Plate Die and Holiday Season Messages Stamp and Die Set (Hero Arts);

Ink & Embossing:  Versafine Black Onyx Ink; Clear Gloss Regular Embossing Powder (Wow);

Paper: Premium White Cardstock (Catherine Pooler Designs); Gold Glitter Cardstock (Close To My Heart);

Other: Sequin Mix (Concord & 9th); 

Missing You

My card today was inspired by the sketch at TGIF Challenges. 

I pulled this Concord & 9th set from one of the Scrapbook & Cards today sets. Some about white and kraft makes me happy. And then add the splash of color in the flower centers. 

I hope you find some time to gt sketchy!

Debbie

Supplies Used - Missing You

Stamps and Dies:  Seaside Postage Stamp Set and Die (Concord & 9th);

Ink & Embossing:  Embossing Powder and Opaque Bright White Superfine Embossing Powder (Wow);

Paper: Ginger Snap Cardstock (The Stamps of Life); Pattern Paper Scrap from my stash; Blueberry, Buttercup, Parsely, Harbor, Spliced Cider Cardstock (Concord & 9th); White Daisy (Close To My Heart);

Other:  Oak City Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Encouraging Cards

Today's card is an encouragement theme, inspired by the prompt at Just Us Girls.

I pulled out some old supplies from a Simon Says Stamp kit (purging the boxes in the new year) and on of my favorite sets for encouraging sentiments from Catherine Pooler Designs. I couldn't stop at one, of course, because my goal was to empty the box of cardstock and pattern paper. I have three cards today, all of them centered around encouragement and using the sentiments as the focal points, stamping on pattern papers. 

I used similar layouts on these cards, merely swapping out the patterns, colors, sentiments and stamps. 

Love a good stripe as a border, so for this one used the black and white "words" pattern with the colorful rainbow pattern above that. 

This second one is my favorite, I think because of the bright yellow background. I'm also a fan of those hexagons that were stamped on the background.

And then this final one is basically a portrait flip of the first one. Instead of rainbow colors across, we have them running down the card. 

All super easy and fun cards inspired by encouragement sentiments. And I have an empty box out of my craft room. But the big question . . . did I free up space or just make room more new stuff. 

I'll never tell.

I hope you find some time to create some encouragement today.

Debbie

Stamps and Dies:  Fearless Pursuit Stamp Set (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Midnight (Catherine Pooler Inks);

Paper: Cardstock (Simon Says Stamp); "Believe" Collection (Bo Bunny);

Other: Charcoal Sequins and Marigold Jewels (Pretty Pink Posh); 

New Year and New Goals!

Happy New Year!

When I saw the challenge at AAA Cards Challenge, I was inspired to create. New Year's is all about clean slates and new goals, and a white on white card is a clean slate!

So first my card . . . because the card will be far easier than any new goals or resolutions. There is something magical about a white on white card. For me, it was all about the dimension, and this stamp set gave me everything I needed for dimension. 

A solid flat flower anchored to the base, and then an open flower offset so the petals float and provide all that great dimension. Some clear confetti, a layered whit sentiment. 

The goals and resolutions? Easy to make, but harder to follow through on for an entire year. But I'll still try, and I'm going to keep it to crafty goals.

This past year I created just over 350 cards. Some were classes that I took, but most were my own creations. I am going to guess that I mailed about 20% of that number, donated around 10% for someone looking for Get Well Cards for a project, and I have a stash that is just sitting. 

My goals for this year:

• Continue to track the cards I create and log in a journal.
• Continue to create cards based on amazing prompts and inspiration on the blog posts, such as this one. However, I need to up my game and follow through to post and actually enter the challenges. My goal is to try to enter at least one a week!
• Mail more cards and/or donate more cards to friends and family to share handmade kindness.
• Make more interactive or fun fold cards.
• Buy less new products and use the items I have. 

And the big goal . . . offer myself grace when I don't meet these crafty goals, because I likely won't. 

White card . . . clean slate . . . new goals. 

Now to create.

Debbie

Supplies Used  - Hello - White

Stamps and Dies:  Hello Blooms Dies (Scrapbook.com)

Paper: White Cardstock (Scrapbook & Cards Today);

Other: Sparkling Clear Confetti (Pretty Pink Posh);