Just Add Party Fun!

The Just Add Ink challenge this week was to . . . 

I created a bit of a party on a card with some critters.

I created my background using slimline cover die and gave the illusion of grass and sky. My pieces were all colored using my Copic markers. 

It's hard to see the sparkle of the glaze pen on the ties of the banner. It added a really nice shimmer.

Adorable critters, and I hope they are enjoying their fun celebration.  

Cheers!

Debbie

Supplies Used - Happy Birthday Slim Line

Stamps and Dies:  Candy Cane Lane Slim Line Cover Plate Die, Party Animals Stamp Set and Dies and Oh, Confetti Stamp Set and Dies (Catherine Pooler Designs);

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

Paper: Premium White Cardstock (Catherine Pooler Designs); 

Other: Crater Lake Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs); Black Gloss, Stardust, Clear Glaze and White Gel Pen (Sakura);  

Woof! Bark!

When I saw the challenge at Little Red Wagon, I had quite the dilemma. The prompt was "Something You Love."

Tough decision . . . family? Friends? An emotion, feeling? My crafty supplies? Coffee? Pizza?

So I went with a card that depicts at least the family and emotion, and my beloved pets (who are family). 

My patio in my backyard is where I sit to watch the shenanigans between my three pups. They aren't big dogs, but they have big hearts and love to chase each other and romp and make noise. While I lounge in an adirondack chair, I watch them do all of the fun stuff. They make me smile. 

My grass is a knotted ribbon. My sky is a stenciled background. 

I hope you have something that makes you smile.

Debbie

Supplies Used -Bark

Stamps and Dies:  Watch This Stamp Set and Dies (Colorado Craft Company)

Ink & Embossing:  Tuxedo Black Ink (Memento); Various Copic Markers; Aquatini (Catherine Pooler Inks);

Paper: White Daisy Cardstock (Close To My Heart); Rocky Road Cardstock (American Crafts); Scrap of Pattern Paper from Stash;

Other: Woof Stencil (Newton's Nook); Green Ribbon (The Stamps of Life);

Ice Cream Is . . .

Created an ice cream themed card for Make My Monday Challenge. 

I have been digging through my stash of paper packs and stamps. I love the color combination of this paper. I felt as though a good mint chocolate chip ice cream was the perfect match.

And here I sit, with no ice cream in the refrigerator.

I hope you find some time to create (and shop for ice cream).

Debbie

Supplies Used - Ice Cream is Happiness Condensed

Stamps and Dies:  I Scream You Scream Stamp Set, Sprinkles Mini Die, and 3 Scoops Stamp Set and Dies (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Midnight, Icing on the Cake and Sand Castle (Catherine Pooler); Wink of Stella Shimmer Pen;

Paper:  White Daisy Cardstock (Close To My Heart); Sum-Sum-Summertime Pattern Paper (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Other: Sparkling Clear Jewels (Pretty Pink Posh); 

Lawn Fawn Fun With Food

I decided to play along with Lawn Fawnatics "Fun With Food" challenge. I have many, many food dies, but decided I wanted to go with all the colors of the rainbow. So I created a rainbow card base with cereal in each of the rainbow colors served in rainbow striped bowls. 

Who would not want these bowls and this cereal? Isn't it great that we can create whatever we want using paper and ink? Cerealsly awesome. 

Create whatever makes you happy! 

Cheers,

Debbie

Supplies Used - I Think You're Awesome (No, Cerealsy)

Stamps and Dies:  Small Slimline Stackables Dies and Cerealsy Awesome Stamp Set and Dies (Lawn Fawn);

Ink & Embossing:  Flirty Fuchsia, All That Jazz, Lime Rickey, Limoncello, Orange Twist, Be Mine (Catherine Pooler Inks); Aquashimmer Glitter Gloss (Nuvo); Black Wink of Stella; Jet Black Ink (Lawn Fawn); Copic Markers;

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

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

Big Thanks - Masculine

Masculine cards are the assignment at Alphabet Challenge Blog. I find I struggle with masculine cards, likely because I'm drawn to the bright rainbow hues. Although, what guy doesn't like a rainbow?

For my card today, I decided to try to stick to true masculine, and I found myself drawn to a not-so-cute pattern paper from an old Halloween paper pack. 

This was a Halloween pack from Authentique. The patterns were just perfect for masculine. In fact, any of these would make a great tie (just saying). 

The lettering from Catherine Pooler Designs also is great for a masculine card. 

Kept it simple . . . hope you find a way to keep it simple.

Cheers!

Debbie

Supplies Used - Big Thanks

Stamps and Dies:  Big Thanks Stamp Set (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Midnight (Catherine Pooler Inks);

Paper:  White Cardstock (Park Lane Paperie); Black Cardstock (American Crafts); Pattern Paper (Authentique);

Other:  Cats and Bats Dots (Close To My Heart);

Blooms in Vases Inspired by Just Add Ink

Crushing the challenges this week after taking some time off from my day job. Following on yesterday's card using some Stampin' Up product from the past, I decided to create another card using the same supplies with a variation of color. This one is inspired by Just Add Ink.

I chose the blue, teal and purple shades in the color palette, but I stamped the outlines in true color and the fill for the vases by stamping off to get the second generation. 

I find this to be a calming color combination, even with the purple. I'm loving it.

I hope you get a chance to be crafty today.

Debbie

Supplies Used - Hoping Your Day  . . .

Stamps and Dies:  Varied Vases Stamp Set and Punch (Stampin' Up);

Ink & Embossing:  Midnight, Grape Crush, Mardi Gras, Suede Shoes (Catherine Pooler Inks);

Paper: Pitch Black Cardstock (Hero Arts); White Daisy Cardstock (Close To My Heart);

Other: Cookies and Cream Twine (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Simply the Best

The Color Dare Challenge this week . . . 

It was a tough call, but I went left to right bottom corner to top corner.

I used stamps and a punch from Stampin' Up to make this card. 

CAS with layers, and love the lane I took on color. 

I hope you get colorful today.

Debbie

Supplies Used - You Are Simply the Best

Stamps and Dies:  Varied Vases Stamp Set and Punch (Stampin' Up);

Ink & Embossing:  Midnight, Grape Crush, Mardi Gras, Limoncello (Catherine Pooler Inks);

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

Other: Cookies and Cream Twine and Crater Lake Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs); 

Favorite Color Combinations

It's interesting when I think about color combinations and my favorite ones. A card that combines all the colors of the rainbow is my absolute favorite, likely because I don't have a true favorite. I love all the colors for different reasons, and like my children (or my pets) . . . it's hard to define a favorite!

The As You Like It Challenge this week was "favourite colour combo and why". The "why" was the compelling part of this, because many of the combinations of colors just make me happy. But the combination of blues and greens makes me both happy and I find it calming. So that's why I chose it for this challenge . . . because I could explain a hefty why!

I pulled some old product for this one. A bit of a composition notebook . . . 

I just find blues and greens to be so calming and peaceful. 

I did use a few shades, but stuck to the blue and green (and stayed away from the full rainbow). 

I hope you can connect with some colors today.

Cheers.

Debbie

Supplies Used - Just Wanted You to Know . . .

Stamps and Dies:  Composition Notebook Background Stamp, Composition Label Dies, Composition Sentiment Stamps and Spiral Notebook Border Die (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Suede Shoes, Lime Rickey, Aquatini and Something Borrowed (Catherine Pooler Inks);

Paper:  Premium White Cardstock (Catherine Pooler);

Other: Crater Lake Sequins (Catherine Pooler); Golden Era Glacier Paste (Nuvo); 

You're on the Nice List

I colored an image for the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown or perhaps a few images. 

All the holiday colors and some bling.

I adore the sentiment centered between these two images.  

Christmas in July!  Cheers!

Debbie

Supplies Used - You're on the Nice List

Stamps and Dies:  Nice List Stamp Set and Dies (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Deck the Halls and Midnight Ink (Catherine Pooler Ink); Copic Markers;

Paper:  Premium White Cardstock and All Wrapped Up Paper Pack (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Other: Dazzling Diamonds Glitter (Stampin' Up); Mistletoe Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Life is a Party

I love that my time off has led to digging into my stash and participating in some challenges. Last night I played with the tic-tac-toe challenge at The Paper Players. 

I went middle column with some sequins for bling, some white heat embossing on my diagonal striped pattern paper, and a big sentiment which I backed in some coordinating pattern papers.

I do love the color palette on this card. This paper pack is my jam!

Cheers!

Debbie

Supplies Used - Life is a Party

Stamps and Dies:  Time to Party Stamp Set and Party Word Die (Catherine Pooler Designs);

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

Paper: Premium White Cardstock and By the Yard Paper Pack (Catherine Pooler);

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

You're the Candy!

The TGIF Challenge this week is a Theme Challenge. And this one is "sweet treats".  

Yummy sweet treats from the candy store had me stamping away in some beautiful hues to match my pattern paper borders at the bottom of my card. 

I added some sparkle and shine in the form of some glossy and glitter accents.  

Oddly, I've never had rock candy. These have me wanting some right about now.

I hope you get a chance to play with some sweet stamps sets in your stash.

Debbie

Supplies Used - You're the Candy in My Jar

Stamps and Dies:  Candy Shoppe Stamp Set and Die, Hey Sugar Sentiments, (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Midnight, Chiffon, Pucker Up, Serenade, Drive-in, In the Park, Cummerbund, Garden Party, and Sand Castle Ink (Catherine Pooler Inks);

Paper: Premium White Cardstock and Wallpaper Pattern Paper Packs (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Other: Crater Lake Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs); Star Dust Stickles and Glossy Accents (Ranger); 

Just Choose Two for Just Add Ink

Just Add Ink's challenge was a Just Add Two challenge this week. The options: Blending, Embossing and White!

I went with the embossing and the white, starting with a white card base and then using embossing on my cover plate die and sentiment. 

I cut my cover plate die from pattern paper and white cardstock. I then trimmed out the ghosts from the white and embossed them in white. I layered some black cardstock behind their eyes, and popped them back into place on the pattern paper piece.

So I'm a bit late for Halloween, or perhaps early? I don't do anything on a timetable. I like to bag up supplies, and grab and create. Embossed, white ghosts were my goal with this adorable cover plate die from Catherine Pooler Designs. 

So fun to create, and I hope you find some time to have some fun in your craft room.

Debbie

Supplies Used - Happy Halloween

Stamps and Dies:  Toil and Trouble Stamp Set and Die and Eek Boo Cover Plate Die (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Twilight (Catherine Pooler Inks); Embossing Pad, Opaque White Embossing Powder and Nevada Pink Wow Embossing Glitter; 

Paper: Premium White Cardstock and Sweet-n-Spooky Pattern Paper (Catherine Pooler Designs); Licorice Cardstock (The Stamps of Life);Other: Transylvania Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs); 

More Summer Fun

Another "Summertime Fun" scene today, this one inspired by Lawn Fawnatics challenge. 

The On the Beach Stamp Set is one of my favorites. I coupled that with cloud and wave stencils to create a slimline card. These critters are so adorable enjoying a fun beach day. 

I hope you get a chance to enjoy the beautiful summer weather . . . or spend a rainy, cloudy day crafting!

Debbie

Supplies Used - Have a Relaxing Summer Day

Stamps and Dies:  On the Beach Stamp Set and Dies (Lawn Fawn); 

Ink:  Jet Black (Lawn Fawn); Copic Markers; Midnight, Oh Boy and Aquatini (Catherine Pooler Ink);

Paper: Desert Storm and Solar White Cardstock (Neenah);

Other:  Slimline Cloudy Stencils and Ocean Wave Stencil (Lawn Fawn); Diamond Stickles; 

Give Me a Smile, Crocodile

"Outdoor Summer Fun" is the theme at Make My Monday Challenge. I pulled out some images and got busy creating a scene for some swimmers! 

I started by creating some watercolor waves, and then created my cloudy background piece. 

And then I got busy creating my scene with my die cuts and accents, right down to the Glossy Accents on the snorkel mask. 

I hope you have some time to get crafty or have some summer fun.

Debbie

Supplies Used - Swimmers

Stamps and Dies:  Smile Crocodile Stamp Set and Dies (Pink & Main); Postage Stamp Edge Dies (Simon Says Stamp); Spring Showers Dies and Stitched Wavy Backdrop (Lawn Fawn); Stitched Rectangle Dies (Lil' Inker Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Peacock Feathers and Twisted Citron Distress Oxide Ink (Ranger); Midnight and Aquatini (Catherine Pooler Inks); Jet Black (Lawn Fawn) Copic Markers;

Paper: Watercolor Paper (Ranger); White Daisy Cardstock (Close To My Heart); Over the Rainbow Pattern Paper  (Honey Bee);

Other: Crystal Stickles and Glossy Accents (Ranger);

Life is Brew-tiful

The challenge at Just Us Girls was Anything Goes Stencil, and I adore stencils and the great techniques using them. No question the pastes and mediums can be messy, but they add some amazing texture and pop to a card. I used Pops of Color as my medium for this one.

I also adore coffee. A cup of dark roast black coffee is my morning friend! With stencil in hand, I combined supplies from Catherine Pooler and Newton's Nook to create this card.

The Pops of Color was also used to color the flowers on the stamped coffee mug, so it matched quite nicely.

Color, dimension and shine. I hope you get a chance to get inky today!

Debbie

Supplies Used - Life is Brew-tiful

Stamps and Dies:   Life is Brew-tiful Stamp Set and Dies (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink:  Midnight, Sand Castle, In the Park (Catherine Pooler Inks);

Paper: White Cardstock (Scrapbook & Cards Today); Happy Mama Pattern Paper Pack (Catherine Pooler Designs;

Other:  Bitty Sparkles (Close To My Heart); Mugs Stencil (Newton's Nook); Pearl Lemon Pops of Color (Scrapbook.com); 

Just Add Balloons and Birthday

I've still been creating, but not doing challenges due to my crazy work schedule. The chaos hasn't ended, so trying to make the crafting, challenges and posting more of a habit. 

Decided to do the Just Choose Two challenge at Just Add InkJust Add Ink. I went with Balloons and Birthday, but you could argue some of the colors here are a bit bright.

I stamped my images from one of my favorite stamp sets, and I have to say this is one of my favorite paper packs and color combinations. It definitely sends a party vibe!

I hope you find some to create.

Supplies Used - Here's To An Extra Special Birthday

Stamps and Dies:  Doxie Birthday Party Stamp Set and Dies (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Midnight, Over Coffee, Catching Rays, Cummerbund, Drive-in (Catherine Pooler Inks) Izink Titanium Argent Pigment;

Paper: Premium White Cardstock and By the Yard Paper Pack (Catherine Pooler);

Other: Onyx Liquid Pearl and Unicorn Stickles (Ranger); Crater Lake Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs); 

Inspired by a Sketch

It's been too long since I've posted a challenge card, as my day job keeps me mentally exhausted. Still creating, just paying less attention to the challenges. The sketch at Tuesday Morning Sketches caught my attention as a great opportunity for a shaker card, so I got busy.

I chose some fun papers, sequins and dies for my creation. It reminds me of a postage stamp.

Always trying to create, and will hopefully start to post a bit more now that work is subsiding.

I hope you find some time to create!

Debbie

Supplies Used - You're My Favorite Person

Stamps and Dies:  Notecard Bubble Frames Die and Notes of Love Stamp Set and Dies (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  It's a Girl and Uptown (Catherine Pooler Inks);

Paper: Premium White Cardstock and Lotsa Love Pattern Paper (Catherine Pooler Designs); Acetate (Judikens);

Other: Rehoboth Beach Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs); Unicorn Stickles (Ranger);

Airmail Interactive for Lawn Fawnatics

I created this interactive card for the Lawn Fawnatics challenge.  I used the Waving Pull Tab Die.  

I used twine in place of the image that came with the stamp set.  I thought it added an extra touch.  

Always fun to create some Lawn Fawn! 

I hope you find some time to create today. 

Debbie

Supplies Used - Air Mail w/Twine

Stamps and Dies:  Special Delivery Stamp Set and Dies, Special Delivery Add-on Stamp Set and Dies; Waving Pull Tab Starter Set Die; Lawn Fawn All the Clouds Stamp Set and Die (Lawn Fawn); 

Ink & Embossing:  Tuxedo Black Ink (Memento); It's a Boy and Midnight Ink (Catherine Pooler) Various Copic Markers;

Paper: Solar White Cardstock (Neenah); Let it Shine Pattern Paper (Lawn Fawn); Be Mine Pattern Paper (Pebbles);

Other: Crater Lake Sequin Mix and Cookies and Cream Twine (Catherine Pooler Designs); Diamond Stickles (Ranger); Cloud Mixables Stencil (My Favorite Things); 

Seize the Birthday Inspired

It has certainly been a while since I've posted.  Life has been a bit on the busy side, and it always puts a damper on my crafty fun.  

I managed to get some craft time the last couple of weeks, and this weekend was inspired to create a card using the inspiration at Seize the Birthday.  

I went with wet embossing, because nothing is more magical than melting embossing powder.  I stamped my cupcake images with Versafine and embossed with clear embossing powder.  My three sentiment pieces were all embossed with white embossing powder.  

Such a fun and easy card to create, and bit on the masculine side which is always a plus.

I hope you find some time to get inky!  

Debbie

Supplies Used - Happy Birthday to You

Stamps and Dies:  Hello Cupcake Stamp, Die and Stencil (Photoplay Say it With Stamps for Let's Stamp Together SCT Magazine);

Ink & Embossing:  Twisted Citron, Peacock Feathers, Blueprint Sketch and Squeezed Lemonade (Distress Ink from Ranger); Versafine; Clear Gloss Regular (Wow); Alabaster White  (Brutus Monroe);

Paper: Daisy White Cardstock (Close To My Heart), Black Cardstock (Concord & 9th);

Other: Portsmouth Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs); 

Embossing Magic for The Card Concept

When I saw the color combination and fall theme at The Card Concept, I went straight for my bag of paper that I've put aside for one of my favorite techniques that I discovered by accident.  It's also something I've not been able to recreate.  

The magic happened one day when I decided to heat emboss some pattern paper squares to add some interest.  In doing so, the reverse side of the paper was bleeding through, and I thought, "Oh, this is a disaster."  But the more I gazed at the squares, I fell in love with them.  I made a card or two, and then tucked the bag aside.  I pulled it out for the challenge.  

I call this Clean and Layered.  I was once told that I was "so linear", and while I don't mind being linear, it wasn't said in the best tone.  I'm not sure if that was a compliment.  

One coat of embossing ink and clear powder was splotchy.  The more layers, the better the effect.  The way the stripes on the reverse side of the paper come through, it truly felt magical.  

I've been in search of a paper that could give a similar effect - coming up blank so far.  Hence my bag of scraps that I keep to the side.  It's a reminder to keep searching.  

I hope you discover a happy accident in crafting today!

Debbie

Supplies Used - Woo Hoo

Stamps and Dies:  Woo Hoo Die (Catherine Pooler Designs); 

Ink & Embossing: Embossing Pad, Mud Pie Seth Apter Embossing Powder and Clear Gloss Regular Embossing Powder (Wow); Macchiato Ink (Catherine Pooler Inks);

Paper: White Cardstock (Scrapbook & Cards Today); Seasonal Squares, Perfect Pie and Fall Sweet Fall Pattern Paper (Echo Park);

Other: Seattle Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs);