Hope

The prompt at Just Us Girls reminded me of a song from the 90's by Janis Ian. The lyrics mention that "hope" is just a four-letter word. I had the song in my head as I created this card. 

I had received the butterfly stamp set and the dies as part of a challenge back in August, so they were on my desk and ready for play. I also had just ordered the sentiment set used here, and it was close-by and waiting for me to break open the packaging.

Turnabout stamps are a fun challenge. I went with tertiary colors in the hopes it would blend together nicely. 

Supplies Used - Hope

Stamps and Dies:  Defined Stamp Set and Die, Fluttering By Turnabout Stamp Set, and Butterfly Perfectly Pairing Die (Concord & 9th);

Ink & Embossing:  It's a Boy, Serenade, Sixteen Candles, and Be Mine (Catherine Pooler Ink); Embossing Powder and Opaque Bright White Embossing Powder (Wow); Vellum (Concord & 9^th);

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

Hi Friend

Cheers to all things inky and crafty. If you've got glue on one of your fingers, you must be in a happy place!

Earlier this week I created a little something for Freshly Made Sketches using some product I got several years ago from a virtual event. I love pulling out old product and making it new again. The zip pouch even had some leftover cardstock.

I stamped in gold embossing powder and cut my sentiment, and then went on to cut layers in all the colors in the pouch. 

I love layers!

I hope you can find some time to get crafty today.

Debbie

Supplies Used - Hi Friend

Stamps and Dies:   Friendly Hello's Stamp Set and Dies (The Stamp Market);

Ink: Embossing Pad and Metallic Gold Rich Regular Embossing Powder (Wow); Midnight (Catherine Pooler Inks);

Paper: White Cardstock (Scrapbook & Cards Today); Minty, Jade, Bubblegum, Peach and Papaya Cardstock (The Stamp Market); 

Layered or Flat, and why?

The As You Like It Challenge prompt this week was Layered or Flat. I am most definitely a layered girl. I love flat, but I am in love with layered.

For me, it's all about the texture you can get with a layered card. This one is a perfect example of layers. I used a tone one tone cover die and I wove some pattern paper strips on one side. Then I layered some layered images, in the form of mini-shakers. 

Sequins and a sentiment to add some layer in other areas. Just love the texture!

Enough said!

Hope you get the chance to layer something up.

Debbie

Supplies Used - Congrats on this Happy Time

Stamps and Dies:   Candy Cane Lane Slimline Die, Every Minute Stamp Set and Dies, Moments in Time Sentiment Stamp Set and Dies (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink:  Flame, Do-si-do, Black Jack and Midnight (Catherine Pooler Inks);

Paper: White Daisy Cardstock (Close To My Heart); Potted Pattern Paper Pack (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Other:  Valencia Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs); 

House Mouse ABC Blocks

It's been a while since I colored a House Mouse image, but was inspired to color and create a card with the ABC blocks and the little critters. The prompt at House Mouse & Friends Monthly Challenge was the option of back to school. I thought the blocks were perfect.

But of course, mice in diapers aren't going to make it school . . . only potty-trained mice would make it there. But perhaps the daycare is teaching them to get their blocks in alphabetical order.

In the end I turned it into a supportive card. Sometimes you start out in one place and end up in another.

Find some crafty time today!

Debbie

Supplies Used - We Can Muddle Through

Stamps and Dies:  Baby Blocks Cling Stamp (House Mouse by Stampendous); Together Stamp Set (Simon Says Stamp);

Ink & Embossing:  Juniper Mist (Catherine Pooler Inks); Various Distress Inks for Watercolor (Ranger); Black Onyx Ink (Versafine); Clear Embossing Powder Embossing Powder (Wow);

Paper: Cloud Cardstock (The Stamps of Life); Magical Pattern Paper (Close To My Heart);

Other: Bashful Blue Stripe Ribbon (Stampin' Up);

Sending Healing Hugs

Another CAS card, and this one for AAA challenge.

One of the hardest cards to make, but one we no doubt often need is the sympathy card. Lately I've been pulling out some of my older stash to create cards. Today was no different. Mixing old with some of the newer or staple items in my art studio. 

Used some memorable Stampin' Up paper for this card, and matched it up with some items on hand.

No doubt that healing hugs can be helpful during illness, but also during times of loss when soul needs to heal. I love this color palette.

I hope you have a craft stash of "healing" cards on hand.

Debbie

Supplies Used - Sending Healing Hugs

Stamps and Dies:  Stitched So Sweetly Dies and So Sentimental Stamp Set (Stampin' Up);

Ink & Embossing:  Midnight (Catherine Pooler Inks)

Paper: White Daisy Cardstock (Close To My Heart); Real Red Cardstock and Peaceful Poppies DSP (Stampin' Up);

Other: Crater Lake Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs); Embellishments (Stampin' Up);

You're So Fly

A pun was the challenge for Addicted to CAS. 

I've been pulling old items from my stash. It's an endless supply of items that are all still very relevant.

Matched my colors to the paper, and a pun was born. 

Just go get CAS and punny!

Debbie

Supplies Used - You're So Fly

Stamps and Dies:  Fly Daddy Stamp Set and Dies (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Midnight, Twilight, Samba, Tutti Frutti, Tiki Torch, Lime Rickey, Grass Skirt, Fiesta Blue and Something Borrowed (Catherine Pooler Inks);

Paper:  White Daisy Cardstock (Close To My Heart); Too Fly Pattern Paper (Catherine Pooler);

Other: Black Foot River Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler)

Sending Smiles Woodland Creatures

It's nearly every day that I see our "neighborhood" rabbit come out of the wooded area and into the clearing. Sometimes it happens multiple times a day, despite how fired up my miniature schnauzer gets to see them.

This card was inspired by the Lawn Fawnatics challenge and our rabbit friend and made me think of forest animals coming out to the meadow to case butterflies and enjoy the sunshine. 

I chose the rabbit and the fox. We don't see fox often, but have seen them run across the wooded area of the backyard. So I thought he was the right character to be chasing a butterfly. They always seem to be on the move.

Another look at the dimension and sparkle.

Love creating fun scenes with critters and hope you find some time to do the same.

Debbie

Supplies Used - Sending Smiles to You

Stamps and Dies:  Butterfly Kisses Stamp Set, Meadow Border Dies, and Dies and Flower Garden Backdrop Die (Lawn Fawn);

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

Paper:  White Cardstock (Scrapbook & Cards Today); Ice Blue Bokeh 12 x 12 and Favorite Flannel Petite Paper Pack (Lawn Fawn); Green Cardstock (Bazzill); Solar White Cardstock (Neenah);

Other: Clear Star Gel Pen (Sakura); Star Dust Stickles (Ranger)

Feline Spooky, Inspired by Tic Tac Toe Challenge

I went across the bottom row for the Tic Tac Toe Challenge, including some multiples, die cuts and the sparkle and shine.

I had so much fun creating this card. I cut two panels of my "boo, eek coverplate", one for the purple sparkle and the other to get all my ghosts. I have multiple ghosts, and then added my die cut cats and have multiples there. 

Not to mention all the boo's and eeks! 

Such a fun card to create. I hope you find some fun creative time today.

Debbie

Supplies Used  - I'm Feline Spooky

Stamps and Dies:  Happy Meowloween Stamp Set and Die, A Cut Above Die, and Eek Boo Coverplate Die (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Embossing Pad and Metallic Silver Sparkle Embossing Glitter (Wow); Grape Crush (Catherine Pooler Ink);

Paper: Premium White Cardstock and Scaredy Cat Pattern Paper Pack (Catherine Pooler Designs); Licorice Cardstock (The Stamps of Life); Glimmer White Cardstock (Bazzill); Purple Sparkle Foam (Spellbinders);  

Translation of a Woof and Meow for Color Throwdown

Loved the color palette at Color Throwdown this week. So relaxing and calm, and I translated it to a translation of the bark.

I can't say that my dogs keep me calm 24/7. They get a little crazy. But I like to think they appreciate me as much as I appreciate them.

I hope you find some time to create.

Debbie

Supplies Used 

Stamps and Dies:  Critters in the Burb, Critter Chatter Pets and Speech Bubble Die (Lawn Fawn);

Ink: Flirty Fuchsia, Lime Rickey, All That Jazz, Black Jack, and Sand Castle (Catherine Pooler Inks); Blender Pen (Zig)

Paper:  White Cardstock (Park Lane Paperie); White Daisy Cardstock and Black Glitter Paper (Close To My Heart);

Swirling Foliage . . . Texture and Foliage

Sharing a card that was inspired by Just Add Ink's challenge this week, which was a just take two challenge. The options for the two were texture, foliage or string. I went with texture and foliage.

I love the use of embossing powders. For this one I attempted to mix it up a bit. 

The true texture is in the sentiment die, which I layered up with a "chunky" embossing powder.

The Cargo Embossing Powder is such a fun powder to melt.

Go melt some powder! So satisfying.

Debbie

Supplies Used - So Good

Stamps and Dies:  Blowing Leaves Background Stamp, Fall Calls for Lattes, Oh So Good Word Die (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Cargo, Buttercream, Over Coffee (Catherine Pooler Inks); Embossing Ink and Cargo  Embossing Powder (Wow);

Paper:Premium White Cardstock

Other: Mazatlan Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs); 

Feel Better!

Just some blocks of color for this one; the primaries. Keeping it real, and also including the prompt from CAS on Friday, to include a feathered friend.

I've been pulling sets from my stash and having a great time. This one was a fun collection of products that came in a monthly delivery that no longer arrives. I miss it!

A simple bird on a forest mushroom, singing out a get well song!

Find some time to stamp with some bold colors. 

Debbie

Stamps and Dies:  Sunshine Mini Coverplate Die and Whimsical Forest Stamp Set and Dies (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Something Borrowed, Lime Rickey, Tutti Frutti, Midnight and Flirty Fuchsia (Catherine Pooler Inks); 

Paper:  White Cardstock (Scrapbook & Cards Today); Solar White Cardstock (Neenah); Yellow Cardstock (Bazzill); Black Cardstock (American Crafts);

Other: Williamsburg Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs);

 

Bold and Masculine Thinking of You Card

Created this card using some pattern paper and matching inks. I was inspired to make a sympathy card inspired by the Little Red Wagon challenge this week. The pattern paper and stamp set led me to use some bolder, masculine colors. 

My goal was to use matching inks and stamps that matched up to the pattern paper. I also wanted to offer something more subtle and introduced some vellum to make the flowers pop a bit.

Not the traditional colors for a sympathy card, but I felt it was a masculine approach.

I hope you find some time to get matchy with paper and ink today.

Debbie

Supplies Used - Thinking of You

Stamps and Dies:  Towering Blooms Stamp Set and Dies and Notecard Layers Die (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Terracotta, Whipped Honey, Sage, Matcha and Icing on the Cake (Catherine Pooler Inks);

Paper:  Premium White Cardstock and Because Flowers Paper Pack (Catherine Pooler Designs); Vellum (Close To My Heart);

Decisions, Decisions! Spots or Stripes?

The Paper Players challenge this week was spots or stripes. I was inspired to go with spots today, even though I usually go with stripes. 

I have dots on my pattern paper and a dotted border on my circle.

Always fun to play with paper. I hope you have time to play with paper today! 

Debbie

Supplies Used - You're the Candy in My Jar

Stamps and Dies:  Candy Shoppe Stamp Set and Die, Hey Sugar Sentiments, Double Duty Circle Die (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); Crystal Stickles (Ranger);