Good Coffee . . . Great Friends

 I do adore my creative time with shaving cream and ink . . . consider it like the cream in my coffee!

Today's card was inspired by the challenge at Creative Friday - Cafe. No matter what coffee shop I go to, the warm cup and sleeve are so inviting to grab, and amazing coffee brewing smells are incredibly comforting. 

I just love the look of those coffee beans, which is where the shaving cream and inks came into play. When I do this technique, I always wish I did it more often. It's a messy one, but it's so fun to see the marbled results.

My coffee cups made me want to hit the local coffee shop for a latte. Yum!

Make some coffee or make something crafty. And have fun!

Debbie

Supplies Used - Good Coffee

Stamps and Dies:  Joe to Go Stamp Set and Dies (Taylored Expressions);

Ink & Embossing:  Grass Skirt, Rockin' Red, Icing on the Cake and Orange Peel (Catherine Pooler Inks);

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

Other: By the Beans Stencil (CAS-ual Fridays); Iridescent Preo Gold Acrylic Paint (Pebeo Studio); Celebration Confetti Mix (Pretty Pink Posh); 

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; 

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);

G is for Girl

The hues from Color Hues were my inspiration . . . red, pin, and some neutrals.  

 This one is a baby card . . . I framed the G for Girl in a little shaker box. 

My card base is red, and my stenciled star background is pink inks,  a stencil and yes . . . having cream.  You know that I'm hooked on that technique.   

I hope you find some time to get inky!   

Debbie

 

 

 

Supplies Used - Oh Baby

Stamps and Dies:  Oh Baby Stamp Set, A to Z Background Stamp, Scallop Frame Dies (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Midnight (Catherine Pooler Ink); Blushing Bride and Strawberry Slush (Stampin' Up);

Paper: Lovely Lipstick (Stampin' Up); Licorice Cardstock (The Stamps of Life); White Daisy Cardstock (Close To My Heart); Acetate (Judikens);

Other: Starry Sky Stencil (Lawn Fawn); Flamenco Beach Sequin Mix (Stampin' Up);Shaving Cream

SHAVING CREAM + RE-INKERS + STENCIL + CARDSTOCK

I saw the prompt at Little Red Wagon and I immediately thought about a stencil in my stash and pulled it out.  I created this card using one of my favorite techniques.  It is:  

SHAVING CREAM + RE-INKERS + STENCIL + CARDSTOCK

I started by creating that stenciled panel with two shades of ink.  I then stamped my sentiment and the little heart, inked the edges and created the rest of the card.

I just love the blend of color with that shaving cream technique, and this stencil was great because it offers some large areas to really see the marble of color.  

Creating is the best!  

Debbie

Supplies Used - Happy Anniversary

Stamps and Dies:  His and Hers Stamp Set and Dies (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Midnight, Twilight, and Samba (Catherine Pooler Inks); Blushing Bride and Strawberry Crush (Stampin' Up); Barbasol Shaving Cream;

Paper: Grapefruit Grove Cardstock (Stampin' Up); Solar White Cardstock (Neenah); Happiest Place Coordinating Cardstock (Close To My Heart);

Other: Radiant Heart Stencil (Catherine Pooler Designs);

A Little Birdie Told Me

I love the color combination at CAS Colours and Sketches.  So I played along using a set that I have been trying to find time to use.  

These little guys are enjoying some snow, and it's interesting, because as I type this it is snowing in Connecticut, and there are birds grabbing seed from the feeder and fluttering about in the snow. 

They don't have the same brightness as these birds! 

I hope you find some time to create today.  

Debbie

Supplies Used - A Little Birdie Told Me

Stamps and Dies:  Lovely Birdies Stamp Set and Dies and Little Leaves Sentiments Stamp Set (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Embossing Pad Ink and Opaque White Embossing Powder (Wow); Stone Blue, Polished, Rouge, Hot Tub, Twilight, Midnight, Skyfall (Catherine Pooler Inks);

Paper: Lovely Lipstick Cardstock (Stampin' Up); Solar White Cardsetock (Neenah); Black Cardstock (American Crafts);

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

Winter Inspired for Cut It Up

The inspiration at Cut It Up this week was "Winter".  I created a shaker inspired by winter here in New England . . . snow!  My background piece was created using my favorite shaving cream/ink/stencil technique.  Love the variations of color. 

 

 It's a faux shaker . . . the illusion of a shaker, but my sequins are stationary an there is no window. 

Used dies from Lawn Fawn and Catherine Pooler Designs, and added some sparkle to my snow flake.  

Hope you can get crafty today!  

Debbie

Supplies Used - Hello

Stamps and Dies:  Snowflake Mini Cover Plate Die (Catherine Pooler Designs); Yay Kites Stamp Set and Dies (Lawn Fawn);

Ink & Embossing:  Midnight, All that Jazz and Aquatini (Catherine Pooler Inks);

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

Other:  Snowflakes Stencil (Pretty Pink Posh); Barbasol Shaving Cream; Crater Lake Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs); Icicle Stickles (Ranger);

In the Lane . . . Snow is Glistening

This card was a bit more sparkly than I anticipated.  I forget how fine glitters tend bring forth all their static when put behind some window plastic in a shaker.  But decided it was worth a shot for Try it on Tuesday where the prompt was Christmas Sparkle.  

Definitely some static in my shaker.  But perhaps it adds interest.  

And over time some of that will dissipate.  In the meantime . . . it does "glisten"!  

I hope you found some time to create today.  

Debbie

Supplies Used - In the Lane, Snow is Glistening

Stamps and Dies:  Snowflake Mini Cover Plate Die and Sleigh Bells Ring Stamp Set (Catherine Pooler Designs); 

Ink & Embossing:  Midnight, Flirty Fushcia, Party Dress and Aquatini (Catherine Pooler Inks);

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

Other:  Snowflakes Stencil (Pretty Pink Posh); Barbasol Shaving Cream; Crater Lake Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs); Atlantica Sparkles Glitter (Wow);

Celebrate!

 "Celebrate" was the prompt this week at Little Red Wagon.  I decided to do some creating with inks, shaving cream and a fireworks stencil.  Red, white and blue . . .

The red is subtle in the fireworks.  I also used the paper towel that I used for blotting my stencil on the paper after to add some light splotches of color which I think added some interest. 

I am late for this year's 4th, so I'll have to hold this one aside to send next year.  It was fun to create.  

Recommendation:  grab some ink, a stencil and some shaving cream and get busy!  Fun.  

Debbie

Supplies Used - Celebrate

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

Ink & Embossing:  Suede Shoes, Rockin' Red, Something Blue (Catherine Pooler Inks);

Paper: Blueberry Bushel Cardstock (Stampin' Up); Solar White (Neenah); Silver Glitter Paper (Pow);

Other:  Christmas Cove and Crater Lake Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs); Fireworks Stencil (Pretty Pink Posh);

 

 

Perk Up

 Anything but a birthday card was the prompt at Sweet Stampin'.  And so, a card just to cheer someone using some of my favorite techniques and products.  

From a product perspective I've been playing a lot with the Peeking Pets set from Catherine Pooler.  Can't get enough of those critters peeking out over various objects.  This one is peaking over a coffee cup.  I've also been obsessed with the stencil that created my background strip.  

From a technique perspective, I love to stamp on kraft cardstock.  But lately I've been obsessed with using shaving cream, ink and acrylic paint with my stencils.

 

My dog Lola used to wait for me to leave the room and sip from my coffee. 😏 A happy memory, but also kind of gross.  Lola is the dog pictured on my blog here.  She crossed the rainbow bridge a few years back, but she left us with a boat load of awesome, crazy memories. 

Supplies Used - Perk Up

Stamps and Dies:  Peeking Pets and Life Love Latte Stamp Sets and Dies (Catherine Pooler Designs);

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

Stencil Background - Days Ending in "Y"

Created my own background for Sweet Stampin' Challenge.  I've really been into the shaving cream/ink/stencil backgrounds. Added some paint to this one to give a certain sheen to my coffee beans.  

 Mmmm . . . coffee!  I do love the swirl of the brown and orange ink in some of the beans, and then in others there is some texture and the hint of shimmer from the paint. 

 I hope you find some time to create over this holiday weekend. 

Debbie

Supplies Used - Days Ending in "Y"

Stamps and Dies:  Joe to Go Stamp Set and Dies (Taylored Expressions); Coffee Days Stamp Set (CAS-ual Fridays);

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

Paper: Soft Suede Cardstock (Stampin' Up); Solar White Cardstock (Neenah);

Other: By the Beans Stencil (CAS-ual Fridays); Iridescent Preo Gold Acrylic Paint (Pebeo Studio); Gold Dots (Close To My Heart);

Tic-Tac-Toe for Tuesday Throwdown

Went with the second row for the challenge at Tuesday Throwdown . . . . used green, a die and a stencil. 

And maybe there were a few dies and a few shades of green.  My background piece was created using a few shades of green ink and some shaving cream.  Then I used a stencil to get the darker green dots on my background. 

My original die was the sentiment die.  But I had an extra butterfly and those white negative die pieces cluttering my work surface.  They made their way onto the project. 

I hope you find some time to create today. 

Debbie

Supplies Used - Hey There

Stamps and Dies:  Lava Lamp Cover Plate Die, Great Wings Stamp Set and Dies, Hey There Friend Word Die (Catherine Pooler Designs)

Ink & Embossing:  Midnight, Lime Rickey, Mardi Gras Ink (Catherine Pooler Inks)

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

Other:  Pop Art Stencil (Catherine Pooler Designs); Boston Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs); Diamond Stickles (Ranger);