Taking the Positive with the Negative - Take 4

The challenge at AAA Birthday is pattern paper.  Holy moly, do I have pattern paper; I had to play along.  

So I created this shaker card using some festive pattern papers. My plan was to use the negative of the die to create the shaker with the shaker bits behind the window. 

And I managed to find some sequins to match!   And fit all those little pieces onto the acetate for the "open letters". 

And because I can't help but use my negative pieces, including the scraps of paper from the previous card, I had to create using the positive image of that Happy Birthday sentiment. 

This one is a little simpler . . . but all about the pattern paper. 

I hope you find some time to use your positive and negative dies!  

Debbie

Supplies Used - Happy Birthday Shaker

Stamps and Dies:  Happy Birthday Stacked Die and Happy Birthday Many Ways Stamp Set (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Midnight Ink (Catherine Pooler Inks);

Paper:  Pineapple Punch Cardstock (Stampin' Up); Premium White Cardstock and Poppin'  Patterned Paper (Catherine Pooler Designs); Window Plastic (Judikins);

Other: Soda Springs Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Supplies Used - Happy Birthday

Stamps and Dies:  Happy Birthday Stacked Die and Happy Birthday Many Ways Stamp Set (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Midnight (Catherine Pooler Inks);

Paper:  Premium White Cardstock and Poppin'  Patterned Paper (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Other: Soda Springs Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Use Your Stuff - Enamel Dots

Oh man, do I have enamel dots in my stash.  I use them here and there, but clearly not often enough.  Was inspired this week to use them when prompted at the Use Your Stuff challenge blog. 

I went to a card kit to play along with this challenge (and always one fairly near by, not stacked in a corner).  

A flip-it card with enamel dots . . . 

With a happy birthday message . . .

I hope you find some time to create.  

Debbie

Supplies Used - Hello Happy Birthday Flip-its

Stamps and Dies:  Flower Flip-it Card Base and Present Drop-in Flip-it (Sizzix);

Ink & Embossing:  Midnight and Lime Rickey (Catherine Pooler)

Paper: Cardstock and Pattern Paper from October 2017 Card Kit (The Stamps of Life): White Glitter Paper (Close To My Heart);

Other:  Epoxy Dots and Ribbon (The Stamps of Life)

Just Add L . . . for Lemons!

Just Add Ink had the prompt of "Just Add L".  I had to go with lemons and lemonade.  

The saying is always appropriate for when times are rough, so I couldn't resist.  I tried to keep it as simple as possible. And of course my inside sentiment, while not pictured, finishes this familiar quote. 

I hope you find some time to cut, paste and ink!  

Debbie

Supplies Used - Lemonade

Stamps and Dies:  Make Lemonade Stamp Set  and Circle Stripe Dies (Catherine Pooler Designs);

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

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

Other: Paisley Park Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Creating a Scene for Seize the Birthday

Yep!  I got so excited I created a scene for Seize the Birthday.  And for this one, I went "pasture" birthday.

I am horrible at sending cards on time, so had to do a belated sentiment on this one. 

Loved playing with this Lawn Fawn set which is an older set in my stash!  

I hope you found some time to create a scene!  

Debbie

Supplies Used - It's Pasture Birthday

Stamps and Dies:  Stitched Hillside Backdrop Landscape, Hey There Stamp Set and Dies, Reveal Wheel Puffy Cloud Add On Dies (Lawn Fawn)

Ink & Embossing:  Tuxedo Black (Memento) and Copic Markers; Lime Rickey and Midnight (Catherine Pooler Inks);

Paper: Solar White (Neenah); Kiwi Cardstock (The Stamps of Life); Hello Sunshine Remix (Lawn Fawn);

Other: Diamond and Black Diamond Stickles (Ranger);

 

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);

Lawn Fawnatics - You've Always Got My Back

The Lawn Fawnatics' challenge this month on their blog was "What's the Weather".  

It is sunny, slightly cool and a windy day.  One of those awesome Spring days in New England that is perfect for kite flying. 

And this one has a story . . . the wind picks up a bit more, and thankfully you have a friend to anchor you.

And he has your back. I adore my Lawn Fawn!  

And I hope you find some time to create and get crafty.  

Debbie

 

Supplies Used - You've Always Got My Back

Stamps and Dies:  Big Thanks Stamp Set, Simple Wavy Banner Dies, Yay Kites Stap Set and Dies, Puffy Cloud Backdrop Landscape (Lawn Fawn);

Ink & Embossing:  Midnight Ink (Catherine Pooler); Tuxedo Black (Memento) and Copic Markers;

Paper: Premium White Cardstock (Catherine Pooler); Dandy Day and Hello Sunshine Remix (Lawn Fawn); Vellum (Bazzill);

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

xoxo

The challenge at The Paper Players was Hearts or Stars.  It's February . . . so of course I went all Hearts!  

And I went 100% cardstock!  No pattern paper for this one.  Used a stencil and embossing mousse. 

Mmmmm . . . mousse!  

I stacked my sentiment . . . layers to do my white on white.  

I hope you find some time to cut some stuff, spread some stuff using a stencil, layer some stuff upon other stuff, and then layer and glue some more, and then and apply some sequins!  

Debbie

Supplies Used - xoxo

Stamps and Dies:  Hugs and Kisses Word Dies and Nested Stitched Heart Dies (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Mother of Pearl Embossing Mousse (Nuvo);

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

Other: Tumbling Hearts Stencil (Newton's Nook); Crater Lake Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs);

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

Love for Sweet Stampin'

Some stamping happened here for Sweet Stampin' where the prompt was "love".  

I started by creating a background using a stencil and some inks with watercolor paper.  I also used some Perfect Pearls to get some shimmer.  Once the background was done, I cut it up using some nested dies from Catherine Pooler Designs.  

Anchored those frames . . . stamped some Love and some hearts!  And so . . . Love!  All you need is love.  

Go create!

Debbie

Supplies Used - Love

Stamps and Dies:  Seasonal Sentiments and Borders and Doodle Hearts Stamp Sets, Rose Stencil and Nested Labels Dies (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Party Dress (Catherine Pooler Inks); Worn Lipstick Distress Ink and Perfect Pearls (Ranger);

Paper: Premium White Cardstock (Catherine Pooler); Strathmore Watercolor;

Other:  Ivory Seashell Crystal Drops (Nuvo); Inspiration Point Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler)

Oh What Fun!

 I was blessed to have a lot of time to create over the weekend.  😃

My share today was a card inspired by Christmas Craft Creations, where the prompt was to use Ribbon or Twine.  

And so I had this sled stamp and die . . . 

And while I chose to build the sled . . . I couldn't resist adding some twine to finish it off.  I used silver cardstock for some of the pieces (used my memory of a sled as a kid).  The challenge was getting some black ink to stick to that shiny stuff.

And the twine just dangles there.  I want to grab the reigns and go sledding now . . . and I have snow.  

I hope you find a way to be creative today.  

Debbie

Supplies Used - Oh What Fun!

Stamps and Dies:  Oh What Fun Stamp Set and Dies and Chalkboard Frame Die (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Midnight and Icing on the Cake (Catherine Pooler Inks);

Paper:  Solar White and Desert Storm Cardstock (Neenah); Patterns and Pine Paper Pack (Catherine Pooler Designs); Silver Cardstock (Close To My Heart);

Other:  Twine (The Stamps of Life); Icicle Stickles (Ranger);

V is for Vellum - Just Thrilled for You

I made a few cards with one of my more recent Club Sursee set from Catherine Pooler Designs.  I love this background stamp and have inked up a few backgrounds with it, all just waiting to be turned into a creation.  

The time has come for this one, inspired by the prompt at the Alphabet Challenge Blog which was "V is for Vellum".  

And vellum was just what this card needed, as the background needed a layer of interest and to soften my background stamp and allow my flowers to be the focal point. And it allows the sentiment to pop as well. 

I used Wink of Stella on my flowers and leaves to add some shimmer.  And some glitter drops from Nuvo to my centers.  

Makes me want to get to those other backgrounds!  

I hope you find some time to create. 

Debbie

Supplies Used - Just Thrilled for You

Stamps and Dies:  Dogwoods in Bloom Stamp Set and Dies and Through the Prism Stamp Set (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Midnight, Twilight, Garden Party, Lime Rickey, Sweet Sixteen, Pixie Dust (Catherine Pooler Ink);

Paper: Premium White Cardstock (Catherine Pooler); Vellum (Close To My Heart);

Other:  Gold Coast Glitter Drops (Nuvo); Clear Wink of Stella Glitter Pen (Zig);

 

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);

You Tied the Knot for CASology

I am exploring slim line cards more often over the past few months, and I had this long rainbow technique piece that I thought would lend itself well to a slim line card so I wouldn't lose my lengthy rainbow.  And with the prompt at CASology, which was "unite", I created a wedding card.  

The piece itself was created using a blending tool with a very heavy hand on white cardstock in a rainbow of color.  I then went over the piece with gilding polish from Creative Expressions.  I came back in with each color ink to stamp by knot piece in the same color where I had done the direct to paper.  

I trimmed a thin strip to add some interest at the top, and I inked all my edges in the matching color. 

I hope you find some time to get inky and create today.  

Debbie

Supplies Used - You Tied the Knot

Stamps and Dies:  Tie the Knot Sentiments Stamp Set (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Midnight, Party Dress, Tutti Frutti, Tiara, Lime Rickey, Aquatini, Flirty Fuschia (Catherine Pooler Inks); Enchanted Gold Gilding Polish (Creative Expressions);

Paper:  Premium White Cardstock (Catherine Pooler Designs);

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

 

Taking the Positive with the Negative - Take 3

You know I love an opportunity to showcase positive and negative dies.  It's becoming a thing with me, and so here is my third post using it all!  This one is birthday themed.  

So let me first say that there is an element of stenciling on this one, best seen in the negative space, and it was the element that I was truly trying to capture in my original piece.  So let's cover the negative first.  This one was inspired by the prompt at AAA Birthday to use a stencil. 

I have the Spotlight Stencil from Catherine Pooler Designs that has this really cool circle bursts.  And then I have the Circle Window Die from Close To My Heart.  While I knew they weren't a match, I thought they would make an interesting pair.  So I created a water color piece using Ken Oliver Color Burst in Catherine Pooler ink colors.  I then stenciled with some white pigment ink to lighten within the stencil images, embossed using some Wow embossing glitter and then after heat setting, I used my die to get my circles. I love the result. 

A little sparkle and a little shine.  I love the boldness of the watercolor pieces here.  I used the matching Catherine Pooler Inks to color the candle . . . and of course, added some sequins. 

And so that positive piece, which in this case was the leftover piece for me.  Had to use it. You can still see the rich color and the stencil pieces which almost seem to highlight each circle.  I'm in love with this stencil and die together! 

For my sentiment spot, I connected two of the circles, and love the result there.

These colors just make me happy.  

I hope I've inspired you to look for options for all your negative and positive pieces.  Go create!  

Debbie

Supplies Used - Make a Wish

Stamps and Dies:  Birthday Joy Stamp Set and Multi-Circle Window Die (Close To My Heart);

Ink & Embossing:  Melon Ice Embossing Glitter and Embossing Pad (Wow); Limoncello and Mardi Gras Color Burst (Ken Oliver and Catherine Pooler); Midnight, Limoncello and Mardi Gras Ink (Catherine Pooler); White Pigment Ink (Color Box);

Paper: Premium White Cardstock (Catherine Pooler Designs); Watercolor Paper (Canson);

Other: Diamond Stickles (Ranger); Spotlight Stencil and Big Apple Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs);

 

Supplies Used - Let's Celebrate

Stamps and Dies:  Birthday Joy Stamp Set and Multi-Circle Window Die (Close To My Heart);

Ink & Embossing:  Melon Ice Embossing Glitter and Embossing Pad (Wow); Limoncello and Mardi Gras Color Burst (Ken Oliver and Catherine Pooler); Midnight, Limoncello, Mardi Gras and Suede Shoes Ink (Catherine Pooler); Tuxedo Black (Memento); Copic Markers; White Pigment Ink (Color Box);

Paper: Pineapple Punch Cardstock (Stampin' Up); Premium White Cardstock (Catherine Pooler Designs); Watercolor Paper (Canson);

Other: Diamond Stickles (Ranger); Spotlight Stencil and Big Apple Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Tank You for Little Red Wagon

I've been wicked busy crafting and just getting my life together early in 2021!  It was time to play along with a challenge, and so I chose the prompt at Little Red Wagon which was "Die-ing To Get Crafty".  I had to remind myself that it was dies and not dyes!  I love to get inky.  

Instead I went for some dies.  All dies, and no stamping. 

And so here is "Tank You".  I used a lawn fawn die, and while it cold have been a shaker, I just wanted it to look like a real fish tank.  So there is some acetate on this one for my tank.  

My background in the tanb was created using a stencil, a texture paste and some ink blending. 

This was a fun one to create.  I hope you find some time to create!  

Debbie

Supplies Used - Tank You

Stamps and Dies:  Build an Aquarium Dies (Lawn Fawn); Sophie Guilar Letter Dies (Sizzix);

Ink & Embossing:  Orange Twist, It's a Boy, Lime Rickey (Catherine Pooler Inks);

Paper: Gingersnap and Licorice Cardstock (The Stamps of Life); Solar White (Neenah); Soft Suede Cardstock (Stampin' Up); Summer Market Pattern Paper (Carta Bella);

Other: Mystic Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler Designs); Bubbly Stencil (Taylored Expressions); Aquamarine Embellishment Mousse (Nuvo);

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);

Stencil Inspired . . . Just Us Girls

I stepped away from challenges for a bit, but decided to dive back in a bit in 2021.  I as inspired to pull out a stencil by the Just Us Girls blog challenge, so I did just that and created a card.  I used some Nuvo Glacier Paste for this one. Stamps, dies and stencils are all from Catherine Pooler Designs. 

Check out this shine . . .

I hope you find some time to create.  

Debbie

Supplies Used - Today Let's Just Be Happy

Stamps and Dies:  So Happy Sentiments Stamp and Dies (Catherine Pooler Designs);

Ink & Embossing:  Icing on the Cake, Sangria, Pink Champagne, Green Tea, Midnight (Catherine Pooler Inks);

Paper:  Premium White Cardstock (Catherine Pooler);

Other: Golden Era Glacier Paste (Nuvo); Loop Braid Stencil and Cincinnati Sequin Mix (Catherine Pooler);

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);

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)