Thanksgiving Without A Thanksgiving Image

I enjoy making holiday cards from non-holiday images & I love flourish stamps.  That led me to pull out my Penny Black footnote (3857H) & some Zing! embossing powders: Rouge, Apricot, Leaf & Brown Sugar.  This is an easy stamp to line up using a stamp positioner. The embossed panel & card are edged with Delicata Golden Glitz.  I was delighted to find this sentiment in the Penny Black clear set friendship (30-160)--perfect for a Thanksgiving card going to one of my cardmaking friends.  It may have been better to heat emboss the sentiment, but too late now that the panel is attached with foam tape.  I decided against ribbon & just used some gems for embellishment.  Since the Simon Says challenge is Anything Goes, I'm linking my card there. They carry Penny Black & I have my eye on the new complimentary die for this stamp--fancy flourish, 51-020. Hope your weekend includes some fun, relaxation & craft time. Thanks for brightening my day with your visit.
Edited to add: Putting this into the collection at The Simplicity blog to save Thanksgiving.

Fall is in the Air

We finally had some rain & cooler temperatures--a sign that Fall is coming. Still have a couple more days at the lake planned before the end of the season as the sun is supposed to be back tomorrow. Thinking ahead a bit, I pulled out my MFT Thankful Leaves stamp set & dies to make my card for this week's sketch challenge. The die cut leaves were brayered with Autumn Leaves rainbow pad, dry embossed & sponged with Delicata Golden Glitz.  The script was stamped & then I added a wash of inks using my waterbrush (inspired by Alexandra) & sponged the edges with the Golden Glitz.  The leaves were stamped on the card front in VersaMark & sponged with Golden Glitz.  
Can you tell I love that ink?!  Sorry it doesn't really show in the picture.  Finished off with pearls & twine.  Thanks for stopping by--your comments are always an encouragement.

Sugar Coated Background

Card Made Years Ago

Couldn't pass up making a card for one PTI Stamp-A-Faire challenge after work.  I was so happy to see Betsy's video for the Sugar Coated Background--something out of my past. In fact, here's the card I made in one of my first stamping classes many years ago.  It was simple & the effect was magical to me.


For my challenge card I used PTI Snowflake Flurries & stamped the images with shades of blue & lavender.  I used my Kewl tool to pounce a little of the lavender ink on the sentiment panel.  Now if I could just figure out how to photograph glitter!  It really is such a gorgeous effect in person. 

Close up 

  
Time for a movie with hubby, but I'll catch up with all of you soon. Wishing you a great week.

Edited To Add: I'm entering this card in the Holiday Card Challenge in the Moxie Fab World. 
  

Life is Sweet

 

My weekend to work so unable to participate in much of the PTI Stamp-A-Faire, but I did get a card made for the PTI August Blog Hop. All 6 sketch & color combo options would be fun to use, but I knew immediately with time for only one card I had to choose the Blueberry Summer Smoothie.  Aren't the colors just divine?!  

I used a combination of stamps from PTI Rosie Posie & The Sweet Life.  I'd had my eye on the canvas/linen impression plate for ages & finally ordered it.  The subtle texture on the circle was just what I needed--gives interest without detracting from the bouquet.  Decided against adding ribbon & settled on just 3 white sequins for embellishments.  I'll use this for a birthday card--celebrating life. This is also my entry for the Something Sweet challenge at A Passion for Papertrey.  
Thanks so much for checking out my card & hope you get to enjoy the hop. That's what I'll be doing after work.

Edited to add: Thanks to my friend Carol, I'm also entering the current challenge at CAS on Sunday.

Fancy Balloons

We had a great few days at the lake & thought I'd share some pictures.  The full moon was really breathtaking, but hard to capture.  


I always got out of the water first, so no picture of me in the lake, but I can assure you I looked just as relaxed & happy as hubby!

Did a few chores & since I have one more day off, decided to save the rest for tomorrow--I'm good at that--LOL!  

I had the idea to make my left over Penny Black balloon dies (uplifting, 51-004) from THIS CARD into fancy balloons, but didn't have time before we left. Tonight I looked through my Penny Black stamps & found 3 flourish type ones I could use parts of: deco (3978K), footnote (3857H), butterfly symphony (30-148).  After white embossing, I rubbed each with a metallic Gelato & blended with my finger.  I used Cathy's technique of wiping the embossed area with a wet wipe.  The embossing folder is by Cuttlebug & the Penny Black sentiment, stamped in Brilliance Starlight Black on vellum, is from eloquence (30-162).  The balloons are mounted with foam tape & adorned with a clear sticker that is fairly flat, so I think this card will be easily mailed. I'm really glad you took time to come by.  
I'll be catching up on your work in the next few days. 

Make A Wish

Oh boy did I have fun making my card for this week's MFT sketch challenge!  I bought several sheets of these Chatterbox double-sided papers years ago & they're still one of my favorite collections.  Decided they'd be perfect to paper piece this sweet girl in the MFT Make A Wish set--a recent purchase.  I colored her hair with markers & used a soft colored Gelato to watercolor her body.  The flower is made from the same printed paper using MFT Die-namics Layered Rose & Mini Rolled Roses.  One of my latest die purchases is the Wavy Edge I got in a recent MFT sale & I love it!  The sentiment from the same stamp set is stamped on the back of one of the papers & is cut with the smallest die in the Fishtail Flags Layers. I attached it with the center slightly raised. 

So glad you took time to come by. Your comments are always a bright spot in my day.

Masculine Card

The Challenge at Impression Obsession is "Let's Hear It For The Boys." My stamps are Three Little Twigs (E8829), Screen Cover-a-Card (CC049) & Follow Your Heart (CL407).  I used my Malachite embossing powder which gives a lovely metallic effect.  I filled in the outline letters with embossing fluid so they would show up more. Had fun adding a couple stitches to the sentiment piece--don't usually do that.  I'm thinking this could be a thank you card for a guy.

So glad you took time to come by.  I always appreciate your comments.

  
  

With Sympathy

Inspiration by Therese

There's a gorgeous inspiration card by Therese at MUSE this week.  I love the dramatic effect she achieved with the colors & silhouette images. However, since I was about to make a sympathy card, I chose soft colors (Distress Inks pumice stone, bundled sage, weathered wood) which I spritzed after inking to get splotches like the inspiration card. I experimented with black, gray & dark green, but really liked the look of my stamping done with Memento Espresso Truffle.  

You probably think it's black looking at the photo, but in person there's a big difference. My stamps are verdant, 4310K & eloquence, 30-162--both by Penny Black.

Yesterday was another perfect day out on the lake.  We were again thrilled to have a bald eagle fly by a couple times & land in a tree.  Unfortunately, there's no such thing as being totally still when you're in a boat & I'm not a great photographer.  

Maybe you can still tell this is the eagle if you click the photo to enlarge it. Wishing you happy moments.

It's Coming, It's Coming!

Penny Black's new release of Christmas stamps & dies is almost here!  Check out the blog to see a video with a sneak peak & wonderful card ideas.  While you're there leave a comment to be in the running for the prize worth $100! My wishlist is soooo long & I bet yours will be, too!  

Summer Flowers

The Craft's Meow has invited customers to play along with the Summer Blog Hop.  I have a few of their stamp sets & would love some more, so made this card using the popular set called Flower Garden--just right for summer.  The flowers are stamped in VersaMagic Pink Grapefruit & Turquoise Gem.  I made a frame using Spellbinders Labels 10 & Classic Ovals. To add some texture I used my old Kewl tool to sponge on white pigment ink which I then embossed.  Just added pearls & the card was done.  Thanks for your visit--I always appreciate hearing from you.

Vellum for a Birthday

Click HERE for my DeNami Blog Hop Post.

I always look forward to the Monday PTI videos & this week's card by Ashley totally appealed to me. Off I went to see what small images I could find in my PTI sets to use for a randomly stamped background.  Turns out there are dots of various sizes in several of my sets, but I decided to use 3 different images to make my background. The 3 little dots are from Harvest Berries & all the other images are from Quilled Elegance.  I have a few PTI inks & chose Berry Sorbet, Aqua Mist & Simply Chartreuse to stamp on white cardstock.  It's been a long time since I made a card with an entire top panel of vellum--don't know why as I love that look, especially with white embossing.  I ran it through my Xyron machine & attached it to the background.  Fortunately I have one card of My Mind's Eye assorted buttons with one the right size & color. It doesn't always happen, but this time my finished card is just what I wanted--yah! Since I used 3 embellishments (floss, button, pearls) this is my entry for Passion for Papertrey. I'm also adding it to the Birthday Card Challenge in the Moxie Fab World.  Hope you had a great weekend.  Thanks for taking time to stop by.

Sweet & Simple

Welcome to my blog & today's cards for the DeNami Blog Hop. If you're going in order, you were just wowed by Emily! I hope she's happy to see I've started to make use of the purple Washi tape I won in her giveaway. For the first card I made it into a flower topped with a button & a pearl. The background is made with one of the stamps in the Retro Borders 1 set using Memento Grape Jelly ink. 

I used the sketch from the new Seize the Sketch challenge & since I included a button I'll also enter over at CAS-ual Fridays.

My next card is super simple with Washi tape flags, a DeNami sentiment, tiny pearls & ribbon. 

My last card was actually the first one I made--not complicated, but not CAS.  I made it for Melissa's baby shower over at CASology--hope she likes it. I repeatedly stamped & white embossed the double circles, sponged on Distress Ink spun sugar & die cut. The darling giraffe was sponged with the same ink & before it totally dried I heated some white embossing powder & colored with a pink COPIC, so it has a bit of texture. I love the plaid stamp which I stamped in VersaMagic Pixie Dust & clear embossed. The border punch is Martha Stewart. 

Lots more blogs on the hop & next up is the DeNami Addict, Tina. If you want to see the entire line-up & prizes, head over to DeNami. Happy crafting!

Simply the Best!

Two very busy days at work & I was pretty wiped out when I got home. I'm never too tired to work on a card, though, so here's my entry for the new Curtain Call Challenge & CAS(E) This Sketch! using Penny Black's Single Iris & edge to edge stamps & iris die.  

I began by using Gelatos directly on the stamp, spritzed & stamped on watercolor paper.  I tore the panel, sponged the edges with Distress Ink squeezed lemonade & then sprayed on Shimmer Spritz.  I die cut the iris from watercolor paper, applied Gelatos & blended with my waterbrush.  I used foam tape under the blossom & bud & attached it over the stamped flower. The sentiment is stamped in Memento Toffee Crunch.  

In case you wondered what I was talking about in this post, check out Darnell's blog. Enjoy your weekend.

Runway Inspired with Penny Black

You may have seen that Penny Black is playing along with the Runway Inspired Challenge this week & today it's the Stamp Squad's turn. Talk about a gorgeous gown--wowzer! As soon as I saw the picture I thought of Penny Black's glory of modesty cling stamp.  I have to admit, it took several attempts with various papers & inks to get the look I wanted, but it was worth it. The stamp was inked with Distress Ink seedless preserves & stamped on white cardstock. I used my waterbrush & pink watercolor for the flowers which gave me the desired two-tone effect.   

Tattered Angels Pearl Shimmer Mist was sprayed on to capture the shimmer of the satin. Before attaching the piece to a panel of light pink cardstock, I die cut the edge with Spellbinders Classic Scallop.  The edge was slightly bent up & not glued down to give it a feeling of motion.  The ruffles are part of what makes the gown so stunning & that inspired my ribbon treatment, including the flowers I made using dark & light pink ribbons. I love pearls, but if I was wearing this gown my accessories would definitely be diamonds! Therefore clear gems embellish the flower & the sentiment--one of the stamps in the Penny Black set called every happiness. 
What a fun challenge--so glad the Stamp Squad got to play along.  Hope you can join in the fun--the prize is fantastic!

Words of Encouragement

Pretty simple card for the Impression Obsession Words of Encouragement challenge. In Darnell's terms, I wanted to use NBUS--that being my IO Striped Banner, D8821.  I stamped it with 3 Encore Metallic inks--I've had them forever (almost all the colors!) & still love them.  The sentiment is from the IO set called Follow Your Heart, CL407.  I hadn't used any of my flowers in awhile, so 3 of them with some sheer ribbon completed the card.  I'm glad you came to visit & hope you're having a good week.

New Way to Glitter

I recently won a sampling of Zoom Creative Products Mess-Free Glitter. The package contains a double sided tape sheet & a glitter sheet.  It works like a foil sheet & is really slick once you figure it out.  

I'd been wanting to use my Penny Black delicate wings dies with glitter, so decided to give it a try.  I wasn't able to get the intricate die to cut through the tape sheet completely, but the solid one worked great.  I love this gorgeous Caribbean Blue color & I happened to have just the right shade of cardstock to go with it.  

I didn't want to miss another CAS(E) this Sketch! challenge, so it provided my layout. I remember reading that you can group elements together to qualify as CAS, so hope that's how CTS will view my card. MFT Dizzy Doily provides the background for the butterfly which is attached with foam tape. The sentiment from Hero Arts Special Note of Thanks is slightly curved on my acrylic block before stamping & embossing in white on vellum.  The oval die is by LifeStyle Crafts. I'm popping it into the mail to a friend going through a difficult time. Thanks for coming by--your comments are always a bright spot in my day.   

Birthday Roses

It was a glorious day at the lake--gorgeous blue sky & sun, water not too cold AND a bald eagle flew right by us 3 different times!  We always look for eagles, but it had been a long time since we'd seen any.  What a treat! 

My Sunday to work tomorrow so had to get my hair washed & dried.  Just had a little left to do on my PTI MIM card, so finished it and now it's time for bed.  My double stamped background is made with PTI stamps Turning A New Leaf & Background Basics: Text Style.  I used Simply Chartreuse second generation for both stamps to keep it a bit subtle.  The die cut leaves are also from Turning A New Leaf & I used the same ink, but stamped twice to get a darker image.  The roses from The Sweet Life (oh how I love that set!) are stamped in Harvest Gold, Berry Sorbet & Memento Rhubarb Stalk & they're mounted with foam tape.  I stamped the sentiment from Boutique Borders: Birthday in several different ink colors on scratch paper, cut them out & held them on the card to decide which one to use.  That was a tip I learned in a magazine, but can't remember who suggested it.  The last color I tried was Versafine Vintage Sepia & it looked the best to my eye.  I was slow to get on the sequin bandwagon, but they've grown on me & I really like the effect on this card with the 2 shades I found in my stash from years ago. 

This will be another entry in the Birthday Card Challenge in the Moxie Fab World and Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes challenge. Thanks so much for stopping by.

Edited to add: Decided to join in the challenge at Seize the Birthday

Balloon Dies

I've had my new Penny Black balloon dies, uplifting, 51-004, for awhile & had an idea of how I wanted to use them. Finally got it done last night & for once, the picture in my head came out OK on paper--LOL! The white embossed background is made with Penny Black's pointille, 3860J--subtle but adds so much, I think.  I arranged all 5 balloons on my panel & die cut them, saving the balloons for another card.  Then I die cut each balloon out of papers from the Penny Black Madison Paper Pad using blues & yellows for a summery look. I really like the look when you put the die cut image back into the negative space.  The strings are made with white floss tied together with blue & white twine.  I mounted the panel to a blue card with foam tape. Using Brilliance Mediterranean Blue ink I stamped the greeting from Penny Black's transparent sentiments, 30-025, notched the ends of the strip & mounted it with foam tape.  I'm entering the Birthday Card Challenge in the Moxie Fab World & Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes.  Tons of entries, but why not?!  
Edited to add: I'm also going to play along with the challenge at Seize the Birthday.                                       

Don't forget, you still have time to enter the current Penny Black contest. Good luck!

Edited to Add:  I think this would qualify as Bright & Sunny, so I'm entering the Penny Black Saturday Challenge.