Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Thanksgiving Cards

Finally made a card with PTI's Fall Bouquet stamps and dies.  The PTI September Challenge colors are Sweet Blush, Harvest Gold and Orange Zest. 
Fun to use my Sweet Blush and Orange Zest patterned papers a friend gave me.  I also used Sweet Blush cardstock and ink, Harvest Gold cardstock and ink and Orange Zest ink.  The pumpkin, flower cluster and sentiment (Take 3 Fall) were white embossed.  I used second generation stamping with Orange Zest for the outline of the sunflower and leaves before using the solid stamps with Harvest Gold.  The flower center was filled with Stickles.  I need a new Sweet Blush ink cube, so had to stamp the leafy branches multiple times using my MISTI.  Cover Plate: Herringbone was cut from Sweet Blush cardstock and Shape Shifters: Circle 3 from vellum.  I found tiny gems in my stash to finish off this card with more layers than I usually make, but I really enjoyed putting it together.  
As I was looking for an old card in my blog, I came across some I'd made using my neglected Distress Paints.  That inspired me to pull them out for another Thanksgiving card.
I used a wet flat brush with peeled paint, fired brick, abandoned coral and wild honey.  Poppystamps Whittle Field and Trees die was cut from a shimmery copper brown paper which is really beautiful in person.  I found just the right sentiment in GKD Autumn Wreath Builder.  Versafine Clair Pinecone stamped perfectly on the paint, although I did double stamp just to be sure it was completely inked.  I seldom use color block techniques, so it was fun to do something different.  I'm entering JUGS using the picture of the trees in the top center of the mood board.  Also entering Time Out since Fall colors here are shades of green, red, orange and yellow.  The trees have really started changing colors in the last 2 weeks.  My card is also going in the galleries for Poppystamps, SSS Monday and WAW.
Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.


Friday, September 18, 2026

Halloween and Friendship

I'm honored Nonni asked me to join her Vintage Vibes Card Making Hop on IG.  It's not a style I make very often, but I have the perfect Halloween paper by Graphic 45.  
My dear friend, Betty, sent me home with several sheets the first time I visited her.  I darkened the edges of the panel and added brown Distress Stickles to the sunflower centers.  For the mat, I embossed brown cardstock with Altenew's Playful Leaves folder.  I inked and lightly distressed the edges before adding the light tan lace and pearls from my stash.  If you use IG, check out the creations of the many talented designers.  You can find the list of participants in my IG post.  I'm entering WAW. 
Next is my idea of a seasonal transition card with flowers and what I call dusty ink colors.  I've only made one card with SSS Long Stem Florals and I didn't use the stencils.  
Love the look of these images and it's really fun to add color with the stencils.  The inks I used are Altenew's Glacier Iris, Amethyst, Dusty Pink and Sagestone.  I die cut the panel with PFS Nesting Postage Rectangle and splattered with black ink.  Thought the font of this Verve sentiment went perfectly with the flowers.  Pretty sure that Verve stamp set had never been used and it has lots of wonderful small sentiment stamps.  I'm entering SSS IG, SSS Flickr, WAW and NBUS.
Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.


Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Happy Anniversary and Thankful

Very grateful it's feeling like Fall now.  We even had a few rainy days, which we really needed.  Still lots of dangerous weather in many places.  I hope things are OK where you are.
I like masking a frame, which I haven't done for quite awhile.  That's how my card for Color Hues Dusty Blue and Brown began.  
I only found 2 dusty blue inks in my huge stash of ink pads and one of them was SSS Hybrid Steel Blue.  Not every ink lets the details show with more solid stamps like SSS Anna's Flowers, but this one stamped perfectly.  It's a richer color than shows in the photo and I need to remember to use it.  The little branches from an old Gina K set were stamped in Altenew Rocky Shore--a lovely shade of brown.  I splattered both inks before adding the Winnie and Walter sentiment.  If you look closely, you can see 2 tiny white hearts above the h.  They're Gina K embellishments which I covered with shimmer.  Glad to have this card ready for my sister's anniversary next month.  I entered WAW via IG.
I'm truly thankful for my sweet cardmaking friends around the world.  One of them gave me CN9 Autumn Splendor stamp set and dies.  JUGS Die Week: Thanks gave me the motivation to use these products for the first time.  
I pulled out a variety of cardstock colors.  Decided to use a different green for each type of leaf and 2 shades of rose for the flowers.  The berries were die cut from a soft gold glitter cardstock and I added gold splatters.  You can see the shimmer and shine in my IG post.  Pearls were my favorite embellishment years ago and I was happy I still had some of the Latte ones to use for the flower centers.  It was a lot of diecutting, but so fun to see the card come to life.  Of course the look can be totally different by changing up the colors.  You can also use the images without the background piece, so I may try that next.  I'm also entering WAW.
Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.


Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Anniversary and Exchange Card

We're celebrating our 47th anniversary this week and here's the card I made for my hubby.  It was the perfect opportunity to use SSS Friendship Leafy Cluster.  I have a music box collection and the one in the photo was a gift from hubby many years ago.  
I stamped and embossed the branches in gold, using my MISTI.  Hubby loves the combo of blue and green, so I blended Altenew Persian Blue and Lagoon through the matching stencils.  Of course I had to add small gold splatters--love the look!  I don't think I've ever used Memory Box Love You Gallery Script die.  I cut the background from a scrap I gold embossed with the same powder I used for the branches.  The white outline was double stacked.  Have to say, this turned out exactly like I wanted.  Can't say that too often.  I'm entering JUGS, Inkspirational and WAW. 
Cards are piling up here, so I sent one of my favorite cards previously posted to Ellie for the August CCC.  
Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.