Tulips on Wood

Hello Friends,

Am doing a last minute entry to the July Edition - Throwback Woodblock Wednesday. Just finished the card yesterday and took a photo today.

The wooden stamp is an oldie by Whipper Snapper Designs. I bought it on eBay so don't know how old it is. Cute, though. Right?

Here's my card: 

I stamped the image in Memento Tuxedo Black so I could use SU Blends to color. Used Light and Dark Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Pretty in Pink, and Soft Succulent with touches of brown. 

Next I mounted this focal point on black c.s. then embossed the whole thing with my SU Subtle embossing folder. 

For the background I embossed a rectangle of Old Olive with a newer folder by Simon Says Stamp called Floral Festoon. It has tulips and stems that unfortunately do not show much. 

Am quite fond of this card. Left off a sentiment as I couldn't figure out where to put one. Any ideas? Help!

A lovely cool but smokey day here in MN. I love that it isn't so hot today. :-)  A day to create.

Thank you for visiting and I hope you will come by again. Love your comments!

Roses and Pink

 Hi Again,

This rose die cut has been on my desk top for ages and it was time for it to be shown. It was a gift some time ago from my friend Linda W. Scrappin.Bari  Many thanks...I love it and its twin. 

I think this die cut in black and white is lovely without any coloring added. So I just glued it onto a rectangle of SU Pink Pirouette. 

Easy to finish. I mounted the pink onto a sliver of black, then a bit of white. The card base is black. Inside is some white for a message.

To be honest, I goofed and got a smooge on the pink. To cover that up, I found a nice hello stamp that fit on an oldie but goodie SU Oval Tag punch cut out. The hello is from a recent set called Let's Chat. 

Whew!

A lovely summer weekend here in MN. Not too hot and not too humid. My daughter and great-granddaughter visited yesterday which was wonderful.

Thank you for visiting and I hope you will come by again.

CCC July 2025

Greetings!

  

It's time for my Card Chain Challenge July 2925 entry. May and June were busy busy months for me, so here I am for July! I've been doing this challenge for years and have loved making cards to send the world over. I've missed seeing you all with the cards you have made.

I made my card this month for Julia in Massachusetts. Hope she likes it. Do you? She has received it!!

When I looked at the sketch idea my mind saw a vase with a flower, so my card is an interpretation of that. Amongst all my hoard supplies, could not find a vase large enough for the idea in my head.

Searching through my dies, I found a old die from PTI called Mega Mat Stack 2 and voila! I saw a vase! So I die cut 2 from SU Temping Turquoise card stock and  and did some surgery making my vase. I used a circle punch punch to create the curved opening. 

Next I looked and found a NBUS die from Altenew called Streamlined Sprig. I cut two in SU Olive Olive and lopped off the flower. Next I took the separate flower die from the set and cut two from Powder Pink card stock. I cut two of all the elements on this card for some dimension. 

Before assembling the card, I embossed the vase with the retired SU/Sizzix embossing folder called Houndstooth. The sentiment is from the Taylored Expressions Simple Strips stamp and die set.

The card base, an A2 side opening one, is in SU's Smoky Slate card stock that I embossed with the Suble folder. I added a white piece inside and put the last pink flower in the corner. I'll write a note before mailing. I will add this card to NBUS Challenge #76.

Sketch Option:  

 

Color Option:

It has been hot and humid lately here in MN, typical July weather. I'm glad I have air conditioning!

Thank you for visiting and I hope you will come by again. 

Fancy Circles for Christmas

 

Hello There,

A card this time for my Christmas stash and an entry to the Christmas Kickstart Challenge #100. What a fun idea to call this challenge a Merry-go-round when they are really just asking for circles or dots on a Christmas card. Cute idea, I think. I've placed this shiny focal point on a white card base from PTI atop a shiny black stripe done for some balance.

I first searched my stash of foiled cardstock and found this pretty green and red paper in an ancient stack from DCWV. Luckily I had enough for me to use my old Lil' Inker die to cut out and showcase the dotted circles embossing folder. This is a fairly new one for me from Stampin Up called Dotted Circles. It is still available!

As you can see, I am having trouble lining up my card and typing my how-to, but I'll continue anyway.

 I used my SU Mini Stampin' Cut machine to cut out the Merry Christmas banner die from Hero Arts. It's found some places on the Internet. I love this die and won't ever get rid of it.

Really a simple colorful CAS card which is my favorite style. I've left the inside blank for now, maybe for a note when I mail it.

Bye for now from a lovely day and evening here in MN. I love having my windows open before the real heat and rain starts up again.

Thank you for visiting, and I hope you will come by again. I love seeing your comments and will come visit you too. 😊

My Christmas Critters

 Hello Again:

I couldn't resist making a card for this challenge, the latest Christmas Kickstart Challenge #99. So fun seeing the sample critters cards and my card was fun to color. 

This cute stamps set is from Gerda Steiner and I don't think I've used it before. So am linking to NBUS #75 also.

These images were all stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. The coloring is partly SU Blends and partly various colored pencils. I used some white enamel ink and white embossing powder for the hat trim trying to make it look fluffy. Not my best effort, I'm afraid, but I like the card anyway. 

I love the expressions on the kittys faces, don't you?  Made me laugh as I colored them. I do not have a cat presently, I am really a dog person, however, both my daughters have cats and I do love them.

It is nice having another Christmas card made for my stash. I love sending cards and of course, receiving them.

Bye for now. A lovely and warm summer day and evening here in MN. Some smoke in the air but not too bad. 

Hugs to you all!

Thank you for visiting and I hope you will come by again.Thank you for commenting. :-) 

Making A Call

 Hello, can you hear me?

Ever since my trip to London, I've been obsessed with everything British. Here is my latest discovery, a new stamp from Penny Black.  It is called Calling London and I love it and it is still available. Now I am adding this card to May Edition Woodblock Wednesday

Aren't these critters cute. I did color the image pretty closely to the stamp as I like that so much. After stamping on white c.s. with Memento Ink, I got busy with various SU Blends. I used Boho Blue, Wild Wheat, Pink Pirouette and Basic Gray, all in the light shades. Used regular Basic Black, and Real Red pens. Blends are lovely to color with.

I used an oldie but goodie die set from Lil' Inker Designs called Stitched Mats: Rectangles to cut out and frame my image. I'll never get rid if this set. :-)

As this is the first outing of this stamp, I am adding this to Darnell's NBUS #74.

Warm and rainy today and more sun and rising temps coming this week. Guess summer is here!

Thank you for visiting and I hope you will come by again.

A Frisky Fellow

 Howdy,

A frisky fellow, probably, but he stood still for the picture. LOL Actually, the stamped horse in chocolate is a part of a series of horse prints I received from SusanBri on SCS after I admired her posted card. Isn't he a handsome horse? Thanks so much Susan.

This card is for the April 2025 Card Chain Challenge. I chose two of the suggested colors for this month, orange and brown. The orange card base is retired SU Tangerine Tango. Luckily I have both the cardstock and the ink pad. 

The wonderful sentiment is also SU, from a newer set called Storybook Friends. A great set, IMHO. I used it again for Easter cards for my grands and great-granddaughter.

Anyway, an easy card to make. I die cut the horse print that came on nice cardstock with Spellbinders Fluted Classics Rectangles die set circa 2021.

I am pleased with the card, hope you like it too.

BTW, it never even occured to me to color in the horse. He is brown as is and I would mess up the fine image. I think he is great.

Theme Options: Hats / Rabbit / Friendship

Thank you for visiting and I hope you will come by again.

Easter Card Fun

 Happy Easter!

Here are the three Easter cards that I made for my grands and my great-granddaughter. I know the funny bunny on a box went to my grandson, but of the other two, I am not sure which went to my college age granddaughter and which to the little one. 

I think this one went off to PA where my grand is finishing up college. I've put away all the images here except the bunny that is a older die from Cherry Lynn Designs. The eggs are retired dies from Stampin' Up. 

Next up, here I used a SU brick embossing folder for the gray backround on a white cardbase. This adorable bunny who was supposed to be sitting on the box, but was too tall. He is from Stampingbella. I saw him for sale a few places online.

Last by not least, is the card that with the same bunny as before

cut in pink cardstock and surrounded by eggs from Clearly Besotted. More eggs and greetings are under the flaps. I know I colored them with SU Blends which are becoming a favorite coloring medium for me. 

We are having a wonderful Spring here and I hope it is nice wherever you are. 🌷🌷

Thank you for visiting and I hope you will come by again.

A Floral Birthday Card

 Hello Again!

Today I am showing a card casing one by Vicki at Heartwarmers From Vicki. It is my one of my first ventures into fun folds in years! Thank you Vicki for sharing your how-to.

The DSP used here is SU Wildflower part of a 6 x 6 product share I bought from demo Heidi Collins. She included this wonderful die cut flower arrangement, so making this card was pretty easy. Many thanks Heidi.

I used Basic Gray cardstock for the card base and some white inside where I stamped my greeting. This Happy Birthday stamp is from a long retired SU set called Vertical Greetings. I'll never get rid of the set, though have not used it in ages.

A fun card to make and I hope you like it. My adult granddaughter's birthday is soon, so she'll get the card.

Thank you for visiting and I hope you will come by again.

P.S. I love it when you comment!

A chilly Spring day here in Minnesota, but beutifiully sunny. That makes me happy. You too?

Fun Stripes

 Howdy~

Below is my card for the March Card Chain Challenge. It is wending its way to Austria. I used the following options:

Theme Options: Stripes / Africa / Friendship

Color Palatte Option:

As you can see, I didn't crop this photo very well. Sometimes I forget how to do that. lol  Also, to my eyes, the photo looks almost dark brown and white stripes, but trust me, it is black and white. I used SU cling set called Layered Stripes with Versafine Onyx black ink. 

On top is a flower die by Simon Says Stamp that came with the Alstroermeria Bunch e f and die set. I cut the flower from water color paper so it is a bit textured. The card base is PTI, my go to white cardstock. 

The little sentiment is from the Waffle Flower Postage Collage that I believe was a gift but I don't recall who sent it. Thank you friend who sent it! I colored it with a pink marker before attaching it here.

What do you think? I like the card.

Thank you for visiting and I hope you will come by again.

Super Fantastic

 Greetings!

A quick card today as my great granddaughter and daughter are coming over. Yay!

Yay also for the wonderful ride I had on the London Eye on my trip recently. A highlight of the trip for sure. I bought this wooden stamp from Penny Black as soon as I saw it was available. I am entering this to the Woodblock Wendesday challenge. 

I stamped it on a piece from a recent SU set called Everyday Skies. I colored in the bottom of the pods where people sit or look out the window. The sentiment comes form SU Charming Sentiments which I did surgery on to lob off the bottom part. I mounted this focal point in black c.s. then onto a white base that was embossed, but have forgotten which one. Sorry.

The day we went was cloudy and rainy at sunset when we went, but it was really super fantastic fun. Also fun was that it was lit up pink! Alas, I could not figure out to make my rendition pink. Imagine it. OK?

Bye for now. It is rainy and cloudy this weekend here in the Twin Cities. 

Thank you for visiting and I hope you will come by again.

Happy Almost Spring

Hello Spring:

I made a card for The Paper PLayers Color Challenge: PP728 a challenge I have not entered in a very long time. I love the colors Jaydee has chosen and knew I had markers and blends that would match well. I like this card. Do you?

I left off a sentiment not knowing to whom or when I might send the card. Besides, there is not much room for one 😄

Here is my Springy card:

I found within one of my tulips die envelopes a white die cut all ready for coloring. This die is from Taylored Expressions.  I colored it using SU Blends and Tombow ABT markers. I do not believe I had ever used the markers before so will add this to NBUS #72.

I think I used all of colors Jaydee suggested, then pasted the pretty die cut onto white rectangles cut with SU retired Rectangles Stiched Framelits Dies. 

Next I looked and found a piece of cardstock from the current SU dsp called Everyday Skies that matched the pink tulip pretty well. 

Then to finish I glued this whole topper onto a card base of SU grey called Smokey Slate. I wanted the flowers to be the star.

All done, suprisingly I've made several cards this month and here I thought I was in a slump. lol

Happy Spring. There are good signs here that it is coming, but snow in March happens often. I have loved the warmer days.🌷

Thank you for visiting and I hope you will come by again.

Pink Flowers and Circles

 Almost Spring Greetings!

I haven't entered The FLower Challenge in ages, but made one this time to honor their big 100 challenges festival.

The Flower Challenge: #100  is a special challenge. Right? I had this embossing folder with circles laying out to use for the first time, so am adding the card to NBUS #72.

                        

Here are some details. I used Stampin' Up! fairly new folder called Dotted Circles. I inked up the folder with Hero Hues Unicorn white pigment ink and placed a piece of SSS Midnight Green paper inside before embossing. Next I went to work to find a nice flower from my stash. This one is retired SU Stippled Blossoms and I found out that I don't have the dies. Therefore the flowers and leaves are fussy cut out! Not my favorite thing to do. Do you like to do it?

Anyway, I love pink, so used WendyVecchi Pink Peony with touches of Granny Apple Green and Handsome Hunter ink.

 To finish I added a sentiment from Newton's Nook Designs called Orchids. The set is still available. To anchor the sentiment, I fussy cut some green c.s. to mount it on.

That is it for now. We got several inches of snow last night and today, but I know Spring is coming before too long. Yay!

Thank you for visiting and I hope you will come by again.

Feathered Hugs

 Hello!

I have not entered the Snippets Playground Challenge in ages so I quickly made a card using snippets. So I am sending this to Snippets Playground: Challenge #500* My snippets mainly come from using my Stampin Up Owl Punch from 2016 on paper laying around. I am not sure if I have ever posted a card with this punch, so am adding this card to NBUS Challenge # 71.

Sorry my picture is so blurry. Not exactly sure why.

To make this card I used several shades of brown paper from my "to use" drawer which is full right now, I confess. Anyway, I glued the owl pieces together and mounted them on a circle I found with ridges on it like tree bark. I colored that piece with a SU Early Espresso marker. The two circles were cut with SU Stylish Shapes dies, a current set.  

The base card is one hanging out on my desk waiting to be used. Not sure what the mfg or color is. 

The sentiment is from MFT Warm & Feathered Hugs circa 2018. It is available a few places on line. After stamping I fussy cut it out 

That's it for now. Hugs from a warm 40 degree evening here in Minnesota. Unusual weather for February!

* I just realized the card should be celebrating something, so my card may not be right for the prize. One could read this card as celebrating friendship as I am sending it to my friend in California. 

Thank you for visiting and I hope you will come by again.

I'm Back...

 

Happy Greetings,

Realized I hadn't posted my CCC card before I left for London, so two posts in a row. Getting old. Did you know I am in my 80's?

Did you know my daughter took me on a trip to London for eight days? We are back!

What was my favorite thing we did in London? Riding the London Eye. So much fun. See the picture below that was taken by my daughter.

We went near sunset hoping to see that, but it was raining. But how fun it was pink. The pod capules to hold us were quite big, holding maybe 30 people. They look black in this picutre. 

The ride took about 1/2 hour and we could see so much of the London area including the river. Loved every moment of the ride.

I cought a nasty cold on the way back, so will stop for now. Hope you all are well and happily crafting.

Hugs from back in cold Minnesota.

Thank you for visiting and I hope you will come by again.

First Card in 2025

Hello Again,

My Card Chain Challenge submission is on the way to Gail in Norway. I used the color suggestion this month using colors I have that match the best. 

It was fun trying to come up with an idea for Gail, our coordinator. Hope she likes the card. What do you think?

The cardbase is SU Pecan Pie. For a monochromatic background, I inked up a wonderful NBUS stamp to me from PTI called Weaved Background. It is on sale currently.

Next I searched through my many, many floral stamps for just the right flower that had a matching die. Found retired Irrestible Blooms also SU that fit the bill. Used a oldie but goodie ink called Orchard Opulence for the flowers along with Garden Green for the leaves. 

I kept my front greeting simple. Then I stamped inside (on white cardstock) the phrase "I couldn't be happier to have you as my friend" from the same stamp set above. 

Thank you for visiting and I hope you will come by again. Won't be back for a while, off to London!