Bats, Pumpkins and Boo to You!

 I don't send many Halloween cards but I do like to have some on hand.  I have two boxes of Halloween stamps, dies and ephemera - some of it never used yet -  so there's that reason too!

So for this card I used three new Lavinia Stamps for the first time (pumpkins and bats), a baseboard frame from Tim Holtz that I've had a package of for a year and never used one of them, and Regions Beyond die set (candle and crow) that I've also had for over a year and never used!

  

I seem to buy things after season when they are on sale and then forget I have them?!?

I'm sending my card to:

Just Us Girls

Inspired by the pumpkins, window and candle.

ends 9/26

NBUS

first time using pumpkin and bat stamps, Baseboard window frames, Regions Beyond die cuts (candle and crow)

Inspired by Challenge

ends 9/24

Cardz 4 Guyz

Inspired by Fall  

Stamps: Playful Pumpkin, Ickle Pumpkins, Flittermice - Lavinia, A Great Big Owl (sentiment)- Waltzingmouse (retired).
Ink: Nocturne - Versafine Clair.
Paper: White, True Black - PTI, DP Enchanted - Authentique, Ghosts and Goblins - DCWV.
Other Supplies: Baseboard Window Frames - Tim Holtz/Idea-ology, Regions Beyond die set - Tim Holtz/Sizzix, Tiny Twinkles - Taylored Expressions, Orange Peel Stickles, Copics Y38, YG03, E37, E00, C1, foam dots.

A Smokey Sage Birthday!

 I'm having a table at two local Craft Shows this fall and I'm madly creating to fill my boxes with cards.

So today, I looked to the Color Hues Challenge for inspiration for colors.  Sometimes the colors just do not speak to me -  but today they did!

I used the Folk Flower Layering Stencil from Claire Brennan Design (retired) and a Dots and Stripes Stencil from Wendy Vecchi (also retired).    For the colors I used Ranger Distress Inks Stormy Sky and Bundled Sage.  The sentiment is a Better Press Plate and die set.   I added one enamel dot to the center of the flower. 

The Color Hues Challenge

ends 9/29

Stencil Fun Challenge

Optional Theme Nature  ends 10/4

Seize the Birthday

ends 9/23

Paper: White - Papertrey Ink, Better Press Cotton Card Bisque - Spellbinders
Ink: Stormy Sky and Bundled Sage - Ranger Distress, Better Press Black - Spellbinders.
Other Supplies: Folk flower 2 piece stencil - Claire Brennan Design (retired), Dots and Stipes Stencil - Wendy Vecchi (retired), You Are Everything Sentiments - Better Press Plate and Die Set., Enamel Dot - Altenew, foam dots.

Inkspirational Challenge #350 - Word Prompt Trees

 Today, I'm sharing two cards I made for the newest Inkspirational Challenge that posted today.

I created my backgrounds using two different Northern Lights tutorials on YouTube which I've linked below if you are interested in trying them.

For my first card I found this YouTube Video by Ciara T Designs  - Beautiful Northern Nights.  She sponges vertical lines of blues and green for the sky along with a darker blue and black around the edges.

I used Ranger Distress Inks on this one, stamped the trees in Nocturne Versafine Clair and splattered with water.

For my second card below I watched this YouTube Video by Marilyn G - Northern Light Demo.  She uses two curved horizontal patches of green and purple color along with dark blue and black.

I used Ranger Distress Oxide inks on this one accept for the black which is Ranger Distress.  I stamped the image with Nocturne Versafine Claire.   I splattered this panel with water as well -  but it made a more muted splatter since the inks were Oxides so I then added "star" dots with a white Gel Pen.  

So please join in our challenge and link up your card inspired by TREES over at the Inkspirational Blog where you will also find creative inspiration by the rest of the talented DT!

This challenge ends on 9/26

I'm sending my Oh, Holy Night card to:

Peace on Earth Christmas

Inspired by the blues and trees ends 9/18

TIME OUT Challenges

Winter nights

Allsorts Challenge

Trees, leaves, plants

ends 9/26

Oh Holy Night Card

Stamps:  Silent Night - PTI (retired), 3 Tree Group - Stamp Oasis (Rubbernecker)

Paper:  White, True Black - Papertrey Ink.

Ink:  Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Chipped Sapphire, Evergreen Bough, Wilted Violet, Black Soot - Ranger Distress, Nocturne - Versafine Clair (for sentiment)

Other Supplies:  Blender Brushes, water mister.

Wishing You Peace

Stamps:  Lakeside Cabin - Stamp Scapes, Christmas Greetings - Lavinia Stamps.

Paper:  White, True Black - Papertrey Ink.

Ink:  Chipped Saphire, Wilted Violet, Cracked Pistachio - Ranger Distress Oxide, Black Soot - Ranger Distress, Nocturne - Versafine Claire (for sentiment)

Other Supplies:  Blender Brushes, water mister.

Another Year of Adventure

 A friend asked me to make her a card to send to friends who go camping in a trailer.

I pulled out some barely used older stamp sets to create this camping in the forest scene.  She will write her own note inside the card.

The background is DP from Forest/Stamperia.  The stamps and die cuts are from Happy Camper and the sentiment is from Peek A Boo Pals Camp Wanna stamps from Avery Elle. The camper and wagon are popped up on foam dots.

I'm sending my card to:

Just Us Girls

Ends 9/10

I.D.E.A.S

week 1  Ink/Color medium 

I used Copics to color the images

Stamps: Happy Camper - MFT (out of business), Peek a Boo Pals/Camp Wanna - Avery Elle.
Ink: Nocturne - Versafine Clair.
Paper: White - PTI, Watercolor Paper - Canson Cold Press, DP - Forest/Stamperia.
Other Supplies: Happy Camper Die Set - MFT (out of business), foam dots, COPICS YR09, YG23, E35, E33, C6, T2, BG10.

August 2025 Card Chain Challenge Reveal

 Today's the day all of the cards exchanged through the Card Chain Challenge  for August are being revealed over at the blog.  I sent my card to Carol in the UK and received a card from Arlene in California!

We are always given several options to inspire our card designs - but we only have to use one.  

This month I used the colors (which I rarely do as I hate being told what colors to use!), I "sort of" used the Sketch, the themes of Tropical and Friendship and the technique of Stenciling! 

Phew!  I got a lot of the suggestions in this month - I think this might be the most ever for me!

I used a Pool Water Stencil on my background which is white hammered cardstock. I die cut the squares and the cool summer drink is a rub-on from Taperlogy!

Instead of making a card that opens - I used a die cut easel on the back so the panel stands up for display!

Please pop over to the Card Chain Challenge Blog to see all the cards exchanged and to join us next month if you are so inspired - you'll find all the details for signing up here!  

Also sending my card to:

Dragonfly Dreams

Lots of Layers - ends 9/6

Paper Players

Center Horizonal line

Bright Colors   Free  Enamel Dots 

ends 9/5

Stamps:  Just Sentiments: Summer - Papertrey Ink.

Ink:  Soft Lilac - Altenew, Nocturne Versafine Clair.

Paper:  Hammered White - Amazon, Amethyst Allure, Summer Sunrise, and Raspberry Fizz - Papertrey Ink.

Other Supplies:  Square Nestability dies - Sizzix, Pool Water Stencil - Papertrey Ink, Summer Vacation Collection Rub Ons - Taperlogy, enamel dots - Altenew, foam dots, Blender Brush, Small Easel  Bigz Die - Sizzix.

Inkspirational #349 - Add a Tag

 The newest Inkspirational Challenge is up today - 

and here is the DT card I made for it.......with a tag added!

I adhered it to the card with a single foam dot in the center so the receiver can easily remove and hang up the tag if they want to!

The tag is 3 3/4" diameter.

I made 2 more tags using this die set but didn't attach them to cards!

I made the tags using Hey Honeycomb Flower Power Die, Inflated Sentiments Stamp Set, and Honey Comb Balls - all from The Greetery.

So please join us and add a tag to your card design!  

You'll find inspiration from the rest of the talented Design Team as well as Mr. Linky over at the Inkspirational Blog!

This challenge ends on 9/12!

Also sending my card to:

We Love Stamping

Flowers  ends 9/4

Seize the Birthday

end 9/9

NBUS

First time using the flower dies

Allsorts Challenge

Birthday ends 9/12

Stamps:  Inflated Sentiments - The Greetery

Ink:  Nocturne - Versafine Clair, Aqualicious - Altenew

Paper:  Hammered White - Amazon, White, Hibiscus Burst, Hawaiian Shores, Summer Sunshine, DP Bitty Big Pale Peony - Papertrey Ink.

Other Supplies:  Hey Honeycomb Flower Power Dies- The Greetery, Make a Wish Arch Labels die - Spellbinders, Honey Comb Balls - The Greetery, Twine.

Smell the Sea and Feel the Sky

 A blogging friend of mine (Michele Ferguson - thank you!) posted a card a while ago using stamps from the now retired Sandy Toes set from Waffle Flower.    She was nice enough so send me a stamped and die cut set of the images and I just made a card using 3 of the 5 images.

I colored the images with Copics, added an enamel heart to the beach ball and board and popped the images up on foam dots.

The background is a wonderful piece of DP that I only had a small piece of so this card is a 3"x6" mini slim card!

The sentiment is from a Colorado Craft set, Seas the Day.

I loved this Sandy Toes set so much I contacted Waffle Flower by e-mail on their web site to see if, by any chance there was a set of these stamps hanging around in their warehouse - and they looked but no, none there. They did say if enough people write in to request it be made again - they would! 

I used the colors from this weeks Color Challenge over on Splitcoaststampers where I have been one of their Guest DT's for the month of August.

I'm also sending my card to:

Festive Friday

I used Beach ball, sand, and relax sentiment

ends 8/26

Love those Pretty Papers

Optional Theme - Summer

ends 8/31

I.D.E.A.S.

Week 4 Anything Goes

NBUS

first time using the image and sentiment stamps

Stamps: Sandy Toes - Waffle Flower (retired), Seas the Day - Colorado Craft
Paper: water color paper, DP Beach Vibes - Honey Bee Stamps
Ink: Nocturne - Versafine Clair
Accessories: Sandy Toes Dies - Waffle Flower (retired), Copics RV25, Y17, RY04, R20, BG10, E00, E33, foam dots, acrylic hearts - Altenew