Autumn-Themed Cards

Hello everyone!  I've been wanting to play in a card challenge, and I was intrigued by the Tic Tac Toe challenge #104.  I picked the bottom row, which features birthday, coloring & yellow.  I put together an autumn-themed birthday card, with a birthday sentiment inside.  Sometimes I like the simplicity of  'for you' on the front of a clean and simple card.

Stampin' Up! Lovely As A Tree oak leaves stamp, patterned papers; Inspired By Stamping Fancy Label 18 frame stamp; Spellbinders Labels 18 die; yellow clear enamel dots; Copic markers 

And while I was in an autumn mood, I went a little crazy and crafted up all kinds of things with leaves.  LOL

Papertrey Ink Autumn Hills sentiment, tiny pumpkin stamps; Stampin' Up! Autumn Harvest pumpkin stamp, brown embossed die cut; Lawn Fawn Stitched Leaves dies; yellow clear enamel dots; Verve Notebook Paper stamp

Top Dog Dies Fall Foliage acorn die; Lawn Fawn Stitched Leaves dies; Sizzix / Tim Holtz Sewing Room dress form die; My Favorite Things Slanted Sentiment Strips die, Falling Leaves dies; Papertrey Ink Keep It Simple: Thanksgiving sentiment stamp; lace; white crackle paint

Sizzix / Tim Holtz Tattered Leaves die; natural twine; My Favorite Things Mix & Match Banners die; gold & walnut stain Distress Ink sprays; Papertrey Ink Stemmed Statements sentiment stamp

Sizzix / Tim Holtz Tattered Leaves die; gold & walnut stain Distress Ink sprays; Hero Arts With Sympathy sentiment stamp

Sizzix / Tim Holtz Tattered Leaves die; gold & walnut stain Distress Ink sprays; Hero Arts With Sympathy sentiment stamp

Papertrey Ink Autumn Hills sentiment; Stampin' Up! Avant Garden flower stamp (for border); Memory Box Elegant Scrollwork die; tiny acorn from stash

Hope you and your loved ones are doing well.  My husband has been busy repainting our living room, going from a beige that I am tired of, to a pale warm gray.  The woodwork is white, we keep that standard throughout the house.  I'll try to remember to share a pic or two here when it's all finished.  

One of my teeth fell two Fridays ago (a crown with post) while I was eating.  Ugh.  And of course, it was a Friday, so I needed to wait the weekend to have the problem addressed.  I went to a new-to-me dentist office that was highly recommended, and on Monday morning, lo and behold, my tooth that had been given a root canal, where the crown had been, was yanked.  Thankful for nitrous oxide.  I am now in the process of getting a dental implant.  It will be my first.  I hear good things about them.  😀

God bless you!

Howdy Farm Animals

"Hay" there!  😆 

I'm sneaking this farm-inspired masculine birthday card into The Male Room challenge with a day to spare!

Papertrey Ink On The Farm animals, sentiment, checker, 100% circle stamp; natural twine; My Favorite Things Pierced Traditional Tags tag die; ivory candy dots

I'm also entering this at NBUS Challenge, where we need to use our never-before-used-schtuff.  For this card, I had the chance to use the Papertrey Ink On The Farm set's many images.  Previously, I had purchased the animal dies, and also the accompanying Barnyard Sentiments set...but not the main set!  I had to get it so they can all tie together nicely. 😊

And I'm also playing at Krafty Chicks, where the current challenge #544 is "Any Occasion".

We've got snow coming down, but not sure where we'll end up.  We sit in a rather protected area, geographically, and don't usually get slammed with big snow totals.  I think we have about 4" out there now.  

I just took this last photo as I type this post, so you can see how it's coming along!

Psalm 51:7 NIV

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Thanks so much for your visit today!

God bless you!

Wintry Ice Skate

Hello friends!  Happy Sunday!  We've got snow coming down and here in South Jersey we might get 12" - wow.  😮 SO, so, so grateful I work from home at the moment!  Not a fan of driving in this kind of weather.

I'm playing in a couple of challenges with my wintry card.  The first is:  Tic Tac Toe PP# 526 - A Challenge From Laurie.

Stampin' Up! Framed Tulip embossing folder, lace, ice skate die, white cotton twine; Flourishes Let It Snow snowflakes, sentiment; Papertrey Ink Tiny Tags tag die; rhinestone; glitter

I chose the diagonal from top left to bottom right:  die-cut, embossing and blue.  I also happen to have sparkle, and scene on the board.  My ice skate is laced up and sitting amidst a flurry of snowflakes!  There's a panel beneath the ice skate that had been embossed with Stampin' Up!'s Framed Tulips embossing folder.  

This was a fun card to put together, because I could add a little of this and a little of that.  There's a snippet of an old book page on here that was begging to be used up, as well as a piece of lace.

I'm also entering at a new-to-me challenge called Rudolph Days, where anything goes as long as it's Christmas!

Thanks so much for your visit!

God bless you!

Bird-Themed Cards

Hello everyone!  We have a cold day here in NJ; today's high is 28 degrees!  Very cold indeed, and super windy, too.  I am grateful for a warm home, and sunshine pouring in our windows.  I'm burning a Peppermint candle from Antique Candle Co.  I bought the bundle while it's on sale.  It smells soooo good!

I've got some bird-themed cards to share with you, and I'm entering the first one in a challenge called Tic Tac Toe.  See below for the row I picked!

K & Company bird sticker; Spellbinders oval dies; white lace; gold mirror cardstock; Papertrey Ink Tiny Tags sentiment stamp 

I used the bottom row, with a sentiment, embellishment (lace, bird sticker) and die cut (the two ovals).  Love how easy the options are on this whole board!


I'm entering the card below in another challenge called Inspired By... and the current theme is Tweet Messages.   

Impression Obsession Birds dies; My Favorite Things Bold Greenery dies; Papertrey Ink Tiny Tags tag die; The Greetery Sentiment Suite: Birthday sentiment stamp; cream twine; DCWV Coral Couture patterned papers

I was inspired by the bird sitting atop a branch.  I like that bluebird image so much.  😀  What a beautiful watercolor piece.  

Stampin' Up! Natural Beauty moth/butterfly stamp; Papertrey Ink Keep It Simple: Birthday; pearls; Altenew Build A Flower: Rose leaf cluster stamp; lace; pearls; calendar image of nest

Stampin' Up! Paper Pumpkin 'My Wonderful Family' elements, sentiment stamp, yellow pearls

Stampin' Up! Paper Pumpkin 'My Wonderful Family' elements, sentiment stamp

Stampin' Up! Paper Pumpkin 'My Wonderful Family' elements, sentiment stamp, mint pearls

Impression Obsession Birds dies; My Favorite Things Bold Greenery dies; Papertrey Ink Tiny Tags tag die, Angled Labels die; The Greetery Sentiment Suite: Birthday sentiment stamp; DCWV Coral Couture patterned papers

The final two cards are fairly flat, with no pearls (gasp!) and no foam tape, and can use ONE postage stamp!  I am not accustomed to doing this.  LOL  I always keep a steady supply of Additional Ounce stamps, as I mostly make bumpy cards, ha ha.

Impression Obsession Birds dies; Stampin' Up! Itty Bitty Accents flower punch, sentiment (not sure what set), patterned papers; lace

Stampin' Up! Garden Pleasures birdhouse, bird stamps, Weathered background stamp; Papertrey Ink Buttoned Up #1 button die, Skinny Mini Banner die, birthday sentiment; vintage thread 

I hope your weekend is peaceful, relaxing, or whatever you are most hoping for!  I am ALWAYS up for a weekend that includes cardmaking. 😀

Exodus 35:35 NIV

35 He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers.

Thanks for visiting today!

God bless you!

Floral Aprons

Hello friends!  I'm back to play in a couple of challenges.  One of them is new to me.  I've got a little list of challenges that I keep in my phone's Notes app, and the list continues to grow!  

Let's get started! 

At Little Red Wagon, the current challenge is to use dies, and this one closes tomorrow, so I'm just making it in under the wire!  

I'm also going to link this up at the NBUS challenge, which is to use your never-before-used-schtuff.  This cute apron die set from Stampin' Up! is retired, but new to me.  I know it was a popular set, and no wonder.  How adorable!  The possibilities are endless.  I made two in soft pink and soft yellow, inspired by the Stampin' Up! patterned paper.  

Stampin' Up! Apron Builder Framelits dies; Gina Marie Designs Eyelet Elegance Rectangles die

Stampin' Up! Apron Builder Framelits dies; Gina Marie Designs Eyelet Elegance Rectangles die

I used brushed silver cardstock for the cooking tools; they shimmer nicely in real life.

Did you have a good weekend?  I spent plenty of time in my studio, making cards for Valentine's Day.  I sewed holes in my comforter, and my lace curtain (Cristabel's nails did a lot of damage!).  And I watched a movie with my daughter (Disney's Brave) and it was so good!  It's an old movie, at this point, but I don't care.  LOL  I cried near the end, we both did actually.

Can't be mad at this little face...

God bless you,

Cool Cat

Hello friends!  It's a sunny and cold Sunday here, and I plan to go on walking trail with my daughters this afternoon.  They have been there before, but I never have.  I'm very much looking forward to it!

Oh, and I did make the Pumpkin Rocks from the Maida Heatter's Book of Great Cookies yesterday.  They are delicious!  Upon request, I substituted chocolate chips for the raisins that the recipe calls for.  My family doesn't like raisins much, but I sure do!  My daughter found a copy of the book for under $10 if you are interested!  (Remember in my previous post I mentioned that Amazon sells it for $104?!) I shop for a lot of my books at Thrift Books.  Some are used, some are new, but even the used ones can look brand new.  

I'm playing in a new-to-me challenge today:  The Male Room!  Masculine cards only are accepted, and I think that's a fun challenge.

Isn't this dapper black cat adorable?  He's wearing a black glitter bow tie!  I found this little bow tie in one of the Stampin' Up! scrap bags I get from time to time.

Memory Box Large Sitting Cat cat die; My Favorite Things BB Cool Cat sentiment and paw print stamps, Stitched Sentiment Strips banner die; Stampin' Up! bow

Check out his tie....awww.

The Male Room is also looking for new Design Team members!  

Here's a link to this particular challenge, which is Animals.  

Wishing you all a beautiful day - no matter what you are going through, or where you are.

Sending love to you!

God bless you,

Sweet Coffee

Hello friends, Happy New Year!  It's been a tough week for our country.  My emotions have been up and down.  One thing I remind myself is that God is in control.  So important to keep looking at Him, and not at the circumstances around us.

I have a card to share today, and I am playing in challenges, too.  That makes my heart happy. 😊

Tim Holtz / Stampers Anonymous - Fresh Brewed Blueprint coffee stamp; Quick Kutz Hot Drink coffee cup die; Memory Box Classic Tags circle tag die; twine; Stampin' Up! Brown Sugar cotton twine

This is a birthday card for my youngest daughter, who discovered the elixir of coffee while in her first semester at college.  I began drinking coffee when I was about 22 years old, and I never looked back.  LOL  

Here are the challenges I am playing in:

• Krafty Chicks Challenge #541 - Stamp Act - use a stamp
• Time Out Challenge #178 - Life In The City.  My daughter goes to college in the city, so this is where she drinks her coffee!
• NBUS - never before used stuff!  The Tim Holtz coffee stamp and Quick Kutz coffee cup die are new to me
• The Card Concept - Winter Warmth - my style is Clean & Layered (was a bit tricky to pick a style I used here, but I think this might be the best match).  I was inspired by the warm winter drink -- although, hey, I drink coffee ALL year!

The weekend is upon us, and I'll be baking cookies called Pumpkin Rocks from Maida Heatter's Cookie cookbook.   (Though I found the exact cookbook I own on Amazon, which is featured in this link, the price is a staggering $104.34 for the hardcover version.  Are you kidding me??)

Psalm 121:1-2 ESV

A Song of Ascents. I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

God bless you!

Poinsettia Punch

Hello again!  Tomorrow is my last day off from work (been off for a week) and it will be a short work week, with New Year's Eve quickly approaching.  I have enjoyed my staycation very, very much.  😃

I have two cards to share with you, both featuring a beautiful poinsettia from Simon Says Stamp's The Magic of Christmas - and all items used are listed beneath the photos.  

I was going for a dramatic Christmas card with the first one here:

Simon Says Stamp The Magic of Christmas poinsettia, 'Christmas' & 'Blessings' sentiments; Stampin' Up! Peaceful Boughs pine dies; pearls; vintage thread; tag from stash; Papertrey Ink; Ranger Glossy Accents 

I layered some pine boughs beneath that GORGEOUS poinsettia, and I created simple patterned paper by using the 'Christmas' sentiment from the same set, in red on red.

Then I used Glossy Accents as beads of 'dew' on the poinsettia, which was colored with Copic markers.

This is what it looked like, all ready for its close-up, in my photography light tent.  I have a small collection of items and greenery to place around my cards as they get photographed.

I am entering this card at NBUS #21 (thank you for still running this challenge, Darnell!) as the Simon Says Stamp poinsettia and sentiment stamps had not yet seen ink.   

The next card was for my oldest daughter, who looooves bling and shiny things.  😁

Simon Says Stamp The Magic of Christmas poinsettia; Stampin' Up! Peaceful Boughs pine dies; red rhinestones; Ranger Glossy Accents; cream twine; Fiskars Star punch; Papertrey Ink Tag-Its #8 Mini 'joy' sentiment 

It was difficult to capture the gold mirror polka dot patterned paper, so I photographed it two ways. Two kinds of red gemstones were added to the pine greenery, and they look a whole lot better in person, too.

As in the first card, this poinsettia also got the Glossy Accents 'dew' treatment.  If I'd had more time, I might have used Glossy Accents on the entire poinsettia, for some real excitement.  LOL

Thanks so much for your visit, and God bless you!