It's the Anniversary Squirrel! {Being A Little Squirrelly }

Waving "hello" to my blogging visitors!

 It's the Anniversary Squirrel! (another Bugaboo cutie) Sigh - I sure miss Jodie. What a fun artist!

This is the 49th anniversary card for my hubby. He enjoys nonsensical, humorous cards. Since I'm a little nutty by nature, it was only appropriate to use this squirrel - not to mention the fact that we live in an oak hammock where acorns are plentiful, and we are frequently over-run with the little varmints in our rural area.

Colored with Copic Markers and Distress Oxide inks, this little cutie is another of Miss Jodie's quirky creations. Jack prefers non-mushy cards, although he always finds the most beautifully meaningful cards for me. Being a sentimental fool, I've kept all Jack's "love letters/cards". After 49 years the container is huge!

 Do you save love letters and cards from your honey?

PAPERS: BEAUTIFULLY HANDMADE BY LIS ROBSON, and green handmade by me(!), and SU Early Espresso, MS Lace Heart Edge.

Lis has an amazing paper-making business, incorporating every technique, texture, and natural element imaginable! Here are the three I used:

I also made some paper. The texture was accomplished by pressing between pieces of old, old, rubbery, lacy shelf/drawer liner "paper" (do you remember those shelf liners?) Like mulberry paper, a wet brush was utilized to "tear it apart to the desired size.

Here are the unassembled pieces:

The fun interior, using a "flipped" squirrel, gathering more nuts:

Finished Creation:

Products: Bugaboo Digital Squirrel, Copic Markers Spellbinders S4-306 Wonky Rectangles, [Oxides in lucky clover, twisted citron, vintage photo, salty ocean] Brilliance Ink in Tri-Mineral, Teresa Collins Love Triangles Craftwell EF, home-made digital sentiments, PAPERS: BEAUTIFULLY HANDMADE BY LIS ROBSON, and green handmade by me(!), and SU Early Espresso, MS Lace Heart Edge.

Challenges:

1. Crafty Animals #97 (AG with animals) 8/28
2. Critter Crazy Challenge #101 (AG with animals) 9/1
3. Ally's Angels #97 AG 09/12
4. Heart's Quest for Love Challenges Blog HQCOLCB #8 "BEWAS themes" Mine is an Anniversary for hubby 8-31, (9/7)
5. Neglected Stuff Challenge (Aug 3) Use at least one neglected item (handmade papers which have not been used for 15 years or more.) ends 8-28 (9/7)
6. A Perfect Time to Craft Open Challenge #8-2025 AG ends 8/28 (9/30)
7. Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2533 AG 8/25
8. Crafters Cafe Challenge #322 AG using Patterned Papers 9/23

Wishing you a beautiful day, filled with ordinary moments that comprise a life well-lived.

hugs,

Looking in all the Right Places?

Greetings! And Big Hugs to you each! It took me a month to create these cards, but slowly, if I am persistent, in one-to-five minute increments, I do manage to accomplish things around the house and in my craft room. Hopefully better days are around the corner. Thanks for your kind friendships, endearing thoughts, and for keeping in touch.

Today's cards are silly, inspired first by my husband for our 46th wedding anniversary last month. The other four are "thinking of you" and "birthday" cards. 

Colored simply with Copic Markers and Distress Inks, each card was stamped in a different color VersaFine Clair ink and heat embossed with clear detail EP. All the cards contain the same elements, except the sentiments differ:

Purple Lovers "Thinking of You" (inside "Enough about me - thinking of you and wondering what you have been up to." The front sentiment always makes me laugh:

The Penny Black border actually only cuts on one side. The stitched side needed to be hand cut:

Blue & Tan Birthday card for Color Hues Color Challenge:

Jacky's Anniversary card - he's been such a marvelous person, friend, hubby, lover and caregiver over the decades. Yes, the inside is mushy (giggle):

Green Thinking of You with a different front sentiment. Each card was dry embossed with the same striped folder. This card and the purple one were also inked:

Lastly, the pink birthday card:

Thank you for not giving up on me, and for visiting today! I miss you all!

Products: Images: Bear in Trash Stamps by Judith, Dot Peg Stamps by Judith, Digital Sentiment, 2 fun sentiments by Custer's Last Stamp, Dies: SW Double Pierced Squares CED5509, SW Pierced Flags CED4304, IO Small Grass Die178-C, IO Grass DIE038-J, Penny Black Border Edgers 51-231, Taylored Expressions Banner Stacklets, SU punch, Other: Copic Markers, Distress Inks, VersaFine Clair Inks, Clear Detail EP, Embossing Folder by Tonic "Simple Stripes".

Fine Challenges I'm playing in:

1. DRU Challenge #192 AG with metal die they carry 5/13 (Dies: SW Double Pierced Squares CED5509, SW Pierced Flags CED4304, IO Small Grass Die178-C,  IO Grass DIE038-J, Penny Black Border Edgers 51-231, Taylored Expressions Banner Stacklets) 05/15 (sep post)
2. Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2219 AG 05/16 (sep post)
3. Critter Crazy Challenges #62 AG with a critter 06/01 (sep post)
4. Color Hues Color Challenge #40 Blue and Tan 05/15 (blue and tan card shown)
5. Crafty Animals #61 Anything with an Animal 05/27
6. A Perfect Time to Craft #5 AG 06-01
7. Classic Design Challenge #5 AG 06-01 (2 thinking of you, 2 birthday, 1 anniversary)
8. Crafty Friends #155 Animals 06/01 (scroll down)
9. The Paper FunDay Challenges #41 06/01 (anniversary card for hubby)

Stamping Hugs,

Moving Along With the Times - Wedding or Anniversary

Good Morning, Blogging Friends!
I wish you each a lovely day.

It's time to share a Project for the new Moving Along With The Times Challenge!

Challenge #107's theme is WEDDING OR ANNIVERSARY - for the next 2 weeks! 

A special friend will soon be celebrating a special anniversary, and this card is for her. The paler blue pieces are watercolor paper prepared with pearlescent blue, aqua and purple acrylic paints smeared with a little glitter:

The dry embossed area was highlighted with Sky Blue Pearlescent ink. The word "Cherish" and the leaves have been coated with glue and transparent glitter. The white die cuts are from white glossy cardstock:



These rolled "bitty blossoms" are so pretty!

Products Used:

• 7 Die sets: SB Grommet Tags S4-322, Tonic Memory Book Maker Layered Cascade Die Set, Cheery Lynn "Cherish" die set, Wild Animals "African Circle" set, SB Bitty Blossoms set, Cheery Lynn Fanciful Flourish die, Tim Holtz Garden Greens
• Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug Anna Griffin Baroque Vine Frame
• Paper: Navy, White Glossy, White, Watercolor Paper prepared with acrylic pearlescent paints and glitter
• Other: White Opaque Glitter, Sky Blue Pearlescent Ink, 

Challenges I'd like to support:

1. Creative Knockouts #317 Anything Goes C10 10/3
2. World Wide Open DT Challenge #9 AG DT 10/15
3. Little Patch of Crafty Friends #114 Anything Goes 10/2 (sep post)
4. Aud Sentiments Challenge #236 AG + a sentiment 10/2 (sep post)
5. Simon Says Wednesday Challenge (Sept 25) Anything Goes 10/2 (sep post)
6. Watercooler Wednesday #240 "All About Occasions" 10/2 (sep post) C8
7. Scrapy Land Challenges #122 AG SL dies (7 sets listed above) 10/3
8. Color Throwdown #562 10/2

Stamping hugs,

Have A Heart - Moving Along With The Times Challenge

Greetings my wonderful blogging friends!
Hoping this finds you well and enjoying yourself.
The inspiration for this project came from Sue Dree's Card.

And now... 

It's time to share a Project for the new Moving Along With The Times Challenge!

Challenge #89's theme is HAVE A HEART - for the next 2 weeks upload your creations that feature hearts in one way or the other!

Applying EP after dry embossing:

After dry embossing the blue pearlescent cardstock, 

VersaFine Clair Blue Belle ink was "swiped" on top because it so easily covers fine surfaces. Then it was dredged with a semi-transparent embossing power called "Pearl". It looked like an opaque silver until it was heat set, allowing the blue to show through on the pearly finish.

VersaFine Clair Blue Belle ink was "swiped" on top of a piece of plain white die cut heart which had been embossed with the same EF. The same Pearl EP was heat set, which makes it coordinate beautifully with the pearlescent blue cardstock.

I repeated the same technique on the white interior cardstock, using VersaMark. It was more difficult to control because it required firmer "pressure" to apply the ink. So it's distressed (giggle).

Shaping the Leaves:

Spellbinders Foliage die set was used. I cut apart the leaves in Navy cardstock, wet the cuts, pinched the center together, and added a drop of glue.

After the leaves were dry, I coated them with a VersaMarker, dredged with Sparkle Embossing Powder, and heat set. The flourish and cherish dies were done in the same manner.



Tonic Studios "Follow Your Heart" dies is a two piece set. I sprayed adhesive on the back of the white die and laid it atop the navy pearlescent cardstock. Then applied Starfire Glitter. That 3M spray adhesive is strong!

Dies: Cheery Lynn "Cherish" and "Fanciful Flourish" dies, Quickutz "Nesting Hearts" and "Nesting Lace Hearts" dies, Spellbinders Foliage die, Tonic Studios "With Love" and "Follow Your Heart" dies Embossing Folder: Die'sire Embossalicious EF Rose Vine 8x8, Inks: VersaFine Clair Blue Belle, VersaMark Ink and VersaMarker Pen, EP: Sparkle Embossing Powder, Glitter: Starfire Glitter

(for an extra 10% off the linked items use code DonnaDT10 during checkout)

On a personal note:

Here in central Florida, we are thin-blooded wimps when it comes to cold weather. We made it into the 50s today (about 12C), but night-time 30s with frost. So this is how we enjoy the cold weather:



(let's hear it for the wimps! - giggle)

Challenges I'd like to support:

1. Scrapyland Challenges #106 AG with SL dies (Cheery Lynn, Quickutz, SB, Tonic listed above) 1/30 sep post
2. Cardz 4 Galz #88 Dimensional Elements (dry embossing & wet embossing on top of dry embossing, dimensional leaves which have been shaped and wet embossed, and a dimensional flower - with more on the inside) 2/1
3. Crafting with an Attitude #47 AG 2/1 sep post
4. Shopping Our Stash #386 Hearts on Fire 1/22 (C13) T3 Sat sep post
5. Sparkles Forum Monthly Challenges #112 "New Year New Stash" (both Tonic die sets are new) 2/15
6. World Wide Open DT Challenge #1 AG DT 2/16 sep post
7. DRU #113 Anything New (both Tonic die sets are new) 2/1 sep post
8. Try It On Tuesday (Jan 8) Something Old Something New (both Tonic die sets are new, The SB die and Nesting Hearts are old old old) 1/22 sep post

Stamping Hugs,

Scrapy Land's New Challenge! {Scrapy Land}

Note: for Edith updates, please click here. She has experienced a little set-back - cards would be great!

Welcome to the All-New Scrapy Land Challenge! My teamies and I are looking forward to to inspiring you with our challenge creations twice a month on the first and third Wednesdays. (Rules are HERE). The Winner and Top Three are selected by the design team. The Winner will be awarded a $15 gift card to the Scrapy Land Store, where there are more than 40 brands of dies and other goodies offered at a discount!

We are also looking forward to being inspired by YOUR creations, as well! 

Spellbinders "Bitty Blossoms" S5-086
Tattered Lace "Couple" (dancing)
Cheery Lynn "Fanciful Flourish"
(for several fancilful flourish options click here)
Spellbinders "Scalloped Borders Two" S5-202

The rules are simple - just follow the theme (this time it is "Anything Goes") 

and 

use at least one die cut 

from the 40+ brands 

that Scrapy Land sells! 

Scrapy Land sells dies manufactured 

all over the world, 

so there is a great variety, 

and most prices are discounted 

to help enable you to add to 

your stash. 

The dies used in my card are shown on the left.

Gosh! No stamping on my card! It was a challenge to completely use die cuts in my creation, but fun to think outside my box! The Tattered Lace "Couple" (dancing) die is beautiful! Delicate and VERY easy to cut! It passed through my Grand Calibur the first time on thick white card stock. I brushed on glue and sprinkled the Celebration Velvet Microfine Glitter. (the card is not black, it is NAVY BLUE)

The easel card is 6" x 6" on white 8.5" X 11" cardstsock. But I wanted to use a punch which required a 6.75" square. Do you ever have the wrong-size card stock for the size card you want? We can still make 6" or 6.5" square easel cards, even with the small cardstock sizes. Because the Silver Glossy base is larger than 6", the "folds" for the easel card are at 6" and 9", leaving only 2" for the final portion.

How Sparkly and Pretty! The white roses and white leaves are distressed with Sea Wood Distress Ink, then I brushed on glue and added Transparent Starfire Glitter. The Sea Wood Distress  Ink shows through the glitter. 

Below, I've lightened this a little so you can see the navy cardstock details in the roses and leaves.

Sentiment is computer generated using Garineldo01 and Garineldo Plain fonts. They were free here.

My teamies and I are looking foreward to seeing your creations.
Just use a die cut from one of the brands Scrapy Land carries on ANY type project and

click on the logo below to enter!

Products used:

Scrapyland's Spellbinders Borderabilities Scalloped Borders One
Scrapyland's Tattered Lace Couple Dancing
Scrapyland's Spellbinders Bitty Blossoms
Scrapyland's Cheery Lynn Fanciful Flourish
MS Lace Flowers PAP
Aileen's Quick Dry Tacky Glue
Paper: White, Silver Glossy, Navy
Computer-generated sentiment
Sea Wood Distress Ink

Sparkle N Sprinkle: Starfire Glitter G1017, Celebration Velvet Microfine Glitter G2010, Brushable Glue #540


Challenges Entered:

1. Crafts 4 Eternity - #191 - Bingo Middle Row - Use a Punch (MS Lace Flowers), the color BLUE (NAVY here), use some die cuts (several shown above) 9/5
2. Creative Corner Challenges - Anything Goes - 9/5
3. Through the Purple Haze - #57 Anything Goes - 9/6
4. Sparkle N Sprinkle - September - Anything Goes With Loose Glitter 10/1
5. Ladybug Crafts - September - Anything Goes 10/1
6. Clear It Out Challenge - Sept 2 - Anything Goes 9/9 (used Celebration Glitter and Spellbinders Scalloped Borders One which have been in my stash for a long time without being used)
7. Fan-Tastic Tuesdays - #51 Anything Goes 9/9
8. Through the Craft Room Door - Sept 2-8 - Anything Goes
9. SplitCoastStampers #IC454 - Design Seeds (denim color inspiration)

Thanks for dropping by!
hugs,