I love a Green Gnome? and a freebie sentiment

Hello, everyone! 

Back in December 2025 (yikes!) I enjoyed a wonderful playdate with my friend Ana. She brought this cute Woodware Gnome Stamp which she had won. Hoping to make some St. Patrick's Day cards for friends, I stamped off a few and got to coloring. Then Life happened, and the cards were not completed until mid April! LOL But I'd still like to share them. No reference to St. Patty's Day, so they COULD be used for other occasions, but they are pretty green! I DO enjoy monochromatic cards, so these were fun to make. First, I colored with Copic Markers:

Then a visit to the scrap box was in order for layering. For the first card, I used a couple Martha Stewart edge bunches. I really do miss EK Success and Martha Stewart! 

After flocking the beard, a heart of gold was glittered up, because after all, it is a person's heart that is so beautiful, not the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Products: Stamps: Woodware Gnome Rainbow set, Dies: Tutti Stitched Rectangles, MS Traditional Scallop Edge, MS Daisy Edge, MS embossable Zig-Zag Edger,Other: White Flocking (beard), Glitter (clear mixed with green for the sky), Gold mixed with green for the rainbow and heart, Inks: DO mowed lawn, Copic Markers, Cardstock - 3 greens, 110lb Neenah Classic Crest CS white, My Favorite Things Cloud stencil.

Next came two cards made with more scraps and Spellbinders Grand Labels Four. A stencil helped create a fun background. To sparkle the clouds up, I applied Art Institutes fine point glue and added clear glitter mixed with pale green. Even the horizontal pieces have been glittered:

In real life, they are quite sparkly!

(Honk! if you love glitter!) giggle

Products: Dies: SB Labels Four Grands, Tutti Stitched Rectangles, MS Lace Heart Edger, MS embossable Zig-Zag Edger, Other: White Flocking (beard), Glitter (clear mixed with green for the sky), Green, Gold mixed with green for the rainbow and heart, Inks: DO mowed lawn, DI rustic wilderness Copic Markers, Cardstock - Bazzill green, K&Company pattern, 110lb Neenah Classic Crest CS white, My Favorite Things Cloud stencil.

A couple more using the same techniques, but with different scraps, and SB Grand Scallop Ovals:

With all the "old beloved goodies" from my stash, I also stamped a cute leafy image to complement the sequined cardstock. The dots were colored after running through an embossing folder.

Products: Dies: Tutti Stitched Rectangles, SB Big Scallop Ovals Grands, Leafy Image Starving Artistamps (2004) stamped with Mowed Lawn DO, MS embossable Zig-Zag Edger, MS Lace Heart Edger, Darice 5x7 dot EF, Green Sequin cardstock, My Favorite Things Cloud stencil.

Thanks for enjoying my 5 cards that took 5 months to put together! LOL Slowly but surely, right? In the meantime, here is the interior sentiment if you would like a digital (click to make full size before saving):

Challenges I would like to play in please:

1. Paper Funday Challenges #86 AG with die cuts and punches (I have used both on each card - the products are listed beneath the photos) 5/4 (sep post)
2. All Sorts Challenge #847 AG in the Garden - the products used are listed under each card with Woodware Stamps being the main feature 4/24 (sep post)
3. Heart's Quest Fantasy Challenge #4 AG Fantasy 5/2
4. Crafty Catz #711 AG 4/23
5. Craft Rocket Challenges #135 Layer it Up 4/28
6. Shopping Our Stash Weekly #571 "I don't sweat, I SPARKLE 4/21 (the sky background is hand glittered, the rainbows are hand glittered, the hearts are hand glittered, some of the layers are glittered, some of the layers are sequin paper, very sparkly in person!) sep post.
7. A Perfect Time To Craft April 1 #4 - 4/26
8. Heart's Quest Challenge Blog #84 Anything with a heart - this rainbow protects a heart of gold rather than leading to a pot of gold! Thanks for the fun challenge. 4/27
9. Inspiration Station Challenge #84 AG with inspiration photo below (green, "shoes/feet", flowers) 5/4

On the Homestead here in Florida:

Like the rest of you, we have been experiencing strange weather. Here in central Florida, an early winter blasted its way through last Autumn, bringing unusual freezing temps down in the low 20s. The farmers had a rough time of it. Then we had early hot weather this Spring, breaking records with the 90s in March! 

Do you know what a staghorn fern looks like? Ours were a good 6-8 feet wide when the freezes hit. This is what happened after the awful blizzards made their way to Florida:

This is the east part of our front pasture, coated in ice. The grass matches the hues found in the hanging Spanish Moss and the gray dirt of the drive way coming up from the gate!

Normally, all that gray stuff is bright green (west front pasture)

I know these scenes are trivial compared to what most of you endured this past winter. Nevertheless, it severely impacts the wildlife (especially migrating species), the environment, and economic endeavors for the state.

Hoping you are doing well this spring. I am completely homebound except for doctor appointments. Wishing you Beauty, Love, and Patience always...

Winter Pink Birthday Card

Hello, everyone! It is my sincerest hope you are doing well this holiday season. 

Today's birthday card is for a very dear friend. Birthdays in December often mean "seasonal" themed cards, and this one is no different! Being a rather new stamper, my friend enjoys challenges with new techniques and products. It's fun seeing stamping "anew" through her eyes. I've always enjoyed making dimensional cards with flowers, embellishments and other themes. Like many of you, once the post office changed the "thickness" rules, I altered my style. But since this is being delivered in person, I took advantage of that by creating a "thick" card!

After taking over 20 shots, I gave up! The pure white feathers show up as a drab gray. I think maybe the tininess of each feather barb, and the thinness of the "afterfeathers" created a shadow beneath, making the white appear gray. Has that happened to you when photographing white feathers? 

Taking a cue from Leslie Miller, I've produced an "off-size" skinny (slimline) card 4.25" x 7.25". With several layers, lots of sparkle was added to match the sparkle of Ana's personality. I sure do wish the sparkle showed up better. From my "pieces box", I put together lots of odds 'n' ends. The poinsettia petals all have a thick coating of clear glue mixed with highly textured glitter and mylar glitter. The center is comprised of Prills (I have a ton of those in my stash from some 8-9 years ago in a host of colors!). The luster balls have florist wire and were purchased at least 10 years ago from Hobby Lobby's bridal section. There is a paper raffia piece which was inked in pumice stone, and metallic silver netting from a wire ribbon. 

The French background script is from a virginal SU 5x6 wood mount stamp at least 20 years old. This card was SO MUCH FUN to make, using stuff from my "unfinished box" stuff, and old crafting goodies crying to be used!

Inside:

On the inside is a pocket for a gift card, adorned with the same MS punch as used on the card front and on the borders of the interior sentiment. I really do love the old MS punches. To make the simple pocket, I cut cardstock one inch wider than necessary, scored the two sides at 1/2 inch, and the bottom at 1/2 inch. Niche the corners for the fold to fit neatly. Adhere the back so that the niched places are glued to one another rather than to the pocket itself, so the gift card can slide in and out easily. Wish I had taken a photo of that for posterity (giggle).

Products:   Dies: Sue Wilson Noble Dies Double Pierced Bkgrnd CED5512, SW Dandelion CED1434, IO Pine Branch DIE021, IO Pine Sprig DIE319, MS Floral Crochet PAP Punch, MS Holly Punch, Stamps: Freebie Sentiment (shared below), SU En Francais script background stamp, SU birthday Warmest Regards stamp, Cardstock: SU pink & Green, white, old designer paper, Vellum,  Inks: Pumice Stone, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Worn Lipstick, Spun Sugar, VersaMark, Other: Feathers, Chunky Clear Glitter, Clear Mylar Glitter, Silver ultra fine glitter, Green EP with Glitter, Lime Prills, embellishments from the bridal section of Hobby Lobby, Silver Metallic Ribbon Netting, Paper Netting inked with pumice stone.

My gift to you - Arrangements of the same sentiment - one for any day and one for birthday - for use on the inside or outside of your projects. Please do not sell these Sentiments. Use on any of your projects, including projects involving any design teams you might be on.

Click on the image to bring it to full size. Because of the changes Google Made with Blogger (June 2020), your image will appear to be solid black. Don’t panic. Right click and do a SAVE AS PNG. Once it is saved on your hard drive, you can open it and it will have a transparent background. I create PNGs instead of JPGs so they can be placed anywhere on a scene or project, and so backgrounds can be made using them. Please let me know if you have any problems. I hope they serve you well!

Enjoy!

   

Thanks for stopping by.

I'd like to support the following challenges by playing in them please:

1. Fab 'n' Funky #626 All That Glitters 11/2 (sep post week later) (silver, clear, chunky, mylar glitters (inside and out).
2. As You Like It Challenge Nov 27 "Gold, Silver or Glitter and Why" 12/11 If it is glittery, it's for me! This birthday card is made for Ana who LOVES glitter and glitzy things. Although the mylar and chunky clear glitters are not showing up very well in photography of the poinsettia flower layers, the sparkly silver glitter is merry sparkle for the season inside and out. Glitter is amazing in its many uses. Thanks for the fun challenge!
3. Elliebelle's Garden Party #9 Anything from a Garden 12/8 (poinsettia flower) (FU #11)
4. Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2547 AG 11/30
5. Creations in Pink #87 AG in Mainly Pink 12/13 (sep post)
6. Tic Tac Toe Challenge #284 (Using left to right diagonal - Embellishment, Free, Flowers) Several embellies feather, paper raffia, metallic net ribbon, prills, pearls. 12/11 sep post week later
   
   
   
   
   
   

Home Sweet Home and a Vintage Country Home freebie

"True friends are never apart. Maybe in distance, but never in heart."

I'm so happy to see you, my dear blogging friends! 

Paula has moved into a new home, so a card was in order! 

QUESTION: This is the first Altenew Pigment Ink I've purchased, and the first time used. It already requires reinking. Are you familiar with this brand? Does it mix well with other brand pigment reinkers? "Back in the Day..." pigment inks used pretty much the same formulas and reinkers could be interchanged. But nowadays, I hesitate doing that with all the special formulas. Do you absolutely need to use their reinkers with their pads? Altenew's seem to be a bit more expensive. I appreciate the feedback!

After running old, old, old designer paper through the embossing folder, white pigment ink was swiped across the top, dredged with clear detail EP and heat set:

Using the die as a stencil, Pumice Stone was applied in the openings and scenic background. VFC Morning Mist was applied to the lace punch for dimension, before layering.

Using the same die on the inside sentiment, and more stenciling in the same color made for a pretty card. The house was originally colored with Copic Markers and scanned:

By cutting 3 more "blank" die pieces, and adhering them together, a dimensional centerpiece was created.

Finally, white cardstock was adhered to the back of the embossed designer paper, cut with deckle scissors, with lacy trim attached.

Small sentiment was added before adhering to kraft cardstock:

On the inside, the original designer paper, layered with the stenciled sentiment:

A gift for you: 

If you would like a freebie set featuring this Vintage Country Home digital, please email me, and a ZIP file will be sent your way. It includes colored versions and black and white. For your use as a gift, not for resale/sale. Please refer to set #911.

Products: Images: My Digital Set Vintage Country Home (free to you if you wish to email me), Inks: Altenew Cloud White Pigment ink, VersaFine Clair Morning Mist, Distress Pummice Stone, Copic Markers, Embossing: folder Anna Griffin Baroque Vine Frame, Clear Detail EP, Paper: 20 years old pattern paper, white, and craft, Dies: Spellbinders 5x7 Elegant Labels 4, Martha Stewart Doily Lace Deep Trim Punch

Grateful to be playing in the following challenges (thank you, design teams, for hosting challenges):

1. A Perfect Time to Craft Open Challenge #8 AG 08/28 (entry #2)
2. Ally's Angels #97 AG (entry #2) 9/12
3. Crafter's Cafe #322 AG with Patterned Papers 9/12 (entry #2)
4. FarmQuest General Store Challenge #31 AG Farm and/or Country (my digi set is titled Vintage Country Home - be sure to email me if you would like the set for free) 9/5
5. Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2533 AG (entry 2) 8/25
6. CD Sunday Plus Challenge #165 AG using a CD, USB, or digital [using My Digital Set Vintage Country Home (free to you, my blog visitor, if you wish to email me) 8/31
7. Crafts Galore Encore Challenge #138 AG 8/31

Stamping Hugs,

Left Over Pieces + New Pieces = Finally-Finished Cards

Welcome, Blogging friends! I have missed you!

Still plugging along in my "unfinished stuff" boxes, these creations have been in the works for the last 6 weeks. I came across some pink and white Spellbinders decorative squares elements already cut out - probably 15 years ago - they were crying out to put put on a project! So I added some Impression Obsession butterflies and Tattered Lace flowers, enjoying designing The Old dies with The Virginal dies. The designing was fun, too - especially with the addition of sparkle in one of my favorite colors PINK!

Here are some of the pieces I started with before adding the whimsy:

Because the bottom layers overlapped in some places, shims were needed:

With the shims prepared and glued in place, the diagonal square in the middle could be added:

Next... to adhere the fun die cuts:

To shade some of the pink areas (included the pink glitter paper), Worn Lipstick DI was applied. See the difference?

The vellum "butterfly shadow" is pearly, so it picked up the pink tones without coloring. The other butterflies with pink frames around them were "inked" with Worn Lipstick atop pale pink cardstock. The die cut sentiments were cut from pink glitter paper, darkened with Copic Marker RV32, and shadowed with a pale slate blue cardstock:

Two more cards, one using Ana Griffin's sentiment set:

Upon finishing the cards, I decided some pop up elements on the inside would be fun. It sure would have been easier had that been done before adhering all the layers! Front facing:

Top facing - notice the notched element under the butterfly to minimize the popup feature:

Thanks for visiting my little blog! Your encouragement and friendship means so much. I am permanently homebound, leaving only for medical appointments. Each excursion takes tremendous toll on my body, but I'm still able to do "small things with great love".  I'm so grateful to still be living in this wonderful world, surrounded by beautiful people!

Products: Anna Griffin "You Are" sentiment stamps (set of 9), Inks: VersaFine Clair Nocturne, Distress Worn Lipstick, Dies: Tattered Lace Michaelmas Daisy, Imp Obs Butterfly DIE059-N, SB Marvelous Squares, SB Adorning Squares, LifeStyle Nesting Frames 7, MS Floral Crochet PAP, MS lace heart edge punch, Die-Versions Express Banners "Happy Day" and "Make a Wish", Cardstock: pink glitter, pink, white, white glitter, slate blue (shadow on sentiment) Other: Gold Detail EP, Copic RV32, 

May I please play in the following challenges?

1. Seize the Birthday #303 Layer it Up Birthday 4/2 (each card has multiple layers inside and out)
2. Triple B Challenge (April 3) inspiration board for birds butterflies blooms 5-1
3. Crafting A Cut Above (April 7) Spring Time with Dies 5/1 (Dies used: Tattered Lace Michaelmas Daisy, Imp Obs Butterfly DIE059-N, SB Marvelous Squares, SB Adorning Squares, LifeStyle Nesting Frames 7, MS Floral Crochet PAP, MS lace heart edge punch, Die-Versions Express Banners "Happy Day" and "Make a Wish")
4. Colorful Options (April 1) choose color(s) from the inspiration photo. I chose pink. 5/1
5. The Four Seasons Challenge (April 1) Anything Goes Spring 5/1
6. Craft Rocket Challenges #124 "Layer it Up" 4/28 (each card has multiple layers inside and out)
7. As You Like It Challenge (April 17) Fussy & Fancy and Why 4/30 (while CAS are amazing, I have trouble keeping it simple. It's always satisfying to add more layers, more sparkle, unexpected details, and products to cards, and see the faces of the recipients - or to hear their sweet voices - exclaiming "how did you do that?" giggle)

Thanks for stopping by!

You OTTER love this set! {Dare 2B Artzy)

Surprise! A post from me! (giggle)

Even though I cannot leave many comments, or post to my own blog, it doesn't mean I'm not thinking fondly of my blogging buddies. I hope you are all well! Today's card share is a Valentine for my Jacky, AND using stuff from my unfinished box. Five or Six years ago, my friend Ana brought her Otterly Awesome set to share. I did manage to color these cuties in with Prismacolor Pencils, but was unable to finish in the allotted time. I like how it came out all these years later, and was the perfect sweetheart card from my Most Favorite Person in the whole wide world.

Using LifeStyle QuicKutz heart dies, a frame was created to complement the Martha Stewart lacy heart punch. Papers and dies are older than 2015.

The interior was customized a bit to match the Valentine theme:

Products: Quickutz Nesting Lacy Hearts and Plain Hearts dies, Martha Stewart Lacy Heart border, Walnut & Spun Sugar distress inks, Prismacolor Pencils,

featuring this cute Otterly Awesome set from Dare 2B Artzy

May I please play in the following fine challenges?

1. Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2506 AG 02-16
2. Crafty Animals #91 AG with animals 3/1
3. Coloring With Pencils Kleuren met Potloden (Feb 10) AG with pencils 3-6
4. Unicorn Challenge #106 Dots and/or Stripes 2/26
5. **NEW** Neglected Stuff Challenge #1 3/1 (stamped images were in my unfinished by from at least 5 years ago, papers, dies, punches from past life - giggle - at least 10 years old. D&D, thank you for establishing another fun challenge! 
6. Christmas or NOT Bingo #11 Used Column "I" with Square, Layers, Free, Stamped Images 3/1
7. Halloween Crafts (and Valentine's Day in February) #23 3/1
8. Critter Crazy Challenges #95 AG with a Critter (SOB! LAST CHALLENGE!) 3/1
9. Sunday Stamps SSC353 Pretty Frames Sketch Challenge 2/15

Stamping Hugs,

de