PSX Botanical Iris {Beautiful Blossoms Challenges} and freebies

 Hello, blogging friends! Thanks so much for visiting! I have an invitation for you -- to join us at the Beautiful Blossoms Challenge beginning today!

We are a fun "mood-board-inspired" monthly challenge which features Flowers as the main focus.  

 The Mood Board is a starting point, and your artwork is where your imagination takes you! 

 I was inspired by: 

1. The colors purple, pink and green.
2. The Iris flower.
3. The vintage feel of the Bouquet in a Vase.

Both cards feature the same colors with the exception of the shading around the frame, and the shadows around the image. Just that little bit of refinement changes the appearance of both cards!

I'll start off with the backs of the cards. The sentiment below is also being offered to you as a freebie gift in three versions. Just scroll down for it.

I have only made one other Z-fold card. But seeing so many Double-Z Fold fun fold cards recently, I felt inspired to make these simple creations. They are 5x7 size. Here is the front of the dark purple:

It was colored in Copic Markers after being stamped in VersaFine Clair Monarch Purple and heat set in Clear Detail embossing powder. This version is highlighted in the jade colors. On the left side of the card are three torn strips from Coordinations cardstock, which have been dry embossed, sanded and distressed. The image basically hides the details, unfortunately.

I am ashamed to admit this stamp is well over 20 years old and has never been inked. The interior has room for a handwritten message in a frame I doodled:

Next is the same image, colored in the same theme colors, but a lighter card stock, and purples around the edges rather than the jade greens. It completely changes the look of the colored image:

The horizontal green lines are ribbons. The "Double" part of the card has been dry embossed, as has the front left:

These were really fun to color and assemble, AND I learned a lot about coloring, embossing, and testing adhesives prior to using "unused" stash! (giggle)

QUESTION TIME!

When you color an image with any medium, or make a background, or add color to any project...  

do you often wait for several hours or even overnight to see how the colors set? I do that to determine if a strong enough tint was achieved (not that I'm a colorist), or if a few additional touches are needed. But then, I am a very slow crafter, and also have to correct boo-boos the next day (giggle), so I tend to start out too light, and progress to darker hues or tones after. What about you?

Thanks for stopping by. Hoping to see your amazing floral creations in the challenge!

Products: both cards use: PSX K-3131 Botanical Iris Stamp, VersaFine Clair Monarch Purple, Clear Detail embossing powder, Copic Markers, EKSuccess Dragonfly Punch, Spellbinders Fleur de Lis Rectangles S4-317 (one of my first ever SB dies!)       Dark Purple card - Cracked Pistachio Distress ink, Craft Concepts Secret Garden EF, Coordinations Dark Purple "Sandable" cardstock, Dies: Impression Obsession Grass DIE038-J,     Lavender & Green card - Seedless Preserves Oxide, Tattered Lace Victorian Rose EF, Ocean Mist Really Reasonable Ribbon

Freebies - A little late for Spring this year:

My gift to you - Arrangements of the same sentiment 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!

I would love to paraphrase this to say: Spring Flowers are Winter's Dreams revealed. Do you think that is acceptable, or do you prefer Khalil Gibran's exact and more beautifully poetic words?

this one is for a vertical setup:

Playing in the following fine challenges please!

1. Worldwide Crafters and Colorists Challenge #6 AG (entry 1 of 3) 7/12

2. A Perfect Time to Craft #6 AG (check 8/1)

3. Classic Design Challenge #6 AG 7/1

4. Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2323 AG 7/19

5. Craft Rocket Challenges #104 Use Dies 7/1 (Spellbinders Fleur de Lis Rectangles S4-317, Impression Obsession Grass DIE038-J multiple times)
6. 
   
   Creative Creases #59 Anything Goes with a Fun Fold 6/22
7. Dragonfly Dreams Challenges (June 4 "June") Fancy Folds Challenge 7/1 (both cards are double Z fold cards)
8. Ally's Angels #71 Anything Goes 7/10
9. Bastel-Traum Challenges #124 Flowers-Plants 7/15
10. Craft Rocket Challenges #104 Use Dies (Spellbinders Fleur de Lis Rectangles S4-317 - one of my first ever SB dies! - Impression Obsession Grass DIE038-J)  6/29

hugs,

Remember PSX?

Hi! Gosh - I was inspired to make these cards last summer for my friend, whose brother passed away from COVID. Apparently, I wrote a post but forgot to upload the photos and publish! Sure do wish my brain was active again! Hope you enjoy them.

I needed a few sympathy cards, and thinking of you type cards, so I looked in my "unfinished box" and found some gold embossed PSX Calla Lily botanical flowers needing to be colored. I used some very forgiving watercolor Mica paints, knowing that coloring outside the lines wouldn't really show up much.

Lapsing into the "old styles" of designing, I found myself wanting to make the shabby chic look. Lots  of my blogging
friends successfully use printed papers in their die cutting, so I tried it here on one card with the leaves. I am in love with that idea! 

THANK YOU, FRIENDS, for the fine inspiration!

It was also relaxing doing ink-distressing, and paper distressing. The sentiments and images were gold embossed:

Though these cards are hardly difficult, it did take me nearly 8 weeks to get them made, so it was a true labor of love.

The mica paints made lots of sparkle!

Included are two NBUS (never before used supplies) products (do the lily stamps count even though they were in my stash box? I had never before made a card with them), and the Anna Griffin Slim Line "Gentlemen's Study" die set (sentiments). 

Darkened photo to show sparkly-shimmery pearlessence:

Even though I could not capture the pearlessence of the watercolors, I must say they made me quite happy!

Thanks for stopping by!

Products: Stamps: PSX Calla Lily Araceae, SU! Elegant Cheer - Paper: Nitwit Paris Collection, Brown-Tan, White - Dies: SU Labels Punch, SB Chantilly Paper Lace, SB Foliage S4-328, Anna Griffin Slim Line "Gentlemen's Study" die set - Inks: VersaMark, Versafine Clair Golden Meadow, Distress Pumice Stone - Other: Gold Detail EP, Copper Dreams EP, Watercolor Mica Paints, Copic Marker Warm Gray01

I would like to play in the following challenges please:

1. Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2220 AG 5/22 (sep post)
2. A Place to Start Challenge #052022 AG w Twist: Lillies and Lace (calla lilies and Chantilly Paper Lace die) 6/6 
3. Creative Crafters Challenge #52 AG 6/8
4. Inspiration Station #30 Flower Shop (What a beautiful photo of a flower shop! Flowers always brighten a person's day to let them know someone cares about them and is thinking of them) 6/6
5. Dies R Us #193 AG dies DRU carries 5/28 (sep post) (using SB Chantilly Paper Lace, SB Foliage S4-328)
6. A Perfect Time to Craft #5 AG Flowers 6/1
7. Classic Design Challenge #5 AG 6/1 sep post

Lovingly,

Christmas at Sweet Stampin' PSX tags

It's me! I'm back! (giggle)
Welcome to my little blog - And some Christmas tags! Every year I intend to make "to-from" tags, and I never do! So here are three, and if no other tags are made, at least I finally did three (chuckle).

Today begins a new challenge at

Christmas at Sweet Stampin'!

My marvelously brilliant teammates have fantastic samples to share! We hope to see your imaginative artwork each month in our "Anything Goes Christmas" Challenges. The challenge is for ANY Christmas theme craft project. March's Challenge is open until April 9.

This month I'm playing with a virginal "used" stamp gifted to me by friend Paula. Paula and I both went into deep mourning when PSX stopped producing.
Do you remember PSX? Do you have any of their beloved stamps in your stash?
This stamp has been in my stash for years, and I'm guessing that Paula had it for at least 10 years previously.

Sporting blue (for my cold northern friends):



Pretty in Pink for my girly-girl blogging friends:

And red-green for traditionalists:

All the products are "golden oldies" except for the colored pencils. It was fun making these sweet tags!

Some Products Used:
Image: PSX F1321 Christmas Bird House - Ebay has one here.
Dies: Darice Ornate Rectangles, Poppystamps Stitched Main Street Tags, Poppystamps Stitched Festival Tags, Spellbinders Labels 23, 
Colored With: Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 Color Pencils and various inks.

Challenges I'd like to play in please:

• ABC Christmas Challenge (March) E-F-G (E embellishment, F fabric, G glitz) lots of embellies, fabric ribbons/fibers, glitter & Gold glossy 4/1 (sep post)

• The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #45 AG Christmas 3/26 (sep post)

• Merry Little Christmas Challenge #8 AG Christmas 4/1 (sep post)

• Crafting from the Heart #238 AG 3/18

• Incy Wincy Designs #16 Let's Use Ribbon 3/18

• Colouring in Scrapland (Mar 4) "Critters" 4/1

• Happy Little Stampers (March 5) Christmas Tags 4/2 (winners tag right bar)

On A Personal Note:

(if reading directly from blog post, click photos to enlarge)
Are you familiar with a tropical plant called Platycerium (commonly known as a Staghorn Fern)? Most people see a "pup" in a nursery:


We moved ours from Tampa back in the 1980s and they were already 15 years old. Because our climate has frequent freezes and frosts, we used to "cover them" with many king-size quilts and blankets for weeks at a time to keep them warm enough through the winter. But they have grown considerably, and we have grown not quite as energetic, so they are no longer covered during freezes and frosts. Apparently they have acclimated because these photos were taken last month after 2 days of freezing temperatures (and other frosty-freezing days prior to that):



Hanging in homemade wire baskets that are about 4 feet across with long quadrupled lengths of 1 inch "mule tape", the fronds (leaves) are rather "pale" and beat up from cold northern winds at this time. The fronds are between 2-3 feet long each.

The "shield fronds" cover the base of the plant where the lengthy fronds come out. If a knife or ice pick is used to puncture a green shield frond, more "pups" will emerge. Then the pups can be cut out later and transplated, or left to grow in place, as we have done here. They are about 8 feet across (2.5 meters) and seem quite happy with their home. We never dreamed they would survive here.

In the following photo the bright green trees in the background are wild NON-indigenous cheery trees (no fruit) which are, SADLY, taking over the native oak habitat. Those are on someone else's property. We remove all non-indigenous trees on our property.

We call the oak trees "Live Oaks", although there are several varieties of oaks in our hammock. There are 2 squirrel-proof bird feeders (to the extreme right a box, and left, a cylinder). The one on the left is a dream at keeping the heavier birds and squirrels out of the feed. The right feeder is 30 years old and needs to be replaced. The squirrels can "hang" from the top because of the rust (giggle).

The azaleas in the far back right are twice the height of a person:



At the top left (below) are some white and pale pink azaleas, again, twice the height of a person. Azaleas require shade in Florida due to the hot, sunny summers, and enjoy an acid soil:



thanks for visiting!
hugs,

Love is in the Air - Cardz 4 Galz

Hello, Sweet Blogging Friends!

It's time for the 40th Cardz 4 Galz challenge!

It is always a pleasure seeing your artful treasures.

Badges are awarded for the Spotlight Winner and Top Picks.

Challenge #40 theme is selected by teamie CAZ - Love is in the Air! 
You may have 3 separate submissions, and have as many cards as you like on each submission.  

so get crafting and show us your interpretation of Love - it all depends who the cards are for, right? Love is one of those gifts we give ourselves, and lavish upon others.
Challenge ends on February 15.

I love being on this team - not only because my teamies are so talented and inspiring, but because I get to use all my "stuff" that has lain neglected far-too long!

I'm using a beautiful PSX stamp in a resist technique, employing SNS White Detail Embossing Powder, 5 colors of distress inks, and lots of layers of hearts! It also makes me VERY happy to use some Recollections rhinestones to "bling things to life!"

It's such unusual designer paper, which has been in my stash for YEARS, so glad to be finding a good use for it, from a company called Pocket Full of Papers.

Although the card is an A8 (5.5 x 8 inches), it just fits the post office guidelines for a flat card, and a regular size envelope. But it might be an extra ounce LOL

Check out the detail for the rhinestone flourishes on each side of the card.

Notice a difference in the two sides? (click on the photo to enlarge)

The top left does not show up as clearly as the top right.
The right flourishes are much more defined.

By the way, the rhinestones truly are sparkly, I just couldn't capture it with my camera.

The difference close up:

The right side has been finished with Sparkle N Sprinkle Peruvian Lily Microfine Velvet Glitter.

This glitter is micro fine, and has a very small sparkle effect, but it's just enough to not detract from the rhinestones. The tape is covered up by the glitter.

Peruvian Lily Microfine Velvet Glitter is one of my favorite colors due to its versatility. It goes with just about anything - pinks, purples, greens, blues, reds, oranges, whites, blacks. I suppose it would even go with yellow and bright orange if the colors were used in other places as well LOL

Now both sides are glittered. The top left is much more defined:

Products Used:

• Sparkle N Sprinkle Peruvian Lily Microfine Velvet Glitter, White Detail Embossing Powder
• Image: PSX K1466 Heart Wisdom 
• Watercolor paper, pattern paper, SU cardstock, PFOP designer Paper
• Recollections rhinestones
• LifeStyle Nesting Heart dies

On a Personal Note:

Even in Florida we have some cold and dreary days, where there is such a chill, that our thin-blooded bodies just can't tolerate the cold. Everything is relative, right? We recently had nights descending into the 30s and 40s. On those cold days, this is what we enjoy to take the chill out of the air. The cold days make all you Northerners seem like Super Heroes to us!

Challenges I'd like to play in:

1. Classic Design Team Open Challenge Blog #11 Anything for a DT goes 3/1
2. Come and Get it Challenges (Jan 27) 3 or More Layers 2/5 (9 layers plus the base folded card and flourishes)
3. Craft Rocket Challenges #32 "It's a Love Thing" 2/14
4. Crafting from the Heart #145 Anything Goes 2/5
5. Crafts Galore Encore (Feb 1) Anything Goes! 3/1
6. Crafty Creations #334 Anything Goes 2/15
7. Die Cuttin Divas #302 Anything Goes 2/7 (heart dies used in a variety of ways)
8. heARTful Stamping Challenge (Jan29 - Feb 5) Use a Rubber Stamp + theme Anything Goes 2/5
9. Love to Craft #7 Anything Goes 3/5
10. Pile it On Challenges #125 Quotable 2/5 + other challenges
11. Word Art Wednesday (268-269) Anything Goes + Love/Wisdom 2/15 (paraphrased 1Corinthians chapter to concise words)
12. World Wide Open Design Team Challenge #18 Anything for a DT goes 2/15

Stamping Hugs,

Masculine Truck Card

Hello, Friends! Fun Summer Wishes to you and your families.

It feels good to write a post again. I miss you, and am slowly recovering (I hope).

Today's card uses an image from an extinct company - but they are still one of my all time faves. Personal Stamp Exchange PSX - do you remember them?

*SIGH*

I miss them.

So sad when a favorite company disappears.

(giggle - if only that were the biggest of our problems, right?)

All the products used on my card are old (including the cardstock) except the embossing folder.

Product List Below.

This stamp is also precious because it was "bequeathed" to me by Dottie Karvonen, a dear on-line stamping friend who has since passed away. Her daughter Lisa has become a friend, and I treasure all the encouragement and words of wisdom Lisa shares.

My simple card needed a little something. The Card Mania Challenge came to the rescue by suggesting the use of Metal Embellishments (the four corners are copper metal, and have been in my stash for some 8-10 years).

The inside is very simple, but continues the oval theme:

I've submitted my card to the following fun challenges:

1. Card Mania Challenges CMC#69 - Use Metal Embellishments or Ornaments 6/29
2. Cardz 4 Guys Challenges #76 - Use Dies or Punch - (3 SB Oval Dies) 7/1
3. Get Creative Challenges #17 "For the Boys or Father's Day" 7/1
4. Shopping Our Stash SOS #207 "For the Boys" 7/2 (Used an old PSX stamp which I've never before used, everything on this card is old except for the embossing folder - thanks for always inspiring me to look at my stash)
5. Clear It Out Challenge June 23 - July 7 Theme: YOUR STYLE, Stash: FAVORITE CRAFT PRODUCT (theme - copic markers, stash - rubber stamps - I love rubber stamps. In the past few years, I've neglected my stash of rubber in favor of digital cards or die cut cards. It's a pleasure playing with rubber again).
6. Outlawz Greeting Card Challenge GCC062215 "Father's Day or Masculine" 6/29
7. Crafts4Eternity #232 Metal Element (used 4 metal copper corners, and metal copper brad)
8. Simply Create Too #88 "Old, Vintage" (vintage truck with vintage style embellies) 7/2

Products:
Stamp: PSX K-2040 Truck (long in my stash, and first time use)
            Hero Arts Mini Sentiments (also very old)
Die Cuts: 2 Spellbinders Grand Nestabilities Ovals
Studio K Twine (in stash, never before used)
Copic Markers
Embellishment Corners: OLD OLD Copper Metal Accents from ScrapEssentials, Copper brad
Cardstock: Neenah Ivory, Navy, Ivory 
Embossing Folder: Teresa Collins' Modern Stripe by Craftwell

Thanks for stopping by...
hugs,

Aqua and Brown Trio {Scrapy Land}

Hello, everyone! A special welcome to new google follower Lynn McAuley.

It is time for a new Scrapy Land Challenge, and I have 3 cards to share! The Challenge is open until October 12. The theme is ANYTHING GOES using any die manufacturer which Scrapy Land sells. Scrapy Land sells over 40 manufacturers of dies, including overseas products, and most are at a great discount!

Color Scheme: Gentle Aqua Blue and Chocolate Brown

NOTICE: My cards are flat for mailing! 

No beautiful roses even tho I made them for the cards. (giggle)

(quite a hurdle for me)

My three coordinating cards are inspired by Friend Sandy Lee and artist Beccy Muir who lives Down Under -- Partly because those who live Down Under are leaving the brown-grayness of Winter and moving into Spring, and partly because it is her beautiful Blossom Image used on the cards.

The same colors, sentiments and main die cuts have been used, with slight variations. I hope you like them!

Easel Card

Dimensions are 5.5" x 7.5" (A7 card)

TIP: Use a border punch on the top of the base, so when it is opened, it still looks pretty!

Below the easel card is closed flat. LOVE the Spellbinders Elegant Labels 4 Die Set.

TIP: How to create dimension without increasing postage costs:

Horizontal Card with Pop Up on the inside:

Girl Friend Sandy Lee gave me an interior pop-up die cut on this pretty chocolate and blue paper. The word "hello" did not show up very well, so it has been covered with Sparkle N Sprinkle Jasper Blue Micro Fine Glitter. The sides have been embossed with SNS Brown Fizz embossing powder.

Beccy's Flowers have been adorned with prill-filled centers and die cut leaves (from gray vellum and designer paper to match the background).

Boo-Boo time! Vertical A7 Card:

I love showing off my boo-boos. In the card below, I ran out of the Chocolate Brown Cardstock! YIKES! So the first photo seems like the dark aqua is the "base of the card".

 But actually, the dark aqua is the folded portion of the card. It is sitting on the remnant piece 5.5" x 7.5" brown cardstock. Who says the base has to be the part that opens? It can just be a frame for your pretty card as shown below:

Above, the card appears to have a brown card base. But below, when it is open, we can see that only the back side of the card is framed in brown. Definitely a great tip when using expensive paper, or if we happen to run out of a needed color.

Products Used:

Scrapy Land Spellbinders Elegant Labels 4
Scrapy Land Taylored Expressions "Mini Leaves"
Scrapy Land Spellbinders Bitty Blossoms
Scrapy Land Cheery Lynn Olive Branches
Scrapy Land Spellbinders Gold Labels 4
Scrapy Land Spellbinders Decagons
Spellbinders Labels Four
Beccy Muir Blossom Image
PSX "gentle" image (retired)
Stampin' Up! Elegant Cheer (Just a Note)
Stampin' Up! Warmest Regards (thinking of you)
Impression Obsession "Perhaps they are not" (sentiment)
Paper: Aqua, Dark Aqua, Chocolate Brown, Grey and White Vellum, White, Neenah Solar White
Ink: Salmon, Pumice, Cocoa, Walnut and Shell Pink dye inks, Deep Lagoon VersaFine, VersaMarker
Copic Markers (browns, blues, blue-greens)
SNS Skylight Cosmic Semi-Transparent Embossing Powder (so creamy!)
SNS Jasper Blue Velvet Glitter
SNS Brown Fizz Embossing Powder
USArt Quest Prills - "A Penny Saved" (flower centers)
SU Ribbon

Challenges Entered:

1. Die Cuttin' Divas #185 Anything Goes with Die Cuts 10/6
2. Paper Minutes - #341 Easel Card (the top card is an easel card) 10/5
3. {PIN}spirational Challenges - #125 - Anything Goes "Anything Could Happen" 10/14
4. Sweet Stamps #189 Use Dies 10/6
5. Crafting from the Heart - #38 Anything Goes 10/5
6. The Pink Elephant - #270 Anything Goes 10/6
7. One Stitch At a Time - #220 Anything Goes with a Flower 10/13
8. Through the Craft Room Door - Sept 29-Oct 6 Anything Goes 10/6
9. Beccy's Place Challenges - Oct - Anything Using a Beccy Muir image 10/31

Thanks for stopping by today!

Warm Stamping Hugs,