Holly Concert by Penny Black

 

It's Saturday and I am happy to be back at my desk and blog today! The original plan for the weekend was to travel to Atlanta for the weekend to spend time with grandchildren, but a bout of back spasms and a misadventure with the heating pad meant no long car rides for me for awhile!

So Plan B included making a Christmas card instead!

I created the background by stamping and embossing in white on white cardstock Penny Black's new Christmas release background stamp Decadence. I then colored the surface with a variety of Distress inks and Delicata gold ink. I sprayed a fixative on that surface and then stamped the Holly Concert image onto the background using black ink and then embossing with clear. I colored the birds and holly branch with Copics. The texture of the background makes the birds and holly look like an oil painting, as there is quite a bit of texture on the surface. "Peace" has been cut using the Penny Black creative die set Peace, Love, Joy. I stitched the three layers together and decided I really love the look! For some reason I am really excited about bird images for Christmas and Penny Black has released at least three wonderful bird images for Christmas!!

I think that "decadence" background stamp is well-named!  It is scrumptiously detailed.

Hopefully I will be able to set the Christmas stamps aside now and then and make more Autumn themed cards.  But you know how it is when you have new stamps ... just gotta ink them up!!  Happy weekend and thanks for stopping by.  Oh, and never sleep while you are laying on a heating pad turned up to "high".  Don't ask me how I know!!

Fancy Flowers by Penny Black

I guess it's pretty obvious that my choice of colors for the flowers in the cart was inspired by the patterned paper!  This is more paper from my new 6x6 pad by Doodlebug Design called Happy Harvest, a gift from my friend, Sally.   I remember when we lived in Wisconsin that it was always in late September that the colors in the flowers became deeper and brighter, as if they knew they had one last chance to look beautiful before the frost came.

The cart image was stamped and embossed and colored with Copics.  I then taped the scalloped Nestie to the paper and ran it through the Big Shot.  Pop dotted it onto the card base and added some diecut leaves and an acorn, also a gift from Sally!  I added Glossy Accents on the flowers and parts of the wheel and cart, just to shine things up a bit.  The sentiment is Penny Black and I stitched it to the card base.

This card is being sent to my niece, Kim, who sometimes checks in on my blog!  Hope she forgets today ...

Cool and overcast here today!  It's a windows open kind of a day!!  You still have time to enter the color combo challenge at the Penny Black blog!    The challenge closes on Friday.  If you can't enter the challenge, click on the "gallery" option and be prepared to be inspired!! 

Thanks for the visit!

Autumn Blessings Penny Black

Yesterday I posted a Christmas card and today I am playing with Fall colors. I couldn't get into the Fall theme without just the right patterned paper, and I wasn't able to find what I had in mind locally.

I have a friend, Sally, who lives in Missouri and she has the knack for sending little gifts at just the right time; this time it was a 6x6 paper pad called Happy Harvest by Doodlebug Design. It is just perfect to enhance any fall image. Also in the package were hundreds of small, detailed die cut leaves, acorns, branches, and other diecuts, each style packed in the perfect baggie for size and quantity!! I think Sally knows I would never have the patience to cut so many tiny items!! I have been known to hoard the things she sends, but this time I intend to use and enjoy!!

The flower is the smaller dahlia image stacked with a pop dot onto the center of the larger dahlia image from Penny Black's transparent set "Dahlias". Both flowers were stamped in VersaMark and embossed in white. Distress inks were rubbed onto each flower to create the color. That is real burlap that serves as the base for everything else!

I added white enamel dots and did a little stitching. I love the texture and colors in this card.

Don't forget about the Color Combo Challenge at the Penny Black blog.  You have until September 27th to enter.  This card most closely uses the color palette shown on Day  5 of the challenge.

Hope your weekend was a good one!

Whooo's Wishing by Penny Black

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Couldn't wait to get this Santa image inked up from the Penny Black transparent set Whooo's Wishing . This set includes this Santa, penguins, a snowman, a deer and some owls who give the set its name.

I stamped Santa with Vivid red ink and then outlined beard, moustache and eyebrows with a black pen. I popped each Santa into a frame created by my Tri Square die. The holly leaves are stamped on the inside of the card and allowed to peek out. The original design was altered when I looked at my finished card and realized the sentiment said "oh, oh, oh" as in Ho Ho Ho stamped upside down!!

A new strip of white solved that problem! I love these little Santas .. they have a bit of a Bavarian Alpine look!!

Rainy day in Huntsville!! Lots of stamping time!  I'm not quite ready to go full time towards Christmas. Fall is a good time to switch to warmer tones and celebrate the Fall holidays!  But you know how it is when new stamps arrive by mail!

Penny Black Blooming Garden

 

I made this card earlier in the summer and must have been influenced by the hot and bright sunny days!  I used the same flowers from the Blooming Garden set for the embossed and distressed background as I did for the focal point. I needed to break up all that sunny color so I added the Polaroid die cut. The sentiment is also Penny Black: Eloquence. And then I stitched it all together!!

This card may have the recipient reaching for sunglasses! Embossing the background image and then going over it with Distress inks is such a quick and easy way to get an impressive background. And some days we need quick and easy.

It's an overcast Friday here; a relief from the hot and sunny and humid days we've been having.

The riding mower is parked in the front yard waiting for the mower ambulance to whisk it away for a hopefully brief stay and recovery at the mower hospital! Having learned the hourly rate and the pick up and delivery charges, I think I need to check with Blue Cross and see if this is covered!

Thanks for the visit! Don't trip over the mower!

Look who is Three Months Old!!

Here she is!  A four-day veteran of Daycare and now three months old!!  Evelyn Rose is just as sweet as she looks in the photo.  Sleeps through the night for Mommy and Daddy.  Grandma gets to visit via Skype and Evie now watches and listens and smiles for Grandma! 

We will be in Wisconsin for Evie's baptism in October.  Can't wait!!

Evie says "hi" to Grandma's blogger friends.

My First Stencil Background

 

I've been eager to try using stencils for a background and picked this Heidi Swapp stencil up at Michael's for 99 cents!

I placed it on white cardstock and sprayed with Kraft Glimmer Mist. Loved the result!! I then stamped Penny Black's Christmas Red and Green image onto the background. I added butterflies cut with Penny Black's creative die Flutters. That Christmas stamp has many non-Christmas possibilities.

I actually purchased four other stencils recently online and when they arrived I put them away very carefully ... so carefully that I cannot find them!! Is it possible I have too much stuff?

Wednesday is my grocery shopping day. I love the buy one get one free items. My receipt shows that I spent $97 but my savings came to $48. Not bad!!

And I want extra points for not mentioning that my husband once again locked his keys in the car at the golf course. Worse yet, he had left them in the ignition in the "on " position! Resutl: very dead battery. Thank goodness for Triple A!! I would like to say I handled it sweetly .... I would like to be able to say that!

Thanks for your visit.

Petal Party

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This "peacock" patterned paper practically leapt into my cart at Michael's the other day. I knew it would make a great background for Petal Party flowers by Penny Black. I love these images stamped in VersaMark and embossed with white.

I just visited with Evelyn Rose via Skype. She will be 3 months old in two days! Today was her first day at daycare. Evie did beautifully: mommy not so much!!

We finally have "windows open" weather! Beautiful morning and evening temperatures with a few hours in the afternoon that remind you the heat isn't finished yet.
 

 
Don't forget, you have until September 27th to enter the color combo challenge at the Penny Black blog.  There are prizes involved.

Hope your week is off to a great start! Do stop by again.

CASology Silhouette Challenge

 

I found this whale silhouette stamp in the dollar bin at Michael's, along with the wave stamp!! It was just meant to be. I stamped and embossed with white (took 8 tries to minimize the stray ep, in spite of Swiffer, embossing buddy and dryer sheet!) The sentiment is from Hero Arts. That's a Sizzix embossibillities pattern for the background. It turned out exactly as I saw it in my head ... finally!

I am entering this card in the CASology challenge where the cue word is "silhouette". I thought it would be fun to have a white silhouette instead of black!! My next purchase will be a jar of DETAIL white embossing powder!

We've had a lovely break in our hot and humid weather! Enjoyed sitting on the patio and having the windows open and the air conditioner turned off!

Thanks for your visit!!

Color Combo Challenge Day 5

It's been a fun week of color combos at the Penny Black blog!   You have until September 27th to enter a project in the Color Combo Challenge using any or all of the combos.  The details are here.

This is the last combo, and as you can see, I've taken some liberty with the colors.  I've used dark brown cardstock for the base and a duller shade of orange and a brighter shade of the gold.  As long as the colors are in the same family or a different shade, you have followed the guidelines for the challenge!  The image is from Penny Black's Blooming Garden.  As you can see, I've stamped it twice and added a layer of petals for dimension.  The butterfly is a Creative Die Flutters by Penny Black.  I colored the seam binding with a Copic marker. 

Hope you will join in the fun!!  A color combination is a great starting point when you are short on ideas! 

Last night I attended a talk given by a gentleman who was on the 19th floor of  Tower 2 at the World Trade Center when it underwent a terrorist attack.  The talk was mesmerizing.  The gentleman is now suffering from what doctors have told him is a terminal condition due to the hours he spent in the dust and debris cloud before he was able to leave the area.  Needless to say, he is a changed man both physically and spiritually.  I was honored to hear his story and remember the victims and their families.

It's been a pleasure having you as my guest today!!

Penny Black Color Combo Challenge Day 4

 




Today I've used the Penny Black stamp Christmas Reds and Greens as a Christmas image, adding the touch of red.  I stamped the leaves in green and then over-stamped them with delicate gold ink.  I love the dimension and shimmer the gold ink adds.

This is a card that could be made quickly and easily mass produced!

Hope you've gotten inspired to enter the color combo challenge at the Penny Black blog!  You have until the 27th of this month to enter any or all of the color challenges.  Did I mention there will be prizes!!

Now that I've published this card, I notice the wrinkle in the ribbon!  That new camera is just too darned good!  In real life that wrinkle is hardly noticeable!!  I'll put a new ribbon in its place before I mail it!! 

Thanks for stopping by!  I enjoy your company.

Penny Black Color Combo Challenge Day 3

It's Wednesday and day 3 of the color combo challenge at the Penny Black blog.  You have until September 27th to enter the challenge.  Go here for the details.



Can you tell I really had fun with this color combo?  Well, the darling Build a Snowman transparent set from Penny Black added to the fun!

I embossed a starry background and added snowflakes cut from the Penny Black Creative Die snowflake set.  The snowman set comes with several hats, scarves, noses, smiles, accessories and snowflakes!  And your choice of snowmen!  I chose pom poms instead of a scarf and added a little birdie friend.

I want to take a moment here to pause in memory of the victims of the terrorist attack on 9/11. 

It's a day I will never forget.  We were pulling our RV, headed to New Jersey for some repairs when we received a phone call from friends letting us know about "airplanes falling from the sky".  The tunnels were closing, we were in a race to reach our destination before the roads were shut down.  I told my husband I wanted to go home and very seriously he said to me, "We have no home."  We were pulling it behind us. 

We spent the night in the parking lot of the camping store in New Jersey, listening to fighter jets patrol the skies all night long.  The images we saw on the television that evening were hard to comprehend.  And we wondered about the couple we met at a rest stop that were heading to New York to visit the World Trade Center and other tourist sites.

I'm sure you all remember exactly where you were and what you were doing on that day. 

Color Combo Challenge at Penny Black Day 2

It's day two of the color combo challenge and just look at the deep, rich, yummy colors.  They work like magic on Penny Black's stamp Holly Concert 4337K. 

I love having a color combo for inspiration!

I've used Penny Black's stamp Christmas Reds and Greens.  It's not being used it as a Christmas image here so I put little white enamel dots instead of using Christmas red.  I originally stamped the image in black ink, but found it too stark so I overstamped it using Delicata gold ink.  Love the shadow effect with a shimmer that isn't captured by the camera.  Don't you love it when you can use a Christmas stamp that can be used all year round? The background was made using Distress inks smeared on an acrylic block, spritzed with water and then the watercolor paper laid on it.  The butterflies just showed up and I invited them to stay!

I hope you will visit the Penny Black blog and read about the challenge.  Your card can be any theme and there will be a new color combo posted every day this week.  And there will be prizes!!  Read about it here.

It is hard to think about Christmas with our 99% humidity and high 80's temperatures, but you know how it always happens before we are ready!  

Stop by again tomorrow ... I have a card made for each color combo this week.  Love sharing with you and so appreciate it when you leave a comment!!

Penny Black Color Combo Challenge

 

 

  

  

This week Penny Black is show casing their new Colorful Christmas Collection and hosting a color combo challenge.

Each day Penny Black will be sharing a new color combo and card idea.  The samples will feature stamps from the new Colorful Christmas collection, but entries can by ANY theme from Christmas to birthdays ... and anything in between!  Just use the daily color combo for your inspiration.  For complete directions on how to play along, go to the Penny Black Blog.

 

I've used this hedgie image from Penny Black's transparent set Hedgie friends.  I've colored the image with Copics and mounted it on layered circles.  The tiny butterfly is from a die I've had for awhile and forgot about!!

 

When I first saw the colors I thought it was a rather somber palette, but the cute little hedgie brightened the mood.

 

Check the Penny Black blog each day this week for a new color combo.  The challenge runs through September 27 and you can enter multiple times!!  And you know there will be prizes!!

 

Thanks for including a visit to my blog in your day's plans!!  Love hearing from you!!

Polka Dot Sprig by Penny Black

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I treated myself to this woodblock stamp from Penny Black "Polka Dot Sprig", imagining it stamped in black on a beautiful watercolored background.

So how did it end up stamped in white on a plain black background? That's the magic that happens when you have a stamp in your hand .. you never know where you will end up when you start the journey!

And for a stamp with "polka dot" in its name, only a dotted matt will do! I added a butterfly cut with Penny Black's creative die "flutters". I love this stamp and how versatile it will prove to be!

Hope your weekend is a good one. So glad you stopped by!!

Apple Cocoa by Sweet 'n Sassy digital

 

The clue word at CASology this week is "apple". Not having any apple stamps, I searched for a digi source and found Apple Cocoa by Sweet 'n Sassy.

 

I am also entering this card in the Simon Says Wednesday challenge, "Animal Antics".

 

 

I colored Coca the mouse with Copics, and used my Polaroid Frame die to make him the center of attention on the dotted card base. A touch of red and white gingham and a sentiment from Penny Black and he was done!

I think this will go to one of the grandchildren!!  I do miss them all!

So good to see you!!  Come again!!

Less is More

 

Penny Black has partnered with the Less is More challenge blog this week. Although my card has several layers due to the die cut and fussy cutting, I think it is still a clean and simple card. We'll see what happens as I enter this in the Less is More challenge to "use a stamp".

I've used Penny Black's woodblock Bridal March stamp, slightly altered to eliminate the veil, the boot and the beehive hairdo. I paper pieced and fussy cut the dress. Looks like this elegant lady is off for a "day of delight"; perhaps an afternoon ball?

You can find out the details of the challenge here.   And you know there will be prizes!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Penny Black with Less is More

This week Penny Black is partnering with the Less is More blog.  Clean and Simple isn't as easy as it looks, but I decided to play along with the challenge this week, which is to use a rubber stamp, and watercolor if you choose.  Since I watercolored myself out last week, I skipped that part today!.

 I used Penny Black's Creative Die "Flutters" to make the butterfly. The sentiment is from Penny Black's "Eloquence" set, which I stamped on the inside of the car so it could peek out through the circle "window" I created with Nesties.  I added scoring to the base card stock for some texture and criss crossed some black and white gingham ribbon for the flutterby to rest on.

I will enter this card in the Less is More challenge this week.  You can find all the details here.

And look at the wonderful prize from the new Penny Black catalog:

 

That's it from me!  It was a dark and stormy night here in Huntsville!  But the weather has cleared up and I am hoping everyone was able to enjoy their Labor Day activities!

Graceful

 

A quick card made using another of the distress ink/watercolor backgrounds I made the other day. This one uses Penny Black's woodblock stamp Graceful stamped and embossed. Just a few baubles added for interest and there you have it!!

Did you know that a "Penny Black" was the first postage stamp ever? Learned that today on the History Channel.

Enjoy your holiday tomorrow! Retired people don't get to celebrate Labor Day!!