Otter Anniversary Card

It's been a few days since my last post but it's been pretty busy around my house. This week my hubby and I are celebrating our Twentieth Wedding Anniversary. It has really gone by fast!!! I wanted to make a special card to celebrate and I bought the Christmas Like No Otter stamp set for Simon Says Stamp by Lawn Fawn for the occasion. We love to visit the otters when go to the local Tulsa Zoo. They are fun and charismatic creatures!

To make this card I started with a piece of watercolor paper and oxide inks in Broken China and Salty Ocean for the water and Antique Linen and Vintage Photo for the sand. After inking the paper it was spritzed with water and a heat gun used to speed the drying process. Then the panel was die cut using a scalloped frame by Taylored Expressions. The outside frame was then darkened with more Salty Ocean distress ink. I went back and stamped the waves and little circles in the water. Then the otters and images were stamped with Memento black ink and colored with Copic markers. They were then die cut with the coordinating dies. The sand was die cut with a small wavy scallop stitches die by Simon Says Stamp. Everything was adhered flat to a piece of natural cardstock and that's it! Thanks for stopping by!

This Otter Anniversary Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Use Your Stuff: Old and New
• Sweet Stampin': Cute and Cuddly
• Retarte: Anything Goes

Penguin Hello Autumn Card

Hello! I have a quick post to share this Penguin Hello Autumn Card I made for a few challenges. A couple of weeks ago I saw this Penguin image used and it's so cute I had to buy it. The image is called Penguin Apple Bushel and you can find it at Whimsy Stamps. Copic markers were used to color the image and then it was die cut using a cross stitched oval by My Favorite Things. Most of the papers are from the Woodland Forest paper pad by Pebbles (2016) with the exception of the gingham which was in my scrap bin. The Hello Autumn sentiment is from the retired Cheer All Year stamp set by Stampin' Up! and Memento black ink was used. Three green candy dots were added for detail and that's it!

This Penguin Hello Autumn Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Cute Card Thursday: Add Banners/Flags
• Crafty Cardmakers: Autumn
• City Crafter: Apples Everywhere!!!
• Shopping Our Stash: Apple of my Eye
• The Paper Girls: Harvest

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Happy Owl Coffee Card

This afternoon I really debated between taking a nap or drinking more coffee to make a card. The coffee and card making won! I couldn't resist using the cute Happy Fall digital image by Craftin Desert Divas. It's been featured on several cards in the Fall Coffee Lovers Blog Hop and I think it's just adorable!

To color the image I used Copic markers and then used a stitched square die cut by Lil' Inkers. All patterned papers are from the Flea Market paper pad by Doodlebug Design. Cardstock colors include Bermuda Bay and Pumpkin Pie by Stampin' Up!. The sentiment is from the Stamplorations Coffee Happy stamp set by Shery Russ Designs and was stamped using Memento Rich Cocoa ink. Three green sequins were added for some sparkle and that's it. This Happy Owl Coffee Card is also entered into the following challenges: Allsorts (Feels Like Autumn) and 2 Crafty Crazies (Feature a Creature). Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Pumpkin Spice Card

Hello and happy Friday! Today is the start of the Fall Coffee Lovers Blog Hop and this Pumpkin Spice Card is my first entry. The coffee cup stamp and sentiment are from the Unity Pumpkin Spice stamp set. Copic markers were used to color the image. The orange patterned paper is from the Knock On Wood paper pad by Lawn Fawn and the gingham is from the Perfect Autumn paper pad by Echo Park. Early Espresso cardstock by Stampin' Up! was used for the frame and mat along with some retired Early Espresso twine for detail. Three small sequins were the last added detail and that's it. I'm also entering this card in the Naughty or Nice Challenge #43-Framed! Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Fall Thanks Card

There are numerous reasons to send thank you cards and with Fall quickly arriving I wanted to make a Fall Thanks Card. All supplies used on this card are by Stampin' Up!. The supplies used are a mix of current and retired. Retired supplies include: pumpkin stamp from the retired Fall Fest stamp set, thanks sentiment from Watercolor Wishes, Hello Honey ink pad, candy dots and sequins. Current supplies include: Very Vanilla, Cajun Craze, Crushed Curry and Early Espresso cardstock, Painted Autumn dsp, Falling Flowers stamp set, May Flowers framelits, Pumpkin Pie and Cajun Craze ink pads and Early Espresso marker. That's it! Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day.


This card is entered into the following challenges:

• SU! Only: Autumn Colors!
• Craftaholics R Us: Pumpkins
• Use Your Stuff: Fall is in the Air

Newton Halloween Card

Happy Tuesday! I mail around a dozen cards for Halloween to family and friends. Since it will be here next month I decided to get a start on my cards. To create this Newton Halloween Card I used the sketch from Newton's Inky Paws Challenge. When I first saw the sketch I thought it would make a cool moon card. The flying broom and kitty image from the Newton's Boo-tiful Night stamp set was the best choice to use in front of the moon.

To start I made the moon using watercolor paper and distress oxide inks in Antique Linen and Fossilized Amber. A small amount of Frayed Burlap was added to the edges of the moon, then it was spritzed with water and a heat gun used to speed the drying process. Then I made the sky background with distress oxide inks in Salty Ocean, Seedless Preserves and Black Soot on mixed media paper. The same process was used, spritz with water and heat set. Once this panel was dried I heat embossed several stars with Wow! Glow-in-the-Dark embossing powder and the sentiment with white embossing powder. The white strip of paper was stamped with the little bat. Newton was colored with Copic markers and then fussy-cut. Next everything was assembled and adhered flat for easy mailing. I decided it needed a little more sparkle, so I added three star sequins and that's it. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

This Newton Halloween Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Newton's Inky Paws: Sketch
• Simon Says Stamp: It's Written in the Stars
• Glitter 'N' Sparkle: Anything Goes
• Show Us Your Pussies: Furrything Goes

Sketch:

Autumn Fun Card

Happy Saturday! Hopefully you are having a great day! It's been pretty calm around my house, so I made this Autumn Fun Card using the new Autumn Newton stamp set. This stamp set will see a lot of action for my Fall card creations. I really love the Newton's Nook line of stamps!

To make this Autumn Fun Card I started with the inky panel. A piece of mixed media paper was cut to the desired size and inked with Distress Oxide Inks in: Fossilized Amber, Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade and Fired Brick. Then it was spritzed with water using a distress sprayer. A heat gun was used to help speed the drying process along. Next the Autumn Newton images were stamped with Memento black ink and colored with Copic markers. The coordinating dies were used to cut out the images. A brown frame was die cut and adhered to the inky panel. Then to cover some liquid glue issues I added some brown metallic paint to the frame. Both patterned papers are from the Pumpkin Spice paper pad by Simple Stories (2015) and were matted to a piece of Early Espresso cardstock by Stampin' Up!. Everything was adhered flat for easy shipping and that's it!

Challenges entered:

• Cute Card Thursday: Autumn
• Allsorts: Use at least 2 Designer Papers
• Pause Dream Enjoy: Autumn
• Craft for the Craic: Autumnal Colours

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Autumn Newton Thankful Card

Hello and happy Wednesday! Last month Newton's Nook released a new stamp set called Autumn Newton and I decided it was purrfect for my Thanksgiving cards for family this year. The Newton's Nook design team did an amazing job with their inspirational designs, click HERE. I was inspired by all the inky backgrounds and really loved Maria Russell's design that you can check out HERE. Then Jennifer Jackson created two awesome cards for the Simon Says Stamp Blog that you can check out HERE.

With all this wonderful inspiration I was excited to make my own inky background with distress oxide inks. Colors include: Seedless Preserves, Fired Brick, Spiced Marmalade, Wild Honey, Fossilized Amber and Vintage Photo. The colors were sponged onto mixed media paper, blended well and then sprayed with water. The heat gun was used to dry the water and set the ink. I let the panel dry overnight before cutting it to the right size. A Birch Tree die cut by Taylored Expressions was added and trimmed and then the panel was matted to Rich Razzleberry cardstock by Stampin' Up!. Next, the Newton image was colored with Copic markers and die cut with the coordinating die. Everything was adhered flat to the card for easy mailing. A few sequins were added for sparkle and that's it!

This Autumn Newton Thankful Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Simon Says Stamp: Stamp It!
• Little Red Wagon: Give Us Your Background
• Tuesday Throwdown: Punches and/or Dies
• Crafty Gals Corner: Favorite Colors (used favorite Fall colors)

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Painted Harvest Card

A nice cool front came in overnight and it feels a little like Fall this morning. I don't know about you but I'm very ready for Fall/Autumn to arrive and it's only 17 days away. Hooray!

This Painted Harvest Card is my first attempt using the new Painted Harvest stamp set by Stampin' Up! It's new in the 2017 Holiday catalog. This time of year I love seeing sunflowers on the side of the road here in Oklahoma. I've always wanted to plant some in my backyard but never have. Anyway... I love the effect of the layered stamps in this set.

Challenges entered:

• Simon Says Stamp: Stamp It!
• Crafting From the Heart: Anything Goes
• Fashionable Stamping: Use Your Inks

Stampin' Up! supplies used include:

• Paper: Very Vanilla cardstock, Crushed Curry cardstock, Crumb Cake cardstock and Painted Autumn dsp.
• Stamps: Painted Harvest 
• Inks: Crushed Curry, retired Hello Honey, Early Espresso and Garden Green
• Other Stuff: Crushed Curry Twine

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Plant Smiles Card

This summer I had the privilege and joy of watching a baby cottontail rabbit grow up right outside my back window. Although I worried about it everyday because we have several Red-tailed Hawks in our area, I'm happy to say it is still hanging out in our backyard. It brought many smiles to my face and it was the inspiration for this Plant Smiles Card.

The image is from the retiring Garden Whimsy stamp set by Newton's Nook. It's currently on sale and once it's gone... it's gone. Copic markers were used to color the image and then it was cut 3.25" square and matted to a piece of Audry Blue cardstock by Simon Says Stamp. The polka dot and red patterned paper is by American Crafts (2012) and the blue stripe is by Echo Park. Everything was adhered flat for easy mailing and the final touch was the die cut sun by Lil' Inkers. That's it! Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Challenges entered:

• Newton's Inky Paws: Polka Dots
• Alphabet: M for Make Your Mark
• Jo's Scrap Shack: Anything Goes

My backyard cottontail rabbit I named Bun Bun sleeping in the sun. It lived in the Sage Bush behind where it's laying. July 2017

Bun Bun peeking in my window after it checked out the freshly planted petunias I planted knowing this cottontail would eat them. June 2017

Etsy Shop Sale

Hello crafty friends! This weekend Etsy is having their first-ever site wide sale. Most items in my Etsy shop are 10% off now through Sept. 5th. All items are handmade by me and custom orders are always welcome. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Items in my shop include:

• Baby Burp Cloths
• Baby Blankets
• Doll Blankets
• Handmade Cards

For You Faux Patina Card

Hello and happy September 1st! I'm always happy when September arrives because that means Fall isn't too far behind. Today is also the start of a new challenge at Simply Create Too and this month the theme is Ribbon and Buttons. The challenge runs through September 29th! You can find all the challenge details and design team inspiration HERE. I hope you will play along!

For my card I decided to use the Faux Patina technique with a button embossing folder by Darice. If this technique is new to you click HERE for a video tutorial. The ink colors used include: Crumb Cake, Soft Sky, Pool Party, Bermuda Bay, Lost Lagoon and Island Indigo all by Stampin' Up! and Tumbled Glass distress ink by Ranger. The embossing powder is by Recollections and the color is Champagne. It's more subtle than gold but I like the way it looks with the colors. The finished faux patina panel was matted to a piece of Island Indigo cardstock and then some retired Pool Party ribbon was wrapped around flat. A stitched die cut square was matted to Island Indigo and then a For You die cut from Bermuda Bay cardstock was adhered and then added to the front with dimensionals. To add some sparkle five sequins were added and that's it. If you've never tried this technique I hope you will give it a try, it's a lot of inky fun. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Challenges entered:

• 4 Crafty Chicks: Anything Goes
• Crafting with Friends: Anything Goes