3 Lattes, Please...

Hi there, and Happy Holidays... almost.

Seriously, with Christmas season sneaking in, my craftroom is all set for Holiday card making.

I transformed the new, Warm and Wonderful from the Greetery,

into 3 Christmas card greetings.

This first card mounts the coffee mug on The Greetery's large Wood Slice, and

I stamped my sentiment on the smaller one.

Background was created with Tartan Builder Diagonal. I also added a few florals

from Merry Sprigs.

With a background made from Tartan Builder Diagonal again, this mug is 

mounted onto a vellum oval, and the sentiment from Hug in a Mug is 

embossed onto it.

I added a floral bouquet to this one made from Merry Sprigs, and some greens and berries

from Warm & Wonderful. Frosted Frames finished the card.

The third card is stamped with The Greetery's Print Shop Calico, and stenciled with 

reds and greens. The little tag is from Hug in a Mug Sweets. The oval is stenciled 

with Berry Branch, one of my favorites to use on cards. Stitched framed is from 

Spellbinders.

Back to the craft room, it's going to see a lot of me for the next few months!

 

2 More Cards for Alisa

 

In my previous post I mentioned my daughter who asked for some of my cards. 

These 2 will also go to her. Thank you cards and other basics she sends out to

her church friends.

Marcia Hill and I were sharing that we just can't seem to put the Greetery's 

Wild Elegance away. 

These 2 cards use Elegant Arches stamp, with. the center cut away. The butterfly and 

dragonfly were both added along with blooms from Honeysuckle Stems.

The butterfly and dragonfly are stenciled. The flower is inked and pencil detailed.

Is it time to put these sets away? We'll see... Just might have to do a few more!

Christmas Cards with Leaves All Around

 

Playing with The Greetery's Leaves All Around, and this time created a Christmas

card using half of the diecut.

I'm behind on my Christmas cards this year, so the previous few I have will

soon be joined with a growing stash. (Christmas in August?)

The background panel is stamped several times with Windowpane, a large

rubber stamp. The merry sprigs are from Hoop Wreath and the sentiment

from Opposites Attract 

I had the bottom die cut left over, and created a second card, this time with a

panel white inked stenciled and then cut from Nordic Frames.

I also try to personalize Christmas envelopes to coordinate the Christmas cards.

Tucked in some leftover pieces from the first card, and added some Nuvo drops.

Well, my Christmas stash has officially begun!

Time to put Leaves All Around away for a while. This lovely frame die packs a 

wow on a card, and has so many design options! 

Have a great week!

Bake It Merry

 

Well, it's full on Christmas Card Creating Time, and I have another card ready made from

the Greetery's new Holiday Release to share.

What's merrier than a tray of just baked Christmas cookies?

Together with pot holders, rolling pin and spatula, I was in love with this set

from the sneak peeks!

All elements were arranged and then sprinkled with chunky glitter.

Don't the letters of the word, 'BAKE' look like iced cookies? Love all Betsy's details; the

woodgrain on the rolling pin, stripes on the potholder, even indents on the cookies.

I found some holiday paper at Hobby Lobby, and, as long as time permits, will make 

coordinating envelopes. Really easy, and quick with a Memory Keepers Punch Board.

Envelope Punch Board by We R Memory Keepers. The Easiest Envelope Maker Available 

I love doing things in assembly line, so I'm all set up to do 8 of these. The Christmas

music is playing, the craft room is completely in shambles, with tiny pieces every-

where, and I'm in my happy place...

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

The Greetery

Bake It Merry Stamp, Bake It Merry Die Set

Windowpane Plaid Background

Cozy Cup Coaster

I-Crafter October Release: Scottie Dog Die Set

Hello, and welcome!

I'm posting today as one of the new designers for I-Crafter, a company rather new on the

horizon and the brainchild of Lynda Kanase, designer, creator and extraordinary crafter! 

Products are released monthly, and lucky me gets to come in at holiday time!

This sweet Scottie dog die set is one of the newbies, and I'm featuring it with the

buffalo check stencil. 

Here's a shot of the new Scottie Die Set, and notice anything different?

I-Crafter's dies are Teal Blue! So unique and fun!

Taking you up close for a look at the foam inking on the dog, the double bow on the

present, and all the backing on the die cuts.

That fabulous scripted 'cheers' is included in the die set, and I've poised

sweet scottie on a box so he can point to the sentiment.

This cheery little sized A2 card packs a colorful and sparkly holiday greeting.

Hope you check out I-Crafter, and all the new holiday goodies!

Lots of inspiration there too!

                     222215 Scotty Holiday:  https://bit.ly/3nIEUsi

222189 Buffalo Plaid Stencil: https://bit.ly/2YR5d5g

i-crafter
i-crafter Instagram
i-crafter Art Facebook Page
i-crafter Pinterest
i-crafter YouTube

Double D Challenge: Leaves

 

Hi there! I'm playing along with a new challenge (to me), called Double D. 

I found it while visiting my friend Birgit Norton's blog. She's on their design team. 

The theme is 'Leaves'.

Thankful for the Greetery's new release, and this awe inspired sentiment, 'Grace Upon Grace'.

I chose an oldie from the Greetery to accent my sentiment, Autumn Sketches. It's a 4 step

stamp. I wanted the actual leaves to have a watery effect, so I sponge daubed the stamp

while still in the Misti before stamping. That way I could blend my colors rather randomly.

The challenge run for 2 weeks, check it out here:

LEAVES

Birthday Geraniums

 

Greetings from Central CA, where our temps are just perfect for ripening fruit.

Not so perfect for long walks, outdoor picnics and much needed gardening.

So I'm indoors, crafting, playing with the new Greetery Summer release!

Botanicuts: Geraniums... LOVE! 

Trying the die cuts with watercolors, and kept a loose, let it happen touch.

Here's my technique: Die cut from watercolor cardstock, light spray with water, touch

with paint, it happens!

Once the pieces are dry, you can add deeper color to accentuate the veins, or not,

your choice.

I love to make envelopes special too. And find Betsy's stamps ideal to compliment the

cards. Her style coordinates throughout each release. They work so  well with each

other. Also love having a birthday stash ready to go!

Watercolor tips?

Don't overwork, keep it loose, above all enjoy the process. And, toss what you

don't like! Remember what colors work well together and what create mud, and

you're good to go!

Have a great weekend!

Supplies:

The Greetery: Botanicuts: Geraniums, Postal Frame, Window Pane Plaid BG, 

Pretty Postmarks, Birthday Blooms, Let's Have a Word: Birthday

Memory Box: Garden Folly designer paper, Fairy Jewels

Altenew: Inks

Sitting Pretty Get Well

Summers in my valley. hot. hot. hot. Great for growing summer fruit...

A greater reason to stay indoors, and craft!

The Greetery's Summer Release flew across the country and into my mailbox in 2 days!

A reason to celebrate, and another happy reason to stay in the craft room.

Thankfully I have no one in mind for this Get Well card, but the serene scene seemed

perfect for someone on the mend, don't you think?

I'm off to play with some more of the Greetery's treasures from this order. 

Did I mention it's hot outside? Like I said, great excuse to spend the day crafting!

Stay cool, my friends!

 

Adventure at the Lake

 

With the outside hovering around 109, the inside is the place to be, and my craft room 

with every possible 'craft aid' imaginable just begs to be played with. (Did I just start and

end a sentence with the word, with'?)

Friday's Greetery blog featured Norine and a timely post using the Destinations set. 

TGIF – Destination: Welcome to the Neighborhood with Norine

Norine's card had me lake dreaming, with picturesque mountains and cool breezes.

Destinations together with Destination Rectangle Die is what I used.

I sneaked in a few items from Destination Summer, as well, and the tag

is from Speed Tagging.

I used a pencil to add a bit of shading to the windows.

The Destination map die cuts the sections, which I inked and paint spattered.

Seriously folks, if I wasn't so comfy in my air conditioned craft cave, I'd be heading up 

to the lake right now! 

Are you busy? Wanna come?

Waffle Flower Guest Designer

 

It's a happy day dance I'm doing today! I get to be a guest designer for Waffle Flower!

My über talented friend, Jeanne Jackna asked if I'd join her team to showcase 

WF's April weekly challenge. The theme for April is sewing, and I'm featuring one

of their stitching dies.

I love any sort of needlework, and crosshatch is a favorite.  

The die is called Stitchable Pinking Rectangle, just right for any pattern you'd like 

to create. They even include one with the die.

Originally I chose these 3 colors of embroidery thread, but changed my mind after 

starting the card. (OK, don't judge me, I'm fickle!)

I started with the green, full 6 strands, and carefully counted my holes between the

diagonals. Next the green, then teal, and finally grey and darker green in the opposite

direction. This is a pleasant evening's work while watching TV, and I loved the look of the

pale blue behind and through the unstitched holes. 

The added die cut is Waffle Flower's Potted Lily. The sentiment is included in

the stamp set. 

Lots of foam pop ups for extra dimension.

Hope you'll play along with this week's challenge, and try your hand at one or more of 

Waffle Flower's Pinking dies. There are many in the shop, all shapes and sizes! 

Hope you're enjoying a happy healthy spring!

Nancy Penir