Wednesday, June 15, 2022

Dad's / Masculine 2

 

  It is with GREAT SADNESS that I tell you of the passing of our dear friend Kathy over the weekend.  She was able to create her cards for June & July but unfortunately was unable to get back to finish her write up.  Here is her beautiful card for June.

 Rest in Peace dear friend ... we are sure going to miss you!

 














Double D Beach Time

IN MEMORY




Sunday, June 5, 2022

Peace on Earth Challenge 17

                                       Time for challenge 17 at Peace on Earth Challenge Blog.  Here is a fun Mood Board for you.  I decided on the picture of the panda bear. 


                                              




I  love this IO bear.  I have used it many times and in several colors. Today I used it in black and white to mimic the panda bear.  I also used some touches of red like most of the photos have. I used some Tutti Design pine branches a Memory Box sled, and a tutti design twig wreath.  The Joy is from PTI. 



Wednesday, June 1, 2022

Double D White and ONE other color




Our challenge for you at Double D Challenge Blog this time is to use white and one other color. 

WHITE with ONE other color ONLY
(you can use neutrals with your one color
or you can use a neutral AS your one color)

Here is the Mood Board that Diane made for us.  How cute is that one kitten that stands out from his brothers and sisters and mama. 


I might have broken the rules here.  When I started this card I was thing green as my color.  I sponged the peony from Honey Cuts  in yellow green.  Using an Altenew stencil, I sponged  same color  onto white card stock. I topped that with some The macramé die cuts  from the Greetery that my friend Barb sent me.  Thanks, Barb.  I love all the texture and dimension you get without adding much bulk. 


Next came my Honey Cuts Peony. leaves.  I should have cut them from a yellow green card stock, but was thinking they were green, but the card was done and uploaded before I thought about that. I tucked a couple of memory Box flower stems in with the leaves. then the peony and peony bud. I promise this is very easy to layer and you get a lot of bang for your buck.  I got on a roll with different colors and have a nice stash to use throughout the year.  I did not know that they came in yellow until Vicki posted a picture of some from her yard so I have another color to make. 

 


Go over to the Double D Challenge Blog for lots more inspiration from the design team.  You have a chance to win some pops of color if you link up your design. 




Dies R Us Challenge Dad's Mtti Designs

 Those of you who have looked at my blog know I am all about flowers so it is really difficult for me to create something for the guys, but that is the challenge at Dies R Us Challenge Blog this time so I did a male birthday card... no flowers but a pine sprig does appear. 


 

I started with some decorator paper and used a linen textured one for the base.  I cut the Poppy Stamp Happy Birthday three times using white, kraft and a gingham pattern.  I inlaid the the shite happy birthday into the kraft tag and used the gingham happy birthday for the bottom of the card.  The little piece of pine was left on my desk from another design  so I just popped it on the top tag. 




We hope you join us for this masculine challenge at  Dies R Us Challenge Blog.  It will be a great way to make those Father's Day cards. 

Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Double D Monochromatic

              This time we have a monochromatic color scheme at Double D Challenge Blog.  The mood board offers lots of options and the team's inspiration at Double D Challenge Blog  will give you lots of ideas.                        




                                       

I chose a greenish  blue color and used shades of it on my card.  I started with a blue card base.  to that I layered IO large frame that I backed with a very old chevron cover plate from MFT.  I put a sheet of vellum behind the cover plate witch creates a muted version of the blue. I love this Honey Cuts lovely layers cone flower die.  I made several in different colors. The butterfly is from Memory Box.  




We hope you join us for this monochromatic challenge at Double D Challenge Blog.  You will have a chance to win  this beautiful paper. 



Sunday, May 15, 2022

Peace on Earth Challenge 16


Doesn't this mood board look like all the critters and people are soooo happy.  I don't have many critter dies or stamps but I remembered I bought a Cottage Kutz  penguin die years ago because one of my BFFs loved penguins.  



I recycled a Christmas card and used the front panel as a background for the wreath which is from Tutti designs.  The red twig wreath is a Cheapo die.  The sled from Memory Box  was on my table from another project so I just tucked it in.  I think it came out cute.  





We hope you join us for this Challenge at Peace on Earth Challenge Blog.  Use the Mood Board if something inspires you but as long as you use a Christmas theme we would love to see your creations. 
 

Dies R Us Anything Goes Challenge





Time for another Anything Goes Challenge at Dies R Us Challenge Blog.  I just got this flower die from the store.  It is super easy to put together and I love the effect. I die cut it in white and sponged it with some wild honey distress ink going heavier around the edges.  The layers and leaves were cut from colored card stock. I layered the Poppy Stamp stitched scalloped frame In the center of the Io large frame to give it a different look.  



I also used these dies from the Dies R Us Store
 

Memory Box Gentle Watercolor Blossom Watercolor Floral

Impression Obsession Large Frame


The sentiment is from Impression Obsession. We hope you join us for this Anything Goes Challenge at Dies R Us Challenge Blog.



Wednesday, May 4, 2022

Double D Birds - Nests - Birdhouses/Bird Cages

 Birds building nests are always a wonderful sign of spring.  We are actually having a spring here in Northern California this year. Sometimes we have a two season climate.... winter to summer and back  to winter.  What spring we have begins in February when our daffodils bloom and blossoms are seen on the almonds, peaches and plums.  Diane has created this wonderful Mood Board for this challenge.  I took my inspiration from the bottom left with the blossoms. 

                                               

I decided to use this Memory Box humming bird for my card.  I have had it for quite a while but have not used it before.  I paired it with a very old cover plate die from MFT and backed with vellum and the Large Frame Die from IO.  The Just a Note die is from Memory box and so is the flower branch. 



We hope you will pull out your bird themed stamps and dies and play along with us at Double D Challenge Blog

Sunday, May 1, 2022

Peace on Earth Challenge 15



This Mood board offers so many different possibilities and fun ideas.  You could use a fox, deer, blue, red, greenery, Christmas trees, pine boughs wood background, galvanized cans, buckets or water pictures, and I could go on forever.  But remember that you don't have to use the Mood Board as long as your theme is Christmas. 





I chose the top right picture. I had some wood grained paper that I put behind the Impression Obsession Large Frame.  The bucket is from Elizabeth Craft and filled with greenery from The Greetery and Tutti Designs.  The pine cones are also from The Greetery.  I mounted the frame on a white card base. 









Please join us for this challenge at Peace on Earth Challenge Blog
 

Dies R Us Anything Goes

                                

It is time for Anything Goes Challenge at Dies R Us.  I send a lot of Birthday cards to friends.  It is my way of reminding them that I am thinking about them.  I had not stenciled for awhile so I pulled out some of my stencils and made several backgrounds that I can use.  Hey, when your fingers are inky you may as well keep going.  When I get a die I like, I tend to use it frequently.  On this card I used three of my very favorite dies. Impression Obsession Large FramePoppy Stamps Posh Birthday Mail, and  Memory Box Layered Fresh Flowers. 


                 

I purchased the leaves when DRU had a special sale on European Dies.  They are Creative Expression Laurel Leaves. 


We hope you will come and join us for this challenge at  Dies R Us.

Thursday, April 21, 2022

Colorful Challenge

 It  has been a long time since I have joined a challenge, but I just got these new flowers from Memory Box and couldn't wait to make some of them. I looked at both the Memory Box and Poppy Stamp Challenges and realized the card I had in mind fit both challenges. 














This was fun to create.  It is and Easel card, but I want to decide who I will send it to before I finish the inside.  I may make it into a calendar or a note pad, or just add a flower or butterfly to make the easel stand up.  I love the spring look of this card and it has tons of texture and dimension. 
















Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Double D Buildings

Our theme at Double D Challenge Blog is called buildings. Barns, Skyscrapers, castles and sheds are all on the mood board.  I had a bit of a problem with this challenge since I don't have many building stamps or dies.  



                             


 I do have a barn die, but I could not think of a new design to use it.  Then I remembered I had a paper pack with some beach front buildings so I decided to frame one of them. I cut a frame from some teil paper and then sponged it with distress oxide inks and  a stencil that Dar and Diane sent to me.  As you can see ther are different types of buildings in this fun beach paper. 




I added a flower, some greenery and a sentiment to the card.  I still struggle with using designer papers, but I love then and keep trying.  

We hope you join us for the new challenge at  Double D Challenge Blog for this challenge.  My teamates have some awesome inspiration for you. 

Sunday, April 17, 2022

Peace on Earth Challenge 14


This fabulous board the Dar created for this challenge at Peace on Earth Challenge Blog is full of glitz and glamor. I love all the metalic finishes.  


                                             

I loved both wreathes on the board so I decided to combine two different wreaths from my stash.  One is from Tutti Designs and the other is a Poppy Stamp.  The center of my design is the deer from one of the Poppy Stamps Oval design. 
 

There is a lot of shine on my card but I was not able to capture it in the picture.  I started with Gina K Designs gold card stock embossed with Tim Holtz embossing folder.  The Tutti design was cut in heavy weight white card stock to provide a stable base for two Poppy Stamp Adriana oval frames cut from silver and gold glitter  card stock.  The deer was tucked in the center of the wreath and glued in place. 
We hope you will join us for this challenge at Peace on Earth Challenge Blog

Friday, April 15, 2022

Dies R Us And Double Trouble




The DRU challenge theme today is:

The theme for the month of April, 2022 is Flowers/Spring

(remember, you MUST use at least one metal die to qualify for the prize... and please tell us the die company you have used in your project.)

We are partnering with the Double Trouble Challenge Blog again this year and having a joint challenge collaboration.  It's fun and easy and you have a chance to win prizes both here on the DRU Challenge as well as the Double Trouble Challenge #108! The Double Trouble Challenge runs from April 18 - May 1 and their theme is "Frame It" - use a basic metal die in your project.








Thing 1:  Trouble Maker (Double Trouble Challenge)
says, "How many of us have a Cricut or similar machine that sits idle?  Since the world of metal dies has emerged how often do you pull out your Cricut to cut a basic shape?  It seems most of us have accumulated some dies and now use a die cutter (Cuttlebug, Big Shot, Gemini).  I'm challenging you to select a basic-shaped metal die from your stash and use it on your project, e.g. frame, square, rectangle, triangle for your image and/or sentiment...  you get the idea.  

You can stop here... 
OR  
play along with Twisted Sister's optional twist below to earn another chance in the Double Trouble random draw.  


Thing 3:  Twisted Sister  (Double Trouble Challenge)
says, "It isn't difficult for me to pick out a shaped metal die for a frame and/or sentiment but I have accumulated so many other pretty metal dies.  

"Mother's Day is around the corner... this is a good time to honor your Mom or someone special who has had an impact on your life.  My optional twist is to include flower(s) and/or butterfly(s) on your project. I'm going to use some of my pretty dies, however, if you don't have floral or butterfly dies, just use patterned paper, stenciling, or embossing.   

Optional Twist:  If you have included flowers and/or butterflies on your project you will earn another chance in the Double Trouble Random Draw. 


Thing 2: Double Dare (DRU Challenge)
says, "If you have included at least one metal die on your project you are eligible to enter at Dies R Us #191 HERE. There is a limit of three entries and make sure you post your entry on or before April 28th and you will be eligible for an extra Double Trouble random draw chance. The theme is Flowers/Spring.
      
AND... 
If you have used any brand of dies that Dies R Us sells in their store, you will be eligible for an extra Double Trouble random draw chance as well as a chance to win the DRU $10 gift code prize.  Your die may already qualify. Click HERE to view the dies on their left-hand sidebar. Be sure to mention in your post if you used a die that is sold at DRU's store for a chance the DRU random draw. 




Here is my card for the challenge.  
1. My shape is an oval.  I cyt it from paper that I water colored. 
2. Flowers made from memory Box dies
3. Metal Dies
Memory Box Layered Fresh Flowers

                                                            Poppy Stamp Ariana Pop Up

                                                                    Sue Wilson Just a Note

We hope you join us for this fun challenge at  Dies R Us Challenge Blog



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Wednesday, April 6, 2022

Double D Easter

Our theme this time at Double D Challenge Blog is Easter.  I am sure everyone has Easter memories.  For me Easter revolves  pleasant memories.  When I was young it was Easter egg hunts, the  Easter bunny and an Easter basket filled with  candy.  As I matured, I remember  sunrise service in the park, Easter cantatas, new outfits from head to toe including an Easter bonnet(which shows my age).  Now I  look at Easter as a time to rejoice that God sent his Son to pay for my sins and I am forever free to worship and praise Him. 
For this challenge Diane has chosen a fun Mood Board. 

 I had some  tulip die cuts  from the Greetery that a friend sent me to try out. I decided to use them for this challenge. 


I started with a piece of  pink card stock and then stenciled it with an Altenew stencil in shades of pink.  I cut an oval from this using a Poppy Stamp oval die and then placed it back in the center with a white background behind. I added some color to the tulip die cut with a blending brush and some Altenew inks. I added a Creative Expressions Thinking of you sentiment for the finished card.


We hope you join us for this challenge at Double D Challenge BlogIf you do,  you will hafe the chance to win this darling stamp set from Lawn Fawn and an Easter card to send to a special person in your life. 


Sunday, April 3, 2022

Peace on Earth Challenge 13

 

Another fun Mood Board from team leader Diane at Peace on Earth Challenge Blog.  I really was not sure of what I wanted to do, but I decided to recycle a card sent by a friend so I chose the horse. 

                                           


I



I love the little cardinal and the red barn toward  the back.  I cut an Oval from some red card stock and placed trimmed version of the card behind the oval. Next, I used some Poppy Stamps snow flake edger die cuts  and Merry Christmas to frame the oval. 


Remember the Mood Board is for your inspiration so any Christmas design is perfect for the challenge.  We hope you join us at Peace on Earth Challenge Blog

Friday, April 1, 2022

Dies R Us Spring Flowers

 

After a long winter, it is always exciting to see the flowers begin to flower and grow. Our theme this month at Dies R Us Challenge Blog is spring  flowers.  I received a birthday card using this pretty IO hydrangea die and I was reminded that I have the die but have  not used it in quite some time.  The flower I got was pink so I made mine blue.  I have blue, pink, and white hydrangeas that are leafed out but not blooming yet. I can't wait. 




I started with this Tutti Rose frame.  I sponged the center of the die and inlaid it in the frame and put that on a blue card base. 

Next, I cut the parts of the hydrangea.  You have to cut the flower petals several times, and glue them on separately, which is time consuming, but not hard. I cut them from blue and sponged the edges a bit. Then you glue the flowers to the base piece.  Add the stem and some leaves for a finished flower. 



A thinking of you from Creative Expressions and a bow finished the design. 


                                                    Creative Expressions Thinking of You




We hope you will join us for this challenge at Dies R Us Challenge Blog






Sunday, March 20, 2022

Peace on Earth Challenge 12


Don't you love the the mood board for this challenge at Peace on Earth Challenge Blog. You don't have to use it as long as you follow the Christmas theme, but it always gives me such wonderful inspiration. 




I decided on the scene with the tree.  I have a die that does all the work for you.  I did some  Distress Oxide ink sponging and spritzed it with water. to put behind the die cut.  I saved the aperture and sponge it using the same colors.  I added a little greenery on top and an ornament from another die. The NOEL is an older PTI sentiment. 






 We had so many wonderful entries for the last challenge.  We hope you will join us at  Peace on Earth Challenge Blog

Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Double D Handles



The challenge this time at  Double D Challenge Blogis something with handles.  


                                        


I didn't follow the mood board as closely as usual because I remembered this sweet little Spellbinders treat box that I have not used for three or four years so I decided to make a few to give to friends filled with their favorite chocolate for Easter.  A few years back, I did several of these for Christmas in reds and greens.  I decided I would make these in spring colors for Easter. 



A friend of mine sent me a beautiful birthday card.  To protect the card in the mail she covered if with a sheet of embossed vellum. So much prettier than the plain white cardstock I use.   Well, the card and the vellum were sitting on my desk and I decided to cut off bits of the vellum to use as window coverings. Thanks,  Judy Woodland.   The doorknob is a pearl I colored black.  The fence and trees are from Impression Obsession. 

I did forget how labor intensive these are especially if you do the landscaping around the house, but it is easy to put together watching a Hallmark movie, listening to some favorite music, or  watching  the news.

We hope you will join us at Double D Challenge Blog where you could win this great IO die. 

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

Dies R Us Anything Goes One More Valentine?


It is time for another Anything Goes Challenge at Dies R Us Challenge Blog.  I still had one simple valentine that I had not shared so since it is Anything Goes..... Actually, why couldn't this be a card for any time of the year. The sentiment applies.... right?  Isn't red a primary color and white a basic card base?  Are we stuck in a rut that hearts are always valentines and holly and pine pine boughs and pine cones only for Christmas?  YES,for the most part we are.  The one nice thing about Anything Goes is you don't have to conform to the time of the year, but you can if you want. 







 So this card was simple to make.  I used red card stock and cut the heart flourish from the center on a diagonal.  Then I embossed that layer.  I cut the words and the heart  flourish again in white.  I inlaid the heart flourish into the red layer and added some hearts and the love you.  


We hope you will join us for this challenge at  Dies R Us Challenge Blog.  The team has all types of inspiration for you!!!