The Most Wonderful Time of The Year

Hello there on this crisp sunny Wednesday!

To me this truly is the most wonderful time of the year - Fall/Halloween.  I like the leaves changing colors. I like when the temps are in the 60/70s. I loooove Halloween - the decorations, costumes, candy, apple cider, corn mazes, hay rides, pumpkin patches, haunted houses, horror movies! So how is it not wonderful?

Thinking of Fall also always brings back memories in my teen years, our youth group at church made apple cider. We picked the apples at a church member's apple orchard, brought them to the church parking lot where we had an old manual apple press and spent a weekend afternoon pressing apples into cider.  If you wound up with a bee in your cider, you got EXTRA blessed! lol Fun times!

So I pulled out this lovely pumpkin mug by Ellen Hutson for the main character of my card.  I stenciled a background, paired it with an embossed panel and an ink blended scalloped border.

For Following Challenges:

Card Supplies: 

Stamps: Sentiment- Boos Inside (Ellen Hutson-EH) 

Paper: Neenah Natural White; 

Ink: Pebble, Cotton Candy, & Buttercream (Catherine Pooler)

Extras: Mug and steam dies-Pumpkin Mug (EH); Stencil - Floral Mosaic (Honey Bee Stamps); Scallop die (MFT?); EF - (Spellbinders)

"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.”  

Henry Ward Beecher

Nance

You Are Spooktacular

 Hello Again!

I had some time in my craft room yesterday and got some things made for a few challenges. Can you believe Halloween is just about two weeks away? Time is flying way too fast!

I've been wanting to put these cute little trick or treaters together for a while and finally did yesterday.  They are from Simon Says Stamp. I paired them with some patterned paper from Whimsy Stamps to make my spooky scene.  I added a black "metal" fence and a creepy tree to add more depth and interest.  I mean, most cemeteries have a creepy fence around it.  I also added the large bat on the cross for extra creepiness.  

For Following Challenges: 

Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge

Card Supplies: 

Stamps: Sentiment- Spooktacular Postage Collage Set (Waffle Flower) 

Paper: Neenah Natural White; Haunted Patterned Paper (Whimsy Stamps)

Ink: Midnight (Catherine Pooler)

Extras: Treaters dies - Costume Ghost Parade (Simon Says Stamp); Iron fence die (Lawn Fawn); Tree die (Tim Holtz); Bat die (Stash).

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.”  Henry Ward Beecher

Be Spooky!

Nance

Hugs & Cuddles

 Good Morning Monday!

Happy Indigenous People's Day!

It's finally a nice and cool Fall feeling day in central NC. It's about time too. One quick post this morning before off to do errands with the Hubs.

Playing with the Freshly Made Sketches sketch by Judy this week.  I pulled out some neglected patterned paper and some neglected stamps.  Who am I kidding - most of what I have has been neglected for a long time. So I'm trying to remedy that.

This cute little fox and acorn are by Photoplay Stamps. My paper is from Echo Park and the sentiment is from Penny Black.

For Following Challenges:

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.”  Henry Ward Beecher

Nance

Grateful Pooh

Hello there! A late post this evening. I've had some time in my craft room this week.  Never as much as I'd like, but some is better than none.  I wanted to play in Color Hues this time. So I pulled out my Pooh dies I haven't played with yet and went to town! 

For Following Challenges:

Card Supplies: 

Stamps: Sentiment (Catherine Pooler) 

Paper: Neenah Natural White; Rusty, yellow cardstocks(Stash)

Ink: Terracotta (Catherine Pooler)

Extras: Winnie the Pooh die (Spellbinders); Frame die ( ); Flower dies (Spellbinders); Leaf Frame die (Taylored Expressions); Leaf EF (Taylored Expressions).

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.” - Henry Ward Beecher

Nance

 

Frequent Flyer

Happy Weekend!

It's a cool one finally here in Cary, NC. A little rainy. I'll take it. Was beginning to wonder if we were going to stay in a perpetual summer here. I haven't even bought any pumpkins yet. BUT, I've been watching my horror flicks and pulled out more of my Halloween decor. Guess you can say I'm in my Halloween Era! 🤣

So today I have a Halloween card to share.  I got a couple new Halloween stamps from Crackerbox Stamps.  This one I think is pretty wicked.  My hubs is afraid of it.  He refuses to watch Wizard of Oz because of the flying monkeys.  Says they traumatized him as a child. 

 

Card Supplies: 

Stamps: Flying Monkey & sentiment(Crackerbox Stamps); Sky icons (WaffleFlower).

Paper: Neenah Solar White 110lb cardstock; 

Ink: Tiki Torch, Orange Twist, Tutti Fruiti, Midnight (CP Inks)

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.” - Henry Ward Beecher

Nance

Splashy Birthday

Good Afternoon!

This week is flying by! It's already time for another challenge at Seize The Birthday. Shirley is our host for the next two weeks and she has selected Splish Splash as our Toppings.  

I chose this cute image of Newton the cat and a birdbath (Newton's Nook Stamps) for my interpretation of Splish Splash.  We love watching the birds splash around in our birdbath. Sometimes they even use the dog's outdoor water dish to splash around. So I thought it would be fun to also create an extra "splash" by stenciling a water puddle under the birdbath.  I stenciled it first, masked it off and then ink blended the grass.  I also took a Copic marker to go around the puddle to define it more.  Then I stenciled the clouds, colored my images and foam taped them  to the background.  I did add a party hat to Newton to make it more festive.  

Please stop by the Seize the Birthday blog to see all the rest of the Team's creations for our Splish Splash Toppings. Then, why not play along and share your birthday card with us.  Of course, if you're not a toppings kind of person, you can still play in our always Anything Goes Birthday Challenge. 

Card Supplies: 

Stamps: Birdbath set (Newton's Nook); Sentiment(Avery Elle); Party hat stamp (Catherine Pooler).

Paper: Neenah Solar White 110lb cardstock

Ink: Blue Raspberry, In The Park, Midnight (CP Inks); Copics.

Extras: Cloud stencil (My Favorite Things); Rolling hill stencil (My Favorite Things); Puddle stencil (Whimsy Stamps); Coordinating dies for Newton and birdbath (Newton's Nook), Coordinating party hat die (Catherine Pooler) Birthday sentiment strip (Simon Says Stamp).

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.” - Henry Ward Beecher

Nance

 

Spooky Minion Style

Hello Sunday!

It's warmish Fall-ish day here.  Some leaves are falling at least.  

AND it's my favorite month, October because of - - HALLOWEEN! Those who know, probably thought I meant because it's my birthday month.  Yes but, that even takes 2nd seat to the Halloween season for me.  

I may love Halloween, but the Hubs loves Minions and over the years has accumulated various seasonal/holiday Minion inflatables he sets in our front yard.  They tend to grow in number particularly during this season and Christmas season.  Sadly, though this year, we are missing one due to electrical difficulties.

So in that spirit, I made a Halloween Minion card.  

Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge

Card Supplies: 

Stamps: Dracula Minion stamp (Crackerbox Stamps); Sentiment - Betterpress Halloween Icon Sentiments(Spellbinders).

Paper: Neenah Solar White 110lb cardstock; Black cardstock (Stash); Purple cardstock (Stash); Patterned Paper (Reverse Confetti).

Ink: Lime Rickey, Midnight (CP Inks)

Extras: Decorative Scallop circel die (Sizzix); Stitched circle die(Sizzix); Drippy Goo die (Your Next Stamp); EF (Tim Holtz/Sizzix); Bat dies (Stash).

I couldnt leave without sharing our Halloween Minions and the Hubs' Detroit Lions flailing guy. I have "allowed" him to have it during football season ONLY.  I have to draw the line somewhere! LOL

      

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

"Creativity is a drug I cannot live without.” 

Cecil B. DeMille

Be Spooky! 👻

Nance

 

Just A Note for World Cardmaking Day

Happy World Cardmaking Day!

Thought I'd share a card on this special day for us cardmakers!  

I've been cleaning out my craft room here and there. Last week I took the time to go through a lot of handmade backgrounds and stamped images I've just set aside and forgotten about.  And now I'm trying to use some of them up into cards.  All three panels here were some of those and I just put them all together into a card.  Added a stamped image from a stash already stamped and cut and that was that!

For Following Challenges:

September Challenge - Nature 

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

"Creativity is a drug I cannot live without.” 

Cecil B. DeMille

Nance

Furry Stocking

 Good Evening!

Hope your weekend has been nice. Hubs and I went to the ballet Saturday night, the first ballet of the season for the Carolina Ballet. It's a nice Date Night usually with dinner out first. I also got some time in my craft room the last few days.  Been cleaning out a bit and re-organizing.  In the process I found a lot of background panels for various seasons and decided to try and form them into cards.  

This is the first one I've done for the Freshly Made Sketches this week hosted by Narelle.  I took a stamped background I had made with the Ho Ho Ho background stamp by My Favorite Things and sliced it up.  So that is not only an element of the sketch but the sentiment too.  Then I cut out that cute kitty in the stocking by Simon Says Stamp.  I got it last year and this is the first time I've played with it.  I cut out several in various colors so I have them all ready for another card. 

For Following Challenges:

NBUS #78

ABC Christmas Challenge - S & T

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

"To create one's world in any of the arts takes courage."

Georgia O'Keefe

Nance

Birthday Confetti

Hello and Good Afternoon!

It's the 4th Thursday and so it's time for a new challenge at Seize The Birthday! Nancy is our hostess this fortnight and she has chosen CAS with a stencil as our toppings.

I actually used two stencils on my card - a confetti background stencil by Erin Lee Creative and a sentiment stencil by Waffle Flower. I added a party hat die by Simon Says Stamp and embossed with a chevron EF.  I used Be Mine, Limoncello and Oh Boy ink by Catherine Pooler.

There is a lot of wonderful inspiration from the rest of the Design Team and our Surprise Guests Milana and Bonnie along with Johanna. So check them out and come play with us either using our Toppings or our always Anything Goes Birthday. 

 Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

"To create one's world in any of the arts takes courage."

Georgia O'Keefe

Nance

Colorful Baubles

Happy Monday

and Happy Fall!

Doesn't quite feel like Fall here in central NC but it is getting a little cooler.  The trees have hardly changed color yet.  Anyway on this sunny Autumn Equinox day, I have a Christmas card to share. 🤣

Michele is hosting Freshly Made Sketches this week and I wanted to play.  I took the sketch very literal.  When I saw it, this bubble die from Catherine Pooler Designs popped into my head and just took up residence so I had to go with it!  I added a sweater EF to the background for some texture and contrast. I finished it off with a silver foiled Christmas sentiment by Pinkfresh that was in my stash. I hope they emulate Christmas ornaments (my intent).

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

"To create one's world in any of the arts takes courage."

Georgia O'Keefe

Nance

 

Hello Friend

 Hello there! Happy Monday!

I have a quick post to share. I got a few new goodies last week while out of town and had a chance to play with some of them yesterday.  I took advantage of some Labor Day sales at Poppy Stamps and Birch Press and I couldn't wait to use them.  I thought Karren's sketch at Freshly Made Sketches was perfect to showcase this lovely butterfly and background.  And I chose the colors from Sunday Stamps Challenge.

The background is Poppy Stamps Nordic Lacy coverplate.  The butterfly is Birch Press Block Print Radiant Butterfly.  Label die (Catherine Pooler). Sentiment (Waffle Flower). Circle die (Sizzix). Wreath die (Stash). Rounded tag die (Stash).

For Following Challenges:

The Hubs is off today and so it's yardwork and housework time.  I'd rather it be craft time again but having been out of town 45 out of the last 90 days, our house may revolt if we ignore things any longer.  LOL 

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

"To create one's world in any of the arts takes courage."

Georgia O'Keefe

Nance

All About You

Hello there! 

I cannot believe it's already Thursday. It's been a very busy week. We traveled the first few days. Hubs celebrated his 60th for three days. Now trying to get back to regular scheduled programming. 

I can't believe it's already the 2nd Thursday of the month and close to mid-month.  It's going too fast!  And since it is the 2nd Thursday, it's time for a new Topping over at Seize The Birthday.  Jenny is our hostess and she chose Embossing for our Topping.  

I used a beautiful embossing folder by Catherine Pooler and Sizzix I recently acquired.  I inked up the folder on the background side to create that bright and cheerful yellow background and boost those beautiful blooms.  I framed in on a lovely scalloped frame cut in silver and added a little silver embossing on some of the dry embossed areas. 

If you're not a Toppings person, you can always play in our Anything Goes Birthday challenge each time.  Either way, come play along and have fun with us while extending your stash of birthday cards!

For Other Challenges:

Card Supplies: 

Stamps: Sentiment - Little Something (Catherine Pooler)

Paper: Neenah Solar White 110lb cardstock; Silver cardstock (Lawn Fawn)

Ink: Lemon Sorbet (Catherine Pooler).

Extras: Happy Garden EF (Catherine Pooler/Sizzix); Scallop frame die (Gina Marie); silver emboss powder (Stampin' Up)

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

"To create one's world in any of the arts takes courage."

Georgia O'Keefe

Nance

 

Spooktacular Wishes

Good evening!

A late post this Sunday for me.  

A little something cute and spooky for a couple challenges.  

Halloween is my favorite holiday(next to Christmas).  I love the decorations, the costumes, trick or treaters, the candy and the scary movies. I sooo love the scary movies season! I do have to specify, I love horror movies, but not slasher movies (there is a difference). In fact, as I make this post, I'm watching The Conjuring 2 and the Hubs agreed to watch it with me.  He is NOT a horror fan but will endure it with me sometimes. 

I was inspired by the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week to create a Halloween card with this cute little ghost dog die (Spellbinders) sitting in front of a full moon on Halloween. I created the moon with moon stencils from Spellbinders. I thought white clouds didn't look right so I cut black clouds and and inked some white on them for a more mysterious look.  The bat I sparkled a bit because, who says scary can't sparkle too? 

So while I love my movies dark, scary and all things supernatural creepy (think The Nun, Paranormal Activity, The Conjuring, etc), most of my cards I like to keep on the cutesy side of Halloween. How about you? 

For Following Challenges:

Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

"To create one's world in any of the arts takes courage."

Georgia O'Keefe

Nance

 

Rainbow of Hellos

 Hello again!

Who doesn't love a rainbow? This card was a fairly quick and simple ink blending project.  I debated which way to go about it - ink blend then cut or cut then inkblend.  Already having this die cut and in my stash answered that dilemma.  So I cut, taped everything together on the back, then ink blended.  I did cut it down in size so I would have a nice white border around it.  Added a die cut "hello" and I was done!  

For Following Challenges:

Supplies: 

Paper: Neenah Solar White 110 lb.

Ink: It's a Girl, Party Dress, Orange Twist, Limoncello, Grass Skirty, Oh Boy, Pixie Dust (Catherine Pooler).

Extras: Wave die cut (Altenew); Hello die (Catherine Pooler).

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

"To create one's world in any of the arts takes courage."

Georgia O'Keefe

Nance

Beautiful Floral Birthday

 Happy FriYAY!😎

Happy September too, I guess.  

I'm still in summer mode so it doesn't feel like September to me. I've been creating this week here and there and so I have some things to share over the next couple days. Today, I'm skirting in at last minute to The Paper Players challenge with Joanne's Tic Tac Toe Board and Cupcake Inspirations challenge.

I used the colors of Cupcake Inspiration with the top row of Joanne's tic tac toe board (Celebration, Flowers, Stencil).  I recently purchased this beautiful layered stencil by Catherine Pooler and Sizzix, Happy Garden. I used Lemon Sorbet, Creamsicle and Pistachio dye inks (Catherine Pooler). I added a decorative scalloped border (Catherine Pooler) inked from the Creamsicle as well. Below that I inked a small panel in Pistachio and embossed it with a wavy embossing folder (Sizzix/Stampin' Up).  The sentiment (My Favorite Things) I stamped in Twilight (Catherine Pooler) and cut from a banner die (Reverse Confetti). I added a little sparkle bling on the border and stenciled layer.

For Following Challenges:

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

“To practice any art, no matter how well or how badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven’s sake. So do it.” – Kurt Vonnegut

Nance

RIP, Youth and Surprise

Hello Thursday!

I have some exciting news for today!  

This post is my debut as a Design Team Member for Seize the  Birthday! 🎈 

I was very thrilled when Nancy Leppek asked me if I would like to join the team.  Nanc' and I have become online crafty friends over the past months and I am a big fan of hers and her cards.  And I have always enjoyed playing along with Seize The Birthday challenge when I can and so now I will never miss an opportunity.  I am looking forward to being a part of such a talented team of card makers and cannot wait to get to know more of them. 

So, let me get to business. Here is the prompt for this week's Toppings, hosted by Linda:

Seize The Birthday #312 Toppings: Black & White

This Toppings came just at the right time. There is someone very special to me (my Hubs, Dave) who has a special birthday in 12 days.  You can find the clue in my card as to the "specialness".  

I love this Grim Reaper die by Spellbinders so I knew he might be used for one of Dave's cards this year.  I also made him wobble.  Below is a little video of him "wobbling".  I have to admit I'm not that good at making videos so hopefully it is ok.

Card Supplies: 

Stamps: Sentiment - Sassy Birthday (Honey Bee); Background stamp - Hooray for Confetti (CP Designs).

Paper: Neenah Solar White 110lb cardstock; Midnight cardstock (CP Designs).

Ink: Midnight (CP Inks)

Extras: Grim Reaper Die- Dancin' Grim (Spellbinders); Frame die (Penny Black);  Balloon dies - Birthday Icons (CP Designs); Birthday banner die (stash- maybe Sizzix).

I hope you head over to the Seize the Birthday Challenge blog and check out the cards by the rest of the Design Team and our guests. Then come play along with us!

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

“To practice any art, no matter how well or how badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven’s sake. So do it.” – Kurt Vonnegut

Nance