Just Couple For Today

It's a snow covered Saturday here in SE Wisconsin. But we're probably going have bare ground again by this evening. Warm weather (well..."warm" is a relative term...) has descended and soon the last vestiges of the Fall snows will be gone. If one believes the Almanacs, however, we'll have plenty more all too soon. In between laundry loads and other chores, I thought I'd write a post and share a couple of cards.

First up is a card heading off to Freshly Made Sketches, and also into SSS Wednesday Challenge.

Here's the first one:

Every year, I try to have a new image for the grandkids to color and adhere to the place cards they make for our Thanksgiving tables. I'll stamp them, die cut them, and let them color the image to their hearts' content. They'll write the names and what comes next is a hoot. Once the place cards are finished, all those kids gather around the tables and debate who goes where. "Well, I want Jessica to sit by me this year," or "Uncle Pickle Juice should sit by Great Grandpa." I let them have at it, and just listening to their debate cracks me me up as I'm working in the kitchen. This pumpkin, from a C9 set is one of the images the kids will be working with. It also comes with an oak leaf, which we'll use too. I colored this one, and the little fronds with Copics. The sentiment is from HA, and the polkie dotted paper is from a gorgeous 6x6 pad of papers by Photoplay. In real life the whole thing looks rather pretty.

Next up, I'm squeaking in by the skin of my teeth to the Double D Challenge. Fell in love with their mood board, and had to play.

I took inspiration from the frame, the colors, the greenery, and the plaids. My card looks like this:

I stamped a C9 striped base into my plaid look and added a woodgrain frame in white. I cut some fronds with a PS die from a patterned paper scrap, cut another woodgrain frame in brown, and added a Verve sentiment. A gray base completes this card. And since I've taken up so much of your time, I'll stop now and wish you...

Twofer Challenge #22 ~ With A Twist!

Ok....How did we get to November already???! Since I feel like I missed pretty much all of summer, I think we should go back to say, July, right about now. Except that I love Thanksgiving and here in the States, we'll be celebrating together with family pretty soon. My little grandchildren love coming to Grandma's house for this holiday. It's all about the pie. We usually have at least seven different kinds, (this year it'll be pumpkin, butterscotch, lemon meringue, key lime, chocolate cream, apple, and vanilla cream) and trust me, they don't last! So I guess that since we're here in November, and family will descend soon, it's all good! And speaking of "good," it's time for the Twofer Card Challenge, where it's time to get all festive and such!

And as a quick reminder, here is a synopsis of the rules:

 

But wait!!!! We have a twist for you this time around...

Normally our rules state that you must use the same stamp, die, or stencil and make two different designs for two different occasions. Because so many of us are madly working on Christmas cards, for this month only, we are forgoing the "for two different occasions" element of Twofer, so you may enter two Christmas or other holiday occasion cards! 

So it's up to you! 

You can make two different designs using the same prompt element for two different occasions; OR you can make two different designs using the same prompt element for the same occasion!!

All the other rules of the challenge apply. If you have any questions about specifics of the challenge, please take a few minutes to review the updated Definitions/Examples on the Twofer blog, so you'll be eligible to win. We appreciate your enthusiasm and support and want to see you stretch your stamps, stencils, dies, and design skills!

Also, a reminder that there will be no Twofer Card Challenge in December. Happy Holidays to all of you from all of us!

Holiday greenery...EZPZ for my first card, but for a few minutes, I'll admit I was stumped as to what to make for my second card. Should I do the 'twist,' or stick with two different designs? I did a little hemming and hawing, and then....voila! Decided to go with two different designs/occasions. My baby turns the big 4-0 next month! Perfect! He'll get a kick out of the skinny version of me handing him a new number! I can't wait to see how you'll inspire everyone with your creations. You will be playing along, right?! Good!

My duo looks like this:

And individually:

So for my Christmas card, I used a couple of NBUS goodies to start things off. After trimming some strips at 3/4" for my siding, I grabbed the EH Winter Window and die cut the window and the snow. It needed a little snowy glittery goodness, so I used SSS Unicorn Dust. I cut a panel for the "inside" of the house, and added a hardwood floor which is one stamp of a set by The Ink Blot Shop. The holly is from the Baker Lady set by Ellen, and I stamped and colored several and made a wreath. The bows I cut just looked cluttery, so I left it off. The sentiment is also EH. 

My son's birthday card also uses the EH Baker Lady (the skinny me...hahahaha), and the holly. The apron was stamped and I added holly to give her a festive look, and then I fussy cut the apron and adhered it to the image. The numbers are from N&T, and cut in gold with more holly behind them. The sentiment is a C9, and the birthday boy will probably agree with it! The panel was cut with The Greetery's Crimped Frame Die, and adhered to a deep green panel. 

I love that that little tiny holly sprig became the focal point. And I can't wait to see what 'holiday greenery' cards you make. Come and join the fun! Oh!...be sure to stop by and see what the rest of the Twofer Design Team, and our lovely Guest Designer, Nancy has created. You'll be amazed! And as always...

Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

Had a lovely, relaxing long weekend with one of my dearest friends who'd driven all the way from Pensacola, Florida. She made the rounds of many of her Wisconsinite friends and is now on her way back home. And just so I wouldn't dwell on her leaving, I sat down and made a card for the Fall/Winter Coffee Lovers Blog Hop! So far, the distraction of cardmaking has worked -- I just might have to make cards all day so I don't feel lonely without her, lol!!

Here's my card:

I'd saved the large scrap of that winter coffee cup paper, which I purchased from who knows where or when. Believe it or not, the darkest cups and the largest mat are navy blue, but they show as black today in the photograph. Rain/snow cloud cover (that's my story and I'm sticking to it, lol!).The white mat was cut The Greetery's Crimped Frame die. The coffee cup and the hand are both from EH sets, and the sentiment is an Avery Elle. Hope your upcoming week is craft-filled and as always...

Happy Halloween...or....

Or should I say, "Merry Christmas?!" Wait till I show you the photo of the weather here in SE Wisconsin in a minute. Not a surprise, but I wasn't quite ready for this yet:

It's tapered off considerably now, and we've only gotten an inch or two. By this time tomorrow, it should all be melted, so it's no big deal to me. And since I'd done my grocery shopping yesterday I don't even have to go out in this if I don't want to! It's the Trick-or-Treaters I feel bad for. They'll be wearing winter coats and boots over their costumes if they decide to come out at all. Poor little things!

I have a card today made using the sketch at The Paper Players challenge. I gave it a Fallish-Masculine flavor.  I'm also entering this into SSS Wednesday Challenge. 

Here's my card:

All these different cardstocks are from my scrap file. I had the full chunk of the gray, just a bit of the orange; enough to cut the wide strip and sentiment, and exactly enough to make those green stripes. The square was cut with an MFT die, and the stripes with the EH Skinny Stripes die, and the sentiment is from Card Deco. I masked off part of a Poppystamps sentiment for the 'to you' portion to complete my card. That cream-colored square was another scrap with tiny flecks of color in it. 

I am diligently working to get some commenting done, however, we are expecting more company for a long weekend and I'm not sure if I'll get to much in the next several days. You all have a great weekend, and I'll see you soon. As always...

Still Here

Yep. I'm still here. This is my first non-scheduled post in months. DH had some (more) health issues which started in early June, and after a battery of tests, labs, doctors' visits, and medication changes, he's finally on the mend. Just in time to attend our grandson's wedding! We'd had a ton of family in and out, and it was lovely. Will show you a shot from the wedding.

That's Melissa, sil Jerry, Jessica, the groom Christopher, our daughter Cathy, and Elizabeth.

Such an amazing family, and when I can find more photos, I will do my best to share another one or two, but not overshare...unless you twist my arm, lol!

After our company left, so did my mojo. It took several days for me to find it hiding in with all the extra blankets and pillows, where it complained that it was just plain exhausted. Wuss.... So while DH was sleeping in this morning, I found a challenge or two and worked on some cards.

Here's the first which will head off to Less Is More, where the brief is a one-layer card using Winter Flora.

All the stamps are from WPlus9's Woodland Wreath set. It's an NBUS for me, but has been on the market for several years. The card looks crooked, but that's just my "amazing" photography skills (or lack thereof!). 

I used the some of the same stamps for my second card which I made for the current Color Throwdown challenge. Pretty Fall colors...

I stamped the branches and berries twice in AE Fizz and ME Smoke inks. The sentiment is from Gina K. Another one layer card, which is a nice and easy way to get that sleepy mojo going again!

For now, I will close. I'd like to visit your blogs and leave a little love, if time and DH's demands permit. That's my goal for today. It's nice to be back and as always...

Twofer Challenge #21

Here we are already in the midst of October. How in the world did that happen?! It was wonderful to see you all playing along with last month's Twofer Challenge "Critters" prompt. I really enjoyed seeing all those adorable images and the fun ways you used them. This month, we've got a fun prompt too, and it's quite apropos for Halloween.

See...I told you! I have a peppermint, tootsie roll, gummy bear, M&Ms candy, and a host of other 'sweet' candyish stamps. But my brain went in a bit of another direction. An ice cream bar and popsicles. They're sweet, too! Together they look like this:

When I was a kid, I loved orange popsicles, but I always had to break them in half and share with my sisters or brother. But ice cream bars were 'built' for one! This ice cream bar has a lovely strawberry ice cream with a deep, rich, dark chocolate coating. Yum! Sweet! 

Both treats were created with scraps, using a Studio Calico popsicle die. I added some bead "sprinkles" and an EH hand on my first card, (which is a thank you card and had a GC enclosed) and fussy cut the chocolate coating using the outside of the die as a template. A Hero Arts sentiment, and a white gel pen for some shine finished this rather CAS card. For my orange popsicle card (for one of my many grandchildren's birthdays), I used an RC patterned paper, and cut a scrap in the same color family with an Altenew frame die. I added a panel of vellum beneath to accentuate the treats, and the sentiment is from Sunny Studios. Sure wish you could see these in person; they look delicious!

Where "Sweets" take you this month? Halloween candy? Christmas candy? I can't wait to see what you create! The premise of Twofer is so easy, too. Two different cards for two different occasions using the same stamps, dies, stencils as your focal point. And as always...

Twofer Challenge #20

This month for our Twofer Challenge, we've got something fun for you. And I'll bet that we all have stamps, dies, and/or stencils in our stash that can be used for this month's prompt. The most difficult aspect for me this time, was choosing one set, lol!! Let's see what you do with:

Oh the endless possibilities! Let's see what you've got!

I went with....

Deer. 

This first card has a sassy message inside, which you'll get to in a minute...

Obviously, this is a "manly" card. We get fields and meadows like this full of bucks and does all over the state. So I made this card with my (as I like to call him) "2nd best BFF" in mind. He's a deer hunter. I found all these scraps in my files and whipped this card up in no time. All the bucks and trees are from Poppystamps, as is the sentiment. I used an MFT grass border. On the inside, I was naughty, and I hope I don't offend anyone, but it says, "Let's do some shots." Heading to the corner now for a time out...sorry. (she said, laughing and snorting all the way!)

Nothing naughty about card number two:

This little thank you note will go into the stockpile, and one of our lucky children will find it in their box of cards as part of their Christmas gift. Unless I need it before then, lol! Love this chunky scalloped frame by ME, and I found this Pebbles chevron paper in my (ahem) small paper stash. Small if you compare it to a store maybe.... The circle scallop die is from MFT. The sentiment and the Whittle Deer are from Poppystamps. And there you have it. 

I love the premise of this challenge. It makes me think about the cards I'm making. Two different designs on two cards, using the same stamps, dies or stencils, for two different occasions. It's fun! Hope to see you in the gallery this month! And as always...

Twofer Challenge #19

Well hello there! I hope your summer is going along just swimmingly! After a very cool Spring, summer finally landed here in Southeastern Wisconsin, and believe me, I'm trying to take advantage of it! It was delightful to see all of your cards for the garden Twofer Challenge last time! Your ideas and designs were just wonderful and I know you'll like what's in store for you for our 19th Challenge.

How cool (pun intended) is that prompt?!! Who wants to meet at the beach, relax under umbrellas with fruity drinks and enjoy the sun, sand, and surf?! Maybe get on a charter boat? Turn into mermaids? Sounds like heaven to me! Before we head off though, we should probably get our cards made...two cards with two different designs (think two different sketches) for two different occasions using the same stamps, dies, stencils, and then let's hit the shoreline! Oh wait...I've got mine done already! Guess that means I'll go on ahead of you and mix up the daiquiris!

Here they are together:

And separately:

For both cards, I used a Studio Katia waves stencil. My birthday card is pretty traditional with a wavy ocean and a little MFT boat floating under the YNS sun. The second one, an anniversary card, used the same waves, but they look so different covering the whole card front in black. The flower spray is from WPlus9, and the sentiment is from Li'l Inkers on a hot pink MFT rectangle. So I'll see you in the Twofer Challenge gallery, right?! Sure hope so! And as always...

Twofer Card Challenge #18

Well hello there! Summer is in full swing, and those lazy, hazy, crazy days are here. It's time for beaching it, wearing your sandals, and enjoying all that this time of year has to offer. How are your flower beds? Mine need a bit of weeding, but all those buds and blossoms make me smile each time I step outside. Keeping that in mind, our prompt for this month's Twofer Challenge is:

You should see my neighbor Michael's garden...simply stunning! Glad we live right next door to each other; and I'm able enjoy the fruits of his labor all Spring, Summer, and Fall!

Let's have a gander my Twofer:

The first is a 'Get Well' card, and the second is a 'Thank You' card.

A tiny garden. A garden in a pot?! This is where my mind took me for this first card. The front panel is a pink and white "polka hearted" paper from LF. There are a couple of gray scraps to frame the center panel, and the flowers are from SSS's Wild Beauty set. As is the sentiment. I drew in the stems and leaves and colored the blooms with Copics. Pretty EZPZ. (I liked this design so much that I actually made several for various occasions! Won't add the photos though...)

While I left the front blank, the inside has a great big 'thank you' from a WPlus9 set. I really didn't want to detract from that flower garden! The sky and grass papers are from my scrap files. That's a LF fence, and the grass die is from MFT. I did die cut a sun, but since I wanted the focus to be on the flowers, I removed it. All the flowers are from the same SSS Wild beauty set, and I colored them with Copics. 

So there you have it. My gardens. I can't wait to see where your minds take you! I am really looking forward to your cards in the gallery. And stop by the DTs blog to see what they've made, too. Now I think I'll go make a margarita, grab the chaise lounge and look at Michael's garden...hey, it's much more fun than actually weeding mine!

Fun in the Pun

Fun in the Pun. See...already a little pun happening. Don't you just love the English language?! That we can rhyme, switch out words or change up punctuation to create a whole new (and possibly funny/punny) sentence, often makes me laugh out loud. Check this out:

Let's eat Grandma.

or

Let's eat, Grandma.

See what I did there?! One little comma and the whole thing changes! Gotta love it! Words are great!

I do have a couple of cards with plays/puns on words to share today. The first one is going off to play at CAS on Friday and the second one is headed into the AAA Cards challenge.

Use these colors ;-) 

My first card:

A simple belated birthday card. This is an NBUS EH set that I just couldn't resist. Those little cameras are adorable, aren't they?! I used the ink colors in CASoF's challenge and just added the little blings for that something extra. I found a scrap (can you believe it?!) that matched one of the ink colors perfectly and used that as a panel underneath my focal panel. EZPZ.

Next up:

I saw this YNS set around Christmastime last year and laughed and laughed. I knew I had to have it, and just waited for the right moment to ink it up. I did a little Copic coloring, and die cut the image. One red enamel dot and that silly sentiment helped to finish it off. A red scrap to bring out the color of the nose and done. Now I'm going to rush off. Time to help the DH a bit and then get a few things done. As always my friends...

Happy 4th of July

The city's parade is in full swing as I write this. There are floats, bands, cars, cheerleaders, and all the fun that accompanies parades. However, after years of working the parade and going to watch my grandchildren march in their various bands (all on drum line and they're soooo good), I've decided that I can sit parades out for a few years. We will have family and friends over later for a little cookout, and then walk to the bluff on the Lake for fireworks. It gets crazy around here with cars....hundreds if not thousands descend to take advantage of the view the bluff affords. Thankfully, my driveway will accommodate at least seven cars, so no one has to hunt for a spot! How did/do you celebrate our nation's birthday? One thing comes to mind for sure; blueberries, strawberries, and whipped cream...Yum!

I've got a couple of cards to share with you today. The first one celebrates one of blogland's most famous and dearly loved bloggers; Darnell. She just celebrated a birthday, and the lovely Loll has thrown a party on her CAS Watercolor Challenge blog in Darnell's honor. Isn't that just the sweetest?! My second card is headed off to Time Out and Inkspirational.

Since I've blathered on, I'd best get right to the cards now. 

I did a light watercoloring on those pretty blossoms by Poppystamps, and just used plain cardstock. The hand die is from EH, and the Altenew frame was cut from a scrap of patterned paper. I added some nearly clear sequins, but they've shown up pink here. In real life, they're much more complimentary. 

My "three," according to the prompt at Inkspirational, are the three pink flowers in these floral swags. And those flowers fulfill the requirement over at Time Out, too. All the stamps used on this are from a WPlus9 set. I used the matching die, and put sections across the top and bottom. To give it a more CAS look, I added the sentiment close to the larger floral grouping, leaving tons of white space in the center. The flowers and leaves were all watercolored with Zigs. So that's it. Hoping to get a bit caught up on commenting today, so will wish you all a Happy 4th, and as always...