Hello FALL -- 2023 Fall/Winter Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

 Thank goodness for Daylight Savings as I have extra time to enter the

2023 Fall/Winter Coffee Lovers Blog Hop with a few hours to spare.

 

I went with a fall theme and I mixed and matched products from four companies.

The cups are Mama Elephant's Boba Shaker Dies, cut from different colors of card stock.

I ran the band through a corrugator before adhering it to the cups. The background is

the new Basket Weave Card Front from Concord & 9th.

The leaves are from Papertrey Ink, die cut from white card stock and colored

with dye inks. I attached three leaves and a twine bow to a cup, then adhered 

all three to the card. A gold embossed sentiment finished off the card.

Thanks for stopping by--I'm off to link this up!

Ellen Hutson 12 Tags of Christmas 2021

 

 

 I'm joining Ellen Hutson's 12 Tags of Christmas 2021 and even made multiples (gasp!)

of a tag for Day 11 with the carol "O Christmas Tree".

I was inspired by Carissa Wiley's tag and colored my tree in ombré colors of peach.

I used an older, discontinued Geo Tree die for the first time and a sentiment from

another discontinued set, Home and Hearth. 

The gold branch? I wanted to ground the tree and found some branches so I colored them

with gold watercolors and adhered them to the base of the tree. A bit of twine finished off

the tags. 

I'm off to enter these. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inspired by Challenge -- Colorful Fall

I found some time to play with the latest Inspired by Challenge 188 because...leaves.

 

 

 

 

I love leaves and own about a dozen different leaf stamp sets and dies.

I used the maple leaf dies from Concord & 9th and chose to use the IB sketch.

 

I inked 5 leaves in different colors and arranged them per the sketch. Gold ink was

spattered over the card and the sentiment was gold embossed.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

It's a Good Day

Hello! I hope things are getting back to "normal" where you are.

 

When I saw the new Essentials by Ellen Abstract Sunset Die, I decided to do some

paper piecing using a patterned paper pad with earthy colors. How perfect is that?

It took a while to put together and because they're two sided sheets, keeping them

together was challenging. But I learned a bit of patience and managed to assemble a 

scene with almost all of the colors in the pad.

 

The sun was inlaid in the sky, and the card was finished off with the sentiment from

Good Day, another new product from the EBE release.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you're off to a great week!

Essentials by Ellen Mod Floral Die

 

It's no secret that I LOVE dies. My die collection has nearly outgrown my stamps 

and I'm not complaining. In fact, I went out to get a bigger container!

 

Ellen Hutson's newest Essentials by Ellen Release has a Mod Floral Die that I

just HAD to have after seeing Kelly Griglione work her magic with it. I ordered it

on the day of the release and a few days later, it arrived in my mailbox. Yay!

 

 

 Then I pulled out my neglected Kuretake Zig markers and went to work.

 I wet the diecut piece with my water brush, then tapped color on with the Zig 

markers. I was planning to make two cards and painted two diecuts nearly 

identical and at the last minute, I layered them and I'm so glad that I did.

The sentiment is from the Mondo Tulips Stamp set which I'll play with when I 

have the time. But for now, I'll think of different color combos and play with

the Mod Floral die a teeny bit more.

Thanks for stopping by!

CAS(E) this Sketch #401

It's retro week over at CAS(E) this Sketch. Meet Sketch #401 which was

Sketch #147 back in  2015.

Here's my take on it five years ago.

And here's the 2020 version. Yes, a gnome is involved since he was already 

constructed and just waiting to make an appearance.

I used the Twirling Flurries cover plate on gray card stock and backed it with

a panel of white card stock. The Pretty Pink Posh sentiment was white embossed

on an MFT stitched banner. I assembled the gnome, fishtail strip of plaid, and

the banner on the card, per the sketch.

Visit CAS(E) this Sketch to see how the rest of the team interpreted the sketch

and join us if you can. Link up your card(s) by Thursday, Dec 17th. We hope

to see you in the gallery!

CAS(E) this Sketch #399--A Two Weeker!

You'll have plenty of time to join CAS(E) this Sketch #399 because it's a

two weeker! CTS regulars know that twice a year we extend the challenge

deadline so you can enjoy the holiday and still play along with us!

This week's sketch is from yours truly and it looks like this.

 

And here's my liberal take on it.

I inked four Concord & 9th leaves and subbed them for the square element on

the sketch. I added a strip of textured paper and adhered all the layers 

per the sketch. I finished off the card with the stamped sentiment.

Remember you have two weeks to enter your card(s) and celebrate the (U.S.) 

holiday AND any Black Friday shopping. The deadline to link up your card(s) is

Thursday, December 3rd.

* * *

I'd like to take this time to thank you for your timely visits to my blog and for

your sweet and encouraging comments. Enjoy the holiday!

CAS(E) this Sketch #394 --Thanks so mush!

Team leader Chrissy brings us this week's CAS(E) this Sketch #394.

 

 And here's my take on it.

A woodgrain pattern was stamped and ink distressed on the edges then

trimmed and adhered to a card base. I added a strip of green card stock

to ground three mushrooms and finished off with the punny sentiment.

Visit CAS(E) this Sketch to see how the rest of the team interpreted the 

sketch and join us if you can. Link up your card(s) by Thursday, Oct 22nd

and we can't wait to see you in the gallery!

CAS(E) this Sketch #371

Teammie Brian brings us this week's CAS(E) this Sketch #371.

And here's my take on it.

I substituted the star in the sketch with a Mondo Chrysanthemum that was 

watercolored (channeling Lisa Spangler) with Zig markers and a waterbrush.
The mum was popped up on a card base and the sentiment was adhered on top.
Per the sketch, two strips of striped patterned paper were adhered to the card.

Visit CAS(E) this Sketch to see how the rest of the team interpreted Brian's

sketch and join us if you can. Link up your card(s) by Thursday, May 14th

and as the weekly winner you'll be invited to guest with us on a future sketch!

CAS(E) this Sketch #369--S'up, Dog?

Ready for a retro CAS(E) this Sketch? Here's this week's Sketch #369.

This was my take on the sketch back in 2015.

And here's my 2020 take on the sketch.

A doxie, a skateboard, and a strip of washi tape. It doesn't get any easier
than that. I stamped the sentiment and the card was done.

Visit CAS(E) this Sketch to see how the rest of the team interpreted this
retro sketch and join us if you can. Link up your card(s) by Thursday, 
April 30th. We hope to see you in the gallery!

CAS(E) this Sketch #368

Hello! I hope you are all well and play along with us at CAS(E) this Sketch

if you have some spare time and feel a little crafty. I'm thankful to Chrissy and

the rest of the team for providing a creative outlet and a chance to stay in touch.

Here is this week's CAS(E) this Sketch #368--a little something from me.

And here's my interpretation of the sketch.

I substituted three Memory Box leaves for the squares and added a simple

Essentials by Ellen sentiment. Three gold sequins finished off the card.

As always, don't overthink the sketch and feel free to substitute any 

element you wish. Visit CAS(E) this Sketch to see how the rest of the team
interpreted the sketch and join us if you can. Link up your card(s) by  
Thursday, April 23rd. We hope to see you in the gallery!

CAS(E) this Sketch #367

Nathalie  brings us this week's CAS(E) this Sketch #367.

Here's my take on it.

I used The Greetery's Cozy Cup Coaster Die to replace the separate strips
with a single piece. I added a branch and stamped the sentiment. Done!

Visit CAS(E) this Sketch to see how the rest of the team interpreted the sketch
and join us if you can. Link up your card(s) by Thursday, April 16th and as  the
weekly winner you'll be invited to join us on a future sketch!
Stay safe and thanks for stopping by!

CASology #359--REPEAT

I'm joining CASology this week with the cue word REPEAT.

And here's my pretty straight forward card.

This card came together in about 5 minutes. Using the MISTI, I stamped the 

"thanks" once with Versafine Clair Onyx Black, then moved the card up 1/2" 

and did some second generation stamping. Moved it up another 1/2", "huffed" 

on the stamp to reactivate the ink, and I was quite pleased with the opacity. 

I stamped the second part of the sentiment in red ink, and even found a small 

heart in my stash. I thought about leaving it as is but added the strip of patterned 

paper to balance out the card, then called it done. 

It feels like a belated Christmas for me as I "discover" stamps and dies that

I bought a while ago (or were gifted to me!) and I'm finding time to play with.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Essentials by Ellen Totally Random Sayings Vol. 3

Essentials by Ellen August Essentials Challenge--Alcohol Inks

When I saw that the Essentials by Ellen August Challenge was to use alcohol inks,
I couldn't pass up the chance to join the inky fun.

I was inspired by Giovanna's card to heat emboss an image on an alcohol ink background.

Mondo Hydrangea--my favorite mondo bloom--was gold embossed on an alcohol inked
piece, along with leaves on a green alcohol inked piece. I've heard that you shouldn't
heat emboss Yupo paper because of its synthetic properties, and I've heat embossed
sentiments on a card before with no problem.

This time, because of the surface area, there was some warping--especially with the
leaves--even though I was trying to keep the heat gun constantly moving.

At first I thought about doing the leaves again, but decided to leave them because I liked
the way they curled and I don't think I could have done it otherwise.

Thanks for stopping by!

CAS(E) this Sketch #276

Chrissy brings us this week's CAS(E) this Sketch! Here's Sketch #276.

And here's my take on it.

I stamped the Mondo Hydrangea (my favorite mondo bloom!) with Distress inks
and messy watercolored them with Zig markers and a waterbrush. Some extra
blooms were stamped near the main cluster and colored in the same way.

The panel was trimmed and adhered to a gray card base. The stamped sentiment
finished off the card.

Visit CAS(E) this Sketch to see how the rest of the team interpreted the sketch
and join us if you can. Link up your card(s) by Thursday, June 21st and as
the weekly winner, you'll be invited to join us on a future sketch!

2017 Winter Coffee Lovers Blog Hop and Giveaway!

It's time for the winter edition of our favorite blog hop--the 2017 Winter

Coffee Lovers Blog Hop! I believe I missed the last hop--too much traveling!--

but I loved seeing all the coffee, tea, and cocoa inspiration and I managed

to put together a card for this season.

I colored up the Cozy Lady by Brandi Kincaid for Ellen Hutson and decided to
mask off a bunch of take out coffee cups for her to hold. Looks a little dangerous,
I agree, and when I shared a pic on Instagram, some folks offered to help her
hold some! (Thanks, Ivy!)

* * *

And in honor of the hop, I have a small giveaway of coffee related goodies
for one lucky commenter. These are duplicates that I bought and what better
time to share them than with coffee lovin' friends.

(Prize package includes: Lawn Fawn Pumpkin Spice and matching Lawn Cuts, 
Unity Stamps Fall to Go, Neat and Tangled Warm Wishes and Doodlebug Designs
  Latte Love Shape Sprinkles)

Just tell me if you're a coffee, tea, or cocoa lover--or all three! The deadline
to comment is the last day of the hop, December 15th, and I'll announce the
winner a few days after that. One comment per person, please! 😘

I just realized that my card has more of a "fall" theme than a winter one,
probably because I colored her before Thanksgiving. Oopsie!

I'm off to peruse the entries! Big thanks to Amy and her crew for another
successful hop that brings us together, one cup at a time! 🍵☕

(Note: Comments are closed, thank you for stopping by during the hop!)

Ellen Hutson LLC's 11th Anniversary Blog Hop

I'm excited and honored to be part of Ellen Hutson's 11th Anniversary Blog Hop!

You should have arrived here from my creative friend Ardyth's blog. If not,
here is the line up of blogs for Day 2 and be sure to start at Carissa's blog because
you won't want to miss an ounce of inspiration! And don't forget to leave comments
along the way because there are prizes galore!

Carissa Wiley
Michele Ferguson
Chari Moss
Ardyth Percy-Robb
Donna Mikasa
 

The theme is "My Favorite Essentials By Ellen" product. Going through my Flickr 

photostream, it was pretty clear that I often reached for the Mondo Hydrangea,
with the Mondo Peony coming in a close second.

I love all of Julie's Mondo blooms, but the Hydrangea, for me, is the "funnest" to color
and can be quite forgiving.

I've always wanted to gold emboss the hydrangea and color it afterwards, so that's
what I did for my card. The hydrangea was gold embossed three times on watercolor
card stock. I used Distress inks and ink daubers to color in each bloom with a
different color.

I went over each bloom with more Distress inks, let them dry, then spattered
water over the piece. I filled in the area around each flower with Peeled Paint
Distress ink, and blended with water up to the edge of each bloom. After the
 entire piece was dried, I trimmed it and adhered it to a black card base
and finished off the card with the die cut Hello.

I'm the last stop on today's hop. Get ready for more inspiration tomorrow on
Day 3 of the Anniversary Hop! And leave comments every day on all designers'
blogs, and link up YOUR favorite Essentials by Ellen product here for a chance
to win a $50 Ellen Hutson LLC gift voucher!

Essentials by Ellen Mondo Hydrangea

Essentials by Ellen Brushstroke Hello Die

CAS(E) this Sketch #245

It's time for a retro sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch!

Here's Sketch #245 which was Sketch #88 from me in August 2014.

Here's my updated take on the sketch using the Mondo Hydrangea.

The Mondo Hydrangea and extra flowers were stamped with purple Distress ink

on watercolor card stock. Using a waterbrush, I colored in all the flowers with

blue and purple Distress inks and let them dry.

The stamen portion of the flowers and the stems were colored in with Copic

markers. After all the images were dry, I re-stamped the image again (leaving

the stamps it in the Misti helped!) with purple Distress ink, then cut them out 

and adhered them to the card. The stamped sentiment finished off the card.

Visit CAS(E) this Sketch to see how the rest of the team interpreted this

retro sketch, and join us if you can! Link up your card(s) by Thursday, Nov 2nd

and as the weekly winner, you'll be invited to guest with us on a future challenge!

Essentials by Ellen Mondo Hydrangea

Essentials by Ellen Mondo Hydrangea Dies