Here For You

 Hey Everybody,

Julie gave us a great site for inspiration. Check it out here. 

As soon as I saw this inspiration picture, I knew which stamp I wanted to use.

 I don't use it often, but these challenges get me to go through stamps I have and use them! LOL

I stamped the image with Memento tuxedo black ink. I colored the image with Copic Markers. I placed a circle in the sky for the sky and used a sponged dauber and a cloud cut out to make the clouds with balmy blue ink. I use parakeet party with a sponged dauber to add to the grass. I colored the sun with a Copic Markers. Lastly, I stamped my sentiment.

Keywords: IC1022 little boy puppies

Stamps: SU Prairie Grass, Stamps Happen Inc.(old stamp) Boy With Puppies

Paper: white, sweet sorbet

Paper Size: A2

Ink: Memento Tuxedo black, balmy blue, parakeet party, misty moonlight

Accessories: circle mask, sponge daubers, cloud punch out, Copic Markers

Techniques: ink blending, coloring, masking

When I stamped the image I decided I wanted to add grass to ground the image. Since I was doing that I might as well do a sky. If I'm doing that, I might as well add a sun. So that's how the background came to be.

You know when I was making the clouds I noticed that the clouds are made more by the white space around them than by the blue. The white gives the clouds the texture they need and the blue provides a line for the shape of the cloud.

When you stamp a person or animal on cardstock, do you add details such as clouds, sun ground or grass?

How do you do that? Do you use blending brushes and die cuts, do you draw the details, or stamp them?  Those details can really add to your card.

It's great to have card challenges to keep my mind thinking and humming along with ideas.

I love to learn new things then teach them in my monthly classes.

Well, I appreciate you stopping by for a bit. Thanks for checking out what I've been working on. Take care and God Bless.

Blessings,

Sue

August Paper Pumpkin

 Hey Everybody,

Look at what's coming for August.

August 2025 Paper Pumpkin: Farmhouse Florals Kit – Plus a Bonus Stamp Set!

I’m so excited to share a peek at the August Farmhouse Florals Paper Pumpkin Kit! This kit is an absolute delight—featuring whimsical blooms tucked into charming, unexpected places. And the best part? It comes with a FREE bonus stamp set, just because. How’s that for a little extra crafting joy?

August Paper Pumpkin Kit: Farmhouse Floral

Subscribe between July 11–August 10 

From My Craft Table to Yours

I’m so excited to share a peek at the August Farmhouse Florals Paper Pumpkin Kit! This kit is an absolute delight—featuring whimsical blooms tucked into charming, unexpected places. And the best part? It comes with a FREE bonus stamp set, just because. How’s that for a little extra crafting joy?

Inside the kit, you’ll find everything you need to create 9 cards (3 each of 3 designs) along with matching envelopes. You’ll love the precut pieces, linen thread, and sentiments for both the front and inside of your cards. Whether you’re a new crafter or seasoned pro, this kit is beautifully easy to assemble and perfect for spreading smiles.

Coordinating colors: Calypso Coral, Darling Duckling, Gray Granite, Lost Lagoon, Pecan Pie, Secret Sea (Classic Stampin’ Spot)

💌 Subscription Dates:
Subscribe between July 11 and August 10 to get this kit delivered to your door.

👉 Not a subscriber yet? It’s the perfect time to join! With a bonus stamp set included, the August kit offers more creative value than ever.

Special Add On “Circle of Seasons Dies”:

🎉 Exclusive Add-On Die: Don’t miss the opportunity to enhance your crafting experience with a special add-on die that coordinates seamlessly with kits from July – September.

Subscribe        Learn More About Paper Pumpkin Kits

Check it out here.

Blessings,

Sue

How Would You Use Red, White and Blue?

Hey Everybody,

Today's challenge can be found here. Lydia's challenge to us was to use red, white and blue. 

I used sweet sorbet and blueberry bushel inks which I applied with blending brushes. Then I used my stipple brush with white paint to stencil my lines. My digital image was colored with Copic Markers. She was added with dimensionals as was the sentiment.

The card base is white which I covered half with sweet sorbet and half blueberry bushel. Then the stenciled layered on top of that. I added a red and blue stripe then the sentiment in white to continue the red, white and blue theme.

Keywords: MIX649

Stamps: SU-The Right Words, Image-digital given to me

Paper: white, sweet sorbet, blueberry bushel

Paper Size: A2

Ink: sweet sorbet, blueberry bushel

Accessories: dimensionals, Copic Markers, Simon Says-Mod Stripe Stencil, stipple brush, white acrylic paint, scissors, SU double oval punch, sponge dauber

Techniques: fussy cutting, stenciling, coloring,

Do you have stencils or masks as SU calls them, that you haven't used in a while? I need to use more stencils in my cardmaking. I also need to get more comfortable using just part of a stencil, not the whole thing. I tend to like things that match. You know if you put it on one side, you balance it out with something on the other side.

I also have experimented with using several different colors for a stencil. I like the effect that has on my cards. Before adding ink colors however, make sure you use colors that are in your designer paper so it blends well together.

For this challenge I used ink and acrylic paint. Do you even mix mediums on your cards? I like to use stamped images then color them with colored pencils. 

I don't have a Gel Printing plate, but would like to some day. I love what I've seen others do with it. You can make incredible backgrounds which can then be used as a background or die cut for your creations.

Maybe as you stamp this week, you can consider using more than just ink on your cards.  Colored pencils, Watercolor pencils, crayons, acrylic paint and water based or alcohol based markers would be a great addition to your creation.

Thanks for spending time here today. It is always appreciated.

Blessings,

Sue

Romance As An Image

 Hey Everybody,

The challenge for today's card is found here. Angie chose to have us show romance in our card.

 As soon as I read the challenge, I knew which stamps I wanted to use. I stamped Jack and Ginger in Memento tuxedo black ink and colored them with Copic Markers. I printed out my sentiment and added it to boho blue cardstock. I cut out three hearts to add around the sentiment and glued them to the image panel. The image panel was glued to a boho blue card base.

Keywords: F4A802

Stamps: Mo Manning-Jack and Ginger

Paper: white, boho blue

Paper Size: A2

Ink: memento tuxedo black

Accessories: Janette Oke quote, Copic Markers, SU Adoring Hearts dies

Techniques: die cutting, coloring

I don't know about you, but when I see a cute older couple holding hands, it just warms my heart. I like to think that it's love that has them holding hands and not the fear of falling. LOL

It's funny, as you age with a spouse things that used to be important when you were younger sometimes aren't as important.  It seems that you mellow over time. Maybe it's because you've been through good times and bad, maybe it's because that person is always there for you. Who knows? 

Maybe it's because you have more important things to tend to like grandchildren or retirement. I love retirement and having a granddaughter. She is such a joy most times. Yep, sometimes she's a pistol, but who isn't?

I'm blessed to have Tim beside me as a Christian father and grandfather. Next month we'll celebrate 32 years together. Where did that time go?

Maybe you have a stamp or two that you would use to signify romance. It could be for a wedding, anniversary or just to say, "I love you." 

See what you have and what you can do with it. Then give it to a significant person in your life and watch their eyes light up. It's the best feeling to see that.

Thanks so much for stopping by and reading my ramblings.  I'm truly blessed you've come by today.

Blessings,

Sue

Sketch and Memories

 Hey Everybody,

Back again today with another sketch challenge brought to us by Jeannette. It can be found here.

What I did was to turn the sketch so it would work with the waves embossing folder I used.

I had to turn this sketch to fit the waves in behind my sweet lady. She is a digital image.  She was colored with Copic Markers. I embossed the designer series paper with the Stampin' Up Waves embossing folder. I typed the sentiment I found online and added it and the image with dimensionals.

Keywords: SC1069

Stamps: Digital image given to me

Paper: white, real red, blue dsp

Paper Size: A2

Ink: n/a

Accessories: Copic Markers, Waves embossing folder, dimensionals

Techniques: dry embossing, coloring, fussy cutting

This was a fun card to make.  This brought back memories of me sitting in a wading pool in my fenced in patio in my condo just to cool off and be outside.  You know when you're young and you want that suntan and don't mind being out in the sun?  Well, I can remember thinking, I hope no one comes to visit unannounced and comes through that gate and sees me in this wading pool! The gate was always locked, but you never knew when someone would drop  by unannounced. LOL

Do you have any memories that could be put into a card?

 When I saw Lisa's challenge here, I knew exactly which stamp set I wanted to use. I haven't used this set in years, yet had to keep it because they made cute thank you cards for teacher gifts I received.

 An obstacle I had to overcome was to stamp with a wooden stamp! LOL I know that's how we always stamped years ago, but I can't tell you the last time I used a wooden stamp. So, that was my 1st challenge!

I CASED a card by pa Stamper done in 2005. I loved her hopscotch idea. I used her hopscotch idea and added my own characters and scenery.
I stamped and colored the images with Copic Markers and fussy cut them. They were added with dimensionals. I used a circle for a mask for the sun, and a scallop circle and cloud shape to blend ink for the clouds in the sky.
I drew the hopscotch and made sure the girl's foot fit on it. I wanted to include lots of the toys I played with as a kid. 

We used to skate for hours and play hopscotch too. This brought back so many sweet memories for me.  We played outside most of the day, back in the day. We didn't have electronics, just TV and it only had 3 channels!

Take a look at your older stamps. What do you have that hasn't been used in a while? What do you have that might bring back memories from your youth?

I hope you enjoy looking through your stamps. I hope you find some stamps to use on a great card that will bring back wonderful memories for you.

As always, thanks for stopping by today.

Blessings,

Sue