Shaker Crayons ~ NBUS #126

Greetings on this fresh new Monday! What will the week bring?! All good things, I hope.

I have been getting ready for more company, but I had to stop everything last night and start a shaker card for Pauline's Pretty Pink Posh Sequin Shaker Blog Hop. I've never made a shaker card before, but everyone was having so much fun in the pool, I decided to jump in and play, too.

So I made this:

I looked through my dies and decided that it would be fun to use my NBUS crayon die, so I lined up and cut it three across and, following Pauline's excellent video, I created my shaker pack, thus:

But it looked too bland, even with the pretty sequints. I wasn't sure you would know what the heck those openings were supposed to be. So I took the coordinating NBUS stamp and stamped the image on a sheet of acetate using Stazon ink. Then I went to bed.

This morning they were dry so I die cut them. My card front was still pretty bland in white against the crayon-hued card stock I wanted to use, and I was confuzzled about how I was going to attach my acetate crayon images. Glancing over at Hammy in his cage, I raised an eyebrow. Without missing a step on his wheel, he pointed at my Washi tapes and walla!

I also made a cute tag to attach, but it covered up too much of the crayons, so I didn't use it. I have to say what everyone else is saying, that was fun! I don't know why it took me so long to try one. Thank you for the push, Pauline!

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New Friends Corner

I'm excited to introduce you to Sandi of Sandi Lee Scraps! Sandi has been blogging since 2010. She is a published card artist, a designer, an award winner, and a certified Copic designer! You whispered a silent "Wow," dinnit you? It IS impressive and you will be truly wowed when you visit her!!

Thank you for joining, Sandi, and welcome to the Playhouse!

~~~

Okay, gotta go. I can't believe when I post again it will be next month, the month of MAY already! Eeek squeak!! Okay, never mind that now. Just enjoy today! No, seriously, enjoy.  LITS!* 

As always, thank you for coming by to visit the Playhouse and special thanks to you if you take the time to leave a comment and/or join as a follower! Please let me know you came by, so I can be sure and return the flavor! Your ongoing encouragement means so much to me!

 

*Life Is Too Short!

Project Details
Paper	PTI white; K and Company DSP; acetate
Stamps	The Stamps of Life
Ink	Stazon jet black
Accessories	Crayon die: The Stamps of Life Darice sequints; Misc. Washi tape

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Post-Easter Christmas ~ NBUS #125

Happy Sunday Funday!

I am happy to report that Hammy came back revigorated and raring to go. He was pretty tight-lipped about his randyvoo with Ms. Thing, but that's okay. I'll find out from Chuchee whether or not he behaved himself. All I know is, he got up in my face right off the bat and asked me how I was coming with my resolve to make Christmas cards every single week of 2014. Gulp.

Thankfully, with his help and a couple of fabilicious challenges, I've made two more Christmas cards for the stash.

First up is this card.

That's pretty layered up and non-CAS for me, huh?! Every once in a while, it's fun to give your hamster a break so when he returns, things get a little wild and karazy! The NBUS is the Christmas tree sediment by My Favorite Things. If you would like to know any other ingredient detail, please let me know.

My card was inspired by Merry Monday, where we are to decorate our Christmas words; TIME OUT Challenges, where we are to CASE a card by the famous card artist, Virginia Lu from Yes, Virginia; Jingle Belles, where we are to "bundle up" by using at least three layers; and Pixie's Snippets Playground, where we are to use up our snippets. 

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My second card came about because of the new Stamping for Pleasure Rudolph Day requirements, which are that we must make TWO cards to enter. Bless Sarn's little heart! Am I the only one who keeps forgetting this? I finished my card above, cleaned up my desk, put everything away, and started visiting other blogs ... suddenly Hammy crawled up the sleeve of my sweater, over the top of my head, and out onto the stem of my eyeglasses. Peering over the top until we were eyeball to eyeball, he drawled, "Helluuuu? Member? Rudolph wants TWO cards!" Aaah, man.

It's mazing what you can do under pressure. Here's what I did:

The side strips look like Washi tape, but they are just strips of the same PTI paper used in my first card. The wreath is "Breezy Wreath" by Poppystamps that I die-cut four times and layered. The image is a vintage Hero Arts stamp (E2017), popped up on a foam pad. Shazambam, QACAS!

I'm also entering this card in the Less Is More challenge, which is a sketch designed by Chrissie; A Blog Named Hero, where we are to use "layers or dimension"; Simon Say Stamp Wednesday Challenge, where the challenge is "Keep it Clean and Simple";and Simply Create Too, where the current challenge is "Stack Um Up" (use at least two layers).

 

If you click on the links to any of the challenges listed, you can find out more information on rules, sponsors, and prizes. I hope to see you there!!

~~~

New Friends Corner

I am so pleased to introduce you to Nicky of Stiggy's Crafts. Nicky is a seasoned card artist who has been blogging since 2008! I am always overwhelmed by the amount of inspiration that I've missed by not connecting with Blogland before late 2011. Not to worry, all of us can catch up with Nicky who has tons of talent and ideas and designs to share!!

Thank you for joining, Nicky, and welcome to the Playhouse!

~~~

Garden as Art

So, for about 38 years I've sat in the same seat at the dining room table and looked out the window at this:

I forgot to take a true "before" photo when it wasn't nicely painted and there were no horizontal boards on it, so imagine it looking even more boring.

In the last year or so my DS and DIL have converted me to loving all things succulent and this year I have incorporated a lot of succulent plants in the garden. When I found some wonderful hanging baskets of succulents at the home center that fit flush up against a wall or a fence I got the idea to have the Mister put up some cross boards to hang them and now it looks like this:

The four hanging baskets came that way; I made up the other three black ones. Wish us luck that we don't kill them by over-watering!

~~~

Enjoy the day! No, seriously, enjoy.  LITS!* 

As always, thank you for coming by to visit the Playhouse and special thanks to you if you take the time to leave a comment and/or join as a follower! Please let me know you came by, so I can be sure and return the flavor! 

  

 

*Life Is Too Short!

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Papertrey Ink April 2014 Blog Hop ~ NBUS #124

Happy Friday!!

Thank you for whooshing through the week to get here! I have been rather piggy with your time this week as I posted nearly every day. 

Today I have made two cards for the Papertrey Ink April 2014 Blog Hop. The photo inspiration board is bedeckled with lots of beautiful embroidered images for our challenge.

 

Here is my first card:

I used my NBUS "Lace Bouquet" by PTI. I colored the image with my SU markers in the colors of the current Colour Me ...! challenge: Bermuda bay, coastal cabana, Pacific point, and tempting turquoise.

I "fauxbroidered" my image with a white Signo pen. The image is stamped on PTI white and attached to a SU coastal cabana card base. On a piece of confetti vellum I embossed the sediment (PTI "Think Big Favorites #24) in Zing aqua embossing powder and overlaid it on the image, punctuating it with some sequints by Darice.

I'm also playing in the following challenges:

Seize the Birthday, where there is no "topping," so Anything Goes!

Addicted to Stamps and More, where the brief is "Make Your Mark."

======================================================

My second card:

This is a super easy QACAS card. I used a PTI white card base and covered it with a piece of patterned vellum from my old Hot Off The Press stash. For the popped-up oval, I used a NBUS PTI "Limitless Layers Oval" die, cut from PTI white card. The birthday sediment is from PTI "Birthday Bash Sentiments" stamped in TH faded denim distress ink. The seed pearls are from SU and the shiny metallic butterflies are sequints from Darice.

I am also entering these challenges:

Butterfly Challenge hosted by the inimitable Mrs. A. The brief is to use glam butterflies that glitter and sparkle and shine and tingle.

Keep it Simple!, where the brief is "Bright Spark," using bright colors and/or sparkly things.

Seize the Birthday, where there is no "topping," so Anything Goes!

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where the theme is "Keep It Clean and Simple."

~~~

As always, I urge you to join in these challenges! The owners and Design Teams and Guest Designers all work very hard to bring you challenges for your enjoyment. Some of these challenges have sponsors and prizes, which you can find by clicking on the links.

~~~

Hammy says I've worked him to death this week so he's taking time off to go see Ms. Thing. While he's away I'll be gardening and hopefully catching up on my visits to you!

Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy yourself! No, seriously, enjoy.  LITS!* 

As always, thank you for coming by to visit the Playhouse and special thanks to you if you take the time to leave a comment and/or join as a follower! Please let me know you came by, so I can be sure and return the flavor! 

  

 

*Life Is Too Short!

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Splats of Spring ~ NBUS #123

Hello Again!

Continuing from where I left off yesterday, here is my second card for Nicole's Make It Monday challenge which is "Watercolor Splats." I hope you get a chance to play, too. The only requirement is that you use at least one Papertrey Ink (PTI) product.

The fireworks flowers are NBUS from the PTI "Meadow Greens" set and the sediment is from SU. I watercolored the background using a child's watercolor paint set and added water splats with my brush. The ribbon is Michael's and the two little daisy-covered clothes pins are recycled from an ages-old store-bought birthday tag.

I'm also entering this card in these challenges:

• Retrosketches

• City Crafter Challenge

• Curtain Call Challenge

• CASology

Please click on the links provided if you would like to play along and/or find out about the rules, sponsors, and prizes!

~~~

New Friends Corner

I'm thrilled to welcome these new friends today!

Tracey T. of Cranberry Cards. Tracey has been blogging since 2010. She is a mom, a teacher, a designer, and an award-winning card artist. Her cards are always colorful, feminine, and impeccably constructed. You will be uber inspired when you check out almost four years of consistent craftivity by Tracey!

Susan Zuzarte of Imagine. Create. Express. Susan has been blogging since 2009. Another fabulous designer, Susan has won many awards for her works of art. If you think I enter a lot of challenges, wait until you see the long list that Susan manages to combine! I love her clean and simple card art and I know you will, too!

Eve of The Purple Paper Puncher. Eve has been blogging since 2013. She lives in the UK and is already an award-winning card artist. I know she would appreciate your visit and your encouragement by following her. In turn, you will appreciate the inspiration she provides, so it's a win-win!

Helen of Molecraft. Helen starting making card art in 2007 and has been blogging since 2010. Another team designer and award-winner, Helen's cards are CASlicious, adorable, and inspirational and, boy, I wish I'd found her back in 2010!

Thank you, ladies, and welcome to the Playhouse!!

~~~

Friends and Twins Card Art

In addition to your wonderful comments, I was very fortunate to receive Easter cards from a lot of you! I have updated the "Happy Mail" tab at the top of my blog, if you would like to see the newest additions.

I have to take a moment to share with you that the postal services around the world really outdid themselves with this holiday. Not only did the majority of the cards which I sent very late make it to their destinations before Easter, but I received a couple of cards that I can only assume arrived here via the Miracle Express Mail! Check out these cards that traveled from the UK to the USA:

First up is a card where the large and beautiful bling erupted from the envelope in such a way that part of the address was torn. Nevertheless, it arrived safely with bling intact!

Second came this beautiful card that arrived with THREE SIDES COMPLETELY OPEN! 

Not only was the card unharmed, but inside the card was a small gift of a clear stamp set. STILL INSIDE, people! How is that even possible?? I usually have rants in my pants about the mail disservice, but I have to give credit where credit is due, so MWAH to the postal peeps this time!

 ~~~

Finally, with a grandma's pride, here are cards that Adam and Henry made on Sunday. I'm so happy they still love the Playhouse and making cards! (And my Washi tape! Do you think I should enter their cards in the current challenge at The Paper Players?! LOL!)

Adam made a card for his Mama ~ note the prodigal dolphin stamp:

And Henry made a card for his Bama (me):

In the interests of full disclosure, I will tell you that I made the big yellow blossom a long time ago and Henry found it in my stash. All the other elements and design are his work.  I consider it a compliment that Henry often writes on the inside, "I love you. I like you." There are times we don't much like the people we love, so to be loved AND liked is the bestest!

~~~

Enjoy your day! No, seriously, enjoy.  LITS!* 

As always, thank you for coming by to visit the Playhouse and special thanks to you if you take the time to leave a comment and/or join as a follower! Please let me know you came by, so I can be sure and return the flavor! 

  

 

*Life Is Too Short!

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Mwah!