Critters and Cards

Hello Stamplings!

Happy Sunday! I hope this finds you well and your little dog, too! Or cat. Or hamster. Or bag of Halloween candy. Whatever makes you smile your inner smile no matter how crazy insane this world gets.

What's making me smile here (besides the resident hamster) are a coupla squirrels who are loving the little squirrel candy that our Japanese Maple is covered with this time of year. I wish you could see these guys outside my Playhouse window doing unbelievable gymnastics as they reach the farthest kernel on the wimpiest branch. Yesterday the fat one literally fell to the ground when he reached too far and lost his little squirrel grip.

I have to admit I laughed my head off, but not until after he shook himself off and literally leaped back onto the tree for another go at whatever crack that tree is providing. In between watching the squirrel antics, I managed some cards:

When I saw Pink Fresh Studio's newest release, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this NBUS "Lush Greenery" set. I die-cut and stamped the two images from one of my stencil monoprint backgrounds made with Lindy Magicals. You can't see the shimmer, but it's there. I also schplattered a few Lindy's in the background. Very QACAS. The sediment is from Neat & Tangled.

Challenges

• Creative With Stamps: Halloween or Leaves.
• Mod Squad: Fall thank you card.
• TIME OUT: Grateful.

 

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While the first card was very QACAS (quick and clean and simple), was it really clean enough to be suitable for the current Less Is More challenge? I didn't think so, so I whipped up this Twofer with one set of leaves, popped up for dementia:

Challenges

• Less Is More: Dimension.
• Words 2 Craft By: October eves.

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And because it's past time to be working on Christmas cards:

This is a schparkly QACAS die-cut-only card. The silvery watercolor background pp is from Momenta, the NBUS cover plate is from Reverse Confetti, and the stained glass center image is NBUS from Avery Elle. I silver-embossed it, painted the bow and bell with Ziggies, and Hammy added a schparkly layer of winking.

Here's a better view:

Challenges

• City Crafter Challenge: Silver bells.
• Rudolph Days Challenge (from the 25th to the last day of the month).
• The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge: Anything goes.

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Real quick, I have to show you another critter that came around while I was photographing my cards:

It's a wee baby fence lizard no bigger than my pinkie finger, but it's so hard to tell scale. Just know that those little flowers are teeny-tiny! He sat there for five minutes while I talked to him. The Mister shakes his head when he sees me outside talking to the hummingbirds and lizards. He is sure the neighbors are going to turn me into the Loony Bin peeps!

Here's a closeup:

Actually I've refrained from showing you the lizzies for ages even though I have lots of pics. We've had a large crop of babies this year and it's really amazing to see them when they're about an inch long. Although he won't admit it, the Mister likes it when any of them come out for a shower when he's watering the plants!

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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 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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