Friendship needs no words, but sometimes it needs Depends

Hello Stamplings,

Oh, dear, that hasn't happened for years. My whole post just went belly up and disappeared. Pfft! And I was all finished. Total operator error, I'm sure, but that doesn't give me any solace, especially since I'm not sure prezackly what I did wrong. Since everything I write is spontaneous, it's weird to start over so we'll just move on as soon as Hammy returns with my wodka. Thank you, buddy.

Okay, that's better. Here's my Onefer:

It's hard to get more QACAS than this card with no stamping on it. This lovely friendship text paper (from PTI?) is from my stash. The NBUS die cut called "Sweet Tulip" is from Simon Says Stamp. I'm tickled to say that I haven't had it on Mt. NBUS for two years like usually happens. In fact, it only arrived a few days ago! The sediment is a store-bought button, also ancient and also from my stash. I backed it with a matching stitched circle die cut.

BTW, I just found out I have a Super Power! Yup, I do. I have the uncanny ability to complete the purchase of craft items online just hours before they go on sale! It happens with different companies and this is the third time in a row that it has happened with SSS! (Don't tell the Mister.)

Challenges

• Double D Challenges: Pink and white.
• The Flower Challenge: Use your latest stamps or dies.
• Inkspirational: Text. Designer's choice: Use your stash.
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: No stamps allowed.
• Stamp Ink Paper: Monochromatic.

 

Twofer

See, now the title of my post makes sense! This card is a reminder of the Best Friends challenge currently going on at Words 2 Craft By (W2CB) where I have the pleasure of being the Guest Designer this month! 

The NBUS girlfriends and the sediment are from the Art Impressions stamp set called "Laughing." It was a gift from my friend Brenda when I went to visit her last fall. (Thank you, mf!) I paper-pieced and Ziggified the girls and then I masked them in order to brush antique linen Oxi ink through a water drop stencil to make the background. The panel was then inked around the edge and adhered to the card base.

I hope you'll be able to make a friendship and/or kindness card and play along this month at W2CB! 

Challenges

• Addicted to Stamps: Anything but a square.
• Mod Squad: Brand name clear or rubber stamps.
• Pixie's Snippets Playground: Anything goes with snippets.
• The Library Challenge: Spark Joy by Marie Kondo. (Title.)

~~~

Caught this little guy on the fence yesterday. Don't know whose yard the orange came from, but you can't blame him for stealing it. This is, after all, cold and flu season!

~~~

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!

To open the pop-up comment box that let's you jump to the end w/o scrolling: Click CTL + Home. Click the Home tab under my blog banner which resets the post. Click Page Down to reach the end of the post. Click Comments and a pop-up box opens. Click "Jump to Comment Form" and wallah, no more car pool tunnel! Mwah! (p.s. If you ask me a question in your comment, please remember to leave me your email address so I can respond. Thank you!)

A QACAS Sunday

Hello Stamplings!

I went to a bridal shower yesterday. It's been ages since I've been to one and I was curious what modern-day bridal showers were like. We had a balanced mix of ladies over the hill and ladies just starting the climb and I was delighted to discover that some traditions live on. We played a coupla games to get acquainted, told stories of how we knew the beloved couple, had a delicious lunch, and watched the bride open her pretty gifts. It was a terrific time celebrating young love!

I've got company for a few days, so I better zip my lip and share the super easy cards I have for you today!

I think this little number is more QACASier than any of my other QACAS (quick and clean and simple) cards over the years. What you see is a pink card base overlaid with a tent of designer floral acetate from SU. In order to attach the acetate to the card, I added glue under the flower centers and covered the gloo-schmoo with pearl embellies. Oh, before I did that, of course, I stamped the sediment.

I've had these beautiful printed acetate sheets for ages and it felt good to finally use some of them. Hammy was quick to point out that it was also quite, um, 'silly' to keep something for three years and then spend three minutes making a card with it! I have to admit, he does have a point. I'm pretty sure I can find a hat to cover it up.

Challenges

• Double D: May flowers.
• The Flower Challenge: Acetate/Vellum.
• Stinkin' Inkers: April showers bring May flowers.

Twofer

You gotta love a die-cut only card! I went all out copper metallica for this shiny Christmas card. The double heat-embossed filigreed star is from Skipping Stones Designs and the NBUS JOY is from Concord & 9th. A little somethin-somethin more seemed to be needed, so I simply cut two thin strips of the copper paper and added them to the sides. As you can see from all the high gloss, this card was NOT a joy to photograph.

Challenges

• ABC Christmas: "J" for Joy, "K" for Keep it simple.
• HLS May Christmas: A/G, optional stars.
• Merry Monday Christmas: No stamping!

~~~

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! It's going to be a busy rest of the month around here between company and comings and goings, but I'll be round to see you when I can!

*Life is too short!

To open the pop-up comment box that let's you jump to the end w/o scrolling: Click CTL + Home. Click the Home tab under my blog banner which resets the post. Click Page Down to reach the end of the post. Click Comments and a pop-up box opens. Click "Jump to Comment Form" and wallah, no more car pool tunnel! Mwah! (p.s. If you ask me a question in your comment, please remember to leave me your email address so I can respond. Thank you!) 

WILD About You!

Hello Stamplings!

How are you? I hope you were finally able to get the grill and chaise lounge out of winter hibernation and pack up your sweaters! I'm always a little conflicted about putting the sweaters away because it immediately becomes evident to everyone how many chockie bars I ate over the winter! Cough.

I'm also a little hesitant to toot my horn, but I have to say I'm really chuffed to have won the 4th Birthday Celebration over at TIME OUT challenges this past March where there were lots and lots of outstanding entries! As a result, I have the honor of being the Guest Designer for the next challenge!

For this challenge TIME OUT wants you to interpret the word WILD! Here is my one-layer card to inspire you:

Of course, "wild" is very tongue-in-cheek for these babies who don't look the least bit wild, do they? They all look like sad little orphans you just want to hug. The wild animal stamp is ancient, heat-embossed in black and colored with my Ziggies. I'd be lion if I told you I could bear to part with it.

I masked the critters and stamped the bamboo. The "wild" sediment is from SU and the "welcome" sediment is NBUS from "If Animals Could Talk" by Elizabeth Craft Designs. The corner was chomped by a Cropadile and a smidge of a score line was added under the sediment because, Frankly, the whole shebang was sitting a little too high up on the card to satisfy my symmetrical sensibilities.

I'm sure you can think of several designs for this fun challenge and I can't wait to see what you make! The Design Team has amazing interpretations to inspire you at TIME OUT Challenges. And we are so lucky to have this challenge sponsored by Winnie & Walter!  

Challenges

• Double D: Friendship.
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday: Anything goes.
• Stinkin' Inkers: Simply made ~ one-layer card.

~~~

And a super QACAS to share:

This single blossom and sediment are NBUS from Gina K; sad you can't see the pretty winking. That furry panel is old-timey mulberry paper which was very popular near the turn of the century when I first started this beloved hobby. There was (is) something therapeutic about wetting the edge and pulling it like cotton candy being careful not to get that bit that tore off a huge chunk!

What can I say about that floating flower? It looks ridiculous floating in space, so I feel like you might be cocking your head and wondering why I did that. What happened was, I wanted the design to reflect that the person sending the card feels adrift, uprooted, leafless, and blue.

Aha! Well done, except is leafless a thing in a human? Yes, it's like lifeless, only not quite so dramatic.

Challenges

• Addicted to Stamps and More: Clean and simple
• Back to Basics and Beyond: This is a new challenge with a focus on helping newbies! How cool is that? But everyone is welcome! The first brief is "Matting and Layering." I did the "matting" part. Welcome to Blogland! (They are having a DT Call!)
• Less Is More: My original impetus, the brief is "Bring Something Back!" (Mulberry paper.)

~~~

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!

To open the pop-up comment box that let's you jump to the end w/o scrolling: Click CTL + Home. Click the Home tab under my blog banner which resets the post. Click Page Down to reach the end of the post. Click Comments and a pop-up box opens. Click "Jump to Comment Form" and wallah, no more car pool tunnel! Mwah! (p.s. If you ask me a question in your comment, please remember to leave me your email address so I can respond. Thank you!)

Happy Easter!

Hello Stamplings!

I would like to start by giving you our heartfelt thanks for the outpouring of concern, prayers, and best wishes for Rachel! It makes a difference and means the world to us!

I know it's a busy week for those of you preparing for Easter and Passover and many of you have the additional busyness of having the kids home for spring break. Some of you might even be on holiday to sunny climes or visiting The Geezers and to those I say, "safe travels!" 

I've not had time this year to make and send the number of Easter/spring cards I normally do, but I did manage a couple to share.

Onefer

I've had this beautiful filigreed egg since 2002 and I never tire of it. Sadly, it's from an OOB company. This time I heat-embossed it using SU melon mambo and the shiny pink glaze is beautiful in person. I put a slit on both sides of the egg and wrapped it with matching SU ribbon. The sediment is from Paper Smooches.

Challenges

• Cards In Envy: No patterned paper.
• Just Us Girls: Easter/spring Photo Week.
• Retro Rubber: Anything goes.

Twofer

I simply HAD to use my NBUS Chickadees from Poppystamps for an Easter card before Easter was over. I used an easy design with some ancient SU pp showing through a peek-a-boo MFT window. Conferring with the hamster, we decided that it would look silly to have the chicks be blue or pink so we called in Char Truce. 

After she left the Playhouse, we had a bit of a giggle and didn't know whether to show you the card or not after the sweet chickadees ended up looking like cartoon chickens they were recovering from a bout of food poisoning! Sometimes artistic license runs amok, but they are still too cute not to share!

Challenges

• Double D Challenges: Things with wings.
• Poppystamps: CAS.
• Sunday Stamps: Easter palette.

~~~

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!

Remember it's Easter and there's an Easter bunny. Even if it looks like a chocolate-covered raisin, it might not be!

*Life is too short!

To open the pop-up comment box that let's you jump to the end w/o scrolling: Click CTL + Home. Click the Home tab under my blog banner which resets the post. Click Page Down to reach the end of the post. Click Comments and a pop-up box opens. Click "Jump to Comment Form" and wallah, no more car pool tunnel! Mwah! (p.s. If you ask me a question in your comment, please remember to leave me your email address so I can respond. Thank you!)

A Pool Boy and a Snazzy Silhouette Dress

Hi Honey Stamplings, I'm home!

Did you miss me? Did the dog run away trying to find me and the cat go up a tree? 

I squired Hammy away with me in the suitcase and we had a blast while we were away! Wait. What? I wasn't in the suitcase, he was! More reunion talk below, but for those who just want to see cards in this space, I have a couple that I made before I left which I didn't have time to post.

Onefer.

This old gas bag is no doubt known to a lot of you and I never tire of her! I used to draw a ciggie in her hand, but that's so last century and no longer acceptable. When I recently got the NBUS sediment from Verses Rubber Stamps, I immediately thought it would be perfect for her. I meant to add some clouds, but I, well, I forgot.

Challenges

• CAS Mix Up Challenge: Watercolour wash (sky and lawn) + stamping + die cutting (scalloped border).
• Double D Challenges: Sentiments/Quotes. They can be silly, right?
• Retro Rubber: Anything goes. I've been stamping this lovely lay-about lady laying out for years and years. She is a vo stamp from Art Impressions.
• Stamp Ink Paper: Watercolor. In addition to the background washes, I watercolored the image with my Ziggies.

Twofer.

The jewel-toned background of this card was in my UCB box. I made it ages ago by smearing my Ziggies onto an acrylic block, spritzing it with water, and then stamping it onto paper. I actually still have a few of these spritzed arty backgrounds in the box. When I saw the challenge at Just Us Girls (which I missed, darn it) was "Block Watercolor Stamping," I pulled this background out and attached it to a coordinating colored card base. Now what? 

I turned and whistled over my shoulder for Hammy, who was busy in the neighbor's fig tree. (Figs are like crack for the field mice, roof rats, raccoons, and little domesticated hamsters in the neighborhood!) With the promise that he could go right back to stuffing his face, Hammy cleaned himself off in the birdbath and sat on the window sill to see what my panic was. He is so great at remembering the challenges, he immediately told me to add a silhouette.

The NBUS silhouette die I chose was "Princess Dress" from Memory Box. As my friend Lolly says, silhouettes can be any color, but for this background, I felt black was best. The NBUS sediment is from Paper Smooches.

Challenges

• CAS Watercolour Card Challenge. Silhouette.
• Happy Little Stampers CAS Challenge. Silhouette.
• Sunday Stamps: Autumn colors.

~~~

Reunion Memories.

One of the many pleasant experiences of my trip back to the Midwest was meeting my bloggie friend, Pat McCleary. 

Pat is a lovely lady who makes beautiful cards, but she doesn't have a blog to share them. I found out she was a fan when she sent me a complimentary email in 2013 telling me how much my blog brightened her day. Well that made MY day! I feel blessed to have finally been able to meet her on this trip!

We all have silent friends out there reading our blogs who we don't know about because they either don't follow us or don't have blogs of their own. I haven't said so in too long: to all of you silent supporters, thank you very much!

~~~

I only have a couple of photos of me at the reunion because I was busy taking photos. Here is a group photo of all of us. I'm over on the right.

And here I am with two of my oldest friends ~ not in terms of their age, but the age of our friendship:

That's Glenda on the left and Mary Beth on the right. I made the photo black and white because I couldn't figure out why the color photo gave us all neon green hair! And, yes, for the eagle-eyed among you, the buttons Glenda and I are wearing are made from our senior class photos. Fun idea!

~~~ 

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

I'm going to sleep for two days and then I'll be back on Sunday for opening day of NBUS Challenge #12! See you then! 

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 to return the flavor!

*Life is too short!

To open the pop-up comment box that let's you jump to the end w/o scrolling:

Click CTL +  Home.

Click the Home tab under my blog banner which resets the post.

Click page down to reach the end of the post.

Click Comments and the pop-up box opens.

Click "Jump to Comment Form" and wallah, no more car pool tunnel! Mwah!

p.s. If you ask me a question in your comment, please remember to leave me

your email address so I can respond.  Thank you!