Let's Go To The Beach

Hello friends,  it is summertime at Double D and our theme is
LET'S GO TO THE BEACH..
Sounds good to me, living close to Lake Michigan
we have LOTS of beaches around us,
I love the beach, how about you?

We have a very 'beachy' mood/inspiration board
but you can create anything 'beachy'!!

Last year I 'hit' a Spellbinders warehouse sale and purchased one of their
small dies of the month July 22 Day At The Beach.
As soon as I saw the board I knew I wanted to use this die set for the 2nd time.
I didn't give her a polka dot bikini but she does has a polka dot swimsuit!  I die cut all my pieces from my zillion
scrap pieces I have bags and bags of, sorted by colors of course!
The background paper is from Honeybee, I added an embossed cloud
from my 'spare parts' bin and a few IO seagulls.  This was a fun set to put
together and relatively easy too.

Come on over to Double D and have some summer fun with us
and check out all the awesome summer DT projects! 

June 2025 Reminder

 Hello friends, we are halfway through our challenge at
Two Old Bats
so that means you have a couple more weeks to join in
our fun year round Halloween challenge!
We always have an inspiration board for a few creative ideas!

Though I normally am a stickler myself to using the boards for inspiration,
this time I failed as I had purchased these adorably cute 
doodlebug designs 'boo crew' doodle pops and just had to use them!

The card base was one I had rejected for another project so I thought
the swirls on the design paper would  be great for the fun ghosts.
I placed each ghost on a punched circle left over from my January
ghost card that were left sitting on my work table.  The BOO is part of
the boo crew doodle pops.

Come on over to Two Old Bats and have some fun using YOUR
Halloween supplies now instead of waiting an entire year to bring them out again,
we would LOVE to have you!!

So Very Thankful

Hello friends, we have pretty vase of flowers for inspiration
that is perfect for our June/July  monthly challenge at 
Beautiful Blossoms
but you can create any colors as long as it is floral! 

I went with the inspiration colors of the red, white, and blue.
I used mostly dies for this card starting with the background
Waffle Flower Lacey Layers 2, die cutting a Doodlebug Yankee Doodle paper.
I die cut a Memory Box (2014) Blushing Bouquet then colored in the red 
and blue flowers with Copics.
Because it was a cold and dreary day when making this (in March) I
added some cheerful bits of PinkFresh Studios (Glacier) bling to each flower center.
The sentiment is Easy Expressions from The Ton.  The eyelet die is
Cottage Cutz.

Come and join us for some pretty 'floral' fun at Beautiful Blossoms.

Merry Chirstmas

 Hello friends, it's once again time for our Peace On Earth Christmas challenge and we
have a VERY colorful inspiration board to cheer you up!
However, you can create any new Christmas project in any color,
our inspiration boards are just that, to inspire!

I have to admit it took me a while to decide what I was going to do.
I first thought of doing a tree and pulled out a tree stamp but that
bright pink present in the upper right corner kept drawing me to it.
I long ago purchased a gift box die from Sunny Studio  (Perfect Gift Box)
and it just got put away and never used.  I saw a cute layout on their site using
the die the that clinched my decision to go with the boxes.  All the papers used
other then the solids are from my scraps bag of Christmas papers.  
The sentiment is i-crafter stamped in Hero Arts Neon Pink ink
and also the first it has been used.

These colors aren't my typical Christmas color choices for me but it is always good
to go a little bit out of your comfort zone, don't you think?

We would love to have YOU come and join our challenge at Peace On Earth!

Hello

 Our challenge at Can You Handle The Pressure has
a new OPTIONAL theme of BUTTERFLIES.
It is optional and you can create anything but using an
embossing folder is a MUST!

I pulled this already embossed panel from my 'spare parts' bin.
It is Simon Floral Center Piece which is a gorgeous 3D folder.
The butterfly hello is from Cottage Cutz, it is so delicate
I had to run it thru my Big Shot 3 times to get to weed out the
 small parts, but worth it in the end.  A few gems were added
for butterfly sparkle.

Come and join us for some embossing fun!

Entering the following challenges:

Alphabet Challenge ...E for Embossing

Soak Up The Sun

 Our monthly challenge for June begins today at
The Sisterhood of Crafters
with a theme of Fun In The Sun.

Living in the Great Lakes state and about 25 minutes from
Lake Michigan, my idea of fun in the sun is 'beach time'.
Since I'm (ahem) 'older'  I am more into walking the beach and
looking for beach glass then I am being a 'sun bunny' 
but my card today is more about lazy days sunbathing!

I used for the first time a Sizzix die set Beach Day.
I cut all the pieces out of a white card stock scrap and then
colored each little piece in with alcohol markers,
when I popped the flower center out it flew across the room,
so, instead of cutting a new one, I just replaced it with a gem.
The background wavy paper is from LDRS, You Are My Sunshine
paper pad.

Just a fun little summer card.
Thanks for stopping by and happy creating!!

To A Special Couple

 Hello friends, at Love Those Pretty Papers challenge we have an
OPTIONAL theme of WEDDINGS.
I don't know about you but I can certainly use some wedding cards on hand.
You can create anything goes but we do require you to use designer papers.

I started with an old 12x12 paper pack from The Paper Studio called Pearl
that I picked up a long time ago (2011) at Hobbylobby.  It is full of  pretty pearl like shiny papers
slightly embossed with  a pearl like look.  The perfect papers for a wedding.
I used a Tutti Designs Dove Circle, a sentiment from Heartfelt Designs stamped on a first time used Stampin' Up framelets die 
and a few pearls.

For my anything goes card I figured as long as I had a wedding card
I might as well make an anniversary card too.
It's a simple card but it sure shows the pretty designer paper well.
The paper is Mintay's Antique Shop.  I used a frame from IO to frame some of the gorgeous roses on the paper, added a sentiment
I created using a Spellbinders Betterpress plate and die,
added some Pink Fresh Studio Pixie gems for sparkle.

Come on over and join us for some pretty paper fun!!

Entering the following challenges:

Word Art Wednesday....ATG

Welcome Little One

Hello friends, at Simply Clean & Simple we have an OPTIONAL theme and it is
PRETTY PINKS.

You can however create anything as long as you keep it CAS!

In trying to use up things from my 'spare parts' bin I had this cute
giraffe already die cut and ready to be used.
He, (or she as the case may be) is a Cheery Lynn Designs die.
I used another Cheery Lynn die for the fishtail banner underneath,
cut with a pretty gingham Prima paper.
The sentiment is one of my Spellbinders Betterpress plates.

If you like CAS then come and join us at SCAS.

Word Power June 2025

 Hello friends, today is our new challenge at Word Power
where our challenge is all about those BIG words or sentiments,
-they should be the FOCUS or eye drawing element on your card.

For my card I used a big Happy Birthday sentiment by Sizzix, the flowers are part
of the die set.  I die cut a Waffle Lacy Layer for the base, then used a stitched
oval from my 'spare parts' bin.
That's it, an easy peasy card for a birthday!

Get those big words or sentiments out and come and join us for some Word Power!

My Dear Friend

 Hello friends, today at Double D we have a new challenge theme and it is
FRAMES!

We have a fun inspiration board full of pretty frames to inspire!

For my frame I created one from my Cottage Cutz Wonky Stitched Rectangle dies.
I had an already stenciled and die cut Spellbinders Hello Blooms flower
just waiting to be used.  I popped it up on my frame and added a Spellbinders
Little Hello sentiment.  For the background I had an already embossed floral
panel.  All of the things used on this card came from my 'spare parts' bin
and it felt good to put them to use.

This is an easy challenge so find yourself some frames and
come and join us!!

Soar

 Hello friends, at Triple B for June we have an amazing colorful 
inspiration board, but you can create anything in any color as long as it
has birds, blooms, or butterflies on it, one, two or all three.

For my cards I used a very favorite and colorful 6x6 paper pad by
Little Birdie Artsy Blooms.  This pad is full of beautiful and colorful blooms
and seemed to fit the inspiration board perfectly!

I created a couple of cards using not only the papers but Graphic 45 press-ons as well.

The first card I used the press-ons on a few punched circles.

The second card I used the press-ons on vellum.

I just love these pretty papers and don't think they needed much more
and chose to let the papers be the 'shining stars'!!

Come on over to Triple B, it's a super fun and pretty challenge!

Summertime Fun

Hello friends, We have a fun OPTIONAL theme this month at
Stencil Fun and it is SUMMERTIME.
However, you can create anything NEW as long as a STENCIL
has been used.

I am sure you are all familiar now with the Waffle Flower postage
dies and stencils, I have to admit I have been quite addicted to them myself
and seemed to order with every release they have.
This stencil and stamp set  is Beach Days stenciled with mostly Altenew inks.

I had so much fun with it I created a second card as well.

For the anything goes portion of our challenge I created a graduation
card I made quite some time ago for a grandson that had graduated from
University of Michigan, which in another year I'll be making
him another card as he is back at UOM getting his masters.
The stencil I used is a Brutus Monroe Grad.
Pretty simple as no layers like I normally do.

Come and have some stenciling fun with us
at Stencil Fun!

Thank You

 Hello friends, I saw a fun challenge that worked perfectly for me
for a card I just created.  It is at The Paper Players and it is 'recycling is in'!

Last month I made a purchase at The Greetery with their new May release

and with every purchase they sent a FREE cute urn die and it was mounted as
shown below.

I thought the packaging was so pretty I just couldn't toss it
so I turned it into a thank you card by simply cutting one of the
urns from a glitter paper and adding a frame around the image.

A great 'recycle' don't you think?

I had a second order and received a second one of these dies

and am sending it to a friend for her enjoyment!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Guest Designing at Park Hopping

 Hello friends, I am guest designing this month at
Park Hopping My Happy Place
 and we have an awesome mood board that represents the opening of
a new park Epic Universe at  Universal Studios in May.

I let the colors inspire me and created what I hope will work for a graduation card!
I used a Brutus Monroe Northern Lights card panel that I die cut with a

Spellbinders Arch die and embossed with a starry EB folder.
The sentiment was computer generated.
This print reminded me a lot of the 'castles' you see at Disney.

I want to thank Makira at Park Hopping My Happy Place for having me 

as a guest designer.

Come and join her challenge and have some fun too!!

BOO

Hello friends, we at Two Old Bats have a fun mood board
for some fun Halloween inspiration!
Use it or not but just make sure you have  a Halloween card! 

I thought this was really cute and fun mood board and was inspired by
the crazy furry bat!!

I've had this never been used before bat die for a couple of years from
Impression Obsession and thought it was about time to make his 'debut'!
The background paper is Brutus Monroe Happy Haunting die cut with a 
Tutti Designs rectangle scalloped die and the frame is from my 'black' 
box of already black die cuts and from Impression Obsession.
The BOO is from Poppystamps!

So, 'get your Halloween on' and come on over to
Two Old Bats and have some 'spooky' fun with us!

Entering the following fun challenges:
Halloween & Other Occasions All Year Round #27 .... Halloween

Washi Tape Cards

 Hello friends, it's once again time for our monthly challenge at
The Neglected Stuff
where you must use your neglected stuff you have had six months or longer!

A long while back, maybe a year or two, my partner in crime ('Dar') that we together run all 
those fun challenges you see ( and this one) each ordered some 
Altenew BIG washi tape rolls during some of their weekly sales
and you get so much we sent what we bought to each other.
So that is my neglected stuff for today, I am not sure if this is a roll I bought or she
did, but I have to say it's the prettiest of the lot and made some beautiful cards.

I die cut my washi that had been added to card stock with Tutti Designs
Scalloped Stitched Rectangles, each one positioned to cut an entirely different looking
front panel, then adhered to a cream card base.  The Sympathy sentiment
is one I have never used and had for quite sometime from Cottage Cutz.
Two are Sue Wilson dies and the happy birthday I can't remember, it happens!
All the die cut sentiments were cut three times and stacked and I have had
them for years!  Very unique and simple cards that will be a breeze to mail!

Card #1:  Have A Beautiful Day

Card #2:  Wishing You Brighter Days

 

Card #3:  Happy Birthday

Card #4 With Deepest Sympathy

We would love to see your neglected stuff at our challenge

Soak Up The Sun

 Hello friends,  We are feeling some summer colors at
Colorful Options
with pretty beachy blues!

We have a summery fun mood board for inspiration.

Living in Michigan and pretty much surrounded by water, our beaches are
one of my favorite places to go, so these colors to create with were no hardship for me!

I pulled out my Spellbinders July 2022 Small die of the month
Day At The Beach.  I don't belong to any of their clubs anymore
but hit their warehouse sales and am able to purchase these
at a very reasonable price.
I die cut all the pieces from scraps then patiently (and it takes patience) put them together.  The sentiment is Brutus Monroe, again one of the sets (Summer Lovin) I picked up at Simon Says sales for 99 cents.  I love the sales!!  The paper is Honey Bee Beach Vibes.

You will see this die set come up my blog in a few more weeks
as I used it for another DT project, which is a good thing
as normally I use something once
and then am off onto something else!!

Thanks for visiting and happy creating!!

Tis The Season

 Hello friends, happy June 1st!
We have a new challenge starting today at
Peace on Earth with a fun inspiration board that we hope inspires you to play along!
We are however an anything goes Christmas challenge
and the board is totally to 'inspire'!

Sometimes these boards are hard for me as there are lots of great choices
of which way I can go with my card, but for this one while looking through
all my Christmas stamps I found this NBU stamp from Altenew that I got at a great sale.
It has several large images and sentiments to choose from but I ended up using a
The Ton Expressions Holiday sentiment.  The EB folder is a TH 
 Snowfall folder, one that I have used so much I have nearly worn it out!

Come join our year round holiday fun at Peace On Earth,
those holidays sneak up on us fast so this will put you ahead on your holiday cards!

Entering these fun challenges"
NBUS #75 .... Never Before Used Schtuff

Great Big Hug

 It is SUMMER time at The Four Seasons challenges
and we have a fun summery mood board for inspiration.
But you can create anything as long as it is SUMMER themed.

I recently was going through a few things in my craft room and came across
these Stampendous 'topper's and one reminded me of the bottom left lilacs.
Even though this topper isn't lilacs it did resemble them.

I used a Waffle Flower Lacy 2 die with The Paper Boutique Lavender Fields paper
and a Cheery Lynns Design Fishtail banner that was in my 'spare parts' bin.
The sentiment is Stampendous Hugs sentiment.

Come on over and join our first Summer season at
The Four Seasons challenges!

Congratulations

 Today is the LAST Wednesday of the month which means it is also
Amy's Woodblock Wednesday where woodblock stamps are used.

As you have heard me say 'a lot', I have many many woodblock stamps
so this monthly challenge is right up my alley!

I've been trying to use a stamp that 'sort of' goes with the month we are in, which is why I decided to use this birdhouse stamp

as the birds are so vocal right now and I love listening to their
song, it's so relaxing and pretty, so I thought it perfect for May!

My stamp is an oldie from Stampin' Up that was another stamp from
my friend along with a Hero Arts 1996 sentiment stamp.
I stamped the image with Cloud 9 Solid Black ( my new all time favorite black ink)
then colored in with my Copics and Olo markers.  Once done I used a The Greetery 
Aida Cloth Texture Plate.  I love this new plate of mine as it sure gives an awesome
textured look when done.

I am sure Amy would love to have YOU at her
Woodblock Wednesday challenge too.

Entering the following fun challenges:
Simon Says Wednesday .... ATG
All Sorts .... ATG
Elliebelle's Garden Party .... Anything in/around A Garden

You're In My Thoughts

 Hello friends, just a fun stenciled card today.
I actually did this card for a stencil challenge but never got it on~my bad!

I used once again my new (to me) Waffle Flower Crocus Flutter stencil
and Altenew inks.  After the stenciling was done I ran it thru my
Big Shot with my newest The Greetery Aida Cloth Texture Plate,
(out of stock right now, I bought the last one)
I sure do love the effect of this die
The sentiment is another of the Spellbinders
Betterpress plates.

My first card I did with this stencil is HERE,
somewhat similar in colors though this is one is lighter and I
didn't have the Aida Cloth plate yet to use.

I did find another challenge to enter
Just Us Girls .... Stencil Week

Night Owl Challenges .... Stencils and/or Punches

Swing By Sometime

 Hello friends, today and for the next few weeks we have an
OPTIONAL theme for our challenge at
Can You Handle The Pressure Challenge
and it is Zoo/Jungle Animals.
An embossing folder is required for our challenge.

I used for the first time a newly purchased embossing folder during one of
the Sizzix sales back in January, Jungle Textures.  It's a pretty awesome
embossing folder and the perfect backdrop for my Cheapo dies monkey.
I die cut him a couple times and paper pieced him in.
The sentiment is Elizabeth crafts.
Just a fun and silly card!

Check out all the fun and creative inspiration from our design team
at Can You Handle The Pressure and join in with us too.

May's Birth Flower and Birthstone

Hello Double D friends our new challenge theme is  
May's Birth Flowers
(Lily of the Valley and Hawthorn)
and Birthstone is Emerald
Be inspired by any of the three

My Mom's birthday was May 6th and had she still be with us she would of
celebrated her 98th birthday this year, God rest her soul!
I have always loved lily of the valley and grow them in a great area
that they are allowed to spread, and the neat thing is the start I was given of them
was from my hubby's grandmother's garden making them even more special.
I used to have pink ones as well but we plowed that garden under last year
though hopefully I think I transplanted some.

Anyhow, back to the card.  I had this small stack of paper doilies
sitting around and have been using them up and I believe this is the last of them.
A perfect place for my Tutti Designs Lily of The Valley to 'rest' on.
After die cutting , I colored them in with Olo markers.
A Lawn Fawn sentiment was added and I had a quick card done!

Come and join our fun at Double D and check out all the
beautiful inspiration from the DT, it always amazes!!

Entering the following fun challenges:
Little Red Wagon .... Flowers
Lets Craft & Create #219 .... No Patterned Paper
A Cut Above .... ATG With A Die Cut

Merry Christmas

 Hello friends, at Peace On Earth we have a mood board for inspiration
that maybe will inspire you, maybe it will be the colors or the
nutcrackers themselves, but keep in mind we are an anything goes challenge
as long as it is Christmas themed!

I used a new nutcracker die from Photo Play.  This die makes three different
nutcrackers and it took me awhile to figure out the pieces.  All were cut with
a white card stock scrap and colored in with Copics. I used Spellbinders 
Curved Matting Basics A for my backgrounds.  He was a testsy little guy to make.

Come join us at Peace On Earth and have some
early Christmas fun with us!

Entering the following challenges:
NBUS .... Never Before Used Schtuff (my nutcracker)
Little Red Wagon .... 'D' is for Die Cut

Guest Designing At Cut It Up

Hello friends, today is a fun day as I am guest designing for the
Cut It Up challenge and the theme is FLOWERS.

Cut It Up is a challenge that is all about using your die cuts.

I decided to use my much neglected Concord & 9th Primrose Garden dies.
This by far is not a quick project but I prefer much more 'fussy'  cards myself
so this wasn't a hardship for me to create. 
It's a lot of die cutting but so worth it in the end. 
The sentiment is also Concord & 9th , Primrose Garden stamp.

 I totally used scraps for all greenery and flowers.  I keep all my scraps
in their own 12x12 ziploc bag sorted by color.  Makes it easy to just

grab a color when I need it.

I want to thank Cut I Up having me as a guest designer!!

Thanks for stopping by and hope you can join the
challenge at Cut It Up, the perfect time for flowers!!

Entering the following challenges:
Little Red Wagon .... D is For Die Cut
Snippets Playground #506 .... Snippets
Craft Rocket #125 .... Flowers
Ellibelle's Garden Party .. In/From A Garden
Seize The Birthday .... Flowers