New Year, new adventures

 Just a quick note to say that reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated.  Oh, wait, that was Mark Twain.  But unlike several of my all-time favorite authors, Mark Twain included, I'm still having adventures in the current realm.  

When I retired, I vowed to make more things and read more books.  In 2023 I made 316 cards; the only year I made more was 2020.  So far this year, I'm on track for 366 cards in 366 days, but it may be a bit early to have my hopes up.   Here's my first, using a a template from JessCrafts.com:

stamp set - Heartfelt Hexagon; ink - Highland Heather; card stock - Bubble Bath, Fresh Freesia; designer series paper - Flight & Airy (Sale-A-Bration); Stampin' Cut dies - Deckled Circles

I have consistently read more books each year since I retired, but for 2024 I'm  simply hoping to match my 2023 record of 60 books and 20,000 pages.  

In 2022 (which you may have noticed is the last time I posted here), I was gifted a Nintendo Switch Lite and Animal Crossing New Horizons - that became a daily habit!  Towards the end of last year, I realized that "play more games" should have been one of my retirement goals as well, but I don't think I'm going to quantify that one.

Watch this space for new updates - I'm hoping to blog a bit more actively this year.  That won't be a difficult goal to achieve, based on my 2023 activity!

a sketchy adventure

 I used lots of the Oh So Ombre paper I was working on last month, but most of my posts are on Instagram. It's quicker to put a post up there, and I'm working on making 100 #handmadecards in 100 days for #the100daychallenge.  Then I allowed myself to buy some paper, so this month I'm working on using Hydrangea Hill paper - it's so pretty!  Most of those cards are also on Instagram.  I have a few off cuts from those projects that worked perfectly for Freshly Made Sketch #475:

 stamp set - Many Messages; ink - Memento Tuxedo Black; card stock - Basic White, Highland Heather; designer series paper - Hydrangea Hill; Stampin' Cut dies - Messages

triple time throwdown adventure

Six or seven years ago this technique was really popular; it seems to be enjoying a resurgence recently.  One of my customers requested it for Card Buffet so she could see it done rather than trying to figure it out, and I'm happy to help!  I find it easiest with a floral design, so the colors for this week's Color Throwdown seemed made for it:

stamp set - Flourishing Phrases; ink - Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green, Highland Heather, Smoky Slate; card stock - Whisper White, Granny Apple Green

These spring-like colors are among my favorites right now - I found that I have them set aside for three different upcoming project events this week

April adventures

The U.S. Postal Service officially designated April National Card and Letter Writing Month in 2001 “to raise awareness of the importance and historical significance of card and letter writing.” A month dedicated to cards sounds like it was just made for me, doesn't it?  Sending and receiving cards makes people feel good, and snail mail deserves a more love.  So far this month I've mailed three or four cards, and today is only the 5th!  I'm not going to attempt one every day, it's just worked out that way so far.  I needed one more for a quick note, and the Atlantic Hearts sketch was perfect:

stamp set - Better Together; ink - Grapefruit Grove; card stock - Daffodil Delight, Grapefruit Grove, Granny Apple Green; designer series paper - Botanical Butterfly (Sale-A-Bration, retired); punch - Sprig

 

I'll use it to mail this Artist Trading Card.  I made a set of four but only needed two.  One will go in my own collection and the other is for an April swap with a Greek mythology theme.  A lovely Facebook friend expressed interest in receiving one of the extras - that made my heart happy!

 I hope something makes your heart happy today!

some new challenge adventures

I've found some new challenges recently that appeal to my sense of adventure - I hope you enjoy them, and maybe even join in? 

Lost Coast Designs and Carmen's Veranda had a booth at the Scrapbook Expo I attended last year, and I bought some stamps I think will be great for art journaling.  They have very unique rubber stamp designs, and I've recently discovered they also have a challenge blog - yay!  This card from Fiona Bradley was so perfect for the orange and yellow prompt, I just used the same Stampin' Up! design she used:

stamp set - Flourishing Phrases; ink - Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight; Stampin' Write marker - Pumpkin Pie; card stock - Whisper White

Crazy Rebecca at Dances With Pit Bulls is doing her second year of #DWPB100ThingsChallenge.  The rules are pretty simple - make 100 things with the craft supplies you already own before you buy any more!  I needed a little book in which to record my 100 things, so my thing number one is these paper-napkin-covered journals made of flattened toilet paper roll tubes:

Thing number two is a sign for Rebecca to use in her YouTube videos. I don't want to post it before she sees it; if I remember I'll show you later, although it's not really all that special - just some clip art I copied and pasted, with a fun font, on metallic card stock.

Thing number three is a junk journal page for a swap - another new thing I've gotten involved with this year:

The base page is long-retired Flirtatious specialty designer series paper; the tags and pocket are bits and bobs from my stash.  It's not complete in this photo - I added a mini envelope to the front that I made from a scrap of deli paper.  I could have used vellum, but the deli paper was on its way to the bin, and seemed like a better choice for a junk journal.  I'm looking for something that says Mother's Day to put in the envelope, to tie into the monthly swap theme.  I hope to also add a decorated paper clip when I work on that challenge later this month.

And then thing number four is a postcard for the Sunday Postcard Art challenge I've just started following.  This week they're looking for crowns & wings - I added a bit of fun & fantasy:

stamp sets - Lucky Elephant (retired), Favorite Thoughts (retired), Extreme Elements (retired), Timeless Textures, Touches of Texture; ink - Pineapple Punch, Wisteria Wonder, Elegant Eggplant, Tangerine Tango, Peekaboo Peach, Tempting Turquoise, Rich Razzleberry, Strawberry Slush (retired), Lemon Lime Twist, Island Indigo, Wild Wasabi, Rose Red, Hello Honey (retired); card stock - Whisper White and Wisteria Wonder; punch - Pretty Label; Big Shot with Beautiful Butterflies Bigz die (retired) and White Tea Lace paper doilies (retired)

This is the first postcard I've ever made from scratch.  In retrospect I think I probably should have coated it, and possibly also added a second layer of card stock.  I mailed it in an envelope, though, so it will arrive safely in spite of my oversights.

freshly made color throwdown adventure

Crafting time, and actually just-me personal time has been extremely scarce for a couple of weeks.  I was able to finish some swap projects just before the end of April.  Unfortunately, I forgot to photograph any of them (aauugh) but I did photograph the card I made this afternoon.  I combined Freshly Made Sketch 335 and Color Throwdown 491 to adapt a design I liked that I saw at my friend Tammy's blog:

stamp set - Colorful Seasons; ink - Pear Pizzazz, Calypso Coral, Crumb Cake; card stock - Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Pear Pizzazz; Big Shot with Layering Ovals framelits and Layered Leaves dynamic embossing folder

adventures in trying too hard

I've been trying to get more pretty paper out of my storage drawer and used up, including on Card Buffet designs.  In order to have enough for Card Buffet, I need to use smaller pieces, so I thought the sketch from Sunday Stamps would work.  I also wanted to use another retiring stamp set, you know, in case it's going to be someone's favorite before its unavailable.  I'm not sure I didn't try a bit too hard on this, though:

stamp set - Awesomely Artistic; ink - Lemon Lime Twist, Fresh Fig; Stampin' Write marker - Lemon Lime Twist; card stock - Whisper White, Soft Sky; designer series paper - Naturally Eclectic; blender pen

I wish there were something more than just the colors that tied the paper to the stamped images; it just seems a bit forced... 

This next card finally came together after I stopped trying too hard.  Inspiration photos usually have that effect on me, I overthink them.  I put the embossing paste bricks on the card base last week, for a completely different card that didn't happen (because after I started it seemed overly difficult), and suddenly this morning it occurred to me that it would work for Jingle Belles Orange You Glad It's Christmas:

stamp set - Ready For Christmas; ink - Lemon Lime Twist, Pool Party, Peekaboo Peach; card stock - Whisper White thick, Dazzling Diamonds glimmer: White Embossing Paste and Pattern Party decorative mask; Big Shot and Christmas Staircase thinlits

retiring butterfly adventures

I've been meaning to play along at the Butterfly Challenge ever since I found it, because I love butterflies and have several dies and stamps.  None of them are new, though, and new stamping tools seem to get used more often than old favorites, sometimes.  Since all of the tools (and colors! other than Soft Suede) I've used below are retiring, and will be unavailable after next month to become your favorites, I decided it was past time to show them off a bit:

stamp set - Butterfly Basics; ink - Wild Wasabi, Rose Red, Soft Suede; card stock - Wild Wasabi, Pink Pirouette; Big Shot with Butterflies framelits

The butterfly wheel landed on the letter d this spin, so I've used a die and dirt brown.  I also used the sketch from Match the Sketch.

I saw this lunch bag for sale last week, and was inspired to use other retiring stamps, ink, paper and dies to make a one-layer card:

stamp set - Watercolor Wings; ink - Rose Red, Pink Pirouette, Perfect Plum, Elegant Eggplant; card stock - Pink Pirouette; Big Shot with Butterflies and Bold Butterfly thinlits

annual tradition adventures

I don't think I've ever sent anyone a card for St. Patrick's Day, but when Brenda Quintana posted hers (complete with video!), I immediately thought of the tradition I share with my BFF - going to McDonald's each year for a shamrock shake.  Then TGIF posted a color challenge, which corresponds to the current Die Cuttin' Diva's challenge, and I pretty much had to make one:

stamp sets - Marbled, Coffee Cafe, Teeny Tiny Wishes; ink - Sahara Sand, Emerald Envy, Lemon Lime Twist; card stock - Gold Foil, Lemon Lime Twist, Emerald Envy, Very Vanilla; Big Shot with Coffee Cups and Layering Ovals framelits

I forget how difficult it is to photograph shiny things - the gold foil shamrock does not look as shiny here as it actually is!

Although I haven't previously sent a St. Patrick's Day card, I have sent many, many Christmas cards, and I've been working quite diligently this year to make more, earlier, than I have previously.  I recently needed to add on to an order to increase the total, so I could earn one more Sale-A-Bration item. 

Speaking of Sale-A-Bration, make sure you don't miss out on this annual tradition of free merchandise with every $50 spent; it ends March 31! 

I added a Christmas set I've been thinking about for some time, and the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown March sketch seemed like a perfect place for the reindeer.  As you can see, something else entirely happened:

stamp set - Merry Mistletoe; ink - Garden Green, Cherry Cobbler; card stock - Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White; designer series paper - Be Merry; Big Shot with Layering Circles and Stars (retired) framelits

Don't worry, though, I'm sure the reindeer will appear on another card before I'm finished with Christmas cards this year. 

an all-day adventure

I started out thinking I would make a quick card with a NeverBeforeUsedStamp set (it has been out on the counter for a couple of months), the CAS Colours & Sketches sketch, and the just-posted-today Color Throwdown challenge.  I completely mis-stamped the background image on the white card base, and while I was trying to decide whether to add a slightly smaller layer of white, I smudged ink at the very edge.  Since that meant the layer was going to have to be full-card size, white didn't seem like the right choice.  I badly mis-stamped the background image twice more, so one of the gray layers ended up in the recycle bin.  When the edge of the stamp made an appearance on the fourth try, it became a design element.  The tag element that I prepared first was too large, and not really lavender.  I found a better choice for the tag image and a better choice for lavender, and eventually I found a sentiment I thought would work, so I finally got this:

stamp sets - Rose Wonder, Background Bits (hostess); ink - Smoky Slate; Stampin' Write markers - Wisteria Wonder, Pear Pizzazz; card stock - Whisper White, Wisteria Wonder, Smoky Slate; Big Shot with Lots of Labels framelits

At that point (after a lunch break), I wanted to use the tag I'd stamped earlier, so I made a green mat for it and went searching for a sketch or something to use it with.  I remembered that the main color was included in the Fab Friday challenge that closes tomorrow, but since green was not one of the colors, I made a new mat.  I didn't find a new sketch, and was running low on both patience and time, so the layout probably looks familiar:

stamp sets - Tranquil Tulips (hostess), You're Inspiring; ink - Sweet Sugarplum, Pear Pizzazz, Powder Pink (on envelope only); card stock - Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Powder Pink; Big Shot with Lots of Labels framelits

If you've been keeping score, you know that there is still a green tag/mat loose on my desk.  It is probably going to be relegated to the big box o' bits n' bobs, because I've pretty much had enough of this adventure today; there are new ideas chasing each other around inside my head, and I haven't yet checked off my daily to-do list, so it isn't going to be a priority.

a four-generation adventure

My nephew and his wife have four children, and the youngest just turned one. They had a family birthday celebration yesterday, in the park.  We were happy to attend, as were many other relatives.  I made this for the celebrant (although she didn't seem too impressed, or even interested, really):

stamp set - Number of Years, Balloon Adventures (on envelope); ink - Crushed Curry, Emerald Envy, Pacific Point; card stock - Crushed Curry, Pacific Point; designer series paper - Party Animal; Big Shot with Large Numbers and Stitched Shapes framelits

I enjoyed chatting with my brother's family and my nephew's in-laws, as well.  Thinking back today, I realized my favorite memory is that my nephew and his wife each have a living grandmother, and both were at the party, wearing their winter coats and complaining good-naturedly about the cold, while the children were running around in light jackets, or just t-shirts, and some were barefoot :)

At Little Red Wagon this week it's Time to Celebrate; at Seize the Birthday, Anything Goes - I think this card fits well with both!

ThinkBack Thursday adventure

I was thinking back (I like ThinkBack Thursday better than Throwback Thursday, just sayin') about when I first started blogging.  I had been posting Jingle Belles challenge cards on Flickr and I wanted to play along at the new Less is More challenge.  They didn’t have a Flickr option, so I decided to be brave (it will be an adventure, I told myself) and start a blog.  For many months I followed several other bloggers but only those two challenges, and I played along most weeks.  I learned so much!  Of course, being new, I had a lot to learn, but there’s always a lot to learn.  One of the things I learned was that I’m not particularly good at Clean and Simple. I was feeling a bit discouraged about my submissions at Less is More, so I checked out some other challenges, and joined in, and learned a lot more! 

Fast forward to now – if you peeked at my feed reader you’d see 66 card-making bloggers and 98 challenge sites.  Well, no wonder I don’t play along more regularly at any one site – whew!  But what I was thinking about all this was, if I only play along with challenges that “inspire” me, am I learning as much as if I play along with possibly less “inspiring”, probably more “challenging” prompts?  So, maybe I’ll try playing along more often at a limited number of challenges (I won’t say every week, because I have this “day job” thing, and grandchildren, and kite festivals, and <bleh> housekeeping), and at other challenges just when I can fit them in.  For now, I’ve decided on Jingle Belles and the Watercooler, because I have sentimental ties to both.  Wouldn’t you know, after all that thinking (and remember, it included thinking that I’m not particularly good at Clean and Simple), the challenge for Watercooler Wednesday is Clean and Simple to celebrate spring!  

I needed some colors - Color Throwdown has a bright spring selection - and a sketch that will work for CAS, like Amy's at Freshly Made Sketches:

stamp set - Kinda Eclectic; ink - Tangelo Twist; Cucumber Crush, Watermelon Wonder; card stock - Watermelon Wonder, Whisper White, Cucumber Crush, Tangelo Twist; punch - Bitty Butterfly

OK, maybe I'm challenge-addicted - this "fits in" at Stampin' Royalty, and The Paper Players, too (except they only allow entries linked to 4 challenges or fewer).  My name is Kathe...

adventures with something old and something new

My dog (a yellow lab mix) and I needed a card for a quick note to the vet, so I pulled out an old stamp set and took some liberties with the newest Try Stampin' on Tuesday sketch:

stamp set - D is for Dog (retired); ink - Crushed Curry, Basic Gray; Stampin' Write marker - Real Red; card stock - Very Vanilla, Crushed Curry; designer series paper - Flashback (retired); Big Shot with Hearts framelits (retired)

But, I always feel badly about showing you things you can't have, so I pulled out a new stamp set that hadn't been inked yet (although I bought it a few months ago) and worked with the inspiration from Daring Cardmakers:

stamp set - Circle of Spring; ink - Versamark, Daffodil Delight, Pink Pirouette, Wild Wasabi, Pool Party; Stampin' emboss powder - Silver; card stock - Wild Wasabi, Very Vanilla; aquapainter; Big Shot with Wonderful Wreath Framelits 

The elements that inspired me were the flowers, the silver bowls, and the colors.

bright spring butterfly adventure

It's not spring yet. We don't even have robins yet, and certainly no butterflies.  But we have had some bright sunny days and a bit more warmth, so we're thinking about spring in the Northern Hemisphere.  That's where I went with the colors from Color Throwdown and the Spring theme from Crazy 4 Challenges, with the Crazy 4 Challenges sketch, as well:

stamp set - Butterfly Basics; ink - Crushed Curry, Cucumber Crush, Tangelo Twist; card stock - Crushed Curry, Tangelo Twist, Whisper White (regular and thick); designer series paper - It's My Party; Big Shot with Hexagon Hive embossing folder, Butterflies, Bold Butterflies, and Deco Labels framelits 

I always think the butterflies in these sets need something more for the bodies.  I thought about pearls, ribbon,or  twine and finally remembered the Stampin' Royalty prompt for sequins - just right!

other-seasonal adventures

Really, I'm not ready to let summer go.  I never agreed to the popular idea that summer starts with Memorial Day and ends with Labor Day in the U.S. - I prefer the solstice through equinox version.  So when I saw the lovely inspiration photos at Just Add Ink, my first thought was what beautiful summer colors,  Then I realized one of the photos is tulips, a spring flower, and then I remembered that Just Add Ink is from Australia, where it's nearly spring.  I still loved the bright colors, and found a stamp that reminded me of the other flowers (the ones which aren't tulips and don't seem to have any synaptic connections in my brain).  I used the sketch from Nacho Average Challenge:

stamp sets - Choose Happiness, Tin of Cards; ink - Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Rich Razzleberry; Tangerine Tango, Melon Mambo, Sahara Sand; Versamarker (retired); Stampin' emboss powder - Clear; card stock - Old Olive, Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla; Tea Lace doily; Big Shot with Banner Collection framelits

I'm not convinced that sponging color on the doily was my best decision, but it's what I've got. Maybe it needs glitter?  Someone once told me glitter can fix anything.

Stamping the leaves in the background seemed like a good decision, so I repeated it for my next card, after I remembered that I do have a holly stamp for the Merry Monday challenge.  It seemed a little too intense, though, so I added a vellum banner to tone it down a bit before adding the die-cut wreath that fits in at Holly Jolly Christmas:

stamp set - Peaceful Wreath; ink - Mossy Meadow, Pear Pizzazz, Real Red;  Stampin' Write marker - Real Red; blender pen; card stock - Mossy Meadow, Whisper White, Pear Pizzazz, Real Red;designer vellum - Winter Wonderland; Big Shot with Wonderful Wreath framelits

polka dot adventure

I've probably mentioned this before, but I like it when different challenges sync up. This week at The Challenge, Lesley wants to see polka dots and the Crafty Gals Corner has asked for dots and/or stripes.  The Friday Mashup! has been "Singing in the Rain", looking for umbrellas and/or polka dots and the theme at Use Your Stuff is "April Showers".  At Pile It On  they want to see the same pattern different ways, so I got a little carried away with the polka dots:

 stamp sets - Life's Adventure, A Fitting Occasion, Teeny Tiny Wishes; ink - Cajun Craze, Calypso Coral, Lost Lagoon; card stock - Calypso Coral, Pool Party; designer series paper - Moonlight; washi tape - All is Calm (retired); punches - Modern Label, Word Window, Big Shot with Ovals Collection framelit and Decorative Dots embossing folder

 

I didn't even know I had that polka-dot label shaped stamp - how fun is that! The versatile sketch (which you may see again soon) came from Sketch Frenzy Friday. 

 

The color scheme is one I decided on all by myself.  Not only is that totally unlike me, I almost never put together opposite colors (unless challenged).  The raindrops paper is Lost Lagoon and the dotted washi tape is Pool Party, so those colors were dictated; I felt the little fox wanted to be Cajun Craze and therefore needed Calypso Coral as a backdrop.  I think the muted hues of orange and blue work well together, here, but I'm still going to link up to Opposite Day at Shopping Our Stash, since the color combination and the plethora of patterns is not my usual style.

 

Also, it's Anything Goes at The Pink Elephant Challenges; I can't very well leave them out of my little link-up party, can I?

 

In other news, some of my cards have been honored at some of the challenge sites I have so much fun with - thank you so much to the teams at Jingle Belles, CAS Colours & Sketches, SUO Challenges, and CASE-ing Christmas and to the Goddesses at Stampin' Royalty!

 

adventures with Rose Red

Rose Red is a Stampin' Up!® color I rarely use; not only is it pink, which I seriously dislike, it's deeply, vividly pink and I have trouble putting it with other colors.  This week two of the challenges I follow included Rose Red in their color selections, and I surprised myself by liking both combinations!

The first combination came from CAS Colours & Sketches, but then I used the sketch from Cardabilities, and  forgot the CAS (Clean And Simple) part:

stamp sets - Serene Silhouettes, I Love Lace, Something to Say; ink - Coastal Cabana, Rose Red, Versamark, Perfect Plum (on envelope); card stock - Whisper White, Coastal Cabana, Rose Red, Perfect Plum; designer series paper - Floral District (retired); punches - Modern Label, Scallop Circle, Lace Ribbon Border (retired);  Big Shot with Circles Collection framelits; Tea Lace doily

This project followed the combination at ColorMe! which ended earlier today, so I won't be linked up there, either.  I made it yesterday, but didn't finish early enough to write it up:

stamp sets - Summer Silhouettes, Honeycomb Hello; ink - Rose Red, Pistachio Pudding; card stock - Rose Red Core'dinations (retired), Blushing Bride, Whisper White; designer series paper - Blushing Bride (retired); punches - Envelope Punch Board, Boho Blossoms; Big Shot with Spring Flowers embossing folder, sanding system (retired)

It's a mini composition book I bought (3 for $1) to use for party favors.  I had a few decorated ones on display in my craft room, and while my house was full a few weeks ago, some family members admired them.  I gave away two, and made this one especially for my daughter-in-law, who loves pink but hates butterflies.  The flower designs I had on hand had butterflies.

a Sunday challenge adventure

There are several challenges I enjoy that have Sunday deadlines.  For some reason, Sunday deadlines are a challenge for me, even though they don't all open on the same day. It doesn't seem to matter how many days are available, I have trouble completing the cards and posting about them before Sunday slips away.  I'm coming in at the last minute for Use Your Stuff this week with a monochromatic card that I think also works for the Clean and Simple floral challenge at the Paper Players:

stamp sets - Endless Wishes, Papillon Potpourri; card stock - Wisteria Wonder; ink - Elegant Eggplant; punch - Bitty Butterfly; Big Shot with Spring Flowers embossing folder

I had the hardest time getting that soft purple/lavender color to photograph. When I was using my usual white background, the camera kept turning it yellow and making the card look white. The purple background at least gives you some indication that the color scheme is all purple.

a piled-on Easter & spring adventure

I made another card - I had to, after I saw the colors at Pals Paper Arts  and Fell. In. Love. I'm not sure whether it's just the colors, or Beth Beard's beautiful card, but I had to, I tell you.  Plus, you know, there's that whole "make lots of cards" item on my to-do list today, and two is closer to "lots" than one is.

 stamp sets - Delightful Dozen, Everything Eleanor; ink - Rose Red, Versamark; card stock - Rose Red, Wild Wasabi, So Saffron; Big Shot with Framed Tulips embossing folder and Beautiful Wings embosslit die

These colors *needed* to be an Easter card, which fits the prompt at Pile It On that ends tonight, so I went looking for a few other challenges I thought I could fit in:
          Cut It Up - die cut (Beautiful Wings) plus green for spring
          Addicted to Stamps and More - anything goes
          Aloha Friday at kitty bee designs - things with wings
          Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge - emboss it
          Craftitude - add a little green
How fun!  Now, I'm feeling the need to try something a little different (and it's not homework) - there may be one or two more cards checked off that to-do list soon.

a to-do list adventure

Tom is at a retreat this weekend.  Today I thought I would sleep in, finish the homework for both of the studies I'm working on, make lots of cards, clean the house, pay the bills, walk the dogs and eat healthy.  That to-do list *might* be a little too long.  And there was leftover spaghetti, so eating healthy didn't really work out.  I reorganized my crafting supplies a little to condense them and opened up a couple square feet of space for Tom to use - that's as close as I'll get to cleaning, but I did walk the dogs before each of their two meals, and I made this card:

stamp sets - Express Yourself (hostess), Hardwood, Best of Flowers; ink - Basic Gray, More Mustard (retired); card stock - Smokey Slate, Basic Black, More Mustard (retired), Vellum; punches - Modern Label, Word Window, Bird Builder; Big Shot with Woodgrain embossing folder, Hearts framelits, and Little Leaves sizzlit; Stampin' Dimensionals, Stampin' sponge 

 

Last night I was browsing Pinterest (thinking about all the cards I'd be making today); I saw a card by Frances Kukulis with a heart and the picket fence treatment I CASE'd here.  She's a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, and her original is in the Stampin' Connection Showcase, which is only available to other demonstrators, so I didn't repin her card.  I used the Cardabilities sketch and Dynamic Duo colors.  I included the Black Tie option of dry embossing, but it didn't photograph very well, since it's also stamped.  It's fun to touch, though!