Happy Halloween Candy Corn card

When I was a kid I loved candy corn. The last time I ate some I found it horribly sweet and didn't enjoy it all that much. And that was years ago, I really can't remember the last time I ate any. Candy corn is not something I see much of in Europe. But, all that aside, candy corn is still synonymous in my mind with Halloween, hence this card.

The digital stamp is a Gerda Steiner freebie from long ago. This particular stamp is no longer available, but she does have some very cute digital stamps for sale on her site, as well as the occasional freebie. Paper is more freebie digital goodness from The Coffee Shop blog. This time it's the Trick or Treat digital paper pack. Rita graciously shares some stunning free digital papers on her blog; they're worth checking out! The super cute paper on this Cupcake Birthday card is a case in point.

I used my favorite Toga Polaroid die on this card; I use the heck out of this die. The banner here is part of the die. Whatever I use it on tends to turn out great. Just out of curiousity, I checked and I have at least 12 cards on the blog using this die (if you're curious, search the blog by Polaroid and you'll see it in all its various incarnations). Embellishment is a simple felt brad with the tines cut off. Sentiment font is Smarty Pants BTN.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, The Coffee Shop Blog Trick or Treat paper pack
Digital stamp – Gerda Steiner freebie
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Toga Polaroid die
Embellishments – felt brad
Font – Smarty Pants BTN

I'm linking up with: Artsy Stamper Challenge #1 – Autumn Colors, Cute 'n' Crafty Challenge #32 – ATG, The Cutie Pie Challenge #140 – ATG cute, Angie's Digital Stamps #36 – ATG opt/Halloween or Fall colors, and International Art & Soul #69 – Halloween.

Fall themed cards using AMB Illustrations Den of Foxes digital freebies from Simply Cards & Papercraft issue 197

Today's post has four cards I created for October's Simply Cards & Papercraft issue #197 (available for purchase on newsstands now) using AMB Illustrations Den of Foxes digital stamps and paper kit. To download these digital freebies, click HERE. Except for the basic cardstock used, all papers and images are from the kit. Its large variety of images and papers will give you endless autumn creative options. Candy Round BTN font was used to create the digital sentiments.

This circular card wishes you a Happy Autumn! Embellishments are a strip of paper used as a ribbon and some enamel dots.

Dressed up with a little ribbon and a button, this one welcomes the family's new arrival.

A few enamel dots enliven this all purpose card, good for any occasion.

And finally, three side buttons decorate a birthday card for your mum.

In addition to these digital freebies, there are all sorts of goodies provided with this issue, including a cutting die and traditional stamps! Simply Cards & Papercraft is easily found at newsstands across the UK and at  Barnes and Noble, Jo-Ann’s, Michael's, Books-a-Million and AC Moore stores in the US. In Canada you can find it at Indigo Chapters.

I'm linking up with: Allsorts #540 – Ribbons, Crafter's Castle #22 – ATG option Fall/Autumn, Crafty Calendar Challenge October – Autumn Colors/Halloween, Just Us Girls #508 – Designer Paper, and Sweet Stampin' 20/10/19 – Animals.

Happy Autumn card featuring Di's Digi Stamps Henry's Harvest digital stamp

Can you believe it's autumn already? Got all your fall themed cards done – autumn, Halloween, Thanksgiving, etc.? No? Join the club. But, I'm having a good time working on them. Actually, autumn cards are my favorites to make. I love this time of year – the color of changing leaves and the pumpkins, mushrooms and chestnuts in the market (yummy!). Fall card themes and colors echo all these things I enjoy.

Today's card features Di's Digi Stamps Henry's Harvest digi (on sale for just $1.00). This is such a cute image (love the wagon!). I used yet another Di's Digi Stamps wagon image on this autumn card from last year.  Paper is free The CoffeeShop Blog Fall Paper Pack 2 and Mabel digital papers. If you're in the market for some digital papers The CoffeeShop Blog is the place to go! Rita has a fantastic selection of freebies on her site for any occasion.

I used Euphoria font for the sentiment and dressed the card up with a little ribbon and three buttons.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, The Coffee Shop Blog Fall Paper Pack 2 and Mabel digital papers
Digital stamp – Henry's Havest Di's Digi Stamps
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Die-namics rectangle and circle stax
Embellishments – ribbon, buttons
Font – Euphoria

I'm linking up with: Di's Digi Challenge 20/09/19 – 2 or more patterned papers, Addicted to Stamps and More #361 – ATG, Crafty Creations #399 – ATG, Crafty Gals Corner #199 – Fall Colors, and Fab 'n' Funky #451 – Autumn Colors.

Carte de Noël escargot – Christmas Snail card #2

I've got a thing for quirky Christmas cards. It's easier for me to achieve quirky in English than it is in French. French is my second language and although I've mastered it fairly well (mastered being a relative term here), finding a humorous nuance is a challenge for me. Which is why I'm reusing this QKR Stampede Santa Snail image and sentiment I was so proud of myself for coming up with last year (see Carte de Noël escargot – Christmas Snail card #1). I note every year what card I send to who, so I'll be sure to send it to someone different this year, bien entendu.

The sentiment translates in English to, 'Quick! Soon it's Christmas!'. You get it, right? A slowwwwww moving snail saying 'Quick!'?

I colored the snail a bit differently this time around, I didn't want it to be exactly the same. The papers are salvaged from my digital paper printout scrap bin.

I used my favorite embellishments on this card – a simple wooden snowflake (my Christmas card embellishment standard) and brads with the tines cut off used like dots (the only way I ever use brads).

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, patterned paper
Digital stamp – QKR Santa Snail
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Die-Namics square and circle stax
Embellishment – wooden snowflake, brads
Font – Candy Round BTN

I'm linking up with: QKR Stampede #364 – ATG, Always Fun Challenges #129 – Cute Critters, Get Creative Challenges #84 – ATG, Di's Digi Challenge 30/09 – 2 or More Patterned Papers, and Winter Wonderland September – Use Your Favorite Embellishments.

Thank you card featuring 2 Cute Ink Country Music Chick digital stamp

Usually, my cowboy themed cards are going to Texan family members back in the States – like this Howdy Halloween from  last year – but this one is for a Swiss French speaking friend of mine who loves country music (hence the 'merci' and not 'thank you'). The cute Country Music Chick digital stamp is from 2 Cute Ink.

I used a few coats of quick drying acrylic paint to color the wooden merci sentiment and flower a dark brown (you can see the merci in its natural state on this masculine wine tag). I added a pink button and some shimmery twine to top it off.

The digital paper is AMB Illustrations Cowgirl. Is it the perfect match or what?!

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, AMB Illustrations Cowgirl digital paper
Digital stamp – 2 Cute Ink Country Music Chick
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Die-namics rectangle stax
Embellishments – wooden merci sentiment and flower, button, twine

I'm linking up with: Creations in Pink #13 – ATG predominately pink, 2 Crafty Critter Crazies #30 – ATG with a critter, A Bit More Time to Craft #99 – ATG, A Perfect Time to Craft #9 – ATG, and Crafty Animals #30 – ATG with an animal.

Christmas card featuring Eureka! Stamps The Night Before Christmas digital stamp

Eureka! Stamps The Night Before Christmas digital stamp is the focal point of this Christmas card. If you want all the attention on your stamp, this simple card design is the way to go.

This How You've Bean coffee card uses the same design and is one of my card favorites. I made it back in 2017, but like it so much I hang on to it. Do you have cards like that? Ones you like so much you don't want to send them to anyone?

Paper is from a discount nameless paper pad. The dies are those no-brand types you see on Amazon and eBay. The card was simple so I kept embellishments that way, too – three little stars top it off.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, patterned paper
Digital stamp – Eureka! Stamps The Night Before Christmas
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – no-brand stitched circles and square
Embellishments – stars

I'm linking up with: QKR Stampede #360 – ATG, Colour Crazy Challenge Week 33 – ATG, Crimbo Crackers #191 – ATG Christmas, Christmas at Sweet Stampin' August – ATG Christmas, and Cute n' Crafty Christmas #17 – ATG Christmas.

Bunnie freebie birthday card

This birthday card features a free Di's digi stamp bunny from Crafts Beautiful. The Crafts Beautiful site is a plethora of freebie goodness – stamps, papers, templates, etc.! And that's just the paper related part of it. All crafts are represented, even baking. Go check it out and you'll see what I mean.

I decided to use up some purple cardstock and matching patterned papers on this card. I've got a lot of purple and I hardly ever use it. And I like purple, too! Don't know why that is. Anyway, I did make a tiny dent in the purple stash. I tend to pair it with black, like this purple/black thank you card, but this time went with a pinkish rose (lots of that to use up, too!).

The sentiment is from Kim's Digital Stamps - Twelve Round Greetings sentiment sheet. Paper is retired Love to Craft Let's Celebrate paper pad. In lieu of ribbon, I used a strip of Dove Craft Painted Blooms flower tape down the center, accented with two purple pearls.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock,  Love to Craft Let's Celebrate paper pad
Digital stamp/sentiment – Crafts Beautiful freebie, Kim's Twelve Round Greetings
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Die-namics square and circle stax
Embellishments – floral tape, pearls

I'm linking up with: Simply Create Too #152 – ATG, Creative Fingers #169 – ATG, Colourific Challenge Corner #3 – ATG, Colour Crazy Challenge Week 32 – ATG, and Brown Sugar #292 – ATG.

What's the best eraser to use with colored pencils?

No card today, let's talk about...erasers!

One reason I like coloring with pencils is the ability to erase. Now I say erase, but anyone who uses colored pencils will tell you that erasing is relative. If you've intensively colored an area, you won't be able to totally get rid of the color and if you apply too heavy a hand you'll damage the paper. But, there are erasers that can lighten a color slightly, remove chance bits of color, or coloring outside your stamp lines. Following are the two erasers I use with colored pencils.

For the longest time I have used the Faber-Castell Perfection 7058 eraser (as mentioned in my pencil coloring tutorial). This is a great eraser for lightening an area if I've colored too darkly. It has a sandy texture when erasing that needs to be lightly whisked away (I use a mini feather duster for that). Care should be taken when erasing as applying too much pressure can remove a bit of the paper top layer. For a stubborn dark color, however, that might be the only way you get rid of it. Use a regular pencil sharpener to sharpen.

Photo Faber-Castell USA

The Faber-Castell Perfection 7058 eraser does work well, so it was with hesitation that I purchased the Tombow 2.3mm MONO Zero eraser a few months ago. But, I'm so glad I did! The MONO Zero eraser's forte is its tiny 2.3mm head. With that I can cleanly erase those little areas where I stray outside the stamp lines. It does this without the gritty feeling of the Faber-Castell one. I like that no sharpener is required with this eraser, just click like a pen and the eraser advances. Also, you don't need to buy a new eraser every time as refills are available. The eraser's longevity seems to be good; I've been using it a while now and I'm still on the first eraser.

Photo Towbow USA

To sum it all up, I use the Faber-Castell Perfection eraser to lighten color in larger areas and for stubborn dark colors. I use the Tombow 2.3mm MONO Zero eraser for tidying up color outside image lines.

Note – this blog is not monetized, Faber-Castell and Tombow haven't given me anything for this post, these are just the erasers I use and thought you might be interested in knowing more about them.

Nos penseés les plus chaleureuses Christmas card

I'm always on the look out for punny Christmas sentiments. Last year I used this French one – nos penseés les plus chaleureuses – with this toosh warming QKR Stampede snowman card. The sentiment literally translates to 'our thoughts the most warm', but is used in the sense of  'warm regards' or 'loving thoughts'. 

I liked it so much I decided to use it again this year with the present melting snowman digital stamp, also from QKR Stampede. Paper is a magazine freebie.

The border was cut from the paper and I kept the embellishments simple with a wooden snowflake and enamel dot.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, magazine freebie paper
Digital stamp – QKR Stampede Melting Snowman
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Die-Namics square stax
Embellishments – wooden snowflake, enamel dot
Font – Candy Round BTN

I'm linking up with: QKR Stampede #359 – ATG, MLCCB #13 – Aug. ATG Christmas, Happy Little Stampers August – ATG Christmas, Jingle Belles 02/08/19 – Blue Christmas, and CHNC #449 – ATG Christmas.

Unicorn birthday card idea featuring QKR Stampede Unicorn digital stamp

This unicorn birthday card features QKR Stampede's Unicorn stamp. I chose this for a unicorn loving friend of mine. Last year I used a freebie cutsie for her card, but I gotta admit, I prefer this year's. I like the fact that this unicorn is no wimp, by golly there's some muscle there! That's what I like about QKR Stampede stamps, they're just that little bit different from everyone else. Some are downright quirky (gotta love quirky). This QKR Stampede Sunbathing Potato card, for example, still cracks me up . Out of curiosity I checked and there are 22 cards made with QKR Stampede stamps on the blog. So yeah, I guess I like them.

Paper is more of that Max Bringmann/Aldi can't-get-a-link-for type. I have a big stack of these pads now. They cost me CHF 4.99 a pad (about $5.08) and considering their very large size (24 x 34 cm) I can make a LOT of cards from just one sheet. Some pads have a lighter paper with 50 sheets, some have a heavier paper and those have 26. Which is to say, that if you have an Aldi store near you, especially if you're in Europe (and specifically Switzerland), it's worth taking a look while you do your grocery shopping. If you have an Aldi store near you in the States, tell me if they have craft supplies there. I'm curious.

Since this card was hand delivered, I made a pretty bow to embellish it with (no worries about it being bulky and eaten by a postal machine). Three little buttons top it off in the bottom right corner. The sentiment was created with Monterey BT font.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, Max Bringmann paper
Digital stamp – QKR Stampede Unicorn
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Die-namics rectangle stax
Embellishments – ribbon, button
Font – Monterey BT

I'm linking up with: QKR Stampede #358 – ATG, Arty Divas #1 – ATG, Crafty Sentiments Designs 30/07/19 – ATG, Lemon Shortbread #99 – ATG, and TTCRD week of July 30 – ATG.