Unicorn digital stamp birthday card

This is a birthday card I whipped up for a friend who has a thing for unicorns. The digi stamp is a freebie

Normally, I like to give links for free stamps, but trust me, you don't want to see what popped up  when I tried to find this one. Apparently, the former website's blog address is no longer devoted to the mild mannered world of scrapbooking (and that's putting it nicely). I was so shocked by what I saw I immediately erased all history and cookies in the browser. I read an article once that said if you want to delete your blog it's actually a good idea you don't, that you just make it private and leave it inactive; the argument being the name can be taken over by unscrupulous sites. Uh, yeah, this experience proved that hypothesis right.

The paper is a discounted off brand (like the majority of papers I buy). Embellishments are little wooden flowers and mousse dots. I bought a big bag of these bright stickers – flowers and dots – at a decorating shop. They're supposed to be for kids, but I'm really enjoying them (as on this Santa Claws card).

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, patterned paper
Digital stamp – freebie
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Die-namics square stax
Embellishments – flowers, mousse dots
Font – Annie BTN

I'm linking up with: Colour Crazy Challenge Week 49 – ATG with coloring, Creative Fingers #155 – ATG, Polkadoodles Craft Challenge Wk 49 – ATG, Aud Sentiments Challenge #218 – ATG + sentiment, Crafting with an Attitude #46 – ATG, Cute Card Thursday #559 – ATG, and Creations in Pink #4 – ATG mainly pink.

Happy Winter Anniversary card

This is my husband's anniversary card this year and as with previous years, I've chosen an image you'd normally use for Christmas – QKR Stampde's Snowman Couple digital stamp. This is something to keep in mind for winter occasion cards; you can make your holiday digis do double duty (i.e. this Deer Duo anniversary card) by switching out your Christmas sentiment for a non-Christmas one!

Paper is from the freebie paper pack given with Simply Cards & Papercraft, issue 181. Mr. Santa sports a paper pieced hat and gloves. Sentiment font is Bickley Script.

Embellisments are a fussy cut paper border from the paper pack, a snowflake and red button.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, SCP paper
Digital stamp – QKR Stampede Snowman couple
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Die-namics square stax
Embellishments – paper border, wooden snowflake, button
Font – Bickley Script

I'm linking up with: QKR Stampede #324 – ATG, Dare 2B Artzy December – Winter, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #95 – ATG, A Bit More Time to Craft #81 – ATG, and Crafts Galore Encore #58 – Anything Goes.

Happy Birdie Day golf masculine birthday card

Di's Digistamps Fore You digital stamp stars front and center on this masculine birthday card.

The patterned paper is digital.  I created the golf ball sentiment with Arizona font.

Embellishments are CANDi dots and some grass felt ribbon. I've had this ribbon for a few years now and don't have much occasion to use it, but any time I do it looks great (like this Make a Splash birthday card).

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, digital papers
Digital stamp – Di's Digistamps Fore You
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Die-namics square stax
Embellishments – CANDi dots
Font – Arizona

I'm linking up with: Di's Digi Challenge 16/11/18 – Include a Sentiment, A Gem of a Challenge #232 – ATG, Colour Crazy Challenge Week 47 – ATG Colouring, WWC#197 – Masculine ATG, and Seize the Birthday #155 – ATG Birthday.

Happy Thanksgiving! card featuring Eureka Stamps Cornucopia digital stamp

Happy Thanksgiving to all Americans celebrating Thursday! Enjoy your feasts and postprandial football. And most important of all...being with those you love. I get asked a lot about how we celebrate Thanksgiving here in France and the answer is easy...we don't. Thanksgiving is a holiday specific to the United States and Canada (in October). I just remember happy Thanksgivings from my childhood and let them warm my heart (without the calories!).

This is the only Thanksgiving card I made this year. And this one I didn't even mail. My husband and I were out and about in the month of October and I just didn't have time. Which is a shame, because I really like Thanksgiving cards, like this Let's Get Basted card from 2016, one of my all time favorites. It cracks me up to this day.

The digital stamp focal point is Eureka Stamps Cornucopia. Paper is Leska's Digitals Pumpkin Fall paper pack. Embellishments are simple ribbon and CANDi dots. By the way, can anyone find CANDi dots anymore? I can't. I think they must have gone out of business. What a shame.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, Leska's Digitals Pumpkin Fall digital paper pack
Digital stamp – Eureka Stamps Cornucopia
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Die-namics square stax, Crafts-too large square label 1
Embellishments – ribbon, CANDi dots
Font – Euphoria Script

I'm linking up with: QKR Stampede Challenge #322 – ATG, The Sisterhood of Crafters 14/11/18 – Mood Board inspiration, Crafty Gals Corner #179 – Fall Colours, Creative Moments #157 – ATG, and Digi Choosday Wk 47 – ATG.

Halloween paper on a Christmas card

My quest for unusual, non-traditional Christmas cards continues. This card features Oddball Art's Kawaii Creepy Cute Christmas bat digital stamp (a bargain at $1.00) layered against a blend of Halloween and Christmas paper – yes, Halloween paper on a Christmas card. If you look closely, you can see the bats on the black center square paper. You can see this paper in full Halloween mode on my Bat Wishes card from last year (along with a link to a truly 'batty' free Halloween digi).

The sentiment was created with Chiller font. With 'Go a little batty...' on the front, I plan on adding '...it's Christmas!' to the inside. The other papers are Christmas ones. These, along with the bats, are from the now defunct Tactile Studio, hence no link (a real shame as she had some great digital papers).

Embellishments are a black painted wooden snowflake and flat red bead.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, digital patterned paper
Digital stamp – Oddball Art Kawaii Creepy Cute Christmas bat
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Die-namics circle stax
Embellishments – wooden snowflake, red bead
Font – Chiller

I'm linking up with: ABC Christmas Challenge 07/11/18 – W for Wishes & X for Xmas, Addicted to Stamps #318 – Holiday, Sweet Stampin' Christmas November – ATG Christmas, Fab 'n' Funky #416 – With an Animal, The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #40 – ATG Christmas, The Crafty Addicts #54 – ATG, and WWC #196 – All About Occasions.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween to everyone celebrating that today! If not, well then, Happy Autumn! May you have a treat filled day.

Today's card features Sherri Baldy's Happy Fall/Halloween Bestie img169 digital stamp. Digital paper is now-defunct Tactile Studio. The sentiment was created with Euphoria Script font.

I thought this great image and busy papers didn't need much embellishment, these three vintage buttons fit in perfectly.

Americans might not realize not everyone celebrates Halloween like they do. If you're interested in how this time around Halloween is celebrated traditionally in France, you can see my post on that HERE.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, digital paper
Digital stamp – Happy Fall/Halloween Bestie img169
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Die-namics circle stax
Embellishments – buttons
Font – Euphoria Script

Honk if you love Fall Halloween card

This humorous Halloween/Fall card features Imagine That's Gertie Goose-O-Lantern digital stamp and sentiment. There are four different sentiments included with the stamp.

Paper is digital as well.

Embellishments are a die-cut paper bow and button. This bow die is one of those inexpensive no-brand Chinese import types you find on Amazon and eBay. I confess to really liking it. There are three sizes included and this one – which isn't big at all – is the largest. I admit that I am using it more now than the other bow dies I have I paid significantly more for. Its small size fits easily into the design (as on this Jalapeño Christmas card).

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, digital paper
Digital stamp and sentiment – Imagine That's Gertie Goose-O-Lantern
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Die-namics oval & square stax, no-brand bow die
Embellishments – button

I'm linking up with: Crafty Creations #377 – ATG, Crafty Gals Corner #177 – Halloween Colors, Creative Moments #155 – ATG, The Paper Shelter #359 – Halloween, The Sisterhood of Crafters 24/10/18 – Humor, The Crafty Addicts #53 – ATG, and WWC #193 – All About Holidays.

Happy Fall Y'all! Fall/Halloween card

This combo Fall/Halloween card (the Halloween sentiment is included inside the card) features a My Besties Happy Fall digital stamp.

Colorful autumn paper is more from Leska's Digitals Pumpkin Fall digital paper pack used on my recent It's Pumpkin Time card.

Flat buttons make simple embellishments. The sentiment was created with Euphoria Script font.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, Leska's Digitals Pumpkin Fall digital paper pack
Digital stamp – My Besties Happy Fall img165
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Die-namics Rectangle Stax
Embellishments – buttons
Font – Euphoria Script

I'm linking up with: Scrapbook Stamp Society #152 – ATG opt/Halloween, PIP Challenge #1842 – ATG, Double Trouble #12 – Halloween/Fall, Cutie Pie Challenge #128 – Going Girly, and Cute N Crafty Challenge #12 – ATG.

Howdy Halloween Cowboy Pumpkin card

This Halloween card features the Cowboy Pumpkin digital stamp from QKR Stampede. It's destined for a relative back in the States who lives in Texas. I like sending her cowboy themed cards, like this Christmas Cowboy card from a few years back.

I used digital paper bits (including the paper 'ribbon' strip) from my scrap bin for the papers.

The sentiment was created with Chiller font. Embellishments are metal dots.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, digital patterned paper
Digital stamp – QKR Stampede Cowboy Pumpkin
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Die-namics circle and square stax
Embellishments – metal dots
Font – Chiller

I'm linking up with: QKR Stampede #318 – ATG, Brown Sugar Challenge #283 – Halloween/Autumn, HIMCR #375 – Freestyle, My Time to Craft #382 – Halloween or Cats, and Colour Crazy Challenge #42 – ATG.

Do you need expensive pencils to achieve good coloring results?

Do you notice any difference between the digital stamp coloring of today's card and the look of this fall card from a few weeks back?  If you say, 'Not really', from a purely visual aspect, I'd have to agree with you. I ask because instead of the nice-but-expensive Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils I normally use, I used an inexpensive box I recently picked up at my favorite outlet shop. It's not like I needed any more pencils – I have all 76 Luminance ones – but I was curious as to what result I could achieve using these and as they were only €4.99 for a nice tin box of 24 I didn't risk much.

I was pleasantly surprised by the result! The brand is Fantasia and although a bit more expensive than the €4.99 outlet store price I paid, an internet search shows them available in the States for $10.99 and the UK for £9.48. My Luminance pencils run about CHF 4.00 a piece (about $4.00). Do the math and you see what a great buy these are. I wouldn't say they're perfect. Their blend-ability is adequate, but they're not quite as good as my Luminance ones and I feel like they miss a bit in color intensity, but that could be because I was limited to 24 colors. All in all though, for someone just beginning the hobby and not wanting to spend a lot, they're great!

The cute little bear with his goodie laden wagon is Autumn Stroll from Di's Digi Stamps (on sale for $1.00). The digital papers are freebies from Rita at The Coffee Shop Blog – Mabel and Thanksgiving. It's worth taking a look around Rita's site. She is a very talented photographer/designer who graciously shares all sorts of wonderful freebies. The sentiment was created with Euphoria font. Embellishments are simple pearls in each corner.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, Coffee Shop Blog Mabel & Thanksgiving digital papers
Digital stamp – Autumn Stroll Di's Digi Stamps
Color – Fantasia pencils
Dies – Die-namics rectangle stax, Artemio circles
Embellishments – pearls
Font – Euphoria

I'm linking up with: Di's Digi Challenge 5/10/18 – Include a Pumpkin, Little Red Wagon 17/10 – Digis, The Paper Shelter #358 – Digis, Crafty Creations #376 – ATG, and Creative Moments #154 – ATG.