True Confessions

Ok! so my friend and yours, Darnell of djkardkreations blog announced that she was planning a new challenge blog called Twofer! that was to go live on January 10th. Despite evidence to the contrary -  I read all the rules and then reread them.  I have not been able to play a lot of challenges of late and I wanted to be sure that I could support Darnell so I created not one but two sets of "Twofers" just so I would be ready in plenty of time..... umm well luckily I let Darnell know that I was ready to go with my cards a day or so before the deadline.  As sweet as pie Darnell interrogated questioned me to ascertain how on earth I found out in advance what the prompt word was going to be!
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Much to my great surprise and embarrassment I realized my mistake! when I re-read the rules again : ) The funniest part of it all was that one of the sets of cards I made included Flamingos! so when the challenge went live on kick off day and the prompt word was "feathers" it turned out I was ready anyway! LOL I waited until someone else posted a card before I posted mine, thank you Michele, because I'm a fradie cat giggles.  Oh! and Darnell forgave me for giving her a heart attack : )

My cards today are the second set of cards I made in advance for the Twofer challenge.  I decided not to wait until such time as the prompt word might be "sweaters" and go ahead and post them "for no reason"! : )

BIG (((HUGS)))

Supplies:
Winter Woolens by Papertrey Ink

I apologize for not linking the supplies to PTI but ever since they started their new blog I cannot access the blog or the store any longer : ( I know my computer is using an old operating system but I am SAD that I can't play or shop with PTI anymore : (

Just plain cute!

Hello friends this little cutie doesn't even need an introduction does she!?!

I've been working hard on some Valentine cards for my father's Assisted Living community.  I wanted to make them all one layer cards.  When I saw the challenge at Less is More I decided to let this little Valentine make her appearance early.  I hope you will join me in the gallery at Less Is More.

And for all you CAS lovers out there please visit the Penny Black Simplicity Blog where my fellow team mates will dazzle you with some brilliant! "SAS" that's sweet and simple! heeheehee




SWAK!

Supplies:
xoxo stamp set #30-330 by Penny Black
SWAK die #51-284  by Penny Black

Merry Monday - Let it Snow!

I love snow! but lately I love it much better from inside a warm house or better yet I enjoy snow in pictures while I sip ice tea poolside! LOL Ok, so I haven't been poolside lately but even though I am sick of winter I never get sick of snowmen!.  Back in late December I saw a card that Birgit of Crafting While I Wait blog created.  I fell in love with her vintage looking snow people so naturally I had to shop! (see Birgit's card HERE)  : ) I received my stamp set on Monday - the same day I found THIS CARD made by  Linda of Lin's Craft Corner.  You can easily see why I had to join this weeks Merry Monday!

 One of the things I remember about vintage Christmas cards is the use of glitter on them : ) so I went wild with the glitter.

Here is a shot I darkened a little so the glitter would show up better : )

 I hope you will join the fun at Merry Monday where the snow is really piling up : )

BIG (((HUGS)))

Supplies:
Snowman stamp by AveryElle
Tree border is a retired Stampin Up die

Sledding with Penny Black

"Back in the day" January was my favorite month of the year for sledding at the local golf course on our new Christmas sleds! : ) These days I am content to sitting in the warm house playing with sled die cuts! giggles

Today is my turn to share on Penny Black's Simplicity Sisters blog.  This little sneak peek isn't enough! how about you grab your sled and meet me there! : ) 

Stay warm friends : )

FMS Challenge under the wire

eeek! I was so busy playing with my new Penny Black stamp sets that I almost forgot to post my card!

Here it is in all it's cuteness : )

Inside: Your voice is mew-sic to my ears

I am really enjoying having more time to play with challenges and the Freshly Made Sketch Challenges have always been one of my favorites!!  It might be a little late to join this one LOL but I hope you'll check out the DT and gallery for some sweet inspiration!

BIG (((HUGS)))

Supplies:
Purrfect #30-396 by Penny Black
Filled with Love die  #51-284 by Penny Black
Heart die cut by Spellbinders
Scallop heart die by Spellbinders

Sending Sunshine

Hello crafty friends : )

Just popping in from a busy busy week to share a SIMPLE card I created as a Penny Black Simplicity Sister! : )   One of the best things about being a part of this talented DT is the amazing products we get to showcase!  Please visit the Penny Black Simplicity blog for more inspiration!

I created this card for a very good friend of mine with a January birthday : )  As you can see it really was a simple card to make.  I masked off a section of my card and inked a soft blue "sky" next I stamped this sweet sentiment and finally glued three die cut trees.  I popped up the center tree for added dimension and off it went to the post office!

I forgot to take a shot of the inside of the card so I snapped a quickie with my phone.  I masked off a little platform for my inside sentiment to sit on : ) I have not done this before and I really liked how it turned out.  The inking is super soft and really compliments this delicate the delicate font. : )

That is all for me today. I hope you are having a wonderful day - doing something inky : )

BIG (((HUGS)))

All supplies by Penny Black:

Treasured Sentiments #30-356
Tall Trees # 51-273

Twofer Challenge kick off!

Hello friends : )  I am here today with a couple of cards I created for Darnell's new challenge!

This is not only going to be a fun challenge it is going to help me to build my card stash back up!  Every January I review my calendar for the cards I will need for the year and I was super shocked to see how low my card stash has become.

I am also planing a "Secret Pal" program in the Assisted Living home my father moved to last month.  My poor Dad would rather be almost anywhere else! but it was "just time" for them to get a little bit of help.  My step Mom fell in November and had a brain injury so she is recovering in a nursing home a few miles away.  As soon as possible (if possible)  she will move in to the assisted living facility with Dad.  Until then I have been sending oodles of cards to keep their spirits up! : ) I am hoping to enlist my Dad to help with the Secret Pal program there which will also get him out of his room to meet some of the other clients at the facility.  So that means I need LOTS more cards! : ) yahooee! : )

inside: feel better soon

This one will go in the mail for my step Mom tomorrow : )

This is strange I can't get the caption under my cards to show up.  They are there but wont show up when I publish the post.  I checked the font color and it isn't white LOL but.... let's try it this way -  

inside card #1:

Feel Better Soon

Inside card #2

Happy Birthday to you and many more

I hope you will join Darnell's challenge.  She has a pretty outstanding DT and I know it will be lots of fun.  You can link to the new Twofer Card Challenge here.

Oooh! I gotta go! I'm having a hard time concentrating on my post because I made some soup today and I can smell it is ready for me to EAT! : )


Supplies:
Flamingos by Reverse Confetti
Sentiments on the card face by Technique Tuesday
Inside sentiments:
      Feel Better Soon by Serendipity Stamps
      Happy Birthday sentiment by Penny Black



Have a wonderful day friends.

BIG (((HUGS)))

Birthdays are a Llama fun!

Hello friends : )

Welcome to a new year and my new blog look! compliments of one Blogland's sweetest friends - Loll Thompson, owner of Stamping with Loll blog.  Loll has updated my look and given my "stationery" some Style! : ) of which I am incredibly grateful and blessed! (((Hugs))) LOLL!!

The components of this card have some of my favorite product on it.  I love this sweet looking Llama from SU and those steamers are just too too cute and last but not least one of my FAVORITE new sentiment sets from Penny Black!  All together it makes for one huggable card!

Supplies:
Birthday Fiesta Llama - SU retired
Linked Garland Confetti Cuts by Reverse Confetti
Birthday Love #30-413 by Penny Black

Some great challenges I encourage you to join!:

Seize The Birthday - Anything Goes
Just Us Girls - Anything goes
Simon Says - Something New


Have a wonderful day and I hope you get to do something you love!

BIG (((Hugs)))

Welcome 2018!

Happy New Year to all my blogger friends!! 

Last October my friend Jill invited me to join her for a six week Watercolor Class at the local Arts Center.  We had a lot of fun together! I came to learn that I was very interested in Watercolor painting for not only my card making but also, surprisingly to me, creating "fine art".

I painted these cards for two of my sisters.  They are not rubber stamped - and yet I cannot draw! so I found sketches on-line - transferred them to watercolor paper and painted them : )   They were quite easy to complete.

I also painted a larger painting for my friend for Christmas.  I forgot to photograph it before giving it to her but I will ask her to let me get a picture of it and include it here later or write a new post for it : )  It is full FULL of mistakes! but for a beginner I was pleased.

As you can see I added a new die cut sentiments and - what you cannot see - some Wink of Stella for the perfect touch of sparkle!

Dipping my toe into Watercoloring caused me to search for more classes.  I found this AMAZING artist on-line:

Dylan Pierce Watercolor

I will be taking his classes eeek! I could not begin to hope to create art like he does but I am certain I will have a wonderful time under his direction!

That is just one of the things I am hoping to do in my spare time in 2018 : )

I am excited to see what the coming year holds for us all! : )


Edited to add my picture : ):

This is about a 13 x 15.5" finished frame. 

Thank you so much for stopping by!

BIG (((Hugs)))
Patti

Warmest Thanks!

What is it about a lovely winter scene that evokes the feeling of warmth!?  This truly is the time of year to reflect and give thanks.  I am so thankful for the friends I have met in blogland.  This hobby has been one of the most rewarding things I have ever done.

I created this card as special thank you for Mary, owner of Serendipity Stamps.  I have been so honored to be a representative of your wonderful company.  : )  Thank you for the opportunity you gave to me.

I don't want to get mushy but I want to express my thanks for Mary's encouragement and support in one of the toughest years of my life.  Regretfully, I am stepping down as a DT member for Serendipity Stamps. I have loved! working with these wonderful people and wonderful products.

GREAT BIG (((Hugs)))
Patti

Supplies:
Cozy Village
Thank You

Friends make me Merry!

Merry Christmas friends!

A couple of years ago my sweet friend Darnell of djkardkreations blog sent me a Christmas card that inspired today's post.

I had never seen an easel card like this before and I immediately set out to CASE case every perfect detail of her card.  

Here is Darnell's card:

I had to purchase the SU (retired) horse and sleigh on e-bay and I was able to still order the window die from SU,  at that time, but I wrestled with how to duplicate her delightful trees in the background. I ended up finding the perfect image at Serendipity Stamps.  Here is a better picture of the image:

Neat huh!?!

Friends make me merry! especially you, Darnell! Thank you again for your friendship!

Have a wonderful and blessed holiday my friends!!

(((Hugs)))
Patti

Supplies:
Winter Homestead by Serendipity Stamps
Horse and Sleigh by Stampin Up (retired)
Window by Stampin Up (retired)
Wonderful Words: Snow mini by Papertrey Ink
Christmas Cheer die by Papertrey Ink

Penny Black Simplicity Sister Time

It is snowing as I write this post.  I love the snow! especially when I can stay warm and safe inside! I pray that you are warm and safe and as it gets closer and closer to Christmas your hearts are filled with peace and joy!

Here are two more SIMPLE Christmas cards I made to show off some sweet products by Penny Black.

I began by stamping this cutie pie on to a panel - cut to 5.5 x 3.5".  I masked the image before adding my "floor" and the polka dot/snowflake background.  I created my own stencil for the snowflakes using the snowflake dies in "Frosty's Snow".  Then I removed the mask and colored my image using Prisma Pencils shaded with Gamsol.  The top panel is attached to my A2 card base with foam tape and a splash of Wink of Stella to finish off the gift bow. A sweet and totally huggable card - if I may say so myself : )

My next card was even easier.  I started in the same way - stamping my image, masking it,sponging a stenciled background then coloring the image with Prisma Pencils shaded with Gamsol : )  This time I stamped the "merry" directly on to the card face but  rather than stamping the word Christmas I decided to add dimension by gluing a die cut instead. : )  One last grab for my Wink of Stella to highlight the hat and scarf and this little owl was ready to mail!

Well that is it for me today.  I appreciate you stopping by and leaving a comment.  I continue to be amazed! that so many of you actually still take the time to drop me a line even though I have been shamefully absent from Blogland! You are THE BEST! and I know I will be back to my old blogging self soon.

BIG (((Hugs)))
Patti

All supplies are from Penny Black:

Card #1:
Frosty's Snow - #51-266
Dotlets Stencil #25-007
Cake & Wishes - #30-235
Holiday Snippets - #30-307

Card #2:
Zigs & Zags Stencil - #25-010
Joyous Wishes - #51-058
Wintertime Cheer - #30-386
Festive Snippets - #30-387

Serendipity Stamps December Blog Hop #2

Hello friends : ) Welcome to Serendipity Stamp's December Blog Hop # 2

When you hop with us you have a chance to win a $20.00 gift certificate to the Serendipity Stamps Store simply  by leaving a comment here.  To increase your chances please leave comments with my SS team mates too. Eight comments! eight chances to win : ) Just by visiting and commenting you will be entered in a random drawng chosen by Mary, the owner of Serendipity Stamps. You may leave your comments through Sunday. Mary will announce the name of the winner on the SS blog on Monday January 1st.

Here is a list of the Serendipity Stamps Design Team with links to their blogs. I hope that you will visit each blog and leave them some love. We can ALL use more love! : )

Mary from Serendipity Stamps
Beth Chiu 

Patti Kehl (that's me)

Carol Mayne

Miriam Napier

Julie Warner

Vickie Zimmer
Marybeth Lopez

Also, one more reminder to visit the Serendiptiy Stamps Store where you will find these and other great products including the Stamp Of The Month "Steeple".  As always the Stamp Of The Month is 50% off

Thank you for stopping by.  Have a fantastic day!!
Patti

Supplies:
Tall Tree Medium
Sending Lots of Love

Snowflake Wishes by Penny Black

It is my turn as Penny Black's Simplicity Sister hostess.  Each month you will find some delightful CAS cards from my fellow DT members!  I am honored to be a part of this talented team.

Here is a peek at my card.  I hope you will be tempted to hop over to see the whole card on Penny Black's Simplicity Sisters blog.

Snowflake Wishes! to you my friends : )

Patti

Let Heaven and Nature Sing

 I can picture these birds with their tongues out catching snow flakes heeheehee... do birds have tongues?

I hope you are having a wonderful week.  We have been busy in our neckStyles™ scarf shop on Etsy.  It is another great year for scarves all over the world!!  It is such a blessing to be able to work from home in this little business.

If this card were a scarf I picture it would look like this one : ) what do you think?

I am offering an exclusive sale on all of our scarves.  60% off! for a limited time.  Contact me for a coupon code!

That is it for me today.  I hope you are enjoying the warmth of the season both inside and out!

BIG (((Hugs)))
Patti

All supplies by Serendipity Stamps:
Birds Looking Up dies
Branch die
Let Heaven and Nature
Snow reverse die

Serendipity Stamps December Blog Hop #1

The very best time of the month - is time for Serendipity Stamp's Blog Hop.  As a design team member I get to showcase some of the amazing product available at the Serendipity Stamps store.

When you hop with us you increase your chances of winning the $20.00 gift certificate to the Serendipity Stamps Store that one randomly selected commenter will win!!   You may leave your comments through Sunday.  Mary will announce the name of the winner on the SS blog on Monday December 18th.

I have two cards to share with you today.  My first card uses this month's Stamp of The Month, "Steeple" image.   I began by sponging some pink dye ink directly to my card base in an ombre - dark to light pattern.  Next I stamped the Steeple image in the same pink dye ink in the center.  Then I cut a panel for the top and stamped my sentiment.  I cut the panel in three sections, discarding the center section.  All that was left to do was pop the panel pieces up with foam tape and attach them, and my clear sequins, to the card.  Fast and easy and oh so dreamy : )

My next card features a Trio of Penguins floating on a block of ice : )  

These are just two cards created for this hop so please make your way to the rest of the team's blogs and get ready to be inspired! because Serendipity Stamps has some pretty COOL! products to offer! : ) 

For your convenience I have supplied a list of the Serendipity Stamps Design Team with links to their blogs.

Mary from Serendipity Stamps

Beth Chiu

Patti Kehl (that's me)

Carol Mayne

Miriam Napier

Julie Warner

Vickie Zimmer
Marybeth Lopez

Please visit the Serendiptiy Stamps Store where you will find these and other great products including the Stamp Of The Month "Steeple".  As always the Stamp Of The Month is 50% off.  

Thank you so much for stopping by!!

Patti

Supplies:

Steeple

Vertical Merry Christmas

Penguins

Thank You II Vertical

You're so Tweet

Happy December! and Baby it is cold outside : )  

But it is warm inside and I have been playing with paper!! 

Here is another easy peasy CAS card I created using this a delightful Serendipity Stamp set. I stamped my sentiment directly on to my A2 card base.  Next I cut a top panel to 4.25 x 5".   I cut this panel into three sections - discarding the center piece. I popped the two top panel sections up using foam tape. I stamped the bird on a scrap piece of cs and fussy cut it out then glued it down over the panel piece.  Gee! it took me longer to write out my process than it took to make the whole card! LOL

That is all for me today : )  thank you for stopping by - I love seeing you here!

Patti

Supplies:
Embroidered Bird Cling by Serendipity Stamps