The Penny Black Blog

FULL BLOOM: Brushstroke and Wild Whimsy

April 22, 2019

It’s time to get inspired with our new collection, FULL BLOOM! Join us this week as we take a closer look at our newest stamps and dies. All new products are now available in our online store!

So with a collection called Full Bloom, we have to begin by taking a closer look at these brand new brushstroke stamps.

Introducing 40-683 Blooming Tulips

SHOP for the products featured on the card above: 40-683, 30-584, 51-547, 30-238, 40-672

Introducing 40-677 Dreams of Love AND 51-529 Dreams of Love Cut Out

SHOP for the products featured on the card above: 40-677, 51-529, 51-333, 30-547

Introducing 40-684 Youthful

SHOP for the products featured on the card above: 51-535, 30-574, 40-684, 51-515, 51-528

Introducing 40-685 Love’s Glow

SHOP for the products featured on the card above: 30-551, 40-685, 51-531

Looking for even more inspiration with these stamps? Look no further! For this next set of cards, Jill simply masked off a die cut or simple shape in the center of her 5 x 7 inch watercolor paper panel using Eclipse masking paper. She then stamped and painted these new brushstroke stamps, using techniques similar to those shown HERE. She removed the masks, stamped her sentiments, and added simple embellishments such as sequins and butterflies.

SHOP for the products featured on the card above: 40-685, 40-684, 30-582, 51-528, 51-515

SHOP for the products featured on the card above: 40-683, 30-584, 30-563, 30-561

SHOP for the products featured on the card above: 30-574, 30-561, 40-677, 30-558, 51-040

SHOP for the products featured on the card above: 30-574, 40-677, 30-561, 30-563, 51-122

And now how about a look at some NEW wild and whimsical stamps and playful card ideas.

Introducing 30-583 Be Happy

SHOP for the products featured on the card above: 51-535, 30-583, 51-410, 51-002

SHOP for the products featured on the card above: 51-540, 51-510, 30-583, 51-519

Introducing 30-581 Full Bloom

SHOP for the products featured on the card above: 30-585, 30-581, 51-515, 51-003, 30-238

Introducing 30-585 Go Wild

SHOP for the products featured on the card above: 30-585, 30-581, 51-308, 51-506

And never fear, even though we do not have tutorials or supplies/instructions for each card shown today, our designers and crafty friends will be joining us very soon sharing tutorials, card details, and videos, too! In the meantime, don’t forget to explore our current videos on our YouTube channel as many of those techniques work great with these new stamps and dies.

SHOP ‘FULL BLOOM’ TODAY!

April 19, 2019

by pennyblackinc

You read that right, our new collection, Full Bloom, is now available in our online store! To view all of the new products, be sure to click on the ‘new’ section on the left-hand sidebar.

You can also join Jill in this video presentation of each new product with lots of card ideas, too!

Watch directly on YouTube HERE.

And don’t miss this…

We’re celebrating the launch of this new release with a chance to win a $50 shopping spree to our online store. Enter by leaving a comment on today’s blog post. For an extra entry, “like” our Facebook page and leave a comment there. And there’s one more way to enter! Follow us on Instagram @pennyblackstamps, and leave us a comment there, too. Giveaway closes Sunday, April 21, 2019 at 11:59 PM PST. Winner announced here on our blog on April 29.

FULL BLOOM: Sneak Peek #4

April 18, 2019

by pennyblackinc

Write yourself a note… our new collection of stamps and dies, Full Bloom, will be available tomorrow! Until then here’s another sneak peek at just one of the many adorable critters from this new release.

NOTE: This new collection of stamps and dies will be available this Friday, April 19! Tomorrow… yay!

FULL BLOOM: Sneak Peek #3

April 17, 2019

by pennyblackinc

Floral fantasies, elegant sentiments, unique stitched dies… must be time for another sneak peek at our upcoming Full Bloom collection!

NOTE: This new collection of stamps and dies will be available this Friday, April 19!

FULL BLOOM: Sneak Peek #2

April 16, 2019

by pennyblackinc

We’re going WILD about the stamps in this sneak peek… they are sure to make you smile!

NOTE: Our Full Bloom collection of stamps and dies will be available this Friday, April 19!

And before you go, don’t miss this week’s card on our SIMPLICITY site… click HERE to view.

New Collection Sneak Peek!

April 15, 2019

by pennyblackinc

Join us this week here on our blog, Facebook page, and on Instagram as we share sneak peeks of our upcoming collection, Full Bloom 2019. New and unique brushstroke designs are coming soon… here’s a peek at one along with a sneaky peek at new sentiments, too!

NOTE: This new collection of stamps and dies will be available this Friday, April 19!

Runs with Scissors

April 13, 2019

by pennyblackinc

“April in Paris”, “April Showers Bring May Flowers”, “Oh, to be in London now that April’s there”: these are songs and poems about the lovely month of April. I don’t recall poems or songs about February and March; I guess slush and ice don’t inspire poetry.

We have been free of rain lately and because of our very wet winter, Mother Nature has put on a show of blooming Dogwood and Redbud trees and Azalea bushes. I wish those blooms could last all summer but their short blooming times make it more urgent to be out and about to admire the splendor. It won’t be long before I buy a few hanging baskets for the back yard that I can admire from my kitchen and patio. Spring is always the reward for making it through winter. Dear Readers, we have made it!

In spite of the beautiful weather, I spent time indoors once again making cards using the Timeless release of Penny Black stamps and dies along with a few “encore” items tucked in.

Black and white and red all over … no, not a newspaper, but this Asian themed card I made using the flowers and vase image included in the From the Garden stamp set and the matching From the Garden Cut Out die set. For my encore die this week, I’ve used one of the circular diecuts from the Geometrics die set. So many elements of this card make me happy; the colors, the polka dots, and the geometric design.

The Critter Celebration set includes this sweet dandelion-blowing mouse perched on a mushroom. I’ve added half of the Picket Fence diecut and a little cloud to create this scene. I used masking tape to create the white border around the image. Why don’t I remember to do that more often? I had a moment or two of wondering whether or not to add a pop of a brighter color, but decided I liked the almost monochromatic, neutral look of this card.

The Butterfly Garden stamp set has three gorgeous butterflies in three different sizes. This is the middle sized butterfly that I stamped and cut out using the Butterfly Garden Cut Out die set. I situated that butterfly on the At Grace floral background. I picked up the copper color of the butterfly in the copper cardstock base. What better image to say “congratulations” than a butterfly that has completed the journey from humble caterpillar to beautiful butterfly.

Time Flies

Nothing illustrates how quickly time passes better than watching your children or grandchildren grow. Days pass quickly, and suddenly it’s months and then it’s years. My life and routine don’t vary too much anymore, but those children move quickly from one stage or activity to another.

School years are like a notch in a belt; they accumulate and suddenly the first grader is graduating from high school, the second grader is asking a date to the Junior Prom and the littlest are now riding behind a speed boat in a rubber raft. Sometimes I feel like Rip Van Winkle; they used to be toddlers and now they are people with accomplishments and plans of their own.

Last week the mail carrier delivered an invitation to our Atlanta granddaughter’s high school graduation. I knew this was going to happen, but seeing it in formal gold print made it more real. Lauren, the wise and verbal toddler has finished her high school years and will be off to the University of Alabama (Roll Tide!) in the fall. I still have her photo from her first day of second grade on my refrigerator! My denial runs deep.

Lauren’s brother, Andrew, is a junior in high school this year and has asked a young lady to be his date to their prom. He is also in that refrigerator photo as an adorable first grader.

Evelyn has moved from daycare to kindergarten at St. Mary’s school, near her home. She takes karate lessons and plays a form of indoor soccer which her daddy coaches. She happily Facetimes me after the games to share the good news of their victory. Daddy says he has to be careful not to give Ev more playing time than the other kids.

Jack isn’t a toddler anymore, but he is still, and will always be, the youngest grandchild. He is smart, cute, and funny and doesn’t let being the youngest slow him down.

The two oldest grandsons in Wisconsin are now young men, in school and working toward their life’s goals. In my mind, they are still the sweet boys who lived with us for awhile during some family difficulties. I like to believe they learned a lot from us. I know they brought us joy and purpose.

Years ago, when Lauren was about five, we were browsing through a magazine and came across a picture of a bride. Lauren started talking about brides and weddings and I asked her if I could come to her wedding some day. She looked at me and with the honesty of an innocent child said, “Sure, Grandma, if you are still alive.” Well, Lauren, I’ve made it this far and can’t wait to be part of your future.

I hope you will forgive me for taking advantage of all of you to share photos of some of my favorite people. Our moving away has altered my dream of Sunday dinners with kids and grandkids; spontaneous drop-in visits and occasional overnights at Grandma’s house. What we do have is much anticipated gatherings for some holidays, special occasions and summer vacations. We pack in activities, focus on being together and make the most of every minute. Our memories have to last until we gather again.

I have combined the old and the new for this Easter card. I’ve used the Bunny Rabbit die as another encore die along with the new Poppy Edger die. No stamping needed as I’ve used the “love” sentiment from the Sending Love die set. I added white Novu drops for a bit of texture and pop of white. Oh, and did you notice that cotton ball tail? Just for fun!

This is an experiment stamping an image on patterned paper. Gingham says “spring” and is a good background for the Daisies stamp. I added the Square Frame and several little butterflies from the Butterfly Garden Cut Out die set. If you choose to try this technique, you could try adding color to the petals with colored pencils. I decided I like this result right after I added the butterflies and stopped there.

Look who is going for a Balloon Ride! Little Teddy is floating high about the clouds with his bouquet of balloons. To color the balloons, I colored white cardstock with an assortment of Distress Oxide inks and stamped the balloons where I captured several colors. I added just a slash of white ink to add dimension to his balloons. The Just For You sentiment fit perfectly in the remaining white space.

Cooper would never be interested in jellybeans on his own. I had to pose him for this photo and he really didn’t think much of the jellybeans. Now, if it had been chicken jerky or some other doggie treat, he would have helped himself, knowing that it was meant for him. I sometimes ponder on how fortunate we have been that Cooper does not destroy or get into things that are not his. He is always eager to please and if he should slip up and chew on a pen or marker that he finds on the floor, he hates when he is scolded. He quickly seeks forgiveness and in his own way, says “I’m sorry”. Cooper, maybe the Easter Bunny knows the right kind of treat to bring you.

Since Cooper and I won’t be seeing you until after Easter, we will take this time to wish you happy Easter if it is a holiday you celebrate. Mr. RWS, Cooper and I will be hosting my daughter who lives in Minneapolis. It is a time for me to cook family favorites and enjoy catching up with Kathy. I found myself browsing in a department store a week or so ago, seeking a new Easter outfit. Suddenly I came to my senses and realized I have more clothes than Marie Kondo would deem necessary and will enjoy wearing an outfit that gave me joy when I bought it. And will bring me joy again when I discover that it fits!

Thank you for spending time with me again. Thank you for your comments and thank you for sharing your work in the Penny Circle Flickr Gallery. I am inspired by your ideas and your lovely cards.