Runs with Scissors
Hello and welcome, Penny Black friends. And welcome, Ms. October. I love fall for so many reasons. Mainly, I love fall because finally, we in the southern states can switch off our air conditioners and throw (crank, slide, tilt, push) the windows open and enjoy fresh, unprocessed air. If all goes well, we won’t have to turn on our heat pumps for a few weeks and the utility bills will be kinder and gentler.
Having previously owned a home on a large wooded lot, we were wise enough with this home purchase to make sure we had no trees to rake up after, other than a small Japanese Maple. Since we are long past the “jumping in leaf piles” stage of our lives, we don’t miss the raking up or jumping in leaves part of fall. The Japanese Maple is part of the landscaping that borders the long brick garage wall and is the provider of the only leaves we rake. I will share with all of you that somewhere among the mulch and leaves is the diamond that fell out of my engagement ring several years ago. While bagging the leaves and with my hands inside gardening gloves, the prongs became bent and when I took the gloves off the diamond went flying, never to be seen again. Believe me, I tried but the tears blurred my vision. Thankfully, the ring was under warranty and the diamond replaced, this time with a six prong setting to ensure diamonds don’t fly anymore. But that diamond is still there … somewhere.
This week it is all about Christmas cards. Sometimes I worry that the Penny Black designers will “use up” the only idea I have for some of the images in the Winter 2018 release, but it is almost magical what happens when you ink up a stamp and let your creative mind take over. And just like that, here are the cards my head told my hands to make.
I so appreciate Penny Black’s nativity images. While snowmen and polar bears and Santa’s make me smile, I like to include cards with the real Christmas meaning in my collection. This “Bethlehem from a distance” scene is from the transparent set Lighting the Way. I stamped and heat embossed the scene onto cardstock I colored using a mixture of Distress Oxide inks blended with my blending tool. I love creating this type of background … can’t always predict how it will turn out, but somehow the image ties it all together perfectly. I used part of the sentiment from the He is Born mini set which perfectly filled the open sky space. The Antique Frame border die sets off this scene perfectly.
The Hometown Christmas transparent set includes the little VW Bug stamp. I have wanted to own a Bug since I was a teenager, which, in real life, proved impractical with our large family. To make up for the absence of my favorite car in my life, I included three on this card. The “road” is made from Washi tape, the background of row houses is included in the set. I added glitter wherever I could get away with it. Wouldn’t it be fun to live in a community where the only cars allowed are VW Bugs painted in neon colors?
Poinsettias can be other colors than red and for this pink Christmas Poinsietta beauty I used Distress Oxide inks and a blender tool to color white cardstock before stamping and heat embossing in gold and then fussy cut. The leaves are a second Christmas Poinsettia, this time in green, and offset behind the pink flower. Because the card is more formal, I used the sentiment with the lovely script from the Joyful Sentiments transparent set. Holiday cards are a good place to add bling, and I’ve taken advantage of the opportunity with this card.
A Phone Call
It was a Thursday evening, about 7:30 and already dark outside. Chores and meals for the day were finished and I had settled in front of the television for some mindless entertainment … and then the phone rang.
After three rings, our phone transfers to the answering machine, so the decision to answer or not must be made quickly; and it takes the second ring to reach the landline phone. There isn’t much time for decision making – you either answer it quickly or you miss the call.
Grumbling all the way, I hurried across the room and then quickly glanced at the caller ID … “wireless caller”, it said. I know the rules; if you don’t recognize the number, don’t answer it.
But I answered it anyway.
It was my nephew who lives in Georgia. And it was an emergency.
His brother-in-law Robert, who lives in our city, had missed work for several days and had not been answering phone calls from concerned friends and co-workers. The EMT’s who had been sent to his home for a welfare check had been unable to enter his home or hear a reply to their calls to him.
My nephew had finally reached him by phone and learned Robert had been and was very sick and unable to get himself to the Emergency Room. He was reluctant to call an ambulance due to the cost. Would we be willing to check on Robert and if he needed medical help, take him to the Emergency Room?
Within minutes we were on our way. Robert lives about twenty minutes from our home and we were there under fifteen.
Indeed, Robert needed medical help. He was clammy, semi-delirious and very weak. Thankfully, by leaning on us both, he was able to make it to our car and we quickly took him to the Emergency Room.
Helping hands at the ER swiftly assessed Robert’s condition and immediately wheeled him to a treatment room for care.
Time seems to pass slowly in an ER waiting room, but after several hours we learned that Robert would be admitted to the ICU, newly diagnosed with diabetes and an infected foot.
We left him in good hands and it wasn’t until the next morning that we learned from his Georgia family that Robert was so critical that he would have died during the night without medical treatment.
My mind swirled with the thought that I almost did not answer the phone. I have a mental image of an angry angel kicking me across that room, frustrated with my hesitation, making sure I picked up the phone even if it did say, “wireless caller.”
Thank you, angry angel!
If you’ve followed Runs with Scissors for any length of time, you know I have a special place in my heart for snowmen … especially Penny Black snowmen. I was so happy to see these three Skate all the Way snowfriends in the Winter 2018 collection. I have used them here just as they are on the stamp, but I see possibilities for them to show up individually in other Penny Black scenes. I added glitter and Nuvo drops for dimension and smiles.
Sometimes while being creative we have happy accidents. For this Nativity scene, I accidentally stamped and embossed in white the image on the textured side of my silver cardstock. After coloring with Copic markers on top of the white embossing, I noticed the result looked a bit like cross stitch embroidery or tapestry. I am pleased with the result and because the card came together quickly, I will be making more of them to send to family and friends. I am most happy that I persevered with the aggravating challenging task of rethreading my sewing machine so I could stitch around the edges of this card.
Look who had another birthday!! Cooper is now nine years old. We hardly remember the time when he wasn’t part of our family and can’t imagine life without him. He has overcome so many of his fears and has spent the last seven years with us trying to please and being a source of love and laughter. If only he wasn’t so protective of his home territory; however, he is successful! We haven’t been victims of an attack by blowing leaves, the neighbors’ lawn mowers or the evil garage door across the street. Thankfully, the mail carrier isn’t frightened by the vicious threats and the UPS trucks that go by ignore the drama. Job well done, Cooper. And Happy Birthday!
And, as they say in the show biz industry, “It’s a wrap”. It’s also the end of the enticing sneak peaks that have been showing up on the Penny Black blog lately. As of last Wednesday, October 10th the Welcome Winter release items are stocked in the Penny Black Store, ready to be shipped to your mailbox.
I had just enough time to make a quick and easy card using the Happy Snowman mini set for this edition of Runs with Scissors. Aren’t I clever to make that sign post by hand?
My buddy Cooper helped me stow the scissors and clean up my mess here in the Penny Black studio. We are both thankful for the encouragement and kind words you leave in your comments. They brighten our day, for sure.
Oh, I am pleased to let you know that a grateful Robert is now home from the hospital and with the help of caring friends and family is adjusting to life with a chronic illness.
Life is good here in our little world and we are on our way to the Penny Circle Flickr Gallery to check on the art work there. Hopefully we will get caught up one of these days! Until next time, stay well and keep stamping.
Shop for today’s featured Penny Black supplies
Card No. 1: 30-196 Lighting the Way, 30-506 He is Born, 51-397 Antique Frame
Card No. 2: 30-499 Hometown Christmas, 51-033 Silver Linings
Card No. 3: 30-512 Joyful Sentiments, 40-649 Christmas Poinsietta, 51-422 Stitched Square and Circles
Card No. 4: 40-656 Skate all the Way, 51-416 Stitched Stackers
Card No. 5: 40-833 Nativity
Card No. 6: 30-503 Happy Snowman
Welcome Winter with a Smile
Whether you are working on your Christmas cards, holiday tags and décor, everyday winter greetings, or masculine designs… our newest release, Welcome Winter, has something for everyone! Join us over the next few weeks as we take a closer look at the new stamps and dies included in this collection. All new products are now available in our online store!
Sometimes when the temps are cold and the winter months are getting long, it’s a great time to send a card to friends and family. Cards made with our new miniature 3 x 4 inch transparent stamp set, 30-503 Happy Snowman, and Creative Die Set, 51-455 3 Snowflakes, certainly work well for a snail mail smile.
SHOP for the products featured on the card above: 51-455 3 Snowflakes, 30-516 Smile All Season, 30-503 Happy Snowman
Design details: Stamp snowman onto white cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and color with Copic markers. Fussy cut image and layer onto background inked with Memento Inks (Summer Sky, Danube Blue) using an ink blending tool and foam pads. Sentiment stamped with Ranger Archival Ink (Watering Can). Embellish with die cut snowflakes, self-adhesive pearls, and add additional tiny snowflakes with a white gel pen.
TGIF! Don’t miss this…
“Like” our page on Facebook for exclusive inspiration by Birgit Edblom!
Welcome Winter with Arctic Friends
Whether you are working on your Christmas cards, holiday tags and décor, everyday winter greetings, or masculine designs… our newest release, Welcome Winter, has something for everyone! Join us over the next few weeks as we take a closer look at the new stamps and dies included in this collection. All new products are now available in our online store!
Double-take!
We love to see multiple ideas for the same stamp so today we have for you two cards featuring our new mminiature 3 x 4 inch transparent set, 30-519 Arctic Friends.
SHOP for the products featured on the card above: 30-521 Nose to Nose, 30-519 Arctic Friends, 40-628 Xmas Sprig
Design details: Onto Canson 140 Lb. Cold-Press Watercolor Paper, stamp main image using Memento Ink (Toffee Crunch). Paint entire scene with Sakura Koi Field Sketch Box watercolors. Add additional shading using colored pencils. Stamp leaves using Memento Ink (Summer Sky, Danube Blue). Sentiment stamped with Ranger Archival Ink (Potting Soil).
SHOP for the products featured on the card above: 30-519 Arctic Friends, 30-501 Joy & Merriment, 51-409 Ribbon Stackers, 51-387 Merry Delight Cut Out, 51-273 Tall Trees
Design details: Stamp bear image onto white cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and color with Copic markers. Fussy cut image. Background inked with Memento Inks (Lilac Posies, Lady Bug, Rhubarb Stalk) using an ink blending tool and foam pad. Additional die cut trees painted with Distress Ink Reinkers used as watercolor paints and Distress Ink (Gathered Twigs) added around the outer edges with an ink blending tool and a foam pad. Edges of hand-trimmed snowbanks inked with Distress Ink (Antique Linen) using an ink blending tool and a foam pad. Embellish with die cut snowflakes.
Both of these card designs would also be great for winter birthdays… just change the sentiment to suit the occasion. Can you pick a fave?
New Release – Welcome Winter – Now Available!
Today’s the day!
All of the new stamps and dies from our new collection, Welcome Winter, are now available in our online store.
SHOP HERE
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE COMPLETE CATALOG
We’re so excited about this new collection, we want to help you welcome winter in your neck of the woods with a giveaway! To enter, take a look at the new catalog and let us know your faves! There are three ways to win a $25 shopping spree to our online store. Here’s how:
1: “Like” our Facebook page and leave us a comment there.
2: Leave a comment here on the blog on this post.
3: Follow us on Instagram and leave us a comment there.
Note: You don’t need to do all three to qualify, please pick whatever works best for you, although we’d certainly love to connect with you in all three places. We will be choosing one winner from the Facebook entries, one from the blog entries, and one from the Instagram entries so the more ways you enter, the greater your chances of winning. Giveaway closes Sunday, October 14, at 11:59 PM PST.
Welcome Winter with this Happy Christmas Bunch
Whether you are working on your Christmas cards, holiday tags and décor, everyday winter greetings, or masculine designs… our newest release, Welcome Winter, has something for everyone! Join us over the next few weeks as we take a closer look at the new stamps and dies included in this collection.
All new products (and a look at the complete catalog) will be available in our online store VERY SOON on Wednesday, October 10–TOMORROW!
Today we’re sharing with you several different ways to use our new transparent stamp set, 30-520 Christmas Bunch.
First we have a watercolor scene featuring the adorable little snowman from this set.
Products featured on the card above: 30-513 Winter Sentiments, 30-520 Christmas Bunch, 30-511 Peaceful
Design details: Onto Canson 140 Lb. Cold-Press Watercolor Paper, stamp snowman using Memento Ink (Toffee Crunch). Stamp snowman a second time onto masking paper, fussy cut, and adhere to first stamped image on the scene to be used as a mask. Stamp trees in background using Wendy Vecchi Make Art Blendable Dye Ink (Fern Green). Paint entire scene with Sakura Koi Field Sketch Box watercolors and add additional shading to snowman with colored pencils. Stamp snowflakes using Memento Ink (Toffee Crunch). Sentiment stamped with Ranger Archival Ink (Potting Soil).
Continuing with the wonderful winter watercolor, this sweet polar bear looks ready to open his gifts.
Products featured on the card above: 30-521 Nose to Nose, 30-520 Christmas Bunch, 30-514 Season’s Marvel, 30-512 Joyful Sentiments
Design details: Onto Canson 140 Lb. Cold-Press Watercolor Paper, stamp bear using Memento Ink (Toffee Crunch). Stamp bear a second time onto masking paper, fussy cut, and adhere to first stamped image to be used as a mask. Stamp mountains in background using Distress Ink (Weathered Wood). Remove masks and paint entire scene with Sakura Koi Field Sketch Box watercolors. Add additional shading to bear using colored pencils. Sentiment stamped with Ranger Archival Ink (Potting Soil, Poppy, Carnation Red). Stamp ‘JOY’ sentiment using stamp positioning tool (MISTI) in order to stamp multiple times and darken color.
Next, this same polar bear gets a new look when combined with our new Creative Die set, 51-455 3 Snowflakes.
Products featured on the card above: 30-520 Christmas Bunch, 51-455 3 Snowflakes, 51-440 Elegant Stitching, 51-418 Wavy Stitch Edges, 30-510 Snowflake Sentiments
Design details: To create background, ink white cardstock with Wendy Vecchi Blendable Dye Inks (Sunflower, Orange Blossom) and Distress Ink (Rusty Hinge) using an ink blending tool and foam pads. Add die cut snowflakes and extra small snowflakes using a white gel pen. Sentiment stamped with Ranger Archival Ink (Potting Soil). Bear stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink, colored with Copic markers, and fussy cut in order to add to the scene along with die cut snowbanks.
This snowman building teddy bear is also from the Christmas Bunch (30-520) stamp set and he’s having lots of festive fun. His holiday scene was created with our new Creative Die set, 51-475 Winter Roof, and miniature 3 x 4 inch transparent stamp set, 30-518 Stillness.
Products featured on the card above: 30-520 Christmas Bunch, 51-475 Winter Roof, 30-516 Smile All Season, 30-518 Stillness
Design details: To create background, ink white cardstock with Ranger Archival Inks (Veridian, Aquamarine) and Distress Ink (Antique Linen) using an ink blending tool and foam pads. Add die cut bulbs colored with Copic markers. Trees stamped using Veridian ink, using a stamp positioning tool (MISTI) allowing for multiple impressions to darken the color. Sentiment stamped with Ranger Archival Ink (Potting Soil). Snowman and bear scene stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink, colored with Copic markers, and fussy cut in order to add to the scene along with hand trimmed snow/ground.
And the Christmas Bunch (30-520) fun doesn’t stop there. We have one more card idea with this stamp set, combining this cute critter with our new Creative Die set, 51-470 Cut Out Wreath.
Products featured on the card above: 30-520 Christmas Bunch, 51-470 Cut Out Wreath, 30-516 Smile All Season, 51-465 Mitten Stocking, 51-449 Lamp Post
Design details: To create background, ink white cardstock with Memento Inks (Pistachio, Bamboo Leaves, Olive Grove) using an ink blending tool and foam pads. Die cut wreath from this background and layer onto dark green cardstock. Embellish with bow, pine sprigs, and bear—all colored with Copic markers. Finally, add small die cut snowflakes around the wreath. Sentiment stamped with Ranger Archival Ink (Potting Soil).
Before you go, don’t miss this week’s card on our SIMPLICITY site…
A Closer Look at WELCOME WINTER
Whether you are working on your Christmas cards, holiday tags and décor, everyday winter greetings, or masculine designs… our newest release, Welcome Winter, has something for everyone! Join us over the next few weeks as we take a closer look at the new stamps and dies included in this collection.
All new products (and a look at the complete catalog) will be available in our online store VERY SOON on Wednesday, October 10!
Today we take a closer look at an adorable stamp set that is sure to warm your heart during any of the cold winter months.
Introducing 3 x 4 Inch Transparent Set 30-521 Nose to Nose
On this first card 30-521 Nose to Nose was used to create a one layer watercolor scene. This design could be used for Christmas cards or sent anytime in the winter to cheer the recipient. In fact, change the sentiment for a birthday or anniversary for even more use!
Products featured on the card above: 30-521 Nose to Nose, 30-520 Christmas Bunch, 40-636 Birches
Design details: Onto Canson 140 Lb. Cold-Press Watercolor Paper, stamp main bear image using Memento Ink (Toffee Crunch). Stamp main image a second time onto masking paper, fussy cut, and adhere to first stamped image on the scene to be used as a mask. From masking paper, also hand trim a small hill/ground. Add to scene and then stamp trees in background using Ranger Archival Ink (Shadow Grey). Remove masks and paint entire scene with Sakura Koi Field Sketch Box watercolors and add additional shading and fur using colored pencils. Draw snowflakes using a white gel pen. Sentiment stamped with Ranger Archival Ink (Potting Soil).
Next, these adorable bears (30-521 Nose to Nose) were combined with our new Creative Die to create fun night sky.
Introducing Creative Die 51-461 Starry Night
Products featured on the card above: 51-461 Starry Night, 30-521 Nose to Nose, 30-516 Smile All Season
Design details: To create background, ink white cardstock with Memento Ink (Nautical Blue, Danube Blue, Summer Sky) using an ink blending tool and foam pads. Die cut stars from this background and layer onto cardstock inked with Distress Inks (Spiced Marmalade, Wild Honey). Add leftover stars from die cutting around the background, coloring them first with a blue marker. Layer bears, colored with Copic markers, and hand trimmed snow/ground to the scene. Sentiment stamped with Ranger Archival Ink (Potting Soil).
Sneak Peek Collection
As promised, we’ve collected all of this week’s sneak peeks from Facebook and Instagram so you are sure not to miss a thing! We will be back next week with a closer look at this new collection and a GIVEAWAY!
All new products will be available in our online store beginning Wednesday, October 10.
One more thing… TGIF!
“Like” our page on Facebook for exclusive inspiration by Birgit Edblom!
