The Clue of the Black Keys

It is time for a new Nancy Drew Challenge!  Today we're investigating #28, The Clue of the Black Keys, take a look:

Bill Gillies did the artwork for the OT on the left, and I think I heard in a podcast that he based his Nancy on his wife.  She seems to be wearing the same sweater she had on for The Secret of Red Gate Farm.  The scene is a bit crowded with the other three guys on the cover while they unearth literal buried treasure.

Rudy Nappi did the artwork for the RT on the right, it's the same scene but I like that this one only has Nancy and one other person in it so the focus is more on the treasure chest.  The silver is supposed to be tarnished so the black chest on the OT might be more accurate, but artistically, I like the brighter colors and focus of the RT art.  Plus you really get the jungley feeling with all the plants around Nancy.

Let's take a look at the mystery.

Case file:  Nancy is contacted by Terry Scott, a professor who was working on an archaeological dig in Mexico in search of treasure.  He and his partners found three black keys and a cipher stone, but now those items are missing and so is one of the professors working with Scott.  All Terry has is half of a black key.  Nancy's investigation leads her to Florida and then to Mexico and of course she finds the treasure and the missing professor.

Here's my card:

Of course I had to play with the idea of a black key for my card, and I remembered there was a key pattern in an old pack of DSP called Fan Fair, so that's where I started my card.  It was my great good luck that the colors match the colors Nancy and one of the men on the cover are wearing:

I used the map pattern for the background as well as the panel with the key and sentiment on it, I liked the map aspect because it makes me think of a treasure map, and Nancy travels in this one.  She's kinda Indiana Jones-ing it in this book.

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Artifacts, You're a Gem
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Island Indigo
Paper:  Primrose Petals, Basic Black, Fan Fair DSP
Accessories:  Tasteful Labels Framelits, Rustic Metallic Dots, Dimensionals

On to the revised text:

The story plays out the same way as in the OT, just condensed to 20 chapters vs. 25.  Here's my card:

I really wanted to lean into the jungle theme on this card, so I chose the Tropical Oasis DSP.  The treasure in the book is inside of a silver frog and they call it "the frog treasure", so of course I had to use the little guy from Animal Outing, and that sentiment just makes me laugh.

I used two different extra-leafy tropical patterns to make it feel like the jungle is closing in on Mr. Frog there.  Shaded Spruce and Pretty Peacock aren't listed in the colors for the DSP, but they sure look like they're in it to me!  I popped up the Pool Party circle on Dimensionals, and then popped up the frog and his branch on another layer of Dimensionals.

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Animal Outing & coordinating Paper Pumpkin stamp set that I don't know the name of
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Blends in Shaded Spruce, Granny Apple Green, Soft Suede
Paper:  Shaded Spruce, Pretty Peacock, Thick Basic White, Tropical Oasis DSP
Accessories:  Animal Friends dies, Layering Circles Framelits, circle punch, Pretty Peacock metallic ribbon, Pretty Peacock Foiled Gems, Dimensionals

I enjoyed this installment, I give it four stars.  It's got some fun elements in it and who doesn't like looking for buried treasure?  If you are inspired by this book, leave me a comment as I would be delighted to see what you make too.  Stay tuned next Saturday when we unravel The Mystery at the Ski Jump.  Cheers!

Hobby Hello

Afternoon, y'all.  Ryan and I went to the potluck and both ate waaayyyy too much sugar (the gingerbread bars were great--with dinosaur sprinkles on the cream cheese frosting--but the Mississippi mud stuck to the pan something crazy.  Still tasty though) and then went Christmas shopping for the hubs and Daph.  And now I want a nap, but first I have a second card to share today:

I got the Hobby Haven DSP last month I think and this is the first time I've cut into any of it.  I thought the die cut shapes in the pack would be great with the Atlantic Hearts sketch:

Same sketch I used for this morning's card, but this time I kept the original orientation.  I did mess up the measurements on the DSP layer as I meant to have even borders all around but somehow it ended up being a quarter inch short, but it's okay.  The banner shape and all the images on the right of the card are pre-printed and die cut in the DSP, though I did trim the white borders a bit on the shapes.  Then all I did was add a two-part greeting from Branching Out and some Charming Shimmer Faceted Dots, and it's done.

Might see if Daphne will let me up on the oversized chair with her, I could use some doggo snuggles and a nap right about now.  Cheers, y'all!

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Branching Out
Ink:  Garden Green
Paper:  Pool Party, Garden Green, Thick Basic White, Hobby Haven DSP
Accessories:  Charming Shimmer Faceted Dots, Mini Dimensionals

Pineflake

Mornin' y'all!  Ryan is at school for some kind of elementary assessment thing (he says they have to do reading on a computer) and I have to pick him up in a half hour, which is happily enough time for me to enjoy my morning cuppa : ) and share a card.

I finally made a pineflake!  I bought Delicate Pines months ago and before now I'd only used one of the greeting stamps, so it was fun to make a pineflake for today.  Love this different take on snowflakes.

I took the Atlantic Hearts sketch and turned it on its side:

My sentiment doesn't show up as well as I might like, but I had already stuck down the DSP when I stamped it so that's how it is.  The pineflake was sinking into the background a little too much, so I added a second pineflake stamped in Shaded Spruce on Old Olive cardstock, glued them together and popped it up on Dimensionals, which I think solved the problem.  I added a mini pineflake in Cherry Cobbler and a few Gold Textured Dots to finish it off.

I made another card with this sketch before this one and I'll share it this afternoon if I can.  After I pick Ryan up, we've got to walk Daphne (of course) and then there's a potluck thing at the hubs' work (this time I got all three planned desserts made ahead of time), and after that I'm going to take Ryan to do some Christmas shopping.  So that's the plan for today.  Cheers, y'all!

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Delicate Pines
Ink:  Shaded Spruce, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler
Paper:  Shaded Spruce, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Thick Basic White, Elegant Pine DSP
Accessories:  Delicate Pines dies, Gold Textured Dots, Dimensionals

Christmas Plaid

Mornin' y'all!  I had some fun in my craft room yesterday, which is good since today will be spent in the kitchen.  I have brownies baking for Mississippi Mud right now.  But let's talk about today's card:

I thought about adding gold accents, but I decided I liked it how it is.  I was inspired by the Card Concept challenge:

I like the picture, but I'm glad my kitchen isn't all white ; )  The photo led me to do a CAS design with a white card base and a limited use of patterns.

This also counts for the Festive Friday challenge:

My second time playing this challenge, I got red, white, green, stripes (the DSP strips count as stripes, right?), Christmas tree, and Christmas sentiment.  I stamped "Merry Christmas" on the inside of the card.

Next up is the Color Dare Challenge:

I see that as Real Red and Evening Evergreen, which dovetails perfectly with the Card Concept inspo pic.

And last up, the CAS Colours & Sketches challenge, also for the second time:

Here's the sketch I chose this time:

Man, I was all set to say I followed the sketch more closely this time, but I did put the sentiment underneath the other elements instead of on top.  Oh well, I still like what I made.

Brownies are about to come out of the oven so I'd better get ready to add the marshmallow fluff on top.  Cheers!

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Perfectly Plaid
Ink:  Evening Evergreen, Real Red
Paper:  Thick Basic White, Lovely in Linen DSP, Peaceful Prints DSP
Accessories:  Pine tree punch, Dimensionals

You're a Mean One

Mornin' y'all!  Had to go to the store this morning because I am once again baking for a potluck at the hubs' work.  This afternoon I'll be making the dough for orange crinkle cookies (take this lemon crinkle cookie recipe and use thawed orange juice concentrate and orange zest in place of lemon), and tomorrow I'll be making the gingerbread bars I didn't get to make before Thanksgiving as well as a family recipe for Mississippi Mud (which is brownies topped with marshmallow creme and chocolate ganache).  For now I'm waiting for the orange juice concentrate to thaw, so I have a load of dishes running and I need to move clothes into the dryer.  After I finish my cuppa tea while writing this blog post.  And even then I'm going to take Daphne out before I do anymore household chores.

But for right now, how about a fun card?

The card is a lie because all I want right now is a NAP.  I used the two Grinchmas stamp sets from The Ink Road, which are no longer available (sorry) and somehow this is the first time I've used either set.  I really wanted to make a Grinchy card ever since I saw Jaydee's card for the Paper Players challenge this week.  (Also I will neither confirm nor deny that I bought the dies she used as soon as I saw her card.)

I have three challenges today, starting with TGIF Challenges:

Perfect Grinch colors!  Next up is the Festive Friday challenge:

I've got red, white, green, and stripes.  Next up actually I'm not sure my card counts...the CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge:

Here is the sketch I chose:

I'm not sure my card counts for this sketch because the Grinch is nowhere close to that oval shape, but that is where I started my card-making process.

Alas, my tea is gone so it's time to walk the Daphinator.  Then I will need another cuppa tea, it's chilly out there.  Cheers!

Supplies:
Stamps:  Grinchmas Volumes 1 & 2
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Blends in Real Red & Granny Apple Green
Paper:  Coastal Cabana, Thick Basic White, Let It Snow Specialty DSP
Accessories:  Dimensionals, Red & White Peppermints

Dolly Christmas for SUO Challenges

Morning came a bit earlier than I wanted it to today, but it's time for the final SUO Challenge of 2025!  (Don't worry, we'll be back in January!)

And here it is:

Something easy for the end of the year busy season, right?  As long as you only use Stampin' Up! products, it counts for this challenge!  So here's what I made:

I am (finally) in the mood to make Christmas cards, so I was looking through this year's stamp sets and came across Long Time No See and I just had to ink up this cutie pie again.  I also had to break out the Christmas Tags & More DSP Stack that I got in my most recent SU! order (which was...near the beginning of November?).  I had to use my favorite plaid from the stack (I love plaid) and the green starburst pattern, which is my favorite non-plaid in the stack, is the opposite side of the paper.  I added two gifts for Dolly to carry (I named her after my friend Lynn's doggo, though her Dolly is blonde like her namesake) (HI LYNN!), fussy cut her out, and added a few Delightful Decorative Dots to finish my card.  (Today's blog post is brought to you by parenthetical asides.)  (I need more sleep.)  (Or tea.)

Now it's your turn!  Make anything with Stampin' Up! supplies and link it up on the SUO Challenges blog.  Doesn't have to be Christmas related : )  Have fun!

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Long Time No See
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Garden Green, Stampin' Blends in Pecan Pie, Real Red, Soft Sea Foam
Paper:  Garden Green, Soft Sea Foam, Thick Basic White, Christmas Tags & More DSP Stack
Accessories:  Textured Notes dies, Dimensionals, Delightful Decorative Dots

Jolly Mistletoe

Mornin' y'all!  I've been busy this morning, running some errands, and I bought Daphne her own Christmas stocking this morning--it's in the shape of a bone : )  I picked up a couple of decorations too, slowly adding to my collection.  Oh, yesterday we all went to see Zootopia 2 at the movie theater and it was so much fun!  All three of us really enjoyed it, both my guys said they liked it better than the first one and we rewatch the first one on the regular so that's high praise.

Anyway, I have a card to share that I forgot about last week so here it is:

I used the Freshly Made Sketch posted last Wednesday:

Something about this sketch made me immediately think of the Framed & Festive stamp set that came out a few years ago (I know it was while I was in Germany, so it's at least three years old) and then I thought of the DSP that went with it and it's got such fun, not necessarily traditional colors in it.  My favorite is the Night of Navy pattern with the mistletoe on it, and I had a large scrap of it so I started my card there and chose the other patterns to coordinate.  Quick and easy card.

Since I was out running errands for a couple of hours, Daphne is now doing her puppy dog eyes routine to go on her daily walk...we are about an hour and a half behind schedule, so I'll have to acquiesce to the cuteness.  Cheers!

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Framed & Festive
Ink:  Polished Pink
Paper:  Polished Pink, Balmy Blue, Thick Basic White, Fitting Florets DSP
Accessories:  Layering Circles Framelits, Lots of Labels Framelits, In Color Opal Rounds, Dimensionals