sunflowers...

 Hello!  I'm back with a card for two challenges:  Freshly Made Sketches and Sunday Stamps.  Sunday Stamp has a beautiful fall color palette for the current challenge and I just couldn't pass it by!  Let's see what I created for the challenges.

A few Simon Says Stamp releases ago one of the products I received from them to create with was the super pretty Sunflower Meadow stamp set.  At the time I didn't have the matching dies, but knew I wanted to get them.  I finally did about a month ago.    Stamping the images without the dies made me realize that this would be one of those sets that you should probably die cut first and then stamp.  I was correct in my assessment!   I have to let you know that I messed up the stamping multiple times.  Mainly because my stamps were too sticky and kept pulling my die cuts off the sticky mat I had placed them on.  Finally after three attempts I was successful!  I used inks from Pinkfresh Studio for all my stamping and I hope I got most of the colors close to the Sunday Stamps palette.    I placed all the images on a Simon Says Stamp tag using glue and finished off the tag with some black twine.  I was gong to leave the background panel plain white, but then decided to find an embossing folder that I thought would work with the images.  I found a Simon Says Stamp embossing folder and ran it through my machine without any shims to provide more pressure.   Doing this allowed me to end up with a panel that had only some of the embossing.  I really like the partial embossed look.   Everything was adhered to a white cardstock base and I was done.

That's it for me.  Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely day!

Peace on Earth

Hello, hello!  Been awhile again, but I'm back with a card for a few different challenges:  Freshly Made Sketches, Color Hues, CAS Christmas challenge and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge.    So, let's have a look at what I made.

The CAS Christmas challenge is to use a poinsettia on your card.   I love me some poinsettias, so I had to play along.   Birch Press Design has a new poinsettia die set called Block Print Poinsettia Vase and it is gorgeous!  I used the vase dies and the poinsettia dies along with an oldie, but goodie notebook paper die from PTI for my elements.  To get the Color Hues colors (burnt red and amber) I used direct to paper inking using Fired Brick and Fossilized Amber distress inks.  The Poinsettia Vase die also includes stems with leaves, but since I was trying to use only the Color Hues colors I left them out.  The vase was cut from the Fossilized Amber and the two pieces layered together using thin foam squares.  I die cut the flowers from the red and the centers from the leftover amber.  I then layered the flowers and centers together.  I die cut the notebook page from white cardstock and adhered the vase and flowers.  This was then added to a white panel layered on a white cardstock base.  I finished with the sentiment from the new Tim Holtz/Simon Says Stamp Season of Wonder stamp and die set.

Well, that's it for me.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day. 

this card isn't for everyone, lol!

Hello!  Popping in to share a card that I willing admit is not for everyone.  In fact I'm not sure it is for anyone, lol!  But here I am to share it.   It will be heading over to Freshly Made Sketches, Color Hues and Just Us Girls (stencil week).  Let's have a look at what I created. 

I have taken to calling this one "camo leaf" because it does look like camouflage to me.   Making this card was definitely a challenge when it came to the color combo!   I used the Simon Says Stamp Oak Leaf stencil and die set.  And I will admit it took me at least three tries to get the colors I was going for.  As you can see from the Color Hues badge artichoke has a gray undertone.  I don't have any inks in that color, but I think combining the purple with the closest green I had to artichoke provided me with a green more in line with artichoke.  All the inks I used are from Altenew.  I even inkblended on white cardstock so I could die cut out the word "blessed" in the same shade of purple I used on the leaf.    I decided to go with an embossed background (Simon Says Stamp Whirlpool Spinner).   Let me you what you think of my "camo leaf"!

 

Well, that's it for me!  Hope you have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by.  

Congratulations...

 Hello everyone!   I'm popping by today to share a card that I made for my niece.  She is currently in her senior year at the United States Naval Academy.  Along with excelling academically she is an amazing golfer and was name team captain of the USNA woman's golf team!  I am so very proud and excited for her.  So, I had to make a card congratulating her on this huge achievement.  I'm about a month late in getting this card to her as she was named team captain in August, but unfortunately I had to order the Waffle Flower golf dies and then find the time to make the card.  I used the current Freshly Made Sketches layout so I will be sending this off to their gallery.   Let's have a look at what I created. 

I diecut all of the pieces from cardstock using the USNA school colors of white, navy and gold.  Then I assembled the golf bag.  I also die cut the golf clubs from gold metallic cardstock and adhered them behind the bag.  The "golf course" was created using the Birch Press Design Wavy Hills die.  The pieces were then adhered to a light blue cardstock base.   I made the golf ball from white and light gray cardstock and the pennant from light gray and the navy blue.  I adhered all the pieces to the card front and finished with the banner sentiment.  Now to finish the inside of the card with a personal note and get it in the mail!

That's it for me.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day.

Simon Says Stamp/Memory Box Stamptember 2026 Collaboration - Stay Cozy!

Hello!  I'm popping to share a card that I made with the SSS/Memory Box Stamptember collaboration stamp and die set called Stay Cozy.  This stamp set is so darn cute and it coordinates with the SSS/MB collaboration from last year!  So if you were able to get those stamps and dies you now have more options!!  Here is a look at the stamps and dies:

Isn't it cute?  I just love everything about this set!  I was a little crunched for time when I created my card, so I went very simple.   I also used the current Freshly Made Sketches layout to help me along!  So, I will be sending the card off to their gallery.  Let's look at what I created.

I stamped the image in Tuxedo Black ink and colored it with Copic markers and then die cut it with the matching die.  I also stamped, colored and die cut the ornaments.  I used papers from an older Memory Box pad of plaid Christmas papers for some of the elements from the Freshly Made Sketches layout.  I adhered everything to a kraft cardstock base and then added the kraft circle, the snowman and ornaments.  The sentiment was stamped, die cut with the matching die and adhered to the card front.  Simple, but I like how it turned out.  

Don't forget that once these products are sold out they won't be coming back.  Grab them while you can. You can find the stamp and die set here and the stamp set here.

That's it for me.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

hello...

 Hello!  Popping in on this second to last day of August (how did it get to the second to last day of August so fast?!) with a card for a few challenges:  PTI monthly inspiration challenge, Freshly Made Sketches, Paper Players (I used the diagonal row of layers, free and bright colors.) and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge.   Let's look at what I made.

The PTI leaf stamps and dies I used are called Lovely Leaves and I think this is the first time I have used them despite having them for a very long time! (I just checked and it appears the stamps and dies are no longer available.)  The sentiment is from the Just Sentiments Summer stamp set.  I used the three required colors (Pure Poppy, Tropical Teal and Green Parakeet).   I stamped the leaves using the three colors and yes, some of them did end up a little muddy in color.  But, I wasn't too upset as that is what happens when leaves start to change colors... things get a little muddy, lol!  To get the colors blended I initially stamped the leaves in the bright green and then added in the other colors using finger daubers. Once that was done I stamped the outline and veining with black ink.  Prior to doing all the stamping I did die cut the leaves, left them in place in the cardstock and then did the stamping.  I think I got a good result.

Using the PTI Rounded Rectangles Pierced dies I die cut rectangles from cardstock in the three colors and layered the red and teal on an off white cardstock panel that was die cut with the largest Rounded Rectangles Pierced dies.  I then adhered the teal and red rectangles to the main panel per the FMS sketch.  The leaves were then layered on top and I finished with the sentiment stamped on the smallest Rounded Rectangles Pierced dies.

I'm glad that PTI brought back their monthly challenge.  Most of my PTI products are old and no longer available on their website, but that doesn't mean I can't use them!  

Well, that's it for me!  Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely day!

fall is coming...

 Hello!  Yes, fall is coming.  In fact, it is just over a month away.  I love fall!  It is my absolute most favorite time of the year.  The weather can still be a little warm, but not too hot.  Just the way I like it.  So, I have a fall inspired card to share today.  I will be adding it to the following challenges:  Color Hues (yellow and orange), Paper Players (fall themed CAS) and Freshly Made Sketches.  Let's see what I made.

I used the Tim Holtz/Sizzix Leaf Fragments dies and several different distress sprays (Flickering Candle and Jack-o-Lantern mica spray and Fossilized Amber distress spritz).   I sprayed sheets of cream heavy stock with the sprays and then let them dry.  I also sprayed the left over sprays in my splatter box with water and then dragged more heavy stock through that.  I actually used that sheet for my leaf.  Unfortunately, there is more yellow than orange in my leaf.   So I added the orange sequins.  I did add score lines to the kraft cardstock, but they don't show up in the photo so you will have to take my word for it.   Finished with the sentiment.   I feel like this card is a bit of a fail, but let me know what you think.

That's it for me.  Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely day.

A Tale of Two Cards

 Hello, hello!  I'm back with more to share.   And as my post title indicates it is two cards.  Both made using the same sketch from Freshly Made Sketch.  Both are Christmas cards, but one is more traditional while the other is quite quirky and moody.  The more traditional card will be heading off to Freshly Made Sketches, the Paper Players (colors), and CAS Christmas challenge.   I will add the moody card to Just Us Girls (second entry)  Let's have a look.

This card isn't super simple, but it is rather clean in the design and elements.  So, I hope it passes muster with the CAS Christmas challenge.   As you can see I did use the Paper Players colors of aqua, teal, red and tan (I used kraft cardstock).   All the dies are Tim Holtz/Sizzix dies.  Specifically, Dash Away All (a Diecember 2021 exclusive) and Christmas Cutouts.   The sentiment is a Memory Box foiled sentiment tab.  I didn't exactly follow the FMS sketch as I was working from memory, but I think I'm still pretty close.   

Now for the quirky card.  Again, the take on the FMS sketch isn't exactly spot on, but still pretty close, I think.  I decided to add this one to Just Us Girls as it is die week and it is anything goes.   The idea for this card came about when I was looking through my patterned paper stash and saw 49 and Market's Starlight Dreams paper pack.   I thumbed through the pack and came across the piece I ended up using.  A nighttime sky with moody clouds and a scattering of stars.  I found coordinating papers in that sort of yellow for the moon and light blue.  When I did all the die cutting I originally die cut the peace sentiment out of the yellowish paper and Santa from the light blue.  I put everything together and didn't like, at all.  Not one bit!  So, I decided to die cut Santa and sleigh from black glitter cardstock and the peace sentiment from the same patterned paper as the background.  Liked it much better but still wasn't super happy with the card.  Added the black glitter stars and still wasn't happy, but the more I look at it the more I like it.  Because I wasn't wild about this card I decided to make the second card that you see above.  Let me know what you think.

That's it for me.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Flowers...

 Hello!  I'm popping in on this day before the 4th of July to share a couple of cards that I made for a few challenges.  One card is for the Just Us Girls challenge and Sunday Stamps.  The other card is for Freshly Made Sketches.  Let's have a look at the cards.

This card is for the JUGs and Sunday Stamps challenges.  The JUGs challenge is to use a die set that hasn't seen love in awhile.  Sadly, I have way too many of those in my stash!  But I was able to settle on this one from Simon Says Stamp called Sunrise Stem.  I die cut the flower and stem from scraps that I had on my desk from a few project that I had made recently.  I did add some blue inking to the flower center to give it a bit more depth.  I didn't add any additional color to the stem or the flower center.  I diecut the rectangles per the Sunday Stamp sketch using rounded corner rectangle dies and then used the largest in the set for the background.  I adhered everything to a white cardstock base and then finished with a sentiment from the 2023 Memory Box/Simon Says Stamp Stamptember stamp and die

set called So Kind.

I recently bought a set of products from the 49 and Market Faded Memory Lane collection and have been wanting to use them.  Finally, the FMS sketch gave me that opportunity.  I used laser cuts, cello tape and a tiny piece of patterned paper for all my elements.  The sentiment is also from the So Kind stamp and die set.  Super simple card.  Die cut off white cardstock, add the cello tape and then glue on the elements per the sketch.  Finish with the stamped and die cut sentiment.

Well, that's it for me.  Hope you have a wonderful day!

I'm So Grateful...

 Hello!   Well, it has been a while, again, since I last posted.  This seems to be my pattern:  Post several cards then disappear for a week or so.  Don't think the pattern will change anytime soon, either.   It isn't that I'm not making things because I am.  I just can't share what I have made yet.  But I'm here today with a "I just want to make something" card.  I will be sending this one off to Color Hues (yellow and black), Freshly Made Sketches and Just Us Girls (moodboard).   So, let's see what I made.

I had been going through some cards that I had made a long time ago and came across a card that I had made using this pretty Memory Box die set called Cottage Flower Stem.  I decided that I need to find that die set and make another card with it.  And here it is, lol!  I die cut just the flower from yellow cardstock and the flower with stem from white cardstock.  I did add a little bit of distress oxide ink in yellow to the flower center and to the bottom layer to provide a little contrast.  For the FMS portion of the card I die cut a piece of patterned paper from the Simple Stories Simple Vintage Indigo Garden using a small rectangle die.  I created the flower and then adhered that to the white flower stem.  The rectangles were layered on a white cardstock panel and then I added the flower.  I thought about having the leaves be black, but decided against that as I felt I had enough black already.  I did add some pale yellow sequins, tho.  Finished with the sentiment from the Simon Says Stamp Thanks, Mom stamp set. I thought about creating a card for JUGs using lots of flowers, but decided that this single yellow flower worked for the challenge.   Let me know what you think.

Well, that's it for me.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Guest Designing for Not 2 Shabby!

Hello!  Popping in to share my first of four cards I will be sharing this month as a guest designer for Not 2 Shabby Shop.  They have lots of fun and playful branded products in their shop, as well as products from other companies.   You can check them out here.  I was contacted by them a few months ago about guesting for them and said yes!   This month I will be creating with products from their monthly paper pad club, as well as using some of their preprinted sentiment strips.  Let's look at the first card I created.

 Aren't those little turtles just the cutest things?  This card will be going to one of my great nieces for sure!  I did make a bit of a mistake in that I should have put the smallest turtle (the one with the ice cream cone) in the center, but sometimes you can still make a rookie mistake, lol.   The turtles are from the Sweet & Playful Turtles ephemera pack and the papers are from the Cute Sea Critters and Playful Prints 6x6 paper pads.  I used the layout from Freshly Made Sketches (did flip it upside down, tho) for the card.  Finished with the sentiment (from Simon Says Stamp) that I stamped on the same paper I used for the main background.  I will also be posting this over at Seize the Birthday as it does have the topping of sweet treats!  This card just makes me smile.  How about you?

Well, that is it for me today!  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day.

just for you...

 Hello, hello!  I'm popping in to share a card that I made for a few challenges:  Freshly Made Sketches (two weeks in a row... yay me, lol!), Just Us Girls (stencil week) and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge (anything goes).  Let's look at what I made.

I hadn't bought a Simon Says Stamp card kit in several years and decided to purchase the one for May, 2026.  I was intrigued by the stamp set Long Stem Florals and the stencil that went with the stamp set so decided to save up my money and get the kit.   I was disappointed that by the time I got the kit it didn't include the Simple Stories Simple Vintage Junk Drawer papers, but some very unattractive Tim Holtz papers.  One of the patterns actually looks like a cross section of a lung dyed blue!  Yuck!  Anyway, I have lots of Simple Stories papers that will works so all is well.  Anyway, as you can see, I used the stamp set and stencils, but no patterned paper.  I also used the smallest tag from the die set included in the kit.  I had intended on participating in the most recent Color Hues challenge, but knew I wouldn't have it done by the time the challenge closed.   But I liked the color combo so much (violet and lime green) that I decided to use it anyway.  I thought the stamped and stenciled floral image, as well as the little tag were perfect for Cecile's super cool FMS sketch.  I went with vellum for the tag so you can still see some of the stem underneath.   The sentiment was heat embossed.  I finished with the white twine and some iridescent sequins.

Well, that's it for me.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

best day ever...

 Hello!  Popping in with a quick share of a card that I made for a couple of challenges:  Freshly Made Sketches and Card Concept.  I haven't participated in either of these challenges in a while.  Just haven't had the motivation to make cards (except for obligations) lately.   Trying to change that state of mind, lol!  Let's look at what I made. 

The FMS sketch is a simple one so that made things a bit easier for me.  Using chipboard and patterned paper helped speed things along, as well.  The theme at Card Concept is seaside/nautical and since I had recently made a couple of nautical theme cards, the 49 and Market Summer Porch products were still fresh in my mind.  Card is pretty straight forward:  Clean and simple with a few layers.  Die cut patterned paper to feature the sailboats, added the chipboard lighthouse and sentiment, a couple of pieces of cello tape and the butterfly.  Added that piece to more patterned paper, a cardstock base and boom... I was done!

Well, that is it for me.  Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely day!

just for you...

 Hello, hello!  I hope that everyone is doing well.  Spring is here and with the arrival of spring I got the worst cold I have had in about four years!   Knocked me on my butt cold!  This whole week has been a struggle to get anything done, but I did manage to make a card for a few challenges... only took me two days, lol!  I will be sending this card off to Freshly Made Sketches, JUGs (stencil week) and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge (anything goes).  Let's look at what I created.  

When I saw it was stencil week at JUGs I immediately thought of several Waffle Flower stencil sets that I have but have not used.   One of the sets is called Painted Flower.   I thought it was a fun and unusual looking flower when I purchased the stencil and die combo.    The large center element on the FMS sketch looked perfect to create using two of the flowers.  So, I pulled out some coordinating Altenew Fresh Dye inks and got to work between blowing my nose, lol!  I used additional Waffle Flower products to complete my card:  A preprinted sentiment strip, some patterned paper and A2 frames die set.  Simple, but given my week I think I did pretty good!

Well, that's it for me.   Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely day!