On the Birch Press Design Blog Today!

 Hello!  I'm up on the BPD blog today sharing a Christmas card made with several knew products.  Here is a little peek:

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!

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!

Masculine Cards

 Hello!  I'm popping in to share two cards that I made for my mom to give to her grandsons for their birthdays.  Both were made with products from the 49 and Market Wanderlust Explorer collection.  I will be posting the cards to the following challenges:  The Paper Players (masculine), Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge (masculine) and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge (masculine, as well).  The products I used while aren't from Tim Holtz have similar vintage vibe.  Let's have a look at the cards. 

Both cards have the exact same layout.  For this card I used a large airplane laser cut, as well as a backpack and a camera.  The patterned paper from the Wanderlust Explorer features a map in the background.  I layered everything on a kraft cardstock base and then added the gold foiled Memory Box sentiment.

For the train I used a patterned paper that features faded images of tickets and travel schedules.  The large train laser cut was paired with a steamer trunk, another vintage camera and the "happy birthday" sentiment from Memory Box.

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

Birch Press Design Blog Post #2

Hello, hello!  I'm popping in to let you know that I have a post up on the Birch Press Design blog today.  Here is a little peek of what I made:

Hope you will head over to the BPD blog to see what I made.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day.

December 25th

 Hello!  Posting has been sporadic, again, lol!  Have been making things and will be sharing some of them on Friday so stay tuned!  I did want to try to play along with JUGs before they take a break until January.  The challenge there is anything goes with stenciling.  I'm also playing along with the Paper Players which is a tic tac toe board.  I went with stenciling, Christmas and patterned paper.  Finally I will be adding this to the SSS Wednesday challenge.   In case you didn't know it is now DieCember over at Simon Says Stamp and so the Wednesday challenge is to use dies.   Whew that was a lot, lol!  Let's take a look at what I made.

Going through my stuff (I have too much!) and I found the Waffle Flower Postage Collage Christmas stencil set.   I honestly did not know that I had even purchased it.  Is that bad?   Well, now I know I have it and so I put it to use making today's card.  Since I was pressed for time I used the suggested distress ink color combo on the Waffle Flower website.   Blue wasn't included in the color combo, but I added it in for the sky behind the house and the reindeer.  Once I was done stenciling I also added some light gold embossing paste to the image with the trees.     I die cut the entire panel with the Postage Collage die and then layered it on some dark green plaid patterned paper.  To bring in a little bit more patterend paper I die cut some red with tiny dots using the smallest poinsettia die from an older Waffle Flower die set.   I created my poinsettia and added a drop of Nuvo drops in Limoncello.  Once that was dry I added everything to a card base along with a Memory Box sentiment tab and I was done.

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

Birch Press Design Post #2

 Hello!  I hope everyone in the US had a wonderful Thanksgiving day!  We had a nice, but quiet one.  Spent some time with my in-laws and then roasted our Thanksgiving chicken, lol!  It was delicious!  Anyway, I have a post up on the Birch Press Design blog today.    Here is a little peek:

Wanted to let you know that Birch Press Design is also having a sale.  25% off storewide, free shipping and a free gift!  Make sure you take advantage of the sale!   

Well, that's it for me.  I hope you head over to the blog to see what I created.  Thanks for stopping by!

Holiday Cards with Birch Press Design

 Hello!  I'm back with two cards that I made using new dies from Birch Press Design.   This release is another big one and it is jam packed with so many great designs.   I have been in a bit of a cardmaking slump lately, but creating with these dies has pulled me out of it... just a little, lol!   Let's have a look at what I made.

First up is a card that I made using the current sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.  I had to change the orientation of the sketch so that my handsome stag would fit!  The die is called Block Print Deer, but since he has antlers that would make him a stag.  Anyway, I die cut all the pieces from watercolor cardstock and then used my brown Aquaflow pen from Tonic Studios to get all the shades that I needed.  As he was drying I picked out a light brown and blue plaid patterned paper from the Memory Box Poinsettia Plaid 6x6 pad.  I die cut down a piece of light blue cardstock and then added the trimmed down patterned paper and a strip of gold foil cardstock.  I added my stag and then to tie it all together I used a Memory Box banner tab with a gold foiled sentiment.  Not a traditional Christmas card, but I like it.

On to my second card!

This card is for the current Sunday Stamp challenge which is also a sketch challenge.  I used three different dies for this card:  Simple Pine Needles, Block Print Winter Pinecone and Block Print Winter Cardinal.  We don't have cardinals in the Pacific Northwest so I have to settle for die cut ones, lol!  All the pieces for this card were also die cut from watercolor cardstock and then colored with Aquaflow pens in red, green, brown and a touch of yellow.    After everything was dry and assembled I added glue to the pine needles and pinecone and then poured on some Rock Candy glitter.  You can't go wrong with sparkle!  I die cut the rectangle from a piece of Memory Box Jolly Christmas 6x6 paper using a Pinkfresh Studio postage edge die.  The strip at the bottom is from the reverse side of that paper.  I adhered everything with glue so the card is still relatively flat.  Finished with another Memory Box sentiment tab.  ETA:  I'm also going to add this one to the current JUGs challenge.  This week is word week and the word is winter.  What says winter more than Christmas?! 

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

Papertrey Ink September Release - Part 2

 Hello!  I'm back to share three more cards that I made with products from the Papertrey Ink September release.   With all these beautiful Christmas themed products to work with I'm sure to get most of my Christmas cards made for the season!  Let's have a look at what I made.

This first card was made with the new Into the Blooms: Snowdrops die set, the This is Big Happy Holidays stamps and dies, the Stitched Snowflakes cover plate die, Rounded Rectangle dies and In Frame: Ovals dies.   I die cut the snowdrops from green and white cardstock and then added a little bit of Broken China distress oxide ink to the white pieces.  The stems were die cut from a medium green cardstock.  I adhered all the piece together with liquid adhesive and thin foam squares in a few places.  I then die cut pale blue cardstock with the largest In Frame: Ovals die.  I kept the two pieces together by securing them in place on the back with washi tape.  White cardstock was die cut with the largest Rounded Rectangle die and then run through my die cutting machine with the Stitched Snowflakes die.  I adhered that to a pale blue cardstock base and then layered on the ovals and the snowdrops.  I finished with the Happy Holiday sentiment.   I didn't stamp the sentiment and then die cut it as I wasn't sure I could get the die to line up correctly.  So, I die cut first, left the die cut in place, aligned the sentiment on top and then stamped using black ink.  Worked like a charm.  I die cut additional layers, adhered them together and then adhered the sentiment to the card front with liquid adhesive and thin foam squares.   A little bit of sparkle was added as well using Rock Candy glitter.   Going to add this card to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge of anything goes.

For this card and the third one I went with a traditional red and green theme with kraft instead of white as the background for a more homespun feel.  This card uses Love to Layer Christmas Tree dies, Fresh Greens hot foil plate, Rounded Rectangle Pierced dies and a sentiment from the Merry Motifs stamp and die set.    I had recently found a sheet of watercolor cardstock that I had used to create this dark green backgound using distress mica sprays.  I decided to use it for my Christmas tree.  I used Memory Box patterned paper from one of their Christmas pads for the garland and little ornaments.  I decided to bring gold into the mix with the star, little sparkle ornaments and the gold hot foiled frame.  The background needed a little something else, so I used one of the smaller pierced Rounded Rectangles to die cut the patterned paper I used for the garland to place behind the tree.  The sentiment was stamped in a dark red and die cut.  I then die cut a second layer from gold foil cardstock and adhered it behind the sentiment slightly off set.  It looks so pretty in real life. 

 I think this final card really has a homespun feel too it.  Again, done in red and green with kraft.  I think I should have maybe embossed the sentiment black, but there it is in white!  This card was made with Build a Christmas Tree dies, This is Big:  Happy Holidays sentiment set and the Rounded Rectangle Stitched dies.  Memory Box plaid cardstock was used for the background.   After die cutting the garland from a red cardstock I decided to jazz things up a bit by using red glitter cardstock for the ornaments.  The kraft bows dial the glitz back a little for a more homespun fell.  After layering everything on the tree and adhering it to the plaid background I stamped the sentiment on vellum and embossed in white.  Again, thinking maybe I should have used black, but what is done is done, right? 

Well, that is it for me.  I have made it through a large portion of the September release, but still have several more products to share.  So, I will be back later in the week with more Christmas cards!  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Simon Says Stamp/Memory Box STAMPtember Collaboration Release!

 Hello friends!  I'm popping in to share a couple of cards that I created with the new collaboration stamp and die set from Simon Says Stamp and Memory Box!   This super cute set is called Good Cheer and you can find it here.  Don't forget that it is a limited edition set so once it sells out it is never coming back.   Let's have a look at what I made.

This card was made with the sweet little snowman from the set along with the cute little tree and snowflake images from the set.  I also used the Birch Press Design Wavy Hillside die set.  Memory Box glitter cardstock with a light blue sparkle was die cut with the Wavy Hillside die for my snowy background.  I stamped the images with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and then colored them with Copic makers.  I arranged the hillside pieces and then stamped the snowflakes.  Once that was done I adhered the hills using thin foam tape for the bottom hill so I could slip the snowman behind and glue for the rests of the pieces.  I stamped the sentiment, die cut it with the matching die and then adhered it with thin foam squares.  I finished with a little bit more sparkle from distress Rock Candy glitter.

The stamp set also has two cute penguin images.  I did stamp and color both images with Copic markers, but I haven't gotten around to make a card with the second image.  I just love this cute little penguin holding a cup of hot cocoa!  There is even the image to stamp the steam... love it!  I used Memory Box Yuletide Plaid patterned paper for the background.  Die cutting the papers with Poppystamps Simple Rings (top circle) and Nordic Heart Pattern Rings dies.  I adhered them to a kraft cardstock panel die cut with a Memory Box rectangle die, stamped the sentiment and then added my little penguin, cup and the trees.  To give the card a little more of a Christmas feel I added the little yellow stars to the tops of the tree.  

That's it for me.  Make sure you check out this limited collaboration stamp and die set here on the SSS blog.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

a circle card...

 Hello!  I'm popping in to share a card that I made for a couple of challenges:  Just Us Girls (die week - floral dies) and Sunday Stamps (color challenge).   Simon Says Stamp has a challenge on Instagram this month to make a circle card and since I haven't made a shaped card in a long time I decided to go for it.  Here is what I made.

I used the super pretty Memory Box Gentle Blossom Watercolor Floral die set.  Full disclosure I almost destroyed the smaller floral die.  I wasn't paying attention, had my diecutting sandwich ready to go and then placed a second plate on top of the sandwich.  Tried running it through my diecutter, then realized that it was alot of work trying to get it through.  Caught my mistake, but I had already bent the die.  Thankfully I was able to bend it back into shape and it still cuts fine!  Disaster averted, lol.  Anyway, back to the card.  I used direct to paper inking to create the layers of colors that I wanted for the flower and leaves.   Diecut everything, created the flower and leaves and set aside to dry.  Die cut a circle card from white cardstock.  Die cut a second white circle for the front of the card and then embossed it with a pretty SSS embossing folder called Wistful Leaves.   I'm pretty sure that my sweet friend, Greta, gifted me this lovely embossing folder.  It has been on my desk for along time so glad that I was finally able to take it out for spin!  After embossing the circle I used the leftover ink on my purple blending brush to add a tiny bit of color to the leafy stems.  Finished with the sentiment from the SSS stamp and die set called Sweet Birthday. 

a nordic bunny...

 Hello!  I'm popping in to share a card I made for a few challenges:  Color Throwdown, Seize the Birthday and Poppystamps.  I don't often participate in the Poppystamps challenge, but the challenge this month is cute critters and a few months ago I purchased the super cute Nordic Winter Rabbit.  I have been wanting to make something with the dies and the Poppystamps challenge was the perfect vehicle.  The CTD combo was perfect, too!   Let's have a look.

For my bunny I went with a combination of solid cardstock and a bit of patterned paper.  The patterned paper is from the Memory Box Poinsettia Plaid 6x6 pad.   I used the same patterned paper for the circle that the bunny is sitting on.  That was die cut with the Poppystamp Scallop Pinpoint Rings set.  The main body of the bunny was die cut from kraft, as was the outer scalloped ring.  I used my favorite light blue cardstock to die cut the main parts of the bunny's sweater and hat.  I also used the light blue to die cut the background using the Scandinavian Snowflake background die.  I layered that on my white cardstock base, centered my circle element and then finished with my little nordic bunny and a Memory Box preprinted happy birthday label.   

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

Winter Wonderland Tag

 Hi friends!  Popping in to share a project that I made for one of my monthly Birch Press Design posts.  I have had this idea rolling around in my head for several months now and it pretty much turned out exactly has I had envisioned it would.  Let's have a look.

I started out by painting a #8 Tim Holtz thickboard tag with white paint.  Once it was dry I sanded off some of the paint (even though you don't really see it), applied some multi matte medium to the tag and adhered the patterned paper that came from the Memory Box Poinsettia Plaid 6x6 pad.  I roughed up the edges of the paper a bit and curled some of the corners, as well.  Then I added some Memory Box snowflake rubons to the tag.  

I die cut the Holly and Berries Contour Layers die from vellum and then added the "berries" using Nuvo drops in a matte gold.  As my blog title indicates, I was really going for a winter wonderland look so kept everything muted.  I had previously die cut the large circle from Memory Box cream woodgrain cardstock and had tucked into the envelop with the dies so I had that already to go.  I then die cut it further using the Wavy Hillside dies and adhered the layers to another die cut circle.  I used different heights of foam squares for the bottom and middle layers.  The top layer was adhered with glue.   I die cut the Littletown Village pieces from white cardstock and the patterned paper used for the tag base.  The houses were adhered together, glossy accents added to the roofs and then I dipped them in Rock Candy glitter.  

Before adding all the elements I applied some Icicle crackle paste to the tag and let it dry.  When the houses were dry I added them to the hillsides along with the trees.  The circle was adhered to the tag and then I added the vellum holly piece.  I trimmed the stem a little and removed one of the leaves that I tucked in behind at the top of the stem.  I finished off the tag by adding the little twine bow, the Memory Box white Christmas labels and some Snowfall grit paste.

I'm going to add this to the Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge to use die cuts.  Well, that's it for me.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wondeful day!

Autumn Greetings

 Hello!  Popping in with a quick share of a card that I made using the Color Throwdown colors (sort of?).  I will also be posting it to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge to add sparkle and shine.   Here is my card.

The colors at CTD are rust, amber and kraft.  I thought I had picked an ink that would provide a more rusty color, but it ended up being more dark orange.  But I think it will still pass muster.  I used the Greetery Autumn Sketch stamp and die set.  I die cut the branch first and then lined up the stamps and it worked perfectly.  I also stamped the little berry(?) image as well as additional single leaves.  I used an MFT rectangle stencil to add some kraft ink to the one corner of my off white panel.  I then stamped the greeting using the dark orange ink.  I added all the images.  The branch was popped up with thin foam squares and the berries and leaves were adhered with glue.  For the sparkle I added tiny Memory Box fairy jewels in dark orange and amber. 

celebrate today...

 Hello friends!  I'm popping in to share a card that was supposed to be posted to the Birch Press Design blog on Wednesday, October 16th.   Unfortunately, the BPD blog was hacked and Dave, the owner of Birch Press Design was forced to remove the entire blog!    I decided to share what I made here so those of you who aren't on Instagram or don't want to go to the BPD Facebook page can see what I made.  So here we go!

I used the recently released Meadow Berry Branch Contour Layers and Evening Moths dies set for my card.  I wanted bit of a fall/rustic feel for the card so I used orange Memory Box cardstock for the berries and two red Memory Box red cardstocks that are more on the coral side of red.  

I used glossy accents on the berries and moth and then sprinkled on Rock Candy glitter for some subtle sparkle.  I used a Poppystamps circle die set for the two circles in the background.  They were die cut from cream Memory Box woodgrain cardstock.   The background rectangle was die cut from Memory Box kraft woodgrain cardstock.  

After adhering all the pieces as you see, I finished the card with the Celebrate Today Noted Script hot foil plate that was foiled using matte gold foil.   A little side note about hot foiling.  I haven't done it in ages so I was a little worried that I had forgotten how.  Thankfully I remembered and my foiling turned out perfect!  

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

Birch Press Design Post

 Hello!  Popping in to let you know that I have a post up on Birch Press Design blog today.  Here is a little peek of what I made.

I hope you will head over to the Birch Press Design blog.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

hugs...

 Hello!  Popping in with a quick post sharing a card that I made for the Freshly Made Sketches challenge.  I think I will also add it to the Time Out challenge as I have used a flower on my card.  Take a look at what I made.

This card came about because I was making another card for a Birch Press Design blog post that will go live on Wednesday, June 12th.    I used the Perky Bloom Contour Layering die set and cut all the pieces from a light coral pink and a dark coral pink.  Then I alternated the two colors so I ended up with two flowers.  I was going to save this second flower for a later Birch Press blog post, but then decided to use the FMS sketch to create this card.  I used a strip of Memory Box patterned paper that I had on my workspace that coordinated with the flower.  I trimmed it down to make the two rectangular elements.  The BPD Big Hugs Sugar Script die and shadow were cut from the same two cardstocks and layered.  I adhered the flower using liquid adhesive and thin foam squares.  When I layered the elements of the flower I used the same method so there is lots of dimension in the flower.  I adhered everything to a white cardstock panel and then to a white card base.  I finished with Memory Box fairy jewels in a pale coral color. 

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