Peace I Leave with You...

 Hello!  Popping in with a card that I made for the current Just Us Girls challenge which is anything goes with stencils.  I recently purchased two different stencil sets from PaperTrey Ink and really wanted to get something made with both and I actually did!  I'm thinking I will share the other card for the November JUGs stencil challenge.  Anyway, let's look at what I made.

Another recent PTI purchase was the Reflections:  John 14 stamp set.  I thought it went perfectly with the background that I stenciled using the PTI Leafy Garden stencil set.  I used Altenew inks in Frayed Leaf and Sugar Kelp.  Sugar Kelp is a dark green with a brown undertone that I thought would look good with Frayed Leaf and I was right.  I love it.   After all that stenciling I didn't want to totally cover it up so I used vellum for the verse and heat embossed it in gold as I thought that would look nice with the green inks I chose to use.  The stenciled panel and the embossed panel were die cut with PTI Rounded Rectangle Stitched dies.  For additional interest I wrapped a piece of twine around the larger panel and secured it in place with washi tape.  I then tied a bow with the same twine and glued it in place.  The vellum panel was place on top using foam squares which I discovered don't show through when placed behind the lettering!  Love this verse and love how the card turned out.  Simple, but effective!

Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely day!

Halloween and Christmas

 Hello!  As my post title indicates I have cards for Halloween and a card for Christmas.    The Halloween card is one that I actually made back in September using products from the Simon Says Stamp Stamptember release but never shared here on my blog.  The modified version is going to the SSS Wednesday challenge.  The other card is for the PaperTrey Ink monthly challenge, as well as the Sunday Stamps challenge (a sketch).  Let's look at what I made.

Can you believe that Halloween is just a week away?  Time is flying.  I'm not huge on Halloween, but I do like to make cards for my great nieces and great nephew.  I originally made the above card for the Stamptember release, but the card did not have the little pumpkin or the ghost on it.  I thought I had shared it on my blog, but I only shared it on Instagram.  You can see the original card here.  I used the super cute SSS Halloween Collage embossing folder and the Opulent Happy die.  The papers I used are from the 49 and Market Stardust Dreams paper pack.   As I was trying to figure out what to make for the kids I remembered this card and decided to create three more and then added the little ghost and pumpkin.  These are from an older Simon Says Stamp Halloween stamp set.  

For the Happy Halloween cards, I used a different background paper and then used the Halloween sentiment instead of Hauntings.  I think the cards are very cute (my kind of Halloween!) and they were super easy to put together.  This card will be heading to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge (Halloween).

For the PTI challenge card I used the Rustic Barn Star die set that I have had for about two years now.  I have always wanted to use it but never had the right project.   The PTI challenge colors are dark red, cream and kraft.  Perfect for this die set.  I did add in some gold foiling, gray and a little bit of dark green.  I just love the bow that comes in the die set.  Need to find another way to use it on a card and soon, lol!

Well, 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!

make a wish

 Hello and happy new year!  Popping in to share a card that I made for a few challenges.  It feels like I haven't made a card in ages.  I have just can't share them just yet.  Stay tuned for Thursday, January 8th when a new release from Simon Says Stamp drops!  Today's card is for Color Hues (red and gray), Just Us Girls (use a cover plate die) and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge to add a sentiment.  Let's have a look at what I created.

For my card I used PaperTrey Ink's Stitched Snowflakes cover plate die with Memory Box woodgrain cardstock.  I love the subtle look of the woodgrain texture with the snowflake pattern.  I die cut the Birch Press Design Block Print Perched Bird from gray cardstock and then blended on Lumberjack Plaid distress oxide ink.  Once the inking was done I adhered my little bird together.  I then die cut the Birch Press Design Simple Pine Needles from additional woodgrain cardstock and lightly blended on some Lumberjack Plaid.  I adhered everything to the panel and then decided to add some Rock Candy glitter.  It is hard to see in the photo.  Super gloomy day here in the PNW and so my picture isn't that great.  The sentiment is from the new Birch Press Design Plain and Simple Birthday Greetings stamp set. 

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

Fall and Christmas...

 Hello!  Fall finally seems to be in full swing here in the south Puget Sound!  I do like it when we have what is called an "indian summer", but this year it was way too hot for way too long and I was over it!  Our usual rain has arrived, but it was kind of a crazy transition.  Hot one day, cold the next, lol!   Anyway, as my blog title suggests I have fall and Christmas represented in this post.  Let's look at what I made.

First up is fall.  This card is for the current Just Us Girls challenge which features a pretty mood board.  I went with the colors and some of the fall icons.  I used the Simon Says Stamp Full of Thanks stamps, stencils and dies and lots of fall colored distress inks.  I used Scattered Straw for most of the foliage and then added different colors on top.  The pumpkin was done in Carved Pumpkin and then a bit of Ripe Persimmon.  Using stencils to color everything makes for quick crafting!  Die cut all the images then arranged them on a kraft panel to get placement for the sentiment.  Once placement was set I removed all the die cut pieces and stamped the sentiment using Versafine CLAIR Acorn ink.  Also used Acorn for all the images.  Thought about using a embossing folder to add some texture, but was too lazy to go looking for the one I had in mind, lol!  Adhered everything with glue (nothing popped up as I want to mail it without extra postage), added to a card base and I was done.

These next two cards are for Christmas and feature more products from the PaperTrey Ink September release.  I have finally worked my way through the majority of the products.   Let's have a look at what I made.

This card features the Nutcracker Magic suite of products and I love them!  I took ballet starting at the age of 5 and ending shortly after I turned 19.  During that time, I was able to participate in the Christmas favorite Nutcracker Ballet during the last three years I took ballet.  At that time, I was an apprentice in a local ballet company.  So, the Nutcracker is near and dear to my heart!  These products brought back so many memories.  And no, I wasn't ever good enough to be the Sugar Plum Fairy featured on my card!  But I was happy with the parts that I did perform.  Kept things fairly simple.  I had previously hot foiled the background panel using the Merry Motifs hot foil plate using pink foil but didn't use it for the intend project.  Thought it was perfect for this card.  I did use the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches so will post it there.  Stamped the Sugar Plum Fairy and the little swag with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and then colored with Copics.  Die cut the pieces along with the sentiment.  A bit of sparkle was added to the edge of her tutu and the berries on the swag using Rock Candy glitter.  Die cut the medium sized oval frame from white cardstock to provide her with a subtle frame and then adhered everything to the foiled panel.  

My final card features the fun 12 Days of Christmas stamps and dies.  Let's have a look.

For this card I stamped all the images with black ink and then pulled out my polychromos color pencils and colored them.  I will admit that I started strong and finished pretty weak with the coloring, lol.  I really like how all the birds turned out especially the turtle dove.  As I was working on the coloring, I sang the song that inspired these products.  I was doing pretty well remembering all the words until I got to eleven.  I had to stop and look up the lyrics to see what number 11 was.  It is "eleven pipers piping" and that is when I realized the problem.  The PTI image for number 11 is a horn!  Totally threw me off, lol.  The suite of products comes with that grid background die.  I can see using it for many other things besides these stamps and dies!   I did die cut additional layers for each little icon and then adhered them together.  I die cut the sentiment from vellum twice and then adhered them together.   I like how you can see the sentiment, but it also allows the images to peek through, as well.  Going to add this one to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge of Christmas.

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

Autumn Blessings

 Hey there!  Popping in to share a card that I made for the Color Hues challenge of rust and yellow.  I'm also going to add it to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge gallery since I think the card is pretty colorful (although maybe not super bright, lol!).  Let's have a look at what I created.

Toward the end of November last year I purchased the Greetery Oakwood set of products, but because Christmas card making was in full swing I never used the products.   Recently, the Oakwood products were featured at a 15% discount and it got me thinking about using them.   Thought the Color Hues combo was a perfect vehicle.   I started by using the stencil set to inkblend the leaves using distress oxide inks in Rusty Hinge and Fossilized Amber.   For the stems and acorns I used Gathered Twigs and Frayed Burlap.   After stenciling the leaves, acorns and stems I added the details on the leaves with the stamp set.  I used Gathered Twigs to add the detailing on the leaves and acorns and Black Soot for the stem.  Then I die cut everything with the matching die.  I love the soft matte look the distress oxide ink gives to the leaves. I then stamped the word Autumn using Fossilized Amber and Rusty Hinge and the word blessings was stamped in Gathered Twigs.  Used PTI dies for both of the background layers.  Additional layers of the oak leaves and words were die cut and stacked behind.  I them adhered everthing to the card front.  I finished with a little bit of Rock Candy glitter to the leaves and acorns.

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!

PaperTrey Ink September Release!

 Hello, hello!  Have you seen the September release from PaperTrey Ink?  It is absolutely amazing!!  PaperTrey Ink generously sent me products from the release.  I will be sharing projects that I have made with the release over the next few weeks.  Let's take a look at the first set of cards I made using release products.

Who doesn't love the Christmas poem Twas the Night Before Christmas?  When I opened the package from PaperTrey Ink and saw the Twas the Night Before Christmas products I was in heaven!  I loved reading the poem to my boys when they were little.  I would read it almost every night until Christmas day arrived.  I read it so much I could recite it from heart!   Besides using the Twas the Night Before Christmas products I also used the new, Nutcracker Magic stamps and dies, Storybook Scroll die collection and the Cover Plate:  Stitched Snowflakes die.   Kept things simple by using PTI Rustic Cream cardstock for everything.  The scroll and accompanying pieces were diecut and then inked with Antique Linen distress ink for an aged look.  I then assembled the scroll.   The Twas the Night Before Christmas stamp set includes the main sentiment and then a few small images to use with the sentiment.  I used one to place at the bottom of the scroll.  For the top of the scroll, I used an image from Nutcracker Magic for the swag at the top.   The sentiment and the larger swag were stamped in brown ink to keep the aged look going and then inked with Antique Linen distress ink. The larger swag was colored with Copic markers.  I stamped the smaller swag in green ink and the berries using a light red.  I then added red berries using Nuvo drops.    Rustic White cardstock was die cut with the Stitched Snowflake die and then I assembled the card.  Thought about adding some glitter, but decided against it.  Maybe next time!

For my second card I used the 2 Corinthians stamp, outline die and background dies and the Merry Motifs hot foil plate.  I used the color palette from Color Throwdown so I will be posting this card in their gallery.  I hot foiled the Merry Motifs on light blue cardstock using Skybright hot foil.  The larger of the two background dies was used to cut dark blue cardstock and the smaller one die cut the same light blue cardstock used for the foiled background.  The sentiment was stamped using Altenew Terracotta ink.  I did also use an image from the Merry Motifs stamp and die set stamping the image with the Terracotta ink.  Die cut the image and the sentiment and then layered everything on a card base. 

That's it for me, but I will be back soon with more projects made with this fabulous release.  Stay tuned, lol!  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

two cards...

 Hello!  Popping in with a couple of cards.  One card is for the Altenew August challenge and the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge of anything goes.  The other card will be heading off to the current JUGs challenge and Color Throwdown.  Let's look at what I made.

I often think I would like to participate in the Altenew monthly challenges, but then the month goes by and I don't.  I decided to make sure that I did participate in the August challenge and here I am, barely getting it in on time, lol!   Only took me four days to get the card done!  I used the Japanese Mum Build a Flower stamp set (Does Altenew even still have that line of stamps?  I don't know because all my Altenew products are several years old!).  It is a favorite.  I paired it up with one of their dotted impression plates (don't know the name because it is old, too, lol!) and a sentiment from their Versatile Greetings 2 die set.  That isn't super old having been released in 2023.  All the inks are from Altenew, as well.   Won't win any prizes, but I thought it turned out well.  

It is stencil week at JUGs and lucky for me I got the PaperTrey Ink In the Meadow stencil set this week!  I immediately put it to use with the Color Throwdown colors to create this card.  The sentiment is the January 2023 Psalms Reflection stamp.  This is one of my favorite Bible verses.  Sometimes when I'm having a not so great day, I remember this verse and it makes me feel so much better!   So you could still see all the stenciling I did with Altenew inks in reds and aquas I embossed the sentiment in white on vellum.  It was a bit tricky to get the panel adhered, but I think it turned out okay.  

That's it for me.  Don't forget about the sales at Birch Press Design and Poppystamps.  You just might find something fun to buy.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Easter Wishes...

 Hello!  Happy last day of February!  Look at me... posting three times in the last two days!  What is going on???   Guess the crafting bug got ahold of me, lol.  Today I have a very simple design that I'm sending off to the Sunday Stamps challenge (closes in mere hours, yikes!), Freshly Made Sketches and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge.  Let's have a look.

The Sunday Stamps challenge features a gorgeous color palette designed to get us thinking spring!  The more I looked at the colors the more I wanted to create something that reminded me of the forsythia that grew beside the front porch of the house I grew up in.   It wasn't until I was older that I learned the name of those flowers, but I always loved seeing the bright yellow blooms that started appearing in the spring.  I thought the Birch Press Design Budding Twigs Contour Layers die set was perfect to create my budding forsythia.  There are two sizes in the die set and I went with the smaller of the two.  I used my favorite yellow cardstock (Lemon Tart from PTI) and my favorite dark brown cardstock (Dark Chocolate from PTI) to die cut my pieces.  There are three layers to each twig.  Two of the layers create the little buds.  I left the top bud layer the Lemon Tart color and the bottom layer was inked up with a dark yellow ink to create the contrast.  The pieces were adhered together and set aside to dry.   For the background I blended Speckled Egg distress oxide ink onto white heavy stock cardstock.  Heavy stock is super smooth and perfect for blending.  I arranged the twigs per the FMS sketch and then stamped the sentiments (from the new SSS Bunny Blessings stamp set).   Thought about adding something else, but decided I really liked the simplicity of the design.

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

beach vibes...

 Hello!  I'm popping in today with two simple cards that have a very beachy vibe to them.  I don't often do beachy themed cards, but after these two I think I will try to do more!  Let's have a look at what I made.

This first card is for Color Hues and Freshly Made Sketches.  The colors at CH this time around are white and aqua.  Nothing says "beach" more than white and aqua.  I had just recently picked up Summer Shells and Just Sentiments: Summer from PaperTrey Ink so I just had to use them for the card.  I die cut all the pieces, placed them on my Waffle Flower grip mat and inked them up with Pinkfresh Studio Turquoise ink.  I die cut the center square using a rounded square die from Reverse Confetti and stamped the sentiment in the center.  Then I inked the edges with the turquoise ink that remained on my blender brush.  I adhered all the elements and then as an afterthought decided to add some Rock Candy distress glitter.  I applied Glossy Accents selectively and then added the glitter.  I let it dry fully before shaking off the remaining glitter.   Love the clean and simple beachy vibe!

Now for my next card. 

This card is for Color Throwdown.  Wasn't sure I would get something made, but then I looked through this coastal/beach themed pack of chipboard ephemera from 49th and Market that I got for free (love that!) from Scrapbook.com.   I have never purchased 49th and Market products before, but the chipboard pieces inspired me to take a look at their product line.  I ended up purchasing some washi tape stickers that they make.  Anyway, the pack had several pieces that fit the CTD colors so I arranged them on a kraft cardstock background and I was done.  Love quick and easy cards like that!

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

you are loved...

 Hello!  I'm popping in with a card for several challenges:  Freshly Made Sketches, Color Throwdown and the Tic Tac Toe challenge.   I don't think I have ever participated in the Tic Tac Toe challenge, but when I saw Lisa from My Paper Tales' card for the challenge I had to play along!  This is what I created:

The CTD colors this week are so bright and pretty.  I mean who doesn't love pink, yellow and green together?  It just says spring and so does the pretty You Are Loved stamp and die set from PaperTrey Ink.  It was one of my purchases when I won a gift certificate during the February release.   I used Pinkfresh Studio inks to do all of the stamping.   For the tic tac toe portion of the challenge I went with the bottom row of foliage, embossing and critter.  My critter is the tiny dragonfly perched on the wreath.  Hope that is sufficient!  I hadn't originally planned to emboss the background, but like I said I was inspired to do it because of Lisa.  I used a Simon Says Stamp embossing folder Blossom Field for the background.   The FMS layout calls for a square, but I rarely do square cards so I went with my usual A2 size.   

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

bird's nest...

 Hello!   Wishing everyone a very happy Easter!  I'm popping in to share a card that I made using the current Freshly Made Sketches layout.  And since the challenge at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge is anything goes I will also be posting the card there.  Take a look at what I made.

Lately I have been trying to make a point of using products that I purchase as soon after I receive them as I can instead of getting and then putting them away.   This card uses one of my my recent purchases, PaperTrey Ink's Into the Blooms:  Nest die set.  In February I was the lucky winner of a $100 gift certificate for commenting on their release day blog post!  I had been eyeing the Into the Blooms: Nest die set and so picked it up along with a few other new items.   When I saw the layout for Freshly Made Sketches I thought a bird's nest would be perfect.  I started by using my Crooked Broom distress mica spray and some old Tsukeniko walnut stain spray on distress heavy stock.  I sprayed the heavy stock with water first and then added the other sprays letting them mix.  Because I wanted to get working on the card I used by heat tool to dry the piece of heavy stock.  Then I die cut out the pieces of the nest.  I had lots of pieces of heavy stock that I had sprayed with a combo of other mica sprays and so I used those for the leaves, eggs and flower.  Once I had everything die cut and assembled I dug through my large supply of 6x6 paper pads and came across this very old Basic Grey Serenade pad.  The colors in the pad were perfect for my little nest.  I die cut two different pieces and layered them on my kraft cardstock base.  I layered on the nest and then finished with a Memory Box pre-foiled sentiment tab.  

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

just because...

 Hello!  Popping in with a quick post of a card I made for Color Throwdown and Freshly Made Sketches.  Still not making any headway on cleaning up my crafty space.  Hopefully that will happen soon, lol!  Here is what I made.

Went very simple with this card.  I used a Poppystamps die called Maple Symphony to die cut my little maple leaves.  I used distress inks in Carved Pumpkin, Aged Mahagony and Festive Berries on white cardstock to get my colors.   The Aged Mahagony is coming across as a bit brown, but in real life it is definitely maroon.  Anyway, I used a very old PTI die that cut this little notebook page as the backdrop for my leaves.  I die cut it from white, a strip from kraft and then glued them together.  I popped the piece up on a white card base with foam tape.  I added the leaves and the sentiment that is from the Simon Says Stamp Happy Hello stamp set.  I cascaded the leaves down the notebook page ending with the gold glitter one that I placed directly on the card base with foam squares.    Took me no time to put together!  Since I did stamp the sentiment I'm going to add this to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge. 

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!