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  I originally made the above card for the Stamptember release, but the card did not have the little pumpkin or the ghost on it.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!

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!

you shine...

 Hello everyone!  September has arrived and fall is not far behind.  I have already purchased my first two pumpkins of the season, lol!  My card today isn't fall inspired, but rather a little moody.  This one will be heading off to Sunday Stamps (a sketch) and the Paper Players (candles).  Let's take a look at what I created.

I have had this lantern die from Memory Box for several years now.  I don't think it is even still available I have had it so long!  When I saw the challenge at the Paper Players I knew I wanted to use it.   I also knew I wanted to use the 49 and Market Starlight Dreams papers and ephemera that I have.  The Sunday Stamps sketch was the perfect vehicle.  I die cut the lantern from two patterned papers from Starlight Dreams:  a dark blue and a light gold.  I die cut the lantern and candle twice to make both a little more sturdy.  I added yellow Nuvo glitter drops to the flame to make it stand out more.  Die cut the patterned paper with a PTI Rounded Pierced rectangle die and stamped the sentiment.  I added the moon ephemera piece and then my lantern.  I finished off the lantern by adding light gold pieces to the top and bottom, the candle and the small floral pieces.  Love how it turned out. 

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!

Birthday Wishes

 Hello!  Popping in with a card for a few challenges:  Sunday Stamps (sketch) and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge (food or drink - some people think candy is food, lol!).  I had wanted to enter this in the Color Hues challenge, but missed the deadline.  Shoot!  Going to add this to Seize the Birthday in the anything goes category.    Let's have a look at what I created.

This card came about because I really like the sketch at Sunday Stamps and I wanted to make something with it.  In fact I liked the sketch so much I made another card using that same sketch.  I will be sharing that one on Friday on the Birch Press Design blog so stay tuned, lol!  When I started this card I originally made a little cupcake using the Sweet Birthday stamp and die set from Simon Says Stamp.  I stamped the cupcake pieces and colored them with Copic markers.  Once I put the cupcake together I didn't like it.  I really didn't like it after I decided to add some glossy accents and Rock Candy glitter.  So I threw it away and started over.  This time with the heart shaped lollipop in the stamp set.  I stamped it twice and colored each one with Copic markers approximating the Color Hues colors.   Once that was done I added highlights with a white gel pen.  I think I added too many, but what is done is done, lol!  I then die cut a panel of white cardstock and stenciled tiny blue hearts using Chipped Sapphire distress ink.  To keep the heart theme going I used a Poppystamps circle die set that features hearts.  I adhered that to my panel and then added the two lollipops.   The die cut sentiment is also from Simon Says Stamp and this was my first time using it.  I colored some white cardstock with two of the Copic markers used to color the fuchsia lollipop and then die cut the words.   I used extra heavy vellum to die cut the shadow layer, adhered the words with glue and then added the sentiment to finish the card.  

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

Snowflakes and hearts!

 Hello, hello!  I'm popping in today with two cards that I made using beautiful papers from Your Paper Insider Box 14!   Your Paper Insider contacted me through Instagram and asked if I was interested in creating with one of their boxes.  Of course I said yes!  Who wouldn't want to play with pretty cardstock and specialty papers?!?  The cardstock and specialty papers came beautifully wrapped in teal tissue paper and included a little sheet that shares information on some of the specialty papers and provides a list of everything in the box.  Boxes arrive 4 times a year (January, April, July and October) and cost just $29.95!  Shipping is included, too!  I think that is an amazing deal.  

The cards I made today will be heading to several different challenges:  Sunday Stamps (sketch), Color Hues (blue and white) and Inspired By challenge (I was inspired by the sketch).  The first card also works for the Paper Players clean and simple winter card challenge.  Let's have a look at what I made with some of the papers.

This card was made with shades of blue.  Specifically, Sapphire Colorplan cardstock, Baby Blue Thai Unryu (mulberry paper) and Blue Moon Cocktail.   I die cut the large center snowflake from the Blue Moon Cocktail.  It has this pretty subtle sparkle to it and is so pretty!  The smaller snowflakes were die cut from Sapphire Colorplan.  I cut a strip of the Baby Blue Thai Unryu and then used my wet fingers to pull off small pieces to give the strip that wispy look.  I do admit that I was worried that the strip would be too light, but it looks so pretty against the white cardstock.  I also like how it provides a nice softness to the overall design.   The sentiment is one that I hot foiled ages ago and I believe it is from Pinkfresh Studios, but I'm not sure.

Here is a shot of the two cardstocks and Thai Unryu paper I used along with the dies.  This card will be going to Sunday Stamps and Color Hues. 

 This card will be going to Inspired by Challenge and as stated above I used the sketch for my inspiration.  I used all speciality papers from the box for the main elements on the card.  The white cardstock used in both cards is what I purchased from PaperTrey Ink.   The papers I used are Magenta Thai Unryu, Magenta Non-Shed glitter and Light Pink Non-shed glitter.   I used two heart dies to cut the hearts from the glitter papers and then layered them using a thin foam square.  I trimmed down the Magenta Thai Unryu and used the same process I used on the Baby Blue Thai Unryu to create the wispy look.  I embossed white cardstock with a puffy hearts embossing folder, layered on the Thai Unryu paper and the hearts.  I finished with the little sentiment from the Simon Says Stamp Locket of Love stamp set.  Going to add this one to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge to use embossing.

This is a photo of the specialty papers I used for the second card.

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

snow happy...

 Hello, again!  Can't believe I'm back sharing another card, lol!  Guess my "dry spell" is over... ha ha!  Today I have a card for the current Sunday Stamps challenge and a new to me challenge:  Inspired By.  My bloggy friend Lisa shared a cute card she made for the Inspired By challenge and it inspired me to play along!  Let's see what I made.

The die set that I used to create my little snowman face was the DieCember 2024 die set that you got for free with a purchase of $30 of Tim Holtz products.  I had waited until later in the month of December 2024 to make my purchase so I didn't get the set until after Christmas.   I set the die set aside and promptly forgot about it.  Please tell me I'm not the only one who does that.  Throughout 2025 I found the set, looked at it and then put it back.    When I saw the Sunday Stamps sketch challenge I thought of the snowman face in the set and knew I wanted to combine it with some of the snowflake dies that I have.  I absolutely love how this card turned out!  To keep the snowflake theme going I added a panel that I embossed with the snowflake embossing folder.  Finished with a snow themed sentiment from a Simon Says Stamp set that I got a few years ago.  

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

Simon Says Stamp DieCember Blog Hop Day 1!

Hello, hello!   I'm so excited to be participating in the day 1 blog hop celebrating Simon Says Stamp's DieCember release!  It is huge and full of wonderful new products!   You should have arrived at my blog from Bonnie Crane's blog.    As you can see from the graphic Simon Says Stamp is offering a free gift with any purchase from the DieCember release and that free gift is an absolutely adorable snowman!  And Simon Says Stamp is giving away a $25 gift certificate at each stop on the hop!!  YAY!  

Simon Says Stamp was so kind and sent me several different products from the release.  Today I'm sharing cards that I made with a few of those products.   Let's take a look at what I created. 

First up is a card that I made using the really cool Forest Background die.  The die cuts out multiple tree lines and a thin border.  You can create a background like I did by keeping all the pieces together or create more depth to the layers by adding dimensional foam.   I started my card by coloring a piece of watercolor cardstock with Rustic Wilderness reinker.   I squeezed out the color from the bottle on to my Tim Holtz glass mat and then applied it to the cardstock with a wet paint brush.   Before applying the reinker I did wet the watercolor cardstock lighty with water.   I tried to have the bottom darker than the top.  It worked, sort of, lol!  Once my cardstock was dry I die cut it and then placed tape on the back to keep everything in place.   I did discard the top portion of the cut as I had created a second watercolor piece using Chipped Sapphire and Black Soot reinkers.    I let that piece dry and then die cut it with the top portion of the die.   Both pieces were then placed in my splatter box, liberally splattered with Simon Says Stamp white splatter medium and set aside to dry.  For the sentiment I used an older Simon Says Stamp peace die and two sub-sentiments from the SSS Stained Glass Greeting stamp set.  I die cut the word three times from glossy black cardstock and layered them.   To assemble the card I added foam squares to the back of the main portion of the background and adhered it to my card base.   For the top portion I used glue so that portion was flush with the card base giving a little dimension to the card.  I finished with the sentiments placed in the center.

For this card I used the new Radiant Burst die and the poinsettia image and sentiment from the SSS Holiday Gift Giving stamp and die set.  I placed the Radiant Burst die slighty off center on a white cardstock panel and then die cut it.   I stamped the poinsettia with Memento Tuxedo Black and then colored the image with Copic markers.   Die cut the poinsettia, two additional layers and glued them together.  Same was done for the sentiment.  I added some glossy accents to the center of the flower and then covered it with Rock Candy glitter.   I'm trying to be mindful of postage costs so I adhered the Radiant Burst panel to my pink cardstock base with glue.   I then adhered the poinsettia and sentiment.  My card is based on the sketch from Sunday Stamps so I will be adding it to their gallery. 

This card is a duplicate of the first card just with a different image, sentiment and color palette.   I couldn't decide which image I wanted to use for the initial card and so decided to just create two.  That means two more cards for my Christmas card stash.  The image was also stamped in Tuxedo Black and colored with Copic markers.   Diecutting and assembly is exactly the same as the first card.    

Which card do you like best?  I like both versions, but I'm a little more partial to the second card as I like bold jewel tone colors more than softer pastel colors.  

My final card is a departure from Christmas and a move to birthday.  This card was made with the Sweet Treat Critters stamp set and the Scalloped Shaker Shapes die set.   I did some masking to keep my card fairly flat for mailing.  Everything was stamped with Tuxedo Black ink and then colored with Copic markers.  I then die cut the image with the larger scalloped shaker shape.  Pink cardstock was die cut with an SSS A2 Frames die and then embossed with a fun puffy heart embossing folder.  I adhered the pink panel with double sided tape and the image with glue.  I finished with the speech bubble sentiments that were popped up with thin foam squares.  

Well, that is it for me.  Your next stop on the hop is Heejung Hunsberger.    A full list of blog hop participants can be found on the Simon Says Stamp blog.  I also have the list below.  You can find the full release right here.

• Simon Says Stamp Blog 
• Heather Hoffman
• Barbara Tarayao
• Cathy Zielske
• Jennifer McGuire
• Emily Midgett
• Amy Rysavy
• Heather Ruwe
• Lisa Addesa
• Miriam Prantner
• Cheiron Brandon
• Kath Stewart
• Caryn Davies
• Bonnie Crane
• Rosemary Dennis
• Heejung Hunsberger

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the hop!

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.

Friend... thankful for you

 Hello!  Popping in to share a card for a few challenges:  Just Us Girls (die week - leaves), Sunday Stamps (sketch), Color Throwdown (colors) and Die Cut Divas (anything goes).  Let's have a look at what I made.

So happy when I saw the challenge at JUGs was to use leaf dies.  I love leaf dies as they are so versatile.  You can use them any time of the year, but especially during the fall!   Because I wanted to make a card using the Sunday Stamp sketch I knew I needed a smaller scale leaf die and pulled out a favorite from Simon Says Stamp.  I have had them for along time and don't remember the name.  Not sure if they even carry them anymore, either.  I die cut them from white cardstock and then inked them up with the colors from CTD (orange, red and green).  I used some small postage stamp dies from Waffle Flower and die cut kraft cardstock to use to layer on my leaves.   The main panel was die cut with a Pinkfresh Studio postage stamp die.  I almost added little postmark images to the smaller stamps, but got sidetracked at one point and didn't go back to that idea.  Layered the postage die cuts on to the main panel and then added the leaves.  Finished with a sentiment from a Simon Says Stamp set called Cozy Autumn.  

Well, that's it for me.  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. 

Ocean Wonders...

 Hello, hello!  I'm popping in to share two cards that I made using the FABULOUS new Birch Press Design release!   This release is huge and while I do two monthly posts on the Birch Press Design blog (one coming on Wednesday July 9th) I will be sharing lots more here on my blog.  Let's take a look at what I made.

This first card using the new Block Print Deep Sea Fish set of dies.  Isn't that a cool fish?  Honestly, the whole release just makes me think of Finding Nemo!  I have so many ideas, lol!  I used the colors from Color Throwdown for my little scene.  I inked up sections of white cardstock with distress oxide inks in carved pumpkin, seedless preserves and frayed burlap.  I let them dry a bit and then die cut all my pieces.  Using the ink left on the blending brushes I added different colors to each of the pieces.  I love how the fish turned out.  The layout is from Sunday Stamps.  I will admit that I took a bit of license with the sketch.  I thought the top and bottom fins added those two additional elements on the sketch.  The kelp was die cut from a scrap of white cardstock and then inked up with the seedless preserves and carved pumpkin.  I added everything to a white cardstock base and then remembered I needed a sentiment.  Thankfully it stamped correctly, lol!  I used one from the Birch Press Design stamp set called Classic Sentimental Wreath.   Three clear sequins in three sizes were the finishing touch.

On to my second card.  This one is for the Paper Players to use circles.  Let's have a look.

I absolutely love the new Block Print Floating Jellyfish!  This card came about because I just wanted to figure out how the jelly comes together.  I die cut it from a dark blue cardstock and then worked out the layering.  I put the piece aside and worked on the first card.  After I finished the first card I really started looking at the blue jelly and realized I could make a card with it.  I added some ink to parts of the jelly.  The bottom legs of the fish were inked up with seedless preserves.  The middle layer was kind of left alone and then I really darkened up the top layer.  I die cut a circle from light blue and then added some ink to the circle as well.  The kelp was die cut from a bright green cardstock and then inked up with green and teal inks.  I used oxide inks and basically used what ink remained on the blender brushes to add the color.   The sentiment is one I hot foiled months ago using the Birch Press Sugar Scripts Sentiments 2 set.  I layered the kelp on the circle and then added the jelly.

In this close up you can see some of the ink blending a little better.  I added the circle to a white cardstock base.  Adhered the sentiment and then added all the little sequin "bubbles".  The sequins are a silvery blue.   I decided to add the panel to a bright green cardstock base and love how it makes the jelly really pop.   

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