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 gold 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!

Birch Press Design Sept Post #1

 Hello, hello!  Hope all is well in your world.  I have a post up on the Birch Press Design blog today and here is a little peek:

With summer almost over I went in a warm and cozy direction with this card.  I hope you will head over to the blog to have a look.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful 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!

Stamptember 2026 Blog Party!

 Hello and happy Stamptember everyone!   Today there is a big blog party, not a blog hop, going on with Simon Says Stamp offering different codes for deals all day long!   You can find the entire blog party list on the Simon Says Stamp blog.   Simon Says Stamp was so kind and sent me several products from the release.  I'm going to share a couple of cards that I made with those products.  But first up I will be sharing the special code that I have for an exclusive product.  You can get a set of SSS nesting star dies with a purchase of $30 and the code found in the graphic.  See the entire release right here.

Now on to what I created!

This first card features the fun Wavy Rainbow die set, as well as the gorgeous Opulent Happy die set.  I think this card may be going to my pink loving great niece who has a birthday this month.  I used Simon Says Stamp pink and white glitter cardstock for the die cutting of the Wavy Rainbow.  I then alternated the pink and the white and adhered it to a cardstock base.  I die cut the happy from glossy black cardstock and the shadow from heavy weight vellum.  The birthday sentiment is from a CZ Designs/Simon Says Stamp birthday sentiments set.   Very simple, but I think rather impactful.

This next card uses the super fun Layering Christmas Trees stamp set and the A7 Notched Rectangle dies set.  I don't often make A7 sized cards, but I think these dies will come in handy for other sizes of cards.  And maybe this will spur me to make a few A7 sized cards.   There are a whopping 15 dies in this set!  I used three to make this card.  One for the base and then two for the layers.   The Layering Trees can be used with two shades of ink, but for my card I actually just used one.  The first layer was very light and then I stamped the top layer several times to get the darker shade.   The little circles or ornaments come as a single stamp.  I simply cut them apart so I could stamp them randomly around the tree.  I did use a rather dark ink, but for some reason the glossy accents changed the color when it was applied.   I finished with the split sentiment. 

Well, that's it for me.  Enjoy the Stamptember blog party and happy shopping at Simon Says Stamp!  

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!