fallish wreath...

 Hello!  Can't believe that September is almost over.  Fall is definitely in the air here in the Pacific Northwest.   The rain is falling, the wind is blowing and that means I had to get out my warm coat when I take our dog for a walk.   I don't walk when it raining hard, but I do love getting out once the rain has passed as the air is so fresh, clean and full of the smell of falling leaves!  Anyway, on to my card.  It is for Color Throwdown and Freshly Made Sketches.   Will also add it to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge of anything goes. Take a look.

As I have stated in the past, Scrapbook.com often has freebies and about a week ago they offered this die wreath.  I couldn't resist so I made a small purchase.   When I saw the FMS sketch I thought the wreath would be fun to use.  I die cut mossy green and rust colored cardstocks with the wreath then glued them together.  The is a separate circular die that I cut from kraft cardstock and stamped with the sentiment from a Simon Say Stamp with VersaFine CLAIR Acorn ink.  I die cut off white cardstock with a rectangle die and then adhered the wreath and sentiment.  I found a piece of mossy colored twine that I wrapped around the panel and tied in a bow.  

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Birch Press Design Post

 Hello!  September is almost over and today I have a post up on the Birch Press Design blog.  Here is a little look at my card:

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

two cards...

 Hey!  Look at me posting two days in a row, lol!   That hasn't happened in a very long time.   Today I have two cards to share for two challenges that I normally combine:  Freshly Made Sketches and Color Throwdown.    First up is the card for FMS.

I recently got this fun jack-o-lantern die from Simon Says Stamp.  I wanted to use it for the sketch that FMS featured last week, but I just never got around to it.  Too busy cross-stitching and other things, lol!  When I saw this week's sketch I immediately knew I would be able to use the jack-o-lanterns with the sketch.  And I continued my love affair with distress mica sprays.  I used Harvest Moon and Mulled Cider mica sprays for the jack-o-lanterns.  Once my cardstock was dry I die cut them and then backed their faces with glossy black cardstock.   That was the easy part.  Then I had to figure out the sort of artistic portion of the sketch.   I wanted to use a mica spray, but sometimes things can go awry when trying to get the spray where you want it.  So I tried out a couple of stamped images, but didn't like any of them.   I die cut a piece of white cardstock, placed it in my splatter box, took a deep breath and sprayed.  It came out exactly as I wanted it to the first time!  YAY!    I placed the pumpkins approximately where I wanted them and then stamped the sentiment using VersaFine CLAIR Nocturne ink.  I thought the card needed a little something else so I pulled the spider web image from the stamp set that the sentiment came from and stamped it with the Nocturne ink.   I piled on the pumpkins and I was done.  I really like how it turned out.  Clean and simple, but with a bit of mixed media!

As many of you know Stamptember is happening right now at Simon Says Stamp.   Lots of different stamp companies collaborate with Simon Says Stamp on limited edition stamp and die sets.  In 2021 Concord & 9th collaborated with Simon Says Stamp to create the stamp and die combo called Double the Thanks.  That is what I used for my card.  I have to be honest and tell you that after I got the products I wasn't really sure that I should have even purchased them.  Do you ever do that?  Get caught up in the moment and buy something that in retrospect you probably shouldn't have?  Anyway, I decided to get it out to make a card using the CTD colors.   And I have to say that I like how it turned out.  To jazz things up a bit I added the background that I embossed with a WeRMemorykeepers embossing folder.   I used all Pinkfresh Studio inks for the stamping.  The finish touch was Nuvo drops in Morning Dew to the center of the flowers.  I had to do the drops in stages on the sunflower as the dot are tiny and very close together!

Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely day!

so very...

 Hello!  Seems like it has been awhile since I lasted posted.   Honestly, haven't felt much like making cards.  I would rather be stitching, lol!   But I did make something to share.  This card is for a challenge that I rarely get the opportunity to participate in... JUGs!  Loved the inspiration photo so just had to make something.  I also going to add this to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge to use a background stamp.  The circular image in the back is small, but it is a background stamp.  Take a look.

Last year I fell in love with distress mica sprays.  I hadn't really been that interested in sprays of any kind because they tend to be a little messy and I don't like to get things messy.  But for whatever reason I decided to buy a couple and the rest is history.   I own all of the sprays that came out last year (except one) and several of the sprays that were released this year.  For this card I used two new sprays (Fallen Acorn and Flickering Candle) and one old (Burning Ember).  I used all three on the bottom die cut leaf and Burning Ember and Flickering Candle on the top skeleton leaf.  The leaf die, circular background image and sentiments are all from Concord & 9th.  The leaf die and sentiments are from the Thankful Leaves turnabout bundle and the circular background image is from the Eclectic Garden stamp set.  I used Scattered Straw distress ink for the background image and VersaFine CLAIR Acorn ink for the sentiment.   I thought the card was a little too plain so I added some splatters using the Flickering Candle mica spray and a small paintbrush.  

Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely day!

Birch Press Design Wednesday

 Hello!  I'm up on the Birch Press Design blog today.   Here is a little look at what I created:

I hope you will head over to the Birch Press Design blog to check out what I made.  Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely 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!

sympathy...

Hello!  Hope all is well in your world.  Popping in to share a card that I created for Color Throwdown.  I will also be posting it to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge of anything goes.   I have been making a half-hearted attempt to get a handle on things in my crafty space.  However, what keeps happening is I'm finding things that I purchased in the past and have never used... Yikes!   Today's card features one of those newly found products.  Take a look at what I made.

I was going to try to make a card that used the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches and so I thought I would go through my PTI products to find the background die you see.  It is Border Bling:  Blooming Hearts.   As I was going through things, I found PTI's Into the Blooms:  Fun Flowers.  I had purchased it a long time ago, but never used it.  So, I decided to remedy that situation on the spot!   So, I started by die cutting all the piece from white cardstock and then I inked up the flowers in a light pink and a darker more magenta pink.  The leaves and stems were inked in a bright green.  Then everything came to a halt until the next day.  The I layered all the pieces and started figuring out my arrangement.  Then another work stoppage ensued until Saturday afternoon (September 2nd) when I finally finished the darn card, lol!   I finished the card with a sentiment from the PTI Just Sentiments:  With Sympathy set, pink Nuvo drops to the centers of the flowers and the little white twine bow.   

Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely day!

It's STAMPTEMBER!

Hi everyone!  September has arrived and that means that STAMPTEMBER has arrived, as well.  If you haven't heart of Stamptember I will fill you in.  Stamptember is Simon Says Stamp's celebration of all things crafting.  The month is filled with special collaboration releases from many of your favorite stamp companies, special edition crafty kits and so much more.  Today Simon Says Stamp is kicking things off with a blog party (not a blog hop)!  You can see the list of all participants on the Simon Says Stamp blog.  Each participant has a special code to share.  Using my code will allow you to get the Fancy Love die set for free with purchase!   See the graphic below for the code:

The code is good until September 3, 2023 at 11:59 pm ET.  

Simon was so kind and sent me the super cute Happy Hauntings stamp set to create with.  I'm not a huge fan of Halloween, but I now have one great nephew and three great nieces and the cute little dragon images are perfect to use to create Halloween cards for all the littles in your life!   Take a look at what I created.

There are four images in the stamp set and lots of fun sentiments.  I stamped all the images using VersaFine CLAIR Nocturne ink on watercolor paper and then watercolored them with my Jane Davenport watercolors.  I was going to color two of the dragons purple, but loved the first two so much in the bright green that I did all four that way.  How cute are these two little witch dragons?  I just love the one with the balloon.  I have never seen the Nightmare Before Christmas, but I'm very aware of the main character Jack Skellington and the balloon face reminds me of him!  

I love pumpkins so I was happy to see two of the dragons carrying pumpkins.   Once all the images were colored and dry I die cut them with a small rectangle die and then moved onto creating the backgrounds.  I used the SSS Ticking background stamp from the July release and stamped it using Spiced Marmalade distress oxide ink.    I distressed the edges of the rectangle using Peeled Paint distress oxide ink and a very light distressing of  Black Soot distress oxide ink.  I layered the backgrounds on lime green cardstock.   For a little more interest I stamped the spider web in the corner of each piece and then added some silver stickles (which you can't really see in the photos).   I love how they turned out!

Thanks for stopping by today and enjoy the Stamptember release blog party!  Don't forget you can see the entire release right here. 

Birch Press Design on a Tuesday

 Hi everyone!  Can't believe that August is almost over!  Fall is right around the corner and today I'm on the Birch Press Design blog sharing a fall inspired card using items from the new release.  Here is a little look at what I made.

I hope you will swing by the Birch Press Design blog to see the full project.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Freshly Made Sketches 600 Sketch Celebration!

 Happy Wednesday everyone!  Today Freshly Made Sketches is celebrating their 600th sketch and they asked me and other past "Queen of Clean" winners to participate in the celebration!   Take a look at the sketch and then the card I made. 

Isn't that a great sketch?  Of course it is because all the FMS sketches are great, lol!  Here is how I interpreted the sketch:

For the circular element in the sketch I used the super pretty Thanks for Being There stamp and die set from Pinkfresh Studio.  I stamped the image with VersaFine CLAIR Nocturne ink on watercolor paper and then colored it with my Jane Davenport watercolors.  Once it was dry I die cut it with the matching die.  I'm also going to add this card to the August Pinkfresh Studio challenge (sparkle & shine) so I added some sparkle to my card with leaves die cut from gold glitter cardstock using the Leafy Branch die.  For the background and the strip element I used the Pinkfresh Studio Sparkling Diamonds cover plate die.  I used the gold glitter cardstock for the strip element, as well.  I finished off the card with the sentiment and lots of sparkling gems in the centers of the flowers.   Adding this to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge, as well. 

I hope you will play along with the FMS challenge this week.  They have some fun things in store for you.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

thankful to know you...

 Hello!  Hope everyone survived the heat.  We didn't have it too bad here in the south Puget Sound region of Washington state, but it was still a little too warm for my liking.    With things being too hot for me I did a lot of cross stitching and a little bit of card making.  Put together this card for Freshly Made Sketches and Color Hues.

I still seem to be in a bit of a creative slump when it comes to making cards.  I think I need to take a little time off to clean up my crafty space and do some long overdue purging.   I have a couple of things to share over the next two weeks so I may try to just limit myself to that.  We shall see, though, lol!   I used a cute little sunflower die set that I got as freebie in my most recent Scrapbook.com order.  Thought it was perfect to use for the Color Hues combo and the FMS layout.   After diecutting all the elements I needed I tried to figure out how I was going to put things together.  At first I had a cardbase in the same red I used for the flower centers that I was going to layer a white panel onto.  Didn't like that so I tried embossing the white cardstock.  Still didn't like it.  Tried the embossed panel on a white cardstock base and that was a big NOPE, too!  Finally decided to find some patterned paper and pulled out this red polka dot.  Trimmed it down to size and then placed it on my white cardbase with all the other elements.  Yep, that was going to work.  Adhered everything in place and then added the sentiment and a yellow twine bow.  My card is pretty clean and simple so I will also add it to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge. 

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

two cards...

 Hello!  I'm popping in to share two cards that I created using my stash of Concord & 9th products.  One card is for Color Throwdown and the other card is for Freshly Made Sketches and Color Hues.   First up is the card for CTD.

I love this pineapple stamp and die set from C9, but often forget that I have it.   I have never been to Hawaii and probably will never get the chance to go, but with the wildfires that have been raging on Maui this set came to mind.  My sister-in-law is Hawaiian and so I checked in with my brother to make sure that her extended family on the island was okay.  Thankfully none of her family or friends appear to have been touched by the fires.   I stamped the pineapple in black ink and then used Pinkfresh Studio inks to stamp all of the images.  I die cut the image and then several blanks of the pineapple to layer behind.  I had a scrap of white cardstock that I had embossed with an embossing folder so I trimmed that down, added a little strip of gold glitter cardstock and adhered it to my card base.  I added the pineapple and the sentiment banner.  You can just barely see it, but I also added a little strip of gold glitter cardstock to the banner.  

I went really simple for the card for FMS and Color Hues.  I used the C9 Eclectic Garden stamp and die set.  I stamped the grid image in both corners using a teal ink from MFT called Tropical Teal on a white cardstock panel.  I die cut the main floral image from white and the flower from orange.  The flowers were adhered and I added the diecut to my panel.  I tried stamping the sentiment on a banner, but it didn't look right so I stamped the sentiment directly on the panel.  Thankfully it stamped perfectly the first time!  I finished off the card with some little clear gems in the center of each flower. 

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Birch Press Design post

 Hello!  Hope your week is going well.  I have a post up on the Birch Press Design blog today and here is a little peek:

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you will head over to the Birch Press Design blog to see the full project.  

thanks for everything...

 Hello!  Popping in with a card for a challenge that I don't often get a chance to participate in... JUGs!  But, my friend, Greta, is the guest designer for this month so I was determined to get at least one of their challenges completed!   It helped that it is a color challenge and I love me a good color challenge, lol!  Take a look. 

A few months ago I got a free Sizzix die set when I made a purchase at Scrapbook.com.  I used the die set not long after I received which is rare for me.  I put it away, but it was in a spot where I saw it all the time.  So I decided to use it to make my card.  I was rummaging around and found a Spellbinders honeycomb stencil and decided to use the two products for my card.  I used Pinkfresh Studio Lemon Whip ink to do some partial stenciling and then die cut the panel down using a rectangle die.  I cut the flower and leaves from Spellbinders cardstock in shades of blue and green and then adhered all the pieces.  I determined where I wanted the sentiment (from Simon Says Stamp) and stamped it using VersaFine CLAIR Nocturne ink.  I then adhered the leaves and flower using a combination of foam squares and liquid adhesive.  

Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely day!

magnolia birthday...

 Hello!  Hope that your August is off to a great start.  Honestly, I really can't believe that it is August already.   Things are moving way too fast if you ask me, lol!  Anyway, I'm popping in to share a card that I made for Freshly Made Sketches and Color Throwdown.  Take a look at what I made.

I have been in a bit of a creative slump lately.  Sometimes things come together and sometimes the just don't.   Last week I made a card using the CTD color combo and the FMS sketch that I absolutely hated!  To the point where I didn't even post it because I hated it just that much!  That doesn't often happen, but it was just indicative of where my creatively was at last week... no where, lol!   So when I saw the new sketch and color combo I had to try, again.  I'm happy to say that I do really like the card that I created.  This one uses the Magnolia Blooming Bud die from Memory Box that I purchased several months ago.  It has been sitting on my desk waiting patiently to be put to use.   I used Memory Box white and kraft woodgrain cardstock for parts of the bloom and then created custom colored cardstock for the leaves.  I die cut all the pieces and assembled them using liquid adhesive.  The whole MB magnolia line is gorgeous and so someday I would like to get the other dies.   After the fact I realized that I could have used white woodgrain cardstock to make my custom colored cardstock, but I like the contrast of the smooth leaves with the woodgrain stem and flowers.  I did custom color a piece of the woodgrain cardstock so I could cut a strip from it for the sketch.  I used a Hero Arts ink that was a nice sage green for the custom coloring.   The sentiment is from the Simon Says Stamp Happy Hello stamp set.  

Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely day!

Birch Press Design Post

 Happy Friday everyone!  I have a post up on the Birch Press Design blog today.   Here is a little peek.

Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely day!

Simon Says Stamp Just a Note release!

 (For a chance to win a Waffle Flower grip mat, please click here.)

Hello!  Popping in to share a couple of cards that I made with a product from the Simon Says Stamp July release called Just a Note.  Simon was so kind and sent me the Ticking background stamp.  I love a good red rubber background stamp and this one is very versatile!   Take a look at what I created.

For the first card I stamped the background using Simon Says Stamp Fog ink and then die cut the panel.  I used the Color Hues combo of berry and olive for the rest of my elements.  The large Fancy Hello sentiment was die cut from olive cardstock three times and adhered together.  I used heavy weight vellum for the show portion so that the background would peek through.  The hearts and sentiment are from the SSS Happy Hello stamp set.   I used Pinkfresh Studio Berrylicious ink for that.   Originally I had stamped the sentiment directly on the background, but when I stamped it a second time the panel shifted slighty.  I decided I didn't want to start over so I simply stamp the sentiment on white cardstock, die cut it and then adhered it over the top of my mistake!  

For this second card I stamped the background in Pinkfresh Studio Lemon Whip ink, then turned the background stamp so the lines were in landscape and stamped in Pinkfresh Studio Apricot ink to create my plaid background.    I stamped the images from the Simon Says Stamp You Shine stamp set with VersaFine Clair ink.  Once they were dry I did simple watercoloring with my Altenew gouache paints, let them dry and then die cut with their matching dies.  I arranged the images on my card so I could stamp the sentiment.  This time there was not shifting of the cardstock!  Yay!  I adhered the lemons and then added these cute little daisy embellishments that I got from Stampin Up!  

I kept both cards simple so you could really see the fun background stamping.  Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to check out the new release!  Have a lovely day!

Waffle Flower Crafts Grip Mat Giveaway!

 Hey friends!  Popping in to let you know that Waffle Flower Crafts has given me the opportunity to give away a 4.5 x 5.5 grip mat!   If you haven't seen the grip mat, you can check out the Waffle Flower blog for information and videos on how it works.  Here is a link to the introduction video put together by Nina of Waffle Flower Crafts.  Here is a link to a playlist of videos created by different crafters using the grip mat.

I have really enjoyed using the new grip mat.  It makes inking up die cut pieces so easy.  Because the mat is made out of photopolymer cleaning it up is easy, too.  I have just simply wiped mine down with my Lawn Fawn stamp shammy.  The mat comes with two acetate grid sheets, as well, that allow you to align your cardstock when stamping images or sentiments.   Waffle Flower has recommended keeping the acetate sheets that the mats come on.   It is my recommendation, as well, especially if you have not decided (like me) if you will be keeping them in your stamping tool, ie MISTI, etc.   Here is a link to a blog post I did showing how I have used the grip mats that I received. 

Leave me a comment by July 30th, for a chance to win.  This giveaway is open to everyone.  Those outside the US will receive a gift card.  Thanks for stopping by and good luck!

smile...

 Hello!  Popping in with a quick share of a card that I made for Sunday Stamps.  I just love the color palette for the current challenge and wanted to make something.  The Simon Says Stamp Sunrise Stem has been sitting on my desk waiting for me to make something with it and this is what I came up with.  

I used my Waffle Flower grip mat to hold my pieces in place after I die cut them from white cardstock.  The flower was inked up with Pinkfresh Studio Slumber, the stem with Pinkfresh Studio Fresh Pear and Grassy Knoll and the flower center with Pinkfresh Studio Lemon Whip.  I used Pinkfresh Studio Blue Jay for my ink blended background.  The sentiment is an older Simon Says Stamp die.  I have had it for so long that I don't even remember if I have ever used it.  I die cut it twice from heavy weight vellum and then adhered them together.  I arranged everything on the background using liquid adhesive.  I finished off the card with yellowish gems.  

Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely day!

Altenew July Marvelous Monthly Series Release Blog Hop + Giveaway ($300 in Prizes!)

 Hello everyone!  I back to share projects I made with products from Altenew's July Marvelous Monthly series.   You should have arrived here from Seeka's blog.   You can find the entire list of blog hop participants on the Altenew blog.  Below the banner are all the details regarding the prizes to be won.

Giveaway Prizes

$300 in total prizes! To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $100 gift certificate to 1 lucky winner and a $40 gift certificate to 5 winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog and/or each designer’s blog post on the blog hop list below by 07/24/2023 for a chance to win. Altenew will draw 6 random winners from the comments left on each stop of this blog hop and announce the winners on the Altenew Winners Page on 07/26/2023.

*The winner of the $100 gift certificate will be chosen from comments left on the Altenew blog. 

Craft Your Life Project Kit updates

Craft Your Life Project Kit will no longer be released to the public in the Altenew store, unlike other subscription products. It will only be available via the Ultimate Subscription Plan or Craft Your Life Project Kit Monthly Subscription Plan.

For my projects today I created with the following monthly series products:  Craft-a-Flower, Build-a-Garden and Mini Delight.  First up is my card using the July Build-a-Garden Sweet Lilies product bundle.  When you subscribed to the Build-a-Garden monthly plan you will received the stamp set, stencils and a mini blending brush.  You can add on the matching die to complete the collection.   The Build-a-Garden Sweet Lilies set is GORGEOUS!  Take a look at what I created:

The large floral stamp in the Sweet Lilies set is beyond gorgeous and I just couldn't bear to cut it up so I decided to create a slimline card.  I used inks from my small collection of Crisp die inks and the matching stencils to color in the flowers after I stamped the image using Jet Black Crisp die ink on white cardstock.  The companion die set (a separate purchase) includes the die for the floral image, as well as for the three large sentiments in the set.  I picked my large sentiment, stamped it in VersaMark watermark ink on vellum, applied black embossing powder and heat set.  I die cut it with the matching dies.  I used a slimline rectangle die to die cut light gray cardstock, adhered my floral image and then stamped the sub sentiment from the Sweet Lilies set.  I finished by adhering the main sentiment using rolled up glue dots placed behind the embossed letters. 

This card features the Mini Delight stamp and die set called Watercolor Cluster.  I stamped the flowers using Altenew Crisp inks in shades of blue and then adding in the yellow for the center of the flowers.  The leaves were stamped in a mid tone green.  The die set includes the small "friend" word die.  That was cut from glossy black cardstock several times and then adhered together.  I used the Dotted Waves debossing plate to deboss my white cardstock rectangle as a backdrop for the floral cluster.  I arranged the die cut images on top of some silver thread and then added the small stamped sentiment from the set along with the word friend.  The panel was then added to a white cardstock base using foam squares.  

My final card features the Craft-a-Flower Stargazer Lily layering die set.  I absolutely love Stargazer lilies!  They are so beautiful!  I did not go with a typical Stargazer color palette for my lily, but instead went with an all over pink tone.  I used Altenew rose quartz metallic watercolor to do a wash on some watercolor cardstock.   The die set makes three different lilies.  I decided to keep things simple and used just one for my card.   The dies emboss details into your cardstock so I simply used a couple of pink Polychromos pencils to add a little more shading to the flowers and to emphasize the dots and veining in the flower.   I did a wash of green on additional watercolor cardstock for the leaves and the stamen.  White cardstock was die cut with a rectangle die and then I lightly stenciled on a chevron pattern using an older Altenew chevron stencil and Altenew Crisp die ink in Silverstone.  The sentiment is from the Sweet Lilies stamp set and was stamped using Jet Black Crisp die ink.

Your next stop on the hop is Rachel Alvarado.   I hope you enjoyed my cards and the hop.  Don't forget to comment for a chance to win a prize.  Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely day!