this card isn't for everyone, lol!

Hello!  Popping in to share a card that I willing admit is not for everyone.  In fact I'm not sure it is for anyone, lol!  But here I am to share it.   It will be heading over to Freshly Made Sketches, Color Hues and Just Us Girls (stencil week).  Let's have a look at what I created. 

I have taken to calling this one "camo leaf" because it does look like camouflage to me.   Making this card was definitely a challenge when it came to the color combo!   I used the Simon Says Stamp Oak Leaf stencil and die set.  And I will admit it took me at least three tries to get the colors I was going for.  As you can see from the Color Hues badge artichoke has a gray undertone.  I don't have any inks in that color, but I think combining the purple with the closest green I had to artichoke provided me with a green more in line with artichoke.  All the inks I used are from Altenew.  I even inkblended on white cardstock so I could die cut out the word "blessed" in the same shade of purple I used on the leaf.    I decided to go with an embossed background (Simon Says Stamp Whirlpool Spinner).   Let me you what you think of my "camo leaf"!

 

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

Birch Press Design Post #2

Hello!  Been missing in action again, lol!  But I'm popping in today to let you know that I have a post up on the Birch Press Design blog today and here is a little peek:

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

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 golf 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!

Birch Press Design August Post #2

 Hello!  Popping in to share that I have a post up on the Birch Press Design blog today.  Here is a little look at what I created. 

Hope you will head over to the blog to see what I created.  Fall is coming!!!  Have a wonderful day.

fall is coming...

 Hello!  Yes, fall is coming.  In fact, it is just over a month away.  I love fall!  It is my absolute most favorite time of the year.  The weather can still be a little warm, but not too hot.  Just the way I like it.  So, I have a fall inspired card to share today.  I will be adding it to the following challenges:  Color Hues (yellow and orange), Paper Players (fall themed CAS) and Freshly Made Sketches.  Let's see what I made.

I used the Tim Holtz/Sizzix Leaf Fragments dies and several different distress sprays (Flickering Candle and Jack-o-Lantern mica spray and Fossilized Amber distress spritz).   I sprayed sheets of cream heavy stock with the sprays and then let them dry.  I also sprayed the left over sprays in my splatter box with water and then dragged more heavy stock through that.  I actually used that sheet for my leaf.  Unfortunately, there is more yellow than orange in my leaf.   So I added the orange sequins.  I did add score lines to the kraft cardstock, but they don't show up in the photo so you will have to take my word for it.   Finished with the sentiment.   I feel like this card is a bit of a fail, but let me know what you think.

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

Birch Press Design Blog Post #1

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

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

A Tale of Two Cards

 Hello, hello!  I'm back with more to share.   And as my post title indicates it is two cards.  Both made using the same sketch from Freshly Made Sketch.  Both are Christmas cards, but one is more traditional while the other is quite quirky and moody.  The more traditional card will be heading off to Freshly Made Sketches, the Paper Players (colors), and CAS Christmas challenge.   I will add the moody card to Just Us Girls (second entry)  Let's have a look.

This card isn't super simple, but it is rather clean in the design and elements.  So, I hope it passes muster with the CAS Christmas challenge.   As you can see I did use the Paper Players colors of aqua, teal, red and tan (I used kraft cardstock).   All the dies are Tim Holtz/Sizzix dies.  Specifically, Dash Away All (a Diecember 2021 exclusive) and Christmas Cutouts.   The sentiment is a Memory Box foiled sentiment tab.  I didn't exactly follow the FMS sketch as I was working from memory, but I think I'm still pretty close.   

Now for the quirky card.  Again, the take on the FMS sketch isn't exactly spot on, but still pretty close, I think.  I decided to add this one to Just Us Girls as it is die week and it is anything goes.   The idea for this card came about when I was looking through my patterned paper stash and saw 49 and Market's Starlight Dreams paper pack.   I thumbed through the pack and came across the piece I ended up using.  A nighttime sky with moody clouds and a scattering of stars.  I found coordinating papers in that sort of yellow for the moon and light blue.  When I did all the die cutting I originally die cut the peace sentiment out of the yellowish paper and Santa from the light blue.  I put everything together and didn't like, at all.  Not one bit!  So, I decided to die cut Santa and sleigh from black glitter cardstock and the peace sentiment from the same patterned paper as the background.  Liked it much better but still wasn't super happy with the card.  Added the black glitter stars and still wasn't happy, but the more I look at it the more I like it.  Because I wasn't wild about this card I decided to make the second card that you see above.  Let me know what you think.

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

grateful to call you friend...

 Well, hello!  It has been a while since I last posted.  Ten days in fact.  I don't think I have ever gone ten days without posting something.   I had thought I would post the card I'm posting today last week, but I didn't get around to making it until earlier this week.  I will be posting this to Just Us Girls (anything does with dies), Color Hues and Pinkfresh Studio August challenge.  So, here we go, lol!

A few months ago I purchased the Pinkfresh Studio Art Deco Floral Arch stamp, die and stencil set.  It was one of those buy the stamp set and get the stencils and dies free.  Couldn't pass that deal up now could I?  I used the Color Hues combo of navy and teal for arches, stems and flowers.   The challenge for the PFS August challenge is beautiful backgrounds.   The PFS background die I used is no longer available (I think it is called Sparkle Diamond), but I absolutely love it and think it makes a beautiful background for the floral arch.  I used some of the navy blue ink that was left on my blending brush on the top of the panel before adding the die cut arch.  I die cut a second blank arch and adhered to the top one to provide a little more stability.  I stamped and die cut the sentiment (cutting a second blank for the sentiment, as well) and adhered it to the card front.  I finished with some tiny dark blue gems that I had in my stash.  The inks used are from Altenew.  I used navy (appropriately), Galactic Stream (dark teal) and Teal Cave (medium teal).

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

bright side...

Hello!  I'm back with two more cards that I made with products from the Simon Says Stamp Every Happiness release.  One card will be heading off to the current Just Us Girls challenge (stencils), as well as the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge.   Let's look at what I created.  (If you haven't yet, please check out my Simon Says Stamp day 2 blog hop post.)

This first card features the new Bellflower Blossoms stencil set, Chunky Ovals dies and a sentiment from the fun Positive Thoughts stamp set.   I stenciled the background using blue, purple and green inks from Altenew.   Once the stenciling was done I die cut the panel with a Chunky Oval die.  I adhered that to a white cardstock base.  Two of the smaller Chunky Oval were used to die cut some polka dot vellum and then the sentiment that was stamped in a dark purple ink.   This is the card that will be heading to the above mentioned challenges. 

For this card I used the new Sunflower Meadow stamp set, as well as the Chunky Ovals.   I also pulled in a die from the Sparkler Scallop frames set from last month's release.  I just love that die set!  I stamped the image on the white panel, die cut it and then used two Chunky Oval dies to create the kraft cardstock frame.  I adhered the frame, added the little twine bow and then finished with the sentiment from the Sunflower Meadow stamps set that was die cut with the smallest Chunky Oval die.

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

Simon Says Stamp Every Happiness Blog Hop Day 2

 Hello, hello!  I'm so excited to be participating in the day 2 blog hop for the Simon Says Stamp Every Happiness release!  This release is so amazing and I am so grateful to Simon Say Stamp for the products that they gifted to me to create with!  I have two cards to share with you today.  But before I share all the details I just want to remind you that there is an opportunity to win a $25 gift certificate at each stop on the hop.  So make sure you leave a little comment for a chance to win.  If you started the hop at Simon Says Stamp you should have arrived here from Rachel Alvarado's blog.  Now, lets take a look at what I created.

This first card uses the new Chunky Ovals die set, Sunflower Blooms die set and a sentiment from the Sunflower Meadow stamp set.  I will admit that I have not been big on oval shaped dies, but these Chunky Ovals stole my heart!  The largest one is too big for an A2 sized card (generally what I make), but perfect to make a card with and that is what I did.  I used patterned paper from the 49 and Market Vintage Orchard collection for the background.   To create my card base I folded a full sheet of off white cardstock in half, placed the large oval so that one side went slightly past the fold and the bottom also went slightly past the bottom edge of the cardstock.  I did this to create the hinge on one side and a flat bottom so the card would stand up.    I die cut the patterned paper, adhered it to the card base and then trimmed off the excess.  The flowers (one large flower and stem, two small flowers and one small stem) were created with additional patterned paper from the Vintage Orchard paper pack, assembled and adhered to the card front.  I used the smallest oval in the Chunky Ovals set to die cut my sentiment that I then adhered to the card front.  Love how this turned out!

This card also uses the Sunflower Blooms die set and the new Whirlpool Spinner embossing folder.  I used more patterned paper from 49 and Market for this card.  This time from the Faded Memory Lane collection.  I die cut a rectangle of cardstock, embossed it with the embossing folder and adhered it to a card base.  I die cut the flower and stem from coordinating patterned paper, adhered it together and then added Nuvo glitter drops to the center of the flower.  When it was dry I added it to the card base and finished with another sentiment from the Sunflower Meadow stamp set that was die cut with the same small chunky oval die and a little twine bow.  Love the softness of this card. 

As you can see from the graphic you can also get a free stamp set with any purchase from the new Every Happiness release.  So, what are you waiting for?  Go shopping!!

Well, that is it for me.  Thanks for stopping by!  Your next stop on the hop is Susan Valle.

Birch Press Design Blog Post #2

Hello, hello!  Can you believe that July is almost over?  Time is flying by way too fast for my liking, lol!  Today I'm on the Birch Press Design blog and here is a little peek of what I made:

I hope you will head over to the blog to let me know what you think.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

faded memory lane...

Hey there!  Popping in with a project that I have been wanting to make for several months.  I finally got the chance a few days ago and now I'm sharing it with you!   Let's look at what I made.

At heart I am a clean and simple girl, but on occasion I love to create projects that are more shabby and vintage.  This is one of them.  I previously shared a card I made using products from the 49 and Market Faded Memory Lane collection.   Even though the products are shabby and vintage I was able to create something clean and simple with the products.  This project, however, lands more on the vintage and shabby side for sure and I love how it turned out.  

One of the products I purchase was a pack of laser cuts and one of the laser cuts was the large floral piece that fills the upper left corner of my project.  Since I'm not a fan of slimline cards or card sizes larger that an A2 I knew I would not be able to use that laser cut unless I made something different:  a decor piece.  I started with a Tim Holtz frame and base.  I covered the base with patterned paper from the Faded Memory Lane 6x8 paper pack and then painted the frame with a light beige paint.  When the paint was dry I brushed on a light sage green making sure to not add too much.  When that was dry I added some Gilded Foundry wax and heat set it.  I also added some Gilded Foundry wax to the patterned paper in the upper right corner.  Finally, the foundry wax was also added to all the laser cut images I used.  Did I go a little crazy with the foundry wax?  Maybe, but I love it!  

I layered on all of the images and then added the little sentiment strips that are also laser cuts.  The frame was added using collage medium, a heavy object placed on top and it was allowed to dry.  Once dry I added the large floral piece by gluing parts to the frame and using 3d foam pads in areas that are inside the frame.   

I'm going to add this to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge of fabulous florals and the Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge to use text.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Long Stem Florals...

 Hello!  Popping in with a card that I made for the Paper Players challenge which is a color challenge this week (coral, pink, yellow and green).  The challenge closes in the next day so I needed to get it done.  I will also be adding it to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge as well.  Let' see what I made.

The Simon Says Stamp August card kit is available for purchase and for about 30 seconds (actually a little longer than that, lol) I thought about purchasing it.  But then I realized that I already had several of the products included in the kit and a stamp set that was similar.  So, I didn't purchase the kit.  One of the items in the kit is a jar of Tim Holtz distress embossing powder and it got me thinking about what distress embossing powders did I have.  Off I went to look and low and behold I had all the colors needed for the Paper Players color challenge!  Yay!  The Long Stem Florals stamp set with matching stencil and dies was perfect for what I wanted to do.  I used Kitsch Flamingo, Fossilized Amber, Saltwater Taffy and Twisted Citron distress embossing powders.   I will admit that even though this card looks simple it was a bit labor intensive as I had to do some layering of the embossing powder due to the stencil.  I did discover in the process, as well, that the distress embossing ink dauber I bought years ago does still dispense embossing ink.  Another yay!  So, I stamped the stems in VersaFine Clair Nocturne, let them dry for a bit and then did all the inking and embossing using the stencil.  When finished I die cut the panel and adhered it to a white cardstock base.  Finished with a sentiment from the Long Stem Floral stamp set.   A simple, yet not so simple, card, lol!

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