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!

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!

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.

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!

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!

Masculine Cards

 Hello!  I'm popping in to share two cards that I made for my mom to give to her grandsons for their birthdays.  Both were made with products from the 49 and Market Wanderlust Explorer collection.  I will be posting the cards to the following challenges:  The Paper Players (masculine), Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge (masculine) and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge (masculine, as well).  The products I used while aren't from Tim Holtz have similar vintage vibe.  Let's have a look at the cards. 

Both cards have the exact same layout.  For this card I used a large airplane laser cut, as well as a backpack and a camera.  The patterned paper from the Wanderlust Explorer features a map in the background.  I layered everything on a kraft cardstock base and then added the gold foiled Memory Box sentiment.

For the train I used a patterned paper that features faded images of tickets and travel schedules.  The large train laser cut was paired with a steamer trunk, another vintage camera and the "happy birthday" sentiment from Memory Box.

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

best day ever...

 Hello!  Popping in with a quick share of a card that I made for a couple of challenges:  Freshly Made Sketches and Card Concept.  I haven't participated in either of these challenges in a while.  Just haven't had the motivation to make cards (except for obligations) lately.   Trying to change that state of mind, lol!  Let's look at what I made. 

The FMS sketch is a simple one so that made things a bit easier for me.  Using chipboard and patterned paper helped speed things along, as well.  The theme at Card Concept is seaside/nautical and since I had recently made a couple of nautical theme cards, the 49 and Market Summer Porch products were still fresh in my mind.  Card is pretty straight forward:  Clean and simple with a few layers.  Die cut patterned paper to feature the sailboats, added the chipboard lighthouse and sentiment, a couple of pieces of cello tape and the butterfly.  Added that piece to more patterned paper, a cardstock base and boom... I was done!

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

Go Navy!

 Hello!  Can't believe it is already May!  Time is just flying by and honestly, I don't like it!  But what can I do?  Not much.  I'm popping in today to share two cards that I made for someone who is graduating from the United States Naval Academy on May 16th of this year.   I have a niece who is currently finishing up her junior year at the Naval Academy, and it is her boyfriend, Frank, who is graduating.   My sister (my niece's mom) asked if I could make a card for him from the family and I said, yes!  Then she told her daughter and suddenly I was making two!   It was a little nerve wracking to come up with an idea for the second card, but I accomplished the task.  So, let's see what I created.

First up is the card that I made that is from the family.  A couple of summers ago I purchased some 49 and Market products called Summer Porch.  They have a nautical theme and I thought for sure I could find something to use on the card and I was in luck!  I knew that Frank rowed for one of the Naval Academy crew teams so I was excited to see the set of oars in a pack of chipboard images.  There was also the anchor!   I die cut some of the more nautical themed patterned paper using the postage edge dies from Pinkfresh Studio as a background.  I used dark blue patterned paper to die cut the USNA and 2026.   The little blue rope was from a pack of ephemera.  I adhered the USNA and 2026 to one of the postage background pieces and then stamped the "class of:" in between.  I then layered on all of the various pieces.  I finished with the Naval Academy motto Ex Scientia Tridens (which in Latin means From Knowledge, Sea Power) and Semper Fidelis.  I included Semper Fidelis because Frank will be commissioned as a Marine Corp officer instead of a Naval officer when he graduates.  I will be adding this one to the current Die Cut Diva's challenge of celebrations. 

This is the card that I made for my niece to give to Frank.  I hope that she likes it.  My sister did so that is a good sign!  I'm going to put this card into the current JUGs challenge because it does have a big die cut sentiment.  I used the Naval Academy colors of navy and gold for the letters and numbers.   I die cut both and then adhered them together offsetting so that the gold showed.  I was very careful when positioning everything using my T-square ruler to keep everything straight.   I used the computer to generate the word "ACADEMY" printing it in dark blue and then trimming it down and backing it with the same gold cardstock used for the lettering.   I added the Naval Academy motto (also computer generated) as well as the "class of:".  The finishing touch was the anchor charm and the little gold heart.  The charm was a bright shiny silver, but I was able to tone it down by adding some distress foundry wax in the color Gilded.  I heat set it and then wiped most off it off.  Love how it turned out.   I really hope that Frank likes the cards.  

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

fall themed thinking of you card...

 Hello!  I'm popping in with a card for the August Pinkfresh Studio challenge.  The theme is pattern play and I thought that meant patterned paper.  Oops, I was wrong, lol!  Good thing the challenge is anything goes.  Have a look at what I made.

Because I thought the theme was playing with patterned paper I immediately thought of my nice stash of 49 and Market papers.  Fall is coming (even though it is kind of warm here in the PNW!) and that is where my mind went.  So, I got out my 49 and Market Vintage Orchard patterned paper as it has a fall feel to it.  The next product I pulled was my PFS Berry Branch stamp, die and stencil suite of products.  The stamp set is actually a Christmas themed one, but I think I have used the stamp for more fall themed card than Christmas ones, lol!  I love that the stamp is versatile like that.  I stamped the image using PFS Doe ink and then used distress inks in Bundled Sage, Forest Moss, Scattered Straw and Aged Mahagony for the stenciling.   Once the stenciling was done I die cut the image with the matching die.  The patterned paper was die cut using a PFS Folk Art Rectangle die and then layered on a card base.  The sentiment is from the PFS Amazing Things stamp set and was stamped in the Doe ink.  I die cut the sentiment and additional layers to give the sentiment a bit more stability.  Simply layered on the elements and I was done!

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

Patterned Paper Play...

 Hello!  Popping in to share a card for the Pinkfresh Studio monthly challenge that closes in just a few hours!  Here is what I made.

Used lots of papers from the 49 and Market Kaleidoscope collection for the card.  I stamped the entire image on one piece of patterned paper and then the flowers on another.  Die cut them out and then layered them.  Used the PFS elegant circles and rectangles dies to layer behind the flowers and then die cut white cardstock with the largest PFS postage edge rectangle.  Stamped the sentiment, die cut it and then layered all the elements on a light green cardstock base.  

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

Christmas wishes...

 I didn't do much in the way of "Christmas in July" this year.  Just wasn't feeling it.  But I recently purchased a stencil and die set from Simon Says Stamp called Festive Swag.  When I saw that it was stencil week at Just Us Girls, I decided to put my new products to use.   

I paired the stenciled piece with patterned paper and a pre-printed sentiment from the 49 and Market Evergreen Season collection.  I used distress oxide ink in Candied Apple, Lumberjack Plaid, Evergreen Bough, Rustic Wilderness and Pine Needles for the swag.  I used the Pinkfresh Studio Postage Edge dies for the two patterned paper layers.  Now I have one Christmas card ready to go!

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

Birthday cards...

 Hello!  Stopping in to share a couple of birthday cards that I made using products from the 49 and Market Summer Porch collection.  It is one of my favorites.   Let's have a look at what I created.

I will be sending this one off to Freshly Made Sketches.  It is a very simple take on the sketch facilitated by the fact that I could use patterned paper to create the corner elements on the sketch.  The center portion was easy as I just added a frame, the flower pot and butterfly laser cuts.  The sentiment is from a Simon Says Stamp set that I stamped on a scrap of Summer Porch patterned paper and die cut with the matching die.  

The second card is for the JUGs challenge.  This week is word week and the word is water.  Let's have a look.

This card is on it's way to Scottsdale, Arizona.  My niece recently graduated from the University of Washington - Tacoma with a finance degree and got her first job at an organization located in Scottsdale.  She starts her job on July 14th and her birthday is July 15th!  I'm hoping this card reminds her a little bit of the Pacific Northwest.   For this one I used the largest postage edge die from Pinkfresh Studio to die cut the patterned paper from the Summer Porch collection.  I added the postage stamp in the one corner and the leafy stem, berries and butterfly in the other.  The sentiment is from the same Simon Says Stamp set I used for the first card.  I finished off the inside with another sentiment.  Another super simple card.  

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

Wanderlust Explorer Birthday Cards

 Hello!  Popping in with a couple of cards that I made using papers and laser cuts from the 49 and Market Wanderlust Explorer collection.  Let's have a look at what I made.

For the last few years I have been making birthday cards for my mom to give to her grandchildren and great grandchildren.  So these two cards will be going to her to give to her grandsons (my boys).  I used the sketch from Sunday Stamps for this card.  Pretty simple.  Die cut a piece of patterned paper, roughed up the edges and added a little ink to the edges.  Adhered to a kraft cardstock base and then added the laser cut pieces.  Finished with a Memory Box tab that I inked up with some ink left on the blender brush I use for brown oxide inks.   Going to add this one to Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge, too.

Next up is a card for Freshly Made Sketches.  Let's have a look.

Another very simple card.  Die cut patterned paper, adhered it to a panel of off white cardstock that was slightly larger and then cut the panel in to two pieces.  Adhered to a kraft cardstock base and then added the airplane that was popped up with thin foam squares.  Finished with the banner sentiment from the Simon Says Stamp Banner Sentiments stamp set.  Stamped it on a scrap of Wanderlust Explorer patterned paper, trimmed it out and then adhered it with glue.  

believe in yourself...

 Hello!  Popping in to share a clean and simple card for the following challenges:  Paper Players and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge.  Both are asking for "things with wings".  Let's have a look at what I created.

Once, again, I looked to my collection of 49 and Market papers and ephemera pieces to create my card.  This time I used the Kaleidoscope collection.  I die cut the light blue patterned paper, added it to a cardstock base and then picked out the pieces I used for the card from the Kaleidoscope chipboard pack.   The layout I used is kind of a "go to" layout for me when I want to make a quick clean and simple card.  I added twine to the tag and then adhered all the pieces.  Super quick and super simple!

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

two cards...

 Hello!  I got some time to make a couple of cards and I'm here to share!  One card is for Freshly Made Sketches and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge.  The other is for Color Throwdown.  Let's see what I made.

What do you do when you want to make a card, but you just aren't feeling some of the supplies you already have on your desk?  You turn to pretty patterned papers and ephemera!  Or at least that is what I did for this card.  I pulled out my pack of 49 and Market Birdsong patterned paper and laser cuts, rummaged around for a bit and came up with this card.   I die cut the patterned paper and then layered on all the elements that I chose.  I finished with the pre-printed sentiment.  Even the little bow is a laser cut.   

I made this fun little card with a cute stamp and die set from Simon Says Stamp that was a free gift with purchase.  I got the offer around my birthday, so I decided to go for it and made a small purchase.  It has been on my desk since it arrived in early December!  I thought the CTD colors were perfect to create a birthday card that I will probably save to give to my great nephew on his birthday later this year.  The stamps are all one piece and the birthday is a separate stamp.  I stamped the stamps using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and then colored the images very simply with Copic markers in the CTD colors.   I then die cut the image with the matching die.  The die cuts everything out as one piece so in order to have 5 individual stamps I had to cut them apart.  The birthday was stamped using VersaFine CLAIR Nocturne ink and die cut, as well.  The happy sentiment is from another SSS birthday stamp set.  I layered all the stamps using just glue as I wanted to keep the card as flat as possible for mailing.  

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

Guesting at JUGs - Use a Flower Die

 Hello everyone!  Happy May Day!  I'm so excited to share that I'm guesting with Just Us Girls this month!!  Appropriately the first challenge of May (#773) is to use a flower die on your card.  Let's have a look at what I created for the challenge.

My mom's birthday is at the end of April (28th) and so this card was made for her.  I used a beautiful Memory Box magnolia die for my flower.   I die cut all the pieces from white cardstock and then inked them up with distress oxide inks using the small Waffle Flower blending brushes.   The little brushes provide great control in adding color.   I let all the pieces dry and then assembled the flower.  I decided to go a little outside the box and use some pretty patterned paper from the 49 and Market Kaleidoscope 6x8 paper pack.    The sentiment is from a Simon Says Stamp set called Garden Fresh.  I stamped the birthday sentiment and die cut it with the matching die.  The happy was stamped and cut into a small strip.   Adding this to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge of anything goes.

I hope you will take the time and play along with this week's challenge.  You can find all the challenge details on the JUGs blog.   That's it for me.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!