Birch Press Design October Blog Post #1

 Hello!  I'm over on the Birch Press Design blog today and here is a little peek of what I made.

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!

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.

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!

Birch Press Design Blog Post #2

Hello!  Wow... it is already the end of June.  I have a post up on the Birch Press Design blog today and here is a little peek of what I created.

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

Birch Press Design April Post #2

Hello, hello!  Can't believe it is the end of April!  I'm popping in to let you know that I have a post up on the Birch Press Design blog today.   Here is a little peek of what I created. 

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

Birch Press Design April Post #1

 Hello, hello!  Just popping in to let you know that I have a post up on the Birch Press Design blog today and here is a little peek of what I created.

Hope you will head over to the Birch Press blog to see the full card.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Birch Press Design March Post #1

 Hello, hello!  Hope your March is going well.  Ours has been a little up and down.  Sunny and warm one day, cold and rainy the next!   I'm just glad that we seem to have dodged snow where I live!  I'm popping in to let you know that I have a post up on the Birch Press Design blog today.  Here is a little peek of what I created.

I hope you will head over to the blog to check out this spring inspired design!  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day.

Birch Press Design February Post #2

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

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

Birch Press Design Post #2

 Happy day after Christmas (or Boxing Day if you are living in a British Commonwealth country)!  I have a post up on the Birch Press Design blog today.  Here is a little peek of what I made:

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

Midnight Ride

Hello and Merry Christmas everyone!  Boy, it has been awhile since I last posted, lol!  I made a couple of things and one of them will be shared the day after Christmas, but mostly I have just been doing other things.  The last few years I have tried to make some kind of mixed media/Tim Holtz inspired Christmas decor piece.  The one I had this year is pretty simple in comparison to some I have made, but I really like how it turned out.  Let's have a look.

When I first saw the Forest Background die from Simon Says Stamp I knew I wanted to use it to make a scene with Santa flying across the sky with his reindeer.    Just a few days ago I finally got it finished.  It wasn't hard to make, but as I stated in my intro I just had other things going on.  I had watercolored some watercolor cardstock using Forest Moss distress ink and used that piece for my forest.  I painted a Tim Holtz distress square box with a dark blue pain and splattered the sides with Simon Says Stamp white splatter medium.  I then cut a piece of dark blue cardstock to fit the front of the box, ink blended on Chipped Sapphire and Black Soot distress inks and let it dry.   The background and the die cut treelines were the splattered with the white splatter medium as well.  I adhered the blue background to the box using multi matte medium and the tree lines using varying heights of foam squares to add some depth.  Santa and reindeer (a Tim Holtz/Sizzix die that was a freebie from SSS a few years ago) was die cut from a dark gray cardstock three time, layered and then splattered with white splatter medium as well.  The crescent moon is included in the Santa die set so I die cut that from silver glitter cardstock.  I adhered the moon and Santa with glue.  The finishing touch was the sentiment sign from the Idea-ology Christmas 2024 baseboards and transparencies set.  I attached the sign using texture paste.  I embedded three little ivory balls into the paste, as well.  When the paste was mostly set up I did add a little bit of Snowfall grit paste for an icy look to the sign.  

Going to add this to the Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge of sparkle and shine.  My moon is sparkly.  And to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge of add a sentiment.   I'm also going to add this to the Die Cut Diva's December challenge of Christmas/Winter.  Thank you to my bloggy friend, Linda, for mentioning the challenge!

Thanks for stopping by and have a very, very, very Merry Christmas!

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!

Birch Press Design Post #2

 Hello!  I hope everyone in the US had a wonderful Thanksgiving day!  We had a nice, but quiet one.  Spent some time with my in-laws and then roasted our Thanksgiving chicken, lol!  It was delicious!  Anyway, I have a post up on the Birch Press Design blog today.    Here is a little peek:

Wanted to let you know that Birch Press Design is also having a sale.  25% off storewide, free shipping and a free gift!  Make sure you take advantage of the sale!   

Well, that's it for me.  I hope you head over to the blog to see what I created.  Thanks for stopping by!

Birch Press Design Blog Post #2

 Hello, hello!  Popping in to let you know that I have a post up on the BPD blog today.  Here is a little peek.

Hope you will head over to the BPD blog to check out what I created.  The new BPD release is now available on the website and it is a good one!  Lots and lots of Christmas/holiday themed dies.  Can't wait to share what I make.  Til next time!

autumn blessings

 Hello!  I'm back with one more fall inspired card.  This one is for the current Paper Players challenge (clean and simple with foliage) and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge (also clean and simple).   Let's take a look at what I made.

During Stamptember SSS released a limited edition holiday/Christmas card kit.  As is the case with all of their kits you can buy products contained in the kit separately.  When I saw the Sparkle Season stamp and die set I had to add it to my collection.  I love leaf stamps!  They are so versatile, and my card proves this point.  The leafy stem was design for Christmas/holiday cards, but as you can see, I gave it an autumnal spin by using lots of beautiful distress inks in fall colors.  Specifically, I used Scattered Straw, Aged Mahagony, Carved Pumpkin, Gathered Twigs and Festive Berries.   To get the colors I wanted on the leaves I did multiple layers of stamping.  Some of the leaves were stamped initially with Scattered Straw and then I added more colors.  A few leaves were stamped with Festive Berries and then more colors added.  I used Ranger tiny foam blenders to add the colors to the leaves to get a nice blend.  It did take a while to stamp, but I think it was so worth it as I absolutely love how it turned out.  Die cut with the matching die and then built the rest of the card.   I embossed white cardstock with a leafy embossing folder and then die cut it down further with a SSS tag die.  The sentiment is from the SSS stamp and die set called Cozy Autumn Hugs.  I stamped it with Gathered Twigs and then die cut with the matching die.  I adhered everything to a white cardstock panel.  I created the bow with three colors of twine and did attach it to the top of the tag but didn't like it so added it to my leafy stem.  I liked that much better. 

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

Papertrey Ink September Release - Part 2

 Hello!  I'm back to share three more cards that I made with products from the Papertrey Ink September release.   With all these beautiful Christmas themed products to work with I'm sure to get most of my Christmas cards made for the season!  Let's have a look at what I made.

This first card was made with the new Into the Blooms: Snowdrops die set, the This is Big Happy Holidays stamps and dies, the Stitched Snowflakes cover plate die, Rounded Rectangle dies and In Frame: Ovals dies.   I die cut the snowdrops from green and white cardstock and then added a little bit of Broken China distress oxide ink to the white pieces.  The stems were die cut from a medium green cardstock.  I adhered all the piece together with liquid adhesive and thin foam squares in a few places.  I then die cut pale blue cardstock with the largest In Frame: Ovals die.  I kept the two pieces together by securing them in place on the back with washi tape.  White cardstock was die cut with the largest Rounded Rectangle die and then run through my die cutting machine with the Stitched Snowflakes die.  I adhered that to a pale blue cardstock base and then layered on the ovals and the snowdrops.  I finished with the Happy Holiday sentiment.   I didn't stamp the sentiment and then die cut it as I wasn't sure I could get the die to line up correctly.  So, I die cut first, left the die cut in place, aligned the sentiment on top and then stamped using black ink.  Worked like a charm.  I die cut additional layers, adhered them together and then adhered the sentiment to the card front with liquid adhesive and thin foam squares.   A little bit of sparkle was added as well using Rock Candy glitter.   Going to add this card to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge of anything goes.

For this card and the third one I went with a traditional red and green theme with kraft instead of white as the background for a more homespun feel.  This card uses Love to Layer Christmas Tree dies, Fresh Greens hot foil plate, Rounded Rectangle Pierced dies and a sentiment from the Merry Motifs stamp and die set.    I had recently found a sheet of watercolor cardstock that I had used to create this dark green backgound using distress mica sprays.  I decided to use it for my Christmas tree.  I used Memory Box patterned paper from one of their Christmas pads for the garland and little ornaments.  I decided to bring gold into the mix with the star, little sparkle ornaments and the gold hot foiled frame.  The background needed a little something else, so I used one of the smaller pierced Rounded Rectangles to die cut the patterned paper I used for the garland to place behind the tree.  The sentiment was stamped in a dark red and die cut.  I then die cut a second layer from gold foil cardstock and adhered it behind the sentiment slightly off set.  It looks so pretty in real life. 

 I think this final card really has a homespun feel too it.  Again, done in red and green with kraft.  I think I should have maybe embossed the sentiment black, but there it is in white!  This card was made with Build a Christmas Tree dies, This is Big:  Happy Holidays sentiment set and the Rounded Rectangle Stitched dies.  Memory Box plaid cardstock was used for the background.   After die cutting the garland from a red cardstock I decided to jazz things up a bit by using red glitter cardstock for the ornaments.  The kraft bows dial the glitz back a little for a more homespun fell.  After layering everything on the tree and adhering it to the plaid background I stamped the sentiment on vellum and embossed in white.  Again, thinking maybe I should have used black, but what is done is done, right? 

Well, that is it for me.  I have made it through a large portion of the September release, but still have several more products to share.  So, I will be back later in the week with more Christmas cards!  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

September BPD Post #2

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

Hope you will head over to see the whole design.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Every Leaf...

 Hello, hello!  Popping in to share a card that I made for the current JUGs challenge.  This week it is mood board week and it is a beautiful fall themed one!   I have had some lovely fall themed Greetery products on my desk since they arrived in the mail a few weeks ago and I have been wanting to use them.  So thankful for the JUGs fall themed challenge so I could finally get something made, lol. At JUGs design team member Bobby's suggestion I'm going to add this to the gallery at Time Out - Favorite Season.  Let's look at what I created.

Even though we sometimes don't have the best weather during the fall here in the PNW fall is my favorite season.  I love seeing all the pumpkins appearing at farmstands and in the stores and the leaves changing colors.   When the Greetery came out with the Autumn Harvest die set I knew I wanted to add it to my collection.  I mean just look at those pumpkins!  I was finally able to at the end of August.  At the same time I also purchased the Autumn Bliss stamp and die set.   Because they just go together like peanut butter and jelly, lol!

I die cut the wheat stalks from kraft and the pumpkins and gourds from white cardstock.  I inked up the wheat stalks with scattered straw and bundled twigs distress inks.  For the pumpkins and gourds I started with scattered straw as well and then added in carved pumpkin and spiced marmalade for the pumpkins and a little bit of carved pumpkins for the gourds.  I did also add a bit of gathered twigs to the pumpkins for more depth.  I absolutely LOVE how the pumpkins turned out!   I stamped the leaves from the Autumn Bliss set by pouncing scattered straw on to the leaves, stamping and then pouncing on carved pumpkin to some and gathered twigs to others for that layered look.  The leaves were die cut with the matching dies.  I used a Memory Box arched die for the stamped sentiment.   For the sentiment I also started with pouncing scattered straw onto the whole sentiment and stamping.  I then added carved pumpkin down to the word fluttering and stamping.  I finished with some gathered twigs at the top for the variegated look I wanted.  Again, I love how the sentiment turned out.  Now it was time to put the card together.  I used liquid adhesive to adhere everything as I wanted a relatively flat card that I could send in the mail. 

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