Sunny Farm Days

Hey there - I'm back from Kansas City where I competed with my chorus in the Sweet Adelines International contest. We came in 12th - yay! Would've liked the top 10 but we weren't far out of it & this with 30% new members!

I watched Craft Roulette Episode #239 from Friday night on replay when I got home since I was too busy at the convention. Also, both Mary Gunn & I were too busy to get together even though I was in her neck of the woods, oh well... Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah white; many scraps;

Spellbinders Betterpress Porcelain; Paper Studio kraft;

Authentique, MFT and Lawn Fawn patterns

Stamps - My Favorite Things Aug18 Freebie

Dies - CREAlies On the Move #18;

Yvonne Creations Country Life Farm Border

Press Plates w/dies - Spellbinders A Little Message Sentiments 

Hot Foil Plate w/die - Spellbinders Summertime Sentiments (GOM-Jun24)

Hero Arts Celestial (HERE at Frantic Stamper)

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape; May Arts ribbon

Mary had Jenn Gross (Journey Coach Jenn), who's on the Design Team for Pear Blossom Press, as her guest. Jenn also serves as a Brand Ambassador for Rabbit Hole Designs. The wheel spun another interesting set of parameters for us:

• Project - Interactive: I used a CREAlie flip diecut & tied it with a ribbon.
• Colors - Picnic: Red/white for a common tablecloth & wine, watermelon, etc. Brown for a basket & whatever colors for picnic foods!
• Element - Farm: I used a farm animal stamp set.
• Random - Paper Strips: one sentiment was a strip plus I used a few cut strips.

I have several different die sets which could be considered interactive. The flip card set was closest so I went with it. Die cut the card, then adhered it to a white panel covered with a picnic tablecloth patterned paper. I sandwiched the ribbon between these layers. It's a white sheer sparkly ribbon that catches the light with different colors (looks a bit purple in the photo...). Die cut the various layers to the card and adhered. 

Die cut a farm silhouette and adhered to the main inside layer. Cut strips of green papers, solid and patterned for some "grass". Stamped and fussy cut the farm animals & colored with Copic Markers. Die cut a sun and added to the card with foam tape, leaving room for the ribbon to slide through for closing the card. Chose a couple Betterpressed sentiments, one of which I cut into two pieces (that was pressed with a hot foil plate). Adhered the main sentiment with foam tape and glued the strips flat. Here are a couple more views - standing & pressed flat:

That's it for today. My farm animals got first play here so I'll add my card to Darnell's November NBUS Challenge #68.

Thanks for stopping & have a crafty day!!

October 2024 Card Chain Reveal

Hi all - November 2nd already - yikes, almost time to start addressing those Christmas cards!! Today we're revealing cards that went around the world for the October Card Chain. Twenty-eight people participated & you can see the full reveal HERE. My card went to Dee (My Own Handmade Cards) in Kenya:

Supplies: Paper - Ms Sparkle A2 card; 

Neenah white; many scraps;

gifted dotted paper from Memory Box

Dies - Hero Arts Nesting Oval Infinity Dies

My Favorite Things Stitched Scallop Basic Edges

Spellbinders Colorful Expressions Sentiments (DOM-Aug24)

& Colorful Expressions Blooms (DOML-Aug24)

Lawn Fawn Small Stitched Leaves & Stitched Leaves

We had the following options when making our cards:

Color Palette Option

Sketch Option

Theme Options: Bears / Transylvania / Friendship

Product / Technique Options:  Needle and Thread / Plaid

At first glance, I wasn't feeling anything but Friendship & Needle and Thread. Then I came back to the options and suddenly I had a thought for the sketch & colors too! Unfortunately, I'd left my stitchable leaves at the satellite studio so I went with some faux stitched ones. No needle and thread though... Just die cutting on this one and it was fun to assemble!! The card base is a paler lilac than the photo captured. The old rose is the biggest leaf and the sentiment words.

I received this beautiful card from Joanne (My Slices of Life) in CT. Yes, she sent to me last month and it was delightful to get another card from her! I just love the sweet bear with balloons!!

That's it for today. You can still join the November Chain until the 6th - please go HERE for full details. You simply make and send one card, then receive one card - very fun!!

Thanks for stopping by & happy crafting!!

Happy Halloween and Last Day for October Die Cut Diva Challenge!

Happy Halloween everyone! Today's the last day to enter our October Die Cut Diva Challenge. We've been celebrating World Card Making Day all month long with our cards using dies &/or embossing folders. Come join the fun by 9pm Pacific time today! 

The Divas are sponsored this month by the amazing My Favorite Things who generously donated a $25 prize. We will draw from eligible October entries and award it randomly on 11/3. Here's my inspiration card with the last day Diva team:

Supplies: Paper - My Favorite Things Christmas Cheer;

Neenah white; Recollections green; scraps

Dies - My Favorite Things Stacked Merry,

Let it Snowflake (retired), &

Stitched Oval Scallop Frame (retired);

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - gem by unk

I formed an A2 card with 1/2 a sheet of cardstock. Use part of the remaining 1/2 to die cut a frame. When the frame with an inside scallop cuts, you get an edged oval so I used that part. Die cut the snowflakes from white cardstock and the MERRY from both red and black. Die cut a rectangle of striped paper and added to the card with a strip of red. Assembled the MERRY and added to the oval along with one snowflake. Glued the other two snowflakes under the oval and added to the card. A pink gem finished the card.

Bonus time - I'll share a Halloween birthday card for my dear friend from high school, Denise. I made a similar non-birthday Halloween card for my friend Heather. This one has no MFT products...

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Taylored Expressions Halloween (retired)

Die - Waffle Flower Postage Collage

Stencils - Waffle Flower Postage Collage Spooktacular

Inks - Hero Arts and Memento

Other - Waffle Flower Subsentiments Boo; white gel pen

Die cut the postage collage from Neenah, then stenciled with the 4-step Spooktacular set. Three of the stencils have recommended colors so I used those; I used a pale lilac for the background step. Added some details with a white gel pen & a printed sentiment. Adhered to an A2 card covered with Halloween patterned paper - done!

Since my Spooktacular stencils are newly used, I'll add my card to Darnell's October NBUS Challenge #67.

Thanks for stopping and hope to see you in the Diva gallery!

Amazing Things Thank You Card

Hi everyone - hope you had a wonderful weekend! I had some time to make a card before I tackled yard work. Decided to use a stencil set & make my second card for Just Us Girls #750 where it's stencil week. 

Supplies: Paper - Spellbinders A2 card &

Betterpress Porcelain; Momenta watercolor print;

My Favorite Things Floor to Ceiling; scrap of brown

Press Plates - Pinkfresh Studio Amazing Things 

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set;

Hero Arts Tag Frames Infinity Dies &

Tropical Florals (retired but HERE at Frantic Stamper);

Pinkfresh Studio Amazing Things

Stencils - Pinkfresh Studio Amazing Things 

Inks - TH, Hero Arts, SSS & MFT (see photo below)

Other - foam tape; white gel pen

I pressed the floral stem and both sentiments onto porcelain paper, then stenciled. The coordinating PFS stencil set contains 5 stencils - three for petals and 2 for leaves; very quick and easy! Here's a process photo with the inks; I use my MISTI for stenciling - the magnets hold the stencils in place.

Next I die cut the floral stem and sentiments with the coordinating dies. Die cut a brick patterned paper with a stitched rectangle & adhered to an A2 card. Die cut a couple jumbo leaves to fill in behind the floral stem & a label for the sentiment to land. Assembled and done.

I'll also link up to Darnell's October NBUS Challenge #67 since my Amazing Things products got first play here. And I'll also play at the Pinkfresh Studio October 2024 Challenge where they're doing ink blending (which includes layering stencils!). You don't have to use all the colors shown in the mood board.

That's all for today; thanks for stopping by!!

hi Hello!

Hi & hello, everyone!! Watched Craft Roulette Episode #238 last night & made a card during the show. Since I'd already posted yesterday, I waited to share my card until today:

Supplies: Paper - Olive by unk;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; scraps

Stamps - Hero Arts Old Letter &

Watch Gears (both retired); Sunny Studio Berry Bliss

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set;

Spellbinders Faux Stitched Sentiments & Floss (DOM-Apr24);

Taylored Expressions Easy Strips - 1/8" 

Stencil - My Favorite Things Smart Mask - Diagonal High/Low Strip

Inks - Taylored Expressions, SSS, Altenew, TH Distress

Host Mary Gunn FUNN had Meghann Andrew (her YouTube) as a 1st time guest. Meghann has done both scrapbooking and cardmaking & will be teaching at the Concord & 9th Winter Retreat 2025. She works for Scrapbooks and Cards Today magazine; see the fall issue online HERE. 

The wheel spun some nice & easy parameters; Meghann was lucky to have her pick come up for the Random item:

• Project - Collage: I created a collage with stamping.
• Colors - Italian Restaurant: Found a palette on Pinterest HERE - Lime/Olive/Salmon/Rust.
• Element - Short: I stamped hi, short for hello.
• Random - Diagonal Lines: I used the same stencil as on a recent Diva card; it leaves a diagonal area blank. I framed it with diagonal strips.

I started by stenciling an A2 panel of Neenah white using the MFT high/low strip stencil and Limeade ink. Leaving the stencil in place, I masked off the lower part and stamped the text/postage on the upper part using Crushed Olive Distress ink. Next I stamped the watch gears with Pumpkin ink & also in Blush ink, then in Limeade (with a little blush left on the stamp so it went a bit brown - oops). Probably should've added some text on the lower part, oh well...

I die cut the panel with a stitched rectangle and added 1/8" strips to frame the diagonal opening. Adhered it to an A2 olive green card base formed from cardstock. The 8.5x11 piece was in a mixed package, unlabeled so I think it was part of some card kit - maybe SSS??

Die cut HELLO twice and layered. Stamped hi directly in the diagonal window and adhered HELLO. The hi is actually "hi sweetie" but I did a little surgery to get the hi alone. I left it at that, adding no gems, etc. Nice & flat!

Since I used a stencil, I'll add my card to Just Us Girls #750 where it's stencil week. I'll also link up to Darnell's October NBUS Challenge #67 since my hi and HELLO are newly used here.

That's all for today; thanks for stopping by!!

A Nordic Moose scene

TGIF everyone - I'm looking forward to another episode of Craft Roulette tonight - maybe I'll see you there! The slide show with last week's cards starts shortly after 6pm CST.

Meanwhile, I made my third and final entry for Christmas Kickstart #91 where Jo and elf Faith have a lovely mood board (exact matching not required).

Supplies: Paper - Spellbinders A2 card; Neenah white;

Authentique & Recollections blues; scraps of red & pink

Stamps - Hero Arts Jolly Christmas (retired)

Dies - Poppystamps Nordic Moose & Nordic Treeline;

Waffle Flower Christmas Banners;

Elizabeth Craft Designs Lost in the Woods (retired)

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape

I covered an A2 card with a pale blue paper. Next I die cut the trees from a dark blue A2 panel and also from a white one, trimming off the white trees. Shaded the snow a bit with a B0000 Copic. Layered and added to the card. 

Isn't the moose adorable? I die cut him from a medium blue (except the antlers). I die cut the antlers and nostril backing from a pale pink cardstock that I colored over with an E11 Copic to try to get that beige-y pink tone in the mood board. I colored his hooves with a B66 Copic & also shaded his closed eye, then added a white dot so it looks open. Next I die cut his sweater from scraps of red and white, then assembled & added to the card. 

Mr. Moose was looking downward - at what, I wondered? Decided to add a tree stump which I die cut from an ECD outdoorsy set. Next I stamped and colored a birdie from a 2008 HA set. Popped atop the stump & the scene was complete! 

I'll also add my card to Darnell's October NBUS Challenge #67 since my moose and tree dies are newly used.

That's all for now; thanks for stopping! 

Craft Roulette Fun

Hi everyone - hope you're having a great week!! Yes, I watched Craft Roulette 237 LIVE Friday night but couldn't get a card done during the show. I needed different supplies than I had available at the satellite studio. Made this card when I got home yesterday; it's nice to be a member and have extra time to upload a project!

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Passion Flower & glitter cardstock;

Poptone Black; Neenah white; scraps of orange

Stamps - Hero Arts Frightful & Owl-oween (both retired)

Stamps w/dies - Hero Arts Halloween Trimmings Stamp & Cut (retired)

Dies - Poppystamps Corner Shoppe Pop Up Easel Set

Other - Copic Markers; Honey Bee Spooktacular gems;

computer generated boo-tique label

Host Mary Gunn FUNN had Sharon Luska (My Crafty Greetings YouTube)as her guest. Sharon's focus is on hints to make crafting easier so check her out! She also does guest videos for Scrappy Tails. 

The wheel was a bit challenging, in my opinion:

Here's how I employed the parameters:

• Project - Pop Up Card: I used a pop up easel card die set to create my card base.
• Colors - Trick or Treat: I used typical Halloween colors - Black/Orange/Purple.
• Element - Boutique: The pop up set I used is a shoppe; I turned it into a boo-tique.
• Random - Jewelry: I added gems to the boo-tique's door.

Simple die cutting, stamping & fussy cutting. Colored the pumpkin and shaded the ghost with Copic markers. Fiddly to assemble but I did ok. Here's a popped up view:

You can see a previous card with the shoppe die set HERE. I showed a side view on the previous card so I didn't bother here...  I'm adding my card to the current Double D Challenge to include a pumpkin.

That's it for today. Thanks for stopping by!