Charms on a Purse!

Hey everyone - how's your 2026 going so far? I just came home on the 31st from my holidays in Arizona so I did very little to celebrate the New Year. Was too busy unpacking and opening my accumulated mail. I made time last night to watch Craft Roulette #300, though. Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - TH Kraft Metallic;

MFT Limeade; Paper Studio cardstock;

Spellbinders Betterpress Porcelain

Dies - Spellbinders Charmed Life (DOML-Nov25)

Press Plate w/die - Spellbinders You Are Everything Sentiments

3D Embossing Folder - Altenew Organic Linen

Other - foam tape

Host Mary Gunn had Maymay Helms (‪@MaymayMadeIt‬) as her guest. Maymay was making her 5th episode appearance but she's also been part of special Craft Roulette events. She has several regular shows on her YouTube channel, plus a line of stamps on her website. Mary spun the wheel four times as usual for the necessary parameters:

• Project - Purse Card: I put a purse on an A7 card. 
• Colors - 1990's: I went neon with lime/orange/pink. 
• Element - Outdoor Critter(s): I used a bear charm.
• Random - Textile: I embossed my purse with Organic Linen.

I pulled out a Spellbinders set that creates a purse with dangle elements. It's the first time I've used it and I know I put stuff together wrong but I wanted to get something finished quickly... Die cut the elements I wanted to use and assembled. Embossed the purse using an Altenew 3D folder. Added to an A7 card along with a pressed sentiment. The "button" closure on the purse is a flower center die cut taken from my bits box (brand unk).

Since my purse set was newly used, I'll add my card to Darnell's January NBUS Challenge #82.

That's it for today, friends. Thanks for stopping by & have a crafty weekend!

December 2025 Card Chain Reveal

Hey everyone - today we share cards that went around the world for the December 2025 Card Chain Challenge. Twenty-three people participated and you can see the full reveal HERE. My card went to the talented Imke (My Crafty Place) in Germany.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Hero Arts (retired); Paper Studio cardstock; 

Tim Holtz Kraft Metallic

Dies - Birch Press Design Little Poinsettia Flowers,

Merry Christmas Dapper Script,

Block Print Drop Ornaments,

Block Print Petal Ornament, &

Block Print Wave Ornament;

Poppystamps Flower and Leaf Sprinkles,

Little Bow and String, &

Garden Sprig (retired);

Lawn Fawn Quilted Diamond Backdrop;

Other - foam tape; white gel pen

We had to use all the parameters listed:

NBUS (new but unused stuff)**

something from your stash that is unused

It doesn't have to be new, old unused stuff is OK too

 

AND

 

your favourite 3 colours

 

AND

 

an animal OR a flower OR a fruit 

I used a bunch of new Birch Press that I hadn't used prior to this card, including the ornaments & bitty poinsettias. My fave three colors in order - purple, teal, & green. I'm definitely Team Purple, so I leaned heavily into that color with two different shades. Also had two different shades of green too & a bit of teal. I added white flowers (neutrals allowed) to the ornaments to meet the third parameter. Loads of die cutting on this one, then assembled. This was one of my favorite holiday makes!

Linda in Michigan sent me the card below; I just love her celebratory New Year's card! Thanks Linda & thanks too for the die cut frame!

Want to play in the Card Chain? It's great fun and you only have to make and send one card. Check out the January 2026 details here by 1/6.

Thanks for stopping by & happy crafting!!

** Note: Blogging friend Darnell has an entire NBUS Challenge blog devoted to what she calls Never-Before-Used-Schtuff. With her inspiration I use more of my schtuff every month!! Check it out if you don't already play there. I'm adding my card (since first blogged here & uses new stuff) to Darnell's January NBUS Challenge #82.

Blue Snowflakes and a poinsettia!

Hi all - not much left of 2025; hope you're doing well in the run up to the new year! I decided to make something for Craftlandia Challenge 25 - Snowflakes after I saw Hilary's lovely inspiration card. It's her final card as a DT member so I wanted to make the effort to play. Her card used a gorgeous snowflake print with some rich blues; I decided to go with blues too. 

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; 

Paper Studio patterned paper; Spellbinders A2 card

Embossing Folder - Echo Park Snowflake #3 (retired)

Stamps w/dies - Waffle Flower Elegant Christmas 2

(dies HERE)

Dies - Sunny Studio Layered Snowflake Frame (retired)

Tim Holtz Sizzix Stitched Rectangles (retired)

Other - Recollections gems; foam tape;

Hero Arts felt snowflake; blue inks (retired brand)

I started by die cutting a stitched rectangle from a blue patterned paper flecked with copper. I embossed the rectangle with the snowflake folder, then rubbed various blue inks over the raised bits. Adhered the panel to an A2 card. Die cut a bunch of white snowflakes from a Sunny Studio set I gave my sister last year; just used one here - layered it atop a felt snowflake. Added the sentiment with foam tape, plus some gems. Easy peasy.

I'll also add my card to Inkspirational Challenge #357 where the theme is Cold - snow is definitely cold in my neck of the woods!!

Next, I have a holiday thank you card made with a poinsettia I built at home and brought to AZ with me. This went to my sister to say thanks for her hospitality over Christmas.

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio A2 card; scrap of black;

Taylored Expressions White Glitter Cardstock

Dies - Taylored Expressions Garden Variety Die Set - Poinsettia;

Doodlebug Designs Many Thanks

Other - Recollections

I got the glitter paper and poinsettia after Taylor from TE showed it off at an online card event. So pretty!! Inked it with pink & green - can't remember which brand I used. I adhered the poinsettia to an A2 card & finished it off simply with a die cut thanks & some gems.

I'll add this card to Darnell's NBUS Challenge #81 since the poinsettia got first play here.

Thanks for stopping by and have a crafty day!!

Winter Birdies Again!

Hey everyone - hope you're enjoying the holidays! We had a lovely Christmas dinner with tamales from The Tamale Store. Two of my sister's friends joined Dad, my sisters & me. My brother and sister-in-law celebrated with Donna's family. 

On Friday, sister Tami & I made a few brief shopping stops then it was time to watch Craft Roulette Episode #299. Tami makes cards but was too busy working on a puzzle to play at CR. I crafted along but waited until today to finish my card and get a daytime photo.

Supplies: Paper - Bazzill & Tim Holtz browns;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; scraps of red

Stamps w/dies - My Favorite Things Winter Birds

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints 12;

Other - colored pencils; sentiment from 

a scrap of patterned paper; circle punches;

Recollections gems

Host Mary had Bitty Penny (‪@BittyPenny‬), making her 11th appearance. If you remember, she filled in a couple weeks ago when Mary had technical difficulties with another guest. The wheel was spun four times as usual for the the necessary parameters. They were ok - I managed to make it work:

• Project - Double Z/Double Zed: I formed a Double Z card with cardstock.
• Colors - Rudulph: I used browns, reds and a bit of green (his collar?).
• Element - Optimistic: I used a sentiment with the word Believe which is optimistic.
• Random - Plain Circle(s): I die cut or punched 4 plain circles and one stitched one.

Since still visiting my sister, I had limited supplies again. I used cardstock from her stash along with more stamped/die cut winter birds & some foliage that I brought with me. I colored them with pencils & popped them onto the card with foam tape. A few gems finished it off. I wasn't too excited to do a Double Z but this turned out better than expected with the addition of the birds! Here's a view of the card folded flat - fits in an A2 envelope.

Thanks for stopping by and commenting during this busy season! And just a reminder, we're still doing Christmas/Winter for our December Die Cut Diva Challenge. Join us by 9pm Pacific time on the 31st.

Happy crafting!

Merry Christmas 2025!!

Ho ho ho friends & Merry Christmas if you're celebrating!! I typically pop in on Christmas day to share my holiday decor. So here you go:

Living Room Trees

Hallmark designer tree atop a pedestal at top of my entry

Foyer wreath (Hallmark mini mice)

Hallmark North Pole tree on my dresser

Hallmark Snoopy tree in upstairs guestroom

Christmas pots outside the front door

Wishing you all the best during this holiday season! I'll probably be back tomorrow or Saturday with a Craft Roulette card; Episode #299 airs tomorrow night!

Thanks for stopping by & enjoy your day!

Some Christmas Postage Stamp Cards

Hey everyone - I had time during all my holiday preparations to make cards for my usual Die Cut Diva post today! Only the first card below is shared there; the bonus and details for both cards can only be found here.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; 

Paper Studio green card stock; Recollections A2 card

Stencils - Waffle Flower Postage Collage Vertical Tree

Stamps - Waffle Flower Postage Collage & 

Postage Collage North Pole

Stamps w/dies - Waffle Flower Elegant Christmas 2

(dies HERE)

Dies - Waffle Flower Sweet Plaid Texture Die 

& Postage Collage;

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Various inks; foam tape; SSS star embellishments

We have the wonderful Waffle Flower as our December sponsor, furnishing a $15 gift card to their online store. We'll award it by random drawn on 1/3/2026 from eligible December entries.

I started with a piece of Neenah and stenciled each of the tree's 5 layers using various inks. Next I die cut it with the Postage Collage. Die cut a stitched rectangle with the plaid texture & adhered to an A2 card.

Next, I started stamping the postal details. Paper shifted and the stamping went wonky so I trimmed the postage collage into its 6 separate postage stamps. With artful layering, I knew I could still use all 6 of the cut stamps. Used 3 here and saved the other 3. Added a sentiment from the stash & some Simon Says Stamps stars.

I'll add this card to Darnell's December NBUS Challenge #81 since my tree stencil set got first play here. 

For my bonus, I used the remaining postage stamps created above. Added them to a snowflake coverplate that was adhered to an A2 card, along with another sentiment from the same sentiment set as above.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; 

Paper Studio sunflower card stock

Stencils - Waffle Flower Postage Collage Vertical Tree

Stamps - Waffle Flower Postage Collage

Stamps w/dies - Waffle Flower Elegant Christmas 2

(dies HERE)

Dies - Waffle Flower Dashed Snowflake Panel Die

& Postage Collage

Other - Various inks; foam tape; SSS star embellishments

Do you have a favorite? I love the elf peeking out on card one and the bright sunny yellow on card two. Such fun to make!

I hope your holiday preparations are going well &, if you get a chance, can link up to our Die Cut Divas December Challenge using die cuts &/or an embossing folder, plus the theme of Christmas/Winter. You have until 9pm Pacific Time on 12/31 to upload at the link shown.

I will be back on Christmas Day sharing my holiday trees, as usual. Thanks for stopping by during this busy season!

A Birdie Thanks!

Hey everyone - less than a week until Christmas - yikes! I still had time to watch Craft Roulette Episode #298 tonight and craft along.

Supplies: Paper - Recollections A6 card;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; scraps

Stamps w/dies - My Favorite Things Winter Birds

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints 12;

Doodlebug Designs Many Thanks

Other - colored pencils

Host Mary was replaced by her alter ego Merry Claus for this holiday episode. Her guest was Merry Gary, a North Pole elf, making his second annual appearance. Everything was decorated for the holidays and both Merry and Gary made holiday cards. The wheel was nice, not naughty, this year:

• Project - A6: I used a pre-formed A6 card from Michaels.
• Colors - Gummi Bears: I used blue raspberry, red and green.
• Element - Rhymes With "-Ack": I used a black sentiment die cut.
• Random - Tearing: I tore the dotted paper on the left edge.

Visiting my sister tonight so I had limited supplies with me; still managed to finish a card. I had brought some stamped/die cut winter birds so just did a quick color with pencils. No Copics available. A pre-formed A6 card from Michael's and some scrap papers (brands unk), plus a circle & sentiment die cut completed the card - very quick and easy!! Note: I updated the card photo with a daytime one - much better!

I will be back on Sunday with my usual 21st Die Cut Divas post. We're doing Christmas/Winter for our December Challenge so I hope you'll pop over by 12/31 at 9pm Pacific Time!

Thanks for stopping by & happy crafting!!