Unicorn birthday pop-up

Hello crafty friends. We have heavy hearts in the Twin Cities after a church shooting today. Two grade schoolers lost their lives & many more people were injured. It happened during a school mass early this morning. I was out running errands & found out when I turned on the noon news - so horrific!! The church/school sits just a mile north of where we go to eat after chorus rehearsal - typically a very safe area. Prayers to everyone affected, especially the families of the two angels!

I was planning to post the card below and decided to go ahead. My sweet little cousin A who made a card at my house last month just turned 5 yesterday. She told me how much she loves unicorns and luckily I got a unicorn die set at Paperganza. She's starting school next week and I pray she'll be safe along with all other children everywhere!!

Supplies: Paper - Lawn Fawn; MFT;

Recollections glitter cardstock; scraps

Dies - Lawn Fawn Platform Pop-up

i-Crafter Box Pops Unicorn Add-on;

MFT Stitched Numbers

Other - Betterpressed sentiment

The unicorn set is an add-on for the brand's pop up mechanism. I didn't get the mechanism set in my swag at Paperganza - just the unicorn part. No worries - I pulled out the Lawn Fawn pop-up platform set and it worked perfectly. Here's a view of the card folded flat:

I'm playing along at Darnell's IDEAS where this week Anything Goes & at NBUS #77 since the unicorn die set got first play here.

Thanks for stopping by & hold your loved ones close!!

Couple of Fall Cards

Hi everyone - welcome! You know fall is fast approaching when the State Fair starts! Between that & the mood board at Just Us Girls Challenge #789, I was inspired to pull out a Spellbinders set with an apple.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Solar White;

Authentique Latest & Greatest; scraps

Stamps - Hero Arts Color Layering Fall Trees (retired)

Dies - Spellbinders Classroom Chronicles (DOM-May25)

& Gnome Drive Graduation (retired but one left as of 

today at Frantic Stamper);

MFT Stitched Alphabet (NIB but

a few HERE at Frantic Stamper);

Taylored Expressions Mini Strips - Asymmetrical (retired)

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - foam tape; Recollections star gems

I cut a stitched rectangle from a chalkboard paper and added the ABC die cut letters. Next I die cut an apple patterned paper with a larger stitched rectangle. Layered onto a white A2 card. Die cut 3 books but shortened them to fit. Die cut & assembled the apple. Added the stack to the card with foam tape. Stamped and die cut the sentiment. Finished it off with some star gems, placed strategically to hide some glue marks on the black paper!

Now for my card made during Craft Roulette Episode #281 last night:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Solar White;

Taylored Expressions Latte;

Paper Studio cardstock; Basic Grey Kneehighs

Stamps - Hero Arts Color Layering Fall Trees (retired)

Dies - Hero Arts Autumn Leaves 

"Happy" (brand unk)

Other - Teal sequins (brand unk); Copic Markers

Host Mary Gunn FUNN had Irene Smith (‪@ArtemisMade1) as her guest. Irene, known by the nickname Hat Trick (because she had Covid 3 times during the pandemic) was making her 2nd appearance. She's a CR member and does a series on her YouTube channel on Mondays making 15 minute cards. The roulette wheel was spun four times for the necessary parameters:

• Project - 4'x6" Card: Formed one from cardstock. 
• Colors - Coffee Aisle: I used colors from the Donut Shop Decaf Coffee box in my cupboard - teal, brown, kraft, white, orange. 
• Element - From a Tree: I used leaves. 
• Random - Outside the Lines: The leaves have vein lines; I colored outside them. 

I trimmed a sheet of latte cardstock down to 6"x8", then scored the long side at 4" to form a 4"x6" card. Added mat layers of chocolate brown & a teal patterned paper. Die cut 3 leaves from latte, chocolate brown and orange card stock. Found the "happy" die cut in the bits box; I'm not sure what brand. Stamped the "Happy Fall" and trimmed to a small rectangle. Assembled on the card and added a trio of teal sequins.

That's it for today, friends. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a crafty weekend!!

Z-fold with Floral Pitcher

Welcome crafty friends! I'm here with inspiration for the Die Cut Divas August Challenge: Z-Fold Cards!! You can see my Diva post HERE, if desired; all the details, extra views and a bonus card can be found below.

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Passion Flower;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

MFT Orange Sherbet & Watercolor Wash

Stamps - Altenew Fresh Bouquet

Die/Embossing Folder/Stencil - Altenew Pitcher Vases Bundle 

Die - Altenew Mix and Match Frames

Inks - Hero Arts Amethyst & TH Distress Iced Spruce

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape

We're sponsored by Altenew this month; they've given us a $20 gift card for our random winner to be drawn from eligible August entries on 9/3. Thanks so much!!

I had been eying the pitcher vase combo since released and, thanks to Darnell & her 75th NBUS Challenge prize, was able to get it. It just arrived & is getting its first play here! First I die cut then embossed & stenciled this darling pitcher vase. Next I searched through my Altenew stamps - most are too large for the vase but I found a gift mini set Altenew sent me in December called Fresh Bouquet. I stamped & colored it, then trimmed some parts off to rearrange atop the vase. 

Next I formed a simple Z fold by folding back the front of an A2 card. Added mat panels to front and inside. Die cut a deckle panel to overlap the Z on the front. Masked off the bottom and ink blended some Iced Spruce to be my "table". Stamped a sentiment from the same stamp set and matted it. Assembled everything on the card. I'll add a white panel for the inside sentiment later. Here are a couple more views - standing front & top:

Thanks again to Darnell - I'll add this card to her IDEAS E for Embossing this week and to her NBUS Challenge #77 since the vase is newly used. So is the floral stamp, now that I think about it! I'll also add my card to the August We Love Stamping Challenge using the Flower Theme. My bouquet is hand stamped and colored; this is my second of three possible there.

Ready for a bonus? Skip if not! Please note - my bonus card, while a Z-fold, wouldn't work for the Diva Challenge since it doesn't have any die cuts, nor did I use an embossing folder. Kinda forgot that, so that's why it's a bonus - LOL.

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio A2 card;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Lawn Fawn Petite Watercolor Wishes;

scrap of patterned paper (brand unk)

Stamps - Altenew Little Mushroom;

magazine freebie gnome set

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape

I was shopping at Barnes & Noble earlier this month and found issue 148 of Creative Stamping magazine containing a cute gnome stamp set plus the Altenew mushroom stamp set! Since we're using Altenew products this month, I decided the set should come home with me. I formed the Z-Fold same as above but this time I trimmed the front into a diagonal. Matted with patterned and watercolor wash papers. Stamped the images (gnomes are fussy cut) and colored with Copics. Stamped the sentiment & assembled. Here's a standing view:

That's it for today. Thanks for stopping and we hope to see your Z-Fold in the gallery, remembering to include a die cut & or use an embossing folder!

Happy crafting!!

Winter Bird Trio in Wreath and more...

Hi everyone - hope you're having a great weekend! I'm popping in with my third and final entry for Christmas Kickstart #101 Let's Wreath it Up! Busy week and weekend but more on that later...

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio A2 card;

Recollections Wood Textures; Neenah Solar White

Stamps - Recollections Mini Bows

Stamps with Dies - MFT Winter Wreath 

& Winter Songbird (retired/NIB)

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - digi sentiment strip (Hero Arts);

Recollections gems; foam tape; Copics

This one involved stamping, coloring, die cutting and assembling. The coloring took the longest, otherwise it wasn't too laborious. Love those Winter Birds and have used them a few times. You can see a couple earlier versions Here & Here if desired.

Next, I'll share my card for Craft Roulette Episode #280 which aired Friday night:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah grey linen A2 card;

Neenah Solar White; BoBunny Banner Year;

Authentique Irresistible; scrap of black

Stamps - Raisin Boat Drinks Anyone (retired);

MFT Uncorked (retired/NIB)

Stamps with Dies - MFT Something for Everything (retired/NIB)

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape

Host Mary had Carrie Giletto (‪@carriegiletto9662‬) who was making her 2nd appearance. She's also a Craft Roulette member who loves sharing paper crafting tips on her YouTube Channel. As usual, the wheel was spun four times for the parameters to use on our cards:

• Project - Thinking of You: I used a Thinking of You sentiment.
• Colors - Hometown: Used maroon & gray - colors of my hometown university.
• Element - Cup or Glass: I used a pair of wine glasses.
• Random - Add a Doodle: I doodled the corners of my maroon panel.

I quickly decided on wine glasses for my element (you'll see why in a sec), then found a thinking of you sentiment & a wine related subsentiment for my glasses to rest on. The wine glass stamp also has a squiggle stamp to represent wine but I added some Copic shading.

This card will go to our friend Maureen who organized an outing for this past Wednesday. We traveled north of the Twin Cities to Panola Gardens - a gorgeous spot that offers lunches and teas, among other things. Check the gallery on their website for photos of the grounds, if desired - they are far more professional than the ones I took! I will share the photo of our group - my former quartet, our coach/mom (seated in center) & our friend Maureen (seated at right):

As if tea wasn't enough, we repaired to Rustic Roots winery for more frivolity (the Gardens doesn't serve wine). I don't have any photos from there but they also have amazing grounds (owned by a nursery). 

Next I'll share a photo of two friends and me at the Minnesota Lynx basketball game yesterday (we won!). It's hard to tell but the cap is the team mascot - they gave them away to celebrate the mascot's birthday & there was a lot of craziness between quarters.

Chorus was invited to sing the National Anthem before the game and it was amazing! Here's a shot of the big screen above the court; I'm not visible but our director is standing a foot away from the starters hugging it out before the game. 

Behind the chorus is a group of sweet Girl Scouts displaying the colors. They were enthused about the music; some had already earned that scout badge. My friends and I took the train from Mall of America to Target Center in downtown Minneapolis - my first time making that trip! So quick and cheap - only $2! There was quite a crowd of Vikings and Lynx fans all headed downtown; luckily the Twins didn't play until the evening!

That's it for today, friends! With all the activity this past week, I'm lucky I got some cards made! Thanks for visiting & happy crafting!!

Another Christmas Wreath

Hi everyone - it's the second week of the month and Darnell has some gorgeous inspiration for her D = Dies IDEAS program! I decided to combine some NBUS dies to play along and also create another card for Christmas Kickstart #101 Let's Wreath it Up! Here's my second of three possible at CKC:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio A2 card;

Doodlebug Home for the Holidays; scraps

Dies - Birch Press Design Adornment Wreath

(retired but found HERE at Frantic Stamper);

Memory Box Wreath Sprigs & Petite Poinsettias

(retired but found HERE at Frantic Stamper)

Poppystamps Grosgrain Bow (retired)

Other - Graphic 45 Merry & Bright pinecone;

printed sentiment strip (maybe SSS?)

This one involved die cutting and assembling. Very quick to put together once I'd decided what to use & how to arrange it. Since the wreath & flower dies are new, I'll also add my card to Darnell's August NBUS Challenge #77. Plus I'll play at Merry Little Christmas #63 where Anything Christmas Goes; this is my 6th of a possible 8 entries there.

Still with me? I'm also sharing my card for Craft Roulette Episode #279 which aired Friday night. I spent the weekend at a Sweet Adelines regional music camp so had to watch CR on replay yesterday, then quickly made a card.

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio green A2 card;

Neenah Solar White; Doodlebug Home for the Holidays

Stamps - My Favorite Things Christmas sELFies (retired)

Stamps with Dies - Hero Arts Merry Rockin' Horse Bundle

(retired but found at Frantic Stamper HERE)

Dies - MFT Polaroid Shaker Frame (retired)

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape; sentiment from bits box

Host Mary had Alicia/Crafty Al (@CallMeCraftyAl) who was making her 13th solo appearance. She's also been on Craft Roulette a few times jointly with her daughter. Crafty Al is known for her Sheetload of Cards series. As usual, the wheel was spun four times for the parameters to use on our cards:

• Project - Kid's Card: I made a Christmas card with kid elements like Santa & toys.
• Colors - Theater: Used movie theater treat colors - white & yellow for popcorn and red, blue, orange, yellow, green & brown for M&Ms.
• Element - Picture(s): I used a polaroid die and added a "photo" of Santa & friends.
• Random - 1/2 & 1/2: My card front is 1/2 patterned paper and 1/2 solid card stock.

I quickly decided on a Christmas card with some stamps that reminded me of kids. The MFT sELFie set was perfect for a picture element so I pulled out the coordinating polaroid die. Stamped, die cut and colored the elements. For the 1/2 and 1/2 parameter, I just trimmed a panel of patterned paper to 2 1/8x 5.5" and added to the left half of an A2 card. Assembled the picture into the polaroid die cut and adhered to the card. Glued a sentiment to the bottom of the die cut. Added the toys to the bottom - done!

That's it for today, friends! Besides doing some yard work and laundry already today, I need to work on my music for chorus tonight. Thanks for visiting & happy crafting!!

Stenciled Christmas Wreath

Hi all - TGIF! I'm here with a quick card for Christmas Kickstart #101 to use a wreath. I pulled out a previously unused wreath stencil set from 2022 & a new-to-me sentiment die.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Solar White;

Hero Arts Bermuda; scraps

Stencils - Hero Arts Color Layering Wreath

Dies - BPD Merry Christmas Confection Script;

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Hero Arts Glitter Paste; fine line pens;

Distress Inks

I took an A2 piece of Neenah and stenciled the four layers of the wreath using Iced Spruce, Pine Needles, Rustic Wilderness and Fired Brick Distress Inks. Die cut the panel with a stitched rectangle & inked the edges and corners with leftover Fired Brick. Over the Pine Needles stencil layer I applied glitter paste. After dry, I adhered to an A2 card and added details with a black and green pen. Die cut and layered the sentiment & adhered to the card.

Very quick and easy! Since the stencils & sentiment dies are new, I'll also add my card to Darnell's August NBUS Challenge #77. Plus I'll play at Merry Little Christmas #63 where Anything Christmas Goes; this is my 5th of a possible 8 entries there.

That's it for today. Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a crafty weekend!!

Coffee Beans for Aliens?

Hey friends - hope your week is going well. Since it's the first week of the month, Darnell is doing I = Inks for her IDEAS program. See her beautiful inspiration cards HERE. Thought I'd play along and create a galaxy background for a cute alien stamp I got at Paperganza. Coincidentally, at Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers #265, A is for Alien so I'll play there too!

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Solar White; 

scrap of green

Stamps - Trinity Espresso Terrestrial;

MFT Perk Up (retired)

Inks - TH Distress: Black Soot, Blueprint Sketch, 

Shaded Lilac, Chipped Sapphire, 

Mustard Seed, & Squeezed Lemonade

Other - Paper Studio stars; white gel pen; 

foam tape; Hero Arts Shimmer Spray; Copic Markers

First I took an A2 panel of Neenah and blended 3 inks: Shaded Lilac, Blueprint Sketch & Chipped Sapphire, then edged with Black Soot. Sprayed with shimmer mist. When dry, I added star gems and white gel details, then added to an A2 card base. Adhered a green strip to the bottom & stamped the "Bean Me Up" along with some coffee beans. 

Next, I stamped the alien in the coffee cup space ship onto a scrap of Neenah white, extending the rays with a sharpie. Masked and inked the rays, then colored the rest with Copics. Fussy cut and stamped the coffee beans beaming up in the ray area. Stamped the ship with the company name "Espresso Terrestrial Coffee Co". Adhered the space ship to the card.

Finally, I stamped and fussy cut a thank you sentiment to match the coffee theme. Thanks Trinity Stamps for the adorable alien stamps which are getting first play here! Since NBUS, I'll add to Darnell's August NBUS Challenge #77. I'm also playing at the August We Love Stamping Challenge using the Anything Goes option (other theme is flowers).

If you missed it, I made a cute crocodile card with products from Riley and Co. Just learned that, starting tomorrow, R&C will carry closeout items from My Favorite Things!! I can't wait to pop over and see what they'll have. Frantic Stamper & Simon Says Stamp have some items too; maybe other places, but these are the ones I know best. None of these are affiliate links, I just list for your convenience.

Thanks for visiting and have a crafty day!!