Easter Wishes!!

Happy Easter wishes to all celebrating today! We're expecting temps into the 70s F so looking forward to that!! Over at Die Cut Divas we're doing window cards with Poppystamps as our sponsor. Of course I had to go shopping! My "masterpiece" this year uses a new easel die set from Poppystamps but has nothing to do with the window theme... It went to my friend Heather (stamping and stitching) and her family. 

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts (retired), Neenah, Paper Studio

Dies - Poppystamps Woven Basket Pop Up Easel Set,

Splendid Happy Easter, & Folk Decorated Eggs (retired)

Stamps - Lawn Fawn Eggstra Special Easter

Other - Copic Markers; 

Tumbled Glass & Pumice Stone Distress Inks

The stopper above the Happy Easter was borrowed from another pop-up easel set. I did several other versions but will only share a blue one. I added Taylored Expressions Backstory Easter Background to the blue sky behind the bunnies. It's a new stamp and I didn't have it when I made the first version.

Then I took a break from bunnies to do a sun ray background with lilies (from a retired Hero Arts clear set). I attended TE's online Stamp Joy event at the end of March and the sun ray stencil was part of the event kit. Had a wonderful time and made 11 cards. One was designed for multiples and we were given supplies enough for 4 cards; I just have to finish the other 3 for a total of 14 cards from the event. Sadly we can't share the class cards outside the class website but I made a totally different card with the supplies I purchased so I'll share that at some point. The sun ray stencil is called Here Comes the Sun - perfect for a Beatles lover!

When I cut the small rayed rectangle, I had enough left to cut a frame. I used it to build another bunny scene (I stamped a bunch of bunnies and die cut loads of Easter eggs!). For this one my grass was cut with Lawn Fawn's Grassy Border.

Since my easel die set got first play here, I'm adding card one to Darnell's April NBUS challenge.

Thanks for stopping and have a wonderful day!!

March Card Chain Reveal

Woo Hoo - time for another Card Chain reveal - see the full chain of 34 HERE!! My card flew across the pond to the lovely Jo (Just a Dotty Pudding).

Supplies: Paper - Neenah White; Doodlebug; Lawn Fawn

Dies - Hero Arts Autumn Bouquet Fancy Dies;

Poppystamps Fern and Daisy Pop Up Easel Set

Stamp - Hero Arts Color Layering Poppy (sentiment)

Inks - Squeezed Lemonade, Cracked Pistachio & Kitsch Flamingo

Distress Oxide Inks

Other - Pink and Main enamel hearts

I used the colors and the sketch, plus theme of friendship.

I blended the three colors onto a piece of Neenah using Distress Oxide inks, then spritzed the panel with water for some texture. Trimmed the piece and added it to a black mat along with the panels of patterned paper. Adhered to a white A2 card base. Die cut the flower, stem, and bow & applied to the panel. Stamped the sentiment and added some enamel hearts - done! 

Jo loved the card and I was delighted it only took a week to get to her!! Update to the tale of the February Card Chain card Jo sent me: the poor card was returned to her by the USPS for unknown reasons. It arrived back a bit battered, according to Jo, so she made a new card but salvaged the original polar bears to put on the inside. I used Jo's photo of her Feb card in my March 2nd reveal post but here's a photo of the remake (rec'd March 19th). Thanks so much, Jo - I love it and I'm sorry you had a tangle with the USPS!!

I'm expecting a lovely card from Helen (Helen G Designs) - can't wait til it arrives!! If you want to join in the fun, go here to sign up for the April chain by 4/6 - we enjoy it so much! You only make & send one card and then receive a handmade card.

Thanks for visiting & have a crafty day!!

Last of March Diva Inspiration!

Hi friends - the Divas have some last of the month inspiration using Sunny Studio products - see them all here! 

I made a quick & easy thank you card using a bunch of border dies:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio Brights

Dies - Sunny Studio Slimline Basic Borders and

Slimline Scalloped Frame (sentiment);

Hero Arts Nesting Circle Infinity Dies

Other - Jolee Music Note Stickers; foam tape

I die cut three borders, then used the negative of two of them as additional layers. One of the dies imbeds the stitches so I used it on the topmost layer. Kinda reminds me of a fiesta - love the bright colors!! This one went to a Sweet Adeline friend who worked really hard on a project to honor past Regional Champion quartets, including mine - Chord Company - champs 6 times back in the day (retired in 2010).

You still have time to upload your slimline card to the Die Cut Diva March Slimline Challenge - link up ends at 9pm Pacific time today. Our wonderful sponsor Sunny Studio has furnished a $15 gift card to their store; the winner will be announced at Die Cut Divas on April 3rd. Many thanks again to Mendi at Sunny Studio!!

Thanks for stopping and happy crafting!!

Spring Slimline

Hey everyone - I'm the featured designer at Die Cut Divas today, sharing a slimline with Sunny Studio products! Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio Brights; Neenah White;

Momenta Watercolor; Tim Holtz Menagerie;

scrap of pink Heidi Swapp glitter paper

Dies - Sunny Studio Slimline Pennant Dies.

Slimline Scalloped Frame Dies, Slimline Nature Borders Dies,

Layered Basket Dies; Basic Mini Shape Dies 3

Stamps - Sunny Studio A Good Egg (with dies)

Other - Copic Markers, Stickles

If you want fabulous products and great service, check out our March sponsor, Sunny Studio. I've been a satisfied customer since 2016. When I suggested the theme of slimline cards for the Divas to use in March, I already owned 3 Sunny Studio slimline die sets. A fourth one came out January 8th and I promptly ordered it, deciding on the spot to make a pennant-shaped card. I cut two of the large pennants and scored the back one to hinge the opening. I used the next sized pennants to cut two layers. There's also a fourth narrow pennant, great for sentiments or to cut down for little flags. The set also contains two styles of scalloped borders - an excellent value!! 

One of my earliest slimline purchases was the Scalloped Frames set, which includes sentiment dies. I used the "greetings" from that set, combined with the "spring" from the new Layered Basket die set. The little tulip die came free with an order but can be purchased in a mini set to which I linked in the supply list. The grass came from the Slimline Nature Borders set. My chick in the egg is from a favorite stamp set I purchased 5 years ago; finally got the coordinating dies last year - well worth it!!

Had to laugh - I showed my mom this card and she wasn't very enthusiastic about it. "What don't you like?" I asked. She wouldn't be specific - hope you all can find something you like about it! I think it's a a very happy card!! 😉

That's it from me. Thanks for stopping and the Divas & I hope to see your slimline card in the Diva gallery this month!! Please use a die cut of some kind and link up by March 31st at 9pm Pacific time.

Special thanks to Mendi at Sunny Studio for her kindness and generosity, including a $15 prize to our random winner (look for the announcement on April 3rd). Happy crafting!!

Kraft, Red & White Christmas

Happy Saturday - it's a beautiful day here in Minnesota!! I hope to get out and enjoy it at some point!!

Popping in with a card I've been thinking about for the March CAS Christmas Challenge to use kraft, red & white on a clean & simple Christmas card. Big congrats and Happy 3rd Birthday wishes to CAS Christmas and the entire team!!

Supplies: Paper - Neenah White;

Hero Arts Latte (retired); Paper Studio Holiday

Dies - A Jillian Vance Designs Dot Stitched Rectangle Backdrop;

Hero Arts Paper Layering Poinsettia &

Nesting Oval Infinity Dies

Stamps - Taylored Expressions Linen Background

Hero Arts Hero Greetings Christmas

Inks - Frayed Burlap Distress Ink & Memento Rhubarb Stalk

Other - Honey Bee gems

I diecut a stitched rectangle and then a matching mask with an oval cut into it. Sponged Distress Ink over the open oval - sorry it's yellowish in the photo but very matching to the kraft cardstock in real life. I stamped the linen texture on to the A2 card base and added my stitched panel (with a thin red mat). Diecut and assembled the flower, then added along the oval. Stamped the sentiment and added some gems - done!! I just love this poinsettia die set and have used it bunches of times since I bought it - thanks to Hero Arts for creating it!!

So glad you visited and I hope you'll stop back tomorrow for my Die Cut Diva post using Sunny Studio slimline products!! Happy crafting!!

Let's Squash an Embossed Box!

Hey there - hope you're enjoying the week! I wanted to play at Let's Squash It!! for the Box Challenge. Off I went and made my little box, photographed it and was about to blog it. Oops - didn't read the challenge properly - you need to make a FLORAL embossed box. Back to the drawing board and I found an ancient Cuttlebug floral folder to emboss a second box:

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts blush (middle of 3 shades; retired);

Lawn Fawn Watercolor Wishes

Dies - Taylored Expressions All Tucked In &

Designer Mini Tags (retired)

Stamp - Taylored Expressions Itty Bitty Sentiments (March gift)

Embossing folder - Cuttlebug Stylized Flowers (retired)

Other - Stickles; Picked Raspberry Distress Ink

I die cut the box and embossed it. The flat box is too big for an A2 ef, so I had to emboss the flap separately. For an embellishment I embossed a scrap left over from die cutting the box, placing it over a flower in the ef. The leaves were leftovers from a previous project. The TE March gift stamp set perfectly matches their mini tags dies; I've had them for years & just love! If interested, see a Christmas card with these tags here.

Thought I might as well share the original box, even if it didn't have a scrap of floral embossing.... I used one of the jumbo Cuttlebug folders into which the flat die cut box fit perfectly.

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts blush (lightest & middle of 3 shades; retired);

Lawn Fawn Watercolor Wishes

Dies - Taylored Expressions All Tucked In &

Designer Mini Tags (retired);

My Favorite Things Flight of Butterflies - Lace (retired)

Embossing Folder - Cuttlebug Kitchen Weave

Other - Baker's Twine from Target $1 bin;

Kitsch Flamingo & Black Soot Distress Inks;

Memento Rose Bud ink

And here's a closer look - I'm holding it in my hand so you can see the petite size.

I'll also add a box to the current NBUS challenge, simply for the sentiment. I just got the set in the mail yesterday and was excited to use it for the first time!! Thanks TE for the gift!!

Thanks for visiting and I hope you'll stop back on Sunday for my Die Cut Diva post - we're doing Slimline Cards with Sunny Studio this month; hope to see you in the gallery!!

 

Happy St Patrick's Day!!

☘☘Happy St Patty's Day crafty friends!! ☘☘ 

Whether you're Irish or not (I'm not), you probably celebrate this holiday somehow. When I worked in downtown St Paul MN (home to many of Irish descent) we would watch the parade out the office windows - so fun! Now I just watch bits on television - still entertaining.

My connection to Ireland is my friend Heather (stamping and stitching) and her beautiful family. I sent them this card to celebrate the day and they loved it!!

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio; Ms Sparkle woodgrain;

Whimsy Stamps St Patrick's Day Slimline

Dies - Impression Obsession Fancy Shamrock;

Frantic Stamper Slimline Frames

LDRS Creative Slimline Corner Scallop

Stamps - Hero Arts Holiday Planner Icons (retired)

Pink and Main Happy (retired)

Other - clear embossing powder, Copic Markers

I diecut the fancy shamrock twice and inlaid the plain green pieces into the glittered one. Die cut the mat from designer paper, the sentiment strip from woodgrain, and the little white border. Stamped and embossed the sentiment. Stamped & fussy cut the little hat from the holiday icon set - easy peasy!

We got our second covid vaccine shot last week so will be considered "fully vaccinated" soon. Can't wait to hug my family and friends when they fall into that category too!!

Thanks for stopping & luck o' the Irish to you!!