Creating Artsy Backgrounds with Justin Adkins

Happy Sunday, friends - we have about 10 inches of snow so far from last night's storm but it hasn't stopped yet! We're advised to keep off the roads which is fine with me - I have everything I need at home. I mentioned yesterday that I did part of Scrapbook.com's March 2026 SBC Fest on Friday. It's a free event on YouTube if you want to check it out. You could purchase curated products for it which I did. I bought the full event bundle even though one class revolved around scrapbooking which I don't do as much anymore. Those products can easily be used for cardmaking.

I had a chance to make some backgrounds as shown in Justin Adkins' SBC Fest class. One of them reminded me of the lower right part of the inspiration photo at Inkspirational Challenge #363. So, I made a card for that challenge! It's a bit of a mash-up of products from three online events - SSS Create Together with Jennifer McGuire, Hero Arts Spring 2026 Stamp Along & SBC Fest.

Supplies: Paper - Recollections A2 cards;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Paper Studio & Spellbinders cardstock;

Scrapbook.com White Mixed Media Paper

Stamps w/dies - Simon Says Stamp CZ Design Good Greetings 1 Set

Stencil w/coordinating coverplate - Hero Arts Stamp Along Kit

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set;

Scrapbook.com Heirloom Butterflies (from Lea 

Lawson's class kit); 

Hero Arts Squiggly Rectangle Frames (from the

Stamp Along kit)

Other - SSS Starshine embellishments; 

Hero Arts enamel dot; foam tape; white gel pen

I started with the background which was made with mini ink cubes of water reactive ink. Justin used 8 mini Distress Oxides but I have no minis. I used mini Hero Arts Reactive Inks and one Distress ink (came in some kit or another). You create a grid pattern by stamping the inks onto a glass board (I have the Tim Holtz one). Then you spray with water and smoosh Mixed Media paper into the ink. Pull up the paper and you can spray it more to move the ink. Here was the first pull I got (along with the inks used):

You can see the block-ish look of this first pull. I left it that way deliberately & will make it into a card later. I then added more water and sometimes more ink to get two more pulls. I just photographed those two in the finished cards. The first card I shared was made with the third pull.

I die cut the panel with a stitched rectangle, matted in lime green and added it to a shimmery peach card. It went wonky so I trimmed it down and added to a turquoise card. I had an extra squiggly frame from the Hero Arts Stamp Along so added it to the background panel for my focal elements. Die cut and assembled an heirloom butterfly from SBC Fest (haven't done that class yet...) & a sentiment from the JM/SSS class. Arranged some little flowers & leaves left over from the Stamp Along around the sentiment. These were created with a layered stencil set and coverplate die to cut them. Flowers centers went wonky on a few of the big flowers so I covered up the stenciled center with a die cut one from the stash (brand unk). I really liked the pop of the bright butterfly with the softer background and flowers.

I will also add this card to Darnell's March NBUS Challenge #84 since the butterfly was newly used.

Bonus: Here's the card I made with the second background pull - it's mainly Justin's design but he made a big "Cheers to You" sentiment with a die set for his card. I just used a birthday sentiment on hand - lazy, I guess....

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Scrapbook.com White Mixed Media Paper;

Paper Studio & Recollections cardstock

Stamps w/dies - Simon Says Stamp CZ Design Good Greetings 1 Set

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set;

Scrapbook.com Justin Adkin class kit (also embossing folder)

Other - Trinity Stamps dot embellishments

After drying the background, I cut it with a stitched rectangle & embossed it (as Justin did) with the banner 3D folder that came with his class kit. Die cut the balloons from his kit and adhered to the card, trimming off any overhang. Matted the panel in green and added to an A2 card made from Neenah. Popped an extra sentiment from the JM/SSS class and some Trinity embellishments onto the card - done!

That's it for today. Thanks for visiting and have a crafty day!!

A Flower for a Birthday!

Hi all - we're expecting 18 inches of snow tonight; not looking forward to that! Last night I watched Craft Roulette Episode #310 live and crafted along.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Paper Studio cardstock; Lawn Fawn Fall plaid;

Echo Park & Spellbinders patterned

Stamps w/dies- Scrapbooks.com From the Heart (part of

Laura Graff's SBC Fest class kit);

Simon Says Stamp CZ Design Good Greetings 1 Set (on 2nd layer)

Stamps - Sunny Studio Inside Greetings Birthday (inside layer)

Dies - Birch Press Design Splendid Cosmos;

Memory Box Magnolia Blossom Trio (leaves);

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - SSS star embellishments; foam tape

Craft Roulette celebrated its 6th birthday, having begun during Covid on 3/13/2020. Host Mary Gunn had Alicia Call Me Crafty Al as her guest. Alicia has appeared many times over the years. I love her Advent Calendar videos and have referenced them on various posts. The wheel wasn't too bad this time:

• Project - Tri-fold Card: I did an A2 card with a gate fold inside. 
• Colors - Vegetable Garden: I used orange/green/brown. 
• Element - Nursery: Flowers are grown in a nursery. 
• Random - Star(s) or Starry: I added star embellishments to the card front.

After deciding on the format and orange cardstock, I took the 8x11.5" cardstock and cut it in half. Used 1/2 to create an A2 top folding card and the second to make a gatefold. I trimmed a bit off the top of the gatefold and adhered it inside the top folding card. I chose a mix of patterned orange papers for layering. I already had a completed flower in the stash, plus several stamped/die cut sentiments. The inside one was stamped during the show. Some star embellishments finished the card. 

Here are a few more views so you can better see the fun fold.

I was honored to be Mary's guest on this week's Craft Roulette Members' Show. We got to celebrate my 100th card from last week and spent an hour showing & commenting on randomly selected member cards from last week's gallery. Very fun! While you can't see that video unless you're a member, check out the Craft Roulette site for loads of inspiration, if desired.

That's it for today, crafty friends! I was behind on blog commenting but think I caught up pretty well. Oh and I participated in part of the March 2026 SBC Fest offered by Scrapbook.com yesterday but will have to watch the rest on replay....

Thanks for visiting and have a wonderful weekend!! 

Out of the Woods and Bee Happy!

Hey all - once again, Monday night found me doing some Card Chaos! For Episode #37, Irene Smith and Sandy LeDoux each made a card with texture in about 15 minutes. I played along for both rounds. First, I made a card specifically intended for Christmas Kickstart Challenge #108 - Out of the Woods.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

glitter cardstock; Recollections navy cardstock;

Spellbinders Betterpress Pebble

Press Plates w/dies - Spellbinders Home for 

Christmas Sentiments (retired)

Stamps w/dies - Art Impressions Winter Woodland Bundle

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Embossing Folder - Tim Holtz/Sizzix Birch Trees (retired)

Other - Hero Arts Unicorn Ink; Copic Markers; 

foam tape; white gel pen

I gathered all supplies in advance, including a birch tree embossing folder for my texture and some pre-stamped critters left over from a previous card. After embossing the blue card, I swiped it with unicorn ink. Die cut some glittery hills and added to the blue panel, then adhered to an A2 card formed from Neenah. Colored the critters with Copics and added to the scene along with a Betterpressed sentiment from the stash.

The card done in 15 minutes just included the owl and hedgie with bauble. It looked empty, so I later colored the sledding critters and added another hill for them. Then I added more shading & definition to the trees. I'll add this card to Merry Little Christmas #67 where Anything Goes.

My second Chaos card was made in just under 15 minutes. The only item from the stash was the center to the orange flower; everything else was die cut, embossed and assembled in the alloted time. 

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio & Recollections;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Embossing Folder/Die set - Momenta Bee Happy (retired)

Dies - Hero Arts Hexagon Infinity Dies;

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - foam tape; Hero Arts enamel dots

I embossed a stitched rectangle with the honeycomb folder, then swipped TE Sweet Corn ink over it. Matted in black and added to an A2 card. Die cut the elements from the set: sentiment, bee, flowers and leaves. Glued vellum behind the wings and yellow behind the body of the bee. The set comes with a hexagon die but I wanted larger ones so used some from a Hero Arts set. Layered two hexagons and arranged the flowers, bee & sentiment on it, then added to the card. Adhered enamel dots to the white flowers and a flower center from the bits box to the orange flower. Done!

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

Baking this World a Better Place!

Hey crafty friends - I've been busy crafting, including the latest Hero Arts Stamp Along today. Fun but draining - I didn't finish all the cards so I'm not ready to share them yet. Instead I'll share the card from last night's Craft Roulette Episode #309 where I completed my 100th card! The occasion, called Mug Club, nets me a stamp set courtesy of Craft Roulette - woo hoo! Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Paper Studio, Hero Arts & Spellbinders cardstock

Stamps w/dies - Taylored Expressions Seasons Sweetings (dies)

Dies - Waffle Flower Just Mitts;

Kat Scrappiness Mini Slimline Postage 

Stamp Edge dies (retired);

Other - foam tape; SSS Starshine Embellishments;

Hero Arts ink

CR host Mary Gunn had the very talented Sara Lihz Staroska (‪@sassysllc‬) as her guest, making her 6th appearance on the show. Sara Lihz has hundreds of videos on her channel and also some free ephemera downloads. The wheel was kind to us for my 100th card.

• Project - Mini Slimline: I made a mini slim card base using mini slim dies. 
• Colors - Jolly Colors: In the chat, someone remarked on Jolly Rancher candy so I went that route with red/blue/green/purple. 
• Element - In the Kitchen: I used baking mitts or what we call pot holders around here. 
• Random - Mask(S)/Masking: I masked the green panel to put darker ink around the edges. 

We had mini slimline a few weeks ago and some weren't excited about seeing it come up again. I was!! I die cut two red mini slimline panels, scored the back one and adhered to the front to form a shaped card. Next I die cut the next smaller layer out of green, then the next smaller from copy paper to use as a mask. I put the copy paper one centered on the green and inked the edges in a darker green. I loved how the postage pattern emerged. Adhered the green panel to the red card.

Next I die cut two baking mitts and their top edging, assembled and added to the card using foam tape. I pulled a sentiment from the stash, perfect for a baking theme & added it to the card. Some SSS Starshine dots finished it off.

I had just purchased my baking mitts die set at Anchor Paper on Thursday so I was glad to give them a play so quickly. Since newly used, I'll add this card to Darnell's March NBUS Challenge #84.

That's it for today, friends. Thanks for stopping by and I hope to get over to your blogs soon! Happy crafting!!

February 2026 Card Chain Reveal

Hi crafty friends - the 2nd of the month has arrived! We're revealing cards that went round the world for the Card Chain Challenge. Twenty-four people participated in February and you can find the full reveal HERE. My card went to Joanne (Slices of Life) in CT USA who has been my lovely sender several times. I was glad to return the favor!!

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Paper Studio glitter; Lawn Fawn & BoBunny patterned

Dies - SSS Festive Tags (Stamptember-sold out);

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Hero Arts ephemera; SSS sentiment strip;

lace & silver cord from stash; Park Lane gems

We had the following options for creating our cards:

Color Palette Option

Sketch Option

Theme Options: Clouds / On The Farm / Friendship

Product / Technique Options: Dies / Fussy Cutting

As you can see, I skipped the colors and sketch this time. I used the Friendship theme and the dies technique.

I've previously mentioned doing the Cardmaking Stash Summit at the end January. One of the challenge themes was friendship so I took the opportunity to make my CCC card! You also had to use something shiny & something you've avoided. My shiny was the glitter paper and the avoided item was the ephemera pack I used. It's been on the desk for a while and I didn't have inspiration for it until the Summit. I found the butterfly a home on a tag from last year's Tim Holtz class along with a strip of glitter paper and a printed sentiment from SSS. Assembled the tag and added it to a stitched rectangle on an A2 card. Some lace and silver cord, plus gems on the butterfly finished it off.

I received this beautiful card from Daja in Germany. I just love her sweet bunny and fancy fold!! Also, I was delighted that the card arrived so quickly - a Christmas card from Gundi took over a month!

Want to join the challenge? You only need to make and mail one card - easy peasy!! You can still sign up for the March Challenge until the 6th - go HERE for details. 

That's it for today. Thanks for visiting and have a crafty day!!

Card with a Bookmark!

Hey everyone - hope you're enjoying the weekend! Friday night I had a chance to watch Craft Roulette Episode #308 & craft along. Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Spellbinders A2 card; Paper Studio cardstock;

My Favorite Things Christmas Cheer

Stamps - AJVD Coffee and Books (retired);

Hero Arts Truly Appreciated (retired)

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set;

Minnie Pearl Bookmark;

Poppystamps Nordic Resting Cardinal

Elizabeth Craft Designs Home Jungle (retired)

Other - EKSuccess heart stickers;

Doodlebug Designs bakers twine

CR host Mary Gunn had Lea Lawson (‪@LeaLawsonCreates‬) as her guest. Lea will be a presenter at the upcoming SBC Fest offered by Scrapbooks.com. It's coming up quickly and I'll be a participant this year! Anyway, the roulette wheel was spun four times for our card parameters:

• Project - Card with a Bookmark: I made an A2 card with a pocket to insert a die cut bookmark. 
• Colors - Circus Colors: I used red/blue white. 
• Element - Hug(S): I included "hugs" in my sentiment. 
• Random - Feather(S)(Ed): I added a bird which is feathered. 

First I die cut a stitched rectangle from a striped paper. Added it to an A2 card. In the discussion of the parameters, someone mentioned a pocket so I pulled out an ECD pocket die. I was going through stamp sets to find a sentiment with hugs and also spotted a A Jillian Vance Design stamp set for her bookmark die. Bingo - went to the die drawers and found it quickly! Stamped the cup with books from that same set and fussy cut it, then colored with Copics. Assembled, added baker's twine to the bookmark, plus an assembled cardinal that I had in the stash. Stamped the sentiment and added it to the pocket along with some enamel hearts. Here's another view with the bookmark out of the pocket:

That's it for today, friends. I'll be back tomorrow with the Card Chain reveal. Until then, thanks for the visit and happy crafting!!

 

Final Day for Diva Red and/or Pink

Hey friends - we have final day inspiration at Die Cut Divas for our February Challenge. We're asking everyone to use primarily pink &/or red in your creation. You have until 9pm Pacific Time today to link up for a chance to win a $25 gift card from our fabulous sponsor, Hero Arts!

All my card details and a bonus can be found below:

Supplies: Paper - Recollections A2 cards &

glitter cardstock; Paper Studio cardstock;

My Favorite Things Watercolor Wash

Stamps - Hero Arts Ode to Andy Warhol Script Bold Prints

Dies - Hero Arts Stamp & Cut Love You XL

(retired at HA but still HERE at Frantic Stamper)

& Box of Chocolates (retired)

Other - SSS sentiment strip (you);

EK Success heart stickers;

Hero Arts inks - Red Royal & Cotton Candy

Loads of red and pink here!! I cut down a red A2 card to a 4.25" square. Stamped a pink watercolor print with the Andy Warhol text using red ink. Trimmed to a mat and adhered to the card. Took a darker red A2 card and die cut the chocolate box. Cut the bow from pink glitter paper, doing an extra cut of the loops and center, trimmed any excess, added some inking and layered for more dimension. Adhered the box and bow to the card.

Next I die cut the love from pink and stamped the text on it with pink ink. Made a second cut from black and layered. Added a small "you" sentiment strip. Glued to the card, then added some heart stickers.

For my bonus I used an adorable truck die set that I've had a while that I'd never used until now.

Supplies: Paper - Recollections A2 cards &

cardstock; Paper Studio cardstock;

My Mind's Eye Happy Day; scraps

Stamps - Hero Arts Ode to Andy Warhol Script Bold Prints

& Tulip Bouquet (sentiment);

Spellbinders 2024 Advent Calendar Day 19

Dies - Hero Arts Farmers Market Truck

& Hearts Infinity Dies;

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - EK Success heart stickers;

Hero Arts inks - Red Royal & Cotton Candy;

Copic Markers; foam tape

The truck is one piece except for the tailgate panel. I die cut those two pieces from the deep red A2 card pieces left from card one. I then die cut parts of the main truck - tail lights, tires, bumper from scraps and layered onto the dark red truck base. Next I die cut 5 hearts of varying sizes & papers, then filled the truck bed. I die cut a second tailgate panel in pink and trimmed it down for layering. Stamped the sentiment in red. Die cut the dog once in white and then the scarf portion in pink; trimmed the latter and layered onto the white. Colored the dog's nose with Copic markers and shaded the body.

I die cut two patterned papers for the background, matted in black and added to a red A2 card. Added the assembled truck and dog with foam tape. A sentiment strip stamped from a Spellbinders set, plus a couple enamel hearts finished the card. I'll add this card to Darnell's February NBUS Challenge #83 since the truck die set was newly used. 

That's all for today. Thanks for visiting and we hope to see you in the February Die Cut Diva Challenge. Happy crafting!!