Snowflake duo

Hey there crafty friends - hope you're enjoying this week! Crazy weather here - one day hot and humid, then cool and rainy... Perfect time - ha, ha - to play in the June Christmas Kickstart Challenge #111 Snow Day where Jo and elf Caroline want snow. I used a snowflake die and made two cards; I'll enter card one at CKC:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Spellbinders A2 card; textured glitter cardstock 

(Core'dination brand, I think)

Dies - Memory Box Gloriette Snowflake Collage (retired)

TH Distress Inks - Mermaid Lagoon, 

Speckled Egg & Tumbled Glass

Other - Spellbinders puffy sticker sentiments;

Hero Arts clear enamel dots & 

Irridescent Shimmer Spray

On Card Chaos Episode #50 Monday night, the theme was ink-blending so I started by blending a diagonal swath on a textured A2 card. I spritzed a bit of shimmer spray on the inked area. Next I die cut the snowflake and coordinating background layer, plus a second background. This die cuts two snowflakes in one pass which you can use separately or inlay them. Given Chaos does 15 minute cards, this is the perfect way to conserve time and get pieces for the second round! 

For card one I used the inner snowflake and one background. I ink-blended the snowflake using the same inks as the background & assembled with the shadow layer. I added enamel dots to the areas where dots die cut on the other piece. A puffy sentiment sticker finished the card. 

For round two I used the outline portion of the snowflake atop a vellum background layer, along with crystal gems for the dot areas. I saved the die cut dots since they will make nice flower centers, I think. My background inking went the opposite diagonal and I oriented this snowflake differently for variety. I love how the purple background showed through the vellum. A printed sentiment strip finished the card; I left off the shimmer spray. I'll enter card two as my 3rd entry (of 8 max) at Merry Little Christmas #68 where Anything Christmas Goes.

Additional supplies: Paper Studio vellum

Waffle Flower Subsentiments Fa La La;

Dusty Concord & Shaded Lilac Distress Inks;

Recollections gems

That's it for today. I'm excited to be up to 42 Christmas cards in the stash but still need more to be on track. That's why I'm delighted to see CAS Christmas back in operation (June theme is birds) - I'm sure to play along with Loll and friends!! 

Thanks so much for stopping by & I hope you have a crafty day!!

Oh Baby!

Hey there - hope you're enjoying the day! I still haven't finish any cards from the Spellbinders Weekender event from last weekend but one is nearly there! Meantime, I needed two baby cards & made them with a set newly ordered from Unity. First the little girl card:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Recollections A2 card; Lawn Fawn Blissful Blossoms;

dotted paper by unk

Stamps - Unity Oh Baby;

Hero Arts Adorable Baby Girl (retired)

Dies - Poppystamps Scalloped Pinpoint Frames

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape; white gel pen;

Memento Tuxedo Black ink

A chorus friend had her first baby on April 29th, a little girl named Zoey. I couldn't go to the shower since I was helping my dad but spotted a darling Unity stamp set which I promptly ordered for my card. I stamped the baby girl image on Neenah and colored with Copics, then trimmed to a small rectangle and matted in peach. Die cut a patterned paper with the Poppy die and the frame portion from peach. Added an A2 patterned layer to an A2 card and assembled. I had stamped, colored and fussy cut a bunch of icons from an old Hero Arts baby girl clear set. Added some around the focal image & done!

I'll add this card to Darnell's June NBUS Challenge #87 since the baby set is new.

The host of Craft Roulette got another grandson, little Johnny, in May so I did a boy version:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Lawn Fawn Blissful Blossoms

Stamps - Unity Oh Baby;

Hero Arts Precious Baby Boy (c2009 retired)

Dies - Poppystamps Scalloped Pinpoint Frames

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape; white gel pen;

Memento Tuxedo Black ink; enamel stars (brand unk)

This time I left off the scalloped frame and kept it a bit simpler, though I did add some holographic enamel stars. The boy icons, also stamped/colored/fussy cut, came from another old Hero Arts set.

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

A Postcard for Craft Roulette

Hello crafty friends - hope you're having a great weekend! I'm back with my card from Craft Roulette Episode #322 with host Mary Gunn & guest Alicia (‪‪@CallMeCraftyAl‬) making her 14th appearance. Alicia was at Paperganza last year and plans to be at Craft Roulette Live '26 in August. I love Alicia's Advent series on YouTube and faithfully watched her 2024 and 2025 daily offerings with Spellbinders.

Here's my latest CR card, my 113th!

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Paper Studio cardstock; scraps

Stamps - Your Next Stamp Holiday Postage (NIB);

Waffle Flower Postage Collage &

Postage Collage North Pole;

Urban Stamps Tall Urban Stamps Craft Christmas

Dies - Waffle Flower Postage Collage;

Memory Box Wreath Sprigs (retired)

Other - foam tape; peach pencil;

Waffle Flower Label Maker Sentiments;

Hero Arts clear enamel dots, Bermuda & Butterbar inks;

Mememto Tuxedo Black ink

As usual, the roulette wheel was spun four times for the necessary parameters; I didn't take a photo this time...

• Project - Postcard: I formed a 4x6" postcard from cardstock.
• Colors - 1970s: I used a color palette from Googling - Butter yellow/peach/teal. 
• Element - Wreath: I formed a wreath from die cut sprigs. 
• Random - Pre-printed: I used a printed sentiment strip.

I tried to finish during the show but wasted too much time looking for the postcard stamp I used the last time we got this parameter (see it HERE). Instead I trimmed a piece of cardstock to postcard size and drew a vertical line in the center. Inked the edges. Added a stamped/diecut postage stamp image which I then stamped with a cancellation stamp, along with a To & From stamp. Formed a wreath from die cut sprigs and added it to the left side with a pre-printed sentiment and a couple stamped/fussy cut flowers. I added enamel dots to the flower centers. Finished just after the LIVE ended.

That's it for today. Hopefully this weekend I'll actually finish a Spellbinders Weekender card from last weekend's event. I'm close to finishing one card - just needs a sentiment...

Thanks for visiting and have a crafty weekend!!

May 2026 Card Chain Reveal

Hi everyone - it's the 2nd of the month so time to share the cards we sent around the world for the Card Chain Challenge. Twenty-four people participated and you can see the full reveal HERE.

My card went to dear Gail (What's Normal?) in Canada:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Pink and Main Birthday Bash marbled; Spellbinders plaid;

Tim Holtz Kraft Metallic

Stamps w/dies - Scrapbook.com Gina K Designs SBC Fest kit

Dies -  Scrapbook.com Laura Graff SBC Fest kit &

Lea Lawson SBC Fest kit

Other - Hero Arts enamel dots; foam tape

We had the following options for our May cards:

Color Palette Option

Sketch Option

Theme Options: Floral / Postal / Friendship

Product / Technique Options: Twine or Thread / Spinner Card

I skipped over everything but the theme of friendship! I had just made a card I loved during Card Chaos Episode #44 &, since it was a friendship card, off it went to Gail. I mailed early, hoping for the best, since mail between USA & Canada has been interesting lately... Luckily, she received it quickly and liked it! 

I covered an A2 card with a plaid paper, then die cut the label and butterfly. The Gina K sentiment came from the stash (leftover from SBC Fest). Assembled everything onto the card and added some enamel dots. I included some marbled butterflies for Gail to try too. That patterned paper is only available to those who attended Pink and Main's Birthday Bash and, I can tell you, was coveted by my Chaos friends!

I received the gorgeous card below from longtime dear friend, Greta (GG Creations) in Oregon. I love her color combo with the touches of gold and she also included some PFS die cut sentiments - thanks, Greta!!

That's it for today. If you want to join the June chain, check it out HERE. So fun and very easy to make/mail one card & then get a card in return. Many thanks to Gail and Jo who manage the Card Chain!!

Thanks for stopping & happy crafting!!

Last Day for our May Diva Celebrations Challenge!

Hey friends, I'm posting today at Die Cut Divas with the end-of-month crew. We have last minute inspiration for our May Celebrations Challenge; you have til 9pm Pacific Time today to get your entries in (max of four) using the theme, plus a die cut &/or embossing folder. 

Here's the card I shared there, plus bonuses follow only here:

Supplies: Paper - BoBunny Merry & Bright 6x6;

Paper Studio cardstock; scraps

Dies - Poppystamps Nordic Perched Cardinal,

Nordic Resting Cardinal,

Nordic Lavish Border Set;

Birch Press Designs Warm Wishes Dapper Script

Other - Recollections gems; pine die cuts

from the stash (brand unk); white gel pen; 

black Sharpie fineliner; foam tape

We have the wonderful Poppystamps as our Diva sponsor this month!

They've donated a $20 gift card prize; USA address only.

I thought I'd add a Christmas card to the stash. This was a fun one - lots of die cutting which I love! I had the idea to put die cut pieces of the Nordic borders top and bottom, leaving an open patterned window for my cardinal pair to sit. I didn't use the third die in the border set.

Pulled a BPD (a PS sister company) sentiment out of the stash along with some pines & gems. Assembled and done! This one will be my third and final entry for Christmas Kickstart #110 - Season's Tweetings.

Here's a bonus - a birthday bouquet:

 

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Scrapbook.com Gelato; Pressed Petals Woven Paper

Stamps - Emily Moore Birthday Sentiments

Dies - Poppystamps Floral Vase Pop Up Easel Set

(retired, but a few left HERE at Frantic Stamper),

Bunches O'Butterflies (retired) &

Flower and Leaf Sprinkles

Other - foam tape; W1 Copic

This one started as a card for Card Chaos, the 15 minute card challenge (you can find it on Irene Smith's YouTube channel HERE). I finished most of it but felt I needed to add more. I continued adding until it felt ready to share here, mainly more flowers, a butterfly, and a stopper for the pop-up. This set is one of my absolute faves from Poppystamps; you can see other versions HERE and HERE, if desired. If you check the previous version, you can see that I'm very partial to a blue background! Sorry I didn't realize the set was retired at PS but I did find a few left at Frantic Stamper if you're interested - no affiliation there, they have just been a good source for older products, plus new stuff too. Sadly, Frantic is in a retirement sale so we won't have them much longer....

Here's a view popped up - the stopper is a double layered Betterpressed Sentiment from Spellbinders A Little Message Sentiments.

My second bonus card also started out at Card Chaos & then got additional finishing touches for this post. I'll just show the popped up view; you can see another version with this set that I shared HERE if desired. 

Supplies: Paper - Neenah white & kraft; Bazzill brown; 

BoBunny patterned

Dies - Poppystamps Bird House Pop Up Easel Set

 & Nordic Resting Cardinal

Other - Recollections gems; Copic Markers;

Spellbinders ephemera (old kit); foam tape

I had to pull out my pop-up birdhouse again; this time I used the cardinal that came in the set. To get the details of the neck/beak, I first die cut a full red cardinal and trimmed out the neck/beak (clearly marked with an etch line). Next I die cut the head in white, colored the neck/beak with a black & a yellow Copic, trimmed it and adhered behind the red. I also decided to give the cardinal a layered wing using dies from a Nordic birdie set. This time I used the pine dies that cut a wreath to go around the outside of the bird house entry. Added some red gems as berries and some ephemera for the sentiment and the stopper.

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

Birthday Gatefold with Belly Band

Hey there crafty friends - hope you're having a great weekend! I'm doing both the Online Card Classes Brighter Days and Spellbinders Weekender this week - or should I say I'm signed up to do both - I'll be behind the whole time!! Anyway, tonight I watched Craft Roulette Episode #321 with host Mary Gunn & guest Ardyth (‪@ardyth‬) making her 14th appearance. Ardyth will be a presenter this summer at the CR in person event too!

Here's my latest CR card, my 112th!

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Paper Studio cardstock; scraps; 

Spellbinders Betterpress Porcelain

Dies - Poppystamps Floral Vase Pop Up Easel Set (retired),

Flower and Leaf Sprinkles,

Adriana Tall Curve Border (retired),

Oval Fold Frame (retired)

Press Plate w/die - Spellbinders You Are Everything Sentiments

Other - foam tape; Recollections vellum belly band

The wheel was spun four times for the necessary parameters:

• Project - Gatefold: I formed a gatefold by scoring a 1/2 sheet at 2 1/8 from the long edges and folding them in. 
• Colors - Monet: I used greens/purple/blue/white/yellow. 
• Element - Natural: Flowers and leaves are found in nature. 
• Random - Crinkle Inkle: I inked the gate panels using crumpled baking parchment inked in green, then purple, then speckled egg inks.

I had bunches of Poppystamps dies out since PS is the sponsor for our May Diva Challenge. Once I formed my gatefold and crinkle inkled it, I die cut the curved leafy borders and adhered. Die cut flowers and foliage from a couple other sets and adhered. Die cut an oval and added to a vellum belly band & decorated it with flowers, foliage and a Betterpressed sentiment. I added a Taylored Expressions Insider sentiment panel to the inside. 

Here's a view of the gatefold standing with the belly band off:

That's it for today. I'll be deep into the Weekender event tomorrow but will have a scheduled Diva post on Sunday. Thanks for visiting and happy crafting!!

Crafting with Unity Stamps!

Hey everyone - I thought I'd share some cards I made with Unity Stamps this weekend. Woke up Friday morning to an email that a Unity order had been delivered Thursday - I didn't even notice it sitting on the doorstep Thursday night! Luckily it was still there when I popped out to get it!! The first stamp set I grabbed had a crafty theme with beautiful art by Angie Blom:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; 

MFT plaid; scrap of black; Recollections A2 card

Stamps - Unity Crafty Friends

Other - Copic Markers, silver sparkle dots

Unity stamps are made from high quality red rubber - so fun to use when you have some sort of stamping platform. I like my Tim Holtz tool (retired) - so easy to pop out and flip the lid from using clear stamps to rubber ones! I stamped the image on an A2 panel using Memento ink and colored with Copics while leaving it on the platform. Then I restamped with Versafine Clair Nocturne ink for a nice crisp black image. The sentiment is the second stamp in the set & fits perfectly in the center area of the crafty tools image, or you can use it separately. I trimmed the finished panel to 4" by about 4.5", then adhered to an A2 card along with an MFT plaid strip, then covered the seam with a strip of black. Some flat sparkle dots (not sure of the brand) from an old card kit finished the card.

Next, I went to an image with a quintet of fluffy birdies - soooo cute, aren't they?

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White & black;

Spellbinders A2 card

Stamps - Unity Lovebirds & Oddballs

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Copic Markers, upcycled heart sticker,

bitty heart diecut from stash; black Sharpie fineliner

I spotted the birdie stamp in an ad for Unity and couldn't resist it. I stamped the image on an A2 panel, colored with Copics, then restamped with dark black as I did for card one. Once the panel dried thoroughly, I die cut it w/a stitched rectangle, blended the edges with blue and green inks, then matted to a black layer & added to an A2 card. Stamped the sentiment which was also in the set. The enamel sticker was upcycled from an envelope I received with a card & gift bag for my birthday. The bitty heart die cut was from the stash - not sure which brand but it was one of those confetti coverplates. I might've added Glossy Accents to the eyes but didn't want to wait for the drying time...

I made a third card, being on a roll with Unity! This time I used a lily set:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Paper Studio A2 card

Stamps - Unity Tender Thoughts

Dies - Altenew Mix and Match Frames

Other - Copic Markers, SSS dots;

foam tape

Once again, I stamped the image with Memento ink, colored with Copics, then restamped with Versafine Clair Nocturne ink. The flower details really popped, I think! Next I die cut with a deckle frame die, inked with blue ink, then added to an ombré card. Stamped one of the set's sentiments, trimmed to a strip, inked the edges and popped onto the card with foam tape. A few metallic dots finished the card.

All these stamps are newly used but I'll just link once to Darnell's May NBUS #86 using card one. These cards are all going to people in the Craft Roulette community. There's a volunteer group of us that Mary, the CR host, calls upon when someone needs some cheer. One member lost her husband recently, others have various health issues. It's nice to have time to brighten someone's day with a handmade card!

I was surprised when I went to order from Unity (a MN company!) that I hadn't ordered in over a year! They have some adorable stamps and I picked up more than just these three sets. You'll be seeing more of their stuff from me!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you're having a wonderful day!