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!

Kitty with Books

Hi everyone - I'm back home from my dad's so my photos will be better, hopefully! I watched Craft Roulette Episode #320 tonight and crafted along. I finished after the show, though - I wasted too much time looking for specific items (never found them).

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Spellbinders cardstock; Lawn Fawn & BoBunny patterned

Stamps - Pink and Main April Cat (dies HERE);

Hero Arts Oh Baby (retired);

Scrapbook.com Gina K. SBC Fest kit

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape

Host Mary Gunn had Amanda Stevens (‪@PearBlossomPress‬). Amanda & her hubby own Pear Blossom Press, famous for their light-up products. Amanda was making her 9th appearance on the show and she also collaborates on the summer in-person Craft Roulette events. The wheel wasn't too bad, although I was thrown for a bit on the game element.

• Project - Z-fold Card: I took an A2 card and folded back the front to form a Z.
• Colors - Summer Vacation: I used blues for water, greens for grass, and browns for sand. 
• Element - Game(s): Crossword puzzle paper. 
• Random - Add a Cat: I used a stamped cat. 

I was going to use a Simon Says Stamp playing card stamp - couldn't find it. Then I thought I had some Scrabble tile ephemera - couldn't find them. Finally remembered some crossword puzzle paper so grabbed that. I had a kitty stamp out from another crafting session so decided to use it. Stamped it, die cut it and colored with Copics. I had stamped a bunch of elements from an old Hero Arts baby girl set & thought the butterfly would be cute on the top book. Colored & fussy cut it. The sentiment was in the stash so I assembled it all and called it done. Here's a standing view:

And here's the card I made with this set on Saturday; it was for Put the CASE in Chaos Episode 5, also featuring Amanda Stevens. I CASE'd both Amanda's & Irene's cards that day. This one was based on Irene's - she had an inkblended background with some sparkle.

Additional supplies: KC & Co cupcake sticker;

Emily Moore Confetti Layered Stencil

Since this was my first play with the kitty stamp, I'll add this card to Darnell's May NBUS Challenge #86.

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

Let's Celebrate!!

Hi crafty friends! I'm posting at Die Cut Divas today with inspiration for our May Challenge:

 🎉 🎉 🎉CELEBRATIONS 🎉 🎉 🎉

We celebrate so many things - Birthdays, Anniversarys, Weddings, many holidays - I could go on forever! For my first card, I chose birthday as my celebration. I always need birthday cards, especially since I joined the Craft Roulette birthday card exchange!

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Scrapbook.com Jellybean A2 layers

scraps of black

Dies - Poppystamps Brilliant Birthday Balloons

& Happy Birthday Streamer Script

Other - white gel pen; foam tape

We have the wonderful Poppystamps as this month's sponsor. They will be giving our randomly selected winner a $20 gift card (sorry - only those with US addresses are eligible).

Simple die cutting on this one! I love Poppy's streamer scripts because you can get multiple sentiments quickly. I popped up just the green balloon, the others were adhered right to the blue panel & excess trimmed off. Added to an A2 card base along with the sentiment. I doodled some lines with a white gel pen and left off any further embellishments.

For my first bonus, I celebrated Christmas:

Supplies: Paper - Spellbinders A2 card; 

various cardstock scraps and Paper Studio Vintage Christmas

Dies - Poppystamps Nordic Bird Bunch

Other - white & black gel pens; foam tape;

Spellbinders ephemers (retired)

I grabbed more of the Nordic birds I crafted while making a previous card. This time I drew a "wire" across the card then popped a quintet of birdies on it. Because I only used 2 birds of the 18 I made (die set makes 6 birds and I mixed/matched three cardstocks), I went ahead and made two more of this design. Each had a different sentiment from an old Spellbinders kit. Still have one birdie left for a future project...

Update - thanks to Joanne for the reminder; I meant to add this to Christmas Kickstart #110 Season's Tweetings. I've added it now.

Second bonus - back to birthdays:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Scrapbook.com Jellybean A2 layers

scraps of black; Spellbinders A2 card;

Pink and Main Birthday Bash rainbow paper

Dies - Poppystamps Brilliant Birthday Balloons

& Happy Birthday Streamer Script;

Emily Moore Shaker Frame - The Doily

Other - white gel pen; foam tape

I had die cut a frame from the rainbow paper for a previous card. Decided to cut a second one from the green paper, then inlay the rainbow window piece. Die cut the balloons and added to the card along with the sentiment. This sentiment has the black outline portion that cut when I made the first sentiment. Just cut a second outline and it frames the white - very easy! Added some white gel pen details to the balloons & black to the sentiment - done!

We Divas hope to see you in our May Gallery by 9pm Pacific Time on May 31st. Be sure to use the Celebrations theme, plus include a die cut &/or embossing folder in your design. All brands are welcome but the team is loving our Poppystamps!!

Thanks for stopping by & have a crafty day!!

4 Bar Happy Birthday

Hey there, crafty friends - hope you're having a great weekend! I watched Craft Roulette Episode #319 live tonight & crafted along.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

BoBunny; scraps

Dies - Emily Moore Short & Sweet - Happy Birthday

& Decorative Sentiment Die

Scrapbook.com Meghann Andrew SBC Fest kit

Other - foam tape; Hero Arts enamel dots

Host Mary Gunn had Carrie Rhodes (‪@CarrieRhoades‬) as her guest. Carrie was making her 7th appearance on the show & is known for making shaker cards. I did not follow suit! As usual, the wheel was spun four times for the necessary parameters:

• Project - 4 Bar: - I formed a 4 Bar (3.5x4 7/8") from cardstock.
• Colors - x: Wedding: I used colors from a wedding I was in - White/Blue/Yellow
• Element - Sweet(S): I added a die cut cupcake.
• Random - A Touch of Gray: The shadow on the HAPPY was cut from gray cardstock (although it looks kraft in the photo...) 

I still had Emily Moore products out on the table from Tuesday's post so I went with the birthday dies plus a label die set. For the sweet element, I found a bitty cupcake die in a set from SBC Fest. Simple die cutting and assembling - very quick and easy!! I sort of enjoyed the 4 Bar size, especially since one of the Emily Moore labels was perfect for it!

That's it for today, friends. Happy crafting and thanks for visiting!!

Explosions of Color!

Hey there, crafty friends - I'm back with the two cards I made last night during Card Chaos Episode #46. Host Irene Smith had Walter Zemrock as her guest; Walter is on the Brutus Monroe Design Team, among other things. The theme was Explosion of Color, as voted on by Irene's Facebook group. Since we only have 15 minutes to create, I let patterned paper do the heavy lifting.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Paper Studio glitter cardstock;

Pink and Main Birthday Bash kit;

Gina K. Designs cardstock from an old kit

Dies - Emily Moore Short &Sweet - Merry Christmas

& Nested Ornament Die Set

Other - foam tape

I started with an easy ornament shaped Christmas card using some new Emily Moore items I'd ordered online after Emily appeared on Craft Roulette. Simple die cutting, basically. The Merry didn't come with an outline die so I fussy cut one to coordinate with the Christmas part of the sentiment (does have an outline die). I cut a plain red cardstock layer for the back, scored along the bottom of the ornament hanger. This one only took 10 minutes to assemble from scratch. I later added a few embellishments.

I'm adding this to Merry Little Christmas #68 (Anything Christmas Goes); this is my second entry.

There are two rounds for Card Chaos & I was ready for a second card. This time I made a birthday card for a friend's upcoming birthday, combining some Emily Moore with Pink & Main items.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Pink & Main Birthday Bash kit Rainbow patterned;

Gina K. Designs cardstock from an old kit

Stamps - Emily Moore Birthday Sentiments

Dies - Emily Moore Short & Sweet - Happy Birthday &

Shaker Frame - The Doily

Pink and Main Birthday Bash kit

(see a photo of it HERE)

Other - foam tape; white gel pen

I formed an A2 card from Gina K. cardstock. Next I die cut the doily shaker frame from rainbow patterned paper, then popped it onto the card with foam tape. Next I die cut the HAPPY and added it over the scalloped window, putting foam tape under the parts in the open area. For the row of candles I used a Pink and Main die that would cut around a stamped candle image. Instead, I die cut it from white cardstock and colored the candles, then detailed them with a white gel pen. This piece was sitting in the bits box but needed the flames. The die set has one lonely flame die so I had to quickly cut it 8 times and add a flame to each candle. I used some yellow portions of the rainbow paper. While that ate into my 15 minutes, the rest was quick! Simple die cutting & the sentiment strip was already stamped. I adhered the strip directly to the HAPPY. This seemed busy enough with the marbled paper and candles so I left off any additional embellishments.

That's it for today, friends. Thanks for visiting and happy crafting!!