Recycling Security Envelopes with Art Impressions!

Hey everyone - I'm posting the first card below as inspiration at Die Cut Divas today. Our September Challenge involves recycling, reusing or repurposing materials on our cards. Knowing this was our theme, I've been saving security envelopes - some have amazing patterns that can be used in place of patterned paper!

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Stamps w/dies - Art Impressions Woodland Critters

Dies - Art Impressions Story Tile Template;

Lawn Fawn Stitched Hillside Borders

Other - Copic Markers; white gel pen;

recycled security envelope

We have Art Impressions as sponsor, donating a 

$25 gift card for our random winner.

Here's a photo of some security envelopes I've gathered over recent weeks for recycling:

I decided I wanted to do a grid style card using one of the patterns as the background. I die cut two white Story Tile Templates and reserved the blocks that cut out. I used one to stamp the sentiment and trimmed others down to serve as snowbanks. I shaded the snowbank & sentiment edges with a B0000 Copic. For my background, I selected the plaid envelope piece and trimmed it to fit behind the frame. Before adhering it, I sponged Robin's Egg ink all over it. 

Next I glued the sentiment and snowbanks into their windows, then glued a second frame atop the first for dimension. I had a stack of stamped and die cut critters from a previous project so colored them with Copics and added gel pen details. Popped 5 of them into their windows & done!

I'll add this card as my fourth entry at Merry Little Christmas Challenge #70 where Anything Christmas Goes. Since I have a reindeer on the card, I will also share it at Christmas Kickstart Challenge #114 Reindeer Games as my third and final entry.

For my bonus, I made some matchbook envelopes and a mini-card. First the mini with its envelope:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Stamps w/dies - Art Impressions Woodland Critters

Dies - Art Impressions Matchbook Envelope Dies

Lawn Fawn Stitched Hillside Borders

Other - Copic Markers; printed sentiment strip;

recycled security envelope

I used the circle grid security envelope to die cut the matchbook envelope. I used the dotted grey envelope as the "sky" background on the mini card. It reminded me of falling snow! I formed a 1.75x2" mini card and trimmed the dotted paper to a mat layer. Added a snowbank and another woodland critter. A printed sentiment strip (probably from Simon Says Stamp) finished the card.

The matchbook envelope was designed to match Art Impressions Matchbook series. It has score lines in such a way to make more of a pouch since the matchbooks get thick. For my mini card's envelope, I didn't need the thicker format so just used one scoreline of thickness. I made a second matchbook envelope using the plaid security envelope from card one, sizing to fit a completed matchbook. Here's a photo of the two envelopes side by side:

And here's a photo of the envelopes from the side to see the difference in thickness:

I have a bunch of sets from the Art Impressions Matchbook series. You can see the Matchbook card I put inside the plaid envelope HERE, if desired. I made it last year but never made it an envelope until now! Since my Matchbook envelope die got first play here, I'll share at Darnell's September NBUS Challenge #90.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you'll check out the September Diva Challenge!

Chilly Penguin Pair!

Hey crafty friends - I'm watching Craft Roulette Episode #337 tonight & was able to finish/upload during the LIVE - show started at 6:30 and my card was already posted by 7:47p!

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Recollections cardstock; Art Impressions gingham;

Paper Studio glitter

Dies - Simon Hurley Flip the Penguin;

Lawn Fawn Stitched Hillside Borders;

Memory Box Merry Christmas Jolly Script (retired)

Birch Press Design Block Print Pine Trees;

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Host Mary Gunn had Irene "Hattrick" Smith (‪@IreneSmith_ArtemisMade1‬) as her guest, making her 3rd appearance. Irene hosts Card Chaos (15 minute cards) on Monday nights where I'm a frequent player. Mary calls Irene "Hattrick" because she had Covid 3 times back in the pandemic. I met Irene in person at both Craft Roulette in-person events; she's a bubbly, positive person & talented crafter.

Here's what the crafty roulette wheel spun for our four must-use parameters:

• Project - A2 card: I formed a top-fold A2 from Neenah.
• Colors - Pool: I used blue for pool water; other colors could be on swimsuits or toys.
• Element - Cold or Chilly: I did a snowy scene with penguins who are chilly.
• Random - Check(S): I used blue gingham paper.

I already had the two penguins cut and assembled on the "mesk" (messy desk) along with the stitched snowbank. Everything else I die cut and assembled. The penguin was an add-on to Simon Hurley's SBC class kit. Since Flip the Penguin got first play today, I'll add my card to Darnell's September NBUS Challenge #90. I'll also share at Merry Little Christmas #70 where Anything Christmas Goes (entry #3) & at Creative Crafters Challenge #104 where Anything Goes.

That's it for today! Nothing new to report on the unfinished Spellbinders and SBC Fest events. I keep trying to get back to them, oh well...

Thanks for stopping by & happy crafting!!

A Happy Birthday Cruise Ship!!

Happy Saturday - sad and happy day yesterday since, besides being Patriot Day, it was my baby sister's birthday. Always a hard one since 2001 & I send prayers to anyone affected that day and since!

I watched SBC Fest yesterday and crafted along for part of it, then got behind since I hadn't done the homework. Then I watched Craft Roulette Episode #336 last night & was able to finish/upload during the LIVE.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Spellbinders cardstock & Lawn Fawn Watercolor Wishes

Stamps & Dies - Spellbinders Weekender 2025

Other - Hero Arts glitter; SSS Starshine dots;

Color Box Robin's Egg ink; Hero Arts glitter glue

Host Mary Gunn had Sharon Luska (@SharonLuska) as her guest, making her second appearance. Sharon is the woman who uses hand sanitizer w/her alcohol inks for cool effects. Here's what the crafty roulette wheel spun for our four must-use parameters:

• Project - Birthday Card: I formed an A2 card and stamped a birthday sentiment. 
• Colors - Happy Colors: I Googled and it said orange, yellow & red are happy so I used them. Other colors are allowed.
• Element - Ship(S)/Shipping: I formed a ship using Spellbinders dies. 
• Random - Sparkles: I put glitter glue along the top edge of my waves.

I die cut the waves from a scrap of blue LF paper, stamped the sentiment and added to an A2 card with foam tape. Die cut and assembled the ship & added to the card. Had to cover a glue mark with a Starshine dot so added some more around. Added glitter glue to the edge of the waves and done!

I will join in at Seize the Birthday #334 using the Anything Goes option. I'm thinking the ocean is too large to be considered a sentiment "strip" since that's the main theme...

That's it for today! Now I not only have a Spellbinders event to finish from a few weeks ago, I also have a bunch of pieces for SBC Fest cards sitting all over. Hope to finish the cards someday....

Thanks for stopping by & happy crafting!!

A Reindeer Bauble

Hey crafty friends & Happy Sunday! Labor Day holiday tomorrow in the USA - in Minnesota it signals the final day of the Minnesota State Fair. Still not planning to attend - our weather has been sweltering for this time of year!! Instead, I'm back with another reindeer card:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Paper Studio Snow Pine patterned paper; cardstock scraps

Dies - Penny Black Moonlit;

Hero Arts Circle & Wood Frame Infinity Dies;

Impression Obsession Pine Branch;

Birch Press Design Block Print Petal Ornament

Other - B0000, Y00 & E18 Copic; 

Spellbinders puffy sticker sentiment

& Berry gems

I die cut the deer from a scrap of cardstock and colored the antlers with a darker brown Copic. Added a gem to the nose. Next I die cut the two bauble layers. The scalloped one has a large tree but I removed it by rotating the die cut to get scallops all around the interior. This operation also cut off the bauble hanger so I die cut a silver one from a BPD set. I also die cut a circle of pine paper to back the bauble. Shaded the snow edge with a pale blue Copic & the moon with a yellow one. Assembled the bauble and added the deer.

Next I die cut two wood frames and stacked for dimension. Added the frame to a top folding A2 card. I die cut a branch and added it to the frame along with the bauble. A little puffy stitcker NOEL from an old Spellbinders kit completed the card.

This is my second entry for the September CAS Christmas Challenge (Woodland Critters) & at Christmas Kickstart Challenge #114 (Reindeer Games). I will also send my reindeer to Merry Little Christmas Challenge #70 (also entry #2) where Anything Christmas Goes. I'm also playing at Darnell's September NBUS Challenge #90 since my reindeer bauble die set got first use here. I didn't buy it when it first came out in 2020 but I have had it for quite a while! Excited to finally use it!!

Thanks for stopping by & enjoy the long weekend!! 

ATCs on a Gatefold!

Happy Saturday - holiday weekend in the USA - woo hoo! I watched Craft Roulette Episode #335 last night & was able to finish/upload during the LIVE.

Supplies: Paper - Altrobrights and Paper Studio 

cardstock; Lawn Fawn Favorite Flannel Fall;

BoBunny Farmers Market 

Stamps - Hero Arts Autumn (c2012, retired)

Dies - Whimsy Stamps Slimline ATC Windows

Pressplate w/die - Spellbinders You Are Everything Sentiments

Other - Hero Arts enamel dots and various inks

Host Mary Gunn had Lauren Taylor (‪@laurentaylormade‬) as her guest. Lauren was making her 6th appearance; her daughter has been with her on an episode too. Here's what the crafty roulette wheel spun for our four must-use parameters:

• Project - Gatefold: I formed an A2 gatefold from cardstock. 
• Colors - Vacation: I used a vacation to New England to see Fall colors. 
• Element - CAS From Last Week's Gallery: They mean CASE (Copy & Selectively Edit) when saying CAS so I CASE'd host Mary's card from last week. She had stamped leaves on her ATC. 
• Random - Paper Strips: I put paper strips (might technically be panels but I used my stretchy pants) on the doors to my gatefold.

This time I cut two ATCs from Fall colors, plus layering panels of patterned paper. Stamped the leaves on one of the panels. Assembled and added the ATCs to the right gate. Also added a Betterpressed sentiment from the stash to the right side. I might do more to the left side of the gate and I need to finish the inside...

That's it for today! I did manage to die cut some bits for a card from last Friday's Spellbinders event but haven't finished it yet. Wish me luck!

Thanks for stopping by & happy crafting!!

Sweet Reindeer

Hello and TGIF, everyone! The Minnesota State Fair is in full swing but I avoid it - too hot & humid with huge crowds. Instead, I stay home and craft - lol. My card today fits a few challenges:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Spellbinders A2 card & Betterpress Pebble; scraps

Pressplate w/dies - Spellbinders Home for Christmas Sentiments

Dies - Memory Box Festive Fawn;

Poppystamps Scandinavian Snowflake Plate (retired);

Birch Press Design Wavy Hillside (retired)

Other - B0000 Copic; foam tape; white gel pen

I was excited to see that the September CAS Christmas Challenge has Woodland Critters as the theme. Then I popped over to Christmas Kickstart Challenge #114 where I found that Jo and her elf Loll are doing Reindeer Games. Wow - a perfect pairing for a new Memory Box die I ordered in August!

I die cut the deer from scraps of cardstock and assembled. I die cut a snowflake coverplate and snowy hill (lined with a Copic) & added to an A2 card. Popped the deer onto the card with foam tape (just behind the head). Added a Betterpressed sentiment from the stash and some gel pen details to the deer. Done!

I will also send my reindeer to Merry Little Christmas Challenge #70 where anything Christmas Goes. I'm also playing at Darnell's September NBUS Challenge #90 since my reindeer die set got first use here.

Thanks for stopping by & have a crafty weekend!! I'm sure to be back with my entry to Craft Roulette Episode #335 which airs tonight at 6:30pm (slideshow from last week starts at about 6:10pm).

August 2026 Card Chain Reveal

Hey there everyone - time to reveal cards that went around the world for the August 2026 Card Chain Challenge! Twenty-six people participated and you can see the full reveal HERE. My card stayed closer to home this month, going to Linda G in Michigan:

Supplies: Paper - Anchor Paper linen A2 card;

Recollections black cardstock; 

Momenta Gemstone & Tim Holtz Menagerie 8x8" papers

Dies - Waffle Flower Sweet Friend;

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Recollections Puffy Sticker

TH Hickory Smoke Distress Ink;

Honey Bee gems

We had the following options when creating our cards:

Color Palette Option

Sketch Option

Theme Options: Elephants and/or Mice / Baking / Friendship

Product / Technique Options: Lace / Collage

The colors intrigued me so I tried them - a bit darker than my usual card but I love how it turned out! Thankfully Linda G doesn't hate it - lol. I also went with the sketch, substituting other shapes for the circles & the usual theme of friendship. 

I pulled out a Tim Holtz paper pad for the outline layer to the "Sweet Friend" sentiment and spotted another page with some printed vintage ads in rectangles. I left one as a rectangle and cut the other two down to a small square and diamond shape. The stone (light grey to me) is the card base & pewter is the background layer which I matted in black after inking the edges with Hickory Smoke Distress Ink. 

I die cut the "Sweet Friend" from the pewter paper and also from black to give a shadow. Added this to the tan outline layer. Added the sentiment to the pewter layer with foam tape after gluing the shapes directly to the card. Added some tan gems and a puffy sticker Hello.

I got this detailed and adorable elephant shaped card from the sweet & talented, Julia (Create with Me) in MA. She hasn't been my sender in the chain since March 2025 so I was delighted to receive her adorable Clarence! She also sent some lovely papers to use on future projects. Thanks Julia!!

Wonder how I got that purplish glow in the photo? There was a Zevo bug trap plugged into the wall behind my end table - lol.

Want to join in the Card Chain? You just make and mail one card! Go HERE by Sept. 6th for details on the September chain. Loads of fun and you get a fabulous piece of happy mail in the process!!

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