A Splash of Color for Christmas

Hey everyone - I have a post up at Die Cut Divas today, sharing inspiration for our August Challenge - white with a splash of one color. Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Paper Studio red cardstock; scrap of a red Christmas patterned;

Hero Arts black glitter

Dies - Birch Press Design Block Print Cardinal Duo,

Wavy Hillside, Block Print Birch Trees

& Merry Christmas Confection Script (retired)

Other - foam tape; white & black gel pen; R22 Copic

We have the wonderful Birch Press Design as our August sponsor. They have generously donated a $20 prize to their online store for our random August winner.

I do a lot of crafting on Zoom calls, sitting and assembling what my friends call "fiddly bits". I had fun one day assembling a bunch of birds including the sweet BPD Block Print Cardinal Duo. They are small but easy to put together! I thought red would be a great splash of color on some white trees.

I die cut the birch trees and glued them to an A2 top folding card formed from Neenah. Added a snowy hill to the bottom, then popped the cardinals onto the trees with foam tape. Die cut the sentiment and shadow, assembled and glued to the card. I left it simple with no further embellishments.

How about another Christmas card for my bonus? 

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Hero Arts A2 card (long retired); scrap of vellum & silver

Dies - Birch Press Design Block Print Wave Ornament &

String Art Corner (c2020, retired) ;

Memory Box Peace Love Joy Stylish Script

Other - Simon Say Stamp Starshine dots;

Paper Studio gem string

I was inspired by teamie Robbie's gorgeous card to pull out one of my BPD string art dies. Sadly, this corner die is retired but the one Robbie used is still available. Die cut the corner twice from Neenah and added to an aqua A2 card. Next I die cut the ornament in white, the side add-on in vellum and the hanger in silver, then assembled. Added to the card with foam tape.

Next I die cut the sentiment (from one of BPD's sister companies) in white and black (for a shadow). I die cut the outline from silver and from black (for a shadow). Assembled and glued to the ornament. Some SSS Starshine dots and a hanger string of gems finished the card.

That's it for today, friends. I'm so glad you stopped by & I hope we'll see you in the August Die Cut Diva gallery!

Happy crafting!

Oh La La!

Hey everyone! I'm back from Kansas City where I spent a long weekend to attend Craft Roulette Live 2026. We were able to watch Episode #332 on Friday night after a full day of card making FUNN!! I made my card during the show as did many people in the room. 

The event room contained 6 tables of 8 plus there were instructors, Mary & her crew and a vendor corner - about 140 people total in person. Then there was a bunch with a virtual event ticket, plus the general public online to watch just the episode. Here's my card (photographed from home with better lighting in my Shotbox):

Supplies: Paper - Spellbinders A2 card;

Recollections cardstock

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Stickers gifted to me; glittery hearts from 

a Trinity Stamps shaker mix

Host Mary Gunn FUNN had Bitty Penny (‪@BittyPenny‬) as a cohost for the entire CRL26 event. They were very entertaining as they interacted with each other and the live audience. The crafty roulette wheel had no guest's choice on any of the four parameters, nor were there any chances to veto! I don't have a graphic of the four spins this time but they were:

• Project - Square Card: Like many people I cut down an A2 to be 4.25" square. 
• Colors - Excited: We just had those last week! I knew red was consider excited so used it along with white and blue to fit another parameter. 
• Element - Country: I went with an actual county - France; red/white/blue & themed stickers.
• Random - Frame(s): I die cut two stitched rectangles while nested to get a frame.

We decorated our table with a Cardmakers Cafe theme, including wearing black berets like in France. I received a sticker sheet from a woman at our table with the French cafe theme & used those. I added glitter hearts to my frame corners. Very quick and easy card!

Here's what my card looked like as submitted from the event direct from my phone (except for this post I added the text box at the bottom). I staged the card atop the sticker sheet and wrote my name using my fingernail in the phone's edit mode.

That's all for today. I just wanted to get my Craft Roulette card summarized. I'll try to blog more about the event, along with the cards we made, later in the week. We drove to the event (about 6.5 hours plus pit stops) so that plus the event made me very tired! I'll also try to catch up on blog commenting as soon as possible!

Thanks for stopping & have a crafty day! !

A Sleigh with Mice!

Hi friends! I was so delighted that CAS Christmas returned as a monthly card-making challenge! I missed the first one in June but managed to get a card done for the second in July. Was even a top pick - woo hoo! Crafty friend Julia (Create with Me) is hosting the August CAS Christmas Challenge with the theme of Santa's Sleigh & I knew just which die set to use!! Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Spellbinders A2 card; Paper Studio cardstock;

TH kraft metallic

Stamps w/dies - Lawn Fawn Simply Celebrate Critters 

(dies) & Say What? Holiday Critters (dies)

Dies - Poppystamps Luxury Sleigh;

Sunny Studio Slimline Nature Borders

Other - Hero Arts white enamel dots;

white gel pen; foam tape; B000 Copic;

Memento Tuxedo Black & 

Color Box Robin's Egg inks

I ordered the sleigh die set from Poppystamps & received it recently. Last night I did an initial cut of it (except for the bow) and assembled it. It was sitting on the craft table wanting a home & I decided to use it for Card Chaos (15 minute cards - a show on YouTube). It's ok to use stuff from the bits box. 

I took a white textured A2 card from an old Spellbinders kit and inked just the edges. I'm not sure why it looks so blue in the photo! Added a die cut hill and then popped the assembled sleigh on with foam tape. For Card Chaos we were to use tiny critters so I stamped & die cut the quintet of Lawn Fawn mice from Simply Celebrate Critters. I only colored the left 3 w/some quick Copic coloring and trimmed them to be three separate items. Glued them onto the sleigh. Stamped a speech bubble & sentiment, then die cut. Added it above one of the mice. After my 15 minute card session ended, I realized I forgot the sleigh's bow! I had it ready to cut in green so die cut it, assembled and added it to the sleigh. I also added a couple enamel dots to the sleigh's flowers. 

Do you often "finish" a card only to have to go back and really finish it?? I hope this is CAS enough for the challenge. I just have the one focal point with a sentiment, even if it has a lot of pieces :)

I will also add my card to Darnell's August NBUS Challenge #89 since my sleigh got first play here. And to Just Us Girls Challenge #835 where it's die week!

Thanks for visiting and I hope you're having a crafty week!!

Stitched Thanks

Hey there - happy Saturday! I watched Craft Roulette Episode #331 last night and made a card during the show:

Supplies: Paper - Tim Holtz, Momenta &

Paper Studio cardstock;

Dies - Concord & 9th Sew Scripty Thanks

 (c2019 - retired);

Other - Little Birdie Sunshine & Lemonade ephemera

foam tape; DMC floss; Hero Arts Creamsicle ink

Host Mary Gunn had Maymay Helms (‪@MaymayMadeIt‬), a popular crafty YouTuber as her guest. The wheel was spun 4 times, as usual, for our parameters & we were well satisfied with the spins.

• Project - 4" x 8": I formed a 4x8" card from cardstock. 
• Colors - Excited: I googled & found Red/Orange/Yellow as excited colors. 
• Element - Cold or Chilly: I used some ice cold lemonade ephemera. 
• Random - Stitch(Es): I used a stitching die, stitched with floss. 

When I saw stitching as a parameter, I decided to pull out a C9 "thanks" sewing die that I hadn't used yet. I die cut it into a scrap of yellow cardstock & stitched the word using DMC floss. Inked the panel edges with creamsicle ink. 

Next I pulled out a piece  of Tim Holtz 8x8" peachy orange card stock and scored at 4" to form my 4x8" card. I trimmed a mat layer of red for a piece of Momenta watercolor printed paper. Added to the card along with the stitched strip. I had a bunch of left over ephemera from an Inky Stamper Saturday Morning Crafting session so pulled some out to finish my card.

I'll add this card to Darnell's August NBUS Challenge #89 since the thanks die is getting first play here. Seven years since it came out and finally the die is off Mt NBUS - woo hoo!! This card is going to my niece who took my sister Tami & I out for lunch on Wednesday.

Tami has been staying with me most of the week while helping our cousin with her grandchildren who live close to me. And yes, little A (soon to turn 6) insisted on coming over to make a card. We stopped at their house and she dragged me to her room where she still displays the pop-up unicorn card I made for her 5th birthday last summer. It really made my heart happy!!

She's coloring some old Hero Arts animal images here. She lost interest and was having fun pushing a child-sized Target grocery cart around the living room. She made me finish her two cards so I didn't photograph them.

Oh, and speaking of NBUS - Darnell had some sponsors in July and I won a gift card from Lawn Fawn - yay!! Thanks Darnell and Lawn Fawn!!

That's it for today. Thanks for visiting & have a crafty weekend!!

July 2026 Card Chain Challenge Reveal

Hi everyone! Yikes - August 2nd already - summer has flown, hasn't it?! 

It's time to reveal cards that went around the world for the July 2026 Card Chain. Twenty-six people participated and you can see the full reveal HERE. My card headed west to Arlene (A Bit of This and That), friend and sister Diva in California.

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane gold A2 card;

Paper Studio Distressed Floral;

My Favorite Things Colorful Canvas; 

Scrapbook.com Watercolor Patterned A2;

scrap of gold patterned, brand unk

Dies - Elizabeth Craft Design Small Doilies (retired);

Scrapbook.com Thank You Sentiments III

Other - Recollections puffy sticker;

TH Frayed Burlap Distress Ink; foam tape;

Hero Arts Translucent Pink Enamel Dots

We had the following options when creating our cards:

Color Palette Option

Sketch Option

Theme Options: Cocktails / Pets / Friendship

Product / Technique Options: Embossing Powder / Ink Blending

I used the gorgeous color combo of kraft, blossom (which I read as a soft pink) & gold. I also followed the sketch, pretty much - my measurements were off so I ended up with a larger space than I wanted in the center of my vertical strips. Oh well, I went with it. As usual, the theme of friendship came in to play for my sentiment. I won't claim the technique of ink blending, although I did ink the edges of the patterned papers...

I trimmed four strips of a soft pink patterned paper and one gold patterned. Next I die cut a kraft patterned stitched rectangle and assembled, then added to a gold A2 card. Before JoAnn closed its door I bought bunches of these cards - love them!! 

Next I die cut a soft pink doily and hello, a white shadow layer hello and a gold outline. Assembled and added to the card. A puffy sticker friend and some pink enamel dots finished the card front.

I received this beauty from longtime friend and former Diva, Lucille (White Points) in New Jersey. We actually met in person over 10 years ago at ScrapFest in the Mall of America - a fabulous event I miss. I just love her grid design & the texture is amazing!! Thanks, Lucille & thanks too for the fabulous bookmark & die cuts!!

Come and join the fun - check it out HERE by 8/6 if you want to play in the August Chain. You only have to make and send one card! 

Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a crafty day!!

Hello Robot!

Hey there - happy Saturday! I watched Craft Roulette Episode #330 last night and made a card during the show:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio A2 card & cardstock;

Lawn Fawn & MFT patterns

Dies - Concord & 9th Holiday Cheer Tag Dies (retired);

Frantic Stamper Robot (retired)

Other - Recollections puffy stickers & gems;

foam tape; Park Lane tassel (from the old JoAnn)

Host Mary Gunn had Amanda Stevens (‪@PearBlossomPress‬), owner of Pear Blossom Press, as her guest. Pear Blossom is famous for the light up mechanisms to make fabulous light up cards. Amanda will be at Craft Roulette Live in Kansas City later this summer.

The wheel was spun 4 times, as usual, for our parameters - not too bad, though I couldn't find at least three items I wanted to use! At least I happened upon something!!

• Project - Tag with Pocket: I put a pocket with tag onto an A2 card. 
• Colors - Trick Or Treat: I used Orange/Black/Purple/Lime green. 
• Element - Robot(S) Or "Bo-Bot": I used a robot die. 
• Random - 3 Strips of Paper: I added 3 paper strips behind my pocket. 

I pulled out a purple ombré portrait A2 card and added three strips of patterned paper. Die cut the pocket and tag and assembled. Added a tassel to the tag.

Next I die cut the robot and added to the pocket with foam tape, then added the pocket to the card. Put a puffy sticker and some gems on the robot and colored a few spots with a metallic pen. If desired, you can see a previous card with that cute robot die HERE. Sadly, yesterday was Frantic Stamper's last day in business as Fran wanted to retire. I'll miss them!!

That's it for today. I hope you have a crafty weekend!!

Last Day for Die Cut Divas July Challenge

Hello friends - I'm at Die Cut Divas today with final inspiration for our July Die Cut Divas Challenge - Christmas in July. You have until 9pm Pacific time to enter a Christmas project using a die &/or embossing folder. That is, if you haven't already maxed out on four entries!

We have Waffle Flower as our sponsor and I couldn't miss using WF Postage Collage products!!

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Tim Holtz kraft core cardstock

Stamps w/dies - Waffle Flower Elegant Christmas 2 (dies)

Dies - Waffle Flower Postage Collage &

Postage Collage Blocks

Stencils - Waffle Flower Postage Collage Christmas,

 Gingerbread, Poinsettia, Snowman & Snowy

Other - various inks, including Gina K, SSS & Hero Arts;

pencils and pens; Recollections gem; foam tape

Waffle Flower has a $15 gift card to their online store for our

July random winner!

I've made several varieties of postage collages, mainly sticking to one stencil set per collage. Click HERE to see the Christmas collage with some process photos, if interested.

This time I did a mash up of 5 sets! Since there are six spots in a collage, I used two sections from one of the stencil sets (Snowman). To make it super easy, I used the Waffle Flower 9x12 Media Mat and popped the panel and stencils into the corner. I did have to mask off portions of the stencils with post-it notes so I didn't get ink in the wrong spots.

After stenciling all the layers of each block on a panel of Neenah, I die cut it with the postage collage blocks die. Next I die cut a postage collage out of a red textured cardstock and glued the blocks into their spots. I did some detailing on the various blocks with sharpies, pencils and a white gel pen. Popped a WF sentiment on the panel & adhered it to a white A2 card. Added a gem to the center of the snowflake & done!

Ready for a bonus? It wouldn't be a Waffle Flower Christmas for me unless I use the Fa La La Llama set which I got in last year's Black Friday sale (see a previous version HERE). I love this set soooo much!! This time I made a llama shaped card & used grey and purple so it looks totally different from last year's card.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Dies - Waffle Flower Fa La La Llama Die n Stencil set

Other - various inks, including Gina K, SSS 

& TH Distress;

pencils & white gel pen; Glossy Accents

I stenciled the llama on a piece of Neenah, shaded with pencil and added gel pen details. Die cut it with the included die. Die cut the eyes and mouth and adhered. Next I die cut the llama shape from a top fold A2 card, making sure to let it go off the top edge sufficiently for the card to retain a fold. I adhered the stenciled piece onto the front so the pointy leaves stick up above the fold. Added Glossy Accents to the berries & done! Here's a view of the card standing:

That's it for today. I hope to see you in the July Diva Gallery! Happy crafting!!