A Couple of Quick Cards

Hey there - last night I watched Irene Smith's Card Chaos Episode #35 and crafted along. The goal is to make cards in 15 minutes with a theme known ahead of time. You can gather supplies and use prepared card bases & things we usually have on hand (like leftover die cuts and sentiments). Everything else should be done during the timeframe (or thereabouts). I played in both rounds - the theme was Use Grey instead of Black. First up, a quick & easy card where I let patterned paper do the heavy lifting:

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane Ivory A2 card;

Simple Stories Silent Night;

Astro Designs grey

Stamps - Hero Arts Merry Christmas Messages (retired)

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set;

Altenew Mix and Match Frames;

Hero Arts Tag Frames Infinity Dies

Other - foam tape; Honey Bee gems

When I do these 15 minute challenges, I usually just look around at the mess that's on the desk or table. I still have pieces of the Simple Stories paper I used for a Kickstart card earlier this month so a grabbed a couple. Perfect because they were greyscale rather than black for the print. I die cut them and then matted in grey. Next I stamped a sentiment in grey ink and die cut it with a label then inked the edges. Added everything to an A2 ivory card. The papers were an offwhite so they looked odd when I tried a white card; I went with ivory. Not sure I love the ivory either, oh well. I added some gems to the sentiment but left off any other bling.

 

Next, I thought I'd go ahead and use Day 23's die set from the 2024 Spellbinders Advent Calendar. I've been faithfully using each day from December 2024 in February (in January I did 2025's). Usually I just use the item but don't get a card made; yesterday I finished a card!

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane Ivory A2 card;

Authentique patterned;

Astro Designs grey; Paper Studio pink

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

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set;

Spellbinders 2024 Advent Calendar (Day 23)

Other - foam tape; Hobby Lobby hearts

I had a vellum oval in the stash - left over from cutting a frame w/scalloped interior. Die cut and assembled the kitty with heart, then added some details with a warm grey Copic and a white gel pen. Die cut a piece of ivory paper with grey bows, matted in grey and added to an ivory card. Stamped happy birthday in grey ink and die cut. Assembled onto the card and added some enamel heart stickers. The stickers were added after the show - I knew it needed something more... What do you think - good addition?

I'll add my birthday card to Darnell's February NBUS Challenge #83 since the kitty die set was newly used. 

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

A Sweet Santa Mug and More!

Hey crafty friends - the past two weeks I watched quite a bit of the Winter Olympics, including USA's hockey wins for gold (sorry, my Canadian friends). And, of course, curling with a lot of Minnesotans playing for Team USA!! Sad to see it all end for another four years!

I had some time yesterday after watching the closing ceremony & made a card for Just Us Girls Challenge #811 where Lisa (My Paper Tales) from their DT has chosen a wonderful inspiration photo. I loved Lisa's sweet Nordic cup & thought I'd pull out a Spellbinders cup die set I got on sale in AZ during the Christmas holidays.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Paper Studio cardstock; MFT Christmas Cheer;

Spellbinders Betterpress Porcelain

Dies - Spellbinders Cocoa Wonderland;

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Press Plates w/dies - Spellbinders Home for 

Christmas Sentiments (retired)

Other - Spellbinders 2024 Advent Calendar 

(Day 22) sequins; foam tape; Copics for shading

I die cut the mug pieces and assembled. Added some shading to the beard and whipped cream with Copics. Adhered some pink sequins instead of the sprinkles in the inspiration photo. Matted 2 patterns of paper with pink and added to a white card. Added the mug & a Betterpressed sentiment with foam tape. 

I'll also add my cup to Darnell's February NBUS Challenge #83 since the die set was newly used. 

Saturday morning I watched Put the CASE in Chaos Episode #3. Each month, host Irene Smith and a guest (this time the amazing Ardyth) each CASE the other's card. This month they used stencils. I crafted along, creating a card inspired by each; Irene has a Facebook gallery for any submissions. First up, I made another Christmas card for the stash, taking inspiration from Irene's geometric stencil with shimmer spray:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Paper Studio cardstock;

Spellbinders Betterpress Porcelain

Stencils - Hero Arts Geometric Holiday

& Script (retired)

Dies - Spellbinders 2025 Advent Calendar Day 18

Press Plates w/dies - Spellbinders Home for 

Christmas Sentiments (retired)

Other - various Hero Arts & SSS inks &

HA Irridescent Shimmer Spray

Irene used Ardyth's favorite card format of a 4.25" square card; I simply trimmed down an A2 to card to be square. Next I took a white panel and stenciled the geometric pattern, masking off for the different colors since it's only a one layer. I must say, it was a pain but it made adding the shimmer spray at the end quick! After drying with a heat tool, I stenciled a script layer over top in Key Lime ink. Also blended ink around the edges and into the piece so it wasn't stark white. Trimmed it and added to a blue mat, then added a "tree" die cut and a Betterpressed sentiment.

Yes, I've been keeping up with my idea of using my SB Advent Calendars each day (did 2025 in January and am doing 2024 in February). I don't always make a full card that day but I do have a lot of bits ready! So I was able to grab a little tree for this card and a sentiment for the card below. The "tree" was actually a set of corner waves that I thought would make a cute pine tree! You can see Crafty Al's video with this set HERE.

I had cut the dies in green and layered the pieces onto white card stock leaving a space for "snow". Then I'd trimmed around it & added a short brown strip for the trunk. It was sitting on the table when I was looking for a die cut to add as Irene had. It's a different style of tree than the geometric ones but I thought it would work with the bigger sentiment. What do you think? Cute or should I have gone with a triangle tree?

Next I used Ardyth's sketch, again with her fave 4.25" square card but this time she'd trimmed the front smaller, then added a circle sentiment. When she trimmed off a panel for the shortened front, she added it to the inside. 

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Paper Studio cardstock

Stamps - Spellbinders 2024 Advent Calendar Day 13

Dies - Hero Arts Circle Infinity Dies;

Poppystamps Scallop Pinpoint Rings

Stencils - Hero Arts but can't find the name

(maybe from a kit of theirs)

Other - various Hero Arts inks

I started by stenciling a full panel with alternating inks on a diagonal (no shimmer spray this time). Trimmed and matted then added to the card. The strip on the right is adhered to the inside so, when open, the circle hangs off the front. Die cut 3 circles (top blue is the pinpoint one), then layered and added the sentiment strip. Done!

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

Red and Pink with Hero Arts!

Hey everyone - it's time for my regular monthly post at Die Cut Divas. The card details and a bonus are only shared here though. We have the wonderful Hero Arts as our sponsor who has donated a $25 gift card for our random winner.

First up a tulip card:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Recollections A2 card;

My Mind's Eye patterned

Stamps with dies - Hero Arts Tulip Bouquet

(dies retired)

Dies - Poppystamps Cute Bow;

Hero Arts Oval Infinity Dies;

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Stencils - Hero Arts Color Layering Tulip Bouquet

Embossing Folder - Stampin' Up Subtle (retired)

Other - SSS Starshine dots; foam tape;

Hero Arts & Memento inks; white gel pen;

Copic Markers C00 & C3 for shading

I'd had the tulip stamp and die set for a few years, then picked up the coordinating stencils more recently. They make a card go very quickly. I tend to add more color with Copics and some gel pen details but the stencils are handy to start! I went with grey for the stems and leaves so as not to detract from the red/pink theme.

I added a patterned stitched rectangle to a ruby A2 card then used part of a second card to die cut an oval. Embossed the oval and adhered to the patterned layer, then added my bouquet. Stamped a sentiment from the tulip set and die cut with a smaller oval. Added both to the card. Die cut a bow & adhered to the bouquet, then added some Starshine dots.

For my bonus I used my fave Hero Arts heart coverplate die. 

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Paper Studio A2 card & red card stock

Dies - Hero Arts Window on Love Confetti Fancy Die

Other - SSS printed sentiment; glossy accents;

Hero Arts Ultra Pink ink & Irridescent Shimmer Spray;

Paper Studio enamel hearts; Glossy Accents

I shared a card with this coverplate on Valentine's Day but you couldn't see the fabulous heart detail. I cut this one from Neenah, then swiped Ultra Pink ink over it direct to paper. Then I spritzed it liberally with shimmer spray. Once dry, I adhered it to an ombré pink card. I also die cut the coverplate from red cardstock and inlaid 3 of the hearts, saving the rest for future projects. Covered them in Glossy Accents for nice dimension and shine. A couple enamel hearts and a printed sentiment finished the card.

That's it for today friends. We hope you'll pop over to Die Cut Divas and enter a project using primarily red &/or pink into our February Gallery by 9p Pacific Time on Feb 28.

Thanks for visiting and happy crafting!!

A Lemony Mini-slim

Hi crafty friends - quick post; I've been busy with my cousin visiting from Wisconsin. Had time, though, to watch Craft Roulette Episode #307 live tonight. I crafted along & finished my card during the show.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Paper Studio cardstock scraps; Lawn Fawn Fruit Salad (gingham)

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

Dies - Spellbinders Citrus Spritz Etched Dies

Other - SSS Starshine Dots; foam tape

Host Mary had Lori Craig of Olo marker fame as her guest. Lori will be one of the presenters at the CR in-person event this summer. The wheel was very kind, including landing on Lori's top choice of mini-slim.

• Project - Mini-slim: I typically make mine by folding a 6x6" cardstock in half. 
• Colors - Fungi: Loads of options here! I used yellow/white/blue/green. 
• Element - Fruit: I grabbed a lemon die set 
• Random - Two-toned: I inked my yellow lemons with a darker yellow ink towards the bottom edge.

As usual, I craft more quickly with dies. When fruit came up as a parameter, I knew where I could find my fave Spellbinders lemon. Quickly die cut and assembled onto a mini-slim formed from a piece of Lawn Fawn paper. Added a sentiment that I stamped in the recent SSS class with Jennifer McGuire - done!

I will add my card to Creative Crafters #97 where Anything Goes. I'm also playing at Seize the Birthday #320 using the Anything Goes Option. I used dies but don't really think of this as CAS to meet the topping....

That's it for today! Thanks for visiting and I'll be back tomorrow with a Die Cut Diva post. Hope to see you then & happy crafting!!

String Art Nativity Star

Hey there - thought I'd pop in with my third and final card for Christmas Kickstart Challenge #107 where the theme is "A Christmas Sing-Along". Once again I used "Joy to the World" as my song - I've sung it more times than I can count! My favorite arrangement was an 8-part chart done by a local Barbershopper that my chorus did with our brothers in harmony.

Supplies: Paper - Anchor Paper Cardstock;

Recollections Glitter Cardstock;

Momenta watercolor printed paper

Dies - Birch Press Design String Art Nativity Star (retired)

Other - Spellbinders puffy sticker sentiment

Big thanks to Diva sister Arlene (A Bit of This and That) who sent me the BPD star die set. Thought it was the perfect time to use it & die cut it from glitter cardstock. I had made a Nativity card last week with a steel blue card base and decided to use another one here. 

This die cuts out a lot of bits! Didn't care to inlay all of them but thought it would look pretty to die cut the halo portion from some yellow cardstock and inlay those bits. A puffy sentiment sticker from a Spellbinders card kit finished the card. Quick and easy & I love the look! Sadly this die is retired, nor could I find it at my favorite spots for finding older products.

That's it for today, friends. I hope you're having a crafty week and thanks for visiting!!

Add water!

Hey friends - I made a quick trip to Northern MN Sunday to extend my birthday celebrations with my brother and sister-in-law. They have two new kitties so it was fun to meet them too! I came home today in time for Card Chaos Episode #34 where Irene & a guest take turns making a card in 15 minutes (or thereabouts). You can design your card & pull out supplies ahead of time. I also have "stations" for different processes - embossing, die cutting, ink, assembling.

Here's my first card:

Supplies: Paper - Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Paper;

Paper Studio Ombré A2 card; scraps

Embossing folder - Spellbinders Shady Leaves (3EOM-Feb26)

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set;

Birch Press Design Abundant Branch;

Poppystamps Fresh Happy Easter

Other - Hero Arts Reactive Inks - Key Lime and Green Apple;

Hero Arts enamel dots

I embossed a stitched rectangle of watercolor paper, inked it, then spritzed it with plain water. Also added some splatter in a different color green ink mixed with water. Dried with a heat tool and added to an A2 card. Added a die cut oval, branch, flowers & sentiment. Finished the flowers with enamel dots. This one took 14 minutes and I was rushing!! Wanted my sentiment lower but I put the branch at the wrong angle - oh well... I also die cut only the small flowers from the die set, not the ones that have a few layers. Might add those later!

My second card used same background technique, just a different embossing folder (the 2D one from the February Spellbinders crate). Finished it with a BPD die cut heart/flower set that I cut from scraps, plus a sentiment from the stash. Added an enamel dot for the flower center. This one went a bit quicker since the ef was 2D and took ink more easily. You can see the water spots better too.

Supplies: Paper - Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Paper;

Recollections A2 card; scraps

Embossing folder - Spellbinders Spring Stripes (EOM-Feb26)

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set;

Birch Press Design Block Print Garden Heart

Other - Hero Arts Reactive Inks - Key Lime and Green Apple;

enamel dot; Betterpressed sentiment

I'll add this card to Darnell's February NBUS Challenge #83 since both the heart and embossing folder are newly used. 

That's it for today, friends. Thanks for stopping by & happy crafting!

A Stitched Sunflower!

Hey there - hope you're having a wonderful day! I had a low key birthday yesterday but am looking forward to dinner with family today. 

Here's my card for Friday's Craft Roulette Episode #306 with host Mary Gunn & her fabulous guest Carissa Wiley (‪@carissawiley‬).

Supplies: Paper - Hunkydory A7 card;

American Crafts Valentine paper;

MFT Watercolor Wash; scraps

Dies - Spellbinders Stitched Sunflower 

(DOMST-Sep24; retired)

Other - DMC floss 444 & 702;

foam tape; chalkboard sentiment by unk

The crafty wheel was spun four times for the necessary parameters:

• Project - A7: I used a Hunkydory stitched topfold A7. 
• Colors - Summer Desserts: I used a strawberry lemon pie - red/yellow/kraft. 
• Element - Chalkboard: My sentiment is a piece of chalkboard paper. 
• Random - Bottom Border: My mat layer features a bottom border of hearts. 

I knew I had a chalkboard sentiment in the scrap bin so found that first. I thought to use a sun die cut but couldn't find it. Instead I came across the sunflower set which I'd yet to use. Note to self: do not select a stitching die set if you want to finish during the show. You don't have to finish then but it's a game of mine. Oh well, I finished within 30 minutes after the episode ended.

Die cut the sunflower & leaves with stitching lines and without. Stitched and layered together. I didn't stitch the flower center to save time. Added to a mat of yellow that I'd adhered to a red mat that had a pre-cut heart border. Adhered to an A7 card along with the sentiment.

Sad that once again I'm using for the first time something that Spellbinders already retired! Oh well...I'll add my card to Darnell's February NBUS Challenge #83 since the sunflowers finally got used.

Thanks for stopping by and have a crafty day!!