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!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Hi everyone - hope you're enjoying your Valentine's Day! I'm popping in with a few cards and a photo from one of my many birthday celebrations this past week. 

First up, a card I made a couple weeks ago during Card Chaos Episode #31 with Irene Smith and her guest Brian Dickey. The theme was HEARTS so I thought it was the perfect time to get some Valentines made! I decided to save sharing them until Vday.

Supplies: Paper - Astro Designs black cardstock;

American Crafts patterned; scraps

Dies - Poppystamps Nordic Heart

& Vintage Scalloped Heart

(retired at PS but still HERE at Frantic Stamper);

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Taylored Expressions printed sentiment strip

I used one of my "go-to" sketches: A2 card with a background, coordinating strip and a focal point. For the focal point I combined two Poppystamps sets to make a layered heart. I was delighted to find that the scalloped outline for the PS Vintage Heart fit the Nordic Heart perfectly!! A printed sentiment strip from the bits box finished the card which I sent to friend Cat (Cat Luvs Paper).

I mentioned in an earlier post that when I do Card Chaos (15 minute cards), I make a prototype to see if I can make the card in 15 minutes. Here's the one I made for the above card prior to the show; I sent it to my sister Kari. Which version do you like better?

My second Chaos card was even easier. I took a printed card, die cut the front panel with an edger die then backed it with Lawn Fawn paper. Some of the hearts that cut out of the panel were adhered to the right. I finished it with some Starshine dots and a printed sentiment.

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio watercolor print A2 card;

Lawn Fawn Watercolor Wishes

Dies - Poppystamps Wild at Heart Border

(retired at PS but one left HERE at Frantic Stamper)

Other - printed sentiment strip

Next I'll share the card that went to my birthday twin, Lynn. 

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Paper Studio A2 watercolor print cards & 

purple cardstock

Dies - Hero Arts Window on Love Confetti;

Poppystamps Scalloped Pinpoint Frames

Pink & Main Truck Pop Up (license plate)

Stamps - Pink & Main License Sayings;

Hero Arts Everyday Sentiment Strips (retired)

Other - Hero Art shimmer spray

I made a shaker card for an earlier episode of Card Chaos which I haven't shared. When I die cut the hearts panel for the shaker, I didn't realize I had stacked two pieces of purple cardstock. The bottom piece didn't cut through (except for the big center heart) so I thought I'd use it that way! I spritzed it liberally with shimmer spray. Once dry I adhered it to a pink watercolor print A2 card. The pink shows through where the center heart cut out. You can't see the hearts that didn't cut very well in the photo but it gives a nice texture in real life. 

I added a couple pierced scalloped frames and some hearts left from a second cut I had made of the heart edger above. Stamped a Happy Valentine's Day sentiment, cut it into strips and added to one heart. Added a bday sentiment license plate left over from a previous card. Thanks to Lisa (My Paper Tales) who enabled me on those frame dies - love them!!

So far the February bday girls haven't had our usual lunch but I'm sure we'll get one in soon. Meanwhile, I had lunch out with two different sets of friends this past week & got free desserts at both! Here I am with a large slab of delicious carrot cake that was shared with the group:

Today I'm just getting my free birthday coffee from various shops and enjoying a Zoom Valentine party. My brother and sister-in-law are treating me to dinner tomorrow & more friends want to get together next week. Then I'll need a break from partying!! 

Thanks for bearing with the long post! Hope you have a wonderful weekend & happy crafting!

Christmas Card Chaos

Hi everyone - I'm back with a couple Christmas cards created Monday night during Irene Smith's Card Chaos Episode #33. The Chaos group voted "Out of Season" as the theme ahead of time. You have 15 minutes as the goal to create your card during the show and there are two rounds. I chose Christmas for my out of season cards. First up an ornament card:

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane Ivory A2 card; 

Paper Studio cardstock; 

American Crafts red Valentine paper;

Spellbinders Betterpress Porcelain; scraps

Dies - Birch Press Design Little Poinsettia Flowers

& Block Print Petal Ornament;

Poppystamps Little Bow and String;

Brass and Bliss Greenery #2

Hero Arts Wood Frame Infinity Dies

Lawn Fawn Quilted Diamond Backdrop

Press Plate w/die - Spellbinders Home for 

Christmas Sentiments (retired)

Other - foam tape

I made a previous card which included the ornament & background I used here. To keep it quick, I only die cut one ornament for my Chaos card; the previous card had three different ones. I die cut the background and adhered to an ivory card. I die cut two woodgrain frames from a second ivory card and stacked for dimension, then added to the background. When I die cut the ornament pieces, I also die cut the flower pieces and pines so it all happened in one pass. Assembled and added to the card. 

The only thing done in advance was the Betterpressed sentiment from the stash. I had spent an afternoon doing some Betterpressing & had a bunch of Christmas sentiments. My card took about 10 minutes, including all the die cutting & assembly. The key to the 15 minute cards is to have your supplies ready. That's what usually takes me the longest! Once designed and products assembled, I sometimes also do a practice run of the card (since we know the theme in advance). I time myself so I know if I can make it during the Chaos. I used different papers & sentiment for the practice card and, since first of this design, it took a couple minutes longer.

I will add this card to Merry Little Christmas Challenge #66 where Anything Christmas Goes. This is my 6th of eight possible entries there. Plus I'll send it to Darnell's February NBUS Challenge #83 since my press plate set got first play here.

By the second round of Chaos I'm tired so I try to keep it quick and simple - this one only took 7 minutes!

Supplies: Paper - Recollections gray A2 card;

Anchor Paper cardstock; Authentique patterned;

scrap of glitter; Betterpress Peeble

Dies - Taylored Expressions Arched Nativity;

Birch Press Design Starry Night Scene

Press Plate w/die - Spellbinders Home for 

Christmas Sentiments (retired)

Other - foam tape

I die cut the coverplate from a steel blue textured cardstock and backed it with Authentique patterned paper. Added it to an A2 card. Die cut a star from glitter paper and added it along with a Betterpressed sentiment from the same set as card one. I designed this card to work at Christmas Kickstart Challenge #107 where the theme is "A Christmas Sing-Along". This is my second entry & I used "Joy to the World", a song we sang in my chorus many times.

That's it for today, friends. Hope you're enjoying your week - it's been one celebration after another for me, leading up to my birthday on Saturday!

Thanks for stopping by & happy crafting!!

Hello Friend Joyfold

Hey friends - hope you're having a wonderful day! Since the Olympics have started, a lot of my time goes toward watching the various events - love the Olympics!! I still make time to craft though!. 

Today I'm sharing the card I made during Craft Roulette Episode #305 where host Mary Gunn spun a wheel four times for necessary parameters. Her guest was Caitlin Anthony (‪@CaitlinAnnaleeCards‬) who's on the team at Pink & Main.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Astro Design cardstock; Sunny Studio patterned

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

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Embossing Folder - Simon Says Stamp Tiny Flora

Other - foam tape; Hero Arts & SSS inks

The wheel gave us fairly easy parameters this time:

• Project - Joyfold: I did an A2 diagonal Joyfold. 
• Colors - Cartoon: I used a bunch of bright primary colors - many cartoons use them. 
• Element - Starts with "I": I used ink - very creative, ha ha. 
• Random - Include A Scrap(s): I used a scrap of red to shadow my sentiment.

First I took a white side folding A2 card formed from Neenah. I cut the front on the diagonal. I added a layering pattern on the front and a red stitched rectangle to the inside. Since I had just done Jennifer McGuire's SSS class (see yesterday's post), I had all the supplies still out. I grabbed a 3x4" piece of Neenah and embossed it with one of the class folders, then inked it with yellow, orange & blue.

Next I took a piece of 3.25 x 8.5" piece of Neenah and folded it in 1/2 on the long edge to make a smaller top folding card for the "Joyfold" portion. Adhered the back of it atop the red panel after I had stamped a sentiment & a heart on the inside (used the class stamp set). I added a strip of the rick-rack pattern to the bottom of the inside panel. Before the class I had stamped and die cut a bunch of the sentiments so I'd be ready to make quick cards. I chose Hello Friend from the stack and added a red shadow using a scrap. Done! Here are a couple more views:

This was the first Joyfold I'd made this way, with a diagonal front. Although I used class supplies, this wasn't a class card designed by Jennifer. Since this was my first use of the class stamp set, though, I'll add my card to Darnell's February NBUS Challenge #83.

Thanks for visiting and have a crafty day!!

Textures and Techniques

Hey everyone - yesterday I enjoyed the lastest (and totally free) online Simon Says Stamp Create Together Class - Master Textures & Techniques with Jennifer McGuire. Fabulous, and quite long, class!! I had purchased the class kit (great value) which is sold out but many of the products are available individually. Plus SSS has them on sale right now! 

I'll share a class card next but first, a card I made for Just Us Girls Challenge #809 where it's die week with the theme of hearts.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Paper Studio A2 card; scraps

Dies - Simon Says Stamp Falling Hearts &

CZ Design With Love;

Hero Arts Nesting Hearts Infinity Dies

Embossing Folder - Simon Says Stamp Tiny Flora

Other - foam tape

During class Jennifer had us cut the heart coverplate twice - once from vellum (I haven't done mine yet) and once from white cardstock. She only used the heart confetti from the white cut. I decided to use this coverplate for my JUGS entry. I decided to give it some texture and used one of the class kit embossing folders - love it! I adhered it to an ombré A2 card from Hobby Lobby. Next I die cut a sentiment (also used in the class) from scraps of pink, black & silver metallic. I assembled it and popped it onto a die cut heart, then onto the card with foam tape. To finish it, I added one of the hearts cut from the coverplate to the O of LOVE.

I will also add this card to Darnell's February NBUS Challenge #83 since the coverplate got first use here. Next, I share the second card we completed in class. I took a quick break and missed making card one which included cutting the coverplate in vellum! Oops!

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

SSS heavyweight vellum, metallic silver & glossy white cardstock

Dies - Simon Says Stamp CZ Design With Love

Embossing Folder - Simon Says Stamp Tiny Flora

Other - foam tape; SSS pigment inks

For this one we embossed an A2 panel of vellum, lightly inked it with SSS Tide Pool and folded in half. Mine cracked - oh well. As Jennifer often says of class cards - this was our "practice pancake" - lol. 

Next we embossed an A2 panel of the glossy cardstock and inked with three colors of choice (the kit included 6 SSS pigment inks); I used Heather, Cadette and Pearfection. The glossy cardstock makes it easy to move the ink - I got some spotches, oh well... We cut this panel on a diagonal along with 3 panels of white. Sandwiched the vellum between these panels to form a card with a vellum top - crazy, right? Then added some scrap strips and a sentiment die cut. Hard to see in the photo but I added a black shadow layer to my words.

I'll have to go back and watch the replay to finish the rest of the class cards. We made a bunch of panels with inking and embossing folders - so I have a ways to go to finish!

Thanks for stopping by! I'll be back tomorrow with the card I made for last night's Craft Roulette. Hope you're having a crafty weekend!

Silent Night

Hey there - Today I'm playing along at Christmas Kickstart Challenge #107 where the theme is "A Christmas Sing-Along". In other words, use something calling to mind a Christmas carol; I went with Silent Night:

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane Gold A7 card;

Paper Studio Star of Bethlehem; 

Simple Stories Silent Night

Dies - Poppystamps Little Bow and String;

Birch Press Design Block Print Wave Ornament 

Other - Stars from the stash; sentiment strips

from Waffleflower Subsentiments Fa La La;

Tim Holtz Black Soot Distress Oxide Ink

When Jo announced this month's CKC, my mind went to a certain stamp set. However, I was shuffling through my 12x12 paper stash yesterday and found a piece containing repeating Silent Night sheet music. Right away I jumped on that idea (saving the stamps for later...). There were also some prints of the Nativity in this Simple Stories paper pack but they were too large for my card. Instead I fussy cut an ornament from a Hobby Lobby patterned paper pad; the sky background paper comes from there too. I die cut the ornament topper from a BPD set and added a bow with string from a Poppystamps set. Added some Waffleflower sentiment strips and some stars left over from a unicorn pop up card. 

I also add my card to Merry Little Christmas Challenge #66 where Anything Goes. This is my 5th of eight possible entries there.

Thanks for stopping by & Happy Crafting!!