Last day for the April Diva Challenge!

Hi everyone - if you haven't entered our Window or Aperture Challenge at Die Cut Divas, you have until 9p Pacific Time today!! You don't need to use Poppystamps products like we are, just be sure to use a window or aperture in your design along with a die cut or an embossing folder. We'd love to see you in the gallery!! 

The end-of-month team (which includes me) has a post up for inspiration. Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah, Paper Studio, Momenta

Dies - Poppy Stamps Cottage Window &

Fern and Daisy Pop up Easel Set;

Sunny Studio Botanical Backdrop;

A Jillian Vance Design Dot Stitched Rectangle

Stamps - Hero Arts My Monthly Hero Kit 3/2021;

Taylored Expressions A Few Phrases &

Wood Plank Background

Other - Copic Markers; Memento inks

My design features the darling Cottage Window die set from Poppystamps. I used it to make an actual window to the inside of the card backed by a piece of acetate. Here's a view of the inside with the open window:

I cut the acetate with the same rectangle die as the card front/back and glued with Nuvo liquid glue which dried nice & clear. I scored the back rectangle at .5 and glued to the front one to form the card base. My flower came from a Poppystamp easel card set & the flower stem is a leftover piece of a leafy frame.

Thanks again to our fabulous sponsor Poppystamps!! Be sure to check back at Die Cut Divas tomorrow for a new challenge and on the 3rd for the April winner announcement.

Thanks for stopping!!

Sleigh Collage

Hi all - I'm back with my third and final sleigh card for Christmas Kickstart Challenge 49. 

Supplies: Paper - Tim Holtz Christmas 2020;

Paper Studio Holiday & black; Neenah white

Dies - A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop

Other - Tim Holtz Christmas Snippets & Layers

Since the Tim Holtz ephemera packs were out from my previous sleigh cards, I also pulled out his 2020 Christmas 8x8 paper pad. Found a fun red woodgrain paper to use as a background for a collage with an old fashioned Santa & sleigh postcard. The bell swag (hard to see) has the sentiment Merry Christmas.

And now for a twofer. My Christmas card production has been lagging this year so I decided to create with more leftover bits. I had some stitched squares from a previous slimline where I just used the frame. I played around with some ephemera from a 2019 Spellbinders card kit and came up with this:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio and Anchor Paper, Neenah White

Dies - LDRS Creative Slim Line Corner Scallop;

A Jillian Vance Design Slimline Rectangle Window Cover Plate

Sunny Studio Botanical Backdrop

Other - Spellbinders 10/2019 card kit Sparkling Holidays;

Michael's gems

Hope you're having a crafty week - thanks for stopping!! Please check back tomorrow for the end of month Die Cut Divas card using Poppystamps products.

Sleigh take two

Hey there - hope you're having a great week. Since I had the supplies still out, I did a second version of my sleigh card from Friday. This will be my second of three possible entries for the current Christmas Kickstart Challenge:

Supplies: Paper - Basic Grey Aspen Frost 6x6;

Paper Studio Holiday & Co'redinations Black

Dies - Poppystamps Capri Sleigh (retired)

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangles;

Other - Tim Holtz Christmas Layers (2020);

CZ Designs Sentiment Strips Reverse Christmas;

Michael's ribbon

The Tim Holtz Christmas Layers pack I used on Friday also had a red 25 so I decided to create a second sleigh card with a little different feel. The pointing hand & the little items (cut off of a stocking) popping out of the sleigh were from the TH pack too. My Basic Grey paper pack had a loose tag that I'd die cut previously - no idea which die I used. I decided to use the tag as a base for my collage elements.

Thanks again to Jo & her elf for the fun challenge!! I'll also add this to Watercooler Wednesday's All Occasions Challenge. Thanks Dawn & WCW team!! 

And thanks to you for visiting - I'd love to hear which sleigh card you prefer!

 

Merry Days Sleigh

TGIF everyone!! I'm trying to ramp up the Christmas card production and created this card for the current Christmas Kickstart Challenge:

Supplies: Paper - BoBunny Yuletide Carol 6x6;

Paper Studio Holiday; Tim Holtz Kraft Metallic

Dies - Poppystamps Capri Sleigh (retired)

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangles;

Michael's gems

Other - Tim Holtz Christmas Layers (2020);

CZ Designs Sentiment Strips Reverse Christmas

Because the sleigh has a vintage feel, I perused my piles of paper pads to find the perfect match. BoBunny's Yuletide Carol Collection from 2018 fit the bill. I thought the jumbo 25 from Tim Holtz Christmas Layers pack tied in well with the reverse sentiment strip. I added a black shadow to the sleigh to make it stand out a bit better.

Thanks to Jo & her elf for a fun Christmas challenge!! I'm also adding this to Watercooler Wednesday where my friend Dawn (Dawn's World) is hosting an All Occasions Challenge. Thanks Dawn & WCW team for the inspiration!!

Enjoy your weekend!!

 

Window to a shaker!

Welcome everyone - hope you're having a lovely day!!

I'm the featured designer at Die Cut Divas today. We're showcasing Poppystamps products - love them and I have a fair few! I chose the new Fern and Daisy Pop-up Easel set on a recent online shopping spree. I adore Poppystamps pop-up easel die sets and couldn't resist this one. Rather than make a pop-up card, though, I made a shaker!

 

Supplies: Paper - Ms Sparkle A2 card; Neenah white;

Paper Studio orange and glitter; Lawn Fawn plaid; 

vellum & acetate

Dies - Poppy Stamps Fern and Daisy Pop-up Easel Set

and

Spectacular Birthday (sadly retired)

Other - Darice sequins; Martha Stewart glitter; Honey Bee gems

I used the frame and leafy layer to cut white panels, die cut an oval window through both and adhered them together. I backed the panel with acetate, added foam tape for a channel & filled with glitter & sequins. I popped it onto a panel of patterned paper that Poppystamps gifted to me with my order - thanks!! Next I cut the sentiment (glitter paper with a vellum mat) and adhered it over the window. Then I cut a bunch of butterflies using more dies from the set - this set is loaded with great pieces!! Adhered to the card with some gems - done!

Thanks for visiting and I hope you'll join us at Die Cut Divas with your window card - go HERE to link to the gallery by April 30th at 9pm Pacific time.

Father's Day Gentleman

Hey everyone - Back with a quick card for the latest Let's Squash It!! challenge to use three embossing folders and a person image. Had to think about it for a bit but came up with this:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio; Authentique Suave 6x6

Stamps - Divinity Designs Artistic Outpost Hats Off;

Paper Smooches (NIB) All Year Cheer

Embossing Folders - Sizzix Tim Holtz Argyle;

Stampin' Up Subtle; Darice Woodgrain

Dies - A Jillian Vance Design Dot Stitched Rectangles

Inks - Black Soot & Pumice Stone Distress;

Memento Rich Cocoa

I was flipping through my stamps looking for people images and found the fabulous Hats Off set. Figured I might as well go for a masculine card and enter it at Watercooler Wednesday but - oops - that challenge closed already. Oh well.... 

One of my embossing folders stands out and the other two blend in. The kraft background is embossed with Tim Holtz's Argyle, then I rubbed some Pumice Stone ink across it to enhance the texture. Next I embossed the stamped gentleman image with Stampin' Up's Subtle ef - just love the effect!! I stamped the sentiment strip and embossed it with Darice's Woodgrain ef, then rubbed some ink over parts of it. Assembled everything & done!!

Wow - I'm getting ahead of myself since I made my Father's Day card before I've even thought about Mother's Day!! I think my Dad will get a kick out of the old fashioned gentleman.

Thanks for stopping and enjoy the rest of your day!! I hope you'll visit again tomorrow when I'll be sharing a card for Die Cut Divas!

Rainbow Merry Christmas

Happy Monday! I'm sharing a card for the current CAS Christmas Challenge, hosted by the amazing Trina (Phamtastic Design). Here's my rainbow themed card:

Supplies: Paper - Bazzill A2 card; Neenah; Paper Studio

Dies - Spellbinders How Does Your Garden Grow Alphabet;

Sunny Studio Slimline Pennant Dies &

Window Quad Circle Dies

Other - various Distress Inks;

CZ Designs Sentiment Strips Reverse Christmas

I first sponged Distress inks in rainbow colors onto a white panel, then die cut my letters. Funny aside, I cut the word HAPPY instead of MERRY at first - must've been thinking of birthday cards I need!! Luckily, I had enough of the rainbow panel to cut the second word. 😀😀

I stacked the rainbow letters with a set of thick white ones, then added a black shadow. Adhered the letters onto a white card but had to cut it down since the top corner of the card got wrinkled. I used a slimline stitched pennant die with the ends cut off. Added the panel to a red card and popped up the Christmas strip. Decided the M didn't have enough red so added a red poinsettia with gem - done!!

Thanks to Trina & the CAS Christmas team for a fun challenge! I need these challenges to keep up my Christmas card production, although I'm lagging a bit behind last year....

**Update** - At Gundi's invitation, I'm also adding to the Day of the Month Card Club Find a Rainbow Day challenge. Thanks Gundi (papierelle)!!

Thanks for stopping and have a crafty week!!

Twofer Leaves

 Hey crafty friends - sorry I've been missing in action again! Seems I don't get as much time card making & blogging these days... Anyway, I'm popping in with a twofer for the current Twofer Challenge.

I used a fabulous coverplate from Sunny Studio that I got back in January and just love - Botanical Backdrop. Besides the leafy frame you get flower parts - I still haven't snipped them apart from the frame since it's handy to cut everything together or use it all to emboss. 

For card one I cut everything in white and just used the frame. Note - I did snip off a leaf that covered part of my sentiment. For card two I placed scraps of green on just the leaves I wanted from the die and then snipped off the frame parts. I used the white flowers from step one plus a few pastel parts left from other projects. The oval was another leftover part. Here's a closer look at each card with supply list:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah White; Momenta Gemstones;

Paper Studio A2 card

Die - Sunny Studio Botanical Backdrop

Stamp - CAS-ual Fridays Peace and Comfort (retired)

Other - Taylored Expressions clear enamel dots & Oreo ink

Supplies: Paper - Neenah White; Momenta Watercolor;

Concord & 9th; Authentique; Paper Studio A2 card

Dies - Sunny Studio Botanical Backdrop;

Avery Elle Quilted Frame

Other - Copic Marker R20; SSS Thanks Sentiment Strips

We've experienced such loss of life worldwide in this last year. I hope you can find peace and comfort somewhere! Thanks for the visit and thanks to Darnell & team for another challenge!!

Easter Wishes!!

Happy Easter wishes to all celebrating today! We're expecting temps into the 70s F so looking forward to that!! Over at Die Cut Divas we're doing window cards with Poppystamps as our sponsor. Of course I had to go shopping! My "masterpiece" this year uses a new easel die set from Poppystamps but has nothing to do with the window theme... It went to my friend Heather (stamping and stitching) and her family. 

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts (retired), Neenah, Paper Studio

Dies - Poppystamps Woven Basket Pop Up Easel Set,

Splendid Happy Easter, & Folk Decorated Eggs (retired)

Stamps - Lawn Fawn Eggstra Special Easter

Other - Copic Markers; 

Tumbled Glass & Pumice Stone Distress Inks

The stopper above the Happy Easter was borrowed from another pop-up easel set. I did several other versions but will only share a blue one. I added Taylored Expressions Backstory Easter Background to the blue sky behind the bunnies. It's a new stamp and I didn't have it when I made the first version.

Then I took a break from bunnies to do a sun ray background with lilies (from a retired Hero Arts clear set). I attended TE's online Stamp Joy event at the end of March and the sun ray stencil was part of the event kit. Had a wonderful time and made 11 cards. One was designed for multiples and we were given supplies enough for 4 cards; I just have to finish the other 3 for a total of 14 cards from the event. Sadly we can't share the class cards outside the class website but I made a totally different card with the supplies I purchased so I'll share that at some point. The sun ray stencil is called Here Comes the Sun - perfect for a Beatles lover!

When I cut the small rayed rectangle, I had enough left to cut a frame. I used it to build another bunny scene (I stamped a bunch of bunnies and die cut loads of Easter eggs!). For this one my grass was cut with Lawn Fawn's Grassy Border.

Since my easel die set got first play here, I'm adding card one to Darnell's April NBUS challenge.

Thanks for stopping and have a wonderful day!!

March Card Chain Reveal

Woo Hoo - time for another Card Chain reveal - see the full chain of 34 HERE!! My card flew across the pond to the lovely Jo (Just a Dotty Pudding).

Supplies: Paper - Neenah White; Doodlebug; Lawn Fawn

Dies - Hero Arts Autumn Bouquet Fancy Dies;

Poppystamps Fern and Daisy Pop Up Easel Set

Stamp - Hero Arts Color Layering Poppy (sentiment)

Inks - Squeezed Lemonade, Cracked Pistachio & Kitsch Flamingo

Distress Oxide Inks

Other - Pink and Main enamel hearts

I used the colors and the sketch, plus theme of friendship.

I blended the three colors onto a piece of Neenah using Distress Oxide inks, then spritzed the panel with water for some texture. Trimmed the piece and added it to a black mat along with the panels of patterned paper. Adhered to a white A2 card base. Die cut the flower, stem, and bow & applied to the panel. Stamped the sentiment and added some enamel hearts - done! 

Jo loved the card and I was delighted it only took a week to get to her!! Update to the tale of the February Card Chain card Jo sent me: the poor card was returned to her by the USPS for unknown reasons. It arrived back a bit battered, according to Jo, so she made a new card but salvaged the original polar bears to put on the inside. I used Jo's photo of her Feb card in my March 2nd reveal post but here's a photo of the remake (rec'd March 19th). Thanks so much, Jo - I love it and I'm sorry you had a tangle with the USPS!!

I'm expecting a lovely card from Helen (Helen G Designs) - can't wait til it arrives!! If you want to join in the fun, go here to sign up for the April chain by 4/6 - we enjoy it so much! You only make & send one card and then receive a handmade card.

Thanks for visiting & have a crafty day!!