Purple Birthday for last day of Divas Tone on Tone Challenge

Yes Diva friends, end of July already!! Today's the final day of our July Die Cut Diva Tone on Tone Challenge. I'm part of the end of month inspiration post & couldn't resist a purple card (see a previous one with Birch Press Design products HERE if you missed it). 

Supplies: Paper - Neenah white; Paper Studio black & glitter;

Hero Arts designer purple (shadow layer - retired);

Lawn Fawn Rainbow Perfectly Plaid

Dies - Birch Press Design Big Birthday Sugar Script Die;

A Jillian Vance Design Mini Slimline Backdrop Set

Other - Copic Markers BV000, BV00, & V28;

Dusty Concord Distress Stickles;

SSS Sentiment Strips All Things Happy;

Prima flower

Our Fabulous July Sponsor!!

I chose to make a mini slimline card since the birthday die works so well with it. I was enabled to purchase this die by Diva Cindy (Escape to Stamping). She sent me some cuts of it earlier this year (thanks again, Cindy!!). The Prima flower started purple but was so pale as to seem pink to me. So I hauled out the Copic markers and purpled it up a bit, adding some Distress Stickles (hard to see) to the center. Coloring the petals stiffened them up and allowed me to curl every other one.

Bonus: I made some cards with Cindy's die cuts way back in March & I'll share the one I photographed. It's not tone on tone but I thought I'd share it since I forgot earlier. 

Supplies:  Paper - Paper Studio; Doodlebug; 

whatever Cindy used...

Dies - Birch Press Design Big Birthday Sugar Script Die;

Hero Arts Nesting Circle Infinity Dies

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop

Stamps - Hero Arts CL139 Birthday Messages (retired)

Other - stars from an old Target Halloween sticker set

Definitely a different look on an A2 card size! I thought it would be fun to fill in behind the birthday die cut with some circles, a sentiment tag and some enamel stars. Very quick and easy!!

You have until 9pm Pacific time to upload your tone on tone project. While we're using Birch Press Design products, you don't need them - just be sure to use a die cut or embossing folder and this month's theme. Hope to see you in the gallery!! Check back tomorrow at Die Cut Divas for a new challenge and on August 3rd for our July prize winner ($20 to Birch Press Design)

Thanks for stopping! 

CAS Poinsettia Cards

Hi all - yes, I know I'm cutting it close but I was inspired by the gorgeous cards of the CAS Christmas Design Team. Their challenge this month & ending today involves clean and simple Christmas cards with a poinsettia. Here's my first one:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio Holiday;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110lb

Dies - Sunny Studio Window Quad Circles;

Taylored Expressions Mini Slim Square Window Cutting Plate

Other - Park Lane (JoAnn's brand) gems; foam tape;

CZ Design Sentiment Strips Reverse Christmas

I wanted something simple and remembered a sweet little poinsettia die from a Sunny Studio set. As I dug through the stash I came across a TE mini slimline window die and went from there! Super quick and easy - die cut flowers (one bigger than the other two - hard to see, maybe) and window panel, assembled, added sentiment strip - done!! Note - the littlest flower layer was cut with a freebie die Mendi sent with a Sunny order - it perfectly matches this set so I keep them together!

When cutting the window panel, a trio of diamonds remained. Decided these would look great across a card with a poinsettia atop each diamond. The centers of these flowers were leftover from some die that cut little circles - no idea which...

I made this card before I got a good look at the CAS Christmas reminder post but I see the talented Cathy did an amazing trio of poinsettia in a vertical line. Just love the little Poppystamps die she used - I feel some enabling coming on....

I'm also adding my cards to Dawn's All Occasion Challenge at Watercooler Wednesday. Thanks to all for the fun challenge and to you for visiting!

 

A Card Making Day!

Hey there - hope you're enjoying the weekend!! Several chorus friends also make cards and one of them, Julie, joined me yesterday for a card-making day. It was such fun to have someone else in the same room with me!! 

Julie claims she wasn't scared away but the sheer volume of my stash (I did mention it was only the tip of the iceberg...). Here's one of the cards I made:

Supplies: Paper - DCWV Ms Sparkle A2 card;

Momenta Watercolor prints

Dies - Hero Arts Leaves and Vines Fancy Die;

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Stamp - Taylored Expressions Hand Lettered Sentiments

with coordinating die

Other - Simon Says Stamp Sentiment Strips Thanks;

Tea Dye Distress & Memento Tuxedo Black Inks

It's similar to a thank you card I made back in June but different enough that I thought I'd share. Interesting how rotating the background die 180 degrees and changing the paper colors slightly made a big difference. I left off the flower from the previous card, used a different sentiment plus a sentiment strip - love those! I made one other card but it's for my August Die Cut Diva post - check back 8/21. Julie made a bunch of cards - she was assembling Christmas card kits from her Stampin' Up demonstrator. Such a help for the demonstrator to put these together when she couldn't have classes during the pandemic. She'd either mail the kits or, if you lived close, you could pop over and pick them up from a box outside the door. That's what Julie could do, living in the same neighborhood.

My brother and his wife gave me Misty for her annual summer vacation with me. As usual, she wanted to "help" with crafting. I wasn't quick enough with the camera to get a shot of her climbing onto a ream of paper but here she is on a table. Don't laugh but I put a folding sewing table over top of my antique trunk. With the legs extended to counter height, the table fits perfectly over the truck. Julie didn't say a word but I'm sure she questioned the decorating in my dining room!!

Julie brought me a flower bouquet - so sweet of her!! I just love the rose colors in this one! It came in cellophane and I arranged it in one of my own vases - not bad, eh? I made simple sandwiches for lunch and we had some fruit salad left from a lunch I enjoyed at another friend's house on Wednesday. That friend will receive the card above & I'll make a different design for Julie.

And here's another thanks card using the fabulous Big Thanks Sugar Script from Birch Press Design (the July sponsor at Die Cut Divas). It's not tone-on-tone like the current DCD challenge but I thought I'd share another use of that die (see the other HERE if you missed it). Love, love, love the BPD Sugar Script line!!

This card went to Jeanne (RebaLiCreates). We went out for dinner last week and she gave me a couple Taylored Expressions die sets which I still need to try - thanks again, Jeanne! The funny thing about this card - I meant it to be a mini slimline 3.5x6" but it ended up 3x7" - I scored the wrong side - oops! Oh well, I just popped it in a 5x7 envelope. Jeanne probably rolled her eyes and wondered where my mind went!! Yeah - it's gone....

If you're still with me, thanks for hanging in and stopping by! Happy crafting!!

Two birdie cards!

Hey crafty friends - I finally got a chance to work on cards for Darnell's Twofer Challenge 40 - Birds. Here's my twofer:

After thinking of all the bird stuff in my stash, I decided on a gorgeous color layering bird stamp. Originally I planned to color layer one bird & stamp just the outline on the other bird, coloring it with Copics. Well, on the second birdie I just Copic blended the wing then color layered the rest. With the white card stock I used, I ended up filling in some of the white patches with Copic coloring atop the layering stamps on both birds. I loved the very different looks from the two color schemes. Stamping & some die cutting - easy peasy!! Here's a closer look:

Supplies: Paper - DCWV A2 card; Paper Studio green;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110 lb

Stamps - Hero Arts Color Layering Dimensional Bird & 

Color Layering Trimmings

Dies - Hero Arts Branches Infinity Dies &

coordinating dies to stamps

Other - Copic Markers; various Hero Arts inks;

Simon Says Stamp Sentiment Strips Reverse Holiday

Supplies: Paper - DCWV A2 card; Paper Studio brown;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110 lb;

Momenta Watercolor print

Stamps - Hero Arts Color Layering Dimensional Bird, Friends, & 

Let the Angels Sing (musical note) - all retired;

Taylored Expressions Hand Lettered Sentiments

Dies - coordinating dies to stamps;

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop

Other - Copic Markers; various Hero Arts inks

Because my branch frame got its first play on card one, I'm also adding it to Darnell's July NBUS Challenge. Card one fits for Dawn's All Occasion Challenge at Watercooler Wednesday.

Thanks for stopping by and have a crafty day!!

 

Tone on tone Vivid Bloom

Hi everyone - I'm sharing the card below at Die Cut Divas today for inspiration. We're doing tone on tone this month - using variations of the same color (plus neutrals are allowed). 

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Dove A2 card;

Sunny Studio; Doodlebug; Paper Studio

Dies - Birch Press Design Vivid Bloom Stitched Layer Set;

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop

Stamps with Dies - Hero Arts Message Strips Stamp & Cut XL

The fabulous Birch Press Design sponsored us this month and has donated a lovely $20 gift card for our random winner (to be announced August 3rd). 

While I have loads of Memory Box and Poppystamps, I had only a few BPD items. No worries - a trip to my LSS plus some online shopping solved that in a hurry!! I found the amazing Vivid Bloom set at my LSS and was delighted with the value. Decided to cut all 6 layers in various yellows and stack them up rotated to the notches, rather than nesting. Kinda looks like a succulent, don't you think? Another pattern of yellow for my background and a sentiment strip - done!!

Loved doing this so much that I made another card, this time leaving off the background layer and using a die cut sentiment Big Thanks Sugar Script from my online order. I used shades of my favorite color for a thank you card to my sister.

Hope to see your lovely tone on tone creations in our Die Cut Diva July gallery (deadline July 31st at 9pm Pacific Time). Thanks for stopping!!

Time for Shimmer and Shine!

Hey there - I'm popping in with a Christmas card for Challenge 10 at Let's Squash It!! Gail & Jo are helping us use all those embossing folders we've accumulated over the years and it's loads of FUN!!! This time they asked us to add shimmer and shine on our embossing - here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - BoBunny Christmas Collage;

Neenah 110lb Classic Crest Solar White;

Paper Studio Navy; upcycled Hallmark card

Stamps - Hero Arts K5852 Joy Burst (retired)

Embossing Folder - Taylor Expressions Kaleidoscope (retired)

Inks - Hero Arts Navy; Taylored Expressions Pineapple

Other - Perfect Pearls; Copic Markers; 

Crystal Stickles; Hero Arts Clear Lacquer

I did some crafty cleanup last week and found seven stamped Joy Bursts, already fussy cut & partially colored. I added more color, lacquer and stickles but didn't know what to do with them yet. The new Squash It challenge gave me inspiration to use them. I dug out a never before used TE Kaleidoscope folder - poor thing is already retired! I embossed a white panel, rubbed pineapple ink across the texture, then spritzed it with Perfect Pearl water - learned this back in 2009 from Jennifer McGuire video #2 HERE. My mixture in the Ranger mini-mister looks orange but it leaves a lovely pearl shimmer on the paper - hard to see in the photo. Compare it to the white on which I stamped the JOY - the embossed panel started out that color!

With six more JOYs to use, I popped another atop some patterned paper from BoBunny's Winter Getaway Collection (2018). I used the same gold chevron paper with a narrow embossed strip left over from trimming the panel from card one. Here's my twofer:

I'm also adding card one to Darnell's July NBUS Challenge since my embossing folder got it's first play today. I still have 5 more JOYs so it'll be quick & easy to finish more 5 Christmas cards - my stash will be so happy!! Would love to hear which version you like better....

Thanks for stopping!!

  

Christmas Doggie at the Door!

Hey crafty friends - hope you're enjoying the weekend! I'm back with a card for the current Christmas Kickstart Challenge to include woolly, fluffy, or furry - I chose a furry doggie:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah white

Dies - Hero Arts My Monthly Hero Kit 11/19 (sold out)

Stamps - Inky Antics Punny Christmas Pups

Other - Copic Markers; Hero Arts Dot; 

Pink & Main enamel heart

I started by stamping the dog, coloring & fussy cutting him. I thought to put him with a staircase or a Christmas tree but changed my mind. In the kit with the other items I considered, there's the fabulous door die. I backed it with another white panel I'd inked and shaded with yellows for the home's lit interior. Shaded the door and swag with Copics and added the heart and the doorknob dot. Hand lettered MAIL on the mail slot. Adhered the panel to an A2 card and popped the doggie on - done! I left the sentiment for the inside. The way the door die cuts, the door will open - I chose to glue it shut for this card.

That's it for today, friends. I'm off to do a Zoom meeting to get ready for in-person chorus rehearsals that begin Monday night - yay!! We'll start with shorter ones until we can work up to standing 3 hrs on choral risers again. Not easy when you've been sitting in front of a computer for 15 months!!

Thanks for stopping & thanks to Jo & elf Gail for a fun challenge! Happy crafting!!

More Anniversary Cards

Hey crafty friends - I'm sharing a couple anniversary cards sent to friends with anniversaries in June. First up, a biggie for Lin (Sending Hugs) & Denny - 50 years - big congrats!!!

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts designer layering paper (retired);

Paper Studio Ivory & Foil

Dies - Cottage Cutz Elegant Champagne Glass

Hero Arts Nesting Infinity Hearts;

Docrafts Xcut Serif Numbers

Stamp & Cut - Hero Arts Ribbon Messages

Emboss & Cut - Docrafts Xcut Rose Border

I cut/embossed one panel in the beige text designer paper and a second in gold foil, inlaying the gold hearts. Lin always says she finds fussy inlaying relaxing - I just pray I don't lose any pieces!! The champagne flutes & numbers are gold foil also - love that stuff, even if hard to photograph!

Next, a mini-slimline for my friends Deb and Dave who will have to wait a while to reach 50. Dave was a high school friend and I became friends with his then-girlfriend, soon to be fiance, in our 20s. So I was lucky to be both a groomswoman & a bridesmaid in their wedding. 😀😀

Supplies: Paper - Neenah White;

Hero Arts Layering Paper (retired)

Stamps - Taylored Expressions Bursting Blooms & 

The Inside Scoop Anniversary

Dies - Momenta Nested Rectangles

Other - May Arts ribbon; Copic Markers;

Honey Bee gems; pencils for shading

The gorgeous spray of blossoms came to me as a gift from TE with purchase - so amazing and the set contains four sentiments too. Love it!! I used minimal colors on the flowers - really liked how they turned out.

That's it for today. I hope to be back later in the week with some cards for the current Christmas Kickstart Challenge...Thanks for the visit!

Another birthday pup and a special anniversary!

Hey crafty friends - I'm still coloring a stash of printed Bugaboo images from our June Die Cut Diva challenge. We've moved on to tone-on-tone for July's challenge if you care to check it out! 

Anyway, this sweet pup went to the fabulous Darnell (djkardkreations) who celebrated her birthday on July 2nd. If you haven't visited her blog, check it out - she's talented and funny too. She also hosts the Twofer Challenge and NBUS Challenge where I play frequently - busy lady! I waited to share the card until I heard that she received it. Mail to California can be delayed - I think last year it took several weeks! But she has reported that the card arrived on time this year - yay!! Guess I'm just slow to post - blame it on the Independence holiday weekend....

Supplies:

Paper - Hero Arts, Bazzill, Doodlebug

Digi Stamps - Bugaboo Birthday Puppies Set

Stamps - Taylored Expressions Itty Bitty Sentiments

Sunny Studio Birthday Balloon

Dies - Sunny Studio Birthday Balloon Die

Cottage Cutz Elegant Champagne Glass (bow - retired)

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop

Stencil - Taylored Expressions Sprinkles (retired)

Other - Copic Markers, white gel pen, various inks

Such a fun card to put together! I love the look of the stenciled sprinkles. If you missed my other party puppies, you can see them HERE and HERE. Darnell got a kick out of this one even though it's not quite her doggie Nellie. Anyway, glad you had a wonderful birthday, Darnell! You bring so much joy with your personal and challenge blogs - thanks!!

Also realized I never shared the anniversary card I sent Darnell and the Mister. And talk about slow, I didn't even make it until a few months after the grand occasion, I'm sorry to say. Glad that event was happy too!! Lots of foil and glitter - hard to photograph...

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Solar white; 

Paper Studio black, glitter & foil

Dies - Cottage Cutz Elegant Champagne Glass;

Creative Expressions Anniversary

Docrafts Xcut Serif Numbers

Emboss & Cut folder - Docrafts Heart Frame

I have some more anniversary cards I'll share soon. Meanwhile, I'm trying to boost my Christmas card production which lags behind last year. How's anyone else doing on theirs? We'll have to start mailing them in about five months - yikes!!

Thanks for stopping and have a crafty week!!

June 2021 Card Chain Revealed!!

Hello crafty friends!! I'm on top of it this month and getting my June Card Chain reveal post published on time!! Cards by 24 people went round the world - see the full chain HERE. My card traveled across the pond to the talented Hilary (Fiddling About) in the UK. It took two weeks to reach her which is a bit longer than normal but I was glad it arrived with time to spare!!

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio; American Crafts;

Anchor Paper; Basic Grey "Hey Girl" (patterned)

Dies - Pinkfresh Studio Floral Circles;

My Favorite Things Blueprints 2 & 18 (both retired);

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop

Stamps - Hero Arts All Occasion Msgs (retired)

As I often do, I used the colors, sketch, and theme of friendship:

We used this same sketch back in February 2020 - loved it then and now!! To change it up, I flipped to landscape orientation. Changing the colors also gave a totally new look! If you want to see my Feb 2020 card again, go HERE. 

I received this cutie from the amazing Cat (Cat Luvs Paper) in Maryland; isn't that bug adorable?? Love his circle sky too! Thanks for the card, Cat, and for the fun die cuts!! I smile every time I see that sweet bug from across the room...

If you want to play in the July challenge (make/send one card and receive one card), check it out HERE by July 6th. We'd love to have you join in!! Thanks for stopping and have a crafty day!!