Final Day of Birthdays at Die Cut Divas

Hey crafty friends - I'm part of a last day of the month post at Die Cut Divas, sharing the card below. Today marks your final chance to play along in our March Birthday Challenge with sponsor Sunny Studio. My card combines some older Sunny products with some newbies:

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts; Neenah; Momenta

Stamps - Sunny Studios Cherry Blossoms and 

Inside Greetings Birthday

Dies - Sunny Studio Slimline Scalloped Frame,

Cherry Blossoms, & Out on a Limb

Distress Oxide Inks - Squeezed Lemonade, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn,

Tea Dye, Gathered Twigs, Ground Espresso, Spun Sugar,

Kitsch Flamingo, Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry,  & Festive Berries

Other - Park Lane gem; foam tape

I stamped some of the flowers with Kitsch Flamingo as the second layer and others using Worn Lipstick, just for a bit of variety. As usual, I bulked stamped each layer using the negative of the die cut and popping blanks into it. And as usual, things didn't always line up perfectly but I went with it! I die cut two of the branches to fill my slimline card. The branch set has some little leaves but I went with the stamped ones from the Cherry Blossoms set. I only stamped two layers of the leaves - there's a third with some veins that I ignored this time. I wanted to emboss the branch with woodgrain but couldn't find my embossing folder - oh well...

Since today's card was my first with the cherry blossoms, I'm adding it to Darnell's March NBUS Challenge.

And now for a bonus card, this time using a cluster of the cherry blossoms:

I started with a Paper Studio A2 card base and used the same stamps and dies as for card one, except no branch. Slimline die cuts can easily be trimmed for use on other sized cards - gives more for the $$. The gingham is My Favorite Things Petite Gingham.

Remember - you have until 9pm Pacific Time today to add your birthday project using a die cut or embossing folder to our March Challenge gallery. Hope to see you there!! Thanks for visiting!!

 

Snowflake Cheer

Hi crafty friends - I'm back with my third and final entry for the March Christmas Kickstart Challenge to use snowflakes. My card is different than originally planned but here you go:

Supplies: Paper - Ms Sparkle A2 card; Hero Arts black; 

Neenah white; Anchor Paper

Dies - Hero Arts Snowflake Confetti;

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Distress & Distress Oxide Inks; white gel pen;

Spellbinders ephemera from Oct19 Sparkling Holidays kit

I cut the Snowflake background into a 4.25x5.5" white panel, saving the confetti. Die cut the panel with a stitched rectangle. Blended inks (Speckled Egg, Tumbled Glass, Stormy Sky, Milled Lavender, & Villanous Potion) onto the panel. Spritzed it with a bit of water and, once dry, added some dots with a white gel pen. Backed the panel with a greyish lineny paper and matted with black. Adhered to a lavender A2 card.

I had planned to use a die cut snowflake swirl but couldn't find the die so I had to punt. Pulled out an old Spellbinders kit and used a snowflake & sentiments from there. Added a few confetti snowflakes - done! I really love the Spellbinders kits for the ephemera - really makes a quick addition to a background. Another Christmas card for the stash - thanks to Jo & elf Carol.

Thanks for stopping and I hope you'll pop back on the 31st for my last day of the month Die Cut Diva post. We're doing birthdays until 9pm Pacific that day so check it out HERE!

Spring Birthday

Hey there - I'm sharing the card below at Die Cut Divas today for our March Birthday Challenge. Sunny Studio has sponsored us for the second March in a row and we're delighted! I have a lot of Sunny products, including some wonderful new ones. However, I pulled out some older faves (still available) that I can't resist!!

Supplies: Paper - Neenah white; Michael's green;

Momenta watercolor & gemstone prints; Paper Studio A2 card

Dies - Sunny Studio Frilly Frames Eyelet Lace,

Blooming Frame & Spring Greenery

Other - Park Lane gems

I used the Frilly Frames Eyelet Lace set twice last year but I embossed the pattern both times. This time I cut a separate panel with the pattern and layered it onto the scalloped piece. I love how the white shows through. I considered what color card base to use and, since I had a blue piece, went with yellow in support of Ukraine. The sentiment and flowers came from the Blooming Frame set, except the top layer (a Sunny freebie) and the leaves (snipped off a new foliage set). So simple and pretty, I think!

And now for a bonus using more from Spring Greenery! 

Additional Supplies: Paper - Spellbinder's A2 card;

BoBunny paper

Stamps - Sunny Studio Inside Greetings Birthday

Ink - Distress Oxide Lucky Clover

When I die cut my sentiment for card one, I accidentally used two pieces of card. I could've stacked the die cuts but instead chose to use each separately. On card two I paired the "Birthday" with a stamped sentiment. Can you tell I've been thinking of green due to St Patrick's Day? I die cut leaves and fronds from the Spring Greenery set and trailed them along the edge of a stitched rectangle. Adhered to an A2 card base. Stamped the "happy" and fussy cut, then popped up with a bit of foam. I left off any gems, thinking this might work for a masculine card.

That's it for today! I hope you'll check out our Diva Birthday challenge this month and add your card to the gallery. Thanks for stopping!

 

Another Winter's Butterfly!

Happy weekend everyone! I'm so behind on my Christmas card production this year that I just had to make another card for the current Christmas Kickstart challenge. Jo & Elf Carol asked us to use snowflakes - aka winter's butterflies.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Stamps - Simon Says Stamp Snowflake Season;

Hero Arts Snowman Christmas (retired)

Dies - Simon Says Stamp Snowflake Season

Inks - Memento Paris Dusk & Summer Sky

Other - Copic Markers, white gel pen, 

foam tape & a Park Lane gem

I started by stamping the Snowflake Season border on a white A2 card using a soft blue ink. Next I stamped and die cut the largest snowflake using a dark blue ink. I colored parts of the snowflake with various blue and grey Copics. Popped the snowflake with foam tape and stamped the sentiment in dark blue with a light blue shadow. Moved the paper a bit too far on the shadow but, oh well, it's a handmade card... Added a gem to the snowflake center & done! Very quick & easy - perfect for mass production.

I received the Snowflake Season stamp set as a free gift with SSS purchase back in Stamptember, then bought the die with my next order. Hadn't had a chance to use it until now so I'll add this card to Darnell's March NBUS Challenge too.

If you were wondering what I did with the remainder of the blush card I embossed the other day for Let's Squash It!!, wonder no more. 

Supplies: Paper - Neenah White; Park Lane A2 card; 

My Favorite Things Petite Gingham

Stamps - Waffle Flower Iris You 

Dies - Iris You 

Embossing Folder - Tim Holtz Sizzix Cobblestone 2

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape; Memento Tuxedo Black ink;

Taylored Expressions Simple Strips in Reverse - Everyday Occasions

I had embossed an entire card (white inside) and trimmed off a strip for this card (if you missed it). The back has the debossed pattern and I left the white embossed inside showing past the strip I trimmed. On the inside I put a plain white panel for the inside sentiment  & edged it with a narrow gingham border so it would show beyond the blush. 

I had already stamped an extra iris bunch while making this card so colored it up quickly with Copics. Added it to the blush side along with a few Sunny Studio Spring Greenery fronds I had left from a card for Monday. Another TE sentiment strip finished off the card. 

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

 

One more Emboss/Deboss

Hey crafty friends - I'm back with my third and final entry for the current Let's Squash It!! challenge to use an embossing folder to both emboss and deboss on the same card.

Supplies: Paper - Momenta Gemstone;

Park Lane A2 card; scraps of green

Embossing folder - Tim Holtz Sizzix Cobblestone 2

Dies - Sunny Studio Spring Greenery 

Inks - Memento Angel Pink & Desert Sand

Other - Taylored Expressions Simple Strips in Reverse - Everyday Occasions

My sister-in-law and I visited another Hobby Lobby Wednesday in search of more 40% off items. I came away with a Tim Holtz 3D Texture Fades folder, plus a few dies. I debossed a soft brown panel, trimmed to layer on a blush A2 card & adhered. I embossed a second blush A2 card, trimmed off a 1.5" strip and adhered. Added some spare leafy fronds I had on the craft table (look for them to be featured in Monday's post) and a sentiment strip - done!!

Re: the sentiment strip - I bought several packages of Taylored Expressions preprinted sentiment panels. They began offering them for use with their strips die which I own. Love the convenience!!

PS - we're doing birthdays at Die Cut Divas with Sunny Studio as our sponsor - would love to see you in the gallery! I'll be back on Monday with my regular DCD post & hope you'll stop back.

I'm also adding this card to Darnell's March NBUS Challenge since my embossing folder is new.

Thanks for visiting!

  

Happy St Patrick's Day!

Hey crafty friends - Happy St Patrick's Day!! I thought I'd share the card I sent to my Irish friend Heather (Stamping and Stitching) and her family. I've no speck of Irish in me nor do I have other friends celebrating. I just made this one card for the holiday.

Supplies: Paper - Spellbinders A2 Card;

Neenah black; Paper Studio Shamrocks; BoBunny Dots

Diecut from Heather - brand unknown

Stamp - Hero Arts Jan2017 My Monthly Hero kit

Other- Paper Studio St Patrick's Day stickers; Hero Arts gems

I had no access to most of my crafty supplies when I made this card so I had to improvise. I bought a package of stickers and the shamrock paper at Hobby Lobby. The Celtic diecut was one either Heather sent me a few years ago or one I made when I was at her house in 2019. Thanks Heather! I thought it added a lot to this design.

That's it for today - enjoy it if you're celebrating! Thanks for visiting!!

Another Emboss and Deboss

Hey there - couldn't resist making another card for the current Let's Squash It!! challenge to include embossing and debossing using the same folder.

Supplies: Paper - Spellbinders A2 card; Authentique;

Neenah; Tim Holtz Classic Kraft

Embossing Folder - Mini Mechanics

Stamps - Hero Arts Watch Gear and You're the Best (both retired)

Dies - Lifestyle Crafts Nesting Circles

Other - Park Lane Stars; Hero Arts Ink

I stopped at Hobby Lobby on the way to meet a friend for lunch today and ended up with a Tim Holtz mini 3D embossing folder for 40% off! Thought the gears would be fun for the emboss/deboss technique. Turns out very subtle, but I like it! The folder is about 3" wide so I embossed a panel and debossed another, then trimmed them to fit an A2 card in landscape orientation with a bit of border around. Left is embossed, right is debossed.

Next, inspired by this card by my friend Dawn (Dawn's World), I stamped the Hero Arts Watch Gear in a matching blue and die cut 3 circles from it. Put a mat on just two of them - seems the circle to cut the mat for the biggest circle is missing.... Oh well, I like it that way, I guess. Hard to see in the photo but the yellow is distressed with the same blue (printed that way). Added a sentiment and some star gems - done! 

Thanks for visiting!! Who knows - I may be back with another entry for this fun challenge!!

Emboss and Deboss It!

Hey crafty friends - I'm playing along in the current Let's Squash It!! Challenge to use the same folder to both emboss and deboss on your card. How fun is that? Gail & Jo have some great inspiration and technique tips with this one too!

Supplies: Paper - Spellbinders A2 card; Paper Studio grey;

Momenta Gemstone; Neenah white

Embossing folders - Cuttlebug Bloom Dots & Stitched Circles

Dies - Picket Fence Studios Slim Line Scalloped Frames (sentiment);

Hero Arts Nesting Circle Infinity Dies

Inks - Memento London Fog & Sweet Plum

Other - Spellbinders butterfly ephemera from the

Feb21 Let Your Heart Soar Card Kit 

Jo used one of those narrow Cuttlebug folders on her inspiration card - I own the same one! Will have to try it someday.... Rather than use it today, I went to one of a little quartet of folders (Stitched Circle set). I die cut three circles from a plum gemstone paper. I embossed one (center) and debossed the other two. Inked the edges and smooshed a bit on the tops too. Next I took the Bloom Dots and embossed an entire A2 silver card base. That way I'd have two full A2 panels in one swipe. I cut the card in half and then trimmed an embossed panel and a debossed panel to 2x5.25". I saved the second piece for another card! Rubbed ink to bring out the pattern. This particular folder has embossed and debossed areas in the finished panel. You can especially see that I reversed it on the right by checking out the plain circles. Centered the panels on a white Spellbinders A2 card (I have oodles of these from their lovely kits). I covered the center seam with the three circles (middle one is popped up with foam tape).  I die cut the sentiment twice, layered for dimension & added to the center circle. I popped a couple butterflies (or could be moths?) from the Feb21 Spellbinders card kit onto the other circles - done!! Quick and easy card - took me less than an hour!

Thanks to Gail & Jo for another fun challenge and thanks to you for visiting!!

Winter's Butterflies

Happy weekend, everyone! I'm glad to spend some needed time in the craft room today!!

I created the card below for the current Christmas Kickstart Challenge - Snowflakes are Winter's Butterflies. I started with a piece of Hero Arts handmade watercolor paper - so yummy! First I stamped the sentiment in Faded Jeans and clear embossed. Next I stamped some snowflakes & white embossed, then inked the whole panel with Faded Jeans, Speckled Egg and Tumbled Glass Distress Oxide inks. Spritzed with a bit of water. Stamped more snowflakes using Speckled Egg then die cut the panel with a stitched dot rectangle. Inked the edges lightly with Faded Jeans & glued to an A2 card base. Added some die cut snowflakes and gems - done!

Supplies: Paper - Spellbinder's A2 card;

Hero Arts Handmade Watercolor Paper

Stamps - Hero Arts Winter's Butterfly (retired)

Dies - Sunny Studio Snowflake Circle Frame

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop

The stamp set containing the sentiment and snowflakes remains a fave of mine. Hero Arts released it in 2008 and it's still in perfect condition all these years later. Thanks Hero Arts for your quality products!! And I love the snowflake die set from Sunny Studio and use it often! The wonderful Sunny Studio is our March Die Cut Diva sponsor & I hope you'll join in our Birthday challenge!

Thanks to Jo & her Elf for a fun challenge with snowflakes and thanks to you for visiting!!

February 2022 Card Chain Reveal

Yikes - where did February go?? Well, it's a short month anyway...

Time again to reveal the cards that zipped around the world for the Card Chain Challenge. Twenty-eight people participated - you can see the entire chain HERE, if desired. My card went to the delightful Dee from Kenya.

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Latte (retired);

Stampin' Up Rich Razzleberry; Basic Grey Lucille;

Recollections Valentine's Day (script pattern)

Dies - Penny Black Stars and Circles;

Kat Scrappiness Reversed Mini Scallop w/Hello

Ultimate Crafts When You Wish (retired)

Spellbinders January 2022 Small Die of the Month A Lotta Heart

Stamp - Hero Arts My Monthly Hero kit April 2021 (sold out)

Other - Hero Arts gems

As usual, I utilized the color palette and the sketch option, as well as the friendship theme. I had just received my Spellbinders January subscription box and was entralled with all the heart stuff, especially the dies! Since "hearts" was another theme options for February, I dove right in!! 

Color Palette Option

Sketch Option

Theme Options: Hearts / Mushrooms / Friendship

First I chose my papers, finding Hero Arts Latte paper to be perfect for the coffee cream shade in this month's color palette. Aubergine in some circles equals eggplant so I chose a Stampin' Up paper that looked right to me. Then I found a patterned paper to work for the crushed rose. Next, using the sketch, I formed an A2 card and adhered a torn piece of the patterned paper. Then I die cut four hearts (one is the background layer to the flowery one) and a hello sentiment. 

I wanted a stamped "friend" for a sub-sentiment. The April 2021 MMH kit's sentiment reads "You're a Solid Friend" (the animal images are solid silhouettes - ha, ha). I snipped the "friend" off the full sentiment stamp since it's the perfect size to combine with a die cut sentiment. I'm not thinking I'll ever use it the original way but the "friend" can always snuggle back up to the rest.

I received the card below from the fabulous Nathalie in Quebec. I just love the sweet kitty and all the hearts!! I last received a card from her in the October 2020 exchange (see it here, if desired) and I continue to appreciate it!! Nat also sent some fun shaker elements - can't wait to use them. Thanks, Nat!

You can still sign up to participate in March. Go here by March 6th if you'd like to make and send one card, then receive one card. Easy! 

Thanks for visiting!!