Last Day for Summer Fun at Die Cut Divas!

Last day of June already! Time to finish up those summer themed cards to add to Die Cut Divas' June challenge with a Summer Days theme. I'm part of the last day of the month post at DCD so I hope you'll pop over and check it out.

Supplies: Digi - SheepSki Designs Tropical

Paper - Hero Arts Mustard; Momenta Watercolor print

Neenah white; Doodlebug Sweet Summer

Stamps - Hero Arts Let's Chill (retired) &

Raisin Boat Drinks Anyone? (retired)

Dies - Hero Arts Museum Frame  

Other - Copic Markers; white gel pen; Hero Arts lacquer

The Diva team received some SheepSki images to try so you'll see other examples using Tropical, including a beauty HERE from Annie (Little Wings Creates). Thanks again to Arlene (A Bit of This and That) for printing the images for me! 

I made my toucan a keel-billed one; you can find them from Mexico to Colombia, though I never saw one when I traveled down there. I find it difficult to color black birds but thought I did ok. I really enjoyed trying to replicate the colorful bill of this toucan! I framed him with a museum frame die cut (stacked 3 for dimension) and added to some fun summertime Doodlebug papers on an A2 card. I decided he would be cute accompanied by a summer beverage - I've been enjoying the Bahama Mamas at Applebees - yummy!! Stamped, fussy cut and added the "cheers" sentiment - done!

Now for a bonus:

 Digi - SheepSki Designs Sunflowers

Sunflowers say Ukraine to many people but we have them in Minnesota too. There's a huge farm growing them about 25 miles from me and they open for tours later in the summer. I just remember fondly the sunflowers my grandpa raised alongside his garage - they were huge! I enjoyed coloring this image with Copics too, though I don't have many shades of yellow in my stash. I added some die cut leaves from Hero Arts Autumn Bouquet. Also did some stenciling with two stencils from Lawn Fawn - Grassy Hillside and Cloudy. Added a preprinted sentiment strip from Taylored Expressions - done!

We hope to see your summer themed card in our June Diva Gallery! Just remember to include a die cut or embossing folder in your design along with the summer theme and get it linked by 9pm Pacific time TODAY!! Our random winner will receive 3 images from our sponsor!

Thanks for stopping and happy crafting!!

 

Cardinal in wreath

Hey there - even though the June CAS Christmas closed on the 24th, I've still had wreaths on my mind! This would have been my 3rd and final entry if I hadn't forgotten that their challenges don't run til the last day of the month...oops!

Supplies: Paper - Michael's green; Paper Studio glitter;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Dies - Penny Black Whirl Wreath;

A Jillian Vance Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop

Stamp with Die - Hero Arts Vintage Christmas Post (retired)

Embossing Folder - Darice Stripes

Other - Park Lane gems; Copic Markers (R22/R24/R46/100);

Taylored Expressions Simple Strips in Reverse - Christmas

This card was inspired by a couple CAS Christmas designers, Trina & Christine (initial and reminder cards, respectively). So I brought out my cardinal stamp and my PB wreath die and combined them atop another stripe-embossed background. Some gems and a TE sentiment strip finished it off. I'm still way behind on Christmas card production but these challenges are helping me get there!

Thanks for stopping and I hope you'll pop back tomorrow for my last of June post for Die Cut Divas! Happy crafting!!

Magical Manly

Hey crafty friends - I'm glad you stopped by! Why magical you ask? Jennifer McGuire recently shared a technique with Distress Inks that she, with her daughter's input, called Simple Magic Color Distress Technique. I decided to try it with a new stencil that just arrived in the mail yesterday along with my set of Tim Holtz's latest Distress color - Uncharted Mariner. This card is my third and final entry to the June Let's Squash It Challenge Make it Manly.

Supplies: Paper - Bazzill A2 card; Michael's green;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110 lb;

Authentique Endless Collection 8x8

Embossing Folder - Sizzix 3D Textured Impressions Happy Birthday

Stamp with die - Poppystamps Say it Big

Dies - Hero Arts Nesting Circle Infinity Dies;

A Jillian Vance Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set 

Stencil - Concord and 9th Confetti Dots Turnabout Stencil

Other - Hero Arts Enamel Dots; Distress Inks

I started with a 6x6 piece of heavyweight Neenah and applied the Uncharted Mariner direct to paper, going both ways on the paper for thick coverage. Dried with heat tool. Using a turnabout stencil with all four turns, I applied Tumbled Glass, Spun Sugar, Twisted Citron and baby wipe. The baby wipe was the least successful - next time I'd use Picket Fence DI, I think. Dried between each layer & then die cut the panel to fit an A2 card. Embossed it with the Sizzix bday folder & ran Uncharted Mariner over the raised bits. It smudged some flat bits too so I spritzed the panel with water and smoothed the color where possible. You can see the glow of the stenciled dots through the embossed words - so great in real life!

Added my panel to an A2 card along with a strip of woodgrain patterned paper & the sentiment atop a circle. Decided to add some enamel dots to echo the dots in the stencil. My card will also go to Darnell's June NBUS Challenge since my stencil got first play today, along with my new ink - such a gorgeous color!

Thanks for visiting & enjoy your day!

 

Christmas Mouse House

Hi there - I hope you're enjoying the weekend! I was heading to a craft expo but my sister-in-law suggested going tomorrow instead. Fine, I thought, I'll do some chores - ha, ha! A bit of crafty clean-up sent me into making another card for the June Christmas Kickstart Challenge (my third and final entry).

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

rest gifted by Arlene

Dies - Poppystamps Winter House Pop Up Easel Set;

Spellbinders Open House Door Base

Stamps with Dies - Lawn Fawn Simply Celebrate Critters

Hero Arts From the Vault Home Scene

Other - Copic Markers; Hero Arts pearl;

Taylored Expressions Simple Strips in Reverse - Christmas

Did you know that mice have four toes on their front paws on five on the back ones? Crazy what you learn by googling! Anyway, I'd stamped an extra set of mice when I made my first Kickstart entry and I thought they'd be darling cut apart and placed in the windows of a pop-up house from Poppystamps. Thanks to my friend Arlene (A Bit of This and That) for die cutting me a few of these cute pop-up cards!

Funny story - I'd pulled out the house's red bits from the little bag Arlene sent them in. You guessed it, one went missing in a pile of paperwork I had on the kitchen counter. I painstakingly went through each paper and receipt - sure enough, my missing piece turned up. Whew!! They are a bit fiddly to assemble but so rewarding when you see the final product. I die cut a stopper for the pop-up using the stoop die from the Spellbinders set from my door card (Kickstart entry #2). Also had an extra kitty I'd stamped earlier and thought she'd be cute napping while the mice took over the house. I used a couple of printed TE sentiment strips and a black pearl - done! Here's a side view:

That's it for today - thanks for stopping by!!

A Wreath on the Door

Hey friends - thought I'd pop back with another wreath for the June CAS Christmas Challenge. I love the theme and managed to snag a new door die on sale at Hobby Lobby 40% off or, as I like to convince myself, practically free! 

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Poptone Black Licorice; Tim Holtz red & scrap of silver

Dies - Spellbinders Open House Door Base

Stamps with dies - Hero Arts From the Vault Home Scene &

Santa's Door Accessories (retired)

Embossing Folder - Darice Stripes

Other - Copic Markers; Hero Arts Lacquer

Funny part - I already have a Spellbinders door from the October 2020 club. Oops, haven't even opened it yet! That'll be my next door card - LOL. Die cut and assembled the door - used a pearl for the door knob for more dimension. Stamped, colored & die cut the wreath, bow & kitty. Added lacquer to the berries. Embossed an A2 white card with the stripe ef to be the house & added the door elements - done. I couldn't find a spot for a sentiment so will just stamp the inside later...

I'll also add this to Darnell's June NBUS Challenge since my door set is new. And this card fits for the June Christmas Kickstart Challenge, I realized - since my card has a kitty. Pawsome!!

Thanks for stopping and have a crafty day!!

 

Summer Strawberries!

Hey everyone - it's my turn to post at Die Cut Divas! We're celebrating June with a Summer Days theme even though, astronomically speaking, summer didn't start in the Northern Hemisphere until today. Meanwhile our friends in the Southern Hemisphere are enjoying winter - hopefully our challenge will give them a reminder of summer fun! Here's the card I'm sharing at DCD:

Supplies: Digi - SheepSki Designs Strawberry Season

Paper - Hero Arts Pitch Black &Sky Layering Paper (retired);

Neenah white; Paper Studio Red; scrap of strip by ??

Dies - Spellbinders Lacey Squares & 

Layered Mix & Match Sentiments

Other - Copic Markers; white gel pen

The Diva team received some SheepSki images to try so you'll see several examples of Strawberry Season this month, including a beauty HERE from Cindy (Escape to Stamping). Thanks to Arlene (A Bit of This and That) for printing the images for me! I enjoyed coloring the strawberry image, including the background which I did using various light B Copics. I could've done better on my shadows but, hey, I'm a novice! Don't know why it happens, but I get a big blob of ink right when I'm finishing! This time it was a bit of grey on a flower - really had to work to clean that up but I did ok...I think.

I cut the colored digi into a square and added a thin mat layer, then adhered to a lacey square. I've had that Spellbinders die set for ages & was delighted to be able to find it in the stash!! The sentiment came in a 9/2021 Small Die of the Month set - what a great set with several words plus shadows and two flowers with leaves. I stacked the black hello 4 times for dimension and added a white shadow. The striped paper was from my scrap bin and already cut at that angle - thought it added some interest behind the strawberry image.

I've been trying to do a bonus card for each of my Diva posts and today is no exception. I used a larger print of the same image & went horizontal for a different look. I saw some pink flowers while googling images of strawberry blossoms so thought I'd try to replicate. Argh - another blob, right on a flower (pretty obvious in the photo but I hope I fixed it ok). I kept the mats simple and added to a top fold horizontal A2 card along with a plaid scrap from the bin. The sentiment strip came from a preprinted Taylored Expressions pack Simple Strips in Reverse - Love. I die cut a sheet of them using their Simple Strips Die so have a nice variety of love themed strips ready.

I hope you'll pop on over and add your summer themed card to our June Diva Gallery! Just remember to include a die cut or embossing folder in your design along with the summer theme. As you'll see, it can be for any occasion with a summer bent :)

Thanks for stopping and happy crafting!!

Fireplace Mice

Hey crafty friends - hope you're enjoying your day! It's a warm 91F here in Minnesota but I'm not complaining since, all too soon, it'll be below zero!! I finally had a chance to play with a new Lawn Fawn set that I bought during the Memorial Day sales. My order came so fast and with some little extras that I feel badly for not getting to use it sooner! I wanted to play along with the June Christmas Kickstart Challenge Pawfectly Pawsome. I thought the LF mice would be darling peeking over a fireplace mantle.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; 

BoBunny Joyful Christmas; various scraps; A2 card

Stamps - Lawn Fawn Simply Celebrate Critters (with dies);

Hero Arts Hero Greetings Christmas Messages &

Christmas Trimmings (retired)

Dies - My Favorite Things Fireplace (retired);

Penny Black Wood Floors

Embossing Folder - Taylored Expressions Subway Tile (retired)

Other - Park Lane gems; Copic Markers

I stamped the mice & colored with Copics. Stamped the speech bubble and added various mini sentiments. The LF set has a row of sentiments but they're mainly for celebrations. I just found some small ones from other sets to use - very easy! Die cut both elements then all the pieces to the fireplace, the stockings & the wood floor (another recent purchase). 

Glued a panel of patterned paper to an A2 card, then added the floor with baseboard. Assembled all the rest and added to the card - very fiddly but worth it, I think! My Favorite Things retired the fireplace set I used but they carry another one here that I don't like as much.

I will also add this to Darnell's June NBUS Challenge since the mice stamps and floor die are newly used today.

Thanks for visiting & have a crafty day!!

 

More Masculine Embossing

Hey friends - I'm back with another entry for the June Let's Squash It! Challenge to Make It Manly. An embossing folder with an excellent price point and a manly feel caught my eye today at JoAnn. I whipped up this card very quickly!

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane A2 card; Michaels kraft cardstock;

BoBunny Family Heirlooms, plus some scraps from unk

Stamp w/Coordinating Die - Unity Many More Birthdays

Dies - A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Hero Arts My Monthly Hero Kit Jun2016 (retired)

Embossing Folder - Place & Time Arrows Open Road

Other - Black Soot & Antique Linen Distress Inks;

Hero Arts Navy Ink

I used another stamp set purchased recently from Unity - just love their jumbo sentiments with coordinating dies (sold separately). Tuesday's card had an anniversary one & you'll see a third one down the road. I stamped and die cut the sentiment and layered for dimension. Embossed a panel of kraft card stock and trimmed to layer atop some map paper from BoBunny. Added everything to an A2 card along with a little airplane die cut made from an old Hero Arts kit. Done!

I'm also adding to Darnell's June NBUS Challenge since my sentiment got first play today, as well as the embossing folder.

Thanks for visiting!!

 

Anniversary with Cherry Blossom

Hey crafty friends - Over the Memorial Day weekend I plunged head first into some crafty sales and received a bunch of orders very quickly. What exceptional service from Sunny Studio, Lawn Fawn & Unity, especially given the holiday!! I started with some new purchases from LF and Unity and will get to new Sunny later. I included a favorite Sunny cherry blossom set for this anniversary card though:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Paper Studio A2 card; scraps of green and pale blue patterns by unk

Stamps with coordinating dies - Unity I Did. I Do. I Will.

Sunny Studio Cherry Blossoms

Dies - Lawn Fawn Quilted Heart Backdrop: Portrait

Hero Arts Autumn Bouquet

I die cut Lawn Fawn's backdrop and adhered it to a red A2 card - easy red hearts without having to inlay anything! Plus I have a lot of bitty blue hearts for future projects! Next I stamped and die cut the Unity sentiment - just love the jumbo Anniversary with the small Happy, which cuts together with one die. Unity has been adding more coordinating dies and I love that! I stacked 3 for dimension and added a pink shadow. I popped on a cherry blossom with a couple of leaves from my stash - done!

This one's going to my friends Deb & Dave. I tend to use the rosy pinks for their anniversary card because that was the color of my bridesmaid dress in their wedding. I really loved that dress! We bridesmaids had no complaints about the color, style, or price tag, plus a friend was able to borrow the dress for a formal event  she attended. Then the dress went to one of those shops where girls can get used dresses for prom - win, win!

I'll add this card to Darnell's June NBUS Challenge since my backdrop die and sentiment are new. Now I just have to get to the other new stuff I ordered, plus from the NBUS mountains around here...

Thanks for stopping and have a wonderful day!!

Tools for Father's Day

Hey crafty friends - hope you're enjoying the weekend!! Let's Squash It! has the June Challenge up and running as of yesterday so I made it a point to play along today. The theme is masculine and I needed a Father's Day card - off I went.

Supplies: Paper - Tim Holtz Menagerie 8x8; Black by unk

Stamps - Hero Arts Happy Dad's Day & Cool Dad (both retired)

Paper Smooches All Year Cheer (no longer in business)

Dies - Altenew Mix and Match Frames;

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Copics; Hero Arts clear lacquer; foam tape;

Antique Linen & Black Soot Distress Inks

Most of my embossing folders are still at the satellite studio but I have one binder at home, plus a few new ones I've purchased recently. I found 3 sorta masculine ones - I used argyle last year so I chose the Tim Holtz Riveted Metal ef this time. I used it for the inaugural Squash It back in 2020 - how time flies!! See it HERE if desired (I was the Empress with that one!!).

I figured deckle edges can work for a guy. Cut a deckle mat and embossed it with the rivets. Rubbed some Distress Inks over the raised bits - note: the paper print is that marbled look already. Stamped the tools and sentiment on a deckle piece I cut by manuevering the bigger die. Added some Copics and a bit of lacquer. Stamped and fussy cut a trio of nuts as accessories - done! I'm really happy with how this turned out as I struggle with masculine cards. Thanks to Gail, Jo, & Joanne for having this theme & for the inspiration!!

Quick funny story - Dad fancies himself a comedian and he made up a joke to tell his sisters. Goes like this - "I went to the doctor the other day and he told me Mr W. I know what your problem is! I said, tell me quick Doc. Dr. said You've been eating waaaay too much lutefisk!" Definitely a dad joke - groan...

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

A Holiday Wreath for CAS Christmas

Woo Hoo - CAS Christmas is baaaaack!! I'm so happy because, even with my regular entries at Christmas Kickstart, my card production has fallen woefully behind. For the CAS Christmas June Challenge,  host Linda (Lin's Craft Corner) requests that we include a wreath on our clean and simple holiday card - here's my offering:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah white; American Crafts plaid

Stamps with Dies - Spellbinders Wreath (retired SDS-093)

Embossing Folder - Taylored Expressions Weathered

Dies - Altenew Mix and Match Frames

Other - Copic Markers; 

Simon Says Stamp Sentiment Strips Extra Large Christmas

I can't get enough of my new Altenew frame die set so the deckle rectangle makes another appearance, once again embossed with the TE Weathered folder - just love the texture. Added it to an A2 card along with a scrap of plaid. I stamped and die cut the retired Spellbinders wreath (from a lovely including three words and a pinecone spray) & colored with Copics. Backed it with 2 more diecuts before adding to the card. A simple preprinted sentiment matted in black finished the card.

Thanks for stopping by and have a crafty day!!

May 2022 Card Chain Reveal

Hey everyone - it's reveal day for the May 2022 Card Chain Challenge!! You make and send one card, then receive one handmade card. So fun! Thirty-four people participated in May and cards flew around the world. My card went to the lovely Mia (craftartista) in Greece. She received my May card the day after she received her April card!!

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio A2 card; Authentique Endless 8x8;

Neenah white; Momenta Gemstones

Stamps - Hero Arts April 2022 My Monthly Hero kit (sold out)

Dies - A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set;

My Favorite Things Blueprints 6 (retired)

Hero Arts April 2022 My Monthly Hero kit (sold out)

Distress Inks - Aged Mahogany, Fossilized Amber & Squeezed Lemonade

Other - Versamark ink; Ranger Princess Gold ep;

friend sentiment strip from an SSS thanks pack;

Copic Markers R59 & Y19

We had these options for the month:

Colour Palette Option

Sketch Option

Theme Options: Desert/Dessert/Friendship

Product/Technique Options: Embossing Powder/Fancy Fold

I managed to use something from all four options this time! I included the embossing powder technique to my usuals of color, sketch & friendship theme. When I received my April My Monthly Hero Kit I knew it would work well for the May CCC. I stamped and gold embossed the kit's large background stamp onto white cardstock. Next I used the coordinating stencils to color the flowers and leaves. I colored the bees with a Copic and filled in the entire background with another. I'd seen it done HERE using a black marker by Jennifer McGuire and liked the look. Thought it would be gorgeous with the terracotta. 

Can you believe the aged mahogany that I stenciled onto the leaves resulted in that peachy color? But it did! Once colored, I die cut three rounded rectangles from the panel using a MFT Blueprints die. I cut a stitched dot rectangle from yellow patterned Authentique paper and trimmed a narrow strip from a woodplank patterned paper in the same 8x8 pad. Adhered to an A2 card. Die cut the "amazing" and its outline & adhered to the card along with a sentiment strip "friend". It said "thank you, friend" but I snipped off the friend. The Hero kit comes with 3 dies with which you can cut out pieces of the stamped background - I cut a bee to add to my sentiment - done! The card, for a change, turned out just as I envisioned, except for the added bee - a last minute inspiration :)

I received this fabulous slimline card from Gundi (papierelle) in Germany, plus some crafty goodies. Just love all the fun stamps she created for her card after I told her I like stamps! Gundi was so generous with the goodies too - isn't that little die cut mouse darling? And I'm to make some stamps of my own with the die cut postage stamps - wish me luck with that! Thanks Gundi for everything!

Care to join us? The sign up link for the June chain can be used until June 6th. 

Thanks for visiting and have a crafty day!