Poinsettia Slimline and a bonus!

Hello friends! Today I'm part of the last day of the month team at Die Cut Divas. We're providing last minute inspiration for our September Challenge - Anything Goes. The team used products by our sponsor Elizabeth Craft Designs (ECD) but you can use any brand. Just be sure to use a die cut &/or embossing folder in your design!

Since I need Christmas cards, I went that route - using a fave ECD floral die set.

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Arctic & a retired layering paper; 

Paper Studio Holiday;Tim Holtz kraft metallic; Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Dies - ECD Florals 12, Winter Greens, &

Slimline Background 1 from the Classic Christmas Special Kit

Stamps with dies - Hero Arts Holiday Season Messages Bundle

Other - Paper Studio enamel dots; Memento Rubarb Stalk ink; Copic Marker BG01

Another simple card using amazing die sets - just cut & assemble! I alternated shades of red for my poinsettia layers and added an enamel dot in the centers. The pods were cut twice - once in gold metallic and once in arctic - I trimmed the pod portion to add to the stem after shading with a Copic. Stamped & die cut the sentiment - done!

When I did the bonus card for my September 21st post, I colored a stack of Santa heads. Decided to use one on today's bonus card, along with a doily cut from a new die set.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White:

Paper Studio Holiday; BoBunny Joyful Christmas

Stamps - ECD Santa Claus;

Hero Arts Snowflake Messages

Dies - ECD Small Doilies & Santa Claus;

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape

Another simple card to put together - I'll probably make more of these with the rest of my Santa heads. I just love the BoBunny 6x8 paper pad I used for the patterned papers - found it discounted at JoAnn so linked to it there. Since the doily die set is new, I'll link up to Darnell's September NBUS Challenge.

Threefer - I finished another Santa head card so I'll share it here. I used Vintage Christmas papers from Hobby Lobby with another HA sentiment from the Holiday Season Messages set.

That's it for today, friends. Thanks for stopping and I hope to see you in the September Diva Gallery by 9p Pacific Time!

Happy Birthday Gundi!

Hi everyone - I'm wishing Gundi (papierelle) the happiest of birthdays today! When I made my August Card Chain card (see it here), I stamped and colored a bunch of blueberries using Copic Markers. I also stamped and colored berry boxes and bows; I'm using one of each for the first time here:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Lawn Fawn Fruit Salad Petite; scrap of black

Stamps with Dies - Hero Arts Berry Basket Bundle

Dies - Spellbinders Thanks Enclosed Sentiments

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Copics, foam tape, clear lacquer

Here's more of the fabulous Lawn Fawn gingham from their summer release. This time I also used a piece of the fruit paper from the same pack. Thought it worked perfectly behind my berry basket. A layered sentiment from a favorite Spellbinders set finished off the card.

Since I'm using the berry box and bow for the first time, I'll add this card to Darnell's September NBUS Challenge.

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend & I hope Gundi is enjoying her birthday!

Thanks for stopping!

Trio of wreath cards & a masculine bday card!

Hi all - TGIF!! My friend Linda & her hubby Brian celebrated their anniversary yesterday so I thought I'd post the card I sent them. It features a Hero Arts mini stamp set I've had for quite a while and hadn't used yet - past time, right?! They texted me a selfie holding the card - so cute.

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane A2 card; Lawn Fawn Fruit Salad Petite

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; scrap of black

Stamps - Hero Arts Antique Bee

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

Creative Expressions Happy Anniversary Mini Shadowed Sentiments

Other - Copic Markers; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; 

Hero Arts sparkle lacquer; foam tape

Another simple card - stamped the wreath onto a stitched rectangle & colored with Copics. Stamped a bunch of bees on scrap cardstock, colored and fussy cut. My friends love bees (not my favorite insect, if you know me!) so I often include bees on their anniversary card. Die cut the layered sentiment and assembled with a gingham strip - done! Love, love, love this Lawn Fawn paper pad - you will see more of it on my cards!

While I was at it, I stamped two more wreaths and colored them in different schemes. I used sentiments from the stamp set, plus more of the bees. The bday card went to a chorus friend & the thank you card went to my friends Connie & Doug who took me out for lunch earlier this month.

 

Since my anniversary card has leaves, I'll add it to the current We Love Stamping Challenge. And since the stamp set was newly used, I'm also adding it to Darnell's current NBUS Challenge. Speaking of Darnell, her Mister celebrated a bday yesterday so I sent him this card using some August Hero Arts supplies:

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane A2 card;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Stamps - Hero Arts Trail Map Bold Prints,

Golden State, & Everyday Sentiment Strips 

Dies - My Favorite Things Vanity License Plate & 

In Stitches Alphabet

Poppystamps All Star Collage (bitty stars)

Other - Copic Markers; pre-printed sentiment strip (probably SSS);

VersaMark ink & white ep; Hero Arts Green Hills ink

I thought the California set would be perfect with the trail map and license plate. So fun for a guy!

That's it for today, friends - thanks for visiting & have a crafty weekend!!

A Bon bon Box plus a Bonus!

Hello there! I'm posting today at Die Cut Divas with inspiration for our September Challenge - Anything Goes. The team is using products by our sponsor Elizabeth Craft Designs (ECD) but you can use any products desired. Just be sure to use a die cut &/or embossing folder in your design & you're good to go!

Given "Anything Goes", I decided to make a gift box using ECD's large Bon bon box die set.

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio Star of Bethlehem & glitter cardstock;

Desert storm from Anchor Paper (for tag)

Dies - ECD Bon bon box Large

Stamps - Divinity Designs Mini Tag Sentiments

Other - May Arts craft twine; Hero Arts Navy ink; Copic Marker

Years ago ECD carried a small bon bon box, cut with one die, which I don't have. It was quite petite and couldn't hold much so they designed a larger one. You just need to die cut two box pieces & assemble. In her video tutorial, Els suggested cutting a square to put on the bottom. I added such a square (3.18") to the exterior bottom and also to the inside bottom to add strengh. 

Does my box paper look Christmasy? No, right?! It's from a Hobby Lobby brand pad that features Nativities, deserts and skies - so pretty! Then it has a couple of leafy patterns, like this one, that could work for any season. I decorated my box with a bow & tag; both dies are included in the large bon bon box die set. Very quick & easy! The glitter cardstock for the bow is white on the back so I used a blue Copic marker to color it before assembling.

Here are a few more views - open with a gift inside (a bracelet box), side, & front close-up.

 

Still with me? Now for a bonus - a Christmas card. I definitely need many more of these before the end of November!

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White:

Hero Arts pine (retired); 

Hobby Lobby Christmas Bo-Ho-Ho (texty background);

My Mind's Eye Necessities 6x6 ("floor")

various scraps for presents & tinsel

Stamps - ECD Santa Claus

Dies - ECD Oh Christmas Tree & Santa Claus;

Hero Arts Peeking Snowman

Other - Jolee star; Copic Markers; foam tape

While preparing for this month with ECD, I bought some new goodies, including the Santa Claus stamp set along with coordinating dies. I just couldn't resist that cute old fashioned Santa face! I also picked up the journaling die set containing the Christmas tree, presents dies & more - always a great value. I thought it would be fun to have Santa peeking around the tree. I used a HA peeking snowman die to cut a body and stuck the Santa head (colored with Copics) over top of the snowman head! Oh, and I cut off the snowman's scarf tails and rearranged one arm so Santa could hold a present.

Since I used new stuff, I'll link up to Darnell's September NBUS Challenge.

Thanks for stopping and I hope to see you in the September Diva Gallery by 9/30/23 at 9p Pacific Time.

Finch Greetings

Hi all - Today I'm playing with a new-to-me stamp set I picked up recently - part of the 2022 Hero Arts Holiday catalog but my cart was too full then. Couldn't resist adding it to the stash now - here's my take on Finch Greetings:

Supplies: Paper - BoBunny Joyful Christmas;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Stamps with Dies - Finch Greetings Bundle

Dies - A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Copics; white gel pen; foam tape; Hero Arts gems;

Versamark ink & Ranger Seafoam white ep

Another easy card - stamped, colored and die cut the birds; added white gel detail and glossified the berries. I tried to recreate the colors of the US Eastern Purple Finch (bit of a misnomer since the males are more reddish). Stamped and embossed the sentiment on a stitched rectangle. Assembled & done!

Since the finches are getting first play, I'll add to Darnell's September NBUS Challenge. I'm also adding them to the current We Love Stamping Challenge where Anything Goes with trees & or leaves. I feel bad I don't often get there since I know Hilary (fiddling about) from the DT. So here I am!

Final entry for Chillin' with my Snowmies

Hey there - happy weekend!!

I'm back with a my final entry for the September Christmas Kickstart Challenge theme - Chillin' with my Snowmies. I had to pop home yesterday for an appointment so I grabbed a box of Christmas stamps before heading back to my dad's. I chose a lovely Hero Arts set from 2016 for today's card.

Supplies: Paper - Recollections A2 snowflake patterned card;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Hero Arts Pitch Black; Taylored Expressions patterned (retired)

Stamps - Hero Arts Winter Scene (fawn - retired)

Stamps with Dies - Hero Arts Vintage Christmas Wishes (retired)

Inks - Hero Arts Soft Granite; Memento Tuxedo Black & Bamboo Shoot

Other - Copic Markers 

Very easy card - just created a forest scene by stamping some trees and a fawn, then the sentiment. I stamped & die cut the snowman and added a bit of Copic coloring, then popped him into the scene. 

Bonus: I'm making more quickie snowman sticker cards to grow my Christmas card stash. Here's another pair; you can see the previous one HERE:

You can see more of the Recollections (Michael's brand) snowflake pattern in the card at left. The card at right has more of the TE patterned paper. The stickers are from Hobby Lobby; the sentiment is from a fabulous new Hero Arts set Holiday Season Messages.

Thanks for stopping & happy crafting! And thanks to Jo and her Elf Kimberley for a fun challenge!

More Chillin' with Snowmies!

Hi all - TGIF!! - I'm back with a couple more snowman cards inspired by the September Christmas Kickstart Challenge theme - Chillin' with my Snowmies. First up - a CAS card using some cute snowman stickers I bought at Hobby Lobby yesterday while visiting my dad. Since I have a crafty satellite studio at his house, I whipped up this card this morning.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Dies - Elizabeth Craft Designs Snowflake Variety Pack

from the Classic Christmas Special Kit;

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Stamps - Hero Arts Holiday Season Messages (sentiment)

Other - Copic Marker B000 & B0000;

Paper Studio Snowman Stickers

While I was die-cutting peeking snowman the other day (see those cards HERE), I cut a third one. I finished it yesterday, all details colored with Copics this time. I popped up the nose this time to balance with the pearls since I decided to do small pearls for his mouth. Which of the 3 peeking snowmen do you favor? 

Supplies: Paper - Taylored Expressions patterned;

scrap of red & pink; Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Dies - snowflake see above;

Hero Arts Peeking Snowman

Other - ECD heart from stash; Copics in the BG15-45

Since my snowflake dies got first play today, I'm also adding card one to Darnell's September NBUS Challenge. 

Thanks for stopping & have a crafty day!

Peeking Snowmen

Hi friends - I'm sharing a couple snowman cards today using a new Hero Arts die - Peeking Snowman. I was inspired by the September Christmas Kickstart Challenge theme - Chillin' with my Snowmies and picked up the snowman die set last Thursday at my local craft store. Soooo cute!!

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Hero Arts Pitch Black and Artic cardstock

Paper Studio A2 aqua card; Authentique Magical Christmas;

Dies - Hero Arts Peeking Snowman

Stamps - Hero Arts Color Layering Seasonal Tree (sentiment)

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape; white gel pen;

Hero Arts pearls & lacquer (clear and sparkle)

Unlike other HA peeking dies, the snowman set has two separate hat options, plus a carrot nose die and holly die. I cut the body from white cardstock, plus black for the mittens and arctic for the scarf and hat band. I cut the nose and holly from white and colored with Copics, then cut the hat from black. Black pearls serve as the eyes. Added Copic shading to the snowman body, scarf & hat band and some white gel pen here and there. The dots on the scarf & holly leaves have sparkle lacquer & the berries have clear lacquer.

While I was die-cutting this morning, I cut a few more snowmen and finished one more card today. This time I used the other hat option, a cute stocking hat. The eyes are gems this time.

Additional Supplies:

Paper - Hero Arts Passion Flower;

My Mind's Eye Lime Twist

Stamps - Hero Arts Holiday Season Messages (sentiment)

Since my snowman die got first play today, I'm also adding card one to Darnell's September NBUS Challenge. Both of the sentiment stamps are new also - we'll be using those stamp sets for the upcoming Hero Arts Holiday 2023 Stamp-Along; can't wait!

Thanks for stopping & have a crafty day!

August 2023 Card Chain Challenge Reveal

Hi all - time for another Card Chain Challenge Reveal. Thirty-two people participated in the August 2023 Chain & you can see the full reveal HERE. My card went to the talented Kath (Handmade by Kath) in the UK:

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts & My Favorite Things;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Stamps with Dies - Hero Arts Berry Basket Bundle

Stamps - Hero Arts Farmer's Market Pattern Bold Prints

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

My Favorite Things Blueprints 13 (retired);

Sunny Studio Slimline Basic Borders

Other - Copic Markers; Blueprint Sketch Distress Ink; 

Ranger Clear Embossing Powder; Foam tape;

Hero Arts Cornflower ink, clear & sparkle lacquer

We had the following options in creating our card:

Color Palette Option

Sketch Option

Theme Options:  CAS / Fruit and/or Veg / Friendship

Product / Technique Options: Vellum /Stencil

This time I skipped the color combo since I wanted to do berries and the kumquat didn't fit. I did use the greens, though, and the sketch option along with fruit and friendship.

My pale blue dot-stitched panel started plain but I added the tone-on-tone stamping after I'd embossed the three line sentiment. I got all these HA products in March along with that month's My Monthly Hero Kit. Finally got a chance to use them! While I was stamping and die cutting, I did a bunch more berries and some of the baskets & bows from the set. Here's a close-up of the berries which were colored with Copics and covered with clear or sparkle lacquer.

And here's a view of the inside which I'm trying to decorate more to match the card front.

This month I received a card from another Linda (Linda Grady), this one from Michigan. I just love her use of the color combo and the sweet little gnome with pumpkin!! Thanks Linda!

That's it for today, friends! If you'd like to participate in a fun, easy card exchange (make/send one card and receive one), check it out HERE by September 6th to play in the September exchange.

Thanks for visiting!!