Last Day for our Die Cut Diva Spring Challenge

Welcome everyone - I'm part of a last-day-of-the-month Diva post today. We have some last minute inspiration for our April Die Cut Diva Challenge - Make a Spring Card! 

RAM Stamps is our fabulous sponsor this month - yay! Rachelle Anne Miller designs such adorable images - so fun to color!! 

First, here's the card I shared on the Divas post:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio pastel A2 card; Neenah white;

Michael's yellow & lilac

Digi Stamp - RAM Stamps Friendship Mouse

Dies - Kat Scrappiness Never Ending Square Dies

Embossing Folder - Spellbinders 3D Stylized Floral (3EOM-Aug23)

Other - Creative Expressions Wordies Hello Spring;

Copic Markers; foam tape

RAM Stamps is offering a prize of a $10 gift certificate for our 

random winner drawn from eligible April entries.

The sweet mouse digi (thanks Arlene for printing it!) was colored with Copics, die cut with a square and matted with another square. I decided to layer it onto an embossed panel with foam tape and adhered to an A2 card with a trio of preprinted Spring sentiment strips. This is the first use of the floral embossing folder so I'll add my card to Darnell's April NBUS Challenge. If you missed it, I used a larger print of the mouse image HERE.

Next, a bonus using a smaller print of the mouse (thanks again Arlene):

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

Anchor Paper marbled green; DCWV pastels; scraps

Digi Stamp - RAM Stamps Friendship Mouse

Stamps - Hero Arts Raindrops (retired)

Dies - Spellbinders Be Bold Blooms;

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Creative Expressions Wordies Hello Spring;

Copic Markers

After coloring the mouse image, I layered it atop a couple stitched rectangles. Stamped the A2 card with a raindrops background and added a striped strip. Adhered the rectangles & added some die cut flowers and a printed sentiment.

Finally, here's another version of the sweet Storytime image which Arlene also printed for me (see my first version at the same post as the larger mouse image):

Supplies: Paper - Recollections card; 

DCWV pastel cardstock; 

Digi Stamp - RAM Stamps Storytime

Dies - Elizabeth Craft Designs Stitched Rectangles (retired);

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set;

Sizzix Intricate Floral Easter Egg

Other - Creative Expressions Wordies Hello Spring;

Copic Markers; foam tape

Arlene had cut the printed image with a stitched rectangle. I colored it with Copics and matted onto a striped dot stitched rectangle, then added to an A2 card. Popped a sentiment strip onto it with foam tape and added some die cut flowers. I got a nice surprise last week with a prize from my friend Gundi (papierelle) that I won during their recent Day of the Month Card Club 5th birthday celebration. Here's what she sent - thanks again, Gundi!! The bitty flowers on the card above were cut using a die in the Easter Egg set - so fun!! And I love Gundi's panda card (I made three for that challenge at DotMCC)!

We hope to see you in the April Diva gallery with your Spring creation! Just remember to include a die cut or use an embossing folder in your design &, if it's not obvious, share why your project evokes Spring. You have until 9pm Pacific Time today to upload your creation.

That's it, friends. Thanks for stopping & happy crafting!!

S is for Stencil and So Sorry!

Happy Monday everyone! This year, April has 5 Mondays so the S in Darnell's IDEAS program comes into play - S is for Stencil. Darnell posted her inspiration yesterday along with her Group of Seven post, a cool technique with a stencil and Elegant Writers. My card has more pedestrian stenciling - just used a coordinating stencil on a stamped image:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah White; Poptone Black;

Paper Studio A2 Card

Stamp/Stencil/Die/Embossing Bundle - Altenew Dynamic Blossoms

Betterpress Plate w/Die - Spellbinders You Are Everything Sentiments

Die - Poppystamps Double Stitch Scalloped Rectangle Frames (retired)

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape; Hero Arts and Memento inks

Back in November I bought a bunch of Altenew so I had options when making my December Die Cut Diva cards. The wonderful Dynamic Blossoms set didn't get used then but I thought it would make a great first outing for IDEAS & for Darnell's April NBUS Challenge. It also fits at Just Us Girls Challenge #724 to use a stencil & at Tic Tac Toe Challenge #246. I went with the diagonal Flowers-Free-Die Cut.

I stamped the flower image and used the coordinating stencils to ink the base layer. Next, there are detail stamps to add dimension so I stamped the flower ones. I didn't really analyze the whole stamp set; I think there are some detail stamps for the leaves too, oh well. Added some Copic shading then glued the panel behind a stack of scalloped frames. Adhered to an A2 card & popped on a pressed sentiment - done!

Here's a photo of the image stamp with the stencils and inks I used:

I talked about my accident prone friends, well - I no more than finished this card & sister Tami texted me that she'd fallen while out walking. Got a huge cut on her forehead that the Mayo dr glued shut (then steri-striped). She says she feels like Bride of Frankenstein - ugh! Anyway, now I had a place for this card - I had only used the So Sorry sentiment because I liked the size. Really mean it now!!

That's it for today. I'm off to a funeral, taking one of the cards I made last week. Sad occasion but always good to visit my hometown and see some relatives.

Thanks for stopping! I'm back tomorrow with an end-of-the-month Diva post.

Pair of Flower Cards

Happy Sunday - hope you haven't been affected by the horrible spring storms this weekend! My heart goes out to all those suffering from the aftermath! We got some rain and wind but that's it. Perfect time to stay in and craft.

First up, a card for this week's Just Us Girls Challenge #724 to use a stencil.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah white; DCWV pastels;

Michael's Recollections A2 card

Stencil - My Favorite Things Smart Mask Diagonal HighLow Strip

Stamps - Hero Arts Cupcakes (c2008) & Watercolor Petals (c2010) both retired

Dies - A Jillian Vance Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Hero Arts heart gem; Hero Arts & Memento inks

MFT recently offered one of their new High/Low Diagonal stencils with a purchase. I jumped at the chance to try one. Hopefully you can see the diagonal white space where I stamped the sentiment! I went with very soft colors, fading off the green a lot. Didn't have any stencil tape at Dad's so I was trying to hold it down - that bottom part was tricky w/out tape.

I stamped a retired HA wildflower, then die cut the panel with a stitched rectangle. Matted with another stitched rectangle & added to an A2 card. Found a heart gem in the stash at the satellite studio and thought it would work for the flower center - done!

Next, I made a card for my neighbors' anniversary using a Frantic Stamper die set that I hadn't used until now. Such a fun one to work with and I thought the stem portion would work with many other brands' flowers.

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

Poptone Spearmint; Paper Studio Holiday; scrap of pink

Dies - Spellbinders Fancy Edged Ovals (retired);

Frantic Stamper Bouquet Builder

Betterpress w/Die - Spellbinders You Are Everything Sentiments

Other - various gems; Copic Markers;

Hero Arts Sparkle Lacquer; Betterpress Black ink

I die cut all the flowers (single die) in white and colored with Copics. Die cut the stem piece in spearmint cardstock and adhered to green oval. Adhered to an A2 card. Arranged flowers on the stems and added gems where needed. Die cut the bow from a pink scrap & added a pearl for the knot. The baby's breath has sparkle lacquer over the blossoms. A pressed sentiment finished the card. Since the bouquet die set got first play here, I'll add this card to Darnell's April NBUS Challenge. This card also fits at Tic Tac Toe Challenge #246 - I went with the diagonal Flowers-Free-Die Cut.

That's it for today - thanks for stopping & happy crafting!

Craft Roulette 212

Hi all - I played along during the Craft Roulette LIVE last night while at my dad's. I had a package of new MFT that I had brought from home to "process" & pulled out a new grid die from their March release.

Supplies:  Paper - Paper Studio; Hero Arts; Neenah

Stamps - Hero Arts Live & Laugh (c2011 - retired)

Dies - Poppystamps Fern and Daisy Pop Up Easel Set;

My Favorite Things Stitched Center Strip Cover-Up

Other - enamel dots (unk brand); foam tape

Hero Arts Sparkle Lacquer & orange ink

Craft Roulette host Mary Gunn FUNN had Nina Yang of Waffleflower as her guest. Sadly, I didn't have a single Waffleflower item with me to use - oh well. That wasn't a requirement - just would've been nice. Here's what the craft wheel spun for our four parameters (screen shot from my laptop):

During the discussion, it was thought just about any occasion could fit a co-worker. If you're retired like I am, you could just made something for a former co-worker. For colors, I googled best kite colors and found a site that touted bright colors of red, orange, yellow, and blue so that's what I used. For my April element, I used two - April 4th is National Moment of Laughter Day so I used "laugh" in my sentiment and April's flower is daisy so I added die cut daisies. For the Random element I covered my daisies with sparkle lacquer. 

After die cutting the MFT cover-up, I backed it with a scrap of ancient Hero Arts layering paper that I've been hoarding. Added to an A2 card. Stamped the sentiments in orange ink on Neenah cardstock and fussy cut. Popped them into the windows with foam tape. Die cut the daisies and covered in sparkle lacquer which dries quickly. Added to the center strip and adhered some enamel dots for centers - done!

I was able to pop outside for a quick photo in natural light, even though it was getting dark. Didn't bother to take a better photo today - I'm getting lazy - lol. If I'm watching a LIVE, I like to play along and try to finish my card - kinda reminds me of the old Hero Arts 90 minute Scrambles we used to do!

Thanks for stopping by and have a crafty weekend!!

Feel Better Soon!

Hi all - TGIF!! It's very gloomy here today with possibility of severe weather, though it'll probably stay further south. I'm popping in with a few cards made while sitting in front of the television. First up, a bouquet for a friend who broke her foot (a different friend than a previous post - we're accident prone, I guess):

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

Betterpress Porcelain; scrap of black

Stamps - Spellbinders Celebrate Everything

(exclusive freebie in Issue #253 of Simply Cards and Papercraft)

BetterPress Plate w/Dies - Spellbinders You Are Everything Sentiments

Dies - A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape

I just did some simple Copic coloring on the floral image which I'd stamped on Neenah. Die cut it with a stitched rectangle. Adhered to A2 card & added a pressed sentiment w/shadow. Since the stamp is newly used, I'll add to Darnell's April NBUS Challenge, plus this is my card for her IDEAS program (see Darnell's inspiration HERE) - A=Anything Goes this week.

Next, a couple of sympathy cards I needed for this week. A cousin passed on Tuesday and one of Dad's Arizona neighbors lost their son to longtime illness. I went with a  couple Spellbinders sets ( Essential Floral Reflection & Floral Reflection) that I used before HERE and really love. For these I added a layer to the label and really liked it that way. Another Betterpressed sentiment finished them off. 

Which one do you prefer? I made the one on the right first but liked the deeper colors of the second one on the left.

Thanks for stopping & have a crafty day!!

Spring Storytime

Welcome everyone - I have a Diva post today with some inspiration for our April Die Cut Diva Challenge - Make a Spring Card! We have RAM Stamps as our fabulous sponsor this month; Rachelle Anne Miller designs just adorable images & I've enjoyed coloring them!! 

Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio A2 card; 

Hero Arts Bermuda; Neenah white; scrap of yellow

Digi Stamp - RAM Stamps Storytime

Clear Stamp - Hero Arts Sky's the Limit (c2009 - retired)

Embossing Folder - Spellbinders Checkered Scallops (EOM-Mar24)

Dies - Kat Scrappiness Never Ending Square Dies

Other - Creative Expressions Wordies Hello Spring;

Copic Markers; foam tape

RAM Stamps is offering a prize of a $10 gift certificate for our 

random winner drawn from eligible April entries.

I see Spring because the tree seems to be sprouting its new leaves. To reinforce the theme, I used a spring sentiment. The printed digi (thanks Arlene!) was colored with Copics, die cut with a square and matted with another square. In keeping with Darnell's IDEAS (E for embossing), I decided to layer it onto an embossed panel. First time that folder got used (just 1 month from receipt, fantastic!) so I'll add my card to Darnell's April NBUS Challenge. A stamped/fussy cut sun & a preprinted sentiment strip finished the card.

Now for a bonus using a fave image of the Divas - Friendship Mouse - such a cutie!!

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

Michael's green

Digi Stamp - RAM Stamps Friendship Mouse

Dies - Elizabeth Craft Designs Stitched Rectangles (retired)

Other - Creative Expressions Wordies Hello Spring;

Copic Markers

We hope to see you in the April Diva gallery with your Spring creation! Just remember to include a die cut or use an embossing folder in your design &, if it's not obvious, share why your project evokes Spring.

Thanks for stopping & happy crafting!!

Pair of Birthday Cards

Hi all - I'm back with a pair of birthday cards made yesterday. First up - card # 3 (and final) for the current Day of the Month Card Club #62 National Look Alike Day (two of something):

Supplies: Paper - Neenah white & black;

Ms Sparkle pastel A2 card

Stamps - Sentimentally Your Fabulous Florals (a magazine

freebie with Creative Stamping Issue 130)

Dies - A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Memory Box Wishing You (exclusive for Simple Pleasures)

Other - Copic Markers; Memento Tuxedo Black ink;

happy sentiment strip from stash (maybe SSS?);

black & white gel pens; foam tape

Was shopping at JoAnn yesterday and picked up a UK magazine with some freebie stamps. One was the corner flower arrangement so I stamped it in two corners, inspired by Gundi's gorgeous card HERE. Colored both images as similarly as possible and die cut with a stitched rectangle. Adhered to a black mat, then a pastel A2 card and added a sentiment. The "birthday" was the other 1/2 of the die cut sentiment used on my brother's bday card - used the "happy" there.

Since the magazine freebie stamp is new, I'll add this card to Darnell's April NBUS Challenge too.

Once again I was visiting my dad with access to limited supplies but I played along during last night's LIVE of Craft Roulette with Mary Gunn FUNN & this week's guest Kelly Taylor (see the replay of Episode #211 HERE). Here's the card I made during the LIVE:

Supplies: Paper - Ms Sparkle sand & aqua; Neenah white

Stamps - Hero Arts Typewriter Notes (c2013 - retired) &

same magazine freebie as above (coffee rings)

Ribbon - May Arts

Other - Hero Arts & Memento inks; Copic Markers

The roulette wheel spun the following (screen shot during LIVE):

I remembered a box of old clear stamps in the satelitte studio. Found a typewriter to use for the element Mechanical. A website with Summer Color Palettes gave me some color ideas (I went beachy with blues & sand). During the discussion, Good Tidings was thought to include birthday, congrats, etc so I went birthday. For Tie Closed, I went literal and made a gatefold card with a ribbon to tie it closed. The typewriter is glued to one side only so that helps to close the gate too. While I submitted during the LIVE, I took a better photo today for this post.

Made the gatefold with the sand colored paper, then added some panels of aqua. Stamped the aqua panels with the coffee rings and typewriter gibberish (right side got a bit goopey, oh well - handmade, right?!). Stamped the typewriter on Neenah, colored with Copics & fussy cut. Assembled card and tied with ribbon - done! This would work for a masculine card too if I changed the ribbon to twine.

That's it for today - hope you're having a crafty weekend!

Santa with Reindeer

Hi friends - Thought I'd combine participating in Darnell's IDEAS program (see this week's inspiration HERE) with the current Christmas Kickstart Challenge - Santa and His Sidekicks. I had an extra Santa from a previous card and stamped a couple of reindeer to accompany him. For IDEAS, this week is embossing so I pulled out a 3D embossing folder I hadn't used yet.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah white; Paper Studio A2 card, 

Patterned paper unk (in scrap bin)

Embossing folder - Spellbinders Criss Cross Motif (3EOM-Nov23)

Stamp with Dies - Hero Arts Mr & Mrs (retired at HA 

but found HERE at Frantic Stamper) & Jingle All the Way (retired)

Dies - Tim Holtz Sizzix Big Tidings

Other - Copic Markers; white gel pen; foam tape; Park Lane red gem

Another simple card - stamping, coloring & die cutting, plus the background embossing. I'll add this card to Darnell's April NBUS Challenge too, since the embossing folder got first play here. I have more Spellbinders folders that need some love - hope to get to them later this week.

Now that I think about it, I'll add my card to the current Day of the Month Card Club Challenge too. They're doing Look Alikes and since I have two very similar reindeer, I think my card qualifies!!

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

Craft Roulette Episode 210

Happy Sunday! Friday night I watched my first LIVE at Craft Roulette - episode 210 (replay here) with Mary Gunn FUNN. Her guest was Carrie Rhoades who does some designs for Trinity and for Spellbinders. I should say I watched part and listened during other parts while I crafted along... I submitted a photo during the LIVE but took a better one in natural light yesterday. Here's the better photo:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah White;

Bo Bunny Blessed; many scraps

Dies - Poppystamps Fern and Daisy Pop Up Easel Set;

Spellbinders Floral Reflection (blue flowers) & 

Fancy Edged Ovals (retired)

Other - printed sentiment (brand ??); various gems

At Craft Roulette they spin the wheel four times for the must-include parameters. I photographed my computer screen to capture them during the LIVE.

The host and guest create their card based on the parameters during the LIVE. Players can submit during the LIVE but have until Sunday night. There's a lot of banter between the guest and host while they're crafting together online; it's fast & fun and prizes can be won randomly from submissions.

I was visiting my dad but I keep a stash of basic supplies at his house (my "satellite studio"), plus I brought a few die sets with me. When the Project came up "Include Action" & the discussion mentioned pop-up cards, I was ready with a Poppystamps set. For Colors, I found this website with all sorts of fabulous Northern Lights photos. I used white, green, pink, blue, purple & yellow for my colors. For Blackboard, I found a chalkboard looking patterned paper with loads of text like a teacher might write on a board. Mary also mentioned using a white on black sentiment strip during the discussion so that worked for me too. For the Random element oval, I was lucky because the pop-up die set I used includes an oval for the center! Plus I had a sweet bitty pierced scalloped oval die that I used to cut a stack of diecuts for the stopper.

Here are a couple other views of this pop-up that I also took in a better light:

If interested, I made another version of this card last year HERE & in 2021 I skipped the pop-up panel and made an A2 shaker card HERE. I'll be sending this card to a chorus friend. Remember I mentioned one who broke her leg? Well, another one broke her ankle! No, we're not normally so accident prone but when you have a large group, things are bound to happen. Anyway, Jen is out until after our upcoming Regional contest which is a shame! Broken Leg Bonnie has healed enough to go home from rehab - unbelievable how lucky she is to recover her independence so quickly!! If you remember, my mom died 2 years ago after breaking her leg (they couldn't do surgery & she just faded away in less than four months).

Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting!!

A Trio of Feminine Birthday Cards

Happy Saturday!! I'm back to share a trio of feminine cards for April birthdays. Four dear friends all have birthdays in the first couple weeks of the month; I shared a card for the earliest one HERE. First up today is one I made using some darling images from my friend Gundi (papierelle). I used another one of the images HERE.

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio Pastels A2 card;

Betterpress Porcelain; Paper Studio Bright Vintage

Betterpress w/Dies - Spellbinders You Are Everything Sentiments

Other - Kitty images from Gundi - thanks again!

Copic Markers; foam tape; Betterpress Cosmic Sky ink

I colored the kitty images with Copics & fussy cut. Adhered a strip of texty vintage paper onto an A2 card, then popped the kitties up with foam tape. Added a pressed sentiment die cut w/coordinating die and given a shadow. My friend Avis loves cats and she really loved this card! I'll add it to the Anything Goes section of Seize the Birthday.

Next up, a couple quick and easy cards using bits leftover from other cards:

Supplies: Paper - Ms Sparkle A2 card; various scraps;

Neenah white; Betterpress Porcelain, Paper Studio Bright Vintage

Betterpress w/Dies - Spellbinders You Are Everything Sentiments

Dies - Memory Box Plumed Gypsy Butterfly

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set;

MFT Blueprints (retired); Hero Arts Nesting Infinity Ovals

& Jan 24 Premium MMH kit (sold out); flower center unk

Other - Foam tape; Cosmic Sky Betterpress ink

This final one has a strip of MFT's Colorful Canvas and a flower panel by unknown, along with a leftover Hero kit flower and Spellbinder's birdie from Sweet Birds on a Branch (retired at Spellbinders but still here as of this writing at Frantic Stamper).

That's it for today! Thanks for stopping & I hope you're having the fabulous weather we're getting (might reach 80F!)

A couple Masculine birthday cards

Hi everyone - TGIF!! I have a couple masculine birthday cards today, made for April birthdays. Both my brother and a former coworker have birthdays early in the month. First up, one that may seem more for a kid but my brother, the big kid, loved it:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio Pastels A2 card;

Neenah white; various scraps;

My Favorite Things Sand, Surf, & Sky

Dies - Poppystamps Whittle Racing Giraffe Kit 

Whittle Lizard & Whittle Panda Pickup Kit;

Hero Arts Thorn Tree and Grasses;

Spellbinders Gnome Drive Holiday

Memory Box Wishing You (exclusive for Simple Pleasures)

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape; 

printed sentiment strip (probably SSS)

I made a card with the whittle pandas (see it here if you missed it) but I didn't use the pickup part of the set. My brother drives a white pickup so I thought it would be fun to do a card with the pickup and add some giraffes. A test cut of the whittle lizard die (enabled by Lisa of My Paper Tales to buy) decided to ride along in the bed. I added grass and a tree from a Hero Arts set that read more African than the tree included in the giraffe set. The sweet whittle clouds came with the giraffes. I fashioned a headlight by cutting one of my gnome car lights in half; the tail light was colored in with a Copic. 

While my brother loved his card, I think my sister-in-law loved it more!! She makes cards too and was fascinated by all the details. I'll add this card to Darnell's April NBUS Challenge since the giraffes got first play here. And my card works for the Anything Goes section of Seize the Birthday.

Next up, a quick and easy card:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio Uncharted & A2 card;

Neenah white; Betterpress Porcelain, striped scrap (unk)

Stamps - Hero Arts Past Times (retired)

Betterpress - Spellbinders Swirl Birthday Frame

Dies - A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Foam tape; Cosmic Sky Betterpress & Memento Rich Cocoa inks

I layered some map papers, plus a scrap of striped, and adhered to an A2 card. Stamped & fussy cut a plane & used a pressed sentiment (cut with a stitched rectangle, rather than the die in the Betterpress set).

That's it for today! Thanks for stopping & I hope you're having a great start to the weekend!!