Favorite Die Cut Shapes

Welcome friends! Summer arrived yesterday in the Northern Hemisphere - woo hoo!! We've already been enjoying some warm weather here in Minnesota and I'm looking forward to all the summer fun! 

I posted the card below for inspiration at Die Cut Divas today. We're using favorite die cuts for our June Challenge. I hope you can join us!

Supplies: Paper - Bazzill A2 Card; Tim Holtz watercolor paper;

scraps of black & green; Penny Black Painted Blooms

Dies - Elizabeth Craft Designs Ornate Butterfly &

Bubble Wrap;

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - TH Distress Oxide Inks;

Creative Expressions Wordies Friendship Sentiments

Elizabeth Craft Designs sponsored this month's challenge.

They've offered a $25 gift card for our random June winner - thanks!!

If I'm being honest, my absolute favorite die cut shapes (or any shapes for that matter) are hearts. Comes from having a Valentine birthday, I guess. I didn't have an ECD heart die to showcase but I have many favorites from other categories - butterflies being my favorite insects. I die cut the three layers from Ornate Butterfly and assembled. Die cut another favorite shape  - an open weave type mat. Added them to an acetate smooshed watercolor background I did a couple weeks ago, then to an A2 card. Used a preprinted sentiment & done - quick and easy! I just love the PB patterned paper for the detail butterfly wing layer! Since this die set is newly used I'm adding my card to Darnell's June NBUS Challenge #63.

Here's a photo of the backgrounds I made and the inks I used. The one on the right focused more on the oranges and reds. I also used some common packing materials as stamps - on left: a sheet of soft lined wrapping & on right: some bubble wrap. 

Ready for a bonus card? I used the background at right to make it:

Supplies: Paper - Card Warehouse Paper A2 Card; 

Tim Holtz watercolor paper;

scraps of black & copper glitter

Dies - Elizabeth Craft Designs Get in to Gear;

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - TH Distress Oxide Inks;

Creative Expressions Wordies Friendship Sentiments

I don't know what it is about cogs and gears dies but I just love them! These were another new purchase from ECD during their Memorial Day sale. Luckily they arrived in time for me to use them in June!!

That's it for today. Please check out our June Challenge and share your project with favorite die cuts by June 30th at 9pm Pacific Time. Thanks for visiting!!

Flamingo Friend

Hi everyone - I'm here with a card using May Spellbinders for the June We Love Stamping Challenge where they're celebrating 15 years - congrats!! The theme is Fabulous Florals or Anything Goes.

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

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; scrap of navy striped

Stamps with Dies - Spellbinders Let's Get Together (dies HERE)

Other - Copic Markers;

Creative Expression Wordies - Friendship

My crafty friend Hilary (Fiddling About) inspired me to enter this challenge with her fabulous set using a turnabout stamp. I didn't have any turnabouts with me but I did have my May Spellbinders box that included the gorgeous flamingo stamp set. The die just cuts the right outline so I decided to give the front a shaped edge. The narrow striped paper is on the inside of the card as is the sentiment. 

To make the card, I simply trimmed the front of a prefab A2 card down to 1.25". The white A2 panel on which I stamped the flamingo had a 1.25" strip of white left which I covered with a scrap of navy/white striped paper from the snippets bin. Colored the flamingo scene with Copic markers - quick and easy. Isn't the little parrot among the leaves the sweetest? I googled parrot images and found a cutie to replicate.

My card has a couple of flowers on it but the eye goes to the flamingo so I guess I'll claim the WLS theme of Anything Goes... I'll also add my flamingo to Darnell's June NBUS Challenge #63 since that stamp with the die got first play today.

That's it for today friends. I'll have my normal post for Die Cut Divas tomorrow so I hope you'll stop back! Thanks for visiting!!

A Shell Shaker!

Hello & welcome! I'm part of a reminder post today as Guest Designer for Day of the Month Card Club Challenge #64 this month!! We have the theme of seashells and I had fun making a shell shaker card!

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio A2 card; acetate;

Poptone kraft; scraps of green & white

Stamps - Hero Arts Cuckoo (c2010 retired)

Dies - Hero Arts Beach Frame

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape; Tea Dye Distress Oxide ink;

US Shell Inc Extra Small Dyed Natural Mix Seashells

I die cut the beach frame into an A2 kraft piece & backed with acetate. Inked the edges with Tea Dye DOI. Added 4 layers of 3M foam tape around the back's perimeter. Added some seashell mix (found at Hobby Lobby), selecting ones that were thin enough to shake in foam depth. Added a watercolor printed A2 card to form the shaker.  Die cut the top of the frame from green, trimmed off the palm leaves and glued atop the kraft ones. Die cut the lower part of the frame from white and trimmed off the shells and grass; colored with Copics and glued atop the kraft ones. Stamped a rectangle with a sentiment; adhered to card with foam tape. Done!

I hope you'll visit DotMCC for loads of inspiration with shells, then play along with us!! Thanks again to Gundi, Rosi, Izzy & Elfi for having me as Guest Designer this month!!

I'll add my card to Darnell's June NBUS Challenge #63 since the beach frame is newly used - only 6 years since released - ha, ha. That's too long on Mt NBUS!!

Thanks for visiting & happy crafting!!

So Sorry Nordic Majestic Bloom

Hi everyone - I'm back with a card for Darnell's IDEAS program (see here fabulous inspiration HERE). This week E is for Embossing & I've pulled out a recent Spellbinders 3D folder of the month that I hadn't used yet.

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Dove A2 card; Poptone Black;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; Recollections Shades of Red;

Spellbinders Betterpress Porcelain; scraps of orange and green

Betterpress with Dies - Spellbinders You Are Everything Sentiments

Dies - Poppystamps Nordic Majestic Bloom, Cortina Pinpoint Plate 

& Double Stitch Scalloped Rectangle Frames (retired);

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Embossing Folder - Spellbinders Classic Backdrop (3DEOM-Mar24)

I covered an A2 card with a panel cut using Poppystamp's Cortina Pinpoint Plate, a December 2023 release that I hadn't used yet. Next I die cut a stitched rectangle and embossed with the 3D Classic Backdrop folder from Spellbinders' March subscription. I had some leftover pieces of a Nordic bloom (from this card) & a sprig from the bits box (brand unknown). Assembled and added to a black frame cut from a retired scalloped rectangle set. A Betterpressed sentiment finished the card.

This one is going to my sister-in-law who just lost her uncle. When her aunt passed, the family brought her uncle to Minnesota & have been helping as he declined in health. The funeral is coming up this weekend.

I'll add my card to Darnell's June NBUS Challenge #63 since both the embossing folder and coverplate die are newly used.

Thanks for visiting & I hope you're having a wonderful day!

Nordic Majestic Bloom for CR219

Happy Saturday everyone - hope you're enjoying the weekend! I multi-tasked yet again last night watching Craft Roulette #219 on my laptop & the Twins baseball game on television (we won!). I managed to finish my card just after the LIVE ended but waited til today to photograph it; a gloomy day but I made the best of it...

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Dove A2 card;

BoBunny Double Dotted; DCWV pastels; scraps

Stamps with Dies - Unity Stamps I Did. I Do. I Will. (die HERE)

Dies - Poppystamps Nordic Majestic Bloom;

Elizabeth Craft Designs Torn;

Altenew Mix and Match Frames Set

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Host Mary Gunn FUNN had Carrie Giletto (her YouTube channel) as her guest. You may have seen her videos for Whimsy Stamps. The wheel spun the following parameters (screen shot during LIVE) for us to use on our cards:

• Project - Anniversary: I chose to make a wedding anniversary card. The group agreed that celebrating anything that recurs could count, even Christmas!
• Colors - Salad: I chose lettuce salad colors of green, reds (tomatoes, peppers), oranges (cheese, carrots),  white (onions). The group thought of many other types, including Jello!
• Element - New: I chose a new die set that I'm using for the first time. Other thoughts by the group - New Year, newborn baby, a new technique.
• Random - Folded Corner: I folded over the corner of one of my layers. Pretty self-explanatory.

I die cut 2 mat layers & all elements of the Nordic Majestic Bloom set and assembled onto an A2 card. The Unity sentiment came from the bits box - I'd stamped and die cut several of these when I made a previous card. The scalloped border was another new item recently purchased from ECD, our fabulous sponsor at Die Cut Divas June Challenge.

I'm adding my card to Darnell's June NBUS Challenge #63 since my bloom set got first play here.

That's it for today, friends! Thanks for stopping by and have a crafty weekend!

Pink and Aqua Dynamic Blossoms

Happy Wednesday everyone! Over at Just Us Girls, they have extended their challenge deadline to Wednesday at 6p EST - great news for me! I'm popping in with a card I couldn't finish yesterday since I was taking my dad to a medical appointment. For Challenge #730 JUGS has a beautiful color challenge to use pink and aqua; here's my take:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Solar white; Poptone black; Bazzill A2 card

Stamps - Altenew Dynamic Blossoms

Dies - A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Copic Markers; Park Lane gems; foam tape;

Creative Expressions Friendship Wordies

I stamped Altenew's Dynamic Blossoms and colored with Copics (RV09, RV06, RV13, G02, G00, G000, C02). Die cut with a stitched rectangle, matted in black, & added to an aqua Bazzill A2 card. Some pink gems and a preprinted sentiment finished the card. Very quick & easy!

Shout out to Lisa (My Paper Tales) who inspired me with her beautiful primrose card! And if you want to see another card I made with the bellflowers image, go HERE.

That's it for today, friends! Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a crafty day!!

Santa with Gift Stack

Happy Monday everyone! I'm playing along with Darnell's IDEAS program (see her inspiration post HERE). This week she's focusing on Die Cuts so I pulled out a new-to-me Waffle Flower gift stack. Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Betterpress Porcelain; various scraps; 

Stamps with Dies - ECD Santa Claus (dies HERE)

Dies - Waffle Flower Stacking Box;

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

 Betterpress Plate with Dies- Spellbinders 

Merry and Bright Sentiment Strips

Stencil - Waffle Flower Stacking Box

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape; gems

 

My local stamping store had the WF die set among the birthday crafts; I picked it up last month when the Divas had WF as a sponsor. Didn't get a chance to use it then but thought it would make a cute Christmas card. Perfect for the current Christmas Kickstart Challenge #87 where Jo & elf Denise have the theme of gifts. I die cut the single piece box stack, then paper pieced by cutting parts of it for the 3 boxes. Next I die cut the box lids and bows. Oh, and I stenciled on the top box using the coordinating WF stencil. 

Added some black snowflake paper to an A2 card. Die cut a rectangle from Christmas music paper and added to the card. Added the stack of gifts using foam tape. I searched the sentiment bin & found a Betterpress sentiment. Also found an extra ECD Santa head from previous cards & decided to add him peaking around the gifts. The head alone looked odd so I freehanded a body to tuck in there. Added some gems to the gifts - done!

Since my gift stack die set is newly used today, I'll also add my card to Darnell's June NBUS Challenge #63. And to Merry Little Christmas Challenge #56 where Anything Goes.

That's it for today. I have a lot of reviewing to do after the chorus coaching session this past weekend!

Thanks for stopping by & happy crafting!!

Tropical colored Christmas

Hey everyone - happy Saturday! I was multitasking last night - watching Craft Roulette 218 then switching over to chorus Zoom for coaching (I couldn't attend in person). So I didn't do a card live but I made one this morning:

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts A2 card; scraps;

Spellbinders Betterpress Porcelain;

Authentique A Magical Christmas

Letterpress plate - Spellbinders Betterpress Christmas Icons

Dies - Elizabeth Craft Design Borders & Trims

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Inks - Tim Holtz Distress Oxides: Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed,

Mowed Lawn, Kitsch Flamingo, Twisted Citron, Weathered Wood & Black Soot

Mary Gunn FUNN had Cassie Trask (Cassie's Paper Piecings) as her guest. Here's  what the wheel spun:

Project-holiday: I chose Christmas.

Colors-tropics: I googled and found a Tropical Hawaiian Color Palette.

Element-wheel(s): I chose a Betterpress plate with a car. 

Random-geometric shape(s): A2 card and layers are rectangles.

I used the car press plate, not only for the wheels but for the gifts too. They work for Christmas Kickstart Challenge #87 - Its a Gift. Yay! And my zig-zag border die is newly used today so I'll also add my card to Darnell's June NBUS Challenge #63. And to Merry Little Christmas Challenge #56 where Anything Goes.

I pressed the image and one of the set's sentiments in black Betterpress ink and watercolored with Distress Oxide inks. I used an A7 sheet and rotated it so I could press a second image, then cut the panel down. Die cut a stitched rectangle to mat the pressed image. Added to an A2 card covered with patterned paper. Die cut the zig-zags and added to the bottom of the image panel - done! If you want to see another version of the pressed car, go HERE.

That's it for today - thanks for visiting!! Now I'm back to my chorus Zoom - couldn't attend today's coaching in person either. Nice to be able to take notes while watching!

Have a crafty weekend!!

Oceans of Joy

Hey everyone - welcome! After winning Challenge #62, I'm thrilled to be guest designing for Day of the Month Card Club Challenge #64 this month!! We have the theme of seashells and I had fun filling an ocean floor with them!

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

Recollections Marbled; Poptone kraft

Stamps - Hero Arts Oceans of Joy (c2010 retired)

Dies - A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape

I stamped fish, shells and seaweed onto Neenah white, colored with Copics and fussy cut. Die cut a stitched rectangle from both marbled blue & kraft cardstock. Tore the kraft rectangle down for the ocean floor & adhered to marbled piece. Added to an A2 card, then assembled the ocean elements atop, some with foam tape. Stamped and fussy cut a sentiment; adhered to card. Some pearls for the oysters finished the card. Such fun to color & play with the arrangement of elements, plus I did some extras for future. The inside contains a birthday sentiment.

I hope you'll visit DotMCC for loads of inspiration with shells, then play along with us!! Thanks to Gundi, Rosi, Izzy & Elfi for having me as Guest Designer this month!!

Thanks for visiting!!

Acetate Smooshing

Hello & welcome! I'm playing along with Darnell's IDEAS program - this week, I is for INKS. Darnell inspired me HERE with her acetate smooshing. I decided to try it on some Betterpress Porcelain paper; here's my result:

Supplies: Paper - Bazzill A2 card; scraps of black, white & orange;

Spellbinders Betterpress Porcelain

Press Plate w/Dies - Spellbinders Swirl Birthday Frame 

& You Are Everything Sentiments

Dies - Waffle Flower Painted Flowers Layering Die;

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set;

Poppystamps Fanciful Fall Leaves (retired);

Frantic Stamper Bouquet Builder

Other - Spellbinders Essential Gems;

TH Distress Oxide Inks - Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, 

Spiced Marmalade, Cracked Pistacio, Salvaged Patina, 

Barn Door, Fired Brick, & Crackling Campfire

I pressed the ink pads (did a couple at a time) to the acetate and spritzed with water. Applied the paper to the acetate and then acetate to paper as Darnell suggested. Then repeated with different colors. Once dry, I pressed with the Swirl Birthday Frame and die cut with a stitched rectangle. I blended some Salvaged Patina into the edges and on areas that had no smooshing. Added to an A2 card along with a pressed sentiment and some die cuts from the bits box.

I was going to link to another card where I used this Betterpress frame but realized I never blogged it! So here is that card using the sentiment (with coordinating sentiment die) from the set:

On this one, I spritzed some Betterpress Bisque paper with some Hero Arts shimmer sprays and let dry before pressing the swirl plate. I pressed then die cut the sentiment; inked the edges & added to the center of the frame plus some gold dots to the corners. Since this was the first use of the press plate, I'll add it to Darnell's June NBUS Challenge #63.

Thanks for stopping and have a crafty day!!

May 2024 Card Chain Reveal

 Hello friends - my goodness, May went fast! It's already time to reveal cards that traveled the world for the May 2024 Card Chain Challenge. Thirty people participated; my card went to Barbara (Happy Paper Moments) in Switzerland - my first time sending to her! You can see the full reveal HERE.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah White; scrap of raspberry;

Paper Studio white A2 card

Stamps - Waffle Flower Sweet Plates Sentiments;

Sentimentally Yours Fabulous Florals

(freebie with Creative Stamping Issue #130)

Dies - Waffle Flower Sweet Plates;

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Stencils - Frantic Stamper Old Brick Wall;

My Favorite Things Pastures, Ponds, & Pools

Other - Copic Markers; Memento Tuxedo Black & 

Paris Dusk inks; Picked Raspberry Distress Oxide ink; 

Tsukineko Gold Glitz Delicada ink; foam tape; Park Lane gems

We had the following options for creating our cards:

Color Palette Option

Sketch Option

Theme Options: Men in Hats / Cake / Friendship

Product / Technique Options: Stencil / Scoring

I went with the colors, sketch, friendship & stenciling. Thought it would be fun to stencil some of the sketch elements. Did this on a piece of Neenah white, then die cut it with a stitched rectangle and added to an A2 card. Next I stamped a floral spray, colored with Copics and fussy cut. Stamped and die cut a sentiment circle. Added the spray & sentiment to the card with a few gold gems - done! I was excited when the card traveled from Minnesota to Switzerland in less than a week!!

I received this gorgeous card from longtime crafty friend Greta (GG Creations), along with some die cuts and an embossed panel. I just love how she used the May colors - thanks, Greta!!

Want to join us? Go HERE for details and sign-up link to the June chain. You simple make one card and receive one card - so quick, easy & enjoyable!

Thanks for stopping & happy crafting!!

Craft Roulette 217

Happy Saturday, friends! I watched Craft Roulette #217 last night (see replay HERE) & crafted along but didn't finish. Here's the card I completed today:

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts; Authentique Natural;

Pressed Petals Woven Paper; Cardstock Warehouse Paper A2 card

Dies - Waffle Flower Tea Cup & Sweet Plates;

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - EK Success doily; Paper Studio Stickers;

Creative Expressions Wordies Friendship Sentiment;

Hero Arts enamel dots

Host Mary Gunn FUNN had another mother/daughter pair for her guests - Crafty Al (find her YouTube HERE) & Presleigh. The roulette wheel spun another set of fun parameters (screen shot during the LIVE):

Project: A2 card - easy, peasy & how lucky to get this 2 weeks in a row! 

Element: June - loads of ideas for this one, including use a day in June. I picked National Donut Day (first Friday in June). Could've done the obvious Father's Day but I already have a card for Dad. 

Colors: French Cafe - many ideas here but I googled & found a Misty French Cafe Color Palette. 

Random: Polka Dots - in my satellite studio I discovered some pre-embossed dotted paper with one of the palette colors. Also found a rusty orange A2 card base, a scrap of dark red & some minty greens I thought worked. 

I still had a Waffle Flower cup set on the table from my May 21st Diva post. Decided to die cut the cup along with a plate from another WF set. Riffling through the available stamp bins, I had no donut images. Tried to use a couple circle stamps last night but didn't like them. Off I went to Hobby Lobby this morning to find something & end up with some stickers.

That's it for today; if you want to play along at Craft Roulette, you have until Sunday night to link up as a guest (details HERE). I'll be back tomorrow with the usual 2nd of the month Card Chain reveal.

Thanks for stopping!!