Happy Halloween and Last Day for October Die Cut Diva Challenge!

Happy Halloween everyone! Today's the last day to enter our October Die Cut Diva Challenge. We've been celebrating World Card Making Day all month long with our cards using dies &/or embossing folders. Come join the fun by 9pm Pacific time today! 

The Divas are sponsored this month by the amazing My Favorite Things who generously donated a $25 prize. We will draw from eligible October entries and award it randomly on 11/3. Here's my inspiration card with the last day Diva team:

Supplies: Paper - My Favorite Things Christmas Cheer;

Neenah white; Recollections green; scraps

Dies - My Favorite Things Stacked Merry,

Let it Snowflake (retired), &

Stitched Oval Scallop Frame (retired);

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - gem by unk

I formed an A2 card with 1/2 a sheet of cardstock. Use part of the remaining 1/2 to die cut a frame. When the frame with an inside scallop cuts, you get an edged oval so I used that part. Die cut the snowflakes from white cardstock and the MERRY from both red and black. Die cut a rectangle of striped paper and added to the card with a strip of red. Assembled the MERRY and added to the oval along with one snowflake. Glued the other two snowflakes under the oval and added to the card. A pink gem finished the card.

Bonus time - I'll share a Halloween birthday card for my dear friend from high school, Denise. I made a similar non-birthday Halloween card for my friend Heather. This one has no MFT products...

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Taylored Expressions Halloween (retired)

Die - Waffle Flower Postage Collage

Stencils - Waffle Flower Postage Collage Spooktacular

Inks - Hero Arts and Memento

Other - Waffle Flower Subsentiments Boo; white gel pen

Die cut the postage collage from Neenah, then stenciled with the 4-step Spooktacular set. Three of the stencils have recommended colors so I used those; I used a pale lilac for the background step. Added some details with a white gel pen & a printed sentiment. Adhered to an A2 card covered with Halloween patterned paper - done!

Since my Spooktacular stencils are newly used, I'll add my card to Darnell's October NBUS Challenge #67.

Thanks for stopping and hope to see you in the Diva gallery!

Amazing Things Thank You Card

Hi everyone - hope you had a wonderful weekend! I had some time to make a card before I tackled yard work. Decided to use a stencil set & make my second card for Just Us Girls #750 where it's stencil week. 

Supplies: Paper - Spellbinders A2 card &

Betterpress Porcelain; Momenta watercolor print;

My Favorite Things Floor to Ceiling; scrap of brown

Press Plates - Pinkfresh Studio Amazing Things 

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set;

Hero Arts Tag Frames Infinity Dies &

Tropical Florals (retired but HERE at Frantic Stamper);

Pinkfresh Studio Amazing Things

Stencils - Pinkfresh Studio Amazing Things 

Inks - TH, Hero Arts, SSS & MFT (see photo below)

Other - foam tape; white gel pen

I pressed the floral stem and both sentiments onto porcelain paper, then stenciled. The coordinating PFS stencil set contains 5 stencils - three for petals and 2 for leaves; very quick and easy! Here's a process photo with the inks; I use my MISTI for stenciling - the magnets hold the stencils in place.

Next I die cut the floral stem and sentiments with the coordinating dies. Die cut a brick patterned paper with a stitched rectangle & adhered to an A2 card. Die cut a couple jumbo leaves to fill in behind the floral stem & a label for the sentiment to land. Assembled and done.

I'll also link up to Darnell's October NBUS Challenge #67 since my Amazing Things products got first play here. And I'll also play at the Pinkfresh Studio October 2024 Challenge where they're doing ink blending (which includes layering stencils!). You don't have to use all the colors shown in the mood board.

That's all for today; thanks for stopping by!!

hi Hello!

Hi & hello, everyone!! Watched Craft Roulette Episode #238 last night & made a card during the show. Since I'd already posted yesterday, I waited to share my card until today:

Supplies: Paper - Olive by unk;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; scraps

Stamps - Hero Arts Old Letter &

Watch Gears (both retired); Sunny Studio Berry Bliss

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set;

Spellbinders Faux Stitched Sentiments & Floss (DOM-Apr24);

Taylored Expressions Easy Strips - 1/8" 

Stencil - My Favorite Things Smart Mask - Diagonal High/Low Strip

Inks - Taylored Expressions, SSS, Altenew, TH Distress

Host Mary Gunn FUNN had Meghann Andrew (her YouTube) as a 1st time guest. Meghann has done both scrapbooking and cardmaking & will be teaching at the Concord & 9th Winter Retreat 2025. She works for Scrapbooks and Cards Today magazine; see the fall issue online HERE. 

The wheel spun some nice & easy parameters; Meghann was lucky to have her pick come up for the Random item:

• Project - Collage: I created a collage with stamping.
• Colors - Italian Restaurant: Found a palette on Pinterest HERE - Lime/Olive/Salmon/Rust.
• Element - Short: I stamped hi, short for hello.
• Random - Diagonal Lines: I used the same stencil as on a recent Diva card; it leaves a diagonal area blank. I framed it with diagonal strips.

I started by stenciling an A2 panel of Neenah white using the MFT high/low strip stencil and Limeade ink. Leaving the stencil in place, I masked off the lower part and stamped the text/postage on the upper part using Crushed Olive Distress ink. Next I stamped the watch gears with Pumpkin ink & also in Blush ink, then in Limeade (with a little blush left on the stamp so it went a bit brown - oops). Probably should've added some text on the lower part, oh well...

I die cut the panel with a stitched rectangle and added 1/8" strips to frame the diagonal opening. Adhered it to an A2 olive green card base formed from cardstock. The 8.5x11 piece was in a mixed package, unlabeled so I think it was part of some card kit - maybe SSS??

Die cut HELLO twice and layered. Stamped hi directly in the diagonal window and adhered HELLO. The hi is actually "hi sweetie" but I did a little surgery to get the hi alone. I left it at that, adding no gems, etc. Nice & flat!

Since I used a stencil, I'll add my card to Just Us Girls #750 where it's stencil week. I'll also link up to Darnell's October NBUS Challenge #67 since my hi and HELLO are newly used here.

That's all for today; thanks for stopping by!!

A Nordic Moose scene

TGIF everyone - I'm looking forward to another episode of Craft Roulette tonight - maybe I'll see you there! The slide show with last week's cards starts shortly after 6pm CST.

Meanwhile, I made my third and final entry for Christmas Kickstart #91 where Jo and elf Faith have a lovely mood board (exact matching not required).

Supplies: Paper - Spellbinders A2 card; Neenah white;

Authentique & Recollections blues; scraps of red & pink

Stamps - Hero Arts Jolly Christmas (retired)

Dies - Poppystamps Nordic Moose & Nordic Treeline;

Waffle Flower Christmas Banners;

Elizabeth Craft Designs Lost in the Woods (retired)

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape

I covered an A2 card with a pale blue paper. Next I die cut the trees from a dark blue A2 panel and also from a white one, trimming off the white trees. Shaded the snow a bit with a B0000 Copic. Layered and added to the card. 

Isn't the moose adorable? I die cut him from a medium blue (except the antlers). I die cut the antlers and nostril backing from a pale pink cardstock that I colored over with an E11 Copic to try to get that beige-y pink tone in the mood board. I colored his hooves with a B66 Copic & also shaded his closed eye, then added a white dot so it looks open. Next I die cut his sweater from scraps of red and white, then assembled & added to the card. 

Mr. Moose was looking downward - at what, I wondered? Decided to add a tree stump which I die cut from an ECD outdoorsy set. Next I stamped and colored a birdie from a 2008 HA set. Popped atop the stump & the scene was complete! 

I'll also add my card to Darnell's October NBUS Challenge #67 since my moose and tree dies are newly used.

That's all for now; thanks for stopping! 

Craft Roulette Fun

Hi everyone - hope you're having a great week!! Yes, I watched Craft Roulette 237 LIVE Friday night but couldn't get a card done during the show. I needed different supplies than I had available at the satellite studio. Made this card when I got home yesterday; it's nice to be a member and have extra time to upload a project!

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Passion Flower & glitter cardstock;

Poptone Black; Neenah white; scraps of orange

Stamps - Hero Arts Frightful & Owl-oween (both retired)

Stamps w/dies - Hero Arts Halloween Trimmings Stamp & Cut (retired)

Dies - Poppystamps Corner Shoppe Pop Up Easel Set

Other - Copic Markers; Honey Bee Spooktacular gems;

computer generated boo-tique label

Host Mary Gunn FUNN had Sharon Luska (My Crafty Greetings YouTube)as her guest. Sharon's focus is on hints to make crafting easier so check her out! She also does guest videos for Scrappy Tails. 

The wheel was a bit challenging, in my opinion:

Here's how I employed the parameters:

• Project - Pop Up Card: I used a pop up easel card die set to create my card base.
• Colors - Trick or Treat: I used typical Halloween colors - Black/Orange/Purple.
• Element - Boutique: The pop up set I used is a shoppe; I turned it into a boo-tique.
• Random - Jewelry: I added gems to the boo-tique's door.

Simple die cutting, stamping & fussy cutting. Colored the pumpkin and shaded the ghost with Copic markers. Fiddly to assemble but I did ok. Here's a popped up view:

You can see a previous card with the shoppe die set HERE. I showed a side view on the previous card so I didn't bother here...  I'm adding my card to the current Double D Challenge to include a pumpkin.

That's it for today. Thanks for stopping by!

A Christmas sELFie!

Hi everyone - I'm able to do my regular Diva post this month - yay! We're celebrating World Card Making Day all month long for our October Diva Challenge. Our sponsor is the wonderful My Favorite Things who has donated a $25 prize for us to award to our random Diva winner. Here's my inspiration card:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Hero Arts Dove A2 card; Authentique A Magical Christmas;

Taylored Expressions Playful Patterns - Holiday

Stamps - My Favorite Things BB Christmas sELFies

Stamps w/Dies - My Favorite Things Christmas Wishes (dies)

Dies - My Favorite Things Let it Snowflake (retired)

Other - Recollections gems

I have admired many cards with MFT's sELFie set; I finally bought the set after it had been retired and then returned to the inventory. Still hadn't used it until now - shame on me!

Stamped the elf with ornament image & colored with Copics. Trimmed with a white border and matted in black. Added 4x5.25 striped paper to an A2 card. Added a strip of snowflake paper. Adhered the sELFie panel with foam tape. Stamped, die cut and matted a sentiment & adhered to the card. Die cut 3 snowflakes and added to the card - done! I have the selfie square die but it's at home, oh well... Oh, and funny story, I put the elf on the card with the ornament going up like a balloon - had to careful peel off and try again!!

Ready for a bonus? Yes, we just did sympathy/care concern cards in September but I needed to send one from the satellite studio. A chorus friend's husband passed away & any sympathy cards from September were at home!

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Dove A2 card; scraps

Stamps - My Favorite Things All Occasion Scripted Greetings

Stencils - My Favorite Things Smart Mask - Diagonal High/Low Strip

Dies - My Favorite Things Peaceful Greenery (retired),

Stitched Blooms, & Stitched Flowers

Other - Recollections gems; Hero Arts inks

I used a new MFT stencil to create the background containing the diagonal band; perfect spot for the stamped MFT sentiment. I die cut blossoms and foliage from scraps and arranged them on the card. Added a few gems to complete it. Sweet and quick.

I will add my Christmas card to Darnell's October NBUS Challenge #67 since my sELFie stamp is newly used. My card also fits the mood board at Christmas Kickstart #91:

That's all for now; thanks for stopping! Hope to see you in the October Diva Gallery!

 

An Autumn Leaf Birthday Card

Hi everyone - hope your week is off to a great start! It's the second Monday of the month so Darnell (djkardkreations) is doing Dies for her IDEAS program. Thought I'd play along with some die cut leaves and also join a couple of other challenges. Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane A2 card; 

Basic Grey Herbs & Honey;

many scraps for leaves and sentiment

Stamps - My Favorite Things Itty Bitty Birthday

Dies - Lawn Fawn Small Stitched Leaves 

& Stitched Leaves

Other - foam tape

I had a pile of leaves left over from a previous card so decided to use them on a birthday card for my dad. Simply arranged the leaves along the edge of a patterned paper on my gold card, then popped on a sentiment strip. Kept it very simple for a more masculine feel.

My card fits at Day of the Month Card Club Challenge #68 where they're celebrating Tic-Tac Day with a Tic-Tac-Toe board. Once again (my second entry) I've used the top left to lower right diagonal - Die/Fall Colors/Leaf. 

I'm also playing for the second time at Just Us Girls Challenge #748 where the theme is Leaves.

That's all for today - thanks for stopping by & have a wonderful day!!

A Gift Bag on a Card!

Hey everyone - Happy Sunday! I had a busy couple of days so just watched Craft Roulette Episode #236 on replay last night. Here's my project:

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane A7 card;

American Crafts (map); Basic Grey (bag); many scraps

Stamps - Sunny Studio Color My World 

& Color Me Happy

Dies - Spellbinders For You Gift Card Holder (DOML-Apr19 retired)

& Stitched Fall Leaves (DOM-Sep22 retired) ;

Hero Arts Tag Frame Infinity Dies

Press Plate w/die - Spellbinders You Are Everything Sentiments

Inks - Spellbinders Betterpress Bark;

Taylored Expressions Pumpkin; Hero Arts Cup O' Joe

Other - Hero Arts Orange+Shimmer Spray & enamel dots;

DMC embroidery floss; Hallmark tissue

Host Mary Gunn FUNN had Charlene Madrid (YouTube Dream Craft Create; blog) as her guest for the 4th time! Charlene has only been card making since 2021 & started doing videos pretty quickly thereafter. She belongs to the Hero Arts, Picket Fence, & Honeybee Creative Teams so check out her blog. She's teaching at the Hero Arts Holiday Stamp Along this year (coming up 10/19-20/2024) and you can still purchase a spot HERE.

The wheel spun some interesting parameters, including "Guest's Choice" for random. Charlene very promptly named Splatters as her choice.

• Project - Include a small bag: I made an A7 card with a gift bag atop.
• Colors - Cornucopia: I found a Thanksgiving Cornucopia palette at Lemon Paper Lab showing colors goldenrod, rust, tangerine orange, olive green and moss green. Plus, I own a woven brown cornucopia basket so I used that color too but left off the greens.
• Element - CAS from Last Week's Gallery: They meant copy & share (I've seen it as CASE) some element from an entry last week. There were 524 from which to choose - wow!! I kept it simple and picked from the first page I came to in the Episode #235 gallery when sorting by member contributions. I used the map paper and sentiment elements from Alisa Howard's card; that was her 80th card!
• Random - Splatters: I splattered the map paper.

I had a gift bag die set that I've used before (see a previous gift bag HERE if interested). This time I added the completed bag to a goldenrod A7 card matted with map paper; tried a slimline but didn't like it. Adhered some stitched leaves in more cornucopia colors. 

There was a lot of discussion on the element because CAS to many means Clean and Simple. Plus, the idea wasn't to make the person's project so much as to be inspired by elements of it. I stamped the same worded sentiment on a matted label as did Alisa and added enamel dots. Also added a birthday sentiment among the leaves.

So, typical me, I'd photographed the card and was about to upload when I realized I forgot the splatters!! Had to bring the card out of the photo station & dilute some shimmer spray liquid to apply the splatters with a small brush. I first masked off the bits I didn't want splattered - note to self: splatter background before adding to card!! The splatters are hard to see but in real life they have a nice rusty shimmer.

My card fits at Day of the Month Card Club Challenge #68 where they're celebrating Tic-Tac Day with a Tic-Tac-Toe board. I used the top left to lower right diagonal - Die/Fall Colors/Leaf. 

And since my poor stitched leaf die set is getting first play after owning it for two years, I'll at my card to Darnell's October NBUS Challenge #67. And the theme for Just Us Girls Challenge #748 is Leaves so I'll play there too!

That's it for today - thanks for visiting & I wish you a crafty day!

Two ornament cards!

Hey everyone - hope you had a wonderful World Card Making Day yesterday!! I missed the Craft Roulette WCMD event but chorus had a great show & I can always watch the CR replay.

Since I didn't have to leave for the show until 11:30a, I had time to make a card on World Card Making Day - just didn't have time to post it until now. Decided I'd make something for Just Us Girls #747 where they're using the colors chartreuse, light blue and gray (with any neutrals, of course). What a gorgeous combo & friend Lisa (My Paper Tales) is hosting so I wanted to play.

Supplies: Paper - My Favorite Things Christmas Cheer

& Limelight; Anchor Paper grays;

Spellbinders Betterpress Pebble; TH kraft metallic

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints 20 (retired);

Impression Obsession Pine Branch;

Birch Press Design Ornament Basics

& Belle Ornament Layer Set

Press Plate with Die - Spellbinders Merry Bright Sentiment Strips

Other - Spellbinders Betterpress Thunder ink;

Hero Arts Spring Enamel Stickers

Just did a bunch of die cutting and used a Betterpressed sentiment from the stash. Sorry the darkest color looks a bit blue in the photo; definitely is a dark gray! The top ornament layer was cut from a medium gray linen paper which has a reverse side of the lightest gray. Pebble Betterpress paper is a soft gray and I used a gorgeous gray Betterpress ink. The toppers were cut from Tim Holtz kraft metallic silver.

While I was diecutting the Belle ornament layers (there are 3), some labels cut from the centers. I decided to make another card, this time with just a basic ornament & the labels. Nice & simple.

Additional supplies: Spellbinders Sparkling Snow 3D Embossing Folder;

Poptone Berrylicious cardstock

That's it for today. Thanks for stopping by & have a crafty day!!

Happy World Card Making Day!!!

Hi all - Happy WCMD!!! Today Mary Gunn FUNN is hosting a bunch of wonderful crafting luminaries at Craft Roulette but, sadly, I will have to watch it on replay. My chorus has a show this afternoon so I will miss the entire event, oh well... But we had a pre-event during CR Episode #235 last night & I made this card during the show:

Supplies: Paper - Spellbinders Betterpress Bisque;

blue cardstock by unk

Pressplate - Spellbinders Christmas Gospel

Dies - AJVD Mini Slimline Backdrop Set

Distress Inks - Weathered Wood, Tumbled Glass, 

Crackling Campfire & Tattered Rose mixed with Antique Linen

Spellbinders Betterpress Ink - Coastal

Other - Memory Box Merry & Bright chipboard sentiment

Host Mary Gunn FUNN had Amanda Stevens, an owner of Pear Blossom Press, (YouTube ‪PearBlossomPress) as her guest. They're the ones with the lights to put behind candle flames that you can blow out!!

The Wheel was on "vacation" so was pre-spun; a big surprise by Mr. Wheel - oh my!! And these are the same parameters that are being used today by all the Craft Roulette WCMD participants!!

• Project - Not Single Fold A2: I made a mini-slimline card.
• Colors - Mood Board: I used the Mood Board from Christmas Kickstart Challenge #91.
• Element - World: My sentiment banner contains the word "World".
• Random - Star: Nativity image has a star.

Here's a photo of the CKC moodboard (exact match not required & neutrals allowed):

My blue card base looks a bit off but I was trying to match the ink on the letterpress, oh well. Die cut both the cardstock and pressed image with stitched mini-slim dies. Loosely watercolored the images with Distress Inks; the sky was ink-blended after masking off the hills and Nativity. Added the sentiment banner. Quick and easy - great for mass production!!

Since I used the colors from CKC, my card is going there too! I'm also linking up to Darnell's October NBUS Challenge #67 since my Nativity press plate is getting first play here and to Merry Little Christmas #58 where Anything Goes Christmas. Oh and by the way, we're doing World Card Making Day all month long for the Die Cut Divas October Challenge. Pop on over if you've made a card which includes any die cut or dry embossing!! We'd love to see you there!!

Thanks for stopping and enjoy WCMD!!

September 2024 Card Chain Reveal

Hey there - welcome! I participated as usual in the Card Chain & today we're revealing the cards sent around the world in September! Twenty-eight people played and my card went to a second time player who also plays at Craft Roulette, Lyneen (I Am Dreaming of Castles) in Washington state. You can find the full reveal HERE.

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Dove A2 card, 

Pitch Black & Arctic cardstocks;

MFT Heavyweight Translucent Vellum; Neenah Solar White

Stamps w/Dies - Spellbinders Colorful Expressions Blossom (Dies)

3D Embossing Folder - Spellbinders Floral Expressions

Dies - Spellbinders Outlined Sentiments

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape

Here were the options for this month:

Color Option:

Sketch Option:

Theme Options: Egypt/Paws/Friendship

Product/Technique Options: Embossing Powder/Inlaid Die Cut

Hard to believe, I know, but I didn't use the colors or sketch as I typically do. Just wasn't feeling either of them. Luckily I went with the usual theme of friendship since I used dry embossing, not the product/technique of embossing powder - oops.

Die cut a rectangle from HA Arctic cardstock (LOVE it!) and dry embossed it with the floral 3D folder from August 2024 Spellbinders Clubs. Stamped, die cut & colored the floral arch from the same series. Popped the arch with foam tape onto the embossed panel, matted in black then adhered to top fold A2 card. Die cut the sentiment - outline from vellum & letters from black, then assembled. Stamped and die cut the subsentiment. Arranged sentiments on card - done!

I received this lovely card from Joanne (Slices of Life). I just love the embossed ink-blended background & sheer ribbon!! Thanks Joanne!

Come and join us - it's fun & easy! Simply make one card and mail it, then receive one card from the next person in the chain. Sign up by 10/06/24 to play in October - details HERE.

Thanks for stopping & have a crafty day!!