More Christmas Cards!

Hi all - I'm industriously working on my Christmas card stash & have a couple for you today. First up - a quick and easy card using a prepared card base, patterned papers & a couple dies.

Supplies: Paper - Archivers (defunct) A2 card ;

American Crafts & BoBunny patterned; scraps

Dies - Memory Box Petite Poinsettias (retired

but a few still HERE at Frantic Stamper);

Birch Press Design Merry Christmas Confection Script

Other - foam tape

If you're a collector/hoarder of patterned paper pads like I am, you know that sometimes you have to force yourself to dig in and use them. I bought a bunch of fall & Christmas ones by American Crafts in the Target "Hot Spot" many years ago. While doing crafty clean-up, I found some old Archivers top fold card bases with a scalloped front. Decided to pair these with a sentiment die and poinsettia that were leftovers from August cards. 

To show off the scalloped card front, I put a mat layer of patterned paper on the inside of the card. I trimmed down a Taylored Expressions Insider for my inside message. A coordinating striped paper on the front lets the scallop stand out even more. A layered sentiment and poinsettia finished the card.

Bonus - a very quick and easy card! I'm trying to use up the many packets of ephemera and stickers I have in the  stash from old Spellbinders card kits. I got very behind using them when I cared for Mom before she passed (over 3 years ago already!). This card uses paper and ephemera from the October 2109 kit - Sparkling Holidays. I'm glad Spellbinders doesn't include them anymore - it was a lot every month - but I do enjoy using them! The A2 card base is a navy one from Michael's.

I'll link to Merry Little Christmas #64 where Anything Christmas Goes. This is my second entry of a possible eight.

That's it for today, friends. Take care and enjoy your day - thanks for stopping!

A Bee Pair for an Anniversary!

Hi everyone - hope you're having a great week! For Darnell's IDEAS program this week, it's D for Dies. I went all in with a mostly die cut creation!

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Authentique (collection name unk); scraps

Stamps - Hero Arts Bring on the Merry (retired)

Dies - Birch Press Design Large Cosmos Contour Layers

(retired but still HERE at Frantic Stamper) 

 & Lush Leaves Contour Layers;

Spellbinders 2024 Advent Calendar (Day 6);

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Press Plate w/dies - Spellbinders A Little Messages Sentiments

Other - Foam tape; Copics; white gel pen

I needed an anniversary card for my friend & her hubby who love bees. I'm trying to dip into more of the 2024 Advent calendar items & remembered the sweet bee die set from Day 6. I also had more Memory Box from a recent sale bundle. I die cut everything yesterday and finished assembling today; also shaded & detailed with Copics & a white gel pen. I wanted to make one bee look like a little girl so stamped and fussy cut a bow. Oh - a note on the leaves - the veins cut as negatives w/an outline, leaving the positive veins as waste. I preferred those so trimmed them and added to the solid leaves. Arranged two stitched rectangle onto a white A2 card and added the rest of the elements.

Note on the sentiment. I had one pressed with yellow ink all layered up with shadows. Decided the yellow script didn't show up well so I topped it with one pressed in black that also had a shadow layer adhered. Turned out coordinating with the bees - a happy accident!!

It's still Die Week at Just Us Girls Challenge #791 so I'm playing there for the second time.

I'll also add my card to Darnell's September NBUS #78 since the bees, flower & leaves are all newly used.

That's it for today, friends. Thanks for visiting & have a crafty day!!

Dahlia Sympathy Card plus a Card for a Nerd!

Hi everyone - welcome! I wanted to play at Just Us Girls #791 where it's Anything Goes w/Dies Week. Sadly, I needed a sympathy card for my friend Linda (another February birthday girl) who's mom passed this week. I crafted the card below this morning using some wonderful floral dies:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio patterned A2 card;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Momenta watercolor print; scraps

Stamps with Dies - Hero Arts Friendly Messages Bundle

(sold out at HA but one left HERE at Frantic Stamper)

Dies - Altenew Dear Dahlia Bundle;

Memory Box Small Anemone Bud Duo;

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Foam tape; enamel dots

I still had my dahlia bundle out from making my Altenew Diva card last month. This time I used the included die set that creates a dahlia - so beautiful. I enhanced the pieces a bit with inks & a Copic before assembling - super simple to line up with their keyhole system! If interested, I also used the dahlia die on a card back in April.

I got a Memory Box bundle recently with all sorts of goodies, including the anemone buds which are getting first play here. Just cut the flowers and stem from some scraps; shaded the buds with a Copic. I had die cut the big veined leaves last month to try for another project and didn't use them - can't remember which brand/set I used... 

The sentiment came from the bits box but I do remember that fave Hero Arts set! Assembled everything on a watercolor swash printed card from Hobby Lobby & added some clear enamel dots, plus a bitty heart on the dahlia.

Next up, my card for last night's Craft Roulette Episode #283. I made it during the live but didn't have enough time to photograph it & upload before the show ended.

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio patterned A2 card;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Sunny Studio Critter Country; scraps

Stamps - Hero Arts Yay! (retired)

Dies - Spellbinders Wise Owl (DOM-Mar24)

Other - Foam tape; enamel dots

Host Mary had Katharina Tarta (‪@katharina_tarta_crafts‬) from Germany, making her second appearance as guest. As usual, they spun the wheel 4 times for the parameters we had to use:

• Project - Card for a Nerd Or Nerdy Card: I made a card for a book nerd.
• Colors - Beach Colors: I used blues and browns (water/sand), plus neutrals & a few colors (yellow & orange) which could be the sun or in a bathing suit. 
• Element - Hip: I used a sentiment with HIP in it. 
• Random - Animal Print: Stretching it, I used a patterned paper with printed animals. 

Ugh - my mind was having a hard time with these so I was slow to get started! Then I remembered a sweet owl set from Spellbinders that I hadn't used yet - more NBUS getting off the mountain! Perfect with his little glasses and book for a nerd card!

I used a card base from the same set as today's card & stacked the elements once die cut and stamped. The owl was a bit putzy - I skipped his scarf to save time but still didn't get uploaded before the live ended, oh well. General public has until tomorrow to upload if you'd like to have a go (Craft Roulette.live). Members get until Thursday so that's why I became a member after missing a couple entries last spring!

I'll add my owl card to Darnell's September NBUS #78 since Mr. Owl is newly used.

That's it for today, friends. Thanks for visiting & have a crafty weekend!!

Adding to Christmas Stash!

Hi everyone - hope you're having a great week! I'm popping in today with a couple of cards. First up - something for Christmas Kickstart #102 - Santa in September. I always need a vintage Santa in my stash:

Supplies: Paper - Recollections A2 card;

Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor;

American Crafts Christmas plaid

Stamps - Stampendous Jolly Santa

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Distress Inks; Glossy Accents; foam tape;

printed sentiment strip (SSS, I think);

Tim Holtz Christmas Snippets ephemera; 

stars are EK Success, I think

Stamped the Santa on watercolor paper and watercolored with Distress inks. Fussy cut and added to a buffalo plaid paper (yes, Betty - from our hoarded Target paper pad). Adhered the sentiment strips. What to add to finish the card? It look bare with just the Santa. Since vintage, I dug through my Tim Holtz stash and found some ephemera to add, plus some stars. Yay, that did it!! I'm not really happy with the watercoloring I did (some of the black ink smeared a bit) - oh well...

Next I have another winter wreath card, this time 4.25" square. I wanted to play along at Darnell's IDEAS - this week: Inks.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Solar White;

scraps of silver, red glitter & green

Stamps - Recollections Mini Bows

Stamps with Dies - MFT Winter Wreath 

& Winter Songbird (retired/NIB)

Dies - Poppystamps Merry Christmas Moonlight Script

(retired but found HERE at Frantic Stamper)

Other - foam tape; Copics; Hero Arts inks

Stamped, die cut and colored the birds & wreath. Stamped, colored and fussy cut the bow. Trimmed an A2 card down to a 4.25" square and inked in from the edges, leaving the center palest. Die cut the sentiment, including a second outline in silver as a shadow. Assembled the card using foam tape on the sentiment and behind the bird heads. Sort of a lame use of inks to just ink the background but that's what I was feeling... I'll also share this card at Merry Little Christmas #64 where Anything Goes.

Two more cards for the Christmas stash - I'm up to 51 which isn't too shabby! Thanks for stopping by today and I hope you have a crafty week!!

August 2025 Card Chain Reveal

Hello friends - looking forward to Fall? I am! Today we're revealing cards sent around the world for the August 2025 Card Chain Challenge. Twenty-six people participated and you can find the full reveal HERE. My card went to the talented Pia (Pias Papir og Perler) in Norway:

Supplies: Paper - Spellbinders A2 card;

Poptone x; Neenah Solar White; scrap of purple

Stamps with dies - Stampendous Indigo Cats (retired)

Dies - Spellbinders Colorful Expressions Sentiments (DOM-AUG24);

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Embossing folder - x

Other - Recollections puffy word stickers;

Copic Markers; printed subsentiment strip (SSS?)

We had the usual four sets of options when creating our cards:

Color Palette Option

Sketch Option

Theme Options: Tropical / Triangles / Friendship

Product / Technique Options: Paint / Stenciling

I wasn't sure about the color palette but, when I saw the triangle theme, I remembered a fave Laurel Burch cat image. Suddenly, the colors would totally work! Stamped and colored the cat with Copic Markers, then die cut. 

I thought I had a triangle embossing folder and went searching - no luck! Ended up finding an ancient, unopened set from Lifestyle (remember them?) which had a triangle flag banner. Die cut a fuchsia A2 panel with a stitched rectangle and embossed it. Adhered to a Spellbinders white A2 card. Added the cat with a subsentiment strip tucked at the bottom. Die cut the word "friend" plus outline & added to the card along with three puffy stickers.

I received this lovely card from Jo (Jo's Blogs) in the UK. I just love her take on the colors and theme of triangles!! Thanks too, Jo, for the lovely vellum butterflies!! 

Jo and her sidekick Gail (Crafty Nomad) do a wonderful job managing the Card Chain for all us participants! If you'd like to join in, check it out the September Chain sign up HERE. You only need to make and send one card, then you receive one card - so fun!!

That's it for today. Thanks for visiting and have a crafty day!!

Let's Toast!

Happy Labor Day if you're celebrating in the USA! Kudos to all the workers out there! 

Tomorrow is my brother & sister-in-law's anniversary but also the Card Chain reveal day. Thought I'd share the anniversary card I made them a day ahead of time (they already have received it and love it!):

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Solar White;

TH Classic kraft card stock;

Momenta watercolor print;

Lawn Fawn patterned (retired);

Spellbinders Betterpress Porcelain; scraps of black

Dies - Trinity Stamps Toaster Card;

MFT Stitched Numbers

Press Plate with die - Spellbinders You Are Everything Sentiments

Stamps - Pear Blossom Press Stamp & Die Bundle;

Other - enamel dots brand unk

I knew of Trinity Stamps before I got involved with Craft Roulette. They were stocked at my local stamping store Anchor Paper for awhile but not right now. So, since they give random prizes at CR, I started visiting their online store. I recently picked up a die set that I thought would make a perfect card for my bro & SIL; it's getting first play here. 

First, I die cut all the toaster pieces & assembled. Same with the slice of bread card. Since D&D have been married 30 years, I added those #s on the inside of the bread slice. A pressed sentiment sits on the toaster front, popped up with foam tape. Here are a couple additional views:

Isn't that little slice of toast card the cutest?! The card base is a full A7 card which I stamped on the inside (no photo) with a Taylored Expression sentiment (see that set HERE; it's a fave). Since my toaster set got first play here, I'll share at Darnell's NBUS #78.

I also made a card early this morning (more vampire hours) for Craft Roulette episode #282:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Solar White; 

Authentique Latest & Greatest; Lawn Fawn Summertime;

Paper Studio A2 card; scraps

Stamps - MFT Aug 2018 Freebie;

Stamps w/dies - Lawn Fawn Simply Celebrate Critters (dies HERE);

Unity Happy Retirement (die HERE)

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set;

MFT Pierced Rectangle Frames 

Other - Foam tape

Host Mary Gunn had Meg Daves (‪@ITeachStamping) as her guest. Meg has been teaching card making for 20 years; this was her first appearance on CR. She enjoys doing card sketches with a twist. As usual, they spun the wheel four times for the necessary parameters:

• Project - Card for a Teacher: I made a retirement card for my friend, Becky who will soon finish teaching first grade.
• Colors - Classroom: I used primary colors, plus the colors of the animals which might appear on a classroom bulletin board scene.
• Element - From The Country: I used 3 barnyard animals. 
• Random - Frame: I used a pierced frame die cut stacked 3 times. 

Simple stamping, die cutting, coloring & assembly. The wrinkle on this one is the LF speech bubble that's 5 continuous bubbles. I stamped the 3 sentiments every other one, then used a black marker to draw the missing edges. I trimmed into three pieces, leaving out the extra two bubbles.

That's it for today, friends! Hope to see you back tomorrow and, by the way, the Card Chain sign-up for September runs until 9/6 - details HERE.

Thanks for visiting and have a crafty holiday!!

Last Day of Die Cut Divas August Challenge!

Hey there - I'm part of the end of month Diva team sharing inspiration for our August Challenge: Z-fold Cards which ends today at 9p Pacific Time!

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

My Favorite Things Black Licorice Linen;

Spellbinders Betterpress Porcelain

Stamps w/Stencils and Dies - Altenew Rock Trumpet Bundle

Press Plate w/die - Spellbinders A Little Message Sentiments

Other - Hero Arts Enamel dots; printed sub-sentiment (probably SSS)

We're sponsored by Altenew who has donated a $20 gift card for our random August winner. Fittingly, I watched an Altenew video by Therese earlier this month which contained both a Z-fold and a gatefold card. I just loved how Therese did her Z-fold so decided to try it with one of my large Altenew floral sets. I followed her steps for an A7 standard Z-fold, just substituting an A9 card base. I used the Rock Trumpets instead of the peony set she used.

Very simple - I folded back the card front to make the card a Z-fold. Stamped and stenciled the rock trumpet spray, then die cut it with the coordinating die. Laid it along the left panel & adhered, trimming the excess. Next I added a black linen panel to the right inside of the card. I trimmed it slightly smaller on the left due to the card fold. Then I glued the trimmed excess rock trumpet from the left onto the right panel. Added some enamel dots and two sentiments - one Betterpressed & one printed strip.

Had to laugh - my friend Cat (Cat Luvs Paper) talks about vampire hours - I made this card at 3am last Tuesday! Turned out ok for being dead tired after chorus but unable to sleep!! At Craft Roulette the A9 format is dreaded and oft vetoed - I think it's great fun & perfect for Altenew's jumbo florals!! Here are a couple more views of the card - standing front (view I shared at the Divas) & standing from top:

Ready for a bonus? I stuck with a simple A2 Z-fold card for this one but used the same concept from the video. So fun and easy! This time I used Altenew's Dear Dahlias Bundle with stamps, stencils and coordinating dies.

I won't show any additional views this time - same look as card one so I just photographed it standing. The paper I put on the right side is from a beautiful Altenew (in collaboration with PFS) 6x6" pad called Celebrate.

That's it for today, friends! Hope to see you in the Diva gallery if you've got time before 9p Pacific time and want to do a Z-fold. 

Thanks for stopping & happy crafting!!

Unicorn birthday pop-up

Hello crafty friends. We have heavy hearts in the Twin Cities after a church shooting today. Two grade schoolers lost their lives & many more people were injured. It happened during a school mass early this morning. I was out running errands & found out when I turned on the noon news - so horrific!! The church/school sits just a mile north of where we go to eat after chorus rehearsal - typically a very safe area. Prayers to everyone affected, especially the families of the two angels!

I was planning to post the card below and decided to go ahead. My sweet little cousin A who made a card at my house last month just turned 5 yesterday. She told me how much she loves unicorns and luckily I got a unicorn die set at Paperganza. She's starting school next week and I pray she'll be safe along with all other children everywhere!!

Supplies: Paper - Lawn Fawn; MFT;

Recollections glitter cardstock; scraps

Dies - Lawn Fawn Platform Pop-up

i-Crafter Box Pops Unicorn Add-on;

MFT Stitched Numbers

Other - Betterpressed sentiment

The unicorn set is an add-on for the brand's pop up mechanism. I didn't get the mechanism set in my swag at Paperganza - just the unicorn part. No worries - I pulled out the Lawn Fawn pop-up platform set and it worked perfectly. Here's a view of the card folded flat:

I'm playing along at Darnell's IDEAS where this week Anything Goes & at NBUS #77 since the unicorn die set got first play here.

Thanks for stopping by & hold your loved ones close!!

Couple of Fall Cards

Hi everyone - welcome! You know fall is fast approaching when the State Fair starts! Between that & the mood board at Just Us Girls Challenge #789, I was inspired to pull out a Spellbinders set with an apple.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Solar White;

Authentique Latest & Greatest; scraps

Stamps - Hero Arts Color Layering Fall Trees (retired)

Dies - Spellbinders Classroom Chronicles (DOM-May25)

& Gnome Drive Graduation (retired but one left as of 

today at Frantic Stamper);

MFT Stitched Alphabet (NIB but

a few HERE at Frantic Stamper);

Taylored Expressions Mini Strips - Asymmetrical (retired)

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - foam tape; Recollections star gems

I cut a stitched rectangle from a chalkboard paper and added the ABC die cut letters. Next I die cut an apple patterned paper with a larger stitched rectangle. Layered onto a white A2 card. Die cut 3 books but shortened them to fit. Die cut & assembled the apple. Added the stack to the card with foam tape. Stamped and die cut the sentiment. Finished it off with some star gems, placed strategically to hide some glue marks on the black paper!

Now for my card made during Craft Roulette Episode #281 last night:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Solar White;

Taylored Expressions Latte;

Paper Studio cardstock; Basic Grey Kneehighs

Stamps - Hero Arts Color Layering Fall Trees (retired)

Dies - Hero Arts Autumn Leaves 

"Happy" (brand unk)

Other - Teal sequins (brand unk); Copic Markers

Host Mary Gunn FUNN had Irene Smith (‪@ArtemisMade1) as her guest. Irene, known by the nickname Hat Trick (because she had Covid 3 times during the pandemic) was making her 2nd appearance. She's a CR member and does a series on her YouTube channel on Mondays making 15 minute cards. The roulette wheel was spun four times for the necessary parameters:

• Project - 4'x6" Card: Formed one from cardstock. 
• Colors - Coffee Aisle: I used colors from the Donut Shop Decaf Coffee box in my cupboard - teal, brown, kraft, white, orange. 
• Element - From a Tree: I used leaves. 
• Random - Outside the Lines: The leaves have vein lines; I colored outside them. 

I trimmed a sheet of latte cardstock down to 6"x8", then scored the long side at 4" to form a 4"x6" card. Added mat layers of chocolate brown & a teal patterned paper. Die cut 3 leaves from latte, chocolate brown and orange card stock. Found the "happy" die cut in the bits box; I'm not sure what brand. Stamped the "Happy Fall" and trimmed to a small rectangle. Assembled on the card and added a trio of teal sequins.

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

Z-fold with Floral Pitcher

Welcome crafty friends! I'm here with inspiration for the Die Cut Divas August Challenge: Z-Fold Cards!! You can see my Diva post HERE, if desired; all the details, extra views and a bonus card can be found below.

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Passion Flower;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

MFT Orange Sherbet & Watercolor Wash

Stamps - Altenew Fresh Bouquet

Die/Embossing Folder/Stencil - Altenew Pitcher Vases Bundle 

Die - Altenew Mix and Match Frames

Inks - Hero Arts Amethyst & TH Distress Iced Spruce

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape

We're sponsored by Altenew this month; they've given us a $20 gift card for our random winner to be drawn from eligible August entries on 9/3. Thanks so much!!

I had been eying the pitcher vase combo since released and, thanks to Darnell & her 75th NBUS Challenge prize, was able to get it. It just arrived & is getting its first play here! First I die cut then embossed & stenciled this darling pitcher vase. Next I searched through my Altenew stamps - most are too large for the vase but I found a gift mini set Altenew sent me in December called Fresh Bouquet. I stamped & colored it, then trimmed some parts off to rearrange atop the vase. 

Next I formed a simple Z fold by folding back the front of an A2 card. Added mat panels to front and inside. Die cut a deckle panel to overlap the Z on the front. Masked off the bottom and ink blended some Iced Spruce to be my "table". Stamped a sentiment from the same stamp set and matted it. Assembled everything on the card. I'll add a white panel for the inside sentiment later. Here are a couple more views - standing front & top:

Thanks again to Darnell - I'll add this card to her IDEAS E for Embossing this week and to her NBUS Challenge #77 since the vase is newly used. So is the floral stamp, now that I think about it! I'll also add my card to the August We Love Stamping Challenge using the Flower Theme. My bouquet is hand stamped and colored; this is my second of three possible there.

Ready for a bonus? Skip if not! Please note - my bonus card, while a Z-fold, wouldn't work for the Diva Challenge since it doesn't have any die cuts, nor did I use an embossing folder. Kinda forgot that, so that's why it's a bonus - LOL.

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio A2 card;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Lawn Fawn Petite Watercolor Wishes;

scrap of patterned paper (brand unk)

Stamps - Altenew Little Mushroom;

magazine freebie gnome set

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape

I was shopping at Barnes & Noble earlier this month and found issue 148 of Creative Stamping magazine containing a cute gnome stamp set plus the Altenew mushroom stamp set! Since we're using Altenew products this month, I decided the set should come home with me. I formed the Z-Fold same as above but this time I trimmed the front into a diagonal. Matted with patterned and watercolor wash papers. Stamped the images (gnomes are fussy cut) and colored with Copics. Stamped the sentiment & assembled. Here's a standing view:

That's it for today. Thanks for stopping and we hope to see your Z-Fold in the gallery, remembering to include a die cut & or use an embossing folder!

Happy crafting!!