Tim Holtz Holiday Collage Christmas in July!

Hi all - earlier today I enjoyed Tim Holtz's live holiday class joint with Simon Says Stamp Holiday Collage Christmas in July (free on YouTube)! I purchased the class kit but anyone can watch the video & learn from Tim. Heidi from SSS created her projects right alongside Tim which was very fun. We made four projects in about 3 hours, including intro & chit chat, all making our own choices.

Supplies: Tim Holtz Christmas Ideology

Other - green twill ribbon from stash

While the kit is sold out, Simon Says Stamp carries stand-along products at the link above. The candles, I believe Tim said, are Halloween but they work fine for Christmas too! The glittery mix we used will be coming out for purchase later this year in a bigger jar than we received in the kit. Here's some individual photos:

The first project was a card using ephemera, layers and a paper doll. We made a shaker out of a frame of our choice, filled with the snowflake glitter:

Next we made a couple tags. The one at right is doubled up with the top tag layer die cut with slots. We filled the slots with stuff, including a gift card on hand. The tag at left has a collaged background:

Heidi's fave project was the decor piece; we had some choices here but I did my wreath as Tim showed (took two artificial pine sprigs & twist together then formed a circle):

All in all, a very fun way to spend three hours! Plus I have loads more product to use. Here's a quick photo of my organization of the different packages of stuff (mainly shoeboxes). Tim wanted us to be able to flip through the stuff when choosing what to use:

That's it for today - I'm off to watch the latest Craft Roulette - have a great evening. Thanks for stopping!!

Minnie and Friend

Hi all - I'm back from my little trip to my hometown for the holiday weekend. I was able to watch Craft Roulette Episode #274 live on my phone Friday night but didn't have time to finish a card until yesterday.

Supplies: Paper - Archiver's A7 card; scraps;

Tim Holtz Classic Kraft

Stamps - Sunny Studio Words of Gratitude

Dies - Spellbinders Say Cheese Classic Mouse Character Die Bundle &

Say Cheese Classic Mouse Alphabet & Numbers Bundle;

Poppystamps Flower and Leaf Sprinkles;

Hero Arts Peeking Bunny 

Other - Park Lane gems; Versamark ink; 

Ranger Sea Foam White ep; white gel pen

Host Mary Gunn FUNN had Tina Wan Kenobi (50 Shades of Crafting) as her guest. Tina was making her first appearance as a guest but she's been playing at CR for over a year. As usual, the wheel was spun four times for mandatory parameters. Not too bad:

• Project - Thank You Card: I created an A7 card with Thanks a Bunch as the sentiment.
• Colors - Decorations: I used a combo of Christmas & Easter colors w/neutrals black/white. 
• Element - Hand(S): Cartoon mice have hands.
• Random - Tone-On-Tone: Multiple examples - red on red/blue on blue/yellow on yellow.

I came home to a package from Spellbinders - couldn't resist ordering some Mickey Mouse sets - so cute!! Did a bunch of die cutting for this one - mainly with the mouse set, plus a few extras. I made a complete Minnie then took Mickey and turned him into a girl. I trimmed his body and cut Minnie's skirt a few times for a layered look. I trimmed down the shoes so they looked more like Mary Janes and added a gem to each. The hat came from a Hero Arts set.  I created a little bouquet using some Poppystamps dies. The eyelash die is just to put behind head by the smaller eye. I trimmed extra ones and glued above the eyes.

The alpha for the THANKS is another Mickey Mouse release. The sub-sentiment strip came from the bits box but I know it was made with a Sunny Studio stamp set so I linked it. This card will go to the aunt whose hospitality I enjoyed over the holiday weekend.

Since the Mickey Mouse dies are new, I'll link to Darnell's July NBUS Challenge #76. I'll also link up to Ally's Angels #95 where Anything Goes.

Thanks for visiting and have a crafty day!

Merry Go Round Baubles

Hey there - thought I'd play at Christmas Kickstart #100 where Jo and elf Gail are celebrating round things. I went with circular baubles using a Spellbinders stitching set I used once before HERE. Let me know, if desired, which card you preferred - this one or the earlier one.

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio A2 cards (green, pink, red); 

Park Lane white A2 card; Hero Arts Bermuda

 Stitching Dies - Spellbinders I'll Be Home for Christmas 

(DOMST-Oct23)

Other - DMC floss 817, 943, & 3326

Please don't judge me - I still had left over bits from the previous card strewn around my "mesk". I had cut those sets from 3 colors so I could mix and match but only got one card done last year! I didn't stitch a tree previously so started by stitching a green one. Didn't have a nice mix of colors for the baubles so I left two spots open and backed them with an embossed snowflake panel. Not sure of the embossing brand - it was a gifted panel in with a Card Chain card - sorry can't remember who sent it...

Adhered the backed panel to an A2 card. Stitched the ones needing stitching and added them to the card along with the tree & a die cut sentiment from the set. This time I left off the bauble hangers to emphasize the roundness of the baubles. Hard to see in the photo but the etched sentiment says "Merry Christmas".

I'll also link my card to Merry Little Christmas #63 where Anything Goes Christmas.

Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting!!

Mr. Walrus Says Happy Birthday

Hi all - today I'm sharing a birthday card headed to a former coworker &, for a while, my boss! We have kept in touch for years, even after he moved to a new office & later retired.

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane A7 card; Neenah Solar White;

My Favorite Things Sand, Surf & Sky; scraps

Dies - Spellbinders Shipmates (DOM-Jun25);

Poppystamps Happy Birthday Streamer Script

Stitching Dies - Spellbinders Ahoy Matey (DOMST-Jun25)

Stamps - Hero Arts Kiss for the Sun (retired)

Other - foam tape; white gel pen; Copic Markers

We all know I'm not that timely when getting to new stuff. However, when I saw the Spellbinders June Small Die of the Month, I knew I wanted to make Steve's birthday card with the walrus. I die cut the pieces and assembled, adding googly eyes. I had a navy/white sentiment in the bits box & decided these elements needed the space of an A7 card. 

Added a background of patterned paper, matted with white. I fussy cut along lines in the wave paper to make two pieces with a spot to tuck in Mr. Walrus. Seemed like something was missing so I die cut an anchor from another June set, tied some heavy string on it, & added it. I was off to photograph when I noticed a smudge upper right - ugh! Tried to erase, no luck - so I stamped, colored and fussy cut a sun to pop onto the scene. 

I really like how this turned out & I know Steve will enjoy it as he always loves my cards. He's the guy with a talented chef wife who loads him with food but he never gains an ounce!! Hard to hate him when he's soooo nice! I'll add my card to Darnell's July NBUS #76 since my June small die set is getting first play here.

Thanks for stopping and have a wonderful weekend (holiday for the USA)! I'll be busy with family but will catch up with you later. Happy crafting!!

June 2025 Card Chain Challenge Reveal

Hey there - once again it's time to reveal cards that went around the world for the Card Chain Challenge. Twenty people participated & you can see the entire June Chain reveal HERE. My card went to the talented Dagmara in Poland; she sent me a beautiful card in May so I was happy to reciprocate!

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Solar White;

My Favorite Things Petite Gingham;

BoBunny Early Bird; Momenta Watercolor print;

Recollections blue cardstock

Dies - Memory Box Bella Bouquet (retired);

Hero Arts Tag Frame Infinity Dies (retired)

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - printed sentiment from stash

We had the following possible parameters for our card:

Color Palette Option:

Sketch Option:

Theme Options: Gingham / Something beginning with 'Tu' / Friendship

Product / Technique Options:  Wood  / Rip It Up 

The sketch reminded me of that technique Stack and Whack as shown by Natasha Foote (video 1099); I used it HERE last year. Fits perfectly with the Rip It Up technique option! I skipped the colors, wanting something more summery. And, of course, I used the theme of Friendship & managed to squeeze in some gingham paper.

I received the card below from Greta (GGCreations) in Oregon. Greta's an almost birthday twin and I've known her from the old Hero Arts group for over 15 years! So fun to get this beauty from her! And it was the second card she mailed - the first one never arrived - darn it. Must've taken the scenic route!! Anyway, thanks for sending another card, Greta, & if the first one ever shows up, I'll let you know!

That's it for today. If you'd like to join the July chain (only need to make and mail one card), go HERE for details by July 6th. Thanks for stopping & have a crafty day!!

Amazing Things Floral Spray

Hi all - thought I'd play along at Just Us Girls #781 where it's Stencil Week. It's also S is for Stencil at Darnell's IDEAS program - 5th Monday of June yesterday. I pulled out a Pinkfresh Studio press plate with coordinating stencils:

Supplies: Paper - Recollections cardstock;

Spellbinders Betterpress Porcelain; scrap of grey

Press Plate w/Stencils & Dies - Pinkfresh Studio 

Amazing Things (Stencils HERE/Dies HERE)

Additional stencil - Frantic Stamper Old Brick Wall

Inks - Taylored Expressions; Hero Arts; MFT; 

Altenew; Betterpress Thunder

Other - gems by unk; foam tape

I pressed the floral spray and sentiment, then stenciled and die cut. Formed an A2 card from cardstock and stenciled a partial brick wall to the left side. Added the spray with some foam tape and adhered the sentiment backed with a shadow. Some gems finished the card.

I'll also play at the Pinkfresh Studio July Challenge which has a mood board for inspiration but is always Anything Goes with PFS as the focal point.

That's it for today, friends! Yes, it's 1:30 am here - vampire hours as friend Cat (Cat Loves Paper) calls them. I came home from chorus practice and was too energized to sleep so decided to make a card!

Thanks for stopping by & have a crafty day!!

More Nordic Flowers & a Heart!

Hey everyone - it's the last day for the June Die Cut Diva Color Challenge! You can see today's Diva post here which includes the required color palette.  Below you'll see the card I made for our final day inspiration with all the card details, plus a bonus! You have until 9pm Pacific time today to enter your creation.

Supplies: Paper - My Mind's Eye Lavender;

DCWV A2 card; scraps

Dies - Poppystamps Simple Floral Bundle,

Nordic Drifting Flowers, Nordic Majestic Bloom

(retired at PS but HERE at Frantic Stamper) & 

Teardrop Butterflies (retired but still HERE at Frantic Stamper);

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Altenew enamel dot; foam tape

Our sponsor is Poppystamps who has generously offered a $20 gift card for our randomly selected June winner.

I used a preformed A2 card in the darker reddish color. Added a texty pattern over the lightest palette color that I'd die cut with a stitched rectangle. Added a brown scrap strip. I had leftover Nordic flowers from my previous June Diva cards. I added them to stems & foliage from the Simple Floral set. I also had a leftover Teardrop butterfly so added it. A sentiment strip from the bits box finished the card - the stamp is from an old Hero Arts set & the stitched banner might be from a retired MFT set. It's been in the bits box forever!

Since my Simple Floral set is newly used, I'll add my card to Darnell's June NBUS #75.

Ready for a bonus? Here's a quick and easy card with more simple die cutting, plus some embossing.

Supplies: Paper - DCWV A2 card; 

Neenah Solar White; scraps

Dies - Poppystamps Happy Birthday Streamer Script

& Vintage Scalloped Heart

(retired at PS but HERE at Frantic Stamper); 

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Embossing Folder - Pink and Main Birthday Wishes

Other - Altenew enamel dots; foam tape

Frantic Stamper is having a going-out-of-business sale & has loads of hard to find items. I don't get anything from them for saying this - I just like Fran & have ordered there many times over the years. Sorry to see them leaving the biz!!

Thanks for stopping by and have a crafty day! 

Fun in the Sun!

Happy weekend everyone - hope you're enjoying it! First up, another fun in the sun card:

Supplies: Paper - Recollections & Spellbinders cardstock;

MFT Sand, Surf & Sky; scraps

Stamps with Dies - Hero Arts Studio June 2025 Card Kit

Dies - Spellbinders Under the Sun & Amalfi Breeze;

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set;

In case you don't know, Craft Roulette is a YouTube show airing Fridays at 6:30 Central. Besides weekly challenges from spinning the wheel for parameters during the show, members can also do bonus cards with different parameters that appear on the site each week. This last week it was Z-fold, Any Colors, Old, Something from my "Mesk" (messy desk), plus an optional 5th of Unusual Color. I did a classic Z by folding back the front of a kraft A2 card. Added mat layers of old patterned paper.

I still haven't finished my Spellbinders Weekender cards yet & in fact, "borrowed" the sun from Jennifer McGuire's first card which I had started during the event. Her sun has some rays and it spins on the card - very fun. I'll just make another sun when the time comes...

The girl on a beach towel was an add-on that Spellbinders offered - we all agreed it was nice to see a more realistic figure! I made her during this week's crafty Zoom call - both she & the sun were on my "mesk" (along with a lot of other stuff!). I love the bright color of the sun which I feel is an unusual one; it's called Saffron in the Spellbinders ColorWheel.

The cute little cup also comes in the beach girl set, plus the towel fringe. The set doesn't come with a towel, figuring everyone can form a rectangle. I found the perfect size die in my well-loved AJVD set! Since my beach girl is new, I'll add my card to the June NBUS Challenge #75.

For a bonus, I have my Craft Roulette card from Episode #273 which aired last night:

Supplies: Paper - Recollections; Neenah Solar White

Digi - Angie Blom Camping Adventures 

Stamps w/dies - Lawn Fawn Love You Smore (dies)

Stamps - Hero Arts Bring on the Merry (retired)

Other - foam tape; gel pens; Copics;

sentiment from the stash (old HA)

Host Mary had Justine Dvorak (‪@stationarybyjustinellc‬) as her guest, such a talent! Justine does a process video on her CR cards plus many other card making videos (especially with Spellbinders) which I enjoy watching. Check her out - nice Minnesotan - lives west of me about 2 hrs! The wheel spun some tricky parameters; I didn't finish my card until 90 minutes after the show!!

• Project - Lady's card: I made a birthday card for my sister-in-law; the bear is a lady.
• Colors - Candy Wrapper: Just about any color can be found on a candy wrapper!
• Element - Camp(s)(ing): I used a digital camper image; colored with Copics.
• Random - Belt(s): The camper stripes looked like belts but to be on the safe side, I hand drew a belt on the lady bear.

The camping stamp set that came to mind is at the satellite studio. Darn it! So I went to Angie Blom's website and searched for a camper digi - bingo! Purchased & printed - I expected a smaller print based on my trial print on copy paper. Nope, the minute I loaded cardstock I got a jumbo camper. Oh well - I made an A9 card (8.5x11" cardstock folded in half). That's a dreaded project to get on the wheel but it worked just fine for me!

Next I stamped and die cut the Lawn Fawn elements to add. Colored w/Copics. Found a sentiment in the bits box and popped it on. Besides a belt, I gave my lady bear a bow; this was stamped from an old HA Christmas set & fussy cut - done!

Thanks for stopping and have a crafty day!!

Love Birds Always & Forever!

TGIF & welcome! I'm sharing an anniversary card for my dear friend Connie and her hubby who I call my bro-in-law. It's not until August but I recently got the perfect Spellbinders set!

Supplies: Paper - Spellbinders A2 card;

DCWV Christmas Corrugated; scraps;

Spellbinders Betterpress Porcelain

Dies - Spellbinders Pretty Birds 

Glimmer Plate w/die - Spellbinders All You Need Sentiments

Other - foam tape; white gel pen;

leaves from the bits box (maybe Poppystamps)

I ordered this darling bird set when it was released earlier this month, hoping to get it for a June anniversary. It didn't happen but that's ok. I ended up sending those other friends (I was in their wedding) a previous card; just popped a Happy Anniversary sentiment onto it. When the Pretty Birds arrived this week, I got busy for Connie's August anniversary. 

I die cut all the birdie and perch pieces, plus the flowers & heart from the set. Assembled & then went looking for a suitable background. Patterned paper was too busy. Some solids too boring or too light. Then I happened upon a package of corrugated papers and found a dark green one. Don't the birdies pop on this color and texture? I was going to cut foliage from the same die set but I had a pile of leftover leaves from previous cards. Grabbed those, plus a sentiment strip I'd pressed with a Glimmer plate. 

I love these birdies so much and plan to make a bunch more anniversary cards with them. Since the die set is newly used here, I'll add my card to the June NBUS Challenge #75.

That's it for today, my friends! I'll be watching Craft Roulette in a few hours so will probably have a card from that to share tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping & happy crafting!!

Rudolph on Gift Box

Hi all - I'm back again with my third & final card for Christmas Kickstart Challenge #99 with Christmas Critters. Rudolph takes center stage in a super cute digital image from Whimsy Stamps.

Supplies: Paper - Bazzill A2 card; Neenah Solar White;

My Favorite Things Colorful Christmas

Digital - Whimsy Stamps Rudolph

Stamps w/dies - Taylored Expressions Season's Sweetings (dies HERE);

Hero Arts Gingerbread House Stamp & Cut 

(retired at HA but one left in stock HERE at Frantic Stamper)

Dies - Poppystamps Nordic Treeline;

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape; white gel pen

When I bought a new printer last fall, I surfed various companies for digital images to have on hand if needed. I found four different files at Whimsy Stamps, Rudolph being one of them. I printed him off, die cut with a stitched rectangle, colored with Copics and matted on red. I applied Glossy Accents to give him a shiny nose.

Added the panel to an A2 card covered with ornament patterned paper. Colored a couple Nordic trees from the treeline die cut and trimmed them off the line to add to the bottom left. While dipping into the bits box for a sentiment, I found a bitty gingerbread cookie so colored it & added to Rudolph's lifted hand. Done!

I'm also sending my card to Darnell's IDEAS where Anything Goes this week. And to the June NBUS Challenge #75 since the digital image is newly used today. 

I'm got my new brakes pads yesterday & had lunch with my friend Connie. Driving to our respective homes we both ran into heavy rain. I live in the east Twin Cities metro & she and her hubby in the far southwest. Luckily - no hail fell on either of us! Much as we need rain, that much in a short time was causing flash flooding & some of my plants took a beating. Oh well, they'll come back...

Thanks for stopping by and have a crafty day!!

Mantle Scene with Reindeer

Hi all - I wanted to get in another card for Christmas Kickstart Challenge #99 where they're doing Christmas Critters. I used a pair of reindeer on a mantle & finished it late last night:

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane A2 card; scraps;

Basic Grey 25th & Pine (from 2013)

Dies - Memory Box Wreath Sprigs 

& Pine Tree Grove (retired);

Waffle Flower Christmas Banners;

Spellbinders Mantle Village & Woodland Scene;

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Copic Markers E11 & 13; foam tape; 

white gel pen; Park Lane gems; HA pearls;

TH Gathered Twigs Distress Ink

I recently ordered the mantle from Spellbinders to go along with the mantle decor set I'd picked up locally. Couldn't find the decor set so used some reindeer from a snow globe add-on set. Added some pine sprigs from a Memory Box set and a pine grove die cut from glitter paper. Gems, pearls and a sentiment banner completed the card.

I'm also sending my card to Darnell's IDEAS where Anything Goes this week. And to the June NBUS Challenge #75 since the mantle and wreath sprigs are newly used today. Finally, I'm playing at Ally's Angels #95 where Anything Goes; I found this challenge through Wendy (Cártaí) who recently joined the Card Chain & is a DT member at Ally's Angels.

Just a quick post - I'm off to get some new brakes pads, then have lunch with a friend.

Thanks for stopping by and have a crafty day!!

Seaside

Happy Monday - I have another summer card today, inspired by the beach portion of the mood board for Just Us Girls #780.

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio A2 card; 

Neenah Solar White

Stamps with Dies - Hero Arts Studio June 2025 Card Kit

Other - Copic Markers; Glossy Accents; foam tape; 

Hero Arts Sand embossing powder; Versamark ink;

Memento Tuxedo Black ink; HA Blue Hawaii ink

My monthly HA Studio box arrived last week and I made a bicycle card here with some of the elements. I stamped all the rest of the elements and used some new ones today, along with some multiples from last week. I colored the elements I'd selected to feature, including the part of the beach towel I'd trimmed off for last week's card. 

I chose an ombre blue preformed A2 card & swiped Versamark ink across the bottom at a diagonal, masking off the top with a torn piece of copy paper. Embossed it with the sand powder that came with the June kit. Assembled the scene elements and added to the card, some using foam tape. Applied Glossy Accents to the sunglasses and camera. Chose a stacked sentiment from the stash I made last week and added it.

I'm also sending my card to Darnell's IDEAS where Anything Goes this week. And to the June NBUS Challenge #75 since I used some different new items from the June kit today.

Thanks for stopping by and have a crafty day!!

A Trio of Nordic Flower Pots

Hey everyone - it's my day to provide inspiration for the June Die Cut Diva Color Challenge! You can see today's Diva post here which includes the required color palette.  Below you'll see all the card details plus a bonus.

Supplies: Paper - Recollections Coffee & Cream;

Momenta Gemstones; scraps

Dies - Poppystamps Nordic Flower Pots and Stems, 

Nordic Drifting Flowers, Cortina Pinpoint Plate, 

Teardrop Butterflies (retired but still HERE at Frantic Stamper) 

& Basic Ovals

Other - Altenew enamel dots

Our sponsor is Poppystamps who has generously offered a $20 gift card for our randomly selected June winner.

I formed an A2 card from brown card stock that I thought resembled the brown in the palette photo. I cut the Nordic flower pots and leaves from the same brown & assembled. Added die cut flowers. Die cut the cover plate from the light taupe/cream color, trimmed a bit off and added to the card. 

Next I die cut an oval and trimmed off the bottom to make a little hill for my pots. Arranged them on the card and let one tip over. Die cut three butterflies and added them to the card with some enamel dots for the bodies. I left off the sentiment since I wasn't sure how I'd use this card yet.

Since my Nordic pots and flowers are newly used, I'll add my card to Darnell's June NBUS #75.

Ready for a bonus? I'd already started making a card with the Majestic Bloom set when I realized it wasn't available at Poppystamps anymore. Decided to use it for my bonus card since it can still be found HERE at Frantic Stamper! Still used the color palette, this time I included the medium peachy color too (from MFT's Colorful Canvas paper pad).

Simple die cutting and assembly then I added a printed sentiment strip from the stash. I doubled the leaves and curled the added layer for dimension.

Thanks for stopping by and have a crafty day!