Last Day for Die Cut Divas January 2025 Challenge!

Hi everyone - here's some last minute inspiration for the January 2025 Die Cut Divas Challenge to use something new. You can see more on today's Diva post. The challenge ends today at 9pm Pacific so link up for a chance to win a $15 gift card to Whimsy Stamps!

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Solar White;

Recollections orange; BoBunny dotted;

Authentique plaid; scrap of green

Digital - Whimsy Stamps One Year Wiser

Stamps with dies - Lawn Fawn All the Party Hats (dies HERE)

Dies - Hero Arts Tag Frame & Square Infinity Dies 

(both retired but squares HERE at Frantic Stamper)

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set;

My Favorite Things Blueprints 20 (retired)

Other - Copic Markers; Glossy Accents; 

Hero Arts enamel dots

Once again, I'm leading with a new digi I purchased this month. I couldn't resist the expression on that sweet owl &, of course, the book he's sitting on. Printed the digi, dried thoroughly then colored with Copics. Die cut the panel with a square die & matted in the same orange as the card base. Added glossy accents to the owl's glasses. Printed the digi sentiment from the One Year Wiser file & die cut with a label die, plus a shadow layer. I wanted something to fill the white space to the right so added a die cut banner. 

Next I die cut a stitched rectangle from a plaid paper that complimented the card and image. Adhered everything to an A2 card formed from orange cardstock. I found the perfect Happy Birthday sentiment on a Lawn Fawn set & stamped it on a scrap of green. Added an enamel dot on either side and glued to the card. The LF set with the sentiment is filled with party hats & I thought the owl would look cute with one! Stamped and die cut a hat & colored it with Copics. Trimmed the white border at the bottom of the hat so it would blend with the owl & glued it to the card - done!

Still with me? Here's a bonus:

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane A2 card; Neenah Solar White;

My Mind's Eye The Sweetest Thing (pattern); scraps;

Carta Bella It's a Celebration (green & blue/green)

Stamps - Lawn Fawn Happy Easter

Dies - Whimsy Stamps Penguin Pals;

Poppystamps Folk Decorated Eggs &

Scallop Tall Curve Border (both retired)

Other - Copic Markers for shading; foam tape

I forgot to mention when I shared my Whimsy penguin projects (here & here) that the set contains dies to turn the penguins into chicks! So versatile and cute!! I assembled the chicks and added to an A2 card with patterned paper & some Poppy borders (getting first play here too). I cut the borders from both white and colored papers, then pieced the colored parts into the main openings. You could leave them open but I wanted to cover part of the busy patterned paper. Decided some eggs would be cute so die cut 5 white ones with a Poppy die. Stamped a Lawn Fawn Easter sentiment and fussy cut it; added to the card with foam tape.

I'll add my chicks to Darnell's January NBUS Challenge #70 since the chicks and borders are newly used.

That's it for today. Hope to see you in our Die Cut Divas January Challenge gallery! Thanks for stopping and happy crafting!!

Abstract Triangles with a Cute Monster!

Hey there - I'm here today doing a companion post with my friend Lin (Sending Hugs), both of us using a Pinkfresh Studio hot foil plate called Abstract Triangles. I made a Valentine with a letterpressed triangle background; you can see her gorgeous foiled card HERE.

Supplies: Paper - Recollections A2 card;

Spellbinders Betterpress Porcelain; scraps

Stamps - Hero Arts Flower Girls (retired)

Dies - Spellbinders Monster Love Pop (DOML-Dec24);

Hero Arts Nested Hearts (retired);

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Press Plates w/dies - Spellbinders A Little Message Sentiments

Other - foam tape

Earlier in the week I mentioned just opening a Pinkfresh Studio package from October. I'd taken advantage of some of their clearance items, including the Abstract Triangles plate. Sadly, they are sold out now but I had ended up putting two in my cart - oops! I thought of Lin who likes to hot foil & sent the extra plate to her. 

I tend to letterpress my foil plates more than I foil them! Same here - pressed it with Strawberry ink on porcelain paper. Trimmed it down with a stitched rectangle die and gave it a red mat. Added to an A2 card. Decided to make a Valentine card with added items from Spellbinders Monster Love Pop. A Valentine sentiment from a retired Hero Arts stamp set & some bitty die cut hearts finished the card.

Thanks to Lin for sharing a post day with me! I've known her for over 15 years through the old Hero Arts online group & blogging. Such a talented cardmaker & lovely person!! She generously sent me an embossed butterfly panel & some cuts of the Greetery Nordic Bird which I'll be using soon! Thanks Lin!

I'll add my card to Darnell's January NBUS Challenge #70 since both my background and monster are newly used.

Thanks for stopping by & I hope you'll check back tomorrow for my post celebrating the last day of the January Die Cut Diva Challenge.

Stenciled Winter Street

Happy Sunday! If you're in the US you're probably watching football - I am! But before the first game started, I finished a card for Just Us Girls #759 Stencil Week.

Supplies: Paper - Recollections A2 card;

Betterpress Porcelain; Hero Arts black;

scraps of red and glitter white

Press Plate - Pinkfresh Studio Holiday Street

Stencils - Pinkfresh Studio Holiday Street;

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set;

Poppystamps Lavish Merry Christmas

Other - Various inks for stenciling; Hero Arts sparkle lacquer;

Copic Markers for shading; foam tape; Glossy Accents

Back in October I ordered some fun goodies from Pinkfresh Studio. Sad to say, I just opened the package last Monday! So I was determined to get a JUGS card made this weekend using the Holiday Street Press Plate with coordinating stencils. I pressed the plate with Betterpress Black ink onto a 5x7" porcelain panel. Next I used the 7 step stencil set, pulling #7 into the 4 spot and creating a quick mask to do an extra step on the sky. I wanted to do the windows in yellow which the stencil layers make a challenge. If I were Jennifer McGuire I'd make masks to cover the windows at certain steps & open them at other. Too much work for me - I just did what I could. Some Copic shading, Stickles and Glossy Accents finished the panel. I die cut the dried panel with a stitched rectangle, added a black mat and adhered to an A2 card. Pulled out a Poppystamps sentiment from the bits box and popped it on with foam tape.

Here are stencil step photos - warning, there's a bunch! You'll see I skipped stenciling the snow areas, leaving them white. Skip to end, if you'd like, for a bonus card...

Still with me? Here's a quick bonus - I pressed the image and die cut with a smaller rectangle, then matted and added to an A2 card. Copic colored just the window with Y19 & Y11. Added a sentiment banner that was in the bits box - might be Taylored Expressions. I took this to my cousin yesterday; he & his family moved to a new house just a mile away from me - yay!! 

So this was actually the first play of my press plate but no stencils involved. Since the stencils were newly used on card one, I'll add that one to Darnell's January NBUS Challenge #70.

That's it, friends. Thanks for stopping by!!

Slimline Valentine in Lumberjack Colors!

TGIF friends! Just finished my card for Craft Roulette #251 just after the show ended tonight so thought I'd share it quickly.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Solar White;

Hero Arts black glitter; Paper Studio Holiday

Stamps w/dies - Taylored Expressions Filled with Love

& Like Gnome Other (both retired)

Dies - AJVD Slimline Heart Window Word Cover Plate Set

Other - Recollection doilies and enamel hearts;

Copic Markers

Host Mary Gunn FUNN had Lori Craig (Make a Difference) as her guest. Lori works for OLO Markers and is on the design team at Taylored Expressions. Funny - I didn't know this about her and she mentioned it after I'd already pulled out my TE gnomes to play with. It's another case of a stamp set being retired already but I'm using it for the first time!! 

Here's what the wheel spun for us:

• Project - Slimline Card: I formed a tall slimline from cardstock.
• Colors - Lumberjack: I went with red/black like a typical lumberjack shirt.
• Element - Hat(s) or Cap(s): My gnomes have pointed hats.
• Random - Lace or Doily: I used premade doilies from Michaels (their Valentine stuff is on sale this week).

I had pulled out the slimline die set this week, planning to make another Valentine. So that worked perfectly for the CR project! Die cut it from a dark red & adhered to the card, then die cut doilies for two of the heart opening. I saved the three hearts that cut with the frame for a future card. The third doily I just left as it came out of the package, overlapping the card. It'll fit into an A9 envelope. 

Next I die cut one of the word dies in the set from black glitter paper. Stamped and die cut the gnomes, then colored with Copics. Stamped and fussy cut the sentiment (the dies with that stamp set cut conversation hearts). Added the gnomes and sentiment to the card with foam tape. Three enamel hearts finished the card.

I'll share my card at Darnell's January NBUS Challenge 70 since my gnomes are getting first play here.

Thanks for stopping and have a crafty weekend!!

More baubles & a Valentine!

Hey there - it's affecting you, I hope you're surviving the deep freeze!! It's warmed up to above 0F here so that's a relief! Still, perfect weather for staying in and crafting! I have a couple of cards to share that I made yesterday. First up another bauble card for Christmas Kickstart #94 (second of 3 max):

Supplies: Paper - Recollections grey A2 card;

Scrap of red; Betterpress Pebble

Embossing folder w/dies - SSS Fancy Ornaments

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints 26; 

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Press Plate with dies - Spellbinders Merry & Bright Sentiment Strips 

Other - Recollections gem; Hero Arts ink; Betterpress Thunder ink

Back in December I placed an order with Simon Says Stamp & they generously sent this beautiful ornament embossing folder as a gift. I love the 3D detail & the set includes 3 dies to cut ornaments. Embossed a pale grey A2 panel (same as the card base) that had been die cut with a stitched rectangle. Went to add some silver metallic ink to the details & the foam pad fell off the inkpad! Big blob on the panel so I grabbed the loose pad and spread ink all over the panel, then threw away the inkpad. Had to dry the panel thoroughly since the inkpad was very juicy!!

Next I die cut one of the ornaments and ran it through the embossing folder. Adhered it over the silver one. Added some red ink to the details (no problems this time!) & then a die cut bow with gem. Added the panel to a red mat & then to the card. A Betterpressed sentiment finished things off.

Since my ornament folder is new, I'm also adding my card to Darnell's January NBUS Challenge #70 & also to Merry Little Christmas #60 (my 4th of 8 max).

I started my Valentine cards with a new-to-me diagonal striped coverplate from Lawn Fawn.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Solar White;

BoBunny Love Letters 6x6 pad; scraps of red

Dies - Hero Arts Love You Stamp Cut XL &

Nesting Hearts (both retired but HERE & HERE at Frantic Stamper);

SSS Easy Strips Rectangles (from THIS SET);

Lawn Fawn Simple Stripes Diagonal 

Other - SSS Everyday EZ Strips; foam tape

My local stamping store has 20% off Lawn Fawn this month so I picked up a couple items, including the diagonal stripes plate. Cut it from 3 different patterned panels in the same BoBunny pad. Arranged the stripes switching up the patterns onto an A2 card. Will have three panels done once I get to the other two... Tip for next time - arrange them on an A2 sized panel of typing paper, then adhere to card base! I had to fudge a bit going directly to the card base.

Next I die cut a heart from another BoBunny pattern (same pad) and layered onto a larger red heart for the focal point. Die cut & stacked a couple white LOVEs and shadowed with a red one. Added to the layered heart with foam tape and adhered to the card. Die cut a few extra BoBunny patterned hearts to add to the LOVE, plus a small heart to carry a sentiment strip. I bought the SSS EZ strip Joy package in December too, plus the everyday strips. So fun for a quick sub-sentiment.

That's all for now. Thanks for stopping by & happy crafting!

Merry Cactus!

Hello everyone - time for my Die Cut Diva inspiration post! I'm sharing the first card below at the Divas HERE but you can only find the details, plus bonuses, right here!!

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Solar White; 

Paper Studio Holiday

Digi - Whimsy Lounge Lizard 

Stamps - Hero Arts Merry Cactus to You (retired)

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set;

Hero Arts Tag Frame Infinity Dies (retired)

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape; 

Hero Arts Sparkle Lacquer; Glossy Accents

The Divas have no "sponsor" this month but Whimsy has donated a lovely $15 gift card to their online store. Thanks Whimsy!! We will award the prize by random drawing on February 3rd. 

I love Whimsy & have enjoyed seeing their digital releases but hadn't been able to buy any until now. Now that I finally have a new printer - woo hoo, I invested in a few of them. I downloaded Lounge Lizard last week and it's getting first play here - so fun to color!!

Sized the image in Word and printed. Allowed to dry thoroughly, then die cut with a stitched rectangle. Colored with Copics and added sparkle to the star & Glossy Accents to the light bulbs and the lizard's eyes. Stamped an old HA cactus sentiment on a scrap of white & die cut it with a label, plus a shadow. Assembled on an A2 card - done!

I'll add my card to Darnell's January NBUS Challenge #70 since Lounge Lizard is newly used. My card will also go to Merry Little Christmas Challenge #60 (my 3rd entry). 

Ready for a couple bonus cards? You saw a tag card with penguins for Craft Roulette early this month. Well, I made several sets of penguins in one sitting with my new Whimsy Penguin Pals set and used a couple of them on cards I needed:

Supplies: Paper - Recollections A2 card; Neenah white;

scraps; dotted paper by unk

Stamps - Stampabilities (Hobby Lobby) Birthday

Dies - Whimsy Stamps Penguin Pals; 

Lawn Fawn Stitched Hillside Borders;

Sunny Studio Layered Snowflake Frame;

Spellbinders Balloon Birthday Wishes (DOML-May23)

Layered Mix & Match Sentiments (retired) 

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape; gems

Besides the penguin set being new, the label was from a Spellbinders subscription box from May 2023 that got first play. Funny thing though, I found it on sale in Arizona & bought it for my sister's stash - so it was newly used there. My own set is around here somewhere... Also newly purchased for my sister's stash - the Sunny Studio snowflake frame set which included the sentiment Winter Wishes. I squeezed in a Spellbinder's birthday die cut to make this a winter bday card for my great-niece, Annika. Stamped and fussy cut the cupcake and gift, then colored with Copics. The dotted paper was in a make & take we did in Arizona; I didn't catch the brand. My sister liked part of the make & used it, but not the dotted paper. I repurposed it here.

Update: thanks to Gundi for the referral, I'll link my penguin birthday card to Dream Factory Challenge #135 - Surf's Up. The movie is about penguins so you can take inspiration from that critter, not just surfing.

Here's another penguin card; the Whimsy set makes three different sizes.

Additional supplies - BoBunny Tuxedos & Tiara's patterned paper

Dies - Doodlebug Designs Many Thanks (retired)

label by unk

Other - Diamond Stickles

That's it for today friends. Happy crafting & I hope to see you in the January Diva gallery!

An Oval Frame Fold for Craft Roulette #250

Hey there - hope you're having a lovely day! Time for another Craft Roulette card, this time for Craft Roulette Episode #250 which I watched LIVE last night. I worked on my card but wasn't able to finish it during the show. Got it done by 9pm but didn't feel like uploading anything. Still feeling under the weather but definitely improved over last weekend!! 

Here's what I made:

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane gold; scrap of brown;

Paper Studio Holiday; BoBunny Banner Year

Dies - Poppystamps Oval Fold Frame, 

Spectacular Happy Birthday & 

Reeded Deco Curve Border (both retired)

Other - buttons by unk; DMC 433 floss

Host Mary Gunn FUNN had Justine Hovey (her YouTube) as her guest. Justine is a Canadian living/teaching in Germany & she does crafty summits with tips on using your existing stash. I definitely need those!!

Here's what the wheel spun for us:

• Project - FUNN Fold Card: I made a fancy gatefold.
• Colors - Nostalgic: I went with a combo from my youth - harvest gold, buffalo brown & avocado green. Remember those avocado green appliances and shag carpet?
• Element - Blanket: Stretching it, my patterned paper has a blanket of flowers.
• Random - Button(s): I added buttons to the corners of my deco frame.

I did an inventory of my Poppystamps dies before I went shopping the other day. Remembered the Oval Frame Fold die in my stash and decided to use it here. I cut two and added one to each side of an A2 panel for the back. Poppystamps sold various borders to decorate the frame & I have a few. The only one I see in stock now is the Snowflake Tall Curve Border which I don't own (yet). Frantic Stamper has others - see some HERE, if desired.

I die cut the Reeded Deco border twice from gold cardstock and added to the front sides. Threaded four small buttons with embroidery floss and added to the corners. The frame has a center oval die which I used to cut a floral patterned paper. In the parameter discussion, several people mentioned blankets of things, like snow & flowers, to use instead of a literal blanket image. So I went with it. 

I had trouble deciding how to finish off this card with a sentiment. Decided on a bold layered sentiment which I reinforced with an extra shadow layer behind the brown. Glued just the left and right edges to make a bridge on the card. Now it pops up when it comes out of the envelope. 

Here are a couple more views:

That's it for today, friends. I've enjoyed my Christmas decorations long enough and am packing them away this afternoon, plus watching football. Have a great weekend!

Bauble Branch

Hey there - finally back with something not for Craft Roulette - LOL. Holidays were busy with being gone to visit family in AZ for two weeks. I still have my Christmas decorations up to enjoy them a bit more before packing them away! And I'm sharing a Christmas card since it's always time to build that stash!!

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Solar White;

My Favorite Things Colorful Christmas Text (retired)

Digi file - Bauble Branch by unk

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Copic Markers; Recollections gems

I started by covering an A2 card with holiday texty paper. I printed a bauble digi file that I've had a while and can't tell the brand. Looking at it I'm guessing Hero Arts, oh well... It's retired, whatever it is.

Colored the bauble branch panel with Copics and die cut with a stitched rectangle. Sponged some Tumbled Glass DI in from the corners and edged with Black Soot DI. The sentiment was part of the digi package, along with another sentiment & a couple more images - such a great value. I'm happy to have a working printer again & be able to use my digis!! I finished the main bauble with some gems in the center & at the end of each snowflake prong.

I'm sending my card to Christmas Kickstart Challenge #94 where Jo & elf Julia are Bringing the Baubles (ornaments to us Americans). I'll also link up to Merry Little Christmas #60 (my second entry).

Thanks for visiting and have a crafty day!!

A Zoyfold Card - What's a Zoyfold??

Hello all - I came back Sunday from my two week holiday in AZ &, of course, picked up some bug along the way. Have felt good, except for coughing periodically. Much better today than I was earlier in the week- yay. Well enough to watch Craft Roulette Episode #249 tonight and finish a card. I just didn't get it uploaded before the show ended, oh well - still good to upload through Thursday if you're a member.... (details HERE).

Here's what I made:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Solar White;

Basic Grey Juniper Berry; BoBunny Black Tie Affair

Stamps - Hero ArtsBasic Grey collab Happy Holidays (retired) 

Dies - Sunny Studio Layered Snowflake Frame

Other - Recollections gems

Host Mary Gunn FUNN had Lydia Fiedler (Understand Blue) as her guest. Anyone on Splitcoaster Stamper knows Lydia. She does video for Hero Arts, as well as her own. Here's what the wheel spun for us:

• Project - Zoyfold: Say what?? Well, the wheel did it - landed on Zoyfold for project - yikes!! What is it? It's a card format that Mary and a CR member made up combining a Z-fold with a Joy-fold. 
• Colors - Elegant: Black and white seem elegant to me.
• Element - Front Door: Stamped house has a front door.
• Random - Three Circles: Stamped panel below the house has three circles.

First you fold back the front of an A2 card to form the Z, then add a panel to fold in from the right for the Joy-fold. I scored a small panel at 1/4" and adhered to the right, then added patterned paper to the card's inside to cover the tab. Trimmed patterned paper to 2 1/8 x 5.5" for the front of the Z tab. 

I'll add a block of white for the inside sentiment later or else write on the back. I added three die cut snowflakes; one at left is glued only to the left so the Joy panel can slide under it. Holds it down - sort of - probably needs a bigger snowflake!! To finish off, I added gems to the snowflake centers and to the centers of the small flowers in the circles.

Here's a view from the front with the card standing up:

I'll add my card to the January We Love Stamping Challenge since my Joy panel is stamped. Will also share my Christmas card at the January Merry Little Christmas Challenge #60.

That's it for today - hope you have a great weekend! Thanks for stopping!!

A Tag Card for Craft Roulette 248

TGIF everyone! Just finished watching Craft Roulette Episode #248 LIVE and made my project during the show! Doesn't happen as often as I'd like but the show ran a bit long and I was able to get it done.

Supplies: Paper - Copic white; scraps;

Paper Studio Textures 12x12"

Cricut file - Doodletype (tag)

Stamps - Hero Arts Laughter & Joy &

Holiday Sayings (both retired)

Dies - Whimsy Penguin Pals;

Sunny Studio Layered Snowflake Frame

Other - Copic Markers; scrap of ribbon; foam tape

Host Mary Gunn FUNN had Sara Lihz Staroska (Sassys LLC) as her guest. The wheel spun some interesting parameters:

• Project - Tag(s): I made a tag card.
• Colors - Disney: I used red/black/white/yellow for Mickey; orange for Donald & green for any frog!
• Element - January: Snowflakes, since MN gets plenty of snow in January!
• Random - Branch(es)(ing): A Christmas tree has branches.

I used a Cricut which I hadn't done in AGES!! Kinda fun. Cut two 5.5" long tags in white and scored the back one, gluing above the score line. Also cut one in a patterned red and adhered to the front tag. Added a scrap of ribbon to the tag.

Next I trimmed a white piece to be a snowbank. Adhered to the tag. Stamped, fussy cut and colored the tree & added into the snowbank. I'd die cut and assembled a bunch of penguins for an upcoming Die Cut Diva post so I went ahead and used a couple here. Die cut and added the snowflakes, plus a stamped sentiment. Done!

I always love to get something done during the show, reminds me of the old Hero Arts Scrambles!

Thanks for stopping by and have a crafty weekend!!

December 2024 Card Chain Reveal

Hi friends - I hope 2025 is treating you well so far! I'm here to reveal cards that went around the world for the December Card Chain Challenge. Nineteen people participated - fewer than usual due to the busy holidays; you can see the full reveal HERE! My card went to dear Michaela (Bastelmichaela) in Austria. I got an early start and mailed it in November to beat the holiday mail rush; she received it quickly as a result.

Supplies: Paper - Recollections A2 card; Tim Holtz kraft metallic;

Hero Art Glitter Basics; Neenah Solar White;

Hobby Lobby Oh Holy Night (plaid);

Authentique Colorful Christmas (striped)

Dies - Spellbinders Stocking Full of Joy (DOML-Jul23;  retired)

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set;

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

Hero Arts November 2024 Hero Studio Card Kit of the Month

Embossing Folder - Darice Stars (retired)

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape

Gail created one massive 5x5 "Fiendishly Festive" tic-tac-toe board for us to use on our December cards:

I went with the top left to bottom right diagonal to create my card: Sapphire/Sock/Stars/Sparkle/Silver

I started by die cutting a stocking from a sapphire plaid pattern. The stocking details were die cut from glittery white cardstock. Next I die cut a stitched rectangle into kraft metallic cardstock which I embossed with a Darice starry folder. I cut a smaller stitched rectangle from candy cane striped paper to cut down on the glare of the silver background. Next I stamped, die cut and colored a poinsettia for the stocking top & stamped/die cut a sentiment. Assembled and done!

I received the card below from my sweet friend Gundi (papierelle) in Germany. I just love that sweet Santa & she also included the 3D trees which I arranged behind the card:

That's it for today. If you'd like to join the January 2025 Card Chain, you have until the 6th to sign up - details HERE.

Thanks for stopping & happy crafting!!