Last Day for July 2025 Diva Birthday Challenge

Hey crafty friends - If you need a quick birthday project and are using dies &/or an embossing folder, check out our July Die Cut Diva Birthday Challenge! You have until 9pm Pacific Time today to link up. 

Our end of month team has some inspiration at DCD where I'm sharing my gift box below. You can only find the details and a bonus on this personal post.

Supplies: Paper - My Favorite Things

Watercolor Wash & Orange Sherbet; scraps

Stamps - MFT Mini Messages & More

Dies - MFT Everyday Gift Box,

Arched Happy Birthday,

Die Cuts and Scraps,

Fundamental Florals

Other - Hero Arts Grape Slush ink

We were to be sponsored by My Favorite Things which sadly has closed. We'll still be offering a $25 gift card randomly drawn from eligible July entries; just to a different store than MFT.

I will miss MFT very much! I've said before how much I love their Blueprints but I also love their boxes! This sweet gift box fits a gift card or a small jewelry box.

I die cut the box bottom & top, plus a scalloped layer & the tag, all included in the gift box set (link is to Frantic Stamper where they still have one left as of this writing). Assembled the box with the layer. Stamped a sentiment on the tag. Die cut a bday sentiment and outline layer, plus some flowers from various sets. Very quick and easy! Here's a view with the box lid off where you can see the gift card inside:

Ready for a bonus? This time I made an A2 sized birthday card:

Supplies: Paper - Spellbinders A2 card;

My Favorite Things Watercolor Wash;

Neenah Solar White; scraps 

Stamps - MFT All Occasion Scripted Greetings

& Let's Celebrate

Dies - MFT Stitched Center Strip,

 Die Cuts and Scraps, Drink Décor,

Party Décor, Long Stem Barware,

Garnish

Other - Hero Arts enamel dots; foam tape

Die cut all the elements and assembled. The frame was cut four times and stacked. I backed one and stamped before I stacked the rest. Added the elements and dots, trimming any excess & adhered to an A2 card. Quite easy, even the sprinkles on the cupcake.

I will add my card to Darnell's IDEAS (Anything Goes this week) and to her July NBUS Challenge #76 since my drinks and décor are newly used here. Also to Seize the Birthday #310 using the Anything Goes option. My fave color (purple) is on the box, not the card...

Thanks for stopping by and please link your final projects to our July Diva Birthday Challenge! (limit 4 max) by 9pm Pacific Time! Happy crafting!!

Final Day of Paperganza

Hey friends - I'm back with Saturday's activities at Paperganza, plus the games we played on both days. Our first class was with Libby Hickson, now with Pink and Main. I've known her for many years from when she worked with Hero Arts; this was our first in-person meet. Libby taught two different cards - first up, a sweet strawberry basket box card:

Supplies: Provided papers all die cut

Dies - Pink and Main Berry Pop Up

Other - Pink and Main gems & foiled sentiment

The second card was a fun shaker using one of P&M's A2 layering shaker covers:

Supplies: Paper - provided in kit

Stamps - Pink and Main Bugs & Berries

Dies - Pink and Main Scallop Rectangle Dies

Other - Pink and Main Small A2 Shaker Cover;

special shaker mix for event;

our own markers (I used Copics)

The second class was from Karen Burniston who does the amazing inside pop-up cards. Actually, I just remembered she was second on Friday - oops; I flipped her with Amanda. In any event, I'll show the card closed then open:

Supplies: Paper - Echo Park Bee Happy &

others provided & pre-cut

Dies - Karen Burniston Photo Fan Pop-up,

Flutter Charms, Word Set 12 Anniversary,

Fun Flowers, Lorna Label Pop-up (fishtail banner),

Stamps - Karen Burniston Popcorn Phrases &

Photo Memories

During the afternoon on each day, we played a game. On Friday, each pod received an envelope of 8 card packets, all with a card base, envelope & stamped elements. Our pod got a Colorado Craft Company Big & Bold Hello Bunny; here was my take:

I ink blended the edges of an A7 card with blue & the bunny with Antique Linen DI. Colored the rest with Copic Markers, then added some stickles to the flowers. Adhered Ms. Bunny to the card with foam tape & did the same with the fussy cut sentiment. The seed embellishments were given to us with the packet. Not really my cup of tea so I gave the rest of mine to podmate Kimberly who loved them.

On Saturday, we had a card swap with 10 of the cards we brought. The 11th card had been displayed around the room throughout the event on colorful decorated poster boards. For the game, this card was given to someone in the room who had to CASE it and give their card to the originator. I ended up with a card using a lady image that reminded me of Mary Poppins. Luckily, we'd received Mary Poppins papers (The Practically Perfect Nanny from Relatively Thoughtful) in our swag. Here's a photo of Teresa with her card and me with my CASE of her card. We then kept each other's cards.

Betsy, one table over, got my robot card to CASE; she did a great job using stamps in the swag bag. I'm holding the card she made me and she has my robot card (details HERE if you missed them).

In the evening, there was a mystery theater production that included attendees in roles. We had to guess "who dun it". It ran a bit long but the attendees who took roles were very good! Paperganza was such an incredible event; I hope they hold another one next year!!

We received so much swag and other free stuff - seemed like someone was constantly popping by the pods to deliver glue, dies, stickles - unreal! I was glad to be driving home so I could fit it all in my vehicle!!

Thanks for visiting and checking out my Paperganza cards! I'll be back tomorrow with an end-of-month post for Die Cut Divas (July Birthday Challenge link HERE).

Happy crafting!!

More fun from Paperganza

Hi all - I'm back with more on Paperganza, the in-person Craft Roulette event held this past weekend. Warning: photo heavy post ahead!

On Friday, things started early with a pastries breakfast followed by two classes. Class one was taught by Tanya Kostynuk from Riley and Company, the one with the darling moose image who now has cute friend images and snarky sayings. We used the Crocodile friend on our card:

Supplies: Paper - Photo Play A2 Zfolds & 

Salt & Sea Collection

Stamps - Riley and Company Funny Bones Summer Body,

Basic Dress Up Crocodile & Dress Up Beach Accessories

Tanya, a breast cancer survivor, has tons of energy & a great teaching style. The class kit contained 2 Z-fold card bases, one of which we cut down so we could make a double Z card. It also included layering papers & elements ready to assemble. Tanya had the images stamped & colored, then made into a print and die cut for us. This is a handy way to make a bunch of cards - try it at home with images you've painstakingly colored! I've listed and linked the Riley and Company supplies to Tanya's store.

Here's a photo of the card open:

Class two was taught by Amanda Stevens from Pear Blossom Press (a co-planner of Paperganza) using her light products along with adorable items from Trinity Stamps. We actually made two light-up card during the session! I'll show the card as is and lit.

 

Supplies: Provided papers already die cut

Stamps - PB Press Stamp and Die Bundle

Dies - Trinity Stamps Blast Off

Other - Pear Blossom Press One Light;

Trinity star embellishments (special mix

for the event)

You use vellum in the light up area and it shows off nicely!!

Supplies: provided die cut papers

Stamps - Trinity Stamps Hey Cupcake

Dies - Trinity Stamps Cupcake Card

Other - Pear Blossom Press Candle Light

You huff on the lit candle and it blows out!!

Aren't those light up cards amazing?! Of course, it would take much more time if you had to die cut all the elements. Double thick foam tape (she used a 3M tape) goes behind the element with the "push" stamped. You line up the light's on button behind the "push" and then use the thick foam around the battery pack. Amanda shared tips of how to mail the cards with a panel to keep the battery from engaging. You can also make the cards with a trap door to get at the battery pack to change the battery (not done in this class).

After lunch we had some open crafting time. I stamped and colored some images for an upcoming card. Then we played a game - I'll share the games in a separate post. We had time for Happy Hour in the bar, then a buffet dinner before Craft Roulette 277 aired live right from the hotel - so fun!! Neither host Mary Gunn nor her guest Amanda Stevens ended up making cards on camera. There was plenty of banter with attendees before some technical difficulties; Mary had just come over to talk to me when the roaming mic died - oh well, I was busy crafting! I made my card during the LIVE & uploaded it to the gallery using my phone - a first for me! But when I got home I took a better photo:

Supplies: Paper - Brutus Monroe Circus Life;

Max Macias handmade papers

A2 cards gifted from podmate Erica

Stamps - Craft Roulette The Basics

Other - CR business card

Here's my contribution view with the spun parameters:

• Project - Zoyfold: This format is a Zfold with an added card to fold over it - what's called a Joyfold. 
• Colors - Local Sport: I did red/gold for the Kansas City Chiefs! 
• Element - Craft Roulette: I used a CR business card included in the swag bag, plus stamps from their merch store.
• Random - Up-to-Date: Mary referenced a song "Up to Date in Kansas City" so that's what I stretched mine to be since I was LIVE in Kansas City.

Here's a view of the card standing so you can see the Joyfold part better:

After the roaming mics died, Mary & Amanda headed back to the broadcast table and did more giveaways. My sister-in-law Donna won something & so did Arlene; I was the unlucky one this time... After the show, our pod headed back to the bar for desserts! Fun day!!

I'll be back tomorrow to share the Day 2 classes & the games. Thanks for visiting & happy crafting!

A Robot & ATC for Paperganza!

Hey crafty friends! I've been MOA for a bit - here's why - PAPERGANZA!! I was very excited to travel to a Craft Roulette in-person event in Kansas City this past weekend. I drove down with my sister-in-law Donna and we met Diva Arlene (A Bit of This and That) who flew in from California.

Here's the card I created for the Paperganza card swap:

Supplies: Paper - Spellbinders A2 card;

Sunny Studio Rainbow Bright; scraps;

My Favorite Things Black Licorice & Limelight

Dies - Trinity Stamps Robot Builder;

Hero Arts Phrase Bubbles (retired)

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Embossing Folder - Sizzix Interface (retired)

Other - Recollections gems and heart;

computer printed sentiment

We had to bring 11 so here's a shot of the entire batch:

It took many hours to assemble 11 little robots, especially paper-piecing the bitty roulette wheel - yikes! I made most of robots the same, except for eye color changes. If you look closely, though, I gave the robot at lower right lips! I used a Spellbinders sun die set (see a card with the sun HERE). It was very fussy so I ended up only doing one with the lips - LOL. But I enjoyed the effort to create these little guys - attendees loved them! I'll tell you what we did with them in another post.

The fun started with Thursday night check-in/meet & greet and ended with a dinner Saturday night. While hotel costs were separate, the event fee included all meals, classes and an incredible swag bag. The hotel meeting room was arranged with tables of 8 with plenty of room for crafting! They called them "pods" and allowed for decorating them. We kept ours simple just some sparkly tablecloths and low centerpieces that didn't impinge on views of the instructors. I brought an ATC and some Spellbinders gems as a little gift for my podmates:

Supplies: Paper - many scraps

Dies - Whimsy Slimline ATC Windows;

Spellbinders 4 Petal Thank You Floral,

Colorful Expressions Sentiments (DOM-Aug24), 

& Honey Bee Jar (DOML-Jan24)

Stencil - Frantic Stamper Old Brick Wall

Other - Paper Studio stars; Hero Arts Unicorn White ink

On the back I used Whimsy ATC Frames and Signatures stamps.

Here's a photo of Arlene, me & Donna (left to right) shortly after check-in. I look pretty windblown from unpacking the car - yikes!

I'll be back tomorrow with more photos & details, as well as my Craft Roulette card made during the event. 

I'm adding my robot card to Darnell's July NBUS Challenge #76 since the robot builder dies are newly used.

Thanks for stopping by and have a crafty day!!

Embossed Circle Snowflakes

Hi everyone - This week Darnell is doing E = Embossing for her IDEAS project. I thought I'd play along, plus combine it with something round for Christmas Kickstart #100 (third & final card). The Spellbinders July 3D embossing folder just arrived in the Spellbinders box and it's perfect for CKC.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah white and silver;

My Favorite Things Very Merry & Black Licorice

Embossing folder - Spellbinders Starry Snowfall (3EOM-Jul25)

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set;

Hero Arts Nesting Circle Infinity Dies;

My Favorite Things A2 Stitched Circle Stax

Other - foam tape; Taylored Expressions sticker seal;

Spellbinders Christmas Puffy Sticker

First I die cut a white stitched rectangle. Inked the inside of the 3D ef with a pale blue ink and ran it through my Platinum 6. Matted the panel in black and added it to a silver A2 card. Next I put a Taylored Expressions Merry sticker on a scrap of white and die cut it with a circle. Added a black mat that I'd die cut with a stitched circle. Adhered a strip of text paper to the card along with two thin black strips. Added the sentiment circle with foam tape, then put a Christmas puffy sticker below the Merry. Very quick and easy!

I'll also link my card to Merry Little Christmas #63 where Anything Goes Christmas & to NBUS #76 since my embossing folder is getting first play here.

That's it for today. Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting!!

 

Big Birthday Balloon!

Hello friends - I've posted at Die Cut Divas today with the first card below. You can only find all details and a bonus here!!

Supplies: Paper - Spellbinders A2 card; 

MFT Petite Gingham; Poptone Blu Raspberry; scraps

Dies - MFT Blueprints 26

We were to be sponsored by My Favorite Things this month & they had requested birthdays since it's their birthday month. Sadly, they have closed but don't worry, we'll still be offering a prize!

I fell in love with My Favorite Things starting with their Blueprints die sets. So, I thought it would be fitting to use one of my first Blueprints - the fabulous #26 which works perfectly for birthdays! I simply die cut the elements and assembled on an A2 card with a bottom border strip. Very quick & easy!! I linked to Frantic Stamper who still has this set but Simon Says Stamp also has some in stock (just slightly more expensive).

For my bonus, I went with another fave Blueprints set that I've used several times over the years. This one isn't available either at FS or SSS however.

Supplies: Paper - Spellbinders A2 card; 

MFT Petite Gingham, Orange Sherbet, 

& Watercolor Wash; scraps

Dies - MFT Blueprints 20 (retired)

Stamps - MFT Something for Everything (retired)

Ink - Hero Arts Amethyst

Another quick and easy card with die cutting, plus a stamped sentiment. I stacked the label with three white ones behind the purple one for dimension. The gingham looks rather blue in the photo but it's a lavender that coordinates well with the other papers...

That's it for today, friends. We'd love to see your birthday projects using dies &/or embossing folders in the July Diva Gallery!

Thanks for stopping & happy crafting!!

An Easel Card for Craft Roulette

Hey crafty friends - hope you're having a great weekend! I watched Craft Roulette #276 last night &, while I crafted along, I just missed getting my card submitted during the LIVE.

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts

many scraps

Dies - Poppystamps Winter Porch Pop up Easel Set;

Spellbinders Open House Door Base

Other - rope; scrap of ribbon;

Tim Holtz Christmas Paper Dolls

Host Mary had Charlet Mallett (‪@charletmallett6605‬) as a first time guest. Charlet is a graphic designer who does a lot of TikTok videos. I linked to her YouTube, though it seems she hasn't posted there for a few years... They spun the roulette wheel for our four parameters; a couple curveballs:

• Project - Easel Card: I formed a pop up easel using a Poppystamps die set.
• Colors - Rainbow: I used every color, except indigo (blue Copic along the icicles).
• Element - Western: I made a rope wreath for the door. 
• Random - A B&W image: I used a Tim Holtz paper doll. Might be called sepia, but I stretched it...

Here's a side view of this pop-up easel, plus a modified from view. 

This morning I removed the rope wreath which would be tough to mail and added some Tim Holtz ephemera. Do you do that too? Modify your cards after they're made, I mean. I think I like it this way better. What do you think of the modifications? Comment, if desired. 

I will link my modified card to Merry Little Christmas #63 where Anything Goes Christmas.

Still with me? I can't resist showing a photo (no face showing so ok) of my cousin's granddaughter A (short for a much longer name I won't share) and me crafting:

They came over today and A (nearly age 5) was very enthralled with the card I posted yesterday. She wanted to take it but was ok with me saying that it is for Christmas. I said I'd send it to her in December. Then she asked to make a card! Her brother's bday is coming up so that's what we're making. She stamped 4 cute animals from Hero Arts on the card and colored them with pencils and Copics. Her fave color is purple too so she picked that color card base out of the box. Then we toured the new landscaping my cousin hadn't seen yet and A had fun walking along the low retaining wall. Fun morning!

That's it for today - I have a chorus event tomorrow so you'll see me back Monday with my normal Diva post. Thanks for stopping & happy crafting!!

More round baubles

Hey there - I'm back with more baubles for Christmas Kickstart #100 where Jo and elf Gail are celebrating round things. I used leftover circular baubles from the Spellbinders stitching set I used for my previous CKC #100 card along with a magazine freebie.

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio A2 card; scraps;

TH Kraft Metallic Colors; Spellbinders Christmas 6x6"

 Stitching Dies - Spellbinders I'll Be Home for Christmas 

(DOMST-Oct23);

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set;

Magazine freebie - can't find the name

Other - foam tape

First I die cut the Merry Christmas sentiment tree from metallic cardstock and the outline from a scrap of green. Next I die cut a striped paper with a stitched rectangle. Added the striped rectangle to an A2 card. Layered the sentiment tree to the outline & added to the card with foam tape. Next I added the leftover round baubles so they'd be peeking from behind the tree. Quick and easy - so much so, I die cut two extra trees for future cards.

I'll also link my card to Merry Little Christmas #63 where Anything Goes Christmas. I'm playing with Darnell's IDEAS where this week she's doing D for Dies & at NBUS #76 since my sentiment tree is getting first play here.

Still with me? I haven't shared many photos of my yard but here is the view of the right front of the house and a close up of the bigger hydrangea bush:

That's it for today. Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting!!

ATC on a Christmas Card!

Hi all - I watched Craft Roulette Episode 275 live last night, despite my long hours of Tim Holtz crafting yesterday. If you missed those projects, go HERE. Here's my CR card, created during the show:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio A2 card; 

Neenah Solar White; scrap of blue

Stamps - Whimsy ATC Frames and Signatures

Dies - Spellbinders Holiday Greetings (retired

but HERE at Frantic Stamper, called Snowflake Bliss);

Simon Says Stamp slot die (in TH class kit)

Other - Versamark ink and Seafoam white embossing powder;

Distress Inks - Chipped Sapphire, Black Soot, Blueprint Sketch;

Spellbinders gems & puffy sticker; SSS printed sentiment

Mary & 1st time guest Hannah C. (‪@MostlyPaperCrafts‬) had fun with the parameters:

• Project - Include an ATC: I made an A2 card and included an ATC.
• Colors - Starry Night: I used dark blues, black & white. 
• Element - Down: My ATC slides down into a slotted panel. 
• Random - White Dots: I stamped and white embossed using an ATC stamp.

So, I still had my Tim Holtz class stuff all over the place. Grabbed the slot die we used and made a panel to slide my ATC into. I ink blended black and blues on an A2 card & spritzed with water. Stamped an ATC base, which included white dots, onto a blue card & white embossed it. Looked for my ATC die set - found it after I'd already trimmed it with a paper trimmer! Oh well. Rounded the corners with a corner punch. 

Grabbed an old Spellbinders snowflake die set and cut two white and one blue. Added some blue gems to the ATC's snowflake. Used a Spellbinders puffy sticker sentiment on the ATC and a Simon printed sentiment to cover the bottom slot. Here's a photo of the ATC out of its slot:

I will send this card to a new challenge for me - Cut it Up where for Challenge #334 they're doing Christmas in July (must use a die cut). My friend Darnell (djkardkreations) is guest designing! I will also play at Darnell's IDEAS for this week where I is for inks. My ink blended background qualifies!!

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