Not Older but Wiser Fish!

Hey crafty friends - I'm posting the card below at Die Cut Divas today - details & a bonus only found here:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio A2 card;

various scraps

Dies - Birch Press Design Block Print Swift Fish

Other - foam tape; printed sentiment strip; 

Hero Arts clear enamel dots

We have Birch Press Design as our sponsor this month and I took advantage of the BPD Labor Day sale to go a bit overboard on their new release. Really, really love the fish sets & I got a bunch! Funny story - I placed an order and looking it over, spotted that I missed adding something I wanted (kelp with more fish!). So I placed a second order and added even more - LOL. Such great service from BDP; I had my - ahem - large box within days!!

Die cut three "swift fish" using various scraps. Soooo fun to put these together!! Added them to a watercolor printed A2 card from Hobby Lobby with foam tape. Picked through the sentiment stash and pulled out a printed sentiment strip (probably from Simon Says Stamp). Some clear enamel dots for bubbles finished the card. This card will make a perfect masculine card for a fisherman I know. Thought the sentiment would bring a smile, not just for the birthday idea but that the fish were wise enough not to get caught!!

My brother and sister-in-law were visiting last weekend. Donna spotted this card & loved it so much, she wanted to CASE it. She die cut a bunch of fish parts, then found a bunch more crafty supplies to play with. She embossed 49 panels using some of my cardstock & Spellbinders Club folders!! Meanwhile, my brother and I were working on some home projects - he installed a new light fixture and bathroom faucet, plus fixed some other pesky issues. 

I will add my card to Darnell's September NBUS Challenge #78 since my fish are newly used.

Now for a bonus - I'll save more fish for later and give you a heron this time. I love him so much!! Rosemary (Hey There....rosigrl!) enabled me with a card she posted last month.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

My Favorite Things Sweet Summer Color Blends;

scraps of green & Momenta Watercolor print;

Spellbinders Betterpress Porcelain

Dies - Birch Press Design Block Print Majestic Heron

& Sea Kelp and Mini Fish

Press Plate w/die - Spellbinders You Are Everything Sentiments

Other - foam tape

I just used Neenah white to die cut the heron - I often do this for a "test" run of a new die set. Then I simply colored and shaded with various Copic markers, trying to get a realistic looking heron. Next, I thought the kelp set would give me some nice reedy-looking foliage for my pond - always nice to find an alternate use for a die set! A pressed sentiment from the stash finished the card.

Thanks for stopping by and I'd love to see your creation in the September Diva gallery where Anything Goes (with die cuts &/or an embossing folder included)!

A Stamptember Sunflower for Craft Roulette!

Hi everyone - I've been MIA most of the week but I managed to watch Craft Roulette #285 live tonight & make/submit a card during the show:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Paper Studio A2 card; scrap of patterned paper (brand unk)

Stamps w/dies - Simon Says Stamp Sunflower Dance (dies)

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints 26 (retired, NIB)

Other - printed sentiment from SSS; Copic Markers;

Simple Stories Full Bloom enamel dots

Host Mary Gunn FUNN had Tracy Fear (‪@NotAfraidofColor‬) who was making her second appearance. As usual, the roulette wheel was spun four times for the parameters we need to use on our cards.

• Project - Square Card: I trimmed an A2 card down to a 4.25" square. 
• Colors - Dairy Aisle: I used yellow/orange/white; rest of colors can be found on packaging. 
• Element - Leaves: Sunflower stem has leaves.
• Random - Hexagon: Patterned paper has hexagons on it. 

I stamped, die cut & colored the cute sunflower I got as a free gift from Simon Says Stamp with an order. They offered the die effective with Stamptember so I had to jump in there and order it right away, along with some other stuff! Since the sunflower is getting first play here, I'll add my card to Darnell's September NBUS Challenge #78.

Tomorrow I'm doing an online event Sweet Spells with Scrapbook and Cards Today. There will be three instructors - Cathy Zielske, Meghann Andrew & Mindy Eggen with a special session at the end with Jennifer McGuire. I'll try to share some of the projects if I get a chance, otherwise I'll be back Sunday with my regular Diva post.

Thanks for stopping by & for your kind comments! Happy crafting!!

A Cat with a Castle & a Bonus!

Hey crafty friends - hope you're having a great week! Today I've given a kitty some luxury accommodations in a castle for Craft Roulette #284.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Recollections & Paper Studio colored card stock;

Doodlebug Hip Hip Hooray pattern;

Spellbinders Betterpress Porcelain

Stamps - Simon Says Stamp Creepy Cutie (retired)

Stencil - Elizabeth Craft Designs Waves

Press Plate w/dies - Spellbinders A Little Messages Sentiments

Dies - Hero Arts Paper Layering Castle

Other - Hero Arts Unicorn ink; foam tape; 

Spellbinders Betterpress Coastal ink;

Copics for shading and a fine-liner

Mary Gunn FUNN had Christie Daugherty (‪@CreatewithChristie‬) as her guest. Christie taught a hand-lettering class at the BellaCon online event I attended earlier this year. She also teaches Procreate, an iPad app for drawing & used it to create a tea party scene during the show! Check it out at the show link above.

This is a special entry for me - my 75th! Hard to believe I've been playing there for so long! Here's what the wheel spun:

• Project - FUNN Fold Card: Since we recently did Z-folds at Die Cut Divas, I went that route.
• Colors - Birthday Party: I was inspired by the Doodlebug birthday paper pad I showed in the photo. Only had the green patterned paper left of the pad so I used it for my ground. 
• Element - Maggie Smith: A bunch of people went Downton Abbey but I did Harry Potter.
• Random - Spiral(S)/(ing): I stenciled some spirals for clouds.

Can you tell my card is an homage to Maggie Smith's Harry Potter character, Professor McGonagall, who could turn into a cat? Of course Hogwart's castle wasn't orange but I was staying in my color palette! I even put a bitty flying dragon (also in the HA castle die set) up in the sky. 

I stamped, colored & fussy cut the kitty. Die cut the castle and dragon. Formed an A7 Z-fold & added a 1.25 inch pattern across the bottom of the front panel and inside panel. Stenciled some clouds for the sky using a wave stencil that fit the spiral parameter. Here's a standing view:

I'll share my card at Creative Crafters #92 where Anything Goes - the challenge just started in the wee hours & I made my card later this morning.

My bonus card uses Spellbinders  paper, stickers and ephemera from the August 2023 Card Kit - The Fun Life. I enjoyed putting it together! It has a stamped encouragement message inside. Very colorful but I hope the guy friend likes it!

That's it for today - thanks for visiting & happy crafting!

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!!