Another Rock Trumpet Birthday Card

Hi everyone - hope you're having a great weekend!! I played at Craft Roulette Episode #290 tonight, finishing my card just before the show ended. Didn't have time to upload during the LIVE but no worries. There's plenty of time for submission (go to CraftRoulette.live for details).

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Recollections A2 card

Stamps w/dies - Altenew Rock Trumpet (sold out)

Other - Copic Markers; SSS sentiment strips

and Starshine dots

Host Mary Gunn had Sara Lihz Staroska (‪@sassysllc‬) as her guest. I just saw Sara Lihz last weekend; she presented a session during an online Stress Free Cardmaking Summit. As usual, the crafty wheel was spun four times for the necessary parameters:

• Project - Card for Friend(s): I created a birthday card for a friend. 
• Colors - Bright Colors: I chose bright pink/green/yellow/aqua. 
• Element - Happy: Sentiment has "happy" in it. 
• Random - Partial image: The stamped flower image is about 8x5.5" so I used only part of it on this A2 card.

I had a stamped Rock Trumpet panel sitting on top of a stack of stuff - decided to use it. I colored just part of it with Copics, die cut it and then trimmed off the excess to fit on an A2 card. Some printed sentiment strips and Starshine dots finished it off. I didn't pop anything with foam tape, just adhered directly to the card. Nice & flat for mailing. Here's a view of the whole image, partially colored:

You can see another card with the Rock Trumpet HERE. I used the coordinating stencils to color that one. It's such a large image, it easily filled an A9 sized card!

I will play at Seize the Birthday #316 using the Anything Goes Option. Sorry STB friends, I rarely seem to do the topping... It's a good one this week, though, so maybe I'll try again later. Oh, and by the way, my Lawn Fawn party mice card won for Challenge #315 - so exciting - thanks!!

That's it friends! If I haven't commented on your blogs, it's because I've been busy watching the Sweet Adelines International convention via webcast. They've been in Columbus Ohio all week with loads of singing contests, quartet and chorus. The chorus finals are tomorrow & I can't wait to see who wins!!

Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting!!

Gold, Silver & Black for Christmas

Hey everyone - hope you're having a wonderful week! I'm popping in with a card I made as inspiration for the Die Cut Divas October Challenge - Anything Goes! We have the wonderful Brass & Bliss (formerly Rubbernecker) as our sponsor. I share all details & a bonus card only here.

Supplies: Paper - MFT Black Licorice Linen;

Park Lane gold A2 card (cut to a mat);

Anchor Paper Grey Linen;

Spellbinders Betterpress Porcelain

Stamps - Brass & Bliss Bells and Garland

Press Plates w/dies - Spellbinders Poinsettia Corner

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - foam tape; Paper Studio gold pearls;

Versamark ink; Ranger gold embossing powder;

Spellbinders Thunder Betterpress ink

 

They've donated a fabulous $50 gift card

for the Divas' random winner.

Please note that challenge winner must have an US address.

I stamped the bell garland with Versamark ink onto black cardstock and embossed in gold. Matted in gold and adhered to a grey linen A2 card. Popped a Betterpressed sentiment on it with foam tape then finished with gold pearls on the berries.

I ordered the bell set as a bundle with dies and stencils at a great sale price. Ordered on 9/29 and had the order on 10/1 - fabulous customer service!! The bells got first play here so I'll add my card to Darnell's October NBUS Challenge #79.

For my bonus, I stamped and die cut the bells, then used the coordinating stencils to colors them. I also did a bit of extra shading with Copics & added white gel pen details & glossy accents to the berries. A fun B&B die cut sentiment finished the card.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Recollections A2 card & purple cardstock;

MFT Petite Gingham

Stamps/die/stencils bundle - Brass & Bliss Bells and Garland Bundle

Dies - Brass & Bliss Noel Script Die;

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Copic Markers; white gel pen; foam tape;

Hero Arts inks; Glossy Accents

Thanks for visiting and we hope to see you in the October Diva gallery! As a reminder - be sure to use a die cut &/or an embossing folder.

Happy crafting!!

Cosmos Birthday and a Black Snowflake!

Happy weekend, crafty friends! I'm here with my card from last night's Craft Roulette Episode #289 with host Mary Gunn & guest Sejr Andersen (‪@SejrAndersen‬) who was making his 4th appearance.

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio A2 card & cardstock;

BoBunny Banner Year (dotted);

My Favorite Things Black & White Plaid

Dies - Birch Press Design Splendid Cosmos;

Spellbinders Sitting Pretty (DOM-Jan24) - retired

Other - Simon Says Stamp printed sentiment &

Starshine Dots

As usual the crafty wheel was spun 4 times for the required parameters. If you'd like to play along, visit Craft Roulette.Live for details.

• Project - Dutch Door: I used the easiest form of this fold. 
• Colors - Bird Feeder: I used black/orange/yellow for birds who might visit the feeder and green for the wire feeder we use for bird seed. 
• Element - October: The Cosmos flower is one of October's birth flowers - who knew? 
• Random - Polka Dots: I added a polka dotted strip to my door. 

We had to do a Dutch Door fold for a CR last summer; see my card HERE, if desired. I wanted to do something simpler, so googled and found an easy DD format which Mary & Sejr also happened to use. All you do is trim off the top part of a card front, however much you want. I went about halfway. Added some patterned paper to the inside to show when the door was closed & then a stripe of dotted paper to the door. Die cut a cosmos flower and a stem with leaves, then assembled. A bitty sentiment strip from the bits box & some starshine dots finished the card. On the inside, the sentiment block will be put behind the door.

Had to laugh, I used a cosmos last week too but this is a totally different BPD set - yes, I own several. It doesn't come with any leaves, though, so I used a stem from a Spellbinders set. Here's a view of the card standing so you can see the door open & how the flower goes off the edge. Very fun & easy!

I'll add this card to Darnell's October NBUS Challenge #79 since my cosmos die set got first play here. 

Next up: my second card for October's Christmas Kickstart Challenge #103 where snow is the theme. 

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Paper Studio black; Park Lane A2 card;

Hobby Lobby Antiqued Parchment;

Betterpress Porcelain

Embossing Folder - Honey Bee Snowflakes 3D

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set;

Lawn Fawn Stitched Snowflakes

Press Plate with die - Spellbinders Merry & Bright Sentiment Strips

Other - Starshine Dots; foam tape

I wanted to use a snowflake embossing folder & found my 3D Honey Bee one first. I die cut a white panel with a stitched rectangle & then embossed it. Had a mat of black and a gold card so decided to add a strip of gold parchment to the embossed layer. Next I die cut a black snowflake to echo the mat and serve as a focal point for my Betterpressed sentiment. Some starshine dots finished the card. The way the light hit the starshine dots, they appear blue in the photo but are really silver.

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

Birthday Party Mice!

Hey crafty friends - thought I'd play with some new Lawn Fawn and enter Lawn Fawnatics Challenge #206 There's No Place Like Home.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Paper Studio Assorted Cardstock;

Lawn Fawn All the Sparkles Petite (grey stripe); 

Fancy Pants Park Bench (grey)

Stamps w/dies - Lawn Fawn Birthday Mice,

Simply Celebrate Critters (dies HERE),

Simply Celebrate Hangouts (dies HERE),

 All the Speech Bubbles (dies not used but HERE), & 

Toboggan Together (dies HERE)

Dies - Lawn Fawn Heart Garland Backdrop Portrait &

Scalloped Box Card Pop-Up

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape; white gel pen

On Tuesday, Lawn Fawn announced a special freebie stamp set, Birthday Mice, only available in local participating stores. Lucky for me, my local bestie Anchor Paper is participating! I headed over there & added more Lawn Fawn to my stash, including the dies to match the freebie stamps. I decided to combine them with some older products to create a homey birthday party scene - just like the ones we had when I was a child!

First I stamped, die cut & colored all scene elements. I wanted to give them a party frame but the one in my stash was for Valentine's Day. No problem - I die cut it (three times for dimension) & trimmed off the top of the hearts. Next I die cut banners from a LF box card die set & added them in place of the hearts. Backed the frame with some patterned paper & adhered to an A2 card. Added the table, mice and speech bubbles. It needed something else so I stamped a trio of presents from a Christmas set. Die cut and colored them with Copics to match the scene. Some white gel pen details finished the card.

I'll also add my card to Darnell's October NBUS Challenge #79 since the birthday mice are new. I'm also playing at the October We Love Stamping Challenge using the Anything Goes Option & Seize the Birthday #315 also using Anything Goes.

That's it for today friends! I'll be watching Craft Roulette in a few hours and will probably share that card tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by & happy crafting!!

Elf in a Pickup!

Hey crafty friends - hope your week is off to a great start! I'm popping in with another Christmas card for the stash using new Pink & Main products.

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio Assorted Cardstock;

TH Kraft Metallic; Betterpress Porcelain;

Neenah Solar White

Dies - Pink & Main Truck Pop Up &

Deer and Elf Peeker Dies;

Memory Box Pine Wreath (retired);

Hero Arts Presents Tower;

Spellbinders St Nick (trees)

Stamps - Pink & Main License Sayings

Press Plate with die - Spellbinders Merry & Bright Sentiment Strips

Other - Copic Markers

Loads of die cutting and assembly just for the pickup. Then I decided to add the elf with some pines, a couple of trees and a stack of presents, so more die cutting! The presents were colored with Copics. A sentiment strip for the elf to hold came from a Betterpress set. The license plate is part of the pickup set; I stamped it with a sentiment from the coordinating set (sold separately). Time consuming but well worth the effort! Isn't that elf just the cutest?!

Here are a couple more views - folded flat and from top while standing. 

Because of the tall present stack, my card won't fit into a standard envelope (even A9)! I plan to put in an A7 and leave it unsealed - will tape the flap to a gift....

I'm sending my card to Merry Little Christmas Challenge #64 where Anything Goes (entry #3 of a possible 8). And since my pickup and elf are newly used, I'll also add my card to Darnell's October NBUS Challenge #79.

That's all for now. Thanks for stopping by & have a crafty day!!

Couple of Birthday Cards

Happy weekend - hope it's going well for you! I made a couple birthday cards needed for next month, starting with my Craft Roulette #288 submission.

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio A2 card and cardstock;

Graphic 45 patterned

Dies - Birch Press Design Large Cosmos 

(retired but still available HERE at Frantic Stamper) 

& Foliage Bunch

Other - SSS sentiment strips

Host Mary Gunn had Michelle Lupton (‪@mllupton73‬) as her guest. Michelle moderates the Hero Arts Stay Crafty with a Blog Named Hero, among many other things. The crafty wheel was spun 4 times for the parameters to use:

• Project - Celebration Card: I made a Birthday card & included "celebration" inside and out. 
• Colors - On the Ground: I used green (grass), brown (dirt) & orange (fall leaves). 
• Element - Goes Well Together: Flowers and leaves go together. 
• Random - Block(s): My background is blocks of patterned paper. 

I trimmed 2 pieces of patterned paper to A2 size. Added the dotted to an A2 card base. I cut the second piece into 4ths and used two of them over top of the dotted. Die cut and assembled the flower then added to the card with some foliage left from a previous card. Printed sentiment strips finished the card. Want to play along? Check it out HERE.

I'll add my card to Seize the Birthday #315 using the Anything Goes Option. Oh & by the way, I was excited to see my strawberry basket card get honorable mention in their previous challenge! 

Next, I made a flowery card with the new Birch Press Block Print Tapestry Blooms set that just came in the mail:

Simply die cut 4 stems and a bunch of flowers, then assembled. Added them to an A2 card with a printed sentiment strip from Simon Says Stamp. Finished with some SSS starshine dots. Very quick and easy! I'll add this to Darnell's October NBUS Challenge #79 since my blooms are new.

Snow Alert!

Scared you, didn't I? Nope, no snowfall here - just more typical fall temps after last week's heatwave! I'm playing along at Christmas Kickstart Challenge #103 where Jo and elf Loll would like to see snowy cards. Here's my take using a bunch of dies:

Supplies: Paper - Recollections A2 card & glitter cardstock;

Neenah Solar White; Paper Studio assorted cardstock; scraps

Dies - Lawn Fawn Build-A-Snowman &

Snow Flurries Backdrop;

Sunny Studio Slimline Nature Borders;

Birch Press Design Merry Christmas Confection Script

Other - foam tape; white gel pen; 

Hero Arts white iridescent shimmer spray

I went to my Lawn Fawn box looking for the snowflake frame. Found it, plus the snowpeople set that I bought when it came out a few years ago but hadn't used yet. I decided to combine the two. First I sprayed a shimmery A2 card with a white shimmer spray, then set aside to dry. Next, I die cut the frame and all the snowpeople pieces, then assembled. Added a stitched hillside behind the frame & added the frame to the card. Tucked the snowpeople into the snowbanks & added a die cut sentiment from the bits box. Doodled some details with a white gel pen - done!

Aren't those snowpeople the cutest??!! Since my snowpeople are newly used, this card will also go to Darnell's October NBUS Challenge #79.

Next I have another Christmas card using pieces I made during the Tim Holtz STAMPtember Festive Workshop. I was inspired by last week's SSS Wednesday Challenge (closed) to think pink which worked with how I'd colored my TH poinsettias.

Supplies: Paper - Bazzill A2 card;

Spellbinders Oh What Fun patterned;

TH Distress Watercolor & gold kraft metallic;

Recollections glitter cardstock

Stamps with dies - Tim Holtz Festive Watercolor Bundle (sold out)

Dies - Simon Says Stamp Festive Words Dies (sold out)

Other - foam tape; SSS Starshine dots;

The scalloped card was pre-made from Bazzill (hoarded in the stash). I added a piece of patterned paper on the card's inside & then put a trimmed down sentiment panel from Taylored Expressions in the center. The scalloped portion is the card front.

Arranged my flowers & foliage on the card, then added the sentiment and dots. Sorry, the metallic card stock is hard to photograph, plus it took on some shimmer from the glitter cardstock.

I will share this card in the gallery HERE for anything made for the Tim Holtz Festive Workshop event.

That's it for today. Thanks for stopping by & have a crafty day!!

Pink Strawberries?

Hey everyone - happy Monday! It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month & the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge is Think Pink. Their team created with Pink & Main products so I thought I would too! 

Supplies: Paper - Spellbinders A2 card;

Paper Studio basic cardstock; Lawn Fawn Plaid;

Core'dinations kraft; Neenah Solar White

Stamps - Pink & Main Berry Happy

Dies - Pink & Main Berry Pop Up;

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - foam tape; scrap of ribbon;

various Hero Arts inks for shading; white gel pen

Have you ever heard of pink strawberries? I hadn't until I googled them and found Pineberries; how cute are these?? So I went for my Pink and Main strawberry basket set. It makes a pop-up but with some trimming, you can use the  pieces without the interior walls for a flat A2 card. If you want to see it as a pop-up, please go HERE - I made one at Paperganza this summer.

Simply die cut and assembled the basket, then added it to an A2 card with a plaid mat. Stamped a sentiment from the coordinating stamp set and die cut it with the tag included with the basket set. Added a pink ribbon to the tag and adhered it to the basket with foam tape - done! This card will go to my niece who has a birthday later this month.

I will also add my card to Seize the Birthday #314 using the Anything Goes option.

Thanks for stopping by & have a crafty day!!

World Card Making Day Part 2

Hi all - I'm back with a second post today, sharing a card I made while watching the online WCMD Scrapbooks and Cards Today event on YouTube (link is to full playlist). There were six wonderful presenters, each sharing cards and products. My card, though, mostly uses stuff from Simon Says Stamp.

Supplies: Paper - Recollections A2 card;

Lawn Fawn Plaid & Watercolor Wishes;

TH Distress Watercolor; scraps

Stamps with dies - Tim Holtz Festive Watercolor Bundle (sold out)

Dies - Simon Says Stamp Cute Cardinal;

Memory Box Bello Joy;

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - foam tape; SSS Starshine dots;

white gel pen

The darling cardinal was a SSS Stamptember exclusive & is out of stock. I die cut it from scraps & assembled, adding some white gel pen details. It's been sitting on the craft desk waiting for a home. I was inspired to add it to some foliage from the Tim Holtz event I did on Sunday. 

Die cut some stitched rectangles and inked the edges. Added to an A2 card. Adhered foliage arrangement on the left of the blue rectangle and popped the cardinal onto it with foam tape. Added the die cut sentiment, also with foam tape. Some SSS crystal dots left over from the TH event finished the card.

I'm sharing my card at the Simon Says Stamp World Card Making Day celebration and at Darnell's October NBUS Challenge #79 since my cardinal is newly used. Also, there's a gallery HERE for anything made for the Tim Holtz Festive Workshop event so my card will head there too.

I also participated in the Craft Roulette World Card Making Day 2025 online event. Hosts Mary & Amanda had a new guest every half hour, each making a card with the parameters I shared in my earlier post today. Since I'd already posted a CR card in the wee hours this morning, I could only post a bonus to the members section. It doesn't count toward the weekly participation cards. The bonus still uses the same parameters of "saying hi", crisp colors, sun, & pennants.

Supplies: Paper - Recollections A2 card and blue cardstock;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Paper Studio orange & yellow; scraps

Dies - Hero Art Nesting Cloudy Infinity Dies;

Spellbinders Under the Sun &

Stitched Taking Notes (DOMST-Apr25)

Other - foam tape

Simple die cutting and assembly, then done! The backdrop is a stitching die but I left it unstitched. If you'd like to see it stitched, I did a card that way HERE.

Thanks for stopping by & have a crafty weekend!!

Happy World Card-Making Day!!

Hi everyone & Happy WCMD!! I'll be juggling two online events today - one at Scrapbooks Cards Today (starts at 9:30 Eastern Time) and one at Craft Roulette (starts at noon Central Time). Can't wait for all the fun!!

Meantime - I have a card started during Craft Roulette Episode #287 last night but finished much later. 

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Recollections green; scrap of blue unk

Stamps - Hero Arts Kiss for the Sun & Acts

of Kindness (both retired)

& Everyday Sentiment Strips

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set;

Sunny Studio Slimline Nature Borders;

Hero Arts Sentiment Strips Fancy Die (sold out)

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape; Park Lane twine

Host Mary Gunn FUNN had Amanda Stevens (‪@PearBlossomPress‬) as her guest. Amanda's company does the light-up mechanisms that we got to use at Paperganza this summer - so fun! Mary & Amanda will be hosting the CR WCMD event with a bunch of different guests; all will be working with last night's CR parameters.

• Project - Saying Hi: I used a Hi Friend sentiment.
• Colors - Crisp: I used colors of crisp things - red apples, orange carrots, yellow Cap'n, Crunch, green peppers, blue for blueberry crisp, white onions.
• Element - Sun/Sunny(ies): I added a sun. 
• Random - Pennant(s): I added three pennants to my clothesline.

I stamped and fussy cut all the clothesline elements and the sun. Added them to a stitched rectangle with die cut grass. Stamped and die cut the sentiment strips panel, selecting a strip with "hi", plus four more to scatter on my grass. Assembled everything on the stitched rectangle & used baker's twine for my clothesline. I sketched a line with a pencil, applied a thin line of glue and then the twine. It was supposed to be a deeper arch, oh well... Added the scene to an A2 card using foam tape - done! 

Since it was vampire hours, as Cat calls them, & I had laundry in the dryer, I decided to make a card for Just Us Girls #795 Die Week featuring Leaves. I was inspired by my friend & JUGS guest designer Greta (GGCreations) to pull out a Poppystamps leafy frame. Update: when I linked to JUGS, card one was entered - meant it to be card two. I don't see a way to edit their linky... Another update - Lisa fixed it; thanks!

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane A2 card (used half);

Paper Studio Ivory; scraps

Dies - Poppystamps Harvest Oval Frame

(retired but still HERE at Frantic Stamper); 

Hero Arts Autumn Leaves

Betterpress Plate w/die - Spellbinders You Are Everything Sentiments

Other - Park Lane gems; foam tape

Simply die cut the frame and three additional leaves, then added to an A2 card. A popped up Betterpressed sentiment & some gems finished the card. Quick and easy!! Not a bad start to WCMD, right? Note - when I linked to 

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful World Card-Making Day!!

September 2025 Card Chain Reveal

Hey crafty friends - today we're revealing cards that went around the world for the September Card Chain Challenge. Twenty-eight people participated and you can see the full reveal HERE. My card went to the talented Ashwini (Experiments in Card Making Etc) in India, a newer player. I was excited to send a card to her!

Supplies: Paper - Spellbinders A2 card, 

Authentique patterned; Paper Studio pink; black scrap

Dies - My Favorite Things Stitched Mini Scallop Square STAX (retired);

Birch Press Design Big Hello Sugar Script;

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Stamps - Altenew Fresh Bouquet (gift)

Other - printed friend word (SSS); Copic Markers

We had the following options when creating our cards - only one needed, luckily! That's all I could manage this time - theme of friendship...

Color Palette Option

Sketch Option

Theme Options: Flamingos / Fish / Friendship

Product / Technique Options:  Foil / Silhouette

I recently managed to get a scalloped square die set in a closeout of My Favorite Things products. I did some test cuts in a few colors and they were looking for a home. In August I used the flower image on a Diva inspiration card & had stamped an extra image. Decided it worked perfectly with the scalloped squares and colored it accordingly for my CCC card. I also had a new HELLO die picked up in an exclusive bundle from Simple Pleasures (a store in Colorado that will ship orders that I call in). If you know me, you know I love the BPD Sugar Script font!! This bundle was such a great deal that I ordered it knowing it contained two dies I already owed (gifted them to a friend)!

Thinking that mail to India might be slow, I got Ashwini's address early. I was so eager to get the card into the outgoing mail that I forgot to photograph it!! So thanks to Ashwini for sending a photo once the card arrived - well in time, I might add!! But had I waited for the normal mail time, it would've taken far into October for arrival...

I received this darling card from Linda in Michigan - haven't received from her in a couple of years so that was nice. I love her stunning flower atop the pretty pattern!

Want to play along for October? Go HERE for details by October 6th.

Thanks for stopping by and have a crafty day!!