Kitties and Books? Yes!!

Hey crafty friends - I'm posting at Die Cut Divas today with inspiration for our November Critter Challenge. You can find all details and a bonus card below!

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

MFT Floor to Ceiling; Recollections Wood Textures

Stamps with Dies - Lawn Fawn Cozy Cats Stamp + Die Bundle,

Simply Celebrate Critters (dies HERE),

Simply Celebrate Hangouts Stamp + Die Bundle, &

All the Speech Bubbles (dies HERE)

Stamps - Lawn Fawn Tiny Sentiments: Coffee

Dies - Taylored Expressions Simple Strips

Other - Copic Markers; white gel pen; Memento ink

Our fabulous sponsor this month is Lawn Fawn. They donated a $25 gift card for our random November winner to be awarded on December 3rd.

I stamped and die cut all the images, then colored with Copics. The trio of kitties were trimmed off a larger string of 5, saving the remaining two for my bonus card. All the speech bubble dies came from the speech bubble set; I just didn't stamp the outlines. Instead, I outlined with a pale blue Copic. Stamped the sentiment on a banner from the stash.

To make the bookcase, I stamped two of the bookcase hangouts, then trimmed off part of the second one to be the top tier. I used a black fineliner to add an edge where I'd trimmed. That left room for the kitty atop a stack of book. I added legs to the bookcase using narrow strips of paper. Colored with Copics and added white gel pen details, like scribbled book titles.

I adhered a striped A2 panel to an A2 card as my background, then added a wood patterned strip as the "floor". Assembled the bookcase and added it to the card with the kitties, speech bubbles and banner. Done! 

The inside contains the birthday sentiment and the card will go to a kitty loving friend. I'll add this card to Darnell's November NBUS Challenge #80 since two different cozy kitties & a different hangout are newly used.

For my bonus, I used another image from the hangout set, along with Simply Celebrate mice and the leftover two kitties from card one. 

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Lawn Fawn Favorite Flannel Fall Petite; 

Recollections A2 card

Stamps with Dies - Lawn Fawn Simply Celebrate Critters (dies HERE),

Simply Celebrate Hangouts Stamp + Die Bundle, &

All the Speech Bubbles (dies HERE)

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set;

Lawn Fawn Tiny Tags

Other - Copic Markers; star gems; Hero Arts & Memento inks

I refrained from giving the kitties speech bubbles (like "Have a Mice Birthday" - too gross?!), leaving them just to the mice. This time I stamped the outlines that go with the speech bubble dies & also shaded with a pale blue Copic. I stamped two of the cheese hangouts and stacked them. I wanted to give the cheese a base so I die cut some scalloped tags that I thought resembled crackers. I inked the edges & then hid the tag holes behind the cheese. Some star gems finished the card (brand unk).

That's it for today. I hope to see you in the November Diva gallery with any brand of critter; just be sure to include die cuts &/or embossing folders in your design.

Thanks for visiting!!

Elf Stack!

Hey there - I'm sharing my card from Craft Roulette Episode #293 featuring Mary Gunn & her guest, Catherine Pooler (‪@CatherinePooler‬). Catherine has her own line of products (online store HERE) &  has been a guest several times. We were lucky enough to get one of her stamp sets in our swag bag for Paperganza this summer & my local stamping store Anchor Paper carries a lot of her inventory. Here's what I created during the LIVE tonight:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Paper Studio A2 card, green & glitter cardstock;

Stamps - Hero Arts Collage Music Background (retired)

Stencil - Taylored Expressions Ho Ho Holidays 2

(freebie with order - not in store yet)

Dies - Merry by unk

Other - MFT & Hero Arts inks; Copics for shading;

May Arts string twine

The Craft Roulette wheel was spun four times, as usual, giving us four must-use parameters. I was happier this week than last week, for sure!

• Project - Book Binding Card: I used an A2 card which I scored 1" from the fold & glued this part down after I added the layering piece and twine.
• Colors - Sandwich Shop: Green lettuce/red tomato/yellow cheese/beige bread
• Element - Music: Layering background pieces were stamped with a music pattern.
• Random - Wrap(s)(ing): The stenciled elves have wrapped gifts.

I had the stenciled/fussy cut elves in the bits box along with the sentiment. All I had to do was form the book binding card, stamp the mat layer & trim to fit, then assemble. Very quick and easy! Here's a standing view - the space for the inside sentiment is 3.25 x 5.5":

Since my stencil set (a freebie with a recent TE order) was newly used, I will add my card to Darnell's NBUS Challenge #80.

That's it for today. Tomorrow I'm off to a Hall of Fame brunch for chorus honorees over the years. We welcome the newest inductee and get to visit with a lot of retired chorus friends. I found a simple antipasto recipe to make as my contribution to the menu.

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend!!

Ham it Up!

Hi all - happy Tuesday (or whatever day it is in your part of the world) and Happy Veterans Day in the USA! I've mentioned before - Dad served in the Army & my brother in the Air Force. Thanks to members of all branches for their service!!

Today I have a punny birthday card to share:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio assorted cardstock;

Lawn Fawn Fruit Salad Petite;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

MFT Sweet Summer Color Blends

Stamps w/dies - Spellbinders Ham It Up

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Hero Arts enamel dots & ink; foam tape

A Craft Roulette member, Irene Smith (@ArtemisMade1) has a YouTube show (link is to her channel) on Monday nights called Card Chaos (see explanation HERE). She and a guest, along with any game viewers, try to make a card in only 15 minutes. You are allowed to pick your supplies ahead of time (warning - choose carefully). The theme is published the week before & this week was "Funny". I watched Episode #20 live last night and made my card. Didn't make the 15 minute time limit - mine was more like 25 minutes. I went in with nothing prepared, except I selected a pre-folded card base, paper and stamp/die set during the introductory banter. Still, I made a card in much less time than I'd usually take! Another plus - I got this adorable Spellbinders set off Mt NBUS.

My main problem - choosing a die set with little pieces; it took me a bit to die cut and assemble the cute piggy. I die cut two stitched rectangles. Added the gingham to an A2 card & matted the blue panel with white. Added that to the card after stamping the sentiment on it. I was unhappy with my sentiment stamped directly onto the blue rectangle so I stamped a second one on white. Trimmed it to a rectangle and covered up the previously stamped one. 

Added my assembled pig with mud puddle, plus some enamel dots - done!

Since my pig is newly used, I'll add my card to Darnell's NBUS Challenge #80. Try making a card in 15 minutes, just for fun - I'd love to see what you do!!

That's it for today, friends. Thanks for visiting & have a crafty day!!

Turkey Among the Pumpkins

Hey everyone - the November Stay Crafty with a Blog Named Hero Challenge - Bits and Pieces suits me to a tee! The Challenge? Use your scraps and stuff from the UFO (UnFinished Objects) box (or in my case, many boxes & even large bins!!). Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Recollections A2 card; patterned scraps

Stamps with dies - Hero Arts September Card Kit (pumpkins),

Autumn Bounty Stamp & Cut, 

& Color Layering Grateful Leaves (both retired)

Dies - Kat Scrappiness A2 Stitched Strips

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape; 

turkey upcycled from a previous card;

Hero Arts enamel dots (from card kit); 

enamel heart from Pink & Main

I often stamp multiples when working with a new stamp set. I sometimes store them in a cellophane bag with the set but more often they end up in the UFO box. Or, they're still on the craft counter for weeks on end, as is the case with the pumpkins. I stamped oodles of pumpkins when I received the Hero Arts September Card Kit. I'd sit coloring them during Craft Roulette member Zoom calls (we craft and chat). I figured I'd be able to work them in to Thanksgiving cards so that's where I started today. Here's a photo of part of my craft counter:

I liked Michelle Lupton's inspiration card with the scrap strips so I made some of my own! I have paper scraps in a 3-drawed plastic cart with neutrals in the top drawer, solid colors in the middle drawer & patterns in the bottom. There were some fall-ish ones towards the top so I pulled those. I die cut them with a set of stitched strip dies. Here's a photo of the bin:

Pulling 5 patterned snippets barely made a dent! Since I used snippets, I'll share at Snippets Playground #519. And since my pumpkins are newly used, I'll add my card to Darnell's NBUS Challenge #80. The turkey was pried off the Thanksgiving card I sent to my aunt last year. She saves my cards and then gives them back when she gets a bunch. I upcycle what I can...

Bonus: Thought I might as well share another card using the September kit since I hadn't blogged it yet. A chorus member & her husband celebrated 60 years of marriage in October so I made a squirrel card! I used two squirrels, some leaves, and a fall tree from the kit, along with a big diamond (the symbol for a 60th anniversary) & a Betterpressed banner (using a hot foil plate). 

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

freebie leaf print from Lawn Fawn; 

Paper Studio brown & black cardstock;

scrap of Graphic 45 green print;

Recollections A2 card

Stamps with dies - Hero Arts September Card Kit;

Art-C Stamp & Die set (diamond)

Dies - Hero Arts September Card Kit (tree & carvings);

MFT numbers (NIB)

Hot Foil Plate with die - Spellbinders set name unk (retired)

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

Simple stamping and die cutting here - very fun to put together. I love how this turned out & the couple loved it too!! 

Thanks for stopping and have a crafty day!!

Just Keep Swimming!

Hello friends - time to recap Craft Roulette Episode #292 featuring Mary Gunn & her guest, Therese Calvird (Lost in Paper). Therese has been a guest before, including on the CR World Card Making Day online event. I watched last night & crafted along, creating this card:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Paper Studio A2 card & black cardstock;

TH kraft metallic

Stamps - Hero Arts Color Layering Goldfish 

(retired but HERE at Frantic Stamper - just

one left at this writing)

Dies - Birch Press Design Block Print Angel Fish

& Corner Waves

Other - SSS Starshine dots; white gel pen;

black fineliner

As usual, we got four must-use parameters by the spin of a roulette wheel. The wheel was in rare form & I wasn't excited to start but got an idea & off I went!

• Project - Encouragement Card: I used "just keep swimming" as an encouragement sentiment.
• Colors - Sophisticated: Google said black/white/gray is sophisticated & also purple. 
• Element - House Pet(s): I used an angelfish, common in household fish tanks! 
• Random - Thread or Twine: I added a purple twine bow to my fish.

I've said it before, but I do best with quick die cutting for my Craft Roulette card to be done during the show. A stamped sentiment and some dots for bubbles finished the card. I used a new Birch Press angelfish so will add my card to Darnell's NBUS Challenge #80.

That's it for today. I'm off to a pancake breakfast hosted by a sister Sweet Adelines chorus across town. They'll also have a bake sale with some yummy treats & maybe some crafts too? We'll see....

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend!!

Cozy Cats in a Winter Wonderland

Hi friends - TGIFF (double F for FUNN Friday & Craft Roulette tonight!)!! I meant to play in Lawn Fawn Challenge #208 yesterday but forgot to include something new. Well, the fall plaid paper was new but I wanted to go bigger! So, here's the card I made today using Lawn Fawn's new Cozy Cats along with some of their older dies:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Recollections A2 card; Lawn Fawn Favorite Flannel Fall Petite

Stamps with Dies - Lawn Fawn Cozy Cats Stamp + Die Bundle

Dies - Lawn Fawn Winter Wonderland Window 

& Stitched Hillside Borders

Other - Copic Markers; white gel pen; foam tape

I added a strip of the fall plaid (works great for winter too!) to an A2 card. Die cut the window and some stitched hills, plus snowflakes from the window set. Assembled the hills and window and added to the card, then layered two snowflakes that match the border over top. 

Next I die cut, stamped (using the negative), and colored the cats and speech bubble. Stamped the sentiment "Happy Pawlidays" into the bubble. Added these to the card along with some bitty snowflakes. Done!

Talk about "old" (or shall we say "well loved"?) - the Stitched Hillside Borders are from 2014. They cut beautifully, are still in the Lawn Fawn inventory and I use them often! Lawn Fawn released the Winter Wonderland Window in 2023; it's another fave of mine! I'll use just the snowflake dies to cut batches of snowflake for the stash - very handy!!

I'm also adding my card to Darnell's NBUS Challenge #80 since my cats are newly used & at Merry Little Christmas #65 where Anything Goes Christmas (entry #3). I'm also playing at the We Love Stamping November Challenge where they're doing Anything Christmas (plus an Anything Goes option) - my second entry.

That's it for today, friends. Thanks for visiting and if you're free at 6:30pm Central Time tonight, come and watch Craft Roulette Episode #292 Live with me! Oh, and remember the November Die Cut Diva Challenge where we're doing Critters with sponsor Lawn Fawn. You can use any brand but we'd love to see Lawn Fawn!

Just Add Antlers!

Hey everyone - how's your week going? I've been having fun putting together a box card for Christmas Kickstart Challenge #104 - Just Add Antlers. 

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Lawn Fawn Favorite Flannel Fall Petite 

& Perfectly Plaid Winter Petite

Stamps with Dies - Toboggan Together Stamp + Die Bundle

Dies - Lawn Fawn Scalloped Box Card Pop-Up,

Stitched Hillside Borders, Mini Snowflakes, 

& Winter Wonderland Window

Spellbinders Bold Type Merry Christmas

(retired but found HERE at Frantic Stamper)

Press Plate w/die - Spellbinders Merry & Bright Sentiment Strips

Other - Copic Markers; Stickles;

Hero Arts and Memento inks

CKC host Jo (Jo Blogs) has Vicki Ruta (The Craftacular Creator) as her elf this month. I've met Vicki online via Craft Roulette - she has made several appearances on the show & often creates with Lawn Fawn products. Since Die Cut Divas has Lawn Fawn as our sponsor this month (November Critter Challenge) & Vicki loves Lawn Fawn, I'm mainly using Lawn Fawn here.

I die cut the box card from plaid paper and assembled. I added some stitched hillside strips to the spacer panels & plaid layers (cut from a different plaid) to the scalloped panels. Next I added die cut snowflakes from two Lawn Fawn sets & a sentiment from the stash. The "Merry" is a Spellbinders die cut. The "Christmas" was trimmed off a Betterpressed strip; I rounded the edges & shaded it with a BG000 Copic.

Next I stamped, die cut and colored the scene elements. Adhered them to the hills. It looked a bit bare to the back so I decided to die cut some of the trees from Neenah white and leave them unstamped. I adhered them directly to the back of the box. Originally I didn't plan on having the snowballs in the scene but I had glued my penguins with gifts too far to the right. The snowball stack filled in the space perfectly. I used the trio of stars die in the box card set to cut stars for the stamped trees & added snowy Stickles.

Here are a couple more views - top and flat. For the flat view I held the front & right side panels down. When you let them fold up over the scene, it fits perfectly into an A2 envelope.

That's it for today. I'll also share at Darnell's NBUS Challenge #80 since my critters are newly used & at Merry Little Christmas #65 where Anything Goes Christmas. I'm also playing at the We Love Stamping November Challenge where they're doing Anything Christmas (along with Anything Goes option).

Thanks for stopping by & have a crafty day!!

Pine Trees with Star

Hey crafters - blog friend Julia (Create with Me) has the designer's choice for the current Inkspirational Challenge #353 - Seeing Stars. I thought I'd play along with some new Birch Press Design holiday stuff that arrived last week.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Paper Studio A2 card and assorted cardstock, including glitter;

Lawn Fawn Watercolor Wishes Petite

Dies - Birch Press Design Block Print Pine Trees

& Block Print Starry Night Scene

Other - foam tape; Stickles; Hero Arts ink;

Spellbinders puffy sentiment stickers

I die cut an A2 sized piece of Neenah white with a stitched rectangle & then cut the hillside with trio of trees from it. The sky pops out so I cut just that portion of the die from blue for a sky, inked the edges, then inlaid it with the white panel onto an A2 card. Added Stickles to the hill. 

Next I die cut two of the block print pines. Adhered one into the open area on the hill and added the second with foam tape into the "snow". Next I die cut the star from glitter card stock and added to the sky. A puffy sticker sentiment from an old Spellbinders kit finished the card.

Since my BPD items are newly used, I'll add my card to Darnell's NBUS Challenge #80. Poor old Mount NBUS isn't getting much love since I am using some new items before they even hit the mountain - so proud of myself - LOL. I will also play at Merry Little Christmas #65 where Anything Goes Christmas.

Hope you're having a crafty week & thanks for visiting!

October 2025 Card Chain Challenge Reveal

Hey there - it's time again to reveal cards that went around the world for the Card Chain. Twenty-six people participated and you can see the full reveal HERE. My card stayed in the USA and went to the amazing Julia in MA (Create with Me):

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio A2 card;

Paper Studio Assorted basic & glitter cardstock;

Neenah Solar White; Sunny Studio Critter Country;

Echo Park The Story of Fall

Stamps - Creative Stamping freebie set

Dies - Sunny Studio Autumn Tree;

My Favorite Things Stitched Scallop Basic Edgers;

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Recollections puffy sticker sentiments;

foam tape; Copic Markers; Altenew ink

We had the following options for our cards this month:

Color Palette Option

Sketch Option

Theme Options: Wee Folk (Fairies, Elves, Gnomes etc.)/Trees/Friendship

Product / Technique Options: Glitter/Splatts

I thought I'd go for something in all four categories! Instead of the Christmasy-looking tree in the sketch, I went for a fall tree with some matte & glittery pumpkin colored leaves. I used chocolate dotted paper for the ground and some cherry colored patterned paper for the vertical stripes behind it. Ivory is an allowed neutral so I used that for my background base, rather than white - less stark that way, I thought. I ink-blended it with some Sunkissed ink, then adhered it to an orange card. Finally, I stamped, fussy cut & colored a sweet little gnome & added it along with a puffy sentiment sticker duo to finish the card.

Lucky me, my friend Gundi in Germany (papierelle) sent me this adorable card and some papers. I just love the kitty with the pumpkin head & I'll make good use of the papers. Thanks Gundi!!

Want to play along for November? It's such fun & you only need to make and send one card! Sign up by November 6th - for details, go HERE.

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

Kitty in a box postcard!

Hi everyone - hope you didn't eat too much candy last night! I didn't eat any, not even during Craft Roulette. Viewers eat chocolate whenever the host mentions her grandchildren (which she does often!) - LOL. Here's my project for Craft Roulette #291 which I submitted just before the LIVE ended:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Solar White;

Spellbinders Betterpress Porcelain;

Tim Holtz Kraft Metallic

Stamps - Hero Arts Thanks Postcard (retired)

Colorado Craft Company Meowy Christmas (retired)

Dies - Hero Arts Celestial Fancy Dies

Press Plate w/dies - Spellbinders A Little Message Sentiments

Other - Hero Arts inks; foam tape

Since it was Halloween, host Mary Gunn started the episode dressed as her alter ego "Cool Mary", a hip biker chick. The guest Jay Thomas (‪@craftbyjay‬) wore a leopard jacket with ears on the hoodie - very funny. I didn't think the roulette wheel, spun 4 times for parameters, was very kind, but it all worked out.

• Project - Postcard(s): I stamped a postcard.
• Colors - Easter Basket: I used orange, yellow, green & pink.
• Element - Pack(s)(ing): I added a stamped kitty in a packing box.
• Random - Shiny: I die cut 3 metallic shiny stars.

I knew I had some postcard stamps around here somewhere. I went with the first one I found, an old Hero Arts cling from 2012. Guest Jay loves cats and seems to work a cat into every card he makes for Craft Roulette. So the joke was that "add a cat" was the fifth parameter. And I already had a cat stamp out to use - yay!! I had spotted the sweet kitty stamp as I was headed for the box with cling backgrounds. The kitty image has other presents around it but I just trimmed those off.

Stamped the postcard and trimmed with a narrow border. Inked around the edges. Stamped, colored and fussy cut the kitty and adhered to the postcard. Pulled a letterpressed sentiment from the stash and added a gold metallic shadow. Popped it onto the postcard overlapping the kitty box a bit. Die cut three gold metallic stars and adhered to the postcard - done!

I didn't turn on the porch light for trick-or-treaters last night. I still had some Halloween Kit Kat bars I could've handed out but I didn't want to leave Craft Roulette. It was cold and rainy so I'm thinking there weren't many kids out anyway...

Thanks for stopping & I hope you have a crafty weekend!!