Welcome to my blog!

Thanks for visiting my blog. As the title suggests, I love to scrapbook, stamp, and sing! I will share cards and scrapbook pages I create, as well as information about my music - Barbershop harmony.

Sunday, February 8, 2026

Hello Friend Joyfold

Hey friends - hope you're having a wonderful day! Since the Olympics have started, a lot of my time goes toward watching the various events - love the Olympics!! I still make time to craft though!. 

Today I'm sharing the card I made during Craft Roulette Episode #305 where host Mary Gunn spun a wheel four times for necessary parameters. Her guest was Caitlin Anthony (‪@CaitlinAnnaleeCards‬) who's on the team at Pink & Main.


Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;
Astro Design cardstock; Sunny Studio patterned
Stamps w/dies- Simon Says Stamp CZ Design Good Greetings 1 Set
Embossing Folder - Simon Says Stamp Tiny Flora
Other - foam tape; Hero Arts & SSS inks

The wheel gave us fairly easy parameters this time:

  • Project - Joyfold: I did an A2 diagonal Joyfold. 
  • Colors - Cartoon: I used a bunch of bright primary colors - many cartoons use them. 
  • Element - Starts with "I": I used ink - very creative, ha ha. 
  • Random - Include A Scrap(s): I used a scrap of red to shadow my sentiment.

First I took a white side folding A2 card formed from Neenah. I cut the front on the diagonal. I added a layering pattern on the front and a red stitched rectangle to the inside. Since I had just done Jennifer McGuire's SSS class (see yesterday's post), I had all the supplies still out. I grabbed a 3x4" piece of Neenah and embossed it with one of the class folders, then inked it with yellow, orange & blue.

Next I took a piece of 3.25 x 8.5" piece of Neenah and folded it in 1/2 on the long edge to make a smaller top folding card for the "Joyfold" portion. Adhered the back of it atop the red panel after I had stamped a sentiment & a heart on the inside (used the class stamp set). I added a strip of the rick-rack pattern to the bottom of the inside panel. Before the class I had stamped and die cut a bunch of the sentiments so I'd be ready to make quick cards. I chose Hello Friend from the stack and added a red shadow using a scrap. Done! Here are a couple more views:



This was the first Joyfold I'd made this way, with a diagonal front. Although I used class supplies, this wasn't a class card designed by Jennifer. Since this was my first use of the class stamp set, though, I'll add my card to Darnell's February NBUS Challenge #83.

Thanks for visiting and have a crafty day!!


Saturday, February 7, 2026

Textures and Techniques

Hey everyone - yesterday I enjoyed the lastest (and totally free) online Simon Says Stamp Create Together Class - Master Textures & Techniques with Jennifer McGuire. Fabulous, and quite long, class!! I had purchased the class kit (great value) which is sold out but many of the products are available individually. Plus SSS has them on sale right now! 

I'll share a class card next but first, a card I made for Just Us Girls Challenge #809 where it's die week with the theme of hearts.


Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;
Paper Studio A2 card; scraps
Dies - Simon Says Stamp Falling Hearts &
Embossing Folder - Simon Says Stamp Tiny Flora
Other - foam tape

During class Jennifer had us cut the heart coverplate twice - once from vellum (I haven't done mine yet) and once from white cardstock. She only used the heart confetti from the white cut. I decided to use this coverplate for my JUGS entry. I decided to give it some texture and used one of the class kit embossing folders - love it! I adhered it to an ombré A2 card from Hobby Lobby. Next I die cut a sentiment (also used in the class) from scraps of pink, black & silver metallic. I assembled it and popped it onto a die cut heart, then onto the card with foam tape. To finish it, I added one of the hearts cut from the coverplate to the O of LOVE.

I will also add this card to Darnell's February NBUS Challenge #83 since the coverplate got first use here. Next, I share the second card we completed in class. I took a quick break and missed making card one which included cutting the coverplate in vellum! Oops!


Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;
SSS heavyweight vellum, metallic silver & glossy white cardstock
Dies - Simon Says Stamp CZ Design With Love
Embossing Folder - Simon Says Stamp Tiny Flora
Other - foam tape; SSS pigment inks

For this one we embossed an A2 panel of vellum, lightly inked it with SSS Tide Pool and folded in half. Mine cracked - oh well. As Jennifer often says of class cards - this was our "practice pancake" - lol. 

Next we embossed an A2 panel of the glossy cardstock and inked with three colors of choice (the kit included 6 SSS pigment inks); I used Heather, Cadette and Pearfection. The glossy cardstock makes it easy to move the ink - I got some spotches, oh well... We cut this panel on a diagonal along with 3 panels of white. Sandwiched the vellum between these panels to form a card with a vellum top - crazy, right? Then added some scrap strips and a sentiment die cut. Hard to see in the photo but I added a black shadow layer to my words.

I'll have to go back and watch the replay to finish the rest of the class cards. We made a bunch of panels with inking and embossing folders - so I have a ways to go to finish!

Thanks for stopping by! I'll be back tomorrow with the card I made for last night's Craft Roulette. Hope you're having a crafty weekend!




Thursday, February 5, 2026

Silent Night

Hey there - Today I'm playing along at Christmas Kickstart Challenge #107 where the theme is "A Christmas Sing-Along". In other words, use something calling to mind a Christmas carol; I went with Silent Night:


Supplies: Paper - Park Lane Gold A7 card;
Paper Studio Star of Bethlehem; 
Simple Stories Silent Night
Dies - Poppystamps Little Bow and String;
Birch Press Design Block Print Wave Ornament 
Other - Stars from the stash; sentiment strips
from Waffleflower Subsentiments Fa La La;
Tim Holtz Black Soot Distress Oxide Ink

When Jo announced this month's CKC, my mind went to a certain stamp set. However, I was shuffling through my 12x12 paper stash yesterday and found a piece containing repeating Silent Night sheet music. Right away I jumped on that idea (saving the stamps for later...). There were also some prints of the Nativity in this Simple Stories paper pack but they were too large for my card. Instead I fussy cut an ornament from a Hobby Lobby patterned paper pad; the sky background paper comes from there too. I die cut the ornament topper from a BPD set and added a bow with string from a Poppystamps set. Added some Waffleflower sentiment strips and some stars left over from a unicorn pop up card

I also add my card to Merry Little Christmas Challenge 66 where Anything Goes. This is my 5th of eight possible entries there.

Thanks for stopping by & Happy Crafting!!



Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Lots of pink!

Hi everyone! Since I had Valentine supplies from yesterday's post still out, I decided to make a card for Inkspirational Challenge #360 where the theme is XOXO (Hugs and Kisses).


Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; scraps
Stencil - TCW Texture Love (retired)
Dies - Poppystamps Vintage Scalloped Heart
(retired at PS but still HERE at Frantic Stamper);
My Favorite Things In Stitches Alphabet (retired but one left
HERE at Frantic Stamper)
Other - foam tape; Hero Arts Ultra Pink ink

For this one I masked off all but the hearts on the stencil background I used on yesterday's card. Stenciled them in the upper left and lower right corners of a white A2 card panel using Ultra Pink ink. Trimmed it and added to an A2 card. Next I die cut the vintage heart from a scrap of pink and the scalloped mat layer from metallic silver. Layered them and popped onto the card with foam tape. Then I die cut stitched letters X and O from silver glitter scraps and also from white. Layered and adhered to the heart. Done!

I'm also sharing another card I made during last week's Card Making Stash Summit. Justine Hovey made a challenge to use colored cardstock/a diagonal/textured on a card. Here's my take:


Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;
Paper Studio cardstock
Embossing Folder - Altenew Lace 3D
Other - foam tape, SSS printed sentiment and Starshine dots

I die cut a stitched rectangle of pink cardstock and embossed it with the 3D lace (texture) which is on a diagonal. Matted in black and added to an A2 card. A printed sentiment strip and silver dots finished the card. Very quick and easy but results in quite the impact. I think my aunt will love this for her birthday next month!

That's it for today, friends - thanks for stopping! Hope you're having a great week & happy crafting!!

Tuesday, February 3, 2026

Some Ombré Cards

Hey there - hope you're having a great week! Last night I watched Card Chaos Episode #32 where Irene Smith and a guest took turns making a card in 15 minutes. The theme was ombré & I had to play along! Here's my first card - made it in just under 15:


Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;
Paper Studio pastel A2 card
Stamps w/dies - Inky Stamper Dragonfly & Butterfly;
Stamps - Spellbinders 2024 Advent Calendar Day 2
Dies - Hero Arts Tag Frames Infinity Dies
Other - foam tape; Copic Markers;
Memento Tuxedo Black Ink;
Broken China & Faded Jeans Distress Inks

I started with a pale blue A2 card and applied a medium and a darker blue ink to form an ombré background. I already had the dragonfly and butterfly stamped in the stash. Same with the sentiment label which, by the way, is from the 2024 Spellbinders Advent calendar. I'm making each daily item from 12/2024 during February & had stamped it earlier in the day yesterday. I'm really trying to use that NBUS!! The bugs are also used for the first time here.

I colored the previously stamped images very quickly since I was under the time crunch. After deciding where the bugs would go, I stamped the dashed trails & popped the bugs onto the card with foam tape, then added the sentiment.

Card two went a lot quicker:



Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio A2 card; scraps
Stamps - Hero Arts CL402 Valentine Sayings (retired)
Stencil - TCW Texture Love (retired)
Poppystamps Vintage Scalloped Heart
(retired at PS but still HERE at Frantic Stamper)
Other - foam tape; Worn Lipstick, Barn Door 
& Fired Brick Distress Inks; EKSuccess puffy hearts

For this one, I started with a pink ombré card base, then stenciled over it with ombré reds. Next I die cut an ombré pink heart and a dark pink scalloped heart and layered them. Stamped the sentiment in red and added some red puffy hearts. Popped the heart onto the card with foam tape and trimmed the overhang. Only took 10 minutes to create!

Card one will go Darnell's February NBUS Challenge #83 & also followed her IDEAS project (I for inks this week) since I made the inky background. Card two was made with Color Hues Challenge #126 in mind - Red and Pink.

That's it for today. Thanks for visiting and have a crafty day!!




Monday, February 2, 2026

January 2026 Card Chain Reveal

Hey there - time for another Card Chain reveal as we do on the 2nd of every month! In January, twenty-six people participated and you can see the full reveal HERE. My card went to Daja in Germany:


Supplies: Paper - Spellbinders Terracotta cardstock;
My Mind's Eye The Sweetest Thing &
Sunny Studio Rainbow Bright patterned; scraps
Stamps - Hero Arts Wild Columbine
Dies - Altenew Garden Picks 3D Die;
MFT Blueprints 27 (NIB); 
Other - Pink and Main enamel hearts

We had the following options when creating our cards:

Color Palette Option

Sketch Option

Theme Options: Feet / Doily / Friendship

Product / Technique Options: All I Got For Christmas Was..... / Layers


I went with the colors, sketch & theme of friendship this time. Plus there are layers from the technique option since I used a layered flower. 

First I formed an A2 card from Terracotta cardstock, then found a peachy patterned rose paper for the background. Die cut some banners from pineapple patterned papers, then added them to the card. Die cut a layered rose from scraps, assembled and adhered to the banners. Die cut a couple hearts from terracotta cardstock and added pineapple colored enamel hearts to finish off the sketch.

I received this beautiful card from Brenda in the UK (Floral Fantasies). The linky dropped her from the list for some reason but she was, in fact, my sender for January! I just love her take on the colors and sketch with the cheery sunflowers! 


You can still sign up for February - go HERE by the 6th. You only need to make and send one card - it's fun!!

Thanks for stopping by and have a crafty day!!


Sunday, February 1, 2026

Card Making Stash Summit and Craft Roulette

Hi everyone - here's a change of pace from my Advent Calendar and Die Cut Diva posts... I participated in Justine Hovey's Create with Your Stash Cardmaking Summit this past week. I had a paid ticket so there were pre-event sessions plus open crops and chats on Zoom - very fun! There were also over 30 classes Thursday - Saturday with various inspiring instructors, including Ardyth & Therese Calvird who I've seen on Craft Roulette. This event was all about using stuff in your stash without buying more stuff - something I've been trying (and failing) to do!

First - a couple of cards I made in a Zoom session with Justine Hovey to help us cut into those horded patterned papers:


Supplies: Paper - Elizabeth Craft Design Joyous Christmas;
Park Lane ivory A2 card; Paper Studio Cardstock;
musical note paper by unk
Dies - Sizzix Big Tidings
Embossing Folder - Altenew Organic Linen
Other - SSS gold sequins


Supplies: Paper - Park Lane ivory A2 card; 
Paper Studio Cardstock; Basic Grey Carte Postale 6x6
Dies - SSS Festive Tags (Stamptember-sold out);
Kat Scrappiness Stitched Strips
Embossing Folder - Altenew Organic Linen
Other - Spellbinders Nov23 Card kit (Ephemera fox 
& enamel dots); SSS printed sentiment strip; raffia

For the first one, we cut into a 12x12" paper & trimmed off a 3x4.25" piece (I cut it a bit smaller), matted it & added some texture behind using a solid cardstock. Added it to an A2 card. A sentiment, a fussy cut flower (from the same paper) and some sequins completed my card. Very quick and easy! Oh and by the way, I'm up to 15 Christmas cards in the stash already (haven't blogged all of them...).

I'll add this card to Merry Little Christmas #66 where Anything Goes (my fourth entry).

For the second one we took a 6x6" paper pad and pulled out 3 coordinating papers. Cut the papers into 3/4" strips and arranged in a pattern on an A2 panel leaving a bit of space and turning some at a different angle. I trimmed my completed background, matted it and added to an A2 card. Justine used a tag for her focal point so I did the same. I embellished it with a strip of the background I'd trimmed off, a strip of embossing that I trimmed off card one, and a die cut strip. Added a printed sentiment, an ephemera fox, some enamel dots and a bit of raffia. More time consuming to create, but still fun! I was proud of myself for pulling out an old Spellbinders kit from when they had stickers and ephemera.

Next up I have my Craft Roulette card from Friday night's Episode #304 with host Mary and guest Ardyth.


Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;
Astro Designs cardstock; scraps
and Whittle Racing Giraffe Kit (retired)
Other - Hero Arts enamel dot; white gel pen;
Spellbinders sentiment strip from an old club kit

As usual, the crafty roulette wheel was spun four times for the necessary parameters:


  • Project - Drop Down: I made an easel card since the front drops down to close. 
  • Colors - Mahjong: My Mahjong colors were red/black/green/white. 
  • Element - Go Wild: The giraffe is a wild animal, plus my sentiment has "wild". 
  • Random - Hand Drawn Border: I squiggled some white gel pen on the triangle above the door. Pitiful, I know. 

Loads of die cutting, then assembling. I finished before the show ended but couldn't get my photos taken & uploaded until afterward. No problem since there's a nice window for submitting, especially for members. Here's a photo of the card popped open:


I made the stopper out of strips of black so it looks like a door mat. The sentiment strip was from another one of those old Spellbinders card kits that was full of flimsy ephemera. I'm trying to use them up!! This package didn't have a date on it but it was named Wild Hello.

That's it for today! Justine offered her paid ticket holders a 24 hour open crop on Zoom today so I might pop in there between home chores. Oh, and by the way, I decided to work with the Spellbinders 2024 Advent Calendar in February, using the 1st - 24th items on the corresponding day. I think I've only used one set from that calendar so time to get busy!! Plus I still have cards to finish using the 2025 Advent Calendar items I made.

Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a crafty day!!


Saturday, January 31, 2026

Last Day for Die Cut Divas January Challenge!

Hey friends - if you haven't entered four projects in Die Cut Divas January Challenge, you can still play up until 9pm Pacific Time today. We're using our new stuff so join us - any new item works; just remember to use a die cut &/or embossing folder in your design. You can see inspiration from the end-of-month part of the Diva team HERE.


Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;
Astro Designs black; scraps of green
Digi stamps - Sunbird Spark Garden Fairy
Dies - Poppystamps Scalloped Pinpoint Frames
Memory Box Little Dragonflies (retired)
Other - SSS sentiment strip; Recollections gems;
Copic markers; Hero Arts Sparkle lacquer


Sunbird Spark is giving a $20 CAD gift card as the prize for our random winner.

I printed off the fairy image (a new digi file for me) and trimmed to a rectangle. Colored with Copics and added sparkle to the fairy wings. Blended some blue ink around the edges of the "sky". Next I die cut a black pierced mat (the scalloped frames set cuts inner mats) and adhered it behind the fairy panel. Added it to an ombre A2 card. I did cut a trio of dragonflies from a scrap of green, added a gem to each head and sparkle to the wings. Adhered them around the fairy scene. A printed sentiment finished the card.

Since my digi stamps are newly used, I'll add this card to Darnell's January NBUS Challenge #82.

For my bonus I used another new Sunbird Spark digi, also printed and colored with Copics.



The file comes with the girl image plus 3 items for her to hold & some sentiments. I printed them all then chose the bouquet and "just for you" sentiment. I fussy cut the girl and the bouquet image then layered onto a die cut oval. Used a sketch I spotted recently at Card Chaos CAS(E) where side panels are torn & added to an A2 card leaving a space down the center. The patterned paper is from BoBunny's Love Letter 6x6" pad that I've had for years.

That's it for today, friends! I'll be busily watching Justine Hovey's Summit - enjoyed the Thursday & Friday sessions that I could finish. Will do more later...

Thanks for stopping by & have a crafty day.


Friday, January 30, 2026

A Great Pair and a Spaceship

Yikes - Day 6 of Spellbinders Advent Calendar posts! Today I'm sharing a card that features the die set from Day 10 (see Crafty Al's short video HERE).


Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;
Paper Studio cardstock; Lawn Fawn patterned;
Betterpress Porcelain; Recollections A2 card
Stamps - Spellbinders 2025 Advent Calendar Day 11
Dies - Spellbinders 2025 Advent Calendar Day 10;
Press Plates w/dies - Spellbinders You Are Everything Sentiments
Other - foam tape

Die cut and assembled two bread slices and made one covered with jelly & the other with peanut butter. Added them to a heart patterned paper die cut with a stitched rectangle. Adhered to a purple mat, then to an A2 card. Took another of the Day 11 sentiments I had stamped and cut it into 3 pieces. Added to the card along with a Betterpressed anniversary sentiment from the stash.

I'll add this card to Darnell's January NBUS Challenge #82 since the bread dies were newly used. She will get a kick out of that since she & her hubby got this card for their anniversary (she says he's the jelly).

Next, I have a card using the space ship from Day 20 (Crafty Al's video HERE) & a sentiment from Day 19 (Crafty Al's video HERE).


Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;
scraps
Stamps - Spellbinders 2025 Advent Calendar Day 19
Dies - Spellbinders 2025 Advent Calendar Day 20;
Trinity Stamps Tiny Alien
Stencil - Hero Arts Star Cluster
Other - foam tape; inks as in photo;
Hero Arts shimmer spray

First I die cut the spaceship from scraps and assembled. I had stamped all the sentiments from Day 19 - chose the one to match the spaceship. Next I die cut an alien; isn't he cute?! 
Ink blended a background and then spritzed with shimmer spray. Then I stenciled the galaxy in a couple colors. Assembled onto an A2 card. I'll be stamping a Valentine sentiment inside and sending this to my brother who loves science fiction.

That's it for today. I still have the rest of the elements created from the calendar - just haven't turned them into cards yet. I'll try to remember to share when I do. I'm still participating today at Justine Hovey's card summit - very inspiring! Then I'll be posting tomorrow for the last day of the Die Cut Divas January Challenge. Hope to see you there! 

Thanks for visiting & have a crafty weekend!!

Thursday, January 29, 2026

Call Me!

Sick of me yet? I'm on Day 5 of consecutive posting using the 2025 Spellbinders Advent calendar items. Today I have two cards made with the cute old fashioned telephone die set from Day 12 & a sentiment from Day 11 (see Crafty Al's short videos HERE & HERE).


Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;
Recollections A2 card; scrap of gray;
BoBunny Black Tie Affair
Stamps - Spellbinders 2025 Advent Calendar Day 11
Dies - Spellbinders 2025 Advent Calendar Day 12;
Other - foam tape

I die cut the telephone pieces from black/white/silver cardstock and assembled. Added it to a small stitched rectangle then to a larger patterned mat, then to an A2 card. I had stamped all of the sentiments from Day 11 and used one of them here. This one will go to a guy so I kept it simple.

I'll send this card to Darnell's January NBUS Challenge #82 since the telephone dies were newly used.

Next I did a girlier version for my friend Linda. She, another friend Lynn & I all get together for lunch to celebrate our February birthdays. Patterned paper is from Doodlebug Designs & ombre card is Paper Studio (Hobby Lobby). Some SSS printed sentiment strips finished this card.




That's it for today. It's a busy day today with friends, plus I'm signed up for Justine Hovey's Card Making Stash Summit. The summit runs today through Saturday; get a free ticket HERE. Note that the free ticket only gives access for 24 hours so Thursday's classes go away on Friday, etc. You can get a paid ticket which gives longer access; I got the paid since I couldn't possibly do all the great classes in that short a time!

I have finished a couple more Advent Calendar projects that I'll post tomorrow. Thanks for stopping & Happy crafting!!

Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Thanks and Hello with Spellbinders 2025 Advent Calendar

Hey there, friends! Crazy, I know - I'm back for a fourth consecutive day with items from the 2025 Spellbinders Advent calendar. I've been having a lot of fun with the items behind the calendar windows! Here's a thanks card using two of the stamps in the Day 2 mini stamp set:


Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;
Paper Studio A2 card; scraps
Stamps - Spellbinders 2025 Advent Calendar (Day 2)
Dies - Poppystamps Flower and Leaf Sprinkles;
Other - Copic Markers; Sharpie fineliner;
Hero Arts inks

I'm very accustomed to stamping with a MISTI and these Advent calendar stamps don't do well with it. I tried stamping later using a stamping block and the impression was much better. On this one, after I colored the image with Copics, I did a lot of outlining with a fineliner. The bitty stamped flowers didn't fare so well with that so I covered them up with various bitty die cut flowers. I ink blended the ground and sky then die cut the panel with a stitched rectangle. Added it to an A2 card - done! You can see Crafty Al's short video on this set HERE.

I'll send this card to Darnell's January NBUS Challenge #82 since the stamps were newly used.

Next, I made a hello card with the strip embossing folder from Day 6 (Crafty Al's video HERE).


Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio ombre card;
Spellbinders Terracotta card stock; scraps
Embossing strip - Spellbinders 2025 Advent Calendar (Day 6)
Dies - Spellbinders Faux Stitched Sentiments & Floss (DOM-Apr24 retired)
Other - SSS printed sentiment strip & Starshine dots

I embossed a scrap of orange cardstock. Added to an A2 ombre card along with some scrap patterned strips. I had a HELLO die cut sitting on the table so die cut a white shadow and layered them for dimension. Added to the card along with a printed subsentiment strip and some Starshine dots.

That's it for today, my friends. Thanks for continuing to stop by & for commenting when you can! Have a crafty day!!


Tuesday, January 27, 2026

A Birthday Duo with Spellbinders 2025 Advent Calendar

Hey there friends - I'm not usually one to post multiple days so three days in a row, especially twice in the same month, is quite a feat! Anyway - I have two more projects from the items I used daily from Jan 1-24 using the Spellbinders 2025 Advent calendar. Although I stuck to my goal of using the item from each December day on the corresponding January day, I didn't always finish a card with it that day. I'm definitely going out of order! 

Oh, and I meant to give a shout out to sister Diva Cindy (Escape to Stamping) who shared tags she made from Day 1-15 items (see them HERE and HERE), plus a gorgeous Lunar New Year card with the Day 24 die set. She was much more timely using the calendar and posting projects than I am!!

First up - a card using the Day 3 die set; you can see Crafty Al's short video with it HERE.


Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;
Doodlebug Design Hats Off; scraps; 
Betterpress Porcelain; Recollections A2 card
Dies - Spellbinders 2025 Advent Calendar (Day3);
Press Plates w/dies - Spellbinders You Are Everything Sentiments
Other - foam tape

After die cutting and assembling the bunny, hat & wand, I added them to a stitched rectangle cut from a scrap of MFT pastel paper. Die cut the stars from scraps of glitter cardstock & added them coming out of the wand. Found a 2017 black/white/gray grad paper that had star prints. Die cut the white print with a stitched rectangle and added to an A2 card along with a strip of the black print. Added the pastel rectangle & finished with a Betterpressed sentiment popped up with foam tape.

I'll send this card to Darnell's January NBUS Challenge #82 since the dies were newly used.

Next, another birthday card using the Day 5 die set (Crafty Al's short video):


Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;
Authentique patterned; scraps;
Lawn Fawn Petite Watercolor Wishes;
Spellbinders Betterpress Porcelain
Dies - Spellbinders 2025 Advent Calendar Day 5;
Press Plate w/die - Spellbinders La Dolce Vita Sentiments
Other - foam tape

As you can see, I kept to the same sketch which I often use to make quick cards. The Advent calendar dies are small so this format suits them. I die cut the flowers from scraps and assembled onto a small stitched rectangle. Die cut a couple clumps of grass from a Lawn Fawn set & added to the scene. Matted it with another stitched rectangle and rest was done as for card one (just a different Betterpress sentiment).

These cards went to Craft Roulette members with January birthdays. CR has a bday card exchange program members can join. They require no specific number of cards you have to send, so I'm starting small by sending three per month. The third one I sent was a card I shared previously HERE.

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


Monday, January 26, 2026

More Spellbinders Advent Calendar Projects

Hey there - I'm back with a couple more cards I made from items in the 2025 Spellbinders Advent Calendar. Today I'm sharing a stenciled project, way out of order for the reveals because I made it for Just Us Girls Challenge #807 to use a stencil.


Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;
Paper Studio A2 card; Lawn Fawn Petite Watercolor Wishes;
Spellbinders Betterpress Porcelain
Stencils - Spellbinders 2025 Advent Calendar (Day 22)
Dies - Hero Arts Nesting Circle Infinity Dies;
Press Plates w/dies - Spellbinders You Are Everything Sentiments
Other - SSS Starshine embellishments; 
Hero Arts inks & ephemera; foam tape


Last Thursday afternoon (I was using the Dec 22nd calendar item), I stenciled the mandala using the 3 piece layering stencil. I stenciled the layers in Hero Arts Stone Wash (blue) & Peony (dark pink) and Altenew Bamboo (green). Since the newly announced JUGS theme was stencils, I decided to make a card right away.

Next I cut the stenciled mandala with a circle die and matted it a larger circle die cut in white. I grabbed a couple blue clouds from an old Hero Arts kit ephemera pack (can't remember which & HA no longer sells it). I added a stitched rectangle in green to a blue A2 card. Popped the mandala atop and tucked the clouds under it. A Betterpressed sentiment popped up with foam tape and some SSS dots finished the card. If interested, go HERE to see Crafty Al open her window and create a polaroid with it.

Since my stencils are newly used, I'll also add this card to Darnell's January NBUS Challenge #82

The Advent calendar also had another stencil set (Day 7) - this one with butterflies. Here's my take:




There were three stencils with 4 different butterflies. On Jan 7th I stenciled all four (some more than once) in different Hero Arts ink colors around an A2 panel of Neenah. Next I die cut the panel with a stitched rectangle and doodled flight lines with a black fineliner. On the 19th I finally adhered it to an A2 card (Michael's brand) along with a pre-printed SSS sentiment strip. You can see Crafty Al's short video on this stencil HERE.

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