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.

Thursday, June 11, 2026

Snowflake duo

Hey there crafty friends - hope you're enjoying this week! Crazy weather here - one day hot and humid, then cool and rainy... Perfect time - ha, ha - to play in the June Christmas Kickstart Challenge #111 Snow Day where Jo and elf Caroline want snow. I used a snowflake die and made two cards; I'll enter card one at CKC:


Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;
Spellbinders A2 card; textured glitter cardstock 
(Core'dination brand, I think)
Dies - Memory Box Gloriette Snowflake Collage (retired)
TH Distress Inks - Mermaid Lagoon, 
Speckled Egg & Tumbled Glass
Other - Spellbinders puffy sticker sentiments;
Hero Arts clear enamel dots & 
Irridescent Shimmer Spray

On Card Chaos Episode #50 Monday night, the theme was ink-blending so I started by blending a diagonal swath on a textured A2 card. I spritzed a bit of shimmer spray on the inked area. Next I die cut the snowflake and coordinating background layer, plus a second background. This die cuts two snowflakes in one pass which you can use separately or inlay them. Given Chaos does 15 minute cards, this is the perfect way to conserve time and get pieces for the second round! 

For card one I used the inner snowflake and one background. I ink-blended the snowflake using the same inks as the background & assembled with the shadow layer. I added enamel dots to the areas where dots die cut on the other piece. A puffy sentiment sticker finished the card. 

For round two I used the outline portion of the snowflake atop a vellum background layer, along with crystal gems for the dot areas. I saved the die cut dots since they will make nice flower centers, I think. My background inking went the opposite diagonal and I oriented this snowflake differently for variety. I love how the purple background showed through the vellum. A printed sentiment strip finished the card; I left off the shimmer spray. I'll enter card two as my 3rd entry (of 8 max) at Merry Little Christmas #68 where Anything Christmas Goes.


Additional supplies: Paper Studio vellum
Waffle Flower Subsentiments Fa La La;
Dusty Concord & Shaded Lilac Distress Inks;
Recollections gems

That's it for today. I'm excited to be up to 42 Christmas cards in the stash but still need more to be on track. That's why I'm delighted to see CAS Christmas back in operation (June theme is birds) - I'm sure to play along with Loll and friends!! 

Thanks so much for stopping by & I hope you have a crafty day!!



Sunday, June 7, 2026

Oh Baby!

Hey there - hope you're enjoying the day! I still haven't finish any cards from the Spellbinders Weekender event from last weekend but one is nearly there! Meantime, I needed two baby cards & made them with a set newly ordered from Unity. First the little girl card:


Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;
Recollections A2 card; Lawn Fawn Blissful Blossoms;
dotted paper by unk
Stamps - Unity Oh Baby;
Hero Arts Adorable Baby Girl (retired)
Dies - Poppystamps Scalloped Pinpoint Frames
Other - Copic Markers; foam tape; white gel pen;
Memento Tuxedo Black ink

A chorus friend had her first baby on April 29th, a little girl named Zoey. I couldn't go to the shower since I was helping my dad but spotted a darling Unity stamp set which I promptly ordered for my card. I stamped the baby girl image on Neenah and colored with Copics, then trimmed to a small rectangle and matted in peach. Die cut a patterned paper with the Poppy die and the frame portion from peach. Added an A2 patterned layer to an A2 card and assembled. I had stamped, colored and fussy cut a bunch of icons from an old Hero Arts baby girl clear set. Added some around the focal image & done!

I'll add this card to Darnell's June NBUS Challenge #87 since the baby set is new.

The host of Craft Roulette got another grandson, little Johnny, in May so I did a boy version:


Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;
Stamps - Unity Oh Baby;
Hero Arts Precious Baby Boy (c2009 retired)
Dies - Poppystamps Scalloped Pinpoint Frames
Other - Copic Markers; foam tape; white gel pen;
Memento Tuxedo Black ink; enamel stars (brand unk)

This time I left off the scalloped frame and kept it a bit simpler, though I did add some holographic enamel stars. The boy icons, also stamped/colored/fussy cut, came from another old Hero Arts set.

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


Friday, June 5, 2026

A Postcard for Craft Roulette

Hello crafty friends - hope you're having a great weekend! I'm back with my card from Craft Roulette Episode #322 with host Mary Gunn & guest Alicia (‪‪@CallMeCraftyAl‬) making her 14th appearance. Alicia was at Paperganza last year and plans to be at Craft Roulette Live '26 in August. I love Alicia's Advent series on YouTube and faithfully watched her 2024 and 2025 daily offerings with Spellbinders.

Here's my latest CR card, my 113th!


Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;
Paper Studio cardstock; scraps
Stamps - Your Next Stamp Holiday Postage (NIB);
Waffle Flower Postage Collage &
Urban Stamps Tall Urban Stamps Craft Christmas
Dies - Waffle Flower Postage Collage;
Memory Box Wreath Sprigs (retired)
Other - foam tape; peach pencil;
Waffle Flower Label Maker Sentiments;
Hero Arts clear enamel dots, Bermuda & Butterbar inks;
Mememto Tuxedo Black ink

As usual, the roulette wheel was spun four times for the necessary parameters; I didn't take a photo this time...
  • Project - Postcard: I formed a 4x6" postcard from cardstock.
  • Colors - 1970s: I used a color palette from Googling - Butter yellow/peach/teal. 
  • Element - Wreath: I formed a wreath from die cut sprigs. 
  • Random - Pre-printed: I used a printed sentiment strip.

I tried to finish during the show but wasted too much time looking for the postcard stamp I used the last time we got this parameter (see it HERE). Instead I trimmed a piece of cardstock to postcard size and drew a vertical line in the center. Inked the edges. Added a stamped/diecut postage stamp image which I then stamped with a cancellation stamp, along with a To & From stamp. Formed a wreath from die cut sprigs and added it to the left side with a pre-printed sentiment and a couple stamped/fussy cut flowers. I added enamel dots to the flower centers. Finished just after the LIVE ended.

That's it for today. Hopefully this weekend I'll actually finish a Spellbinders Weekender card from last weekend's event. I'm close to finishing one card - just needs a sentiment...

Thanks for visiting and have a crafty weekend!!

Tuesday, June 2, 2026

May 2026 Card Chain Reveal

Hi everyone - it's the 2nd of the month so time to share the cards we sent around the world for the Card Chain Challenge. Twenty-four people participated and you can see the full reveal HERE.

My card went to dear Gail (What's Normal?) in Canada:


Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;
Pink and Main Birthday Bash marbled; Spellbinders plaid;
Tim Holtz Kraft Metallic
Stamps w/dies - Scrapbook.com Gina K Designs SBC Fest kit
Dies -  Scrapbook.com Laura Graff SBC Fest kit &
Lea Lawson SBC Fest kit
Other - Hero Arts enamel dots; foam tape

We had the following options for our May cards:

Color Palette Option


Sketch Option


Theme Options: Floral / Postal / Friendship

Product / Technique Options: Twine or Thread / Spinner Card

I skipped over everything but the theme of friendship! I had just made a card I loved during Card Chaos Episode #44 &, since it was a friendship card, off it went to Gail. I mailed early, hoping for the best, since mail between USA & Canada has been interesting lately... Luckily, she received it quickly and liked it! 

I covered an A2 card with a plaid paper, then die cut the label and butterfly. The Gina K sentiment came from the stash (leftover from SBC Fest). Assembled everything onto the card and added some enamel dots. I included some marbled butterflies for Gail to try too. That patterned paper is only available to those who attended Pink and Main's Birthday Bash and, I can tell you, was coveted by my Chaos friends!

I received the gorgeous card below from longtime dear friend, Greta (GG Creations) in Oregon. I love her color combo with the touches of gold and she also included some PFS die cut sentiments - thanks, Greta!!


That's it for today. If you want to join the June chain, check it out HERE. So fun and very easy to make/mail one card & then get a card in return. Many thanks to Gail and Jo who manage the Card Chain!!

Thanks for stopping & happy crafting!!


Sunday, May 31, 2026

Last Day for our May Diva Celebrations Challenge!

Hey friends, I'm posting today at Die Cut Divas with the end-of-month crew. We have last minute inspiration for our May Celebrations Challenge; you have til 9pm Pacific Time today to get your entries in (max of four) using the theme, plus a die cut &/or embossing folder. 

Here's the card I shared there, plus bonuses follow only here:


Supplies: Paper - BoBunny Merry & Bright 6x6;
Paper Studio cardstock; scraps
Dies - Poppystamps Nordic Perched Cardinal,
Birch Press Designs Warm Wishes Dapper Script
Other - Recollections gems; pine die cuts
from the stash (brand unk); white gel pen; 
black Sharpie fineliner; foam tape


We have the wonderful Poppystamps as our Diva sponsor this month!
They've donated a $20 gift card prize; USA address only.

I thought I'd add a Christmas card to the stash. This was a fun one - lots of die cutting which I love! I had the idea to put die cut pieces of the Nordic borders top and bottom, leaving an open patterned window for my cardinal pair to sit. I didn't use the third die in the border set.

Pulled a BPD (a PS sister company) sentiment out of the stash along with some pines & gems. Assembled and done! This one will be my third and final entry for Christmas Kickstart #110 - Season's Tweetings.

Here's a bonus - a birthday bouquet:
 

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;
Scrapbook.com Gelato; Pressed Petals Woven Paper
Stamps - Emily Moore Birthday Sentiments
Dies - Poppystamps Floral Vase Pop Up Easel Set
(retired, but a few left HERE at Frantic Stamper),
Bunches O'Butterflies (retired) &
Other - foam tape; W1 Copic

This one started as a card for Card Chaos, the 15 minute card challenge (you can find it on Irene Smith's YouTube channel HERE). I finished most of it but felt I needed to add more. I continued adding until it felt ready to share here, mainly more flowers, a butterfly, and a stopper for the pop-up. This set is one of my absolute faves from Poppystamps; you can see other versions HERE and HERE, if desired. If you check the previous version, you can see that I'm very partial to a blue background! Sorry I didn't realize the set was retired at PS but I did find a few left at Frantic Stamper if you're interested - no affiliation there, they have just been a good source for older products, plus new stuff too. Sadly, Frantic is in a retirement sale so we won't have them much longer....

Here's a view popped up - the stopper is a double layered Betterpressed Sentiment from Spellbinders A Little Message Sentiments.


My second bonus card also started out at Card Chaos & then got additional finishing touches for this post. I'll just show the popped up view; you can see another version with this set that I shared HERE if desired. 


Supplies: Paper - Neenah white & kraft; Bazzill brown; 
BoBunny patterned
Dies - Poppystamps Bird House Pop Up Easel Set
Other - Recollections gems; Copic Markers;
Spellbinders ephemera (old kit); foam tape

I had to pull out my pop-up birdhouse again; this time I used the cardinal that came in the set. To get the details of the neck/beak, I first die cut a full red cardinal and trimmed out the neck/beak (clearly marked with an etch line). Next I die cut the head in white, colored the neck/beak with a black & a yellow Copic, trimmed it and adhered behind the red. I also decided to give the cardinal a layered wing using dies from a Nordic birdie set. This time I used the pine dies that cut a wreath to go around the outside of the bird house entry. Added some red gems as berries and some ephemera for the sentiment and the stopper.

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


Friday, May 29, 2026

Birthday Gatefold with Belly Band

Hey there crafty friends - hope you're having a great weekend! I'm doing both the Online Card Classes Brighter Days and Spellbinders Weekender this week - or should I say I'm signed up to do both - I'll be behind the whole time!! Anyway, tonight I watched Craft Roulette Episode #321 with host Mary Gunn & guest Ardyth (‪@ardyth‬) making her 14th appearance. Ardyth will be a presenter this summer at the CR in person event too!

Here's my latest CR card, my 112th!


Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;
Paper Studio cardstock; scraps; 
Spellbinders Betterpress Porcelain
Dies - Poppystamps Floral Vase Pop Up Easel Set (retired),
Adriana Tall Curve Border (retired),
Oval Fold Frame (retired)
Press Plate w/die - Spellbinders You Are Everything Sentiments
Other - foam tape; Recollections vellum belly band

The wheel was spun four times for the necessary parameters:



  • Project - Gatefold: I formed a gatefold by scoring a 1/2 sheet at 2 1/8 from the long edges and folding them in. 
  • Colors - Monet: I used greens/purple/blue/white/yellow. 
  • Element - Natural: Flowers and leaves are found in nature. 
  • Random - Crinkle Inkle: I inked the gate panels using crumpled baking parchment inked in green, then purple, then speckled egg inks.

I had bunches of Poppystamps dies out since PS is the sponsor for our May Diva Challenge. Once I formed my gatefold and crinkle inkled it, I die cut the curved leafy borders and adhered. Die cut flowers and foliage from a couple other sets and adhered. Die cut an oval and added to a vellum belly band & decorated it with flowers, foliage and a Betterpressed sentiment. I added a Taylored Expressions Insider sentiment panel to the inside. 

Here's a view of the gatefold standing with the belly band off:


That's it for today. I'll be deep into the Weekender event tomorrow but will have a scheduled Diva post on Sunday. Thanks for visiting and happy crafting!!

Saturday, May 23, 2026

Crafting with Unity Stamps!

Hey everyone - I thought I'd share some cards I made with Unity Stamps this weekend. Woke up Friday morning to an email that a Unity order had been delivered Thursday - I didn't even notice it sitting on the doorstep Thursday night! Luckily it was still there when I popped out to get it!! The first stamp set I grabbed had a crafty theme with beautiful art by Angie Blom:


Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; 
MFT plaid; scrap of black; Recollections A2 card
Stamps - Unity Crafty Friends
Other - Copic Markers, silver sparkle dots

Unity stamps are made from high quality red rubber - so fun to use when you have some sort of stamping platform. I like my Tim Holtz tool (retired) - so easy to pop out and flip the lid from using clear stamps to rubber ones! I stamped the image on an A2 panel using Memento ink and colored with Copics while leaving it on the platform. Then I restamped with Versafine Clair Nocturne ink for a nice crisp black image. The sentiment is the second stamp in the set & fits perfectly in the center area of the crafty tools image, or you can use it separately. I trimmed the finished panel to 4" by about 4.5", then adhered to an A2 card along with an MFT plaid strip, then covered the seam with a strip of black. Some flat sparkle dots (not sure of the brand) from an old card kit finished the card.

Next, I went to an image with a quintet of fluffy birdies - soooo cute, aren't they?


Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White & black;
Spellbinders A2 card
Stamps - Unity Lovebirds & Oddballs
Other - Copic Markers, upcycled heart sticker,
bitty heart diecut from stash; black Sharpie fineliner

I spotted the birdie stamp in an ad for Unity and couldn't resist it. I stamped the image on an A2 panel, colored with Copics, then restamped with dark black as I did for card one. Once the panel dried thoroughly, I die cut it w/a stitched rectangle, blended the edges with blue and green inks, then matted to a black layer & added to an A2 card. Stamped the sentiment which was also in the set. The enamel sticker was upcycled from an envelope I received with a card & gift bag for my birthday. The bitty heart die cut was from the stash - not sure which brand but it was one of those confetti coverplates. I might've added Glossy Accents to the eyes but didn't want to wait for the drying time...

I made a third card, being on a roll with Unity! This time I used a lily set:


Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;
Paper Studio A2 card
Stamps - Unity Tender Thoughts
Dies - Altenew Mix and Match Frames
Other - Copic Markers, SSS dots;
foam tape

Once again, I stamped the image with Memento ink, colored with Copics, then restamped with Versafine Clair Nocturne ink. The flower details really popped, I think! Next I die cut with a deckle frame die, inked with blue ink, then added to an ombré card. Stamped one of the set's sentiments, trimmed to a strip, inked the edges and popped onto the card with foam tape. A few metallic dots finished the card.

All these stamps are newly used but I'll just link once to Darnell's May NBUS #86 using card one. These cards are all going to people in the Craft Roulette community. There's a volunteer group of us that Mary, the CR host, calls upon when someone needs some cheer. One member lost her husband recently, others have various health issues. It's nice to have time to brighten someone's day with a handmade card!

I was surprised when I went to order from Unity (a MN company!) that I hadn't ordered in over a year! They have some adorable stamps and I picked up more than just these three sets. You'll be seeing more of their stuff from me!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you're having a wonderful day!



Friday, May 22, 2026

Kitty with Books

Hi everyone - I'm back home from my dad's so my photos will be better, hopefully! I watched Craft Roulette Episode #320 tonight and crafted along. I finished after the show, though - I wasted too much time looking for specific items (never found them).


Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;
Spellbinders cardstock; Lawn Fawn & BoBunny patterned
Stamps - Pink and Main April Cat (dies HERE);
Hero Arts Oh Baby (retired);
Scrapbook.com Gina K. SBC Fest kit
Other - Copic Markers; foam tape

Host Mary Gunn had Amanda Stevens (‪@PearBlossomPress‬). Amanda & her hubby own Pear Blossom Press, famous for their light-up products. Amanda was making her 9th appearance on the show and she also collaborates on the summer in-person Craft Roulette events. The wheel wasn't too bad, although I was thrown for a bit on the game element.


  • Project - Z-fold Card: I took an A2 card and folded back the front to form a Z.
  • Colors - Summer Vacation: I used blues for water, greens for grass, and browns for sand. 
  • Element - Game(s): Crossword puzzle paper. 
  • Random - Add a Cat: I used a stamped cat. 

I was going to use a Simon Says Stamp playing card stamp - couldn't find it. Then I thought I had some Scrabble tile ephemera - couldn't find them. Finally remembered some crossword puzzle paper so grabbed that. I had a kitty stamp out from another crafting session so decided to use it. Stamped it, die cut it and colored with Copics. I had stamped a bunch of elements from an old Hero Arts baby girl set & thought the butterfly would be cute on the top book. Colored & fussy cut it. The sentiment was in the stash so I assembled it all and called it done. Here's a standing view:


And here's the card I made with this set on Saturday; it was for Put the CASE in Chaos Episode 5, also featuring Amanda Stevens. I CASE'd both Amanda's & Irene's cards that day. This one was based on Irene's - she had an inkblended background with some sparkle.


Additional supplies: KC & Co cupcake sticker;

Since this was my first play with the kitty stamp, I'll add this card to Darnell's May NBUS Challenge #86.

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


Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Let's Celebrate!!

Hi crafty friends! I'm posting at Die Cut Divas today with inspiration for our May Challenge:

 ðŸŽ‰ 🎉 🎉CELEBRATIONS 🎉 🎉 🎉

We celebrate so many things - Birthdays, Anniversarys, Weddings, many holidays - I could go on forever! For my first card, I chose birthday as my celebration. I always need birthday cards, especially since I joined the Craft Roulette birthday card exchange!


Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;
Scrapbook.com Jellybean A2 layers
scraps of black
Dies - Poppystamps Brilliant Birthday Balloons
Other - white gel pen; foam tape

We have the wonderful Poppystamps as this month's sponsor. They will be giving our randomly selected winner a $20 gift card (sorry - only those with US addresses are eligible).


Simple die cutting on this one! I love Poppy's streamer scripts because you can get multiple sentiments quickly. I popped up just the green balloon, the others were adhered right to the blue panel & excess trimmed off. Added to an A2 card base along with the sentiment. I doodled some lines with a white gel pen and left off any further embellishments.

For my first bonus, I celebrated Christmas:


Supplies: Paper - Spellbinders A2 card; 
various cardstock scraps and Paper Studio Vintage Christmas
Dies - Poppystamps Nordic Bird Bunch
Other - white & black gel pens; foam tape;
Spellbinders ephemers (retired)


I grabbed more of the Nordic birds I crafted while making a previous card. This time I drew a "wire" across the card then popped a quintet of birdies on it. Because I only used 2 birds of the 18 I made (die set makes 6 birds and I mixed/matched three cardstocks), I went ahead and made two more of this design. Each had a different sentiment from an old Spellbinders kit. Still have one birdie left for a future project...

Update - thanks to Joanne for the reminder; I meant to add this to Christmas Kickstart #110 Season's Tweetings. I've added it now.

Second bonus - back to birthdays:


Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;
Scrapbook.com Jellybean A2 layers
scraps of black; Spellbinders A2 card;
Pink and Main Birthday Bash rainbow paper
Dies - Poppystamps Brilliant Birthday Balloons
Other - white gel pen; foam tape

I had die cut a frame from the rainbow paper for a previous card. Decided to cut a second one from the green paper, then inlay the rainbow window piece. Die cut the balloons and added to the card along with the sentiment. This sentiment has the black outline portion that cut when I made the first sentiment. Just cut a second outline and it frames the white - very easy! Added some white gel pen details to the balloons & black to the sentiment - done!

We Divas hope to see you in our May Gallery by 9pm Pacific Time on May 31st. Be sure to use the Celebrations theme, plus include a die cut &/or embossing folder in your design. All brands are welcome but the team is loving our Poppystamps!!

Thanks for stopping by & have a crafty day!!



Friday, May 15, 2026

4 Bar Happy Birthday

Hey there, crafty friends - hope you're having a great weekend! I watched Craft Roulette Episode #319 live tonight & crafted along.


Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White
BoBunny; scraps
Other - foam tape; Hero Arts enamel dots

Host Mary Gunn had Carrie Rhodes (‪@CarrieRhoades‬) as her guest. Carrie was making her 7th appearance on the show & is known for making shaker cards. I did not follow suit! As usual, the wheel was spun four times for the necessary parameters:


  • Project - 4 Bar: - I formed a 4 Bar (3.5x4 7/8") from cardstock.
  • Colors - x: Wedding: I used colors from a wedding I was in - White/Blue/Yellow
  • Element - Sweet(S): I added a die cut cupcake.
  • Random - A Touch of Gray: The shadow on the HAPPY was cut from gray cardstock (although it looks kraft in the photo...) 
I still had Emily Moore products out on the table from Tuesday's post so I went with the birthday dies plus a label die set. For the sweet element, I found a bitty cupcake die in a set from SBC Fest. Simple die cutting and assembling - very quick and easy!! I sort of enjoyed the 4 Bar size, especially since one of the Emily Moore labels was perfect for it!

That's it for today, friends. Happy crafting and thanks for visiting!!

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Explosions of Color!

Hey there, crafty friends - I'm back with the two cards I made last night during Card Chaos Episode #46. Host Irene Smith had Walter Zemrock as her guest; Walter is on the Brutus Monroe Design Team, among other things. The theme was Explosion of Color, as voted on by Irene's Facebook group. Since we only have 15 minutes to create, I let patterned paper do the heavy lifting.


Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;
Paper Studio glitter cardstock;
Pink and Main Birthday Bash kit;
Gina K. Designs cardstock from an old kit
Other - foam tape

I started with an easy ornament shaped Christmas card using some new Emily Moore items I'd ordered online after Emily appeared on Craft Roulette. Simple die cutting, basically. The Merry didn't come with an outline die so I fussy cut one to coordinate with the Christmas part of the sentiment (does have an outline die). I cut a plain red cardstock layer for the back, scored along the bottom of the ornament hanger. This one only took 10 minutes to assemble from scratch. I later added a few embellishments.

I'm adding this to Merry Little Christmas #68 (Anything Christmas Goes); this is my second entry.

There are two rounds for Card Chaos & I was ready for a second card. This time I made a birthday card for a friend's upcoming birthday, combining some Emily Moore with Pink & Main items.


Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;
Pink & Main Birthday Bash kit Rainbow patterned;
Gina K. Designs cardstock from an old kit
Stamps - Emily Moore Birthday Sentiments
Dies - Emily Moore Short & Sweet - Happy Birthday &
Pink and Main Birthday Bash kit
(see a photo of it HERE)
Other - foam tape; white gel pen

I formed an A2 card from Gina K. cardstock. Next I die cut the doily shaker frame from rainbow patterned paper, then popped it onto the card with foam tape. Next I die cut the HAPPY and added it over the scalloped window, putting foam tape under the parts in the open area. For the row of candles I used a Pink and Main die that would cut around a stamped candle image. Instead, I die cut it from white cardstock and colored the candles, then detailed them with a white gel pen. This piece was sitting in the bits box but needed the flames. The die set has one lonely flame die so I had to quickly cut it 8 times and add a flame to each candle. I used some yellow portions of the rainbow paper. While that ate into my 15 minutes, the rest was quick! Simple die cutting & the sentiment strip was already stamped. I adhered the strip directly to the HAPPY. This seemed busy enough with the marbled paper and candles so I left off any additional embellishments.

That's it for today, friends. Thanks for visiting and happy crafting!!


Sunday, May 10, 2026

Happy Mother's Day 2026!

Hey there - I'm here to post cards I sent for Mother's Day in the US. If you're a mom, congrats and happy celebrating! My own mom passed four years ago but I still have her sister (my "second mother") and a friend (and former voice coach) aka Mother Mary who get Mother's Day cards from me.


Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio A2 card; Authentique patterns;
Neenah Classic Crest Solar White
Stamps - Hero Arts Celebrate Every Day (retired);
Altenew freebie - Evergreen Beauty
Dies - Scrapbook.com Nested Vintage Labels;
Other - Altenew enamel dots; Copic Markers;
foam tape

I stamped, colored and fussy cut the rose image. This was a freebie from Altenew that included a "created by" stamp with my name for the back of my cards - woo hoo! So lovely of Altenew to send those to customers! You can see what my friend Dawn did with hers HERE.

Next I cut two labels and layered. Added to a die cut rectangle and added to an A2 card. Stamped a sentiment from a fave Hero Arts set. Popped the rose onto it and added some enamel dots - done! This one went to my aunt that we call Tia.

I also used this rose stamp on an ATC for Monday's Card Chaos Episode #45. You only get 15 minutes so my pencil coloring was very hasty (Copics unavailable at the time...). That prompted me to use the stamp set again when I had Copics available; I have better luck shading with those.


Additional Supplies: Whimsy Slimline ATC Windows
Sentiment from SSS I believe; set unk
Other - colored pencils; TH Distress Inks

I die cut the ATC and inked the edges. Next I stamped the rose, masked it and stamped the lines and sentiment. Colored with pencils, badly, oh well. I had stamped the rose once, then it shifted a little in the MISTI during the second stamping - I was afraid to stamp a third time so the image is fairly light.

The next card went to Mother Mary:


Supplies: Decoupage sheet - Katy Sue Designs Birds in Blossom
Other - Printed sentiment from Gina K Spring Sayings; Pearls from kit

I used the card kit we got for Inky Stamper Saturday Morning Crafting March 21 2026. It included one of those printed sheets that have come back into vogue in some markets; you punch out elements and layer them so they appear 3D. This one was by Katy Sue Designs (link above is direct to the sheet on her site); Inky Stamper still has a few kits left HERE which included the decoupage sheet, card bases and embellishments. We also made a second card:


Supplies: kit as above
Dies - Poppystamps Scalloped Pinpoint Frames

Rather than use the black card base included in the SMC kit, I die cut two scalloped frames and scored the back one & adhered to the front one to form an A2 card. The printed decopage elements for this one didn't have any layers for the 3D effect that the previous card did.

That's it for today, friends. Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day if you're celebrating!

Saturday, May 9, 2026

A Square Rose card for Craft Roulette!

Hey friends - I created a card last night during Craft Roulette Episode #318.


Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;
Paper Studio A2 card; Authentique and Scrapbook.com papers
Stamps - Altenew freebie - Evergreen Beauty
Dies - Pink and Main Birthday Bash event labels
Other - Doodlebug Designs Cupcake sequins;
sentiment from the stash - maybe Altenew?;
foam tape

Host Mary Gunn had Kelly Marie Alvarez (‪@lawnfawn‬) as her guest, making her first appearance. What a thrill for one of the owners of Lawn Fawn to be on the show! They are one of our lovely Die Cut Divas sponsors and we appreciate them so much!! Kelly Marie did an amazing job, of course, and used LF's bunny die with the flower frame - so cute!

The wheel, spun four times for our needed parameters, was very kind:


  • Project - Ardyth Square: This is a 4.25" square card favored by Ardyth Percy-Robb, a frequent guest on Craft Roulette. I trimmed the long edge of an A2 card to be square. 
  • Colors - May Garden: Google said soft blues, vibrant greens and pinks would do. 
  • Element - 3 Layers: Card base and two mat layers. 
  • Random - Textile: I used some wire ribbon.

Unfortunately I was at my dad's and all my Lawn Fawn was at home so I made a card using an Altenew stamp. You'll see more of this stamp on Mother's Day... I trimmed down an A2 card to be a square. Die cut two label layers and added to the card, after I'd looped the ribbon around the pink layer. The flower was already stamped and colored so I just fussy cut it and added it to the card with foam tape. Found a sentiment in the stash and added with foam tape then adhered some sequins - done!

Thanks for stopping by & have a crafty weekend! I will be back tomorrow, posting my Mother's Day cards...