Zen Calm

Hey everyone - it's my day to post at Die Cut Divas. We have Sunbird Spark as the sponsor for our January Challenge - Use New Crafty Item. Perfect as we start a new year!

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Paper Studio ombre A2 card; scrap of black

Crate Paper Retro Summer

Digi Stamps - Sunbird Spark Zen Time

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set;

Poppystamps Flower and Leaf Sprinkles

Other - Glossy Accents; Hero Arts enamel dot;

white gel pen; Copic Markers

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

My new item is the digi stamp from Sunbird Spark - thanks to them for sharing it with the Diva team! I printed it off with some other digi stamps on my ink jet, trimmed to a rectangle & colored it with Copic Markers. I left the background white. Very calming, right? I matted the rectangle with black & added to an A2 card layered with a patterned stitched rectangle. I added glossy accents to the clock, bottle & glass. A digi sentiment from the same file & a die cut flower completed the card.

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

Bonus time! Others on the team have used this adorable reading dinosaur, another new digi for me - love it!

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Paper Studio A2 card; Taylored Expressions Latte;

Lawn Fawn Rainbow Ever After Petite

Digi Stamps - Sunbird Spark My Favorite Chapter

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set; 

Penny Black Wood Floors

Other - foam tape; white gel pen

The dinosaur, books and sentiment were printed at the same time as my yoga person. I did two sizes of the book image for some interest. I colored the images with Copics and fussy cut them.

Next I die cut a stitched rectangle with a pastel striped paper & the floor from latte cardstock. Adhered to an ombre purple A2 card. Added the dino, books & sentiment. A few white gel pen details finished the card.

That's it, friends. Thanks for stopping and I hope you'll join us in the January Diva Gallery!

More Pink for Christmas!!

Hey friends - I hope your week is off to a great start!! I'm popping in with my third and final entry for the January Christmas Kickstart Challenge #106 to use pink. It seems, once I got going, that I couldn't stop thinking pink!!

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Lawn Fawn Petite Watercolor Wishes;

Paper Studio ombre pink A2 card & 

shades of pink cardstock; scrap of black

Stamps with Dies - Art Impressions Winter Wonderland Bundle

Dies - Memory Box Timberland Collage

(retired but reimagined as Thicket Collage);

Birch Press Designs Merry Christmas Dapper Script;

Poppystamps Scalloped Pinpoint Frames

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape; white gel pen

I got the MB tree background die as a gift with a Poppystamps order - thanks, Dave! I had ordered a bunch of stuff post Christmas and have been "processing" it onto magnets, then making test cuts. Finally got to the tree window. Once I cut it in white, I decided to back it in pink and add a deer for CKC. Colored the deer with Copics and assembled to an A2 card. A fave BPD sentiment had finished the card until I "processed" a new Poppystamps frame set. I had just run test cuts of all the frames and the biggest one was pink. Decided to try it on my deer card - loved it! What about you?

Since my trees and frame are newly used, I'll add this card to Darnell's January NBUS Challenge #82. I will also play at the January Merry Little Christmas Challenge #66 where Anything Christmas Goes & at Creative Crafters #96 where Anything Goes.

That's it for today, friends! I mentioned being busy crafting - want to know what? Starting January 1st and going to the 24th, I'm using the corresponding day's item from the Spellbinders 2025 Advent Calendar. I opened them faithfully until I left for my holiday trip, then did the rest when I returned home on New Year's Eve. Didn't make a thing with them in December so decided to get busy on New Year's Day. Not saying I made a card every day - just used the item. I'll begin sharing what I made once I'm done.

Hope to see you back on the 21st when I post for Die Cut Divas. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a crafty day!!

Card on a Card!

Hi all - we had snow overnight on Friday but I was cozy watching Craft Roulette Episode #302. Since I was busy doing chores yesterday after posting my CKC card, I waited until today to blog my CR entry. Here ya go:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Lawn Fawn Summertime Pint-Sized Patterns;

My Favorite Things Sweet Summer Color Blends;

Scraps of yellow, red & kraft metallic

Dies - Poppystamps Lovely Idea (retired but

still available HERE at Frantic Stamper);

Memory Box Pastry Labels (retired) &

Columbine Frame (exclusive to Simple Pleasures store);

Spellbinders Colorful Expressions Sentiments (DOM-Aug24, retired)

Stamps - Hero Arts Written in the Stars (retired)

Other - foam tape

Host Mary had Mari Clarke (‪@MariClarke‬) as her guest. Mari is a talented crafter and educator who designs for Honey Bee and Crafter's Companion. As usual, the wheel was spun four times for the necessary parameters for our cards.

• Project - Card on A Card: I did a top folding mini-card on an A2 card.
• Colors - Unicorn Farm: I used colors of the rainbow, plus white. 
• Element - Light(S): I used a light bulb die cut.
• Random - Label(S): One sentiment is on a die cut label.

I crafted along during the show but, like last week, the member cards didn't appear onscreen during the LIVE - oh well. As usual, I craft more quickly with dies - everything was made from scratch on this one, except the hearts on the inside of the card-on-card.

I started with an A2 card and added a striped LF paper die cut with a stitched rectangle. Next I made a mini card out of MFT paper (a bit less than 3" square). Stamped a sentiment on the inside and added a few hearts from the bits box. I die cut the light bulb, label, hello & friend from scraps and assembled onto the card. The light bulb is one die that cuts the bulb and the heart (with "wire" outline) in one pass. I cut it again from silver metallic and pieced the "wire" and the bulb bottom, plus the heart from red. 

Here's a photo of the inside of the card-on-card (I left the A2 inside blank for now):

That's it for today, friends - hope you're enjoying your day!! Part of my chores yesterday & since Wednesday has been to take down my Christmas decorations. I managed to get two of my living room trees down so far - making good progress! Since I was gone over Christmas, I left the decorations up a few weeks more than usual so I could enjoy them longer.

Thanks for stopping by!!

A Polar Bear Wearing Pink!

Hey friends - happy weekend!! I'm popping in with a second entry for the January Christmas Kickstart Challenge #106 to use pink. I'll share my card from last night's Craft Roulette Episode #302 tomorrow since I have some chores to finish today. 

Here's my polar bear wearing pink:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Paper Studio cardstock; Lawn Fawn Watercolor Wishes;

scraps of black and parchment

Dies - Poppystamps Nordic Bundled Bear &

Merry Christmas Moonlight Script (retired

but still available HERE at Frantic Stamper);

Lawn Fawn Stitched Snowflakes;

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Embossing Folder - Honey Bee Snowflakes 3D

Other - Recollections gems; foam tape

A CR member that I mentioned in a previous post, Irene, started a new YouTube Show last Saturday that she plans to do twice a month. You can find Put the CAS(E) in ChAoS! Episode #1 HERE. Irene and friend Chelsea Comer (Inky Stamper) sent each other a card which they opened on air & then CASE'd each other on the spot - very fun!

They invited viewers to take some element of their cards and create our own. I played along and took inspiration from an animal Irene showed popping out of a window. She had a yeti coming out of a torn hole that was made with a Lisa Horton set called Torn Aperture. To mimic it, I embossed a rectangle with a circle window. Once embossed, I tore around the circle making a torn aperture. Adhered it to a white A2 card, backed with a mat layer of pink.

Next I die cut and assembled the bear, then popped him into the window. Added a die cut snowflake with some gems to the snowflake centers to finish the card. Since my Nordic Bear is newly used, I'll add this card to Darnell's January NBUS Challenge #82. I will also play at the January Merry Little Christmas Challenge #66 where Anything Christmas Goes.

I also did a card in blues with a penguin from Sunny Studio's Penguin Party, colored with Copics. I made this one a shaker using Simon Says stamp Starshine dots and a few of Lawn Fawns smaller snowflakes. A Betterpressed sentiment from the stash finished the card.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a crafty weekend!!

Dreaming of a Pink Christmas

Hey everyone - hope you're having a great week! I've been doing more creating than blogging but hope to catch up on the latter. Today I have a card for the January Christmas Kickstart Challenge #106 where Jo & her elf Chris are dreaming of a pink Christmas. Oh yeah - love that!!

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio A2 watercolor wash card;

scraps of pink/green/yello

Dies - Memory Box Blooming Poinsettias

Other - Simon Says Stamp Starshine Embellishments;

Taylored Expression seal

When I posted my Craft Roulette card on Friday, I mentioned Irene who does a CR tailgate party a couple times a month. Irene also has a YouTube show called Card Chaos where she tries to make a card in 15 minutes. I've been playing along when I can & this week the theme was scraps. I have loads of scraps (if you missed it, see my "organizational" method HERE) so jumped right in. 

I had just finished making a large pink flower (not used on a card yet) & had several scraps of various shades of pink. I quickly die cut and assembled some poinsettias (die set just picked up last week & first use here). Added them to a printed A2 card from Hobby Lobby, then adhered an old Taylored Expressions seal as a sentiment. Some SSS embellishments finished the card.

Since my poinsettias are newly used, I'll add this card to Darnell's January NBUS Challenge #82. I will also play at the January Merry Little Christmas Challenge #66 where Anything Christmas Goes.

Here's a bonus (not included as a CKC entry):

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; 

Spellbinder Wild Hello patterned; scraps

Dies - Birch Press Design String Art Frame;

Memory Box Blooming Poinsettias;

Hero Arts Infinity Nesting Circle

Other - Taylored Expression seal; foam tape

I had an extra poinsettia and label - what to do? I was doing some crafty clean-up & found a string art coverplate diecut from Diva sister Arlene. Perfect! I backed it with some old Spellbinders card kit paper & added the label (already on a die cut circle) in the opening with foam tape. Popped the poinsettia to the bottom left of the label & done. I had started with a pink Lawn Fawn watercolor print behind the string art but fell in love with this Spellbinders floral print. What do you think? 

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a crafty week!!

A Thank You in Apple Orchard Colors!

Hi all - I've been busy making cards this week so haven't posted since last Saturday. I watched Craft Roulette Episode #301 live tonight and crafted along, submitting my card during the show. A technical glitch, though, only sent the non-member cards to the screen during the live. Hopefully, they'll fix things before the card slide show that appears on the next episode. Here's my 92nd entry:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Recollections A2 card; MFT Colorful Canvas;

American Crafts Spring;

scrap of blue pattern (brand unk); Paper Studio cardstock

Stamps - Hero Arts With Sympathy (retired)

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set;

Trinity Stamps Bottle Tag Die Set

Other - Simon Says Stamp Starshine Dots;

Hero Arts ink; foam tape

Host Mary Gunn had Carrie Rhoades (‪@CarrieRhoades‬) as her guest, making her 6th appearance on the show (in addition to special events). Carrie is on the Design Team at Trinity Stamps, a frequent prize donor to Craft Roulette. The wheel was very kind to us tonight!

• Project - Appreciation Card: I used a Thank You sentiment. 
• Colors - Apple Farm: I used red (apples), green (leaves), & blue (sky). White neutral is ok. 
• Element - Silhouette: I stamped silhouette flowers.
• Random - An Old Product: My stamp is from a 2011 set.

I pulled out an old Hero Arts sympathy stamp set that I knew had a silhouette flower on it. Stamped it on a small stitched rectangle using Emerald ink. Layered it up with some other papers. Die cut a Trinity Stamps sentiment & assembled. Some SSS dots finished the card.

I will add this card to Darnell's January NBUS Challenge #82 since my sentiment die was newly used here.

Bonus:

Before some Craft Roulette episodes, one of the members Irene hosts a Tailgate Party on her YouTube Channel. She will make a card in 30 minutes using parameters from an old episode. This time she chose Episode #145 which was Carrie Rhodes' 4th CR appearance (and before I started playing at CR). The parameters were Diagonal Cut/White Background/Light(s) & Off to the Side. I decided to craft along and made this card:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Paper Studio cardstock

Embossing Folder - Taylored Expressions Subway Tile (retired)

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints 18 (NIB);

Brass and Bliss String of Lights Edger

Other - Hero Arts sparkle lacquer; gold Stickles;

Glossy Accents; Spellbinders puffy sentiment

I die cut Neenah cardstock with the diagonal panel from an MFT Blueprints set, embossed it with tiles and added to an A2 card of Neenah. Die cut the light string, assembled and adhered to the card. Put sparkle lacquer on the red ball lights, Glossy Accents on the green lights and gold Stickles on the star lights. A Spellbinders puffy sentiment sticker finished the card.

Since I'm a CR member, I can add this card to the applicable episode's bonus gallery - the regular gallery closed a long time ago!

Hope you have a crafty weekend & thanks for visiting!!

Charms on a Purse!

Hey everyone - how's your 2026 going so far? I just came home on the 31st from my holidays in Arizona so I did very little to celebrate the New Year. Was too busy unpacking and opening my accumulated mail. I made time last night to watch Craft Roulette #300, though. Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - TH Kraft Metallic;

MFT Limeade; Paper Studio cardstock;

Spellbinders Betterpress Porcelain

Dies - Spellbinders Charmed Life (DOML-Nov25)

Press Plate w/die - Spellbinders You Are Everything Sentiments

3D Embossing Folder - Altenew Organic Linen

Other - foam tape

Host Mary Gunn had Maymay Helms (‪@MaymayMadeIt‬) as her guest. Maymay was making her 5th episode appearance but she's also been part of special Craft Roulette events. She has several regular shows on her YouTube channel, plus a line of stamps on her website. Mary spun the wheel four times as usual for the necessary parameters:

• Project - Purse Card: I put a purse on an A7 card. 
• Colors - 1990's: I went neon with lime/orange/pink. 
• Element - Outdoor Critter(s): I used a bear charm.
• Random - Textile: I embossed my purse with Organic Linen.

I pulled out a Spellbinders set that creates a purse with dangle elements. It's the first time I've used it and I know I put stuff together wrong but I wanted to get something finished quickly... Die cut the elements I wanted to use and assembled. Embossed the purse using an Altenew 3D folder. Added to an A7 card along with a pressed sentiment. The "button" closure on the purse is a flower center die cut taken from my bits box (brand unk).

Since my purse set was newly used, I'll add my card to Darnell's January NBUS Challenge #82.

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

December 2025 Card Chain Reveal

Hey everyone - today we share cards that went around the world for the December 2025 Card Chain Challenge. Twenty-three people participated and you can see the full reveal HERE. My card went to the talented Imke (My Crafty Place) in Germany.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Hero Arts (retired); Paper Studio cardstock; 

Tim Holtz Kraft Metallic

Dies - Birch Press Design Little Poinsettia Flowers,

Merry Christmas Dapper Script,

Block Print Drop Ornaments,

Block Print Petal Ornament, &

Block Print Wave Ornament;

Poppystamps Flower and Leaf Sprinkles,

Little Bow and String, &

Garden Sprig (retired);

Lawn Fawn Quilted Diamond Backdrop;

Other - foam tape; white gel pen

We had to use all the parameters listed:

NBUS (new but unused stuff)**

something from your stash that is unused

It doesn't have to be new, old unused stuff is OK too

 

AND

 

your favourite 3 colours

 

AND

 

an animal OR a flower OR a fruit 

I used a bunch of new Birch Press that I hadn't used prior to this card, including the ornaments & bitty poinsettias. My fave three colors in order - purple, teal, & green. I'm definitely Team Purple, so I leaned heavily into that color with two different shades. Also had two different shades of green too & a bit of teal. I added white flowers (neutrals allowed) to the ornaments to meet the third parameter. Loads of die cutting on this one, then assembled. This was one of my favorite holiday makes!

Linda in Michigan sent me the card below; I just love her celebratory New Year's card! Thanks Linda & thanks too for the die cut frame!

Want to play in the Card Chain? It's great fun and you only have to make and send one card. Check out the January 2026 details here by 1/6.

Thanks for stopping by & happy crafting!!

** Note: Blogging friend Darnell has an entire NBUS Challenge blog devoted to what she calls Never-Before-Used-Schtuff. With her inspiration I use more of my schtuff every month!! Check it out if you don't already play there. I'm adding my card (since first blogged here & uses new stuff) to Darnell's January NBUS Challenge #82.