Dear Dahlias!

Hey there - it's the final day for our Die Cut Divas April Challenge to use Flowers. I'm popping in with more floral inspiration & you can see the end-of-month team post HERE.

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane A2 cards;

Momenta watercolor print

Stamps & Dies - Altenew Dear Dahlias

Dies - Altenew Mix and Match Frame Dies &

Garden Picks 3D Die Set

Other - Various TH Distress Oxide Inks; foam tape

I used the Dear Dahlias set in a December 2023 post, also with Altenew as our Diva sponsor. Altenew generously had sent this set to me along with my order & I fell in love with it. I had yet to use the dies that create a dahlia so I wanted to try them - amazing result and so easy to work with, given the key hole to line up the pieces. I also die cut a rose, bitty flowers and foliage from Altenew's Garden Pick set.

After die cutting, I inked with some DOI for shading. Next I die cut two pieces of the Mix & Match Frame set from an A2 card and layered. Added using foam tape to an A2 card one shade lighter, then arranged my floral spray on top. Stamped and fussy cut a sentiment from the Dear Dahlias set - done!

Since the dahlia dies got first play here, I'll add my card to Darnell's April NBUS Challenge 73. I'll also play at Darnell's IDEAS project where Anything Goes this week. You can see Darnell's gorgeous inspiration HERE.

How about a bonus? This time I used the dahlias stamp, along with the coordinating stencils from the bundle. 

I simply stamped the dahlias spray onto a piece of Neenah and die cut with a favorite stitched rectangle. Used the set of  4 stencils to add inks using various Distress Oxide inks. Stamped another sentiment from the set and adhered the panel to a pink Park Lane A2 card. Used some Memory Box gems on the little flowers. Very quick and easy!!

That's it for today, friends! I hope to see you in the April Diva gallery by 9pm Pacific Time tonight. Thanks for stopping by!

Last day for Flowers at Die Cut Divas!!

Happy New Year's Eve!! Today is the last day for our Die Cut Diva December Challenge to use Flowers. You only have until 9pm PST today and remember to include a die cut &/or embossing folder in your design!

I'm part of the last-of-the-month team posting inspiration at the Divas HERE with this first card. I used a new Altenew Press Plate!

Supplies: Paper - Spellbinders Pebble Betterpress A2 Cotton; 

Paper Studio Navy A2 card

Press Plate - Altenew Hummingbird Nectar

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Inks - Spellbinders Betterpress Black and Cosmic Sky

from the Regal Tones pack 

Other - Sakura gelly roll pen

 

Altenew has donated a generous $50 gift certificate to our December winner

(awarded by random draw from eligible December entries).

From mid November to Cyber Monday I enjoyed ample time to place online orders from various companies having sales. I took advantage of one at Spellbinders to pick up a Betterpress but hadn't had a chance to use it until yesterday. Then I went to Arizona for the Christmas holiday and while there, placed an Altenew order for a press plate bundle. I found it waiting for me when I arrived home on the 28th & whipped up the card using the hummingbird plate and my new Betterpress. Here's a shot of the card with the set up.

This card couldn't have been simpler & look at the results! My first attempt at Betterpress and it turned out perfectly! Literally as easy as popping the plates down onto the Chase (a magnetic platform), inking them up, applying the paper which is taped to the Platen (cover to put over the Chase) & running it all through Spellbinders Platinum 6. I die cut the panel with a stitched rectangle, glued it to an A2 card and added some gold glitter pen to the bird's beak & the flower centers - done! Best thing - the set up remained firmly in place and could be reinked for more cards! Trust me, I made multiples!

Bonus!! I made another simple card using one of Altenew's darling mini stamp sets:

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane gold A2 card; Neenah white;

Lawn Fawn Petite Spiffier Speckles

Stamps with Dies - Altenew Mini Dogwood;

Poppystamps Say It Big

Other - Copic Markers

I'd barely opened my accumulated mail Thursday night when I decided that Friday needed a trip to my favorite local craft store Anchor Paper. Sure enough, they had post Christmas sales with 20% off all holiday & Spellbinders. Picked up some of both, then I popped a sweet Altenew mini set into my cart. These sets are such a great value! As promised, I used my new Altenew Stampwheel - picked it up during one of their November sales but hadn't tried it yet. Here's a photo of my mini Dogwood on the wheel stamping the 4th flower. 

This was the second batch of flowers I stamped. To stamp the ones on the card, I'd laid the stamp out more on a curve, hoping to create a wreath. Didn't space it quite right so I ended up die cutting the three clusters with the coordinating die. Not sure if I'll die cut this batch or try to add in smaller stamps for a background. Both cards feature newly used stuff but I'll just add card one to Darnell's December NBUS Challenge.

That's it, friends! Before you head off to your New Year's Eve party, I'd love to see your flower project in our December Diva gallery! I'll be dining early with some friends trying to beat the crowds - lol.

Thanks for stopping by & many thanks to Altenew for being a fabulous sponsor!!

 

Flowers at the Divas!

Hey everyone - ready for Christmas?? I think I am...

I'm posting inspiration over at Die Cut Divas today - we're doing flowers for our December Challenge. I first made a card using the amazing Layered Ornate Frame set by our sponsor, Altenew.

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane A2 card; Tim Holtz gold metallic;

Lawn Fawn Spiffier Speckles and Petite Watercolor Wishes;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110 lb; scraps of green

Dies - Altenew Layered Ornate Frame

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Stamps with Dies - Poppystamps Say It Big

Other - Park Lane rainbow gems; Hero Arts ink

 

Altenew has donated a generous $50 gift certificate for our December winner

(awarded by random draw from eligible December entries).

The frame set made it so quick and easy to create a card. I simple die cut the frame twice and layered for dimension and stability. Next I die cut the flowers and leaves and assembled. Stamped and die cut the sentiment - I wanted a jumbo one to fill the frame opening and Poppystamps came through for me. This one went to my cousin who landed in the hospital - no fun this close to the holidays but she's on the mend, thankfully!!

Next, I have a couple of bonus cards using the Build-a-Garden: Dear Dahlias bundle. Altenew generously sent me this bundle along with one of my orders - thanks so much!! Here's the first card I made with it:

I stamped and stenciled the image then die cut with the coordinating die. Added it to another Spiffier Speckles rectangle and glued to an A2 card. A printed sentiment strip from my bits box finished the card. My stenciling went a bit wonky in spots but I saved it by outlining the image with a grey Copic before die-cutting it. After layering it onto the peachy background, I really liked how this card turned out! Here's another, more successful stenciled Dear Dahlia along with a Hero Arts sentiment:

I'll add my first card to Darnell's December NBUS Challenge since the frame got first use here....

I recently bought one of the Altenew Stampwheels and hope to use it for my end-of-month Diva project... Until then, I'd love to see your flower project in our December Diva gallery! 

Thanks for stopping by!!

Fun with Florals - a Spellbinders/Altenew Collaboration event

Hey everyone - I've been busy the past few days with an online event co-sponsored by Spellbinders and Altenew. Four classes (2 Thursday and 2 Friday) were done with pre-recorded video so you could take them any time. Then today we met on Zoom for a LIVE with Kim Kesti from Spellbinders and Lydia Evans from Altenew. A detailed handout came with each of the classes but nothing for the LIVE yet. Sadly, there were some access issues with the LIVE today so hope you weren't one of those affected - I wasn't, thankfully.

I thought I'd share my versions of the class cards, plus the card I made using what Lydia Evans taught in the LIVE today; I'll try to make Kim's cards later. Just five cards to share so not too photo heavy, I hope! We used new supplies from both companies - Spellbinders has added them to their store now but Altenew's aren't on their site yet. I added links where available.

Class one with Yana Smakula - Monachrome Florals! Purple - my fave!!

Supplies: Paper - various Spellbinders

Stamps - Altenew Folk Art Flowers (sentiment)

Dies - Spellbinders Four Petal Bloom Reflection

Embossing Folder - Altenew Folk Art Flowers 3D

Other - Versamark ink, gold ep, foam tape

Yana loves dimension so loads of foam tape here! Such a gorgeous die set - it cuts one of the background panels and all the topper flowers - this card features two cuts of everything. The flower centers were cut from a little piece of Spellbinders glitter foam cardstock included in the kit package - so fun & it cuts like butter! 

An A2 purple panel was partially embossed at top then flipped and partially embossed at bottom - a bit tricky since the embossing folder is a big square and I was using a Platinum 6. Then assemble all your die cuts - a bit confusing the first time through but much easier once you know what goes where. The supply kit came with a bitty label which I messed up while embossing. Fixed it by embossing on Lawn Fawn paper and die cutting into a circle which I glued over my boo-boo,

Class two with Lydia Evans - Double Colored Die Cuts!

Same supplies for this one but we also used the coordinating die for the Folk Art Flower. Die cut three of the flower, then embossed each one and adhered them atop an A2 card to create the background. Lydia used white cardstock to die cut all her 4 Petal Bloom Reflection pieces, then inked/shaded them. I did that for some but mostly used Jennifer McGuire's trick of starting with colored cardstock, then shading. I used different colors than she did & also added a golden shadow layer to the green base.

Class three with Jen Rzasa - Regal and Radiant!

Jen had us do the angled embossing on an A2 panel then fussy cut it. Used the coordinating stencil to color before popping onto the card base. I found these stencils confusing at first use - hope to improve! I stamped birthday from the Altenew set and die cut happy with vellum shadow from the new Spellbinders Thanks Enclosed Sentiments. My dots are some extra glitter foam flower centers I die cut - love!!

Class three with Carissa Wiley - Bold and Opulent Colors to Create a Statement!

I photographed this on my Valentine candy box so the delicate peach card would show up better - so gorgeous with the teal panel stamped tone-on-tone with the Altenew Folk Art Flower. I cut my teal on 3 edges with the deckle die from Altenew's Mix and Match Frame Set - Carissa left hers straight. I also changed up my flower colors.

Card I made from today's LIVE with Lydia Evans:

We did a shaker with the base layer embossed, then stenciled. I inked the edges of my top layer to soften the white but mainly to cover a nick of purple from my finger - lol. Shaker bits were included in the supply kit they coordinated. I used a different sentiment from the Spellbinders die set - such a fab new set.

That's it! Whew - a lot; time for a nap! I'll share card one at Darnell's February NBUS Challenge since my Four Petal Bloom Reflection set got first use there.

Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting!!

Last Day for Watercoloring at Die Cut Divas

Hey friends - Happy Halloween if you're celebrating! Today's your last chance to join the Die Cut Divas for our October Watercoloring Challenge with our amazing sponsor Altenew. As always, just be sure to use a die cut &/or embossing folder in your design. 

You can see today's end-of-month Diva post HERE where my teamies & I are sharing our watercolored creations. Here's mine:

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane A2 card; 

Hero Arts Watercolor Paper; Paper Studio glitter cardstock

Stamps with Dies - Altenew Wishing You Complete Bundle

Dies - Altenew Lacy Doily;

Hero Arts Nesting Oval Infinity Dies

Other - Altenew Florals Coloring Book and Watercolor Bundle

Our lucky random winner from eligible October entries will receive a 100%

discount code for an Artists' Watercolor 24 Pan Set (value $49.99)!!

I once again used a floral panel from Altenew's coloring book. After watercoloring it, I fussy cut it and added to an A2 card with a glittery die cut doily. The Altenew sentiment stamp/die set I used was a gift from sister Diva Cindy (Escape to Stamping) - how sweet of her!! Love this set!

I'm linking this card to Darnell's October NBUS Challenge since the Wishing set is new; thanks again, Cindy!!

Ready for a bonus? Since I had the coloring book out, I simply selected another fabulous floral & watercolored it. This time I die cut it with an oval & added it to an A2 card along with part of another doily. A Simon Says Stamp sentiment strip finished the project.

Thanks for stopping and I hope to see you in the October Diva Gallery! 

Link up your project by 9pm Pacific Time today. Happy crafting!!

Watercolored Floral Birthday Card

Hey friends - it's my turn to post at Die Cut Divas today, sharing the card below. We're sponsored this month by the amazing Altenew with the challenge theme of Watercoloring! As always, just be sure to use a die cut &/or embossing folder in your design.

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane A2 card; 

Unity black; scrap of green

Stamps - Altenew Floral Frame (sentiment) 

Dies - A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop

Other - Altenew Florals Coloring Book and 

Watercolor Bundle; SSS sentiment strip; Park Lane gems;

black Sharpie & pencil

Our lucky random winner from eligible October entries will receive a 100%

discount code for an Artists' Watercolor 24 Pan Set (value $49.99)!!

I finally had a chance to play with a floral panel from Altenew's coloring book. I bought the entire bundle as a 2021 birthday present to myself ; yep, it's been waiting over 18 months to be used! The images to color are printed on watercolor paper so I just pulled out the 24 pan set & brushes (also getting first use) and went to work. I used varying amounts of water to apply color & shading. Then I used a black pencil for some shadows and a black Sharpie here & there to finish it off. I'm ok with the result, even though I'm definitely no expert. I cut the panel down to fit atop a diecut mat & adhered to the card. I stamped a sentiment and fussy cut, then added to black and fussy cut a mat layer. Some gems and a little Happy printed sentiment strip finished it off.

I will also link this card to Darnell's October NBUS Challenge since my watercolor set has finally made it off Mount NBUS - Whew!!

Ready for a bonus? Since I had the coloring book out, I simply selected another fabulous floral & watercolored it. Again, I added a few details with a sharpie & some shading, then distressed the edges with Black Soot & glued the die cut panel to an A2 card. Stamped a different sentiment from the same set as above & added some gems - done!

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane A2 card

Stamps - Altenew Floral Frame (sentiment) 

Dies - Hero Arts Nesting Rectangle Infinity Dies

Other - Altenew Florals Coloring Book and 

Watercolor Bundle; Black Soot Distress Ink; 

Hero Arts Forest Green Ink; Park Lane gems;

black Sharpie, white gel pen

On this one I added a lot of white gel pen. I was heavy handed with the black Sharpie in a couple spots so I tried to disguise them with white. That led me down the garden path adding more and more white, oh well...

Thanks for stopping and I hope to see you in the October Diva Gallery! Link up your project by 9pm Pacific Time on 10/31/22. Happy crafting!!

 

A Garden Pick Thank You

Hey there - I'm sharing today's card for inspiration at Die Cut Divas. You can find the supply list and card details below, plus a bonus card! We have Altenew as this month's fabulous sponsor with watercoloring as our theme.

Supplies: Paper - DCWV Ms Sparkle A2 card;

Strathmore 140lb Watercolor Paper (wcp)

Dies - Altenew Garden Picks 3D Die Set;

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop

Other - Distress Reinkers - Worn Lipstick, Festive Berries

Squeezed Lemonade, Lucky Clover & Shabby Shutters;

Simon Say Stamp Sentiment Strips Thanks; foam tape;

Parklane (JoAnn's brand) gems

For this one, I simply watercolored an Altenew flower and some leaves (die cut from Strathmore wcp), using a large piece of Strathmore wcp as a work surface. Kathy from The Daily Marker calls this print-making coloring. So fun! I used Distress Reinkers - so easy to use full strength & mixed with water too! I also have some mini-misters filled with reinker/water & Perfect Pearls - gave the background a hefty spritz with a green one. I die cut part of my print with a stitched rectangle & adhered to a card. Added a sentiment strip, plus the assembled die cut flower & leaves - done! The flower has 6 layers and the littlest ones are a bit fiddly but I love, love, love this die set!! You can see a fave of mine from last year using the print-making coloring technique HERE, if interested.

Here's my bonus card:

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Dove A2 card;

Strathmore 140lb Cold Press watercolor paper (wcp)

Stamp - Altenew Poppy Arrangement 

Die - Altenew Poppy Arrangement

Stencil - Memory Box Diamond Texture (retired)

Inks - Tumbled Glass & Tea Dye Distress;

Taylored Expressions Salt Water Taffy

Other - Distress Reinkers - same as above;

Simon Say Stamp Sentiment Strips Thanks; foam tape

I stamped the poppies on watercolor paper and painted them using Distress Reinkers & a little water. Die cut them with the coordinating die. I held them above a top fold A2 card to eyeball placement. Blended Tumbled Glass onto the card and then stenciled some diamond texture where I knew it would show beyond the poppies. Adhered the poppies with glue on bottom half and foam tape on upper. Added a sentiment strip - done! I definitely need more practice watercoloring but I enjoy it!

I hope you were inspired to join our August Challenge at Die Cut Divas. You can use Altenew products but it's not required. However, you must use a die cut or embossing folder and watercoloring. The challenge ends at 9pm Pacific Time on August 31st so there's still plenty of time.

Thanks for stopping and have a Die Cut Diva Day!!

Beautiful Day

Happy Saturday - hope you're enjoying the weekend! This week I had fun hopping from blog to blog on several different Blog Hop's - Hero Arts on Monday, Altenew's on Thursday and Simon Says Stamp yesterday. So much inspiration in one week!! My friend Barb participated in two of them and her post on the SSS hop inspired me to get out some neglected embossing folders. I loved her designs with the simple images atop the embossed backgrounds.

Supplies: Stamps - Altenew Apple Tree and Floral Frame (sentiment and dots for the "apples")

Paper - Core'dinations kraft card, Tim Holtz Kraft Stack, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black; Distress Inks - Lucky Clover, Twisted Citron, Festive Berries, Gathered Twigs; Distress Oxide - Crushed Pistachio; Distress Markers - Candied Apple, Mowed Lawn & Gathered Twigs

Other - 3M foam tape; May Arts string twine; Darice Woodgrain embossing folder

I just received my first Altenew order yesterday, thanks to a $15 gift card win on Virginia's blog. When I ordered, Altenew offered a free Apple Tree layered stamp set - cute as can be, isn't it? I couldn't resist giving it a play after I cut and colored a Floral Sprig (you'll see that in an upcoming post).

After I did the stamp layering, I did some shading and detailing with markers and then blended a bit with a water pen. I thought it was a great idea to use the little bubble stamps from the Floral Frame set as "apples" on my tree. I stamped in Festive Berries and then colored them in with a Candied Apple marker. So fun! The Tim Holtz kraft stack has Distress ink colors with a kraft core, revealed when sanded after embossing - love this paper!! It's Day 11 of Kathy's 30 Day Coloring Challenge and I'll be coloring some more Altenew flowers and sprigs later today.

Have a crafty day and thanks for stopping by!!