Last Day for September Die Cut Diva Challenge!

Hey everyone - I'm posting inspiration at Die Cut Divas with the end-of-month team. You can still upload to our September Anything Goes Challenge (using a die or embossing folder) until 9pm Pacific time today! 

We're creating with products by our fabulous sponsor Birch Press Design but you can use any brand. First up - a fish tank:

Supplies: Paper - Recollections A2 card;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Paper Studio Assorted Cardstock

Stamps - Hero Arts Color Layering Goldfish (retired)

Dies - Birch Press Design Sea Kelp and Mini Fish,

Block Print Striped Fish, Foliage Bunch, & Corner Waves

Other - Versamark, Hero Arts & Memento inks; 

Sand Embossing Powder; foam tape;

Copic Markers B00 and B12

I mentioned on my September 21st post that I went overboard on the latest BPD release - love, love, love the fish! Didn't buy all the sets but still might sneak back for more... I started with a blue shimmery card that I sponged with blue ink part way up from the bottom. This time I used the kelp dies as intended, plus the mini fish in the set. 

I also connected pairs of leafy sprigs (plus one left single) from the foliage die set for more variety. Then I added a striped fish plus some waves. A sand colored strip of paper embossed with sand powder (left chunky in spots) served as the "floor" of my fish tank. I curved a sentiment stamp to mimic the waves, then stamped & fussy cut. Shaded the edges with Copics & added to the card with foam tape.

I'll add this card to Darnell's September NBUS Challenge #78 since the waves and striped fish are newly used.

For my bonus, I have a thank you card:

I covered an A2 card with four different green leafy stems die cut with the dies in the same foliage set as on card one, but not using the sprig die cut. I trimmed off any excess, then added a sentiment (Simon Says Stamp Showboat Thank You) with foam tape. This technique has been used many times, mainly because it's so easy & effective - love this look!

That's it for today, friends. Hope to see any last minute cards in our September Diva Gallery by 9P Pacific Time today! Happy crafting!!

Star Flowers Birthday and a Bonus!

Hi friends - Happy Halloween!! It's the last day for our October Die Cut Diva Challenge and I'm part of the end-of-month team post. Our sponsor Birch Press Design has such wonderful layered die sets and we had such fun with them! Thanks to BPD for providing a $20 gift card to their store for our random winner!

Here's my card for today:

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane A2 card;

My Mind's Eye On the Bright Side;

Hero Arts Arctic; scraps of yellow and green

Stamps - My Favorite Things Itty Bitty Basics

Dies - Birch Press Design Star Flowers Contour Layers,

Delicate Floral Buds Contour Layers, &

Birthday Wishes Sugar Script;

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - sparkle gold gel pen; foam tape

This summer my favorite local craft store had a sale on BPD, Poppystamps & Memory Box so I bought some of each! This is my first time playing with the Star Flowers and the stems from the Delicate Floral Buds set - so cheery! Thought I'd use them  on a bday card for my cousin Debi. Just die cut and assemble - easy peesy! Since I was just using the birthday word from the set, I stamped a bitty HAPPY on a scrap and adhered it to the b. I added some gold glitter gel to the flower centers - done!

Now for a bonus using a single star flower and a stem. Keeping it clean and simple, I adhered the flower, a "ground" diecut using MFT and another BPD layered sentiment Handwritten Just a Note and Outline.

If you'd like to see another design using the Star Flowers, check out this beauty by teamie Dawn (Dawn's World). I loved her clusters of the flowers in opposite corners! Since my Star Flowers are getting first play, I'll add card one to Darnell's October NBUS Challenge.

That's it for today - hope to see you in the October Diva gallery by 9p PST today! Have fun trick-or-treating!!

Herbarium Layered Christmas

Hi friends - it's my day to post at Die Cut Divas! We're doing layered dies (be it a set or just your own layers) for our October Die Cut Diva Challenge. Birch Press Design has such wonderful layered die sets and the team is enjoying working with them this month. Thanks to BPD for providing a $20 gift card to their store for our random winner!

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane A2 card;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; Hero Arts Pitch Black;

Tim Holtz Kraft Metallic

Michael's Recollections green glitter & red

Dies - Birch Press Design Herbarium Plate Layer Set &

Merry Christmas Sugar Script and Outline

Other - Recollections gems

I bought the Herbarium Plate Layer Set recently and was excited to use it today. I started with a minty green A2 card then die cut the 3 Herbarium layers in glitter green, white, and red. Assembled, then added some red gems for berries & a BPD Christmas sentiment. I layered the Merry Christmas (love BPD's Sugar Script sentiments!!) with a black shadow and stacked the outline for dimension as well as adding a gold shadow - layering at its most simple.

For my bonus this time, I'm sharing a card I made this summer for my adopt-a-member AJ. If you missed it, alumni from my drum corps days adopted current members (read more HERE). I haven't finished sharing the rest of the cards I made but I'll do that one of these days. One of them used a BPD layered set so I saved it to share on this post:

Supplies: Paper - various - can't remember brands

Dies - Birch Press Design Kinsley Heart Plate Layer Set

Other - Spellbinders ephemera from their June kit; Kaisercraft gems

I couldn't resist the Kinsley Heart set - so gorgeous! I searched my cardstock on hand & found some to coordinate with the Spellbinder's June ephemera. Die cut the 3 layers and adhered them. Added some gems and the ephemera - done! Maybe the birdie gets a bit lost but I didn't want to cover up any layered hearts - love, love, love them!!

Both cverplate die sets got first play here but I'll just add card one to Darnell's October NBUS Challenge since I made it in October.

That's it for today - hope to see you in the October Diva gallery by 9p PST on Halloween 2023!

A String Art Christmas!

Hey there - The Divas have an end of the month post today and I used a string art die by our fabulous sponsor Birch Press Designs. Here's the card I'm sharing:

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane A2 card; Tim Holtz kraft metallics

Dies - Birch Press Design String Art Circle

Other - PinkFresh Studio Holiday Foiled Sentiments;

gems; foam tape

Here's another time my card went in a different direction from where it started. At first I pulled out a yellow card thinking to make a birthday card. I planned all along to have three string art circles. My third was an orange one but I pivoted to a gold one with a dark green card. I still need Christmas cards and had spotted a PFS Christmas circle sentiment on my table. Love how this turned out, even though the photo doesn't capture all the gorgeous metallic shine. I'm adding my card to Darnell's November NBUS Challenge since the string art is getting first play here.

And here's a bonus card featuring a BPD sentiment diecut along with that orange string art circle! It's hard to see but there's a thin blue shadow and a vellum outline layer to the sentiment.

Supplies: Paper - A Cut Above A2 card; My Mind's Eye patterned; 

TH kraft metallic; scrap of blue; Paper Studio Vellum

Dies - Birch Press Design String Art Circle &

Big Thanks Sugar Script;

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Our November Diva Challenge - Anything Goes runs through 9pm Pacific Time so be sure to get your entries linked up before today's deadline. And please remember to include a die cut or embossing folder in your design! The lucky random winner, selected from eligible November entries, will receive a $20 code to the BPD online store (to be announced December 3rd). 

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

 

Twinkle ornament in Marisol Frame

Hi everyone - I'm doing an extra post at Die Cut Divas today! It's the least I could do since I'm taking off the month of December. My card uses a gatefold frame with layers - I hope it inspires you to enter our November Challenge - Anything Goes. 

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio Brights & glitter cardstock;

Lawn Fawn Watercolor Wishes Petite

Dies - Birch Press Design Marisol Frames Layer Set

& Twinkle Ornament Layer Set (Layer A);

Poppystamps Oval Burst

Other - May Arts ribbon

This month we're sponsored by the amazing Birch Press Design. 

Note: They have 25% off in their online store through today!

The lucky random winner, selected from eligible November entries, 

will receive a $20 code to the BPD online store (to be announced December 3rd). 

When I posted last Monday, I mentioned I was expecting a package from BPD any day. Well, it arrived later that same day - what amazing service!! Busy week so I had to wait to get busy with new goodies but managed something for today. I ordered the Marisol frame set, over the others styles available, because it seemed to fit more of the ornaments I already own. Of course I couldn't resist adding another one to the collection and chose the Twinkle set. 

Simple card - I just die cut and assembled. I decided to use only one layer of the ornament for a different look but I filled the center with cut from a new Poppystamps die. I ordered it when they sponsored the Divas back in August. The oval burst is bigger than my ornament's opening but I simply glued along the center's back edge and trimmed the excess. I'm adding this card to Darnell's November NBUS Challenge since the frame set got first play here.

Now for a bonus card using a new BDP holiday die: Piped Icing Star. Love, love, love it!!

I simply die cut the two "cookie" pieces and layered them, stacking more diecuts of the star piece behind for dimension. Added the star to a piece of old (2012!!) My Mind's Eye "All is Bright" paper & layered to an A2 card - done!

Remember - our November Diva Challenge - Anything Goes runs through 9pm Pacific Time on November 30th and you must use a die cut &/or embossing folder in your design. We hope to see you in the gallery!! 

Thanks for stopping by! 

Ornament on branch

Hey there - It's my turn to post at Die Cut Divas today - yay! Our November Challenge - Anything Goes runs through 9pm Pacific Time on November 30th and we're sponsored by the amazing Birch Press Design. The lucky random winner, selected from eligible November entries, will receive a $20 code to the BPD online store (to be announced December 3rd). Here's the card I'm sharing:

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane A2 card; glitter cardstock;

green and brown scraps

Dies - Birch Press Design Christmas Ornament Pop Up Easel;

Memory Box Forest Pine Branch

Other - Taylored Expressions Simple Strips in Reverse Christmas;

May Arts ribbon

I just used some of the ornament pieces from the pop-up set, for a different look. Teamie Arlene (A Bit of This and That) sent me some cuts to try; she enabled me to order this set & I expect it to arrive soon. I also pulled out the MB branch I've had for quite a while & finally used! I'll add this to Darnell's November NBUS Challenge since the branch is getting first play here.

And here's a bonus card featuring a BPD sentiment die:

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane A2 card; 

Paper Studio Vellum; Hero Arts Glitter Paper Basics

Dies - Birch Press Design Birthday Wishes Sugar Script

Other - SSS sentiment strip (happy)

The beautiful embossed panel came from my friend Betty (created by bjk) - not sure of the brand. I've been hoarding the batch she sent. I added some watercolors to the raised bits & a bit of glitter lacquer to the flower centers. I die cut the BPD sentiment from glitter cardstock and the outline from vellum. I actually have the old die set which just has the birthday word & shadow but linked to the newer set that also has the wishes word & shadow. I absolutely love their sugar script dies! I added a happy sentiment strip to finish it off. This card went to my cousin Debi who had a birthday last week.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you'll pop over & link up at Die Cut Divas - just remember to include an embossing folder or die cut in your design!

 

Purple Birthday for last day of Divas Tone on Tone Challenge

Yes Diva friends, end of July already!! Today's the final day of our July Die Cut Diva Tone on Tone Challenge. I'm part of the end of month inspiration post & couldn't resist a purple card (see a previous one with Birch Press Design products HERE if you missed it). 

Supplies: Paper - Neenah white; Paper Studio black & glitter;

Hero Arts designer purple (shadow layer - retired);

Lawn Fawn Rainbow Perfectly Plaid

Dies - Birch Press Design Big Birthday Sugar Script Die;

A Jillian Vance Design Mini Slimline Backdrop Set

Other - Copic Markers BV000, BV00, & V28;

Dusty Concord Distress Stickles;

SSS Sentiment Strips All Things Happy;

Prima flower

Our Fabulous July Sponsor!!

I chose to make a mini slimline card since the birthday die works so well with it. I was enabled to purchase this die by Diva Cindy (Escape to Stamping). She sent me some cuts of it earlier this year (thanks again, Cindy!!). The Prima flower started purple but was so pale as to seem pink to me. So I hauled out the Copic markers and purpled it up a bit, adding some Distress Stickles (hard to see) to the center. Coloring the petals stiffened them up and allowed me to curl every other one.

Bonus: I made some cards with Cindy's die cuts way back in March & I'll share the one I photographed. It's not tone on tone but I thought I'd share it since I forgot earlier. 

Supplies:  Paper - Paper Studio; Doodlebug; 

whatever Cindy used...

Dies - Birch Press Design Big Birthday Sugar Script Die;

Hero Arts Nesting Circle Infinity Dies

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop

Stamps - Hero Arts CL139 Birthday Messages (retired)

Other - stars from an old Target Halloween sticker set

Definitely a different look on an A2 card size! I thought it would be fun to fill in behind the birthday die cut with some circles, a sentiment tag and some enamel stars. Very quick and easy!!

You have until 9pm Pacific time to upload your tone on tone project. While we're using Birch Press Design products, you don't need them - just be sure to use a die cut or embossing folder and this month's theme. Hope to see you in the gallery!! Check back tomorrow at Die Cut Divas for a new challenge and on August 3rd for our July prize winner ($20 to Birch Press Design)

Thanks for stopping! 

Tone on tone Vivid Bloom

Hi everyone - I'm sharing the card below at Die Cut Divas today for inspiration. We're doing tone on tone this month - using variations of the same color (plus neutrals are allowed). 

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Dove A2 card;

Sunny Studio; Doodlebug; Paper Studio

Dies - Birch Press Design Vivid Bloom Stitched Layer Set;

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop

Stamps with Dies - Hero Arts Message Strips Stamp & Cut XL

The fabulous Birch Press Design sponsored us this month and has donated a lovely $20 gift card for our random winner (to be announced August 3rd). 

While I have loads of Memory Box and Poppystamps, I had only a few BPD items. No worries - a trip to my LSS plus some online shopping solved that in a hurry!! I found the amazing Vivid Bloom set at my LSS and was delighted with the value. Decided to cut all 6 layers in various yellows and stack them up rotated to the notches, rather than nesting. Kinda looks like a succulent, don't you think? Another pattern of yellow for my background and a sentiment strip - done!!

Loved doing this so much that I made another card, this time leaving off the background layer and using a die cut sentiment Big Thanks Sugar Script from my online order. I used shades of my favorite color for a thank you card to my sister.

Hope to see your lovely tone on tone creations in our Die Cut Diva July gallery (deadline July 31st at 9pm Pacific Time). Thanks for stopping!!