A Reindeer Bauble

Hey crafty friends & Happy Sunday! Labor Day holiday tomorrow in the USA - in Minnesota it signals the final day of the Minnesota State Fair. Still not planning to attend - our weather has been sweltering for this time of year!! Instead, I'm back with another reindeer card:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Paper Studio Snow Pine patterned paper; cardstock scraps

Dies - Penny Black Moonlit;

Hero Arts Circle & Wood Frame Infinity Dies;

Impression Obsession Pine Branch;

Birch Press Design Block Print Petal Ornament

Other - B0000, Y00 & E18 Copic; 

Spellbinders puffy sticker sentiment

& Berry gems

I die cut the deer from a scrap of cardstock and colored the antlers with a darker brown Copic. Added a gem to the nose. Next I die cut the two bauble layers. The scalloped one has a large tree but I removed it by rotating the die cut to get scallops all around the interior. This operation also cut off the bauble hanger so I die cut a silver one from a BPD set. I also die cut a circle of pine paper to back the bauble. Shaded the snow edge with a pale blue Copic & the moon with a yellow one. Assembled the bauble and added the deer.

Next I die cut two wood frames and stacked for dimension. Added the frame to a top folding A2 card. I die cut a branch and added it to the frame along with the bauble. A little puffy stitcker NOEL from an old Spellbinders kit completed the card.

This is my second entry for the September CAS Christmas Challenge (Woodland Critters) & at Christmas Kickstart Challenge #114 (Reindeer Games). I will also send my reindeer to Merry Little Christmas Challenge #70 (also entry #2) where Anything Christmas Goes. I'm also playing at Darnell's September NBUS Challenge #90 since my reindeer bauble die set got first use here. I didn't buy it when it first came out in 2020 but I have had it for quite a while! Excited to finally use it!!

Thanks for stopping by & enjoy the long weekend!! 

Sweet Reindeer

Hello and TGIF, everyone! The Minnesota State Fair is in full swing but I avoid it - too hot & humid with huge crowds. Instead, I stay home and craft - lol. My card today fits a few challenges:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Spellbinders A2 card & Betterpress Pebble; scraps

Pressplate w/dies - Spellbinders Home for Christmas Sentiments

Dies - Memory Box Festive Fawn;

Poppystamps Scandinavian Snowflake Plate (retired);

Birch Press Design Wavy Hillside (retired)

Other - B0000 Copic; foam tape; white gel pen

I was excited to see that the September CAS Christmas Challenge has Woodland Critters as the theme. Then I popped over to Christmas Kickstart Challenge #114 where I found that Jo and her elf Loll are doing Reindeer Games. Wow - a perfect pairing for a new Memory Box die I ordered in August!

I die cut the deer from scraps of cardstock and assembled. I die cut a snowflake coverplate and snowy hill (lined with a Copic) & added to an A2 card. Popped the deer onto the card with foam tape (just behind the head). Added a Betterpressed sentiment from the stash and some gel pen details to the deer. Done!

I will also send my reindeer to Merry Little Christmas Challenge #70 where anything Christmas Goes. I'm also playing at Darnell's September NBUS Challenge #90 since my reindeer die set got first use here.

Thanks for stopping by & have a crafty weekend!! I'm sure to be back with my entry to Craft Roulette Episode #335 which airs tonight at 6:30pm (slideshow from last week starts at about 6:10pm).

Final Day for a Splash of Color at Die Cut Divas!

Hi there! It's the last day for Die Cut Divas' August Challenge - white with a splash of one color. You can see end-of-month Diva inspiration HERE. Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Spellbinders Rainforest

Dies - Birch Press Design Loop Stitch Frames

& Piped Icing Star (c2021, retired)

Other - Hero Arts Key Lime ink;

Spellbinders green gems; Recollections puffy sticker

We have the wonderful Birch Press Design as our August sponsor. They have generously donated a $20 prize to their online store for our random August winner.

I formed a top fold A2 card from Neenah Solar White cardstock. I inked the edges with a lime green ink. Next, I took another piece of white cardstock and die cut all the frames in the BPD Loop Stitch Frames set, a newly acquired item, getting first play here. I die cut all the frames again, this time from Rainforest cardstock, then mixed and matched for a stack. I put the smallest one with a horizontal orientation & added a puffy sticker for the sentiment. When I was making my bonus card, I found the perfect little "flowers" (center of the cookie) to embellish the frames. I added a gem to the center of each flower - very quick and easy!!

I'll add this card to Darnell's August NBUS Challenge #89 since the frame set was newly used here.

How about a bonus? I did another Christmas card with a splash of red. 

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Recollections Cardstock

Dies - Birch Press Design Loop Stitch Frames &

Piped Icing Star (c2021, retired)

Other - Spellbinders puffy sticker (old kit);

foam tape

I added a red die cut frame to a white A2 card formed from Neenah Solar White cardstock. I die cut the star cookie and white snowflake icing from Neenah & then cut the star center from red and inlaid it. Assembled the cookie and popped onto the frame with foam tape. A puffy sticker sentiment from an old Spellbinders kit (unk which) completed the card. 

Sadly, the star cookie is retired at BPD but I think the Pinpoint Snowflake would make a great alternate!

That's it for today, friends. I hope we'll see you in the August Die Cut Diva gallery if you haven't already maxed out on 4 entries - deadline is 9pm Pacific today. Oh, and remember to use a die cut &/or embossing folder in your design!

Thanks for stopping by & happy crafting!!

A Sleigh with Mice!

Hi friends! I was so delighted that CAS Christmas returned as a monthly card-making challenge! I missed the first one in June but managed to get a card done for the second in July. Was even a top pick - woo hoo! Crafty friend Julia (Create with Me) is hosting the August CAS Christmas Challenge with the theme of Santa's Sleigh & I knew just which die set to use!! Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Spellbinders A2 card; Paper Studio cardstock;

TH kraft metallic

Stamps w/dies - Lawn Fawn Simply Celebrate Critters 

(dies) & Say What? Holiday Critters (dies)

Dies - Poppystamps Luxury Sleigh;

Sunny Studio Slimline Nature Borders

Other - Hero Arts white enamel dots;

white gel pen; foam tape; B000 Copic;

Memento Tuxedo Black & 

Color Box Robin's Egg inks

I ordered the sleigh die set from Poppystamps & received it recently. Last night I did an initial cut of it (except for the bow) and assembled it. It was sitting on the craft table wanting a home & I decided to use it for Card Chaos (15 minute cards - a show on YouTube). It's ok to use stuff from the bits box. 

I took a white textured A2 card from an old Spellbinders kit and inked just the edges. I'm not sure why it looks so blue in the photo! Added a die cut hill and then popped the assembled sleigh on with foam tape. For Card Chaos we were to use tiny critters so I stamped & die cut the quintet of Lawn Fawn mice from Simply Celebrate Critters. I only colored the left 3 w/some quick Copic coloring and trimmed them to be three separate items. Glued them onto the sleigh. Stamped a speech bubble & sentiment, then die cut. Added it above one of the mice. After my 15 minute card session ended, I realized I forgot the sleigh's bow! I had it ready to cut in green so die cut it, assembled and added it to the sleigh. I also added a couple enamel dots to the sleigh's flowers. 

Do you often "finish" a card only to have to go back and really finish it?? I hope this is CAS enough for the challenge. I just have the one focal point with a sentiment, even if it has a lot of pieces :)

I will also add my card to Darnell's August NBUS Challenge #89 since my sleigh got first play here. And to Just Us Girls Challenge #835 where it's die week!

Thanks for visiting and I hope you're having a crafty week!!

Stitched Thanks

Hey there - happy Saturday! I watched Craft Roulette Episode #331 last night and made a card during the show:

Supplies: Paper - Tim Holtz, Momenta &

Paper Studio cardstock;

Dies - Concord & 9th Sew Scripty Thanks

 (c2019 - retired);

Other - Little Birdie Sunshine & Lemonade ephemera

foam tape; DMC floss; Hero Arts Creamsicle ink

Host Mary Gunn had Maymay Helms (‪@MaymayMadeIt‬), a popular crafty YouTuber as her guest. The wheel was spun 4 times, as usual, for our parameters & we were well satisfied with the spins.

• Project - 4" x 8": I formed a 4x8" card from cardstock. 
• Colors - Excited: I googled & found Red/Orange/Yellow as excited colors. 
• Element - Cold or Chilly: I used some ice cold lemonade ephemera. 
• Random - Stitch(Es): I used a stitching die, stitched with floss. 

When I saw stitching as a parameter, I decided to pull out a C9 "thanks" sewing die that I hadn't used yet. I die cut it into a scrap of yellow cardstock & stitched the word using DMC floss. Inked the panel edges with creamsicle ink. 

Next I pulled out a piece  of Tim Holtz 8x8" peachy orange card stock and scored at 4" to form my 4x8" card. I trimmed a mat layer of red for a piece of Momenta watercolor printed paper. Added to the card along with the stitched strip. I had a bunch of left over ephemera from an Inky Stamper Saturday Morning Crafting session so pulled some out to finish my card.

I'll add this card to Darnell's August NBUS Challenge #89 since the thanks die is getting first play here. Seven years since it came out and finally the die is off Mt NBUS - woo hoo!! This card is going to my niece who took my sister Tami & I out for lunch on Wednesday.

Tami has been staying with me most of the week while helping our cousin with her grandchildren who live close to me. And yes, little A (soon to turn 6) insisted on coming over to make a card. We stopped at their house and she dragged me to her room where she still displays the pop-up unicorn card I made for her 5th birthday last summer. It really made my heart happy!!

She's coloring some old Hero Arts animal images here. She lost interest and was having fun pushing a child-sized Target grocery cart around the living room. She made me finish her two cards so I didn't photograph them.

Oh, and speaking of NBUS - Darnell had some sponsors in July and I won a gift card from Lawn Fawn - yay!! Thanks Darnell and Lawn Fawn!!

That's it for today. Thanks for visiting & have a crafty weekend!!

More Christmas Chaos!

Hey friends - hope you're staying cool and natural disaster free! Normally I would've watched Card Chaos last night but the host Irene didn't have power. Luckily those awful storms yesterday didn't affect her too badly! Irene's up and running again today and invited us to share our No Stamping cards made in 15 minutes. I timed myself and made the two cards I would've done last night. Of course, regular card bases and embellishments can be used. For me, if there's no stamping, I go for die cutting!!

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Paper Studio cardstock

Dies - Poppystamps Nordic Border Set

Birch Press Designs Block Print Festive Joy

Memory Box Blooming Poinsettias

Other - SSS Starshine embellishments

For this one, I die cut the plaid texture directly into a red A2 card base. Next I die cut JOY from lime green and white & layered. In the white die cutting pass, I also die cut the Nordic border. Note: the Joy die set comes with extra pieces to embellish the word but I just cut the base layer here.

Glued the border directly to the card base and popped the JOY on with foam tape. Added a preassembled die cut flower to the center of the JOY's O with foam tape. Added a few Starshine embellishments and done in under 15 minutes. We can use prepared bits from the stash and I'd made the poinsettia after last week's Chaos - die cut during but assembled later.

I'll add card one to Merry Little Christmas #69 where Anything Christmas Goes. This is my 4th entry (max 8). I will also share at Darnell's July NBUS Challenge #88 since my Joy die got first play here.

For the second card I used layered MERRY CHRISTMAS die cuts & added to a horizonal yellow A2 card base. Too bright? I wanted to bring out the poinsettia centers and give some contrast for my sentiment. I added a trio of leftover poinsettias & more Starshine dots. Done in under 15 minutes.

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio cardstock & A2 card

Dies - Spellbinders Merry Christmas (retired);

Memory Box Blooming Poinsettias

Other - SSS Starshine embellishments

That's it for now - thanks for visiting & have a crafty day!! Oh and remember, Die Cut Divas is doing Christmas in July - check it out if you have a Christmas project with die cuts &/or embossing folders.

Scooter Elf!

Hey crafty friends - hope you've enjoying the week! I recently received the July My Monthly Hero kit and decided to use it to create a second card for the July Christmas Kickstart Challenge #112 - theme "Grace us with your Presents"; in other words include gifts!

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio Ombré A2 card;

Paper Studio cardstock; Authentique, 

Basic Grey & BoBunny patterned papers 

Stamps - Hero Arts (for Archivers) Christmas Joy (retired)

Dies - Hero Arts Let's Ride (Jul26 MMH);

Spellbinders Sweater Weather Friend (DOMST-Jul26),

Snow Much Fun (DOM-Jul26) & Under the Sun

Other - white gel pens; snowflakes brand unk;

Recollections clear gems; foam tape

I was inspired by a card I saw in the Craft Roulette #327 gallery. Member Beth had turned the July 2026 Hero Arts scooter girl into a bride. She left off the sidecar on her card but I decided to include the sidecar and fill it with gifts. Loads of die cutting here & I supplemented the scooter girl set with a hat and gift die from two July Spellbinders sets. Added a strip of white "snow" to a pink ombré A2 card - I was still thinking of CR#328's parameters of tutti fruitti colors with an unusual color. A totally pink sky definitely qualifies as unusual, right?!

I will also share at Darnell's July NBUS Challenge #88 since my Let's Ride die set got first play today. Plus I'll play at the July Creative Crafters #102 where Anything Goes & Merry Little Christmas Challenge #69 where Anything Christmas Goes.

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

Poinsettia on Elegant Frame

Hey friends - I'm providing inspiration at Die Cut Divas today. For our July Challenge we're celebrating Christmas in July - right up my alley!! 

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Authentique Joyous; scraps

Stamps with dies - Waffle Flower Elegant Christmas 2 (dies)

Dies - Waffle Flower Poinsettia Cluster,

Elegant Oval Frame & Dashed Snowflake Panel

Other - foam tape; Copic Markers; white & orange pens;

SSS Starshine dots

We have the amazing Waffle Flower as our sponsor.

They've furnished a $15 gift card to their online store as our prize. Thanks!!

Bunches of die cutting for this one! I grabbed an Authentique paper pad I've had since 2013 and used papers from it for almost everything. I die cut a texty paper with the snowflake coverplate and added to an A2 card. Next I die cut the two layers of the frame and adhered to the background. 

I die cut the larger poinsettia layer from a pattern, plus from a solid green. The smaller poinsettia layer was cut from a solid red. I grabbed some yellow scraps for the flower center & assembled. I cut apart the green layer to add the leaves wherever I wanted them. Next I die cut a berry sprig and the pine cones & shaded with Copics. Die cut a couple pine branches and tucked everything around the poinsettia. Added a stamped sentiment from the stash along with some crystal dots.

Here's a close-up of the snowflake texture which is hard to see on the texty paper - very subtle but so pretty:

I'll add this card to Merry Little Christmas Challenge #69 where Anything Christmas Goes.

How about a bonus with more die cutting? I bought the open book die when Waffle Flower released it (if desired, go HERE to see another play with it). I later bought the poinsettia stencil for the open book set. Hadn't had a chance to try the stencil until now.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Recollections A2 card; Paper Studio red & green cardstock

Dies - Waffle Flower Open Book, Open Book Bookmark,

Sweet Plaid Texture & Poinsettia Cluster;

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Stencils - Waffle Flower Open Book Poinsettia

& Open Book Coloring Stencil

Other - Waffle Flower Fa La La Sentiment Strip;

white & black pens; Gina K cranberry trio & spruce inks;

Altenew bamboo ink; grey pencil

I die cut the book and placed on a WF sticky mat to stencil the poinsettia design and the book edging. Added some pen and pencil details, then die cut with the scripty die that comes with the book set. Added a sentiment strip with foam tape.

Next I die cut a stitched rectangle from red cardstock and die cut the plaid texture into it. Added to an A2 card along with the book. Die cut a couple pines from the poinsettia set I used on card one and added them behind the book. Die cut and assembled a bookmark and adhered to the book.

Since my poinsettia stencil got first play here, I'll add my card to Darnell's July NBUS Challenge #88.

That's all for today - hope to see you in the July Diva Gallery!! Thanks for visiting and happy crafting!!

Reindeer with Gift!

Hey crafty friends - I'm not blogging too much lately as I've had a sister visiting. Had to do some intense crafty cleanup before she arrived too!!

I watched Craft Roulette Episode #328 tonight, featuring host Mary Gunn and guest, Caitlin Anthony (‪@CaitlinAnnaleeCards‬) making her 8th appearance. Caitlin is on the team at Pink & Main, among other things. Plus she'll be the host for Craft Roulette Live 2026's virtual option. Such a talented lady! Show is still going on at this moment but I had done some die cutting in advance in hopes I could fit it into the parameters!! Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane Ivory A2 card;

Paper Studio cardstock; Authentique & BoBunny paper 

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set;

Spellbinders Sweater Weather Friend (DOMST-Jul26)

Embossing Folders - Spellbinders

Festive Greetings (3EOM-Jul26) &

Snuggly Knit (EOM-Jul26)

Other - printed sentiment strip (brand unk);

Brown, green & white gel pens

As usual, the roulette wheel was spun four times for the necessary parameters. Mary and Caitlin created their cards on camera & I crafted along. Again, I was able to complete & upload my card before they finished.

• Project - A2: - I used a packed ivory A2 card.
• Colors - Tutti Fruiti: I used cherry red/lemon yellow/lime green, plus neutrals.
• Element - Container(s): I used a gift box.
• Random - Unusual Color: I used bright yellow on the scarf which isn't a common Christmas color.

I made this card with the July Christmas Kickstart Challenge #112 in mind. Jo and Elf Linby have "Grace us with your Presents" as the theme - gifts being the idea! I just received my July Spellbinders box and the cute stitching die of the month had a reindeer who could hold a gift box - perfect!!

I die cut and assembled the reindeer and gifts, doing faux stitching where the dies called for it. Oh & I skipped the stitching die piece on the scarf. I don't recommend stitching if you want to finish quickly, so I didn't! Members have until the following Thursday (general public til Sunday) to submit a card at CR but I like to get it done b4 I forget!! 

I used the July 3D embossing folder of the month, a texty design, to serve as a background & the regular ef, a sweater knit to create a strip to ground my reindeer. A printed sentiment strip and some gel pen details finished the card.

I will also share at Darnell's July NBUS Challenge #88 since my die set got first play today. And at the July Creative Crafters #102 where Anything Goes.

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

A Wedding Slider!

Happy Saturday - I'm here with a wedding card today, made for Craft Roulette Episode #327 which aired live last night. I crafted along and finished during the show which I enjoy doing.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Park Lane A2 card

Stamps w/dies - Colorado Craft Happily Ever After (retired)

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set;

Lawn Fawn Slide On Over

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape; white gel pen;

Robin's Egg and Key Lime inks

Host Mary Gunn had Brennan Keane (‪@bdk_creations‬) as a guest, making his 2nd appearance. Last time he was on the show, he was only 17 and still in high school. Now he has graduated and will attend college with less time for crafting. 

The roulette wheel was spun four times for our parameters; Brennan even got one of his picks!

• Project - Interactive Card: I made a slider. 
• Colors - Summer: Blue, green & pink say summer to me. 
• Element - Here Comes The Bride: I made a wedding card w/bride & groom.
• Random - Ink Edging: I edged the white background panel with blue & green inks. 

Given the bride element, I pulled out a stamp set I got at Paperganza last year - first time using it! I stamped the mouse couple, colored with Copics and die cut the image. Added some white gel pen details. Next I stamped the tree image directly onto an A2 panel of Neenah, then colored with Copics. I die cut the panel with a stitched rectangle & inked the edges. Die cut the slider and reserved the cut piece. Stamped the sentiment.

Added foam tape to the back of my panel, figured out (badly) where to add the cut-out piece. Adhered the cut-out piece directly to the A2 card. Put the mouse couple in the slider and adhered the panel to the card. Given the height of the image, this probably needed two sliders - they tend to tip and spin a bit - lol. Notice anything else? I forgot to color the tree below the mice children - oh well, I fixed that this morning! 

Here's another view with the couple slid over:

Thats it for today. Since my wedding set got first play, I'll add my card to Darnell's July NBUS Challenge #88.

Thanks for stopping by and have a crafty weekend!!

Party Donkey!

Hey crafty friends - TGIF and I hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend if you're celebrating in the USA!! Two hundred fifty years - quite a milestone!!

I watched Craft Roulette Episode #326 tonight, featuring host Mary Gunn and guest, Jay Thomas (‪@craftbyjay‬) making his 3rd appearance. Jay is live on YouTube on Sunday nights and he loves cats!!

Here's my card (sorry Jay, no cat):

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Recollections A2 card & black cardstock; dotted by unk

Stamps - Unity Still Kickin'

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - printed sentiment strip (brand unk);

Copic Markers; TH Black Soot Distress Ink;

Black and white gel pens

As usual, the roulette wheel was spun four times for the necessary parameters. Mary and Jay created their cards on camera - so fun to listen to their banter while I was crafting along. Like last week, I was able to complete & upload my card before they finished.

• Project - A Dude's Card: - I made a card for a man, a former coworker.
• Colors - Sleigh Ride: I used red/black/grey.
• Element - Farm Critter(s): I used a donkey image.
• Random - Pen: I used both black and white gel pens.

You may remember I ordered a bunch of Unity stamps recently. The donkey image was another fun find - I thought it would make a great birthday card for a man friend with whom I worked in two different offices over the years. Isn't Party Donkey just the cutest?!

I stamped the image, colored with Copics and cut the panel with a stitched rectangle. Inked around the edges with Black Soot DI. Matted the panel in black and added to a dotted paper & a red A2 card. Added details with a white and a black gel pen - done!

I will add my card to Seize the Birthday #329 using the Anything Goes option. I will also share at Darnell's July NBUS Challenge #88 since my donkey stamp got first play today. Oh and btw - Darnell has some sponsors this month and Unity is one of them!!

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