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,

Nordic Resting Cardinal,

Nordic Lavish Border Set;

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) &

Flower and Leaf Sprinkles

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

 & Nordic Resting Cardinal

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!!

Nordic Birdies with Birdhouse

Hey everyone - I'm here with a card for the May Christmas Kickstart Challenge #110 - Season's Tweetings. Jo and her elf Joanne need to see birds on handmade Christmas cards! I decided to combine two Poppystamps sets on my card:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

various cardstocks &  Paper Studio Vintage Christmas

Dies - Poppystamps Bird House Pop Up Easel Set

& Nordic Bird Bunch

Other - old Spellbinders kit ephemera; 

white gel pen; foam tape

I die cut all the elements and assembled - very fun! I cut the Nordic Bird Bunch die set's birdies from multiple cardstocks so I could mix and match colors. I included a patterned paper, inspired by Cindy's Nordic Spectacular Butterfly.

The birdhouse pop-up is one of my fave Poppystamps sets & aren't those birdies the cutest?! Oh, and btw, Poppystamps is our May Diva sponsor! Check out our Celebrations challenge HERE. 

I decorated the house with ephemera from an old Spellbinders card kit that I'd left at Dad's house. The sentiments are from there too. Here's a view of the card popped up:

I'm also adding my card to Merry Little Christmas #68 where Anything Goes and to Poppystamps Challenge #138 - Inspired by Nature.

That's it for today. Thanks to Jo and Joanne, to MLC, & to Poppystamps for fun challenges & thanks to you for visiting. Have a crafty day!!

Just Add Antlers!

Hey everyone - how's your week going? I've been having fun putting together a box card for Christmas Kickstart Challenge #104 - Just Add Antlers. 

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Lawn Fawn Favorite Flannel Fall Petite 

& Perfectly Plaid Winter Petite

Stamps with Dies - Toboggan Together Stamp + Die Bundle

Dies - Lawn Fawn Scalloped Box Card Pop-Up,

Stitched Hillside Borders, Mini Snowflakes, 

& Winter Wonderland Window

Spellbinders Bold Type Merry Christmas

(retired but found HERE at Frantic Stamper)

Press Plate w/die - Spellbinders Merry & Bright Sentiment Strips

Other - Copic Markers; Stickles;

Hero Arts and Memento inks

CKC host Jo (Jo Blogs) has Vicki Ruta (The Craftacular Creator) as her elf this month. I've met Vicki online via Craft Roulette - she has made several appearances on the show & often creates with Lawn Fawn products. Since Die Cut Divas has Lawn Fawn as our sponsor this month (November Critter Challenge) & Vicki loves Lawn Fawn, I'm mainly using Lawn Fawn here.

I die cut the box card from plaid paper and assembled. I added some stitched hillside strips to the spacer panels & plaid layers (cut from a different plaid) to the scalloped panels. Next I added die cut snowflakes from two Lawn Fawn sets & a sentiment from the stash. The "Merry" is a Spellbinders die cut. The "Christmas" was trimmed off a Betterpressed strip; I rounded the edges & shaded it with a BG000 Copic.

Next I stamped, die cut and colored the scene elements. Adhered them to the hills. It looked a bit bare to the back so I decided to die cut some of the trees from Neenah white and leave them unstamped. I adhered them directly to the back of the box. Originally I didn't plan on having the snowballs in the scene but I had glued my penguins with gifts too far to the right. The snowball stack filled in the space perfectly. I used the trio of stars die in the box card set to cut stars for the stamped trees & added snowy Stickles.

Here are a couple more views - top and flat. For the flat view I held the front & right side panels down. When you let them fold up over the scene, it fits perfectly into an A2 envelope.

That's it for today. I'll also share at Darnell's NBUS Challenge #80 since my critters are newly used & at Merry Little Christmas #65 where Anything Goes Christmas. I'm also playing at the We Love Stamping November Challenge where they're doing Anything Christmas (along with Anything Goes option).

Thanks for stopping by & have a crafty day!!

Unicorn birthday pop-up

Hello crafty friends. We have heavy hearts in the Twin Cities after a church shooting today. Two grade schoolers lost their lives & many more people were injured. It happened during a school mass early this morning. I was out running errands & found out when I turned on the noon news - so horrific!! The church/school sits just a mile north of where we go to eat after chorus rehearsal - typically a very safe area. Prayers to everyone affected, especially the families of the two angels!

I was planning to post the card below and decided to go ahead. My sweet little cousin A who made a card at my house last month just turned 5 yesterday. She told me how much she loves unicorns and luckily I got a unicorn die set at Paperganza. She's starting school next week and I pray she'll be safe along with all other children everywhere!!

Supplies: Paper - Lawn Fawn; MFT;

Recollections glitter cardstock; scraps

Dies - Lawn Fawn Platform Pop-up

i-Crafter Box Pops Unicorn Add-on;

MFT Stitched Numbers

Other - Betterpressed sentiment

The unicorn set is an add-on for the brand's pop up mechanism. I didn't get the mechanism set in my swag at Paperganza - just the unicorn part. No worries - I pulled out the Lawn Fawn pop-up platform set and it worked perfectly. Here's a view of the card folded flat:

I'm playing along at Darnell's IDEAS where this week Anything Goes & at NBUS #77 since the unicorn die set got first play here.

Thanks for stopping by & hold your loved ones close!!

July 2025 Card Chain Reveal

Hi all - summer's flying by & today we're revealing cards that went around the world for the July Card Chain. Twenty people participated and you can find the full reveal HERE. My card went to a newer player - the talented Wendy (Cártaí) in Ireland:

Supplies: Paper - AstroBrights; scrap of white;

Poptone Blu Raspberry; TH Kraft Classics

Dies - Poppystamps Winter Porch Pop up Easel Set,

Corner Shoppe Wooden Cart, Flower and Leaf Sprinkles,

& Nordic Drifting Flowers;

Spellbinders Open House Door Base

Other - Foam tape

We had the following options when creating our cards:

Color Palette Option

Sketch Option

Theme Options: Doors or Windows / Reading / Friendship

Product / Technique Options: Mirror Card / More Than 3 Folds

I chose the color option along with the theme of doors or windows (mine has both!). I also put a friendship sentiment on the inside. 

I die cut the porch pop up set using the color palette & assembled. I left off the snow that makes it a winter porch and added some flower pots so it's a summer scene! The flower pots were die cut using three Poppystamps sets & popped on with foam tape. I also added a few door details (the letterbox & door knob) die cut from a Spellbinders door set. The stopper for the easel was cut using the floor mat from the Spellbinders set. Amazing what you can do with just die cutting!

I received the stunning card below from Joanne (Slices of Life) in Connecticut. I just love the stenciled background - so eye catching!! Thanks, Joanne!!

If you'd like to join the August chain, you have until 8/6/25 to sign up! Just make and send one card - so fun. Please check HERE for the details.

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!!

Basic Ornament Pop Up

Hey there - just popping in with a quick card for the February Christmas Kickstart Challenge #95 to have a fancy fold. For me, an easy fancy fold is the pop up card. I love the Birch Press series of ornaments that start with a basic pop up.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah white; many scraps;

Spellbinders Betterpress Porcelain

Dies - Birch Press Design Ornament Basics&

Christmas Ornament Pop Up Easel

Press Plate w/dies - Spellbinders Merry & Bright Sentiment Strips

Other - Hero Arts pearl

I just did some die cutting & assembling, then added a pressed sentiment from the stash. Since I have everything out, I might as well do more of these - they are so easy & fun. You can see a different BP ornament pop up HERE.

That's it for today. I'll be back early tomorrow with a Die Cut Diva post to encourage you to wrap up February with a shaker card!

Thanks for stopping!

April 2024 Card Chain Reveal

Hi all - it's the 2nd so that means another Card Chain reveal. In April, thirty-two people participated; you can see the full reveal HERE. My card went to dear Imke (My Crafty Place) in Germany:

Supplies: Paper - Anchor Paper marbled green; lots of scraps;

Paper Studio Holiday; Spellbinders Betterpress Porcelain

Dies - Poppystamps Fern and Daisy Pop Up Easel Set;

Spellbinders Floral Reflection (white flowers) & 

Betterpress with die - Spellbinders Always and Forever Sentiment Strips

Other - white gel pen; Betterpress Cosmic Sky ink

We had the following options in creating our April cards:

Color Palette Option

Sketch Option

Theme Options: Spring / Food and drink / Friendship

Product / Technique Options:  Something You Were Given / Pop Up

I used a couple of the colors but wasn't feeling the silver. My brain just couldn't wrap itself around the sketch this time. So, I went with the theme of friendship & technique of Pop Up. I have loads of pop up die sets & since I'd been sick for quite awhile in late March/early April, I was under a time crunch to get this card made and out. Luckily I'd recovered and was able to put this pop-up card together quickly! Basic die cutting and I had a Betterpressed sentiment on hand. If it looks familiar, this card was made before one I did for a Craft Roulette episode & posted HERE. Just happened to have the die set handy and used it for CR but I prefer this CCC version. 

The first photo was of the card popped up; here are a couple other views:

I received this darling card from Joanne (Slices of Life) in Connecticut - love her use of the colors!

That's it for today, friends! If you'd like to join in the May Card Chain (make one card, receive one card), you can still sign up HERE by May 6th.

Craft Roulette Episode 210

Happy Sunday! Friday night I watched my first LIVE at Craft Roulette - episode 210 (replay here) with Mary Gunn FUNN. Her guest was Carrie Rhoades who does some designs for Trinity and for Spellbinders. I should say I watched part and listened during other parts while I crafted along... I submitted a photo during the LIVE but took a better one in natural light yesterday. Here's the better photo:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah White;

Bo Bunny Blessed; many scraps

Dies - Poppystamps Fern and Daisy Pop Up Easel Set;

Spellbinders Floral Reflection (blue flowers) & 

Fancy Edged Ovals (retired)

Other - printed sentiment (brand ??); various gems

At Craft Roulette they spin the wheel four times for the must-include parameters. I photographed my computer screen to capture them during the LIVE.

The host and guest create their card based on the parameters during the LIVE. Players can submit during the LIVE but have until Sunday night. There's a lot of banter between the guest and host while they're crafting together online; it's fast & fun and prizes can be won randomly from submissions.

I was visiting my dad but I keep a stash of basic supplies at his house (my "satellite studio"), plus I brought a few die sets with me. When the Project came up "Include Action" & the discussion mentioned pop-up cards, I was ready with a Poppystamps set. For Colors, I found this website with all sorts of fabulous Northern Lights photos. I used white, green, pink, blue, purple & yellow for my colors. For Blackboard, I found a chalkboard looking patterned paper with loads of text like a teacher might write on a board. Mary also mentioned using a white on black sentiment strip during the discussion so that worked for me too. For the Random element oval, I was lucky because the pop-up die set I used includes an oval for the center! Plus I had a sweet bitty pierced scalloped oval die that I used to cut a stack of diecuts for the stopper.

Here are a couple other views of this pop-up that I also took in a better light:

If interested, I made another version of this card last year HERE & in 2021 I skipped the pop-up panel and made an A2 shaker card HERE. I'll be sending this card to a chorus friend. Remember I mentioned one who broke her leg? Well, another one broke her ankle! No, we're not normally so accident prone but when you have a large group, things are bound to happen. Anyway, Jen is out until after our upcoming Regional contest which is a shame! Broken Leg Bonnie has healed enough to go home from rehab - unbelievable how lucky she is to recover her independence so quickly!! If you remember, my mom died 2 years ago after breaking her leg (they couldn't do surgery & she just faded away in less than four months).

Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting!!

A fun Easter Platform Pop-Up!

Hey everyone - I'm sharing at Die Cut Divas today but am also posting here with a bonus. It's Anything Goes for this month at the Divas - just remember to use a die cut &/or embossing folder.

Here's my platform pop-up card combining new and older supplies 

from our fabulous March sponsor, Lawn Fawn! 

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110lb;

Lawn Fawn Petite Rainbow Plaid & Dotted; Paper Studio green card;

Scraps of pink/yellow/orange

Dies - Lawn Fawn Platform Pop-Up,

Platform Pop-Up Picket Fence Wrap Around,

& Grassy Border

Stamps with Dies - Lawn Fawn Hay There, Hayrides!

(coordinating dies HERE),

Carrot 'bout You (coordinating dies HERE),

Carrot 'bout You Banner Add-On (coordinating dies HERE), &

Hay There, Hayrides! Bunny Add-On (coordinating dies HERE)

Other - Copic markers, Memento Tuxedo Black ink;

Hero Arts Ultra Pink & Green Apple inks

Lawn Fawn has generously donated a $25 gift card to their online store 

for our random winner. Thanks, Lawn Fawn!

I had loads of fun putting this pop-up card together on Tuesday. I have to admit, it was a long process - what I like to call one of my masterpieces - LOL. Just did simple stamping, coloring and die-cutting, then assembled but it took several hours! Oh, and I masked off the fence and sponged green on the lower part of the wrap-around. The platform was released in 2022 but the fence add-on just came out this spring. Kelly Marie has a great tutorial video on the platform's product page - so easy to assemble!

Here are a couple more views - from top & flattened (fits an A2 envelope):

You can see a Christmas version of the platform pop-up with a different add-on HERE. And if you're still with me, here's a bonus project - a little thanks treat box using Lawn Fawn's Fancy Box set. Very quick & easy to die cut and assemble. I probably could've done a dozen of these in the time it took to make the platform card!

That's it for today. Hope to see you in the March Diva gallery - you have until 9pm Pacific time on 3/31/24 to join us! I'll add my pop-up to Darnell's March NBUS Challenge since the Easter stuff is all new. I'll also join the current Lawn Fawnatics Challenge #169 where the theme is to be inspired by a favorite book, movie or song - my book is Peter Rabbit, of course. My farmer looks a bit happier than the one in the book, though, & that's Peter driving the carrot car!

Thanks for visiting & happy crafting!

Final Day of Pop-Up Fun at Die Cut Divas!

Hi everyone - I'm posting with the last day of the month Divas today, sharing the first card below. Plus I have a bonus for you! 

We're doing Pop-Up Creations and you have until 9pm Pacific Time today to enter. The DT has been working with Poppystamps products but you can use any supplies. Just be sure to use an embossing folder &/or a die cut in your pop-up design. 

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Hero Arts and My Favorite Things cardstock;

My Favorite Things Petite Gingham;

Lawn Fawn Watercolor Wishes

Dies - Poppystamps Woven Basket Pop Up Easel Set,

Fern and Daisy Pop Up Easel Set,

Floral Vase Pop Up Easel Set, &

Layered Tulips 

Hot Foil - Poppystamps Modest Greetings 1

Other - Spellbinders foil; Hero Arts White Hero Pearls

Poppystamps has generously donated a $20 gift card to their online store 

as a prize to our random winner.

Such a simple card - just die cut & assemble! I had the foiled sentiment & a bunch of flowers left over from my August 21st post (see it HERE if you missed it). Those strip sentiments make very handy stoppers for pop-up cards! I also die cut more flowers and leaves from the other sets. I added some pencil detail to the basket to make the woven pattern stand out. 

Here's a view of the card folded flat for mailing - fits in an A2 envelope perfectly, although it's a bit chunky with all the flowers & will need non-machinable postage.

Here's a bonus using the Fern and Daisy pop-up set. I love how it outlines the foliage.

This time my stopper came from the Adriana Pop Up Easel Set. I also added a stamped and fussy cut sentiment to the stopper - it's from a Hero Arts stamp set; can't remember which one... Here's a view of it closed - also a perfect fit for an A2 envelope.

That's it, friends! Thanks for stopping and I hope you'll link your pop up creation in our August Diva Gallery by 9pm Pacific Time!