Happy Spring! Happy Mother's Day!

Hi everyone - hope you're enjoying Mother's Day if you're celebrating today! My mom's been gone two years already so it's a low key day; Dad & I are watching baseball - no surprise.

Today I'm playing along at the current Day of the Month Card Club Challenge #63 where they're celebrating Vappu, the Finnish version of May Day. So, that means spring flowers and I was lucky enough to find a UK magazine the other day with freebie stamps featuring daffodils. I love daffodils and fondly remember the Cancer Society fundraiser selling bunches of those sweet flowers. The stems would be bundled up by the dozen - just buds which would gradually open to a gorgeous bouquet. Before I retired, we'd go out of the office on our lunch break & come back with several bunches for our desktop. Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Poptone oatmeal & black; 

Authentique plaid; Paper Studio A2 cqrd

Stamps - Crafter's Companion Springtime Wishes

(freebie with Issue 132 of Creative Stamping magazine)

Dies - A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Creative Expressions Wordies Sentiment Sheets Hello Spring;

Copic Markers; foam tape

I stamped the daffodil swag twice and colored with Copics. Trimmed the panel with a stitched rectangle and matted in black; added to a panel of plaid, then to an A2 card. I stamped a couple extra single flowers from the set and used them to cover up Easter eggs within the daffodil swag. Colored the eggs green so anything peeking out would look like a leaf. Popped a pre-printed sentiment onto the center with foam tape - done!

I'll also add my card to Darnell's May NBUS Challenge #62 since the stamps are newly used and to Inkspirational #315 where they're celebrating Seasonal. This makes my first time playing at the latter, although I have been inspired by their DT members, especially Pia (Pias Papir og Perler) and Julia (Create with Me). Also, my friend Hilary (Fiddling About) has inspired me to play at the We Love Stamping May Challenge; theme is Vintage or Anything Goes (I chose the latter).

Remembering Mom on Mother's Day: My mom had quite the green thumb and her garden still has some beautiful flowers. We've always had bleeding hearts and lilacs at our family homes; sadly, I have a brown thumb and can't grow either! Here's a couple of photos I took at Dad's this afternoon:

That's it for today, friends! Enjoy the rest of the weekend!!

Last Day for our Die Cut Diva Spring Challenge

Welcome everyone - I'm part of a last-day-of-the-month Diva post today. We have some last minute inspiration for our April Die Cut Diva Challenge - Make a Spring Card! 

RAM Stamps is our fabulous sponsor this month - yay! Rachelle Anne Miller designs such adorable images - so fun to color!! 

First, here's the card I shared on the Divas post:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio pastel A2 card; Neenah white;

Michael's yellow & lilac

Digi Stamp - RAM Stamps Friendship Mouse

Dies - Kat Scrappiness Never Ending Square Dies

Embossing Folder - Spellbinders 3D Stylized Floral (3EOM-Aug23)

Other - Creative Expressions Wordies Hello Spring;

Copic Markers; foam tape

RAM Stamps is offering a prize of a $10 gift certificate for our 

random winner drawn from eligible April entries.

The sweet mouse digi (thanks Arlene for printing it!) was colored with Copics, die cut with a square and matted with another square. I decided to layer it onto an embossed panel with foam tape and adhered to an A2 card with a trio of preprinted Spring sentiment strips. This is the first use of the floral embossing folder so I'll add my card to Darnell's April NBUS Challenge. If you missed it, I used a larger print of the mouse image HERE.

Next, a bonus using a smaller print of the mouse (thanks again Arlene):

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio A2 card; Neenah white;

Anchor Paper marbled green; DCWV pastels; scraps

Digi Stamp - RAM Stamps Friendship Mouse

Stamps - Hero Arts Raindrops (retired)

Dies - Spellbinders Be Bold Blooms;

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Creative Expressions Wordies Hello Spring;

Copic Markers

After coloring the mouse image, I layered it atop a couple stitched rectangles. Stamped the A2 card with a raindrops background and added a striped strip. Adhered the rectangles & added some die cut flowers and a printed sentiment.

Finally, here's another version of the sweet Storytime image which Arlene also printed for me (see my first version at the same post as the larger mouse image):

Supplies: Paper - Recollections card; 

DCWV pastel cardstock; 

Digi Stamp - RAM Stamps Storytime

Dies - Elizabeth Craft Designs Stitched Rectangles (retired);

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set;

Sizzix Intricate Floral Easter Egg

Other - Creative Expressions Wordies Hello Spring;

Copic Markers; foam tape

Arlene had cut the printed image with a stitched rectangle. I colored it with Copics and matted onto a striped dot stitched rectangle, then added to an A2 card. Popped a sentiment strip onto it with foam tape and added some die cut flowers. I got a nice surprise last week with a prize from my friend Gundi (papierelle) that I won during their recent Day of the Month Card Club 5th birthday celebration. Here's what she sent - thanks again, Gundi!! The bitty flowers on the card above were cut using a die in the Easter Egg set - so fun!! And I love Gundi's panda card (I made three for that challenge at DotMCC)!

We hope to see you in the April Diva gallery with your Spring creation! Just remember to include a die cut or use an embossing folder in your design &, if it's not obvious, share why your project evokes Spring. You have until 9pm Pacific Time today to upload your creation.

That's it, friends. Thanks for stopping & happy crafting!!

Spring Storytime

Welcome everyone - I have a Diva post today with some inspiration for our April Die Cut Diva Challenge - Make a Spring Card! We have RAM Stamps as our fabulous sponsor this month; Rachelle Anne Miller designs just adorable images & I've enjoyed coloring them!! 

Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio A2 card; 

Hero Arts Bermuda; Neenah white; scrap of yellow

Digi Stamp - RAM Stamps Storytime

Clear Stamp - Hero Arts Sky's the Limit (c2009 - retired)

Embossing Folder - Spellbinders Checkered Scallops (EOM-Mar24)

Dies - Kat Scrappiness Never Ending Square Dies

Other - Creative Expressions Wordies Hello Spring;

Copic Markers; foam tape

RAM Stamps is offering a prize of a $10 gift certificate for our 

random winner drawn from eligible April entries.

I see Spring because the tree seems to be sprouting its new leaves. To reinforce the theme, I used a spring sentiment. The printed digi (thanks Arlene!) was colored with Copics, die cut with a square and matted with another square. In keeping with Darnell's IDEAS (E for embossing), I decided to layer it onto an embossed panel. First time that folder got used (just 1 month from receipt, fantastic!) so I'll add my card to Darnell's April NBUS Challenge. A stamped/fussy cut sun & a preprinted sentiment strip finished the card.

Now for a bonus using a fave image of the Divas - Friendship Mouse - such a cutie!!

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio A2 card; Neenah white;

Michael's green

Digi Stamp - RAM Stamps Friendship Mouse

Dies - Elizabeth Craft Designs Stitched Rectangles (retired)

Other - Creative Expressions Wordies Hello Spring;

Copic Markers

We hope to see you in the April Diva gallery with your Spring creation! Just remember to include a die cut or use an embossing folder in your design &, if it's not obvious, share why your project evokes Spring.

Thanks for stopping & happy crafting!!

Spring/Easter cards with Embossing Folders

Happy 3rd Monday of March!! I'm playing along with Darnell (djkardkreations) and her IDEAS program to give some structure to using all those crafty supplies. This Monday focuses on E for Embossing Folders but Darnell mentioned she will add wet embossing to the E in future.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah white; Lawn Fawn Petite Rainbow Plaid;

Bazzill green; Spellbinders Betterpress Porcelain; 

Bright yellow from unk

Embossing Folder - Spellbinders Swirling Blooms (EOM-Feb24)

Stamps with dies - Frantic Stamper Spring Bold Sentiments

(coordinating dies HERE)

Hero Arts From the Vault Cute Animals

(Here at Frantic Stamper; coordinating dies HERE)

Dies - A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Betterpress w/Stencils - Cosmos Backdrop Bundle

Betterpress Ink - Bark; Inks - Altenew Bamboo; Hero Arts Moss,

Butter Bar, Creamsicle & Tangerine

Other - shimmer brown envelope; Copic Markers; 

Hero Arts Sparkle Lacquer; foam tape

While making my first cosmos cards with my Betterpress, I did a second panel on porcelain Betterpress paper, stenciled it with the coordinating stencil & cut it into two parts like I did before. I found one of the die cut panels in the bits box & used it to create this Spring card for my sister. I thought a panel using the Spellbinders February 2024 Embossing Folder of the Month would complement it. Crazy that I got to it this quickly, right? 

Next, I was looking through my stash of handmade cards and found a daffodil card from last May that I didn't really like - the daffodil coloring looked bad to me. Tried to fix it and it looked worse so I carefully peeled off the sentiment and bee for this card! The sentiment had a little flaw that I covered up with a flower from the bits box. Since my embossing folder was newly used here, I'll add my Spring card to Darnell's March NBUS Challenge.

While I was at it, I made another Avery Elle bunny card:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Park Lane A2 card; Paper Studio pastel cardstock

Embossing Folder - Spellbinders Easter Egg Hunt  (3EOM-Feb24)

Stamps - Taylored Expressions Many Minis - Holiday (retired)

Stamps with dies - Avery Elle Easter Egg (dies HERE)

Dies - Hero Arts Thorn Tree and Grasses & Tag Frames Infinity Dies

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape; American Greetings stickers

I embossed a pink panel using Spellbinders February 2024 3D Embossing Folder of the Month. I ran a darker pink over the raised bits & adhered it to an A2 card. Next, I trimmed down the grass from that cannibalized daffodil card. My first bunny was paper pieced but this one was simply colored with Copics. A sentiment label and some chick stickers completed the card. Yay - another Easter card for the stash!

That's it for today, friends - hope you have a wonderful week! Thanks for stopping by!!

Diva Tic-Tac-Toe, Anyone?

Hello everyone - I hope you're enjoying May! It's my day to post at Die Cut Divas for some inspiration. We Divas are having loads of fun with a Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge. We're using products available at Frantic Stamper, our May sponsor, but you can use any supplies. Just remember to include a die cut or embossing folder & use a row from the board in your design. Hope to see your card in our gallery!

 Supplies: Paper - Neenah White; Paper Studio Brights;

BoBunny patterned; Tim Holtz metallic; MFT vellum

Stamps - Hero Arts Abstract Butterfly Wing Background

(available HERE at Frantic Stamper)

Stamps with Dies - Hero Arts Beautiful Butterflies Bundle

  (HERE at Frantic Stamper) & 

Friendly Messages Bundle 

Dies - Hero Arts Nesting Circle Infinity Dies &

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Darice sequin; Hero Arts & Memento inks

I chose the bottom horizonal row from the board because I wanted to use bling and butterflies! Frantic Stamper carries a wonderful selection of butterfly items, including all the latest from Hero Arts as well as some hard-to-find oldies. I went with stamps from Hero's February release - a background cling stamp that I hadn't used until now, plus a butterfly clear set with coordinating dies. I stamped the butterflies on patterned paper, a popular technique for many years (see an example from 2010 before I began blogging HERE). Most of the time when I use a butterfly image, it gets bling of some sort - usually gems - but this time I popped a sequin on it.

I stamped the background in black ink and blended orange and yellow inks over it. Die cut it with a stitched rectangle and glued to an A2 card. Stamped the butterfly on patterned paper and the sentiment on white paper, then die cut. Die cut a circle from metallic card and a bigger one from vellum. Assembled and added a sequin to the butterfly. Done!

And here's a bonus using a Frantic Stamper brand flower die and the top horizontal tic-tac-toe row. I interpreted "chocolate" to be a brown color and stenciled with it. 

Supplies: Paper - Neenah white; scrap of brown;

Paper Studio pastel A2 card; Bazzill green

Stamps - Frantic Stamper Spring Bold Sentiments

(coordinating dies HERE)

Hero Arts From the Vault Cute Animals

(Here at Frantic Stamper; coordinating dies HERE)

Dies - Frantic Stamper Botanical Daffodils;

Hero Arts Thorn Tree and Grasses (Here at Frantic Stamper)

Stencils - Hero Arts Stripe (Here at Frantic Stamper)

Inks - Hero Arts Tangerine and Memento Rich Cocoa & Tuxedo Black

Other - Copic Markers; Hero Arts Sparkle Lacquer; foam tape

I took a pastel blue A2 card and stenciled some stripes in brown on the left edge, shifted the angle & did a few more, then a third angle lightly with orange. I die cut two of the FS daffodils (love these so much!) and colored with Copics. Stamped a bee from Cute Animals, colored with Copics & die cut. Added sparkle lacquer to the wings. Stamped and die cut the sentiment, plus two layers of white for dimension and a brown shadow layer. The Hero Arts Thorn Tree and Grasses die set is another oldie but goodie that's still available at Frantic Stamper - love this set! I cut two layers of grass and put one set of daffodils behind each & layered. Some flowers were popped up with foam tape. Assembled & done!

I will add the butterfly card to Darnell's May NBUS Challenge since the abstract background is new.

Thanks for stopping and have a crafty day!

Spring Slimline

Hey everyone - I'm the featured designer at Die Cut Divas today, sharing a slimline with Sunny Studio products! Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio Brights; Neenah White;

Momenta Watercolor; Tim Holtz Menagerie;

scrap of pink Heidi Swapp glitter paper

Dies - Sunny Studio Slimline Pennant Dies.

Slimline Scalloped Frame Dies, Slimline Nature Borders Dies,

Layered Basket Dies; Basic Mini Shape Dies 3

Stamps - Sunny Studio A Good Egg (with dies)

Other - Copic Markers, Stickles

If you want fabulous products and great service, check out our March sponsor, Sunny Studio. I've been a satisfied customer since 2016. When I suggested the theme of slimline cards for the Divas to use in March, I already owned 3 Sunny Studio slimline die sets. A fourth one came out January 8th and I promptly ordered it, deciding on the spot to make a pennant-shaped card. I cut two of the large pennants and scored the back one to hinge the opening. I used the next sized pennants to cut two layers. There's also a fourth narrow pennant, great for sentiments or to cut down for little flags. The set also contains two styles of scalloped borders - an excellent value!! 

One of my earliest slimline purchases was the Scalloped Frames set, which includes sentiment dies. I used the "greetings" from that set, combined with the "spring" from the new Layered Basket die set. The little tulip die came free with an order but can be purchased in a mini set to which I linked in the supply list. The grass came from the Slimline Nature Borders set. My chick in the egg is from a favorite stamp set I purchased 5 years ago; finally got the coordinating dies last year - well worth it!!

Had to laugh - I showed my mom this card and she wasn't very enthusiastic about it. "What don't you like?" I asked. She wouldn't be specific - hope you all can find something you like about it! I think it's a a very happy card!! 😉

That's it from me. Thanks for stopping and the Divas & I hope to see your slimline card in the Diva gallery this month!! Please use a die cut of some kind and link up by March 31st at 9pm Pacific time.

Special thanks to Mendi at Sunny Studio for her kindness and generosity, including a $15 prize to our random winner (look for the announcement on April 3rd). Happy crafting!!

Spring cacti

Hey everyone - just sharing a card I made and sent to my sister who moved to AZ last fall. I forgot to photograph it but Kari took a photo and texted it to me. She loved the card since it reminded her of the blooming cacti in her yard.

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Sunshine Layering Paper (lightest shade - daffodil); Authentique; Neenah Solar White

Stamps - Hero Arts CL838 Stamp Your Own Cactus; Your Next Stamp Hey Chickie

Dies - My Favorite Things Die-Namics Blueprints 20

Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black; Worn Lipstick Distress Oxide, Ranger Archival Watering Can & Garden Patina

Other - Copic Markers, foam tape, Michael's gems

And who can resist that sweet little chick?! I just love the entire Hey Chickie set from Your Next Stamp - so many darling little chick images! That wraps up my Easter/Spring cards for this year, however, on Easter I'll share a little decoration for a potted plant. Hope you're having a wonderful holiday weekend!

Thanks for stopping!!