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!!

Add water!

Hey friends - I made a quick trip to Northern MN Sunday to extend my birthday celebrations with my brother and sister-in-law. They have two new kitties so it was fun to meet them too! I came home today in time for Card Chaos Episode #34 where Irene & a guest take turns making a card in 15 minutes (or thereabouts). You can design your card & pull out supplies ahead of time. I also have "stations" for different processes - embossing, die cutting, ink, assembling.

Here's my first card:

Supplies: Paper - Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Paper;

Paper Studio Ombré A2 card; scraps

Embossing folder - Spellbinders Shady Leaves (3EOM-Feb26)

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set;

Birch Press Design Abundant Branch;

Poppystamps Fresh Happy Easter

Other - Hero Arts Reactive Inks - Key Lime and Green Apple;

Hero Arts enamel dots

I embossed a stitched rectangle of watercolor paper, inked it, then spritzed it with plain water. Also added some splatter in a different color green ink mixed with water. Dried with a heat tool and added to an A2 card. Added a die cut oval, branch, flowers & sentiment. Finished the flowers with enamel dots. This one took 14 minutes and I was rushing!! Wanted my sentiment lower but I put the branch at the wrong angle - oh well... I also die cut only the small flowers from the die set, not the ones that have a few layers. Might add those later!

My second card used same background technique, just a different embossing folder (the 2D one from the February Spellbinders crate). Finished it with a BPD die cut heart/flower set that I cut from scraps, plus a sentiment from the stash. Added an enamel dot for the flower center. This one went a bit quicker since the ef was 2D and took ink more easily. You can see the water spots better too.

Supplies: Paper - Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Paper;

Recollections A2 card; scraps

Embossing folder - Spellbinders Spring Stripes (EOM-Feb26)

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set;

Birch Press Design Block Print Garden Heart

Other - Hero Arts Reactive Inks - Key Lime and Green Apple;

enamel dot; Betterpressed sentiment

I'll add this card to Darnell's February NBUS Challenge #83 since both the heart and embossing folder are newly used. 

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

Thanks and Hello with Spellbinders 2025 Advent Calendar

Hey there, friends! Crazy, I know - I'm back for a fourth consecutive day with items from the 2025 Spellbinders Advent calendar. I've been having a lot of fun with the items behind the calendar windows! Here's a thanks card using two of the stamps in the Day 2 mini stamp set:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Paper Studio A2 card; scraps

Stamps - Spellbinders 2025 Advent Calendar (Day 2)

Dies - Poppystamps Flower and Leaf Sprinkles;

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Copic Markers; Sharpie fineliner;

Hero Arts inks

I'm very accustomed to stamping with a MISTI and these Advent calendar stamps don't do well with it. I tried stamping later using a stamping block and the impression was much better. On this one, after I colored the image with Copics, I did a lot of outlining with a fineliner. The bitty stamped flowers didn't fare so well with that so I covered them up with various bitty die cut flowers. I ink blended the ground and sky then die cut the panel with a stitched rectangle. Added it to an A2 card - done! You can see Crafty Al's short video on this set HERE.

I'll send this card to Darnell's January NBUS Challenge #82 since the stamps were newly used.

Next, I made a hello card with the strip embossing folder from Day 6 (Crafty Al's video HERE).

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio ombre card;

Spellbinders Terracotta card stock; scraps

Embossing strip - Spellbinders 2025 Advent Calendar (Day 6)

Dies - Spellbinders Faux Stitched Sentiments & Floss (DOM-Apr24 retired)

Other - SSS printed sentiment strip & Starshine dots

I embossed a scrap of orange cardstock. Added to an A2 ombre card along with some scrap patterned strips. I had a HELLO die cut sitting on the table so die cut a white shadow and layered them for dimension. Added to the card along with a printed subsentiment strip and some Starshine dots.

That's it for today, my friends. Thanks for continuing to stop by & for commenting when you can! Have a crafty day!!

A Thank You in Apple Orchard Colors!

Hi all - I've been busy making cards this week so haven't posted since last Saturday. I watched Craft Roulette Episode #301 live tonight and crafted along, submitting my card during the show. A technical glitch, though, only sent the non-member cards to the screen during the live. Hopefully, they'll fix things before the card slide show that appears on the next episode. Here's my 92nd entry:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Recollections A2 card; MFT Colorful Canvas;

American Crafts Spring;

scrap of blue pattern (brand unk); Paper Studio cardstock

Stamps - Hero Arts With Sympathy (retired)

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set;

Trinity Stamps Bottle Tag Die Set

Other - Simon Says Stamp Starshine Dots;

Hero Arts ink; foam tape

Host Mary Gunn had Carrie Rhoades (‪@CarrieRhoades‬) as her guest, making her 6th appearance on the show (in addition to special events). Carrie is on the Design Team at Trinity Stamps, a frequent prize donor to Craft Roulette. The wheel was very kind to us tonight!

• Project - Appreciation Card: I used a Thank You sentiment. 
• Colors - Apple Farm: I used red (apples), green (leaves), & blue (sky). White neutral is ok. 
• Element - Silhouette: I stamped silhouette flowers.
• Random - An Old Product: My stamp is from a 2011 set.

I pulled out an old Hero Arts sympathy stamp set that I knew had a silhouette flower on it. Stamped it on a small stitched rectangle using Emerald ink. Layered it up with some other papers. Die cut a Trinity Stamps sentiment & assembled. Some SSS dots finished the card.

I will add this card to Darnell's January NBUS Challenge #82 since my sentiment die was newly used here.

Bonus:

Before some Craft Roulette episodes, one of the members Irene hosts a Tailgate Party on her YouTube Channel. She will make a card in 30 minutes using parameters from an old episode. This time she chose Episode #145 which was Carrie Rhodes' 4th CR appearance (and before I started playing at CR). The parameters were Diagonal Cut/White Background/Light(s) & Off to the Side. I decided to craft along and made this card:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Paper Studio cardstock

Embossing Folder - Taylored Expressions Subway Tile (retired)

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints 18 (NIB);

Brass and Bliss String of Lights Edger

Other - Hero Arts sparkle lacquer; gold Stickles;

Glossy Accents; Spellbinders puffy sentiment

I die cut Neenah cardstock with the diagonal panel from an MFT Blueprints set, embossed it with tiles and added to an A2 card of Neenah. Die cut the light string, assembled and adhered to the card. Put sparkle lacquer on the red ball lights, Glossy Accents on the green lights and gold Stickles on the star lights. A Spellbinders puffy sentiment sticker finished the card.

Since I'm a CR member, I can add this card to the applicable episode's bonus gallery - the regular gallery closed a long time ago!

Hope you have a crafty weekend & thanks for visiting!!

Blue Snowflakes and a poinsettia!

Hi all - not much left of 2025; hope you're doing well in the run up to the new year! I decided to make something for Craftlandia Challenge 25 - Snowflakes after I saw Hilary's lovely inspiration card. It's her final card as a DT member so I wanted to make the effort to play. Her card used a gorgeous snowflake print with some rich blues; I decided to go with blues too. 

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; 

Paper Studio patterned paper; Spellbinders A2 card

Embossing Folder - Echo Park Snowflake #3 (retired)

Stamps w/dies - Waffle Flower Elegant Christmas 2

(dies HERE)

Dies - Sunny Studio Layered Snowflake Frame (retired)

Tim Holtz Sizzix Stitched Rectangles (retired)

Other - Recollections gems; foam tape;

Hero Arts felt snowflake; blue inks (retired brand)

I started by die cutting a stitched rectangle from a blue patterned paper flecked with copper. I embossed the rectangle with the snowflake folder, then rubbed various blue inks over the raised bits. Adhered the panel to an A2 card. Die cut a bunch of white snowflakes from a Sunny Studio set I gave my sister last year; just used one here - layered it atop a felt snowflake. Added the sentiment with foam tape, plus some gems. Easy peasy.

I'll also add my card to Inkspirational Challenge #357 where the theme is Cold - snow is definitely cold in my neck of the woods!!

Next, I have a holiday thank you card made with a poinsettia I built at home and brought to AZ with me. This went to my sister to say thanks for her hospitality over Christmas.

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio A2 card; scrap of black;

Taylored Expressions White Glitter Cardstock

Dies - Taylored Expressions Garden Variety Die Set - Poinsettia;

Doodlebug Designs Many Thanks

Other - Recollections

I got the glitter paper and poinsettia after Taylor from TE showed it off at an online card event. So pretty!! Inked it with pink & green - can't remember which brand I used. I adhered the poinsettia to an A2 card & finished it off simply with a die cut thanks & some gems.

I'll add this card to Darnell's NBUS Challenge #81 since the poinsettia got first play here.

Thanks for stopping by and have a crafty day!!

More Kitties and Books!

Hi everyone - today's the last day to enter a critter project for Die Cut Divas November Challenge. I'm sharing my kitty card as inspiration with the end-of-month team at Diva Cut Divas HERE. I also have a bonus card below, found only on my blog.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Recollections A2 card; Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid Winter Petite

& Watercolor Wishes Petite

Stamps with Dies - Lawn Fawn Cozy Cats Stamp + Die Bundle &

Simply Celebrate Hangouts Stamp + Die Bundle

Stamps - Lawn Fawn Sophie's Sentiments (retired)

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Copic Markers; white gel pen; 

Memento ink; SSS Starshine dots

Our fabulous sponsor this month is Lawn Fawn. They donated a $25 gift card for our random November winner to be awarded on December 3rd. Thanks Lawn Fawn!

I stamped and die cut all the images, then colored with Copics. The extra books were trimmed off a piece of a hangout used on a previous card. Stamped the sentiment on a banner from the stash (brand unk). I die cut a plaid rectangle and a small blue rectangle, then added to an A2 card. Arranged my kitties and books on the blue rectangle, then added some starshine dots.

For my bonus, I made a winter scene:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid Winter Petite; scrap of green

Stamps - Lawn Fawn Magic Holiday Messages

Stamps with Dies - Toboggan Together Stamp + Die Bundle

Dies - Lawn Fawn Stitched Hillside Borders,

Forest Border

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape;

Hero Arts and Memento inks

Adhered a plaid A2 layer to an A2 card. Die cut a stitched hillside from an A2 panel of white. Added a die cut tree border behind the hill and glued atop the plaid layer. Stamped, die cut and colored the sleigh, gifts (3) and reindeer (2). Assembled and added to the card. Thanks to teamie Arlene for sending me the sentiment she'd already cut with a circle from her stash. I colored the elements with Copics & popped it onto the card with foam tape.

That's it for today. I hope to see you in the November Diva gallery with any brand of critter; just be sure to include die cuts &/or embossing folders in your design.

I will add the bonus card as a last minute entry to the November Christmas Kickstart Challenge #104 to Just Add Antlers. And to Lawn Fawnatics Challenge #209 where critters celebrate the holidays.

Thanks for visiting & happy crafting!!

Kitty in a box postcard!

Hi everyone - hope you didn't eat too much candy last night! I didn't eat any, not even during Craft Roulette. Viewers eat chocolate whenever the host mentions her grandchildren (which she does often!) - LOL. Here's my project for Craft Roulette #291 which I submitted just before the LIVE ended:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Solar White;

Spellbinders Betterpress Porcelain;

Tim Holtz Kraft Metallic

Stamps - Hero Arts Thanks Postcard (retired)

Colorado Craft Company Meowy Christmas (retired)

Dies - Hero Arts Celestial Fancy Dies

Press Plate w/dies - Spellbinders A Little Message Sentiments

Other - Hero Arts inks; foam tape

Since it was Halloween, host Mary Gunn started the episode dressed as her alter ego "Cool Mary", a hip biker chick. The guest Jay Thomas (‪@craftbyjay‬) wore a leopard jacket with ears on the hoodie - very funny. I didn't think the roulette wheel, spun 4 times for parameters, was very kind, but it all worked out.

• Project - Postcard(s): I stamped a postcard.
• Colors - Easter Basket: I used orange, yellow, green & pink.
• Element - Pack(s)(ing): I added a stamped kitty in a packing box.
• Random - Shiny: I die cut 3 metallic shiny stars.

I knew I had some postcard stamps around here somewhere. I went with the first one I found, an old Hero Arts cling from 2012. Guest Jay loves cats and seems to work a cat into every card he makes for Craft Roulette. So the joke was that "add a cat" was the fifth parameter. And I already had a cat stamp out to use - yay!! I had spotted the sweet kitty stamp as I was headed for the box with cling backgrounds. The kitty image has other presents around it but I just trimmed those off.

Stamped the postcard and trimmed with a narrow border. Inked around the edges. Stamped, colored and fussy cut the kitty and adhered to the postcard. Pulled a letterpressed sentiment from the stash and added a gold metallic shadow. Popped it onto the postcard overlapping the kitty box a bit. Die cut three gold metallic stars and adhered to the postcard - done!

I didn't turn on the porch light for trick-or-treaters last night. I still had some Halloween Kit Kat bars I could've handed out but I didn't want to leave Craft Roulette. It was cold and rainy so I'm thinking there weren't many kids out anyway...

Thanks for stopping & I hope you have a crafty weekend!!

Happy World Card-Making Day!!

Hi everyone & Happy WCMD!! I'll be juggling two online events today - one at Scrapbooks Cards Today (starts at 9:30 Eastern Time) and one at Craft Roulette (starts at noon Central Time). Can't wait for all the fun!!

Meantime - I have a card started during Craft Roulette Episode #287 last night but finished much later. 

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Recollections green; scrap of blue unk

Stamps - Hero Arts Kiss for the Sun & Acts

of Kindness (both retired)

& Everyday Sentiment Strips

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set;

Sunny Studio Slimline Nature Borders;

Hero Arts Sentiment Strips Fancy Die (sold out)

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape; Park Lane twine

Host Mary Gunn FUNN had Amanda Stevens (‪@PearBlossomPress‬) as her guest. Amanda's company does the light-up mechanisms that we got to use at Paperganza this summer - so fun! Mary & Amanda will be hosting the CR WCMD event with a bunch of different guests; all will be working with last night's CR parameters.

• Project - Saying Hi: I used a Hi Friend sentiment.
• Colors - Crisp: I used colors of crisp things - red apples, orange carrots, yellow Cap'n, Crunch, green peppers, blue for blueberry crisp, white onions.
• Element - Sun/Sunny(ies): I added a sun. 
• Random - Pennant(s): I added three pennants to my clothesline.

I stamped and fussy cut all the clothesline elements and the sun. Added them to a stitched rectangle with die cut grass. Stamped and die cut the sentiment strips panel, selecting a strip with "hi", plus four more to scatter on my grass. Assembled everything on the stitched rectangle & used baker's twine for my clothesline. I sketched a line with a pencil, applied a thin line of glue and then the twine. It was supposed to be a deeper arch, oh well... Added the scene to an A2 card using foam tape - done! 

Since it was vampire hours, as Cat calls them, & I had laundry in the dryer, I decided to make a card for Just Us Girls #795 Die Week featuring Leaves. I was inspired by my friend & JUGS guest designer Greta (GGCreations) to pull out a Poppystamps leafy frame. Update: when I linked to JUGS, card one was entered - meant it to be card two. I don't see a way to edit their linky... Another update - Lisa fixed it; thanks!

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane A2 card (used half);

Paper Studio Ivory; scraps

Dies - Poppystamps Harvest Oval Frame

(retired but still HERE at Frantic Stamper); 

Hero Arts Autumn Leaves

Betterpress Plate w/die - Spellbinders You Are Everything Sentiments

Other - Park Lane gems; foam tape

Simply die cut the frame and three additional leaves, then added to an A2 card. A popped up Betterpressed sentiment & some gems finished the card. Quick and easy!! Not a bad start to WCMD, right? Note - when I linked to 

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful World Card-Making Day!!

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!!

Last Day of Die Cut Divas August Challenge!

Hey there - I'm part of the end of month Diva team sharing inspiration for our August Challenge: Z-fold Cards which ends today at 9p Pacific Time!

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

My Favorite Things Black Licorice Linen;

Spellbinders Betterpress Porcelain

Stamps w/Stencils and Dies - Altenew Rock Trumpet Bundle

Press Plate w/die - Spellbinders A Little Message Sentiments

Other - Hero Arts Enamel dots; printed sub-sentiment (probably SSS)

We're sponsored by Altenew who has donated a $20 gift card for our random August winner. Fittingly, I watched an Altenew video by Therese earlier this month which contained both a Z-fold and a gatefold card. I just loved how Therese did her Z-fold so decided to try it with one of my large Altenew floral sets. I followed her steps for an A7 standard Z-fold, just substituting an A9 card base. I used the Rock Trumpets instead of the peony set she used.

Very simple - I folded back the card front to make the card a Z-fold. Stamped and stenciled the rock trumpet spray, then die cut it with the coordinating die. Laid it along the left panel & adhered, trimming the excess. Next I added a black linen panel to the right inside of the card. I trimmed it slightly smaller on the left due to the card fold. Then I glued the trimmed excess rock trumpet from the left onto the right panel. Added some enamel dots and two sentiments - one Betterpressed & one printed strip.

Had to laugh - my friend Cat (Cat Luvs Paper) talks about vampire hours - I made this card at 3am last Tuesday! Turned out ok for being dead tired after chorus but unable to sleep!! At Craft Roulette the A9 format is dreaded and oft vetoed - I think it's great fun & perfect for Altenew's jumbo florals!! Here are a couple more views of the card - standing front (view I shared at the Divas) & standing from top:

Ready for a bonus? I stuck with a simple A2 Z-fold card for this one but used the same concept from the video. So fun and easy! This time I used Altenew's Dear Dahlias Bundle with stamps, stencils and coordinating dies.

I won't show any additional views this time - same look as card one so I just photographed it standing. The paper I put on the right side is from a beautiful Altenew (in collaboration with PFS) 6x6" pad called Celebrate.

That's it for today, friends! Hope to see you in the Diva gallery if you've got time before 9p Pacific time and want to do a Z-fold. 

Thanks for stopping & happy crafting!!

Z-fold with Floral Pitcher

Welcome crafty friends! I'm here with inspiration for the Die Cut Divas August Challenge: Z-Fold Cards!! You can see my Diva post HERE, if desired; all the details, extra views and a bonus card can be found below.

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Passion Flower;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

MFT Orange Sherbet & Watercolor Wash

Stamps - Altenew Fresh Bouquet

Die/Embossing Folder/Stencil - Altenew Pitcher Vases Bundle 

Die - Altenew Mix and Match Frames

Inks - Hero Arts Amethyst & TH Distress Iced Spruce

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape

We're sponsored by Altenew this month; they've given us a $20 gift card for our random winner to be drawn from eligible August entries on 9/3. Thanks so much!!

I had been eying the pitcher vase combo since released and, thanks to Darnell & her 75th NBUS Challenge prize, was able to get it. It just arrived & is getting its first play here! First I die cut then embossed & stenciled this darling pitcher vase. Next I searched through my Altenew stamps - most are too large for the vase but I found a gift mini set Altenew sent me in December called Fresh Bouquet. I stamped & colored it, then trimmed some parts off to rearrange atop the vase. 

Next I formed a simple Z fold by folding back the front of an A2 card. Added mat panels to front and inside. Die cut a deckle panel to overlap the Z on the front. Masked off the bottom and ink blended some Iced Spruce to be my "table". Stamped a sentiment from the same stamp set and matted it. Assembled everything on the card. I'll add a white panel for the inside sentiment later. Here are a couple more views - standing front & top:

Thanks again to Darnell - I'll add this card to her IDEAS E for Embossing this week and to her NBUS Challenge #77 since the vase is newly used. So is the floral stamp, now that I think about it! I'll also add my card to the August We Love Stamping Challenge using the Flower Theme. My bouquet is hand stamped and colored; this is my second of three possible there.

Ready for a bonus? Skip if not! Please note - my bonus card, while a Z-fold, wouldn't work for the Diva Challenge since it doesn't have any die cuts, nor did I use an embossing folder. Kinda forgot that, so that's why it's a bonus - LOL.

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio A2 card;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Lawn Fawn Petite Watercolor Wishes;

scrap of patterned paper (brand unk)

Stamps - Altenew Little Mushroom;

magazine freebie gnome set

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape

I was shopping at Barnes & Noble earlier this month and found issue 148 of Creative Stamping magazine containing a cute gnome stamp set plus the Altenew mushroom stamp set! Since we're using Altenew products this month, I decided the set should come home with me. I formed the Z-Fold same as above but this time I trimmed the front into a diagonal. Matted with patterned and watercolor wash papers. Stamped the images (gnomes are fussy cut) and colored with Copics. Stamped the sentiment & assembled. Here's a standing view:

That's it for today. Thanks for stopping and we hope to see your Z-Fold in the gallery, remembering to include a die cut & or use an embossing folder!

Happy crafting!!

Coffee Beans for Aliens?

Hey friends - hope your week is going well. Since it's the first week of the month, Darnell is doing I = Inks for her IDEAS program. See her beautiful inspiration cards HERE. Thought I'd play along and create a galaxy background for a cute alien stamp I got at Paperganza. Coincidentally, at Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers #265, A is for Alien so I'll play there too!

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Solar White; 

scrap of green

Stamps - Trinity Espresso Terrestrial;

MFT Perk Up (retired)

Inks - TH Distress: Black Soot, Blueprint Sketch, 

Shaded Lilac, Chipped Sapphire, 

Mustard Seed, & Squeezed Lemonade

Other - Paper Studio stars; white gel pen; 

foam tape; Hero Arts Shimmer Spray; Copic Markers

First I took an A2 panel of Neenah and blended 3 inks: Shaded Lilac, Blueprint Sketch & Chipped Sapphire, then edged with Black Soot. Sprayed with shimmer mist. When dry, I added star gems and white gel details, then added to an A2 card base. Adhered a green strip to the bottom & stamped the "Bean Me Up" along with some coffee beans. 

Next, I stamped the alien in the coffee cup space ship onto a scrap of Neenah white, extending the rays with a sharpie. Masked and inked the rays, then colored the rest with Copics. Fussy cut and stamped the coffee beans beaming up in the ray area. Stamped the ship with the company name "Espresso Terrestrial Coffee Co". Adhered the space ship to the card.

Finally, I stamped and fussy cut a thank you sentiment to match the coffee theme. Thanks Trinity Stamps for the adorable alien stamps which are getting first play here! Since NBUS, I'll add to Darnell's August NBUS Challenge #77. I'm also playing at the August We Love Stamping Challenge using the Anything Goes option (other theme is flowers).

If you missed it, I made a cute crocodile card with products from Riley and Co. Just learned that, starting tomorrow, R&C will carry closeout items from My Favorite Things!! I can't wait to pop over and see what they'll have. Frantic Stamper & Simon Says Stamp have some items too; maybe other places, but these are the ones I know best. None of these are affiliate links, I just list for your convenience.

Thanks for visiting and have a crafty day!!