Butterfly Hello Friend

Hello everyone & TGIF - at least where I am! It's been a while since I've been able to play at Just Us Girls so I thought I'd CASE Lisa's beautiful butterfly card for JUGS #786 (CASE a DT member). Here's my take, using a memo, dotted leaves and a butterfly:

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Passion Flower;

BoBunny Dotted; Neenah Solar White;

MFT Black Licorice

Stamps - Penny Black Soft Wings

Dies - Spellbinders Grand Tropical Flamingos (DOML-May24),

Stitched Taking Notes (DOMST-APR25) &

Colorful Expressions Sentiments (DOM-AUG24)

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape;

Black & green thread; Park Lane gems

I've had the purple stamped butterfly laying in the bits box for quite a while; I stamped it when I used a black one last year for a previous card. Colored the butterfly with Copics and fussy cut. Die cut and stitched the note & adhered to an A7 card. Die cut three leaves and added them to the card along with the die cut sentiment. Popped the butterfly on with foam tape and added three gems - done! Note: the sentiment die set is deeply discounted at Spellbinders right now, if you're interested. I love this set!!

I'm also playing at Tic Tac Toe Challenge #276 using the left column: Friendship, Any Color, & Any Shape Die. Thanks for the inspiration, Betty! And I'll play at Darnell's August NBUS Challenge #77 since I used the stitching die for the first time here. Not bad - only 3 months on Mt. NBUS!

That's it for today, friends. I enjoyed CASE-ing Lisa today! Be sure to check out her card (linked above) and all the other wonderful DT cards at JUGS. 

Thanks for visiting and have a crafty day! I'll be back tomorrow with the July Card Chain Reveal.

Watercolored Morning Glories

Hi all - I've been doing some crafty clean-up and, of course, started playing with things I found! Isn't that why we never truly finish our clean-ups??!

Here's a card I made this morning using Darnell's IDEAS program - this week D is for Dies. You can see her gorgeous inspiration HERE. I also designed my card around my friend Betty's (created by bjk) Tic-Tac-Toe board for TTTC272.

Supplies: Paper - Spellbinders A2 card;

Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Paper;

My Favorite Things Colorful Canvas (on

notify at MFT but HERE at Frantic Stamper)

Dies - Hero Arts Morning Glory Fancy Die &

Trellis Window (sold out);

Simon Says Stamp Whirl Bay Leaves;

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Altenew 24 Pan Watercolors; foam tape

I used the bottom horizontal row - Ink Blending, Floral/Foliage, & Enamel Dots/Sequins - as well as the bottom left to upper right diagonal row - Ink Blending, Free, Die Cuts.

First I die cut a soft blue rectangle & ink blended the bottom with green and the upper portion with blue. Added this to a white A2 card. Next I die cut the trellis and the green leaves. Then I die cut the morning glories and watercolored them with Altenew's 24 pan watercolors, then spritzed with shimmer spray. Dried with a heat tool and stacked with a plain white die cut for stability. Assembled on the card, popping up some flowers with foam tape.

I took a sentiment out of the bits box; I think it's from a Hero Studio kit but can't be sure. Since I'm doing some crafty clean-up, all my Hero Arts kits went to the satellite studio at my Dad's house to give me some breathing room. I tried tucking the sentiment among the flowers but it got a bit lost. Since I didn't have the die here to cut a shadow, I simply glued the die cut sentiment to a scrap piece of pink and fussy cut it. Shows up much better that way!

Some Altenew enamel dots finished the card. This one is going to a chorus friend who's battling breast cancer - too much of that happening within the chorus! The morning glory die, the trellis and the whirl leaves are all getting first play here so I'll also add my card to Darnell's June NBUS Challenge #75.

That's all for today, friends! Thanks for stopping by and have a crafty day!!

More Easter digis

Hey there - I'm playing along with Darnell's IDEAS project today; see her gorgeous cards and find the linky HERE. This week E is for embossing. I just got my March Spellbinders box on Monday & found a gorgeous 3D folder to use!

Supplies: Paper - Neenah white; 

Paper Studio A2 card; Pink cardstock by unk

Digi - Angie Blom Digital Designs

Sending Love Bunny (Easter) 

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Background Set

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape

I dry embossed a pink A2 panel and adhered it to an A2 card. Rubbed the embossing with a pink ink pad to bring out the design. Next I used a digi image from the set of four I printed last Friday. Colored it with Copics and die cut with a stitched rectangle. Added it to the card with foam tape.

Since my embossing folder got first play here, I'll add my card to Darnell's March NBUS Challenge #72. I'll also play at Tic Tac Toe #266 using either the diagonal column Bright Colors, Spring, Free or center vertical column Flowers, Spring, 3D. 

Bonus - here's a quick and easy card. 

I colored another digi panel with Copics & die cut it. This bunny runs off the page and has a different sentiment from the panel (colored with pencils) that I used HERE for Craft Roulette. I simply added this panel to an A2 card without anything else. I'll share this card to the March We Love Stamping Challenge which allows digi stamps.

That's it for today, friends! I'm back tomorrow with inspiration for the March Die Cut Diva Challenge - hope to see you then! Thanks for stopping!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

💖 Happy Valentine's Day if you're celebrating!! Or maybe it's Single Awareness Day where you are - LOL. Whatever it is, enjoy!!

I'm celebrating today along with my birthday twin, Lynn so I'll share the card I made her:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah white; Park Lane mint;

Paper Studio watercolor print

Stamps - Hero Arts retired Valentine set;

Sunny Studio Inside Greetings

Stencil - Hero Arts Floral Patterns

Dies - Hero Arts Hero Studio Jan'25 kit &

Love & Hearts Fancy Dies

Other - clay heart mix from Michaels

Lynn, our friend Linda & I all have February birthdays & we'll celebrate together next week. I made Lynn a shaker card since we're doing that format for our February Die Cut Diva Challenge sponsored by Hero Arts. I made the shaker window using one of the Hero Studio kit dies, plus cut an extra heart (stenciled) for the die cut sentiment (a January Hero Studio add-on). The red hearts were also from the add-on. I added a fussy cut combined Valentine's Day and birthday stamped sentiment. Since the dies are getting first play here, I'll add my card to Darnell's February NBUS #71 Challenge. I'll also share at Seize the Birthday #299 where we're to add a heart - yay!! Finally, I'll share at Tic Tac Toe #264 with the diagonal lower left to top right Heart - Die Cut - Love Sentiment.

My long-time cardmaking friend/almost birthday twin Greta (GG Creations) had her birthday on Wednesday; here's the card I sent her:

Supplies: Paper - Recollections A2 card; 

Spellbinders Betterpress Porcelain & Pebble

Hot Foil plate w/Stencils - Pinkfresh Studio Peony Print

stencils HERE

Press plates with dies - Spellbinders A Little Message Sentiments

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set;

Hero Arts Tag Frame Infinity Dies (retired)

Other - Hero Arts enamel dots, inks & shimmer spray

As usual, I letterpressed the hot foil plate; I love doing that! After some simple stenciling, I die cut with a stitched rectangle and spritz the whole panel with shimmer spray - so pretty in real life! 

Still with me? Here's the final Valentine I made for this year - a quick & easy one that I sent to my auntie we call Tia.

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio A2 cards; scrap of aqua;

BoBunny Love Letters 6x6

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set;

Hero Arts Nesting Hearts Infinity Dies

Other - Recollections gems;

Taylored Expressions sentiment strip

Here are the birthday cards I've received to date; thanks to everyone who sent a card!!

And here's a photo of yesterday's lunch with my former quartet (with me in my favorite pink sweater) & our coach, plus a friend who went to New Zealand with us (both at left):

Totally forgot to take a photo of today's lunch with friend/almost sister Connie & her hubby. They treated me to lunch at our favorite spot called Doolittle's about 1/2 way between us. We ate early to try & beat the incoming snow; I did fine. They went home to the southwest & were already getting white out conditions! It's just started to snow here!! 

Looking forward to Craft Roulette tonight since I'll be staying off the snowy roads!

Thanks for stopping by & have a crafty weekend!!

Pink Ornament on Aqua

Happy Sunday, everyone - I spotted Color Hues Challenge #99 yesterday and just had to play along! Marcia is hosting and chose Pink/Aqua as her color combo - so yummy!! Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Recollection top fold A2 card; 

scraps; striped by unk; Betterpress Porcelain;

Dies - Simon Says Stamp Reeded Ornament;

My Favorite Things Blueprints 26 (bow);

Impression Obsession Pine Branch (retired at IO 

but a couple left at Frantic Stamper HERE);

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set 

Press Plate w/die - Spellbinders Seasons Greetings Evergreens

Other - foam tape; Hero Arts enamel dots

I just received an order from Simon Says Stamp last week. I couldn't resist their Reeded Ornament set from the new Festive Fun collection. It's getting first play on this card. I used a tried & true sketch of an ornament hanging from pine boughs. 

I die cut some aqua striped paper (it was a rogue piece, not with a pad so brand unk) using a stitched rectangle. Added to an A2 card. Next I cut two pine boughs from some aqua scraps (paper brand unk - might be MFT) & then the ornament from pink scraps (again, maybe MFT). The ornament hanger was cut from scraps of a neutral silver Tim Holtz kraft metallic. Assembled and added to the card. The Betterpressed sentiment came from the Christmas bits box. Die cut a bitty bow from a fave MFT Blueprints set & added it to the ornament along with a gem - done! 

I'll also play at the Tic Tac Toe Challenge #260 using the bottom horizontal row - Die Cut, Metallic Element & Festive Sentiment. And also at Darnell's November NBUS Challenge #68 since my ornament is newly used.

That's it for today, friends. I'm very behind on Craft Roulette - went to a party Friday night so missed the LIVE. Haven't watched the replay yet but hope to get to it later today...

Thanks for stopping by & have a crafty day!! 

Honey Jar for Just Us Girls

Hi all - hope you're having a wonderful day! I'm here with a card for the current Just Us Girls Challenge #740 where they have a fabulous mood board.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Solar White; many scraps;

Core'dinations plaid; Paper Studio Holiday;

Dies - Spellbinders Honey Bee Jar (DOML-Jan24) &

Four Petal Thank You Floral;

Poppystamps - Flower and Leaf Sprinkles;

My Favorite Things Flowers & Filler

Whimsy Stamps - Doodled Doily (retired)

Hot Foil Plate with die - Waffle Flower Classic Happy Birthday

Other - Hero Arts enamel dots; foam tape

Here's the mood board - so summery:

I was inspired by the sweet honey jar with the burlap topper in the middle right square. I couldn't find my burlap embossing folder but used a linen one, embossed vertically then horizontally, on my jar topper. Love the texture! Also used some string twine rather than the die cut bow I used on a previous jar card. When I made a Four Petal card earlier this week, I had some extra bits; you can see them in the photo of my organizational tray on that post. Started with those and changed up the arrangement using some diecuts from other brands. Of course I had to use the sweet bee that comes in the honey jar set. Assembled all the pieces.

The jar overwhelms an A2 card, I think, so I used an A7 card formed from green cardstock. Layered a piece of pink plaid patterned paper and added a "ground" with a doily for the jar to sit. Added the jar to the card using foam tape. I had Betterpressed a few of the WF Happy Birthday hot foil plate when I made Darnell's bday card so I used one here.

I'll also add my card to Snippets Playground Challenge #486 since I used many scraps to die cut elements of my jar. Here's a photo of some of my snippets:

I'll also link up to Tic Tac Toe Challenge #254 where I used the right vertical column with patterned paper, dry embossing & blue.

That's all for today! Thanks for stopping by & have a crafty day!!

Winter Park Scene

Happy Wednesday everyone! 

I'm back with more Hero Arts 2024 Holiday Shopbox products that I picked up at my favorite local store on Monday (will be available at Hero Arts online on 8/22). I shared a card using a new peeking die set yesterday; today I have a park scene:

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Bermuda; many scraps;

Paper Studio glitter; Lawn Fawn All the Dots;

Spellbinders Betterpress Porcelain

Dies - Hero Arts Snowy Street Lamp;

Lawn Fawn Stitched Hillside Borders;

Memory Box Pine Tree Grove;

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Press Plate with die - Spellbinders Betterpress Merry & Bright Sentiment Strips

Other - Copic Markers; Betterpress Black ink

Die cut the lamp 3 times from black & stacked for dimension. Next, I die cut the candle twice - from scraps of gold and yellow; trimmed off the yellow flame & added to the gold candle. Die cut the wreath, bow (twice) and snowy details. Added to the lamp.

Die cut a LF patterned paper with a stitched rectangle & added to an A2 card. Die cut a glittery LF stitched hill & then the snowy banks from the HA set. Die cut them with the stitched rectangle so the edges matched & added to the card. Die cut the pine grove from Bermuda and glitter card stocks & assembled. Die cut the bench from a shimmery silver scrap & the birds from a red scrap. Added shading & details with Copics. Arranged the scene atop the cards and adhered. Added a pressed sentiment from the bits box - done!

I have other street lamp sets from other brands. I especially liked this new Hero Arts set for the extra scene elements it included. I could've left the trio of pines out and still had a nice scene just using this set.

Since my street lamp set got first play today, I'll send my card to Darnell's July NBUS Challenge #64. Will also add to Merry Little Christmas Challenge #57 where Anything Goes and to Tic Tac Toe Challenge #252 where my friend Betty has set the board. Once again I've used the center vertical column - Die Cuts/Free/Any Sentiment.

Thanks for stopping by & have a crafty day!!

Flamingo Anniversary

Happy Monday everyone! Gloomy day yesterday so I stayed inside and worked on a card for a couple of challenges. Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane gold A2 card; Poptone kraft; 

many scraps; Paper Studio pastel; BoBunny Double Dotted

Dies - Spellbinders Grand Tropical Flamingos (DOML-May24);

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Hero Arts Beach Frame

Press Plates w/dies - Spellbinders You Are Everything Sentiments

Other - Copic Markers for shading

I die cut the flamingo from many scraps (including dark pink) & a pale pink card stock. Assembled the two birds. Next I die cut the Hero Arts beach frame w/oval using kraft cardstock, then again in green. Trimmed off the kraft palm leaves and replaced with green behind. backed the scene with a blue oval. Die cut a gold oval along with a second smaller oval to create a gold frame; added to the scene. 

Die cut a stitched rectangle and added to a gold A2 card, then adhered the oval scene. Die cut foliage from two colors of green scraps and added to the corners. Found an anniversary sentiment in the bits box and added it to the card. This will go to my brother and his wife for their early September anniversary.

I was inspired to pull out this flamingo set for the first time by the beautiful mood board for Just Us Girls Challenge #736. I'm also playing at Tic Tac Toe Challenge #252. My friend Betty designed the board so I made a special effort to get there - used the center vertical row of Die Cut/Free/Any Sentiment. And since my flamingo dies got first play, I'll send my card to Darnell's July NBUS Challenge #64.

Thanks for visiting! Enjoy your day!! 

S is for Stencil and So Sorry!

Happy Monday everyone! This year, April has 5 Mondays so the S in Darnell's IDEAS program comes into play - S is for Stencil. Darnell posted her inspiration yesterday along with her Group of Seven post, a cool technique with a stencil and Elegant Writers. My card has more pedestrian stenciling - just used a coordinating stencil on a stamped image:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah White; Poptone Black;

Paper Studio A2 Card

Stamp/Stencil/Die/Embossing Bundle - Altenew Dynamic Blossoms

Betterpress Plate w/Die - Spellbinders You Are Everything Sentiments

Die - Poppystamps Double Stitch Scalloped Rectangle Frames (retired)

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape; Hero Arts and Memento inks

Back in November I bought a bunch of Altenew so I had options when making my December Die Cut Diva cards. The wonderful Dynamic Blossoms set didn't get used then but I thought it would make a great first outing for IDEAS & for Darnell's April NBUS Challenge. It also fits at Just Us Girls Challenge #724 to use a stencil & at Tic Tac Toe Challenge #246. I went with the diagonal Flowers-Free-Die Cut.

I stamped the flower image and used the coordinating stencils to ink the base layer. Next, there are detail stamps to add dimension so I stamped the flower ones. I didn't really analyze the whole stamp set; I think there are some detail stamps for the leaves too, oh well. Added some Copic shading then glued the panel behind a stack of scalloped frames. Adhered to an A2 card & popped on a pressed sentiment - done!

Here's a photo of the image stamp with the stencils and inks I used:

I talked about my accident prone friends, well - I no more than finished this card & sister Tami texted me that she'd fallen while out walking. Got a huge cut on her forehead that the Mayo dr glued shut (then steri-striped). She says she feels like Bride of Frankenstein - ugh! Anyway, now I had a place for this card - I had only used the So Sorry sentiment because I liked the size. Really mean it now!!

That's it for today. I'm off to a funeral, taking one of the cards I made last week. Sad occasion but always good to visit my hometown and see some relatives.

Thanks for stopping! I'm back tomorrow with an end-of-the-month Diva post.

Pair of Flower Cards

Happy Sunday - hope you haven't been affected by the horrible spring storms this weekend! My heart goes out to all those suffering from the aftermath! We got some rain and wind but that's it. Perfect time to stay in and craft.

First up, a card for this week's Just Us Girls Challenge #724 to use a stencil.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah white; DCWV pastels;

Michael's Recollections A2 card

Stencil - My Favorite Things Smart Mask Diagonal HighLow Strip

Stamps - Hero Arts Cupcakes (c2008) & Watercolor Petals (c2010) both retired

Dies - A Jillian Vance Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Hero Arts heart gem; Hero Arts & Memento inks

MFT recently offered one of their new High/Low Diagonal stencils with a purchase. I jumped at the chance to try one. Hopefully you can see the diagonal white space where I stamped the sentiment! I went with very soft colors, fading off the green a lot. Didn't have any stencil tape at Dad's so I was trying to hold it down - that bottom part was tricky w/out tape.

I stamped a retired HA wildflower, then die cut the panel with a stitched rectangle. Matted with another stitched rectangle & added to an A2 card. Found a heart gem in the stash at the satellite studio and thought it would work for the flower center - done!

Next, I made a card for my neighbors' anniversary using a Frantic Stamper die set that I hadn't used until now. Such a fun one to work with and I thought the stem portion would work with many other brands' flowers.

Supplies: Paper - Ms Sparkle A2 card; Neenah white;

Poptone Spearmint; Paper Studio Holiday; scrap of pink

Dies - Spellbinders Fancy Edged Ovals (retired);

Frantic Stamper Bouquet Builder

Betterpress w/Die - Spellbinders You Are Everything Sentiments

Other - various gems; Copic Markers;

Hero Arts Sparkle Lacquer; Betterpress Black ink

I die cut all the flowers (single die) in white and colored with Copics. Die cut the stem piece in spearmint cardstock and adhered to green oval. Adhered to an A2 card. Arranged flowers on the stems and added gems where needed. Die cut the bow from a pink scrap & added a pearl for the knot. The baby's breath has sparkle lacquer over the blossoms. A pressed sentiment finished the card. Since the bouquet die set got first play here, I'll add this card to Darnell's April NBUS Challenge. This card also fits at Tic Tac Toe Challenge #246 - I went with the diagonal Flowers-Free-Die Cut.

That's it for today - thanks for stopping & happy crafting!