Twofer Challenge #5 - Butterflies!

Hey all - I'm playing along at this month's Twofer Challenge to use a butterfly stamp. You need to use it two different ways on cards for two separate occasions.

Decided to use a neglected Penny Black stamp set in my stash called Social Butterfly. Besides five butterflies and a sentiment "Wonderful", this set contains an art deco photo corner with a butterfly. I chose the photo corner as my butterfly image to use on both cards.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; Poptone Black; Momenta Marbled;

Paper Studio Teal A2 card; Authentique Latest & Greatest

Stamps - Penny Black 30-116 Social Butterfly; 

Hero Arts  CL342 Everyday Sayings (retired) & CL954 Many Everyday Messages

Dies - My Favorite Things Die-Namics Flutter of Butterflies Solid & Lace and Blueprints 20 (retired) & 13;

Hero Arts Nesting Oval Infinity Dies

Other - Hero Arts Ombre Ocean sequins; Copic Markers; 

Distress inks - Mermaid Lagoon & Blueprint Sketch

On the card at left, I stamped the photo corner twice for a tone on tone effect. Thought it would be fun to add diecut butterflies. Tried three but it seemed too many. Also need something to ground them so I used a patterned oval. Since two butterflies fit nicely, I decided to make this an anniversary card.

On the right, I stamped the photo corner twice close together to form a pyramid. It reminded me of a stained glass window so I made it into a sympathy card. Cut it into a stitched rectangle and matted over a black stitched rectangle on a white top fold A2 card. Very CAS for me!

I already needed the sympathy card since a chorus friend lost her brother last week. I'll save the anniversary card for some friends with an anniversary coming up in June. So glad to have this challenge to quickly get cards for two occasions done! Thanks for stopping by!!

CAS snowman

Hi all - just popping in with a card for the CAS Christmas challenge which is open until May 24th. Loll, Bonnie & company would like a snowman on your card - they made some beauties, wow!!

I have loads of snowman stuff in the stash (say that 3 times fast!) so what to choose? I went with an NBUS from Art Impressions (just love the happy snowman!). I have several of these "Windows to the World" stamps plus the window die - my goal is to actually use them all this year. Wish me luck!

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Stamp - Art Impressions With Love Window

Die - My Favorite Things Die-Namics Blueprints 20 (retired)

Other - Copic Markers; Hero Arts black ink

I kept it super simple - just stamped the image on a white panel and colored with Copics. I cut the panel with a stitched rectangle and adhered it to a top fold A2 card. Done! Thanks for stopping and I hope you have a wonderful week!

Merry Monday #290 - Bells!

Welcome back for another Merry Monday challenge! This week, the delightful JoAnn would like us to use bells on a Christmas card for Challenge #290. What gorgeous gold bells in the inspiration photo!!

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; Paper Studio Red; Poptone Black Licorice

Stamps - Hero Arts Wreath with Bells (retired), Holiday Florals Bold Prints, &

 Merry & Bright Tag Set by Lia - sentiment (retired)

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints 21 (retired); Spellbinders Ribbon Banners

Hero Arts Nesting Circle Infinity Dies

Other - Copic markers; Memento Tuxedo Black & Fired Brick Distress Oxide inks; 

Target Hot Spot gold sequins; foam tape; Faber Castell Metallic Gold PITT pen

I had to go with my favorite Hero Arts bell cling stamp. A stamping friend, Isha, sent it to me when she was my Secret Santa a few years ago. What a fun image to color and you can see two other examples of my cards using this stamp here and here. I was especially thrilled with the color of the bells this time! I used two new-to-me Copic colors Y26 Mustard & Y28 Lionet Gold. I colored the bell panel several weeks ago but finally had a chance to put a card together. By the time I did, I see that the wonderful Leanne also made a card with this bell stamp - oh well, great minds.... I just love her gorgeous blues!!

I started to make this a shaker card since I had a bag of yummy shaker mix. Alas - dismal failure - my acetate refused to cooperate (full of static & my anti-static activities failed to help...). So, I tossed my shaker panel and die cut a simple pierced rectangle panel with a circle opening. After gluing it over my bell panel, I decided to stamp on the window panel. Why do I do that?? Luckily I saved the die cut circle and popped it over my colored bells before stamping. Now I have a stamped circle for the future! After die cutting and embossing a banner, I decided to edge it with a metallic gold - so shimmery in real life. I popped the banner with foam tape, otherwise this would've been a nice flat card for mailing.

Thanks for visiting and I hope you can join us at Merry Monday! See all the challenge details and inspiration from the fabulous Design Team HERE. Have a great week!!

Happy Mother's Day!

Hey everyone - if you're celebrating Mother's Day today, hope you have a wonderful one!! Popping in for a quick post of the Mother's Day cards I made - just three this year: Mom, Aunt Carol (Mom's sister), and Mother Mary, the remaining Queen Mum (the other one passed away last summer).

Supplies: Paper - Poptone Snow Cone & Black, Tim Holtz Metallic Kraft; blue vellum;

various Bazzill colors; Authentique Wintery (stone pattern); BoBunny woodgrain
DCWV A2 and A7 blue cards

Stamps - Hero Arts (retired) & Paper Smooches All Year Cheer; 
Stampendous Fresh Peony

Die - Hunkydory Crafts Box Collection 3 Hanging Basket
My Favorite Things Flutter of Butterflies Solid and Lace and Blueprints 13

Other - foam tape; Michaels gems; Ranger Seafoam white embossing powder;
washi tape by unknown; punched butterfly; Crayola pencils

When I posted Heather's birthday card last Sunday, I mentioned thinking the basket diecut would be pretty on a Mother's Day card - yes, indeed! Made slightly different versions & was really happy with both of them. Then I masked the large peony and leaves for card 2 - colored with pencils and blended with Copics. It's such a large flower that I made the panel into an A7 card. Mailed cards 2 and 3 but card one is being delivered to my mom in person today. I also got her a basket of flowers for her front steps - she'll have fun making Dad water it all summer - LOL.

Thanks for stopping and I hope you'll be back tomorrow for another Merry Monday challenge!

Merry Monday #289 - Stars!

Merry Monday everyone! Debbie hosts Challenge #289 this week to use stars on your Christmas card.

I decided to show some love to a star with swag die that I bought last year (I think). Another NBUS item which are legion at my house! I thought about using a star embossing folder behind the swag, then I remembered some yummy BoBunny paper with several star patterns - used two of them here. The wood plank paper is from that same collection.

Supplies: Paper - DCWV A2 kraft card; Paper Studio glitter & brown;
BoBunny Christmas Collage 6x6; Tim Holtz kraft metallic; Michael's green
Dies - My Favorite Things Die-Namics Joy, Rectangle Peek-a-Boo Window,
Blueprints 20 (retired) & 13; 
Ultimate Crafts When you Wish (retired)
Other - Stickles; Doodlebug enamel dot 

I cut the star swag set from different colors and layered. The pine cones cut only in outline but I backed them with a glittery paper so they'd stand out more. The bow and JOY were cut from glitter paper too but it looked very dull. Jazzed them up with some Stickles, including an enamel dot for the bow's center. I cut multiple joys from plain red cardstock and layered them for dimension with the glittery one on top.

Please check out the challenge details and all the wonderful inspiration from the Design Team HERE. Would love to see your creation linked up to the challenge! Thanks for stopping and have a wonderful week!!

Happy Birthday Heather!!

Popping in to wish my friend Heather a Happy Birthday! Hope she has a fabulous day celebrating!! I was glad she received her card ahead of time since her birthday is on a weekend - no mail delivery today. Here's the card I sent:

Supplies: Paper - Poptone Snow Cone & Black, Tim Holtz Metallic Kraft

various Bazzill colors; Authentique Wintery (stone pattern)

Sentiment stamp - Simon Says Stamp Friendship Blooms

Die - Hunkydory Crafts Box Collection 3 Hanging Basket

Other - foam tape; Michaels gems

This was my first play with the hanging basket die set. Heather sent it to me for my birthday back in February (thanks again, Heather!!) and I got started with it right away. I just loved cutting all the various papers so I could layer and arrange the basket pieces (it took me a while). I cut the vines multiple times and had fun filling the basket. Then I popped the flowers on top and added a gem to each center. I had a panel of stone paper that I thought would be fun as a wall from which to hang the basket. Can you believe it's from a Christmas paper pad??! After adhering the panel to the card, it needed something so I added a thin black strip, then the hanger bracket and the basket. The SSS stamp set had the perfect sentiment.

I'm thinking the hanging basket diecut would be fantastic on a Mother's Day card - I'd better get busy, eh? Thanks for stopping and I hope you'll be back tomorrow for another Merry Monday challenge!!

Merry Monday #288 - No stamping!

Deanne has a great theme for Challenge #288 over at Merry Monday - no stamping!

When is the last time you created a card with absolutely no stamping?! I tend to stamp on most cards I make, especially the sentiments. Given all the dies I have, though, I can easily do bunches of cards without stamping - LOL!!

Supplies: Paper - Michael's Recollections holiday printed A2 card

American Crafts snowflake paper from Target's Hot Spot 

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White: Paper Studio glitter & red

Dies - Lawn Fawn Stitched Hillside Borders

My Favorite Things Die-Namics Blueprints 20 (retired)

Hero Arts Paper Layering Bear with Frame

Hero Arts Christmas Trimmings Stamp & Cut 

Other - foam tape, Copic Markers

Just love Hero Arts Paper Layering dies - so fun! I bought the polar bear die when it was released last year and immediately cut one. I colored parts with Copics but actually paper-pieced all the glittery hearts in the scarf. They are very teeny and I had to recut some as the first ones disappeared on me! Also carefully removed the nose holes, colored them in black and inlaid back in. Poor bear was sitting around on my craft table waiting for a home - glad I found him one on this card!!

I also love the Hero Arts Christmas Trimmings Stamp & Cut! Not only does it have the Merry Christmas in both a stamp and a die, it has a bow, some holly and berries - perfect! I die cut the sentiment in red and glued the Merry directly to the bear and the Christmas to the snowbank. A bit of foam tape behind the bear added some dimension. Done!

Thanks to Deanne for a fun challenge - check it all out HERE, including fabulous cards by the Design Team. So glad you stopped by and I hope you have a crafty week!!