Birthday card for a dude!

Hi all - I watched Craft Roulette #286 tonight and created along. In fact it was still going in the background when I wrote this - lol. Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Recollections A2 card;

Tim Holtz patterned paper; Neenah white;

Authentique Collection (blue wood plank)

Stamps - Hero Arts Happy Birthday Scroll &

What a Guy (both retired);

Waffle Flower Postage Collage

Dies - Waffle Flower Postage Collage;

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Black Soot DOI; foam tape; 

Copics for shading; Hero Arts enamel dots

Host Mary had Chelsea Comer (‪@InkyStamper‬) as her guest for the 4th time. I remember her previous appearance because I created my first Dutch door card for that episode. They spun the wheel four times for the parameters to use:

• Project - A Dude's Card: I made a birthday card for my nephew. 
• Colors - Sunflower Field: Blue for sky; yellow, green & brown for the flower. 
• Element - Bird(s): Two postage stamps have birds.
• Random - Soot: I inked the edges of all patterned paper with Black Soot Distress Oxide ink. 

I pulled out some Tim Holtz patterned paper that had a nature theme & found some birds. Die cut the paper with a Waffle Flower postage collage. Cut the stamps apart and stamped on them, then inked the edges. Stamped sentiments from two different HA sets and trimmed. Added everything to an A2 card, plus some enamel dots - done!

I will share my card at Seize the Birthday #314 using the Anything Goes option.

Speaking of Tim Holtz, I'm doing his Stamptember online class with SSS on Sunday - can't wait!

That's it for today - thanks for stopping by & have a crafty weekend!!

Many Halloween cards!

Hi all - Warning - photo heavy post ahead!

I mentioned in last Friday's post that I was doing an online event (Sweet Spells) with Scrapbook & Cards Today on Saturday. This event sold out but do check out future events - always a fabulous value in the kit with quality instructors! The kit included a 6x8" stamp set, 44 dies, 5 stencils plus some basic cardstock. The remaining cardstock was recommended by each instructor but I just used stuff from the stash.

I crafted along for the first class and part of the second, then I had to take a break but continued watching the lives. I worked on the rest of the cards this week & finally finished last night. 

The first class was taught by Cathy Zielske who leaned in to pink for her cards!

Supplies - Class kit; Paper Studio colored cardstock;

Versamark, Hero Arts & Memento inks; white ep

I especially love the witch legs sticking out of the cauldron! The candy corn 3-layer stencil set was fun to work with & the ghost & pumpkin make me smile!!

I decided to make a pumpkin card with traditional Halloween colors for my friend Denise who has a Halloween birthday:

Meghann Andrew taught the second class & we made this trio of cards:

The web coverplate is a fabulous die that cuts beautifully using a metal shim. I love the detailed mansion die set and the fun stencils to create a graveyard scene! Funny story about the moon on bottom right card. It was supposed to have stencil paste but mine was very gummy & started tearing the paper. I saved it by scraping off the paste carefully and adhering a circle over top.

Meghann also shared a bonus card; my version has different colors (her web & card were both black) but I love how it turned out! 

Class three was taught by Mindy Eggen, resulting in two cards and a "spellbook" that I used on an A7 card & added a ghost:

We used a web die cut as a stencil on the righthand card and the spellbook. When I was done with it, I used it on Meghann's bonus witch hat card after liberally spraying it with shimmer mist. Mindy's second card didn't have the witch hat but I thought it made a cute addition.

As usual, Jennifer McGuire did her "Mix It Up" video where she takes the class kit and uses it creatively. She made two Halloween cards and two non-Halloween cards - so fun! For example, she took the witch hat die cut and turned it into a Christmas tree. I haven't tried to make any cards with her ideas yet.

Thanks for stopping by! Let me know if you have a fave from this fun event. Happy crafting!!

Not Older but Wiser Fish!

Hey crafty friends - I'm posting the card below at Die Cut Divas today - details & a bonus only found here:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio A2 card;

various scraps

Dies - Birch Press Design Block Print Swift Fish

Other - foam tape; printed sentiment strip; 

Hero Arts clear enamel dots

We have Birch Press Design as our sponsor this month and I took advantage of the BPD Labor Day sale to go a bit overboard on their new release. Really, really love the fish sets & I got a bunch! Funny story - I placed an order and looking it over, spotted that I missed adding something I wanted (kelp with more fish!). So I placed a second order and added even more - LOL. Such great service from BDP; I had my - ahem - large box within days!!

Die cut three "swift fish" using various scraps. Soooo fun to put these together!! Added them to a watercolor printed A2 card from Hobby Lobby with foam tape. Picked through the sentiment stash and pulled out a printed sentiment strip (probably from Simon Says Stamp). Some clear enamel dots for bubbles finished the card. This card will make a perfect masculine card for a fisherman I know. Thought the sentiment would bring a smile, not just for the birthday idea but that the fish were wise enough not to get caught!!

My brother and sister-in-law were visiting last weekend. Donna spotted this card & loved it so much, she wanted to CASE it. She die cut a bunch of fish parts, then found a bunch more crafty supplies to play with. She embossed 49 panels using some of my cardstock & Spellbinders Club folders!! Meanwhile, my brother and I were working on some home projects - he installed a new light fixture and bathroom faucet, plus fixed some other pesky issues. 

I will add my card to Darnell's September NBUS Challenge #78 since my fish are newly used.

Now for a bonus - I'll save more fish for later and give you a heron this time. I love him so much!! Rosemary (Hey There....rosigrl!) enabled me with a card she posted last month.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

My Favorite Things Sweet Summer Color Blends;

scraps of green & Momenta Watercolor print;

Spellbinders Betterpress Porcelain

Dies - Birch Press Design Block Print Majestic Heron

& Sea Kelp and Mini Fish

Press Plate w/die - Spellbinders You Are Everything Sentiments

Other - foam tape

I just used Neenah white to die cut the heron - I often do this for a "test" run of a new die set. Then I simply colored and shaded with various Copic markers, trying to get a realistic looking heron. Next, I thought the kelp set would give me some nice reedy-looking foliage for my pond - always nice to find an alternate use for a die set! A pressed sentiment from the stash finished the card.

Thanks for stopping by and I'd love to see your creation in the September Diva gallery where Anything Goes (with die cuts &/or an embossing folder included)!

A Stamptember Sunflower for Craft Roulette!

Hi everyone - I've been MIA most of the week but I managed to watch Craft Roulette #285 live tonight & make/submit a card during the show:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Paper Studio A2 card; scrap of patterned paper (brand unk)

Stamps w/dies - Simon Says Stamp Sunflower Dance (dies)

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints 26 (retired, NIB)

Other - printed sentiment from SSS; Copic Markers;

Simple Stories Full Bloom enamel dots

Host Mary Gunn FUNN had Tracy Fear (‪@NotAfraidofColor‬) who was making her second appearance. As usual, the roulette wheel was spun four times for the parameters we need to use on our cards.

• Project - Square Card: I trimmed an A2 card down to a 4.25" square. 
• Colors - Dairy Aisle: I used yellow/orange/white; rest of colors can be found on packaging. 
• Element - Leaves: Sunflower stem has leaves.
• Random - Hexagon: Patterned paper has hexagons on it. 

I stamped, die cut & colored the cute sunflower I got as a free gift from Simon Says Stamp with an order. They offered the die effective with Stamptember so I had to jump in there and order it right away, along with some other stuff! Since the sunflower is getting first play here, I'll add my card to Darnell's September NBUS Challenge #78.

Tomorrow I'm doing an online event Sweet Spells with Scrapbook and Cards Today. There will be three instructors - Cathy Zielske, Meghann Andrew & Mindy Eggen with a special session at the end with Jennifer McGuire. I'll try to share some of the projects if I get a chance, otherwise I'll be back Sunday with my regular Diva post.

Thanks for stopping by & for your kind comments! Happy crafting!!

A Cat with a Castle & a Bonus!

Hey crafty friends - hope you're having a great week! Today I've given a kitty some luxury accommodations in a castle for Craft Roulette #284.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Recollections & Paper Studio colored card stock;

Doodlebug Hip Hip Hooray pattern;

Spellbinders Betterpress Porcelain

Stamps - Simon Says Stamp Creepy Cutie (retired)

Stencil - Elizabeth Craft Designs Waves

Press Plate w/dies - Spellbinders A Little Messages Sentiments

Dies - Hero Arts Paper Layering Castle

Other - Hero Arts Unicorn ink; foam tape; 

Spellbinders Betterpress Coastal ink;

Copics for shading and a fine-liner

Mary Gunn FUNN had Christie Daugherty (‪@CreatewithChristie‬) as her guest. Christie taught a hand-lettering class at the BellaCon online event I attended earlier this year. She also teaches Procreate, an iPad app for drawing & used it to create a tea party scene during the show! Check it out at the show link above.

This is a special entry for me - my 75th! Hard to believe I've been playing there for so long! Here's what the wheel spun:

• Project - FUNN Fold Card: Since we recently did Z-folds at Die Cut Divas, I went that route.
• Colors - Birthday Party: I was inspired by the Doodlebug birthday paper pad I showed in the photo. Only had the green patterned paper left of the pad so I used it for my ground. 
• Element - Maggie Smith: A bunch of people went Downton Abbey but I did Harry Potter.
• Random - Spiral(S)/(ing): I stenciled some spirals for clouds.

Can you tell my card is an homage to Maggie Smith's Harry Potter character, Professor McGonagall, who could turn into a cat? Of course Hogwart's castle wasn't orange but I was staying in my color palette! I even put a bitty flying dragon (also in the HA castle die set) up in the sky. 

I stamped, colored & fussy cut the kitty. Die cut the castle and dragon. Formed an A7 Z-fold & added a 1.25 inch pattern across the bottom of the front panel and inside panel. Stenciled some clouds for the sky using a wave stencil that fit the spiral parameter. Here's a standing view:

I'll share my card at Creative Crafters #92 where Anything Goes - the challenge just started in the wee hours & I made my card later this morning.

My bonus card uses Spellbinders  paper, stickers and ephemera from the August 2023 Card Kit - The Fun Life. I enjoyed putting it together! It has a stamped encouragement message inside. Very colorful but I hope the guy friend likes it!

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

More Christmas Cards!

Hi all - I'm industriously working on my Christmas card stash & have a couple for you today. First up - a quick and easy card using a prepared card base, patterned papers & a couple dies.

Supplies: Paper - Archivers (defunct) A2 card ;

American Crafts & BoBunny patterned; scraps

Dies - Memory Box Petite Poinsettias (retired

but a few still HERE at Frantic Stamper);

Birch Press Design Merry Christmas Confection Script

Other - foam tape

If you're a collector/hoarder of patterned paper pads like I am, you know that sometimes you have to force yourself to dig in and use them. I bought a bunch of fall & Christmas ones by American Crafts in the Target "Hot Spot" many years ago. While doing crafty clean-up, I found some old Archivers top fold card bases with a scalloped front. Decided to pair these with a sentiment die and poinsettia that were leftovers from August cards. 

To show off the scalloped card front, I put a mat layer of patterned paper on the inside of the card. I trimmed down a Taylored Expressions Insider for my inside message. A coordinating striped paper on the front lets the scallop stand out even more. A layered sentiment and poinsettia finished the card.

Bonus - a very quick and easy card! I'm trying to use up the many packets of ephemera and stickers I have in the  stash from old Spellbinders card kits. I got very behind using them when I cared for Mom before she passed (over 3 years ago already!). This card uses paper and ephemera from the October 2109 kit - Sparkling Holidays. I'm glad Spellbinders doesn't include them anymore - it was a lot every month - but I do enjoy using them! The A2 card base is a navy one from Michael's.

I'll link to Merry Little Christmas #64 where Anything Christmas Goes. This is my second entry of a possible eight.

That's it for today, friends. Take care and enjoy your day - thanks for stopping!

A Bee Pair for an Anniversary!

Hi everyone - hope you're having a great week! For Darnell's IDEAS program this week, it's D for Dies. I went all in with a mostly die cut creation!

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Authentique (collection name unk); scraps

Stamps - Hero Arts Bring on the Merry (retired)

Dies - Birch Press Design Large Cosmos Contour Layers

(retired but still HERE at Frantic Stamper) 

 & Lush Leaves Contour Layers;

Spellbinders 2024 Advent Calendar (Day 6);

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Press Plate w/dies - Spellbinders A Little Messages Sentiments

Other - Foam tape; Copics; white gel pen

I needed an anniversary card for my friend & her hubby who love bees. I'm trying to dip into more of the 2024 Advent calendar items & remembered the sweet bee die set from Day 6. I also had more Memory Box from a recent sale bundle. I die cut everything yesterday and finished assembling today; also shaded & detailed with Copics & a white gel pen. I wanted to make one bee look like a little girl so stamped and fussy cut a bow. Oh - a note on the leaves - the veins cut as negatives w/an outline, leaving the positive veins as waste. I preferred those so trimmed them and added to the solid leaves. Arranged two stitched rectangle onto a white A2 card and added the rest of the elements.

Note on the sentiment. I had one pressed with yellow ink all layered up with shadows. Decided the yellow script didn't show up well so I topped it with one pressed in black that also had a shadow layer adhered. Turned out coordinating with the bees - a happy accident!!

It's still Die Week at Just Us Girls Challenge #791 so I'm playing there for the second time.

I'll also add my card to Darnell's September NBUS #78 since the bees, flower & leaves are all newly used.

That's it for today, friends. Thanks for visiting & have a crafty day!!