Another Bookshelf!

Hey crafty friends - I'm sharing a card for the current Day of the Month Card Club challenge. I was introduced to this challenge by Gundi (papierelle) who I met through the Card Chain Challenge. She's on the Design Team for Day of the Month Card Club and you'd think I'd go there more often. This, however, is only my second time playing.

They're celebrating Book Lover's Day this month - yay! Definitely something I can get into - can't tell you how many books I've read this year - oodles! I'm currently reading the International Bestseller "The Jane Austen Society" by Natalie Jenner & enjoying it immensely! Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Solar White; Ms Sparkle A2 card

Stamps - Hero Arts Bookcase Peek-a-Boo Parts

Other - Copic Markers; clear lacquer; Honey Bee gems

The image fills up an A2 card and takes plenty of time to color and shade. I spent several hours on it yesterday and probably should've done more! I added clear lacquer to the piggy and to anything that would be glass. I stamped the sentiment HELLO in about the only open spot and highlighted it with the 3 gems. If desired, see what I did with this image previously HERE. I did Kathy's (The Daily Marker) 30-day Coloring Challenge last year but I couldn't summon the energy to do the one going on right now. Kudos to those who are doing it, including Bonnie (Stamping with Klass) who's done some incredible pieces of art!! 

And here's a bonus - a bookmark:

Supplies: Paper - Momenta; Neenah

Stamps - A Jillian Vance Design Coffee and Books

Dies - A Jillian Vance Design Minnie Pearl Bookmark Set

and Quatrefoil Bookmark Overlay

Other - Copic Markers; upcycled tassel

I made this recently for a friend and hadn't shared it yet. I absolutely love the bookmark products at A Jillian Vance Design (sadly I don't have them all...), especially the Quatrefoil overlay - so pretty!! Gundi made bookmarks for her DT project & asked if anyone would send her a bookmark - I will! I made one similar to this for Gundi. It'll go out to her in tomorrow's mail. 

Thanks for visiting and happy reading (and crafting too!)!!

Sled Mini Slim

Hey friends - hope you're enjoying your weekend!! I'm trying to catch up on Christmas card production and what better way than to enter some challenges?! Jo & elf Hilary offered up such an amazing, detailed inspiration photo for the current Christmas Kickstart Challenge 53 that I had to play again! This time, the little sled up against the fireplace (to right of the tree) caught my eye.

Supplies: Paper - BoBunny Christmas Collage;

Paper Studio holiday & kraft;

Hero Arts Decorative Woodgrain Vellum

Stamp w/die - Hero Arts From the Vault Home Scene

Dies - A Jillian Vance Design Antique Sled and Skis Set

and Mini Slimline Backdrop Set

Other - Park Lane gems; foam tape;

May Arts string twine; Copic Markers;

Simon Says Stamps Sentiment Strips Extra Large Christmas

My AJVD order with the sled just arrived and I had to have a first play with it. Cut the sled from kraft card stock and shaded a bit, then added the string twine. Cut 3 pine boughs from the same set. Stamped, colored, and diecut the Hero Arts wreath plus an extra bow which I fussy cut & popped on with foam tape. Die cut 4 layers of the backdrop set - 2 for the card base, a patterned layer and a woodgrain vellum layer. My patterned deer paper echoes the wooden deer right in front of the fireplace. Assembled the pieces & added a sentiment strip (edges distressed and inked for a vintage feel) - done.

I'm also adding my sled card to the current NBUS Challenge 29 since the sled die set is new. And while I'm at it, here's a card I made with the other bear Gundi (papierelle) sent me with her July CCC card. Thanks again, Gundi!! I used patterned papers from the same BoBunny pad & sentiment strip pack I used above, plus BoBunny Winter Getaway. I hand wrote the Merry Christmas in the crossword blocks.

Thanks for visiting & have a crafty day!!

 

Belle Ornament

Hey crafty friends! I missed a few CAS Christmas challenges this year but I got back on track (barely) in July. Thought I'd work on my August one right away - Decorations - yay, right up my alley!

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

Paper Studio colored and glitter cardstock

Dies - Birch Press Design Ornament Basics &

Belle Ornament Layer Set

Stamps - Hero Arts Holiday Ornaments Stamp & Cut (retired)

Other - Park Lane gem stickers; May Arts ribbon

Birch Press Designs was our awesome July sponsor for Die Cut Divas & I loaded up on supplies, including two ornament sets. I went a different direction with my DCD inspiration cards and thought I'd finally give some love to my new ornament dies. I was a bit surprised, given other Birch Press layered sets I've seen, that the ovals around the outside match up on every layer. Just the oval at the bottom has the "eye". This is a good thing - sometimes the "eyes" get a bit much for me. I cut my base layer from white and then the Belle layers from scraps of red, green, and yellow. The topper was cut from gold glitter paper and I used gems for the hanger. I stamped my sentiment right down to the base layer, saving the labels that cut with every ornament layer. The extra labels will be great for other projects or more ornaments if I decide to layer them in. 

I'm adding this to the current NBUS challenge too since this is the first card I've made with my new ornament sets. Thanks everyone for the fun challenges - don't know how motivated I'd be without them!!

Thanks for visiting!!

 

Merry Garland

I was excited to see the new Christmas Kickstart Challenge posted - for #53 Jo and elf Hilary have a lovely and very detail-loaded inspiration photo! My eye went right to the garland hanging from the fireplace - here's my take on it:

Supplies: Paper - Lawn Fawn Let's Bokeh in the Snow;

Doodlebug Friendly Forest (striped for letters);

Paper Studio; Hero Arts; Neenah 

Stamps - Penny Black Christmas Story;

Taylored Expressions Gifted Background

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints 21 (retired);

Honey Bee Oval Thin Frames

QuicKutz Evergreen Punches (retired)

a retired alphabet I think was Taylored Expressions??

Other - Copic Markers & Doodlebug Sprinkles;

foam tape

A bunch of teal ornaments on the tree lead me to pick a teal card base. I thought the neutral bokeh was a nice background for the colorful toppings. Spotting the little pine trees, I went for some die cut ones. After die cutting the trees, I decided to stamp them with text using a PB background. I just inked it facing up and pressed my trees onto the stamp. A bit of a mess on the fingers, oh well... The tree die cuts a row of alternating styles so I used them that way, deciding to make the second and fourth ones 3d. I cut another couple trees, scored them vertically down the center and glued to the flat ones just along the score line. It gives lovely dimension and will flatten for mailing. 

In the inspiration photo the banner elements seem to be hanging from a white ribbon. I used two parts of a Honey Bee oval frame for mine. I didn't like the letters alone so decide to incorporate the white dots from the photo as circles behind. I raised them with foam tape. On the extra 2 dots, I added some striped presents like the ones under the tree in the inspiration photo. The space between the trees looked empty so I thought of adding circles, then found the rainbow enamel dots - so fun!!

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

July 2021 Card Chain Challenge Reveal

Yes, friends, it's that time again! Time to reveal cards that flew around the world for the July Card Chain Challenge. Twenty-five people participated in July; you can see the entire chain HERE. My card went to the delightful Nelleke (farmerblog) in the Netherlands:

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Dove White A2 card;

pink, blue and yellow scraps

Stamps - Pink and Main Pocket of Sunshine

Cornish Heritage Farms Denim Background

Hero Arts Color Layering Water Lilies (word friend)

Dies - Pink and Main Pocket of Sunshine

Stencil - Taylored Expressions Here Comes the Sun

Inks - Taylored Expressions Oreo & Pineapple;

Squeezed Lemonade Distress; Hero Arts Navy

Other - Copic Marker Y19; white gel pen;

Hero Arts clear lacquer

I used the sketch - not exact but close enough, I hope! If not, there's always the theme of friendship so I made sure to put the word friend on there!! The rest of the sentiment says Happy Greetings in an unusual but fun font. Isn't that sun the cutest?! I stamped the denim background on blue cardstock - doesn't it look just like a jeans pocket? I love the little sunglasses and Nelleke did too!!

The card below arrived last week from the talented Gundi (papierelle) in Germany - so adorable!! Just love the little bear and Gundi sent me a couple die cuts to play with. Thanks Gundi!!

 

I couldn't resist playing with the white bear Gundi sent. I need Christmas cards so I whipped up this one, so easy with the premade bear!! I gave him some Christmas gifts to hold. I've said it before but I love, love, love the gifts from Taylored Expressions which I stamp and diecut by the dozens. They're ready in a stash to be colored to match any card design. I think this one has a masculine vibe so I'm adding to Tristan's Watercooler Wednesday Challenge All Things Masculine.

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Dove White A2 card;

BoBunny Winter Getaway; Paper Studio red & black

Dies - bear from Gundi;

Taylored Expressions Gifted Cutting Plate;

My Favorite Things Blueprints 32 (retired);

Spellbinders Snowflake Splendor

Stamps - Taylored Expressions Gifted Background

Other - Copic Markers;

CZ Design Sentiment Strips Reverse Christmas

Thanks for visiting and, if you're interested, you can sign up HERE by August 6th to play in the August card chain. Hope you have a crafty day!!

Purple Birthday for last day of Divas Tone on Tone Challenge

Yes Diva friends, end of July already!! Today's the final day of our July Die Cut Diva Tone on Tone Challenge. I'm part of the end of month inspiration post & couldn't resist a purple card (see a previous one with Birch Press Design products HERE if you missed it). 

Supplies: Paper - Neenah white; Paper Studio black & glitter;

Hero Arts designer purple (shadow layer - retired);

Lawn Fawn Rainbow Perfectly Plaid

Dies - Birch Press Design Big Birthday Sugar Script Die;

A Jillian Vance Design Mini Slimline Backdrop Set

Other - Copic Markers BV000, BV00, & V28;

Dusty Concord Distress Stickles;

SSS Sentiment Strips All Things Happy;

Prima flower

Our Fabulous July Sponsor!!

I chose to make a mini slimline card since the birthday die works so well with it. I was enabled to purchase this die by Diva Cindy (Escape to Stamping). She sent me some cuts of it earlier this year (thanks again, Cindy!!). The Prima flower started purple but was so pale as to seem pink to me. So I hauled out the Copic markers and purpled it up a bit, adding some Distress Stickles (hard to see) to the center. Coloring the petals stiffened them up and allowed me to curl every other one.

Bonus: I made some cards with Cindy's die cuts way back in March & I'll share the one I photographed. It's not tone on tone but I thought I'd share it since I forgot earlier. 

Supplies:  Paper - Paper Studio; Doodlebug; 

whatever Cindy used...

Dies - Birch Press Design Big Birthday Sugar Script Die;

Hero Arts Nesting Circle Infinity Dies

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop

Stamps - Hero Arts CL139 Birthday Messages (retired)

Other - stars from an old Target Halloween sticker set

Definitely a different look on an A2 card size! I thought it would be fun to fill in behind the birthday die cut with some circles, a sentiment tag and some enamel stars. Very quick and easy!!

You have until 9pm Pacific time to upload your tone on tone project. While we're using Birch Press Design products, you don't need them - just be sure to use a die cut or embossing folder and this month's theme. Hope to see you in the gallery!! Check back tomorrow at Die Cut Divas for a new challenge and on August 3rd for our July prize winner ($20 to Birch Press Design)

Thanks for stopping! 

CAS Poinsettia Cards

Hi all - yes, I know I'm cutting it close but I was inspired by the gorgeous cards of the CAS Christmas Design Team. Their challenge this month & ending today involves clean and simple Christmas cards with a poinsettia. Here's my first one:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio Holiday;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110lb

Dies - Sunny Studio Window Quad Circles;

Taylored Expressions Mini Slim Square Window Cutting Plate

Other - Park Lane (JoAnn's brand) gems; foam tape;

CZ Design Sentiment Strips Reverse Christmas

I wanted something simple and remembered a sweet little poinsettia die from a Sunny Studio set. As I dug through the stash I came across a TE mini slimline window die and went from there! Super quick and easy - die cut flowers (one bigger than the other two - hard to see, maybe) and window panel, assembled, added sentiment strip - done!! Note - the littlest flower layer was cut with a freebie die Mendi sent with a Sunny order - it perfectly matches this set so I keep them together!

When cutting the window panel, a trio of diamonds remained. Decided these would look great across a card with a poinsettia atop each diamond. The centers of these flowers were leftover from some die that cut little circles - no idea which...

I made this card before I got a good look at the CAS Christmas reminder post but I see the talented Cathy did an amazing trio of poinsettia in a vertical line. Just love the little Poppystamps die she used - I feel some enabling coming on....

I'm also adding my cards to Dawn's All Occasion Challenge at Watercooler Wednesday. Thanks to all for the fun challenge and to you for visiting!