Stitched Ornaments Frame

Hey friends - welcome! I had some time last night & this morning to craft. I wanted to participate in Darnell's IDEAS program (see her gorgeous inspiration cards HERE). This week D is for Dies - always can find dies to use around here!! Also wanted to make another a card for the current Christmas Kickstart Challenge #88 - Festive Frames. I combined the two by using a Christmas themed stitching die from Spellbinders:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio A2 cards (green, pink, red); 

Park Lane gold A2 card; Hero Arts Bermuda

Stamps with Dies - Hero Arts Holiday Ornaments 

Stamp & Cut (retired)

 Stitching Dies - Spellbinders I'll Be Home for Christmas 

(DOMST-Oct23)

Other - Hero Arts Ultra Pink ink; DMC floss

I mentioned before that I've been doing some crafty organization and trying to use stuff from various subscriptions. Yesterday I pulled out a stitching set from last fall - first time used (9 months, not bad). Die cut the cover plate 4 times from A2 panels trimmed off card bases - green, red, Bermuda, & pink. On the green one, I also die cut out where the stitched tree could go. This is my "frame". I adhered it to a gold A2 card. Die cut one of the sentiments from the set and added to the designated spot on the card. When you die cut the coverplate, the sentiment area lightly embosses.

Next I stitched various ornaments and added them to the card along with die cut ones that don't require stitching. Die cut and added the ornament toppers. What to put in the "frame"?? Decided to stamp and die cut a 2015 Hero Arts ornament. Added to the tree opening with foam, then used gems for the hanger. I'll add my card to Darnell's July NBUS Challenge #64 since the stitching set is getting first play here.

Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting!!

Gnomes with Legos

TGIF everyone - I'm popping in after watching the latest Craft Roulette Live (#222 - replay HERE). I started a card during the Live but took an extra hour to finish! Here's my take:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Solar White;

My Favorite Things Perfect Plaid (retired)

Doodlebug Designs Swiss Dot (retired)

Poptone Blue Raspberry

Stamps with Dies - My Favorite Things Hanging with My Gnomies (retired)

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints (retired);

Hero Arts Nesting Circle Infinity Dies

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape

Mary Gunn FUNN had Chelsea Comer, another crafty YouTuber (Inky Stamper), as her guest. The roulette wheel spun some interesting parameters:

Project: Dutch Door - I made my first Dutch Door card and it's a Double Dutch fold as learned tonight by watching a tutorial with Creative Moments by G. That was running on my phone with me at the paper trimmer and scoring tool while Craft Roulette ran on the laptop; I was multi-tasking, as usual.

Colors: Gnomes - Googled and found a site claiming gnomes have 7 colors (Blue, Green, Orange, Purple, Red, Chocolate and Pink); I chose blue and red as main colors with a few touches of green & chocolate and, of course, white for the beard. 

Element: Movie - Given I used faux "Legos" for my random item, we'll call it "The Lego Movie".

Random: Building Block(s) - I created a trio of faux "Legos" for the top of my Dutch Door. Used a rectangle & circle dies plus foam tape.

Just because we spun gnome colors, we don't have to include gnome images but I couldn't resist. I was looking for my MFT sentiments that go with the handyman tools - no luck. Ran into the gnomes and thought the new home sentiment would be cute with building blocks. Here's a view of the dutch door open:

That's it for tonight, friends - hope you have a crafty weekend! Thanks for visiting!!

Penguins in Festive Frame

Hi everyone - Happy 4th if you're celebrating! Rainy & gloomy here - parades and fireworks canceled - what to do?? Craft!! Decided to make a card for the current Christmas Kickstart Challenge #88 - Festive Frames.

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio A2 card; 

Basic Grey 25th and Pine (retired);

My Favorite Things Christmas Cheer (retired)

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; Betterpress Porcelain

Stamps with Dies - Spellbinders Festive Penguins (CSOM-Oct23)

Hot Foil Plates with Dies - Spellbinders All You Need Sentiments (GOM-Nov23)

Dies - Penny Black Red and Greens;

Hero Arts Wood Frame Infinity Dies

Other - Copic Markers; Hero Arts honey lacquer (on star & ornament)

I've been doing some crafty organization and trying to use stuff from various subscriptions. Today I showed some love to a Spellbinders stamp and die set from last year - first time used (9 months, not bad). Die cut a bunch of negative for the penguin and stamped them. Colored this one while watching Price is Right - lol. Die cut a bunch of frames and stacked for dimension. Covered an A2 card with Basic Grey patterned paper, added the frame with an inlay of MFT dots for interior, then the penguins. I had the holly berry sprig already cut in the bits box so quickly colored it to match my project. Assembled and added a letterpressed sentiment made with a hot foil plate.

I can't seem to get enough of letterpressing with hot foil plates. Here's a bonus:

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

Spellbinders Betterpress Porcelain

Hot Foil Plates with Dies - Tropical Bloom (GOM-May24)

Stencils - Hero Arts Script

Dies - A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - colored pencils; foam tape; Betterpress Black ink;

TH Antique Linen Distress Ink; Hero Arts enamel dots

I took another unused plate from my Spellbinders box, pressed it and colored with pencils. Did some inking around the edges and soft stenciling on the left. Pressed a sentiment from the same hot foil set & die cut with the coordinating die, then added a shadow. Assembled on an A2 card - done! I was a little quicker on using this set - lol; will add my card to Darnell's July NBUS Challenge #64. 

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!!

A Couple of Birthday Cards

Hi everyone - I'm sharing a couple birthday cards today! First up, a card for Darnell (djkardkreations) who had the anniversary of her 29th birthday yesterday. Happy Birthday, Darnell!!

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Solar white; Poptone black; 

Park Lane A2 card; Spellbinders Betterpress Porcelain

Stamps - Altenew Dynamic Blossoms

Dies - A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Hot Foil Plate with die - Waffle Flower Classic Happy Birthday

Other - Copic Markers; Hero Arts gems; foam tape;

I made a previous bellflower card using the color combo pink & aqua. Loved it so much that I wanted to color it in purples - Darnell loved it too. I die cut the purple one with a larger rectangle than the pink/aqua so more of the image shows. Added to an A2 card without a mat layer. 

The sentiment was letterpressed using a hot foil plate - turned out so gorgeous; I couldn't stop staring at it! Die cut it along with a black shadow layer. Added it to the card with foam tape, then popped some gems around.

Next up, a card for my niece that I neglected to share in her January birthday month.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Solar white; Hero Arts Bermuda;

My Favorite Things Colorful Canvas; scrap of beige

Stamps with Dies - Hero Arts Flowers in Vase Bundle

Dies - A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape

I stamped, colored and die cut the bouquet in vase - it's one large image. Added to an A2 card along with a canvas background, white mat and a beige "tabletop" where I'd stamped a sentiment from the same set. Quick and easy! The Flowers in Vase set got first play on this card (and I haven't used it since...) so I'll add to Darnell's July NBUS Challenge #64 - hope that's ok; I haven't shared the card b4. Will add the card I made for Darnell to the July Seize the Birthday Challenge #286 using Anything Goes.

Thats it for today friends. Hope you have a wonderful 4th of July tomorrow if you're in the USA - so glad we have freedom to live as we chose, including crafting!!

Thanks for visiting!!

June 2024 Card Chain Reveal

Hi crafty friends - summer is speeding by, isn't it?! It's already time to reveal cards we sent around the world for the June Card Chain Challenge. Twenty-six people participated this month. My card went to dear Mia (Craftartista) in Greece; you can see the full reveal HERE.

Supplies: Paper - Ms Sparkle A2 cards - sand & turquoise; 

Neenah white; Poptone kraft; unk navy; Authentique

Stamps - Waffle Flower Sweet Plates Sentiments

Hero Arts Oceans of Joy (c2010 retired) 

Dies - Spellbinders Essential Floral Reflection;

Hero Arts Sea Creatures Fancy Dies;

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - foam tape; Ranger Seafoam embossing powder;

Papercraft gems; Darice googly eye

We had the following options when creating our cards:

Color Palette Option:

Sketch Option:

Theme Options: Summer / Maritime / Friendship

Product / Technique Options:  Foil / Weaving

I used the colors & sketch, plus themes of Maritime & friendship. I started with a sand A2 card, then die cut both white & turquoise rectangles. I tore the turquoise into pieces, stamped shells on three of them, then added to the white rectangle. Added the panel to the A2 card along with a Spellbinder label cut in half. I die cut two smaller labels and layered them for the sentiment (stamped and white embossed). Added the sentiment & a die cut seahorse to the card with foam tape. Embellished the seahorse with sparkle lacquer, gave him a googly eye & added turquoise gems to finish the card.

The post is notoriously slow to Greece so as soon as I signed up & made the card, I popped it into the mail. I was delighted that it reached Mia timely!!

I'm expecting a card by Daja (Zur Beruhigung "For Calming" in English) from Germany. Looking forward to receiving it!! **Update - card received 7/6/24 - yay!!**

Such a fabulous fun fold and thanks for the butterflies too, Daja!!

Thanks for stopping by! If you'd like to join the July Chain, go HERE for details and to link up.

Many Thanks Lemons

Happy Monday everyone! Time to play with Darnell (djkardkreations) and her IDEAS program; see her fabulous inspiration HERE. This week I=inks but, since last month didn't have an S week, I also pulled out a stencil and blended away. Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Solar White:

Paper Studio pastel A2 card; Poptone Black

Stamps - Momenta Lemons (retired)

Dies - A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Stencil - Frantic Stamper Old Brick Wall

Other - Copic Markers; Park Lane gems; black gel pen

Hero Arts Sand Stone & Key Lime Fizz inks

I die cut a piece of Neenah with a stitched rectangle & stamped the lemon branch. Rotated the panel and stamped a second one, then a sentiment from the same set. Colored the lemon branches with Copics. Stenciled some partial brick in opposite corners (I was inspired by someone's card from a while back but can't find it - sorry). Matted the panel in black and added to a yellow A2 card. Some lemon yellow gems finished the card. My sentiment looked blah just stamped; tried shading it with a grey Copic - still blah. Then I added some black dots and lines, echoing the dots on the lemons - much better (in my mind). What do you think?

On Saturday my former quartet lead singer Heidi had a birthday. She and her boyfriend hosted a small dinner party to celebrate; I was delighted to attend. For dessert Heidi (we call her "Martha Stewart") served a luscious lemon triffle. That inspired my thank you card. I got the lemon stamp set on clearance at Hobby Lobby ages ago - only $2.24!! Crazy!! It got first play with this card so I'll add it to Darnell's July NBUS Challenge #64. I'll also link my card to Just Us Girls Challenge #733 where Anything Goes with Stencils & to Inkspirational Challenge #319 where they're using stencils too (with option of paste).

Thanks for stopping by!

Snowflake Box

Hi friends! Last day of June already - Summer is going by too fast!!

I'm part of a last day post at Die Cut Divas; we're sharing final hours of inspiration for our June Challenge. We've been using our favorite die cuts this month; I hope you can get a quick project in to join us! You have until 9pm Pacific Time to link up. 

Here's my project for today (a bonus follows):

Supplies: Paper - Core'dinations plaid; Neenah Solar White; 

Poptone Blue Raspberry; Michael's lime green

Dies - Elizabeth Craft Designs Book Box &

Snowflakes

Stamps - Hero Arts Jingle Bells Script Bold Prints

Other - TH Black Soot Distress Ink;

Taylored Expressions printed sentiment

Elizabeth Craft Designs sponsored this month's challenge.

They've offered a $25 gift card for our random June winner - thanks!!

So, I've already said that my absolute favorite die cut shapes are hearts but boxes of any kind also delight me! And I love snowflake dies too - I have too many!! I combined these loves for my project. 

Die cut the box and wrap around piece, a topper layer & a side layer which you can see below. I stamped the topper and side layers with a texty print. Next I die cut two of the snowflakes from the 3piece set & layered. Assembled the box, added the layers and the snowflake. A preprinted sentiment finished the top. Here's the box side:

Add'l supplies: Hero Arts Christmas Trimming Stamp & Cut (retired)

Star cut out with one of the snowflakes above

You can see a previous book box HERE. 

Ready for a bonus? I just love ECD journaling dies so I thought I do a page for my little ECD art journal that I started in 2022 (see other pages HERE & HERE if desired). I've been remiss in adding to it, haven't I? Oh well...

Supplies: Paper - Core'dinations plaid; Neenah Solar White; 

Poptone Blue Raspberry; Michael's lime green

Dies - Elizabeth Craft Designs Snowflakes;

Lawn Fawn Winter Wonderland Window (small flakes)

Kits - Elizabeth Craft Designs Lost in the Woods

(used the page die, dots & boots stamp & boots die) &

Classic Christmas Special Kit (used 2 of the snowflake dies)

Stamp with die - Colorado Craft Company Cozy Cat

(die HERE)

I die cut the page from aqua plaid, trimming off the end since I have a smaller journal. Scored the center. On the front side I stamped some dots in aqua. On a scrap of Neenah, I stamped & colored the boots, then die cut. Die cut snowflakes & assembled the page. Added a CCC sentiment from the bits box. I'll have to work on the interior and back pages later. I'm adding the journal page to Darnell's June NBUS Challenge #63 since my Lost in the Woods kit is getting first play here.

That's it for today. Please check out our June Challenge and share your project with favorite die cuts by 9pm Pacific Time. Thanks for visiting!!