Sunday, March 17, 2024

Spring Robin

 Our weather has taken a decided turn to the chilly side lately, which makes me yearn for spring all the more!  So here's a card to help us be patient until it gets here.


supplies: white, bright pink, yellow, brown, and rust cardstock, Concord & 9th Boughs and Holly stencils, twisted citron, mowed lawn, and rustic wilderness distress inks, 2 Pink Fresh Studio Fairy Dust pink inks, blending brushes, Simon Blossom Field embossing folder, Layered Birdie die, sentiment from Spellbinders Pocket Full of Spring Stitching dies, adhesive foam to pop up robin

This layering wreath stencil set was actually brought out in the winter, but I think that making the berries pink gives it a more spring-like feel.  And I put a robin on it because to me, it's a sign of spring.

Sorry I haven't been around lately, still getting back to normal again.  I'll try to do better!  

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Inspired by Jennifer

 Hello!  Today once again I have a card that was inspired by one that Jen McGuire did back in January.  I've been loving all the cards lately that have bright colors against a black background, and she showed us how to do that using layering stencils, black cardstock, and acrylic markers.  

Here's my version!


supplies: black and island blue cardstock, Simon's Layered Flowers stencils (4 parts), Altenew Acrylic Markers, vol 1, Happy Wishes die

LOVE the way this turned out!  I need to be a little more careful when stencilling smaller areas, but the effect is fantastic in my eyes!  Now I'm hoping that Altenew will come out with more colors of acrylic markers, especially more pinks, reds, yellows, and oranges!  

We're back home from our snowbird excursion to Florida in January and February, to be met a few days after returning with a little bit of snow and frigid temperatures - but also the start of some daffodils!  I'm finding my way around my home computer again; amazing what I forgot in just 2 months!  But I'm looking forward to getting back into the groove now that I have all my supplies at hand again.  

Sunday, March 10, 2024

Yana's Peony Celebration

Yana is releasing a new collection called Let's Celebrate!  I have a card that uses one of the die sets from that collection, called Peony Celebration.


supplies: white, cream, black, and a peachy-pink cardstock, Yana's Peony Celebration die, markers in green and coral, Heartfelt Thanks and Scallops dies

This set contains a detailed die and a shadow die.  My card uses only the detail one, cut from white and pink cardstock.  I colored the leaves on the white die-cut, then paper-pieced the pink details back into the overall design, adding a bit of detail with a darker coral marker, and following the incised lines in the die.  I placed it over a cream background so that the edges of the flower would show up better, then just added a simple die-cut sentiment.

Yana's collection includes a little bit of everything: 4 press plates, a layering stencil set, and a wax seal design!  She has such a way with flowers, you will love them all!

Thank you for coming by today - hope your day is going well! 

Friday, March 8, 2024

Simon's Tulip Garden

 Simon Hurley has a new collection at Spellbinders, called Tulip Garden!  I have some cards using several of the sets for you today.



I embossed 2 white A2 panels with the Twirling Tulips 3D folder, then used the matching 6-piece set of stencils to color one of them.  That panel was then trimmed a bit, adding 2 green strips on either side, then attached to the 2nd embossed panel, matching up the design.  The sentiment was added to the center of the finished card, using both the sentiment dies and their matching shadow dies.

Next I played with the Tulip Trio dies.


supplies: yellow, pinks, aqua, green, black and white cardstock, Tulip Trio dies, Handwritten Sentiments dies

There are 3 different tulip flowers in this set, each consisting of 3 parts.  I cut each from either a pink or yellow cardstock, then inked them a bit to make them stand out from each other, and put them together using adhesive foam squares for some dimension.  

The sentiment set has 12 word dies and matching shadows that you can use to build your own greeting.  

And 1 final card, simply embossed, then swiped with white pigment ink.


supplies: white and navy cardstock, Twirling Tulips embossing folder, white pigment ink, Handwritten Sentiments

This time I turned my cardstock into a landscape size and didn't use the shadow dies for my sentiment.  Couldn't be easier!

Thanks for coming by today!  If you're a tulip lover, I hope you'll give Simon's collection a look.

Thursday, March 7, 2024

Spellbinders March Club Kits: Dies of the Month, Embossing Folder, Stencils, Glimmer Kit and Deluxe Caboodle Bonus

 The March Club Kits from Spellbinders are now available!  The clubs will remain open until March 27.  

My first card features the Small dies of the month: Wise Owl, the Embossing Folder: Checkered Scallops, one of the Stencils: Dynamic Backgrounds, and a glimmered sentiment from Sketched Lines, the Glimmer Kit for this month.


supplies: colored cardstock, Wise Owl dies, sentiment from Sketched Lines, gold glimmer foil, Checkered Scallops embossing folder, and one of the Dynamic Backgrounds stencils for this month, light aqua ink and a blending brush

For the background, I embossed with the new folder of the month, Checkered Scallops.  I discovered that 2 of the 5 stencils in the Dynamic Backgrounds stencil kit matches it perfectly, so I used just 1 of them with an ink slightly darker than my pale aqua cardstock.

Here's another of the stencils; it looks to me like brushstrokes going horizontally down the length of the panel, but here I only brushed in 4 of them, roughly in the center of my panel, in shades of purples, then added an arrangement of flowers from this month's Stitching kit: Read & Sip.  


supplies: white, dark and medium purples, yellow, and green cardstocks, Dynamic Backgrounds Brushstroke stencil, floral arrangement from Stitched Read & Sip, (retired) Tammy Tutterow cling sentiment from Tiny Sentiments

I've always loved brushstrokes, so I know this particular stencil will get lots of use from me!

Last for today, I have 2 cards that using the Glimmer Plates of the Month.  This first one combines them with the bonus dies that you receive when you order the Deluxe Caboodle.



Starting with an A2 panel of navy cardstock, I positioned the Sketched Lines glimmer plate first vertically, then horizontally and foiled with Cobalt Blue foil.  That panel was trimmed down with a postage edge die, then placed onto a red card front.  Then I constructed the Fairy Tale castle, foiled my sentiment, and centered them onto my card, adding some stars (also from the bonus dies). 

And finally, I used the Glimmer Sketch Lines with the flowers from the Stitching Kit.


supplies: white, yellow, green, and several blue cardstocks, Sketched Lines glimmer kit, Cobalt Blue glimmer foil, flowers and leaves from Stitched Read & Sip kit, sentiment from Snowflake Wishes Stamp/die set

I foiled the sketched lines with Cobalt Blue glimmer foil onto a panel of bright blue cardstock, then added it at an angle to a pale blue card base.  Then I arranged my sentiment and flowers.  Cut from white, they make me think of strawberry blossoms!

You can look HERE for information on Spellbinders Clubs.  Each is available only from the 6th until the 27th of each month.  If you click on my links under each card, you can see the specifics of each product.  You can subscribe to each of our 10 kits separately, (and you can "unjoin" a subscription at any time without any penalty), or you can get them all and save 60% AND get the free bonus dies by choosing the Deluxe Caboodle!  


Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Spellbinders Club Kits for March: Stitching, 3D Embossing Folder, Large Dies and Clear Stamps/Die

 The Spellbinders Club Kits are now available until March 27!  Today I have 2 cards and a bookmark to show off the new goodies.  I'm starting out with the Stitching Kit: Stitched Read and Sip and the 3D Embossing Folder: Classic Backdrop.


supplies: white, cream, coral pinks, yellow, kraft and gold foil cardstock, Stitched Read & Sip Stitching Dies, 4 strands of metallic gold embroidery thread, sentiment from Sketched Lines Glimmer Kit, gold glimmer foilClassic Backdrop 3D embossing folder

I used metallic gold embroidery thread for my stitching on the book and the cup, and also gold foil cardstock for lots of details, and foiled my sentiment in gold also.

The embossing folder is a classic design, and will work for so many occasions.  It's aptly named!

My next card features the Large Dies of the Month: Classic Tales.  I made a card that would work for someone moving into a new home.


supplies: Surf Blue background, peaches, greens, kraft, cream, white, and yellow cardstock, Classic Tales dies, another sentiment from the Sketched Lines Glimmer kit, gold glimmer foil

I followed the example on the front of the Large Dies of the Month to put these dies together.  There's 1 other book spine that I didn't use this time.

Finally I made a little bookmark using the Clear Stamps and Dies: Storytime Gnomes.


supplies: white and Green Apple cardstock, bias stripe patterned paper, Storybook Gnomes stamps and matching dies, (retired) mini slimline dies, twine

You can look HERE for information on Spellbinders Clubs.  Each is available only from the 6th until the 27th of each month.  If you click on my links under each card, you can see the specifics of each product.  You can subscribe to each of our 10 kits separately, (and you can "unjoin" a subscription at any time without any penalty), or you can get them all and save 60% by choosing the Deluxe Caboodle!  


Saturday, March 2, 2024

Just a Note

 Here's a card just because.......it started with this black and white dotty paper, black on 1 side and white on the reverse.  I die-cut out 2 scalloped rectangles and placed them on a white card base, then piled on some little posies.


supplies: white, black, Green Apple, various pinks, yellows, aquas, Doodlebug black and white dotty cardstock, Spellbinders Petite Floral Potpourri and Mini Blooms and Sprigs, Wendy Vecchi large scallop rectangle, MFT Stitched Mini Scallop Rectangle, Pink Fresh Studio Perfect Sentiment stamps and matching die

Happy March!  Is it spring for you yet?  

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Woodblock Wednesday for February!

 This month I chose a stamp that has some special meaning to me, as I think it was one of the first stamps I bought after I got interested in making cards.  It's dated 2004, from Hero Arts, and called Sketch Tulips.


supplies: white and hot pink cardstock, Hero Arts Sketch Tulips, Spellbinders Lily Arch sentiment and matching die, Pink Fresh Studio Ornate Oval Frame, Sunny Studio Quilted Hearts embossing folder


I hope that you'll visit Amy's blog to see some more cards made with woodblocks!


Sunday, February 25, 2024

A Little Sunshine

 Our granddaughter recently sent us a thank you card that had a floral spray in bright colors against a black background.  I have seen so many of your cards using dark backgrounds, and I've been wanting to give this idea a try, and Alma's card got me moving.  Here's the result.


supplies: black and bright colors of cardstock, Spellbinders Be Bold Blooms and Club Blooms dies, preprinted sentiment strip

I don't often work with colors this bright, but I'm so glad I gave them a try this time!  These pinks and oranges remind me of sherbert!  (leave it to me to associate anything with food!)


Hope I've inspired you to try something a bit out of your comfort zone; thanks for stopping by!

Friday, February 23, 2024

New Paper Rose products at Spellbinders!!

 I was thrilled to see that Spellbinders is adding products from other companies to its store!  Today I'm playing with a new 6" pad of paper and a package of die cuts that coordinate, called Rainbow Twirl, from Paper Rose.  

Being an old quilter, I love playing with beautiful papers, mixing and matching patterns!  I made 4 cards with these lovely products.

For my first card I had to use this gorgeous wreath that is printed on one of the papers in the paper pack.


supplies: Paper Rose Rainbow Twirl 6" paper pad, sentiment from Sending Sentiments clear stamps and  matching die 

I trimmed down the paper to a 5 1/2" square, then simply added a stamped and die-cut sentiment.

Next I used 2 more of the papers and one of the lovely smaller wreath die cuts for a 4 1/4" square card.


supplies: circle design and background papers from Rainbow Twirl pad, Rainbow Twirl 2.0 die cut, stamped sentiment from (retired) Sentimental Greetings

Next is ,another 4 1/4" card, this time using a striped paper and a heart-shaped die cut.


supplies: background and striped papers from Rainbow Twirl 6" pad, heart from Rainbow Twirl 2.0 Die Cuts, sentiment from Happy Hello Floral 

And finally, I chose one of the gorgeous floral papers once again, and made a card featuring it with a die cut sentiment.


supplies: Paper Rose Rainbow Twirl floral paper, orange and black cardstock, sentiment from Mix & Match Holiday Greetings

I just cut out an A2 panel of the floral design, then made 2 diagonal cuts, lined them with an orange cardstock and framed my die-cut sentiment.

Be sure to check out the other Paper Rose collections now available at Spellbinders!  They are fast becoming one of my favorite sources for beautiful patterned papers!

I'll be sharing these cards with the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge, which is Beautiful Blooms.  They're featuring Paper Rose products, also!

Thursday, February 22, 2024

A Belated Galentine Card

Just a quick post today.  I needed a last-minute card on Valentine's Day, and here's what I made.


supplies: white and Doll Pink cardstock, Two Hearts as One 3D embossing folder, alcohol markers, sentiment from My Heart Smiles glimmer plates, Magenta glimmer foil

Thanks for your visit today!

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Full Bloom

Daffodils are for sure a sign of spring, and who can resist those nodding happy blooms?  I wanted to make 1 more card today using some of the February Spellbinders Club Kits, and here's what I came up with. 


supplies: tiny floral print on black from Doodlebug Hello Again, pinks, white, yellows, green cardstock, Rainboot Bouquet small dies of the month, Swirling Blooms embossing folder of the month, white pigment ink, sentiment and matching die from Lily Arch stamp and die kit of the month, adhesive foam squares

I mentioned earlier this month that I wanted to make the boots out of a ditzy floral, and I think they are really cute this way.  This time I filled them only with daffodils, and a few of the teensy white flowers to fill out the bouquet.

These sets will last until the 27th of this month before they disappear to make room for the March sets, so if these are something you think you'd like, don't wait too long!  

Thanks for your visit today - have a great day!

Sunday, February 18, 2024

Altenew February Inspiration Challenge

 I was taken with the colors for this month's challenge at Altenew.  I would have preferred to use my Altenew floral dies, but they are at home, and I'm here in Florida!  Fortunately I brought along this Fragrant Florals Craft Your Life kit.  Here's what I came up with.


supplies: white and charcoal cardstock, Fragrant Florals stamp, matching stencils, embossing folder and die, Altenew mini ink cubes in Lime, Baby Pink, Fuschia, and Orange Cream, blending brushes, a Spellbinders sentiment

I like this tiny sentiment - it doesn't cover up too much of this lovely image!

Here's the inspiration we were given for this month - pretty snazzy, don't you agree?



Friday, February 16, 2024

Woven

 Simon Hurley's new collection, Spring Sampler, debuted at Spellbinders about a week ago, and I asked to play with his new Woven 3D embossing folder.  I'm so glad I did!  Look at the detail!

I mixed it with several older Spellbinders dies.


supplies: kraft, black, greens, yellow, and orchid pink cardstock, Woven 3D embossing folder, Sealed Blooming Stems and Leaf Sprigs dies, bow from Garden Wreath Add-ons, sentiment from Heartfelt Thanks and Scallops dies

Be sure to give Simon's collection a look!  

Thanks for dropping by today!