Hello Fall

Hi friends!  I think I mentioned recently that I have my autumn craft supplies all in a big bin.  I even save scrap die-cuts that haven't been used, and those were the main ingredients for today's card.  I'm not ready to sail into Christmas mode just yet, so here's another fall card.

supplies: Desert Storm, kraft, Green Leaf, chocolate, various oranges and yellows and a gold foil cardstock, board background dp, various scraps from Neat and Tangled (retired) Maple Leaf die, The Greetery Botanicuts Sunflower dies, sentiment from Sugar Pea Designs Fall Fox, copper sequins

I have no idea why this maple leaf die was discontinued, but I am so glad I got one before it was!  It is 2 parts, a maple leaf shape, and another one that gives you the veining details.  You can see all kinds of incarnations of it here - just the skeleton outline, paper-pieced, and using both the shape and the outline together.  They do have a similar one in a birch leaf shape HERE, if you're interested.  I was originally going to put this arrangement over a more natural plank design paper, but I really love  turquoise with these fall colors better.  

As I was linking my supplies, I noticed that this Fall Fox set is also on the cutting block.  So I thought I'd make another card using just that set.  I should rename this post "Retired"!  I suppose it's inevitable, what with monthly releases from so many companies......

supplies: white cardstock, Sugar Pea Designs Fall Fox, Nuvo Creative Pens to color, tumbled glass, mustard seed, and spiced marmalade distress inks, sponged on with the AMAZING Taylored Expressions blender brushes, Simon's (retired) Small Forest Tree die, MFT Wonky Stitched Rectangle die

I am no colorist, but once in awhile I enjoy coloring up some images, as long as they're not too large - this set fit the bill!

Thanks for stopping by today.

Simon Says........Halloween!

Happy Wednesday - welcome to our challenge at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog!

This week our theme is Halloween!  The team is showcasing My Favorite Things goodies - if you have any, we'd love to see you using them, too, but that's not a requirement.  

I've been wanting this adorable stamp set for a few years now; so glad they haven't retired it yet!  I had lots of fun making my card!

supplies: yellow, Smoke Grey, and Green Apple cardstock, MFT Witch Way is the Candy clear stamp set, Nuvo Creative Pens markers, (retired) Hero Arts Magical Background cling

Now it's your turn!  We have a $50.00 gift certificate 

to the amazing Simon Says Stamp store for 1 lucky random winner of this week's challenge!  I'm really looking forward to see what you all make this week!

Spellbinders Past Large Dies of the Month

Generous Spellbinders sent me some past Large Dies of the Month from this year, and had a fun play with 2 different sets!  I have 3 cards today

The first set is the June 2019 Large Dies of the Month.  This is a fantastic set, enabling you to make interactive wreath slider cards all year long!  There are flowers, stars, Easter motifs, clovers for St. Pat's day, hearts, balloons, and snowflakes!  I chose to make a sparkly Christmas card with the snowflakes.

supplies: white cardstock, silver, aqua, and 2 blue glitter cardstock, Festive Wreaths Slider Card Die of the Month kit, a snowflake embossing folder, sentiments from Tim Holtz and Hero Arts, sequins to match, hand-dyed seam binding

Here's a closer look at the wreath.

The card gives you dies to construct your slider card so that you pull out an inner tab to make the wreath fold upwards and reveal another sentiment.

Genius!  I watched THIS video to see how to put everything together.  I can't wait to make more of these using the other dies included for so many occasions!

My next set was January's Large Die of the Month, and I made 2 cards with the set.

supplies: ivory, Audrey Blue, Orange Peel, Sunshine, Lipstick Red, Green Apple, and kraft cardstock, Cherish Large Die of the Month, Hemstitch Rectangle die, sentiment from Tammy Tutterow Tiny Sentiments, enamel dots for flower centers

Isn't this set charming?  Here's another card using different dies from the same set.

supplies: mint and pink cardstock, floral dp, Spellbinders Cherish Large Die of the Month and Floral embossing folder

These dies are so romantic that I decided to use a sweet floral patterned paper along with them.  I like the mint/pink combination!  And I paired them with this embossing folder for some more interest, since my design is fairly simple.  

Spellbinders has a special offer right now on selected Past Club Kits  - 40% off!!!  Until the 20th of October, you can scoop up these sets at amazing prices!  When they're gone, they're gone - don't wait too long!

Golden Days

Hi friends!  Can you stand another fall card?

I saw this stencil being used by Shari Carroll a while back and thought it made an interesting background.  Here's my first card with it.

supplies: white, rust, and Dark Chocolate cardstock, Tim Holtz String stencil, carved pumpkin, ripe persimmon, mustard seed, and barn door distress inks, blending brushes, sentiment from (retired) The Craft's Meow Golden Days, Impression Obsession leaf die, adhesive foam to lift leaves

Doesn't this stencil have all kinds of fun possibilities?  I also used my new Taylored Expressions blending brushes to blend these inks, and I'm in love!  The same inks were used to color a scrap of white cardstock before I cut out the leaves from it.  

Thanks for stopping by today!

A Christmas set from The Greetery

The Greetery had a Christmas release recently, and I couldn't live without the new With Love at Christmas stamps.

supplies: white and coral card, The Greetery With Love at Christmas stamps, Altenew mini inks from Spring Bouquet greens and Tea Party, sentiment from a (retired) The Craft's Meow Holiday Poinsettia, Spellbinders Hemstitch Oval die, adhesive foam to lift up flowers

I thought I'd make the floral spray dimensional, so I stamped the greens separately and cut them out, then the flowers, then raised the flowers above the greenery.   I also made myself a smaller floral spray using some of the extra stamps included in the set.

Betsy has a true gift in giving us these lovely layering stamps - keep them coming, please!

Simon's Cheer and Joy release!

Simon Says Stamp has a new release called Cheer and Joy!

I was sent the new Holiday Greeting Mix 1, which is a big stamp set full of Christmas sentiments.  I used it to make 2 cards for you today.

supplies: red glitter cardstock, 2 patterned papers from retired Authentique Christmas paper pads, Simon's new Holiday Greeting Mix 1 stamp set, green markers to color leaves, Stickles Christmas Red for berries, Simon's Christmas Blessings die, adhesive foam to raise inner panel

I decided to use patterned papers for my cards today.  These first 2 have a lovely vintage feel to them, and are small-scaled, so hopefully don't detract from the stamping.  I used some red glitter cardstock and Stickles on the berries to add a tiny bit of glimmer.  The central panel is raised above the background one.

Next, I white embossed some of the stamps over a buffalo plaid pattern, also a design paper.

supplies: Lipstick Red and white cardstock, buffalo plaid dp from Simple Stories Very Merry, Simon's new Holiday Greetings Mix 1, VersaMark ink and white embossing powder, various small snowflake dies, Honey Bee Crystal Clear gem stickers, adhesive foam to lift up snowflake dies

I simply arranged the big sentiment to the left and added some snowflakes from the set on the right.  I also die-cut a few small snowflakes of my own and popped them above the design.  Lastly, I put tiny clear gems in the center of all of the snowflakes for some sparkle.

Be sure to visit THIS PAGE to see the rest of the new release.  As always, there's a little of everything: clear and cling stamps, dies, stencils, sentiment strips, watercolor prints, enamel pins, and sequins.  Enjoy!

My absolute favorite is the new Pinecone Background, the Leaves and Berries Background cling stamp, and how fun is the new Gnome die!  

For more ideas for products from this new release please visit our gallery HERE.

Simon Says........Christmas

Happy Wednesday - welcome to our challenge at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog!

Our theme this week is Christmas, and the team and I are showcasing Neat & Tangled products.  I pulled out a clear stamp set that hasn't seen enough love, and incorporated a little spray of flowers from it, combined with some other elements.

supplies: Schoolhouse Red and white cardstock, red and white striped dp from my stash, Neat & Tangled Hand Stitched flowers, colored with Nuvo Rich Reds and Woodland Greens markers, sentiment from Simon Yuletide Holiday, Spellbinders Floral embossing folder, MFT Stitched Mini Scallop Square die

Now it's your turn!  We have a $50.00 gift certificate 

to the amazing Simon Says Stamp store for 1 lucky random winner of this week's challenge!  

October Birthday Cards

Hi friends.  Today I have a couple of cards for October birthdays.  I used Greetery goodies for them.

supplies: ivory and Orange Peel cardstock, The Greetery Just Mason Around, Altenew Sea Shore mini inks, Autumn Sketches layering stamps and a Mason Jar Fillers stencil, Altenew Golden Sunset, Warm & Cozy, and Coffee Break mini inks, Spellbinders Hemstitch Rectangle die

This next one is one of The Greetery's layered stencils called Fir & Foliage 1.

supplies: ivory and brown cardstock, The Greetery Fir and Foliage 1 multi-step stencil, distress inks and a finger dauber, Simon's Brush Stroke Messages for ground and sentiment from Beautiful Flowers, MFT Wonky Stitched Rectangle die

We finally have some cool air here, but I'm afraid we're not going to have a colorful fall this year - it's been a weird summer!  How is it where you live?

Some Wreath Cards

Good morning, friends!  Here are another couple cards I made for WCMD, but had to wait until today to photograph. Both of them use Pink Fresh Studio goodies, and will work for their WCMD challenges!

supplies: white, Cornflower, and Green Apple card, Pink Fresh Studio Floral Elements Wreath and matching die, Nuvo Creative Pens to color, sentiment from (retired) Simon Summer Garden, Hero Arts (retired) Canvas Stripes cling, adhesive foam to lift up wreath

It was very relaxing to color up this pretty wreath!  I've always loved stripes mixed with florals, so I used a subtle stripe to surround it.  I'm entering this into Challenge #1: Favorite Technique at the Pink Fresh Studio blog.  Stamping is a favorite technique of mine, and coloring, too; as I said, so relaxing.

Next up, another wreath, this one a die-cut one on a Christmas card.

supplies: green cardstock, red patterned papers, Pink Fresh Studio Leafy Wreath and bow dies, Tim Holtz sentiment die,  red pearls as berries.

This one works for Challenge #2: Jump Start to the Holidays.  I love wreaths, but I don't have anything like this dimensional one! I really like this particular green against the barn-red background, too.  And the gingham bow gives it a country feel.

It's an overcast day here today, threatening rain, so I'll be in my craft room!

Getting to Know a New Die

Back again - how is your WCMD going?  I recently treated myself to this intricate Joy die and today was my first time playing with it.

supplies: gold and a tiny bit of red glitter cardstock, Doodlebug Christmas dps, Spellbinders Joy die

First, I simply cut the design from gold glitter cardstock, then looked around for something to back it with.  I liked the text background from this grouping of Doodlebug papers that I think came in a past Card Kit from Simon.  Then I added some green with another unknown snowflake dp.  To finish I added just one of the flowers in the center of the "o".  Simple to make; the intricacy of the die does all the work!

Since the die is long and narrow, I followed suit with the size of my card.....this one is about 3 3/8" X 5 1/2".  

Next I used all the tiny dies included in this set to paper-piece it.  

supplies: kraft, Lipstick Red, Schoolhouse Red, Green Apple, Green Leaf , Gumdrop Green, and gold glitter card, Joy die

I started with a medium green to cut out the die, then added 2 other greens, lighter and darker, for the holly leaves and pine sprigs, and also paper-pieced in the flowers and berries in 2 shades of red.  I used the leftovers from above to fill in my letters, then glued everything onto a kraft base, framed in red.  This one measures 3 1/4" X 5 1/2".

It really didn't take that long to cut the extra pieces and add them to the design, probably because this die is not a huge one.  Just right, in my opinion!

It's great to be getting a start on my Christmas cards!

It's World Card Making Day!

Hello crafters!  It's a beautiful day here today, but I am staying inside for the most part to play with some new goodies.  I'll share my cards during the day today as I get them made.

Here's another new Turnabout stamp set - I love the delicate little design it makes, a perfect background.

supplies: white, Lipstick Red, and 2 green cardstock, Concord & 9th Holly Berry Turnabout stamps, jig, Altenew Green Valley, Red Sunset and Tea Party mini ink cubes, MFT Joy die and (retired) Spring Wreath die, Penny Black Stitched Stackers die, adhesive foam strips

Although this set is part of a Christmas release, I think it can be used for any occasion.  Here's one with a birthday theme.  My husband and boys would like these colors.

supplies: white and Peacock Teal cardstock, Holly Berry Turnabout set, jig, Altenew Green Meadows and Sweet Dreams mini ink cubes, Penny Black birthday die, adhesive foam strips

Thanks for stopping by - Happy WCMD!

Thankful Leaves Turnabout cards

It's World Card Making Day!  I plan to stay inside this weekend as much as possible and play with some new goodies!

This turnabout stamp set has been on my wishlist for awhile, but I finally got it home!  I made 2 cards with it today, both of them for birthdays.

supplies: white, kraft, and peacock teal cardstock, Concord & 9th Thankful Leaves Turnabout stamps, jig, Spellbinders birthday die, Altenew mini ink cubes

supplies: white, dark chocolate, and burnt orange cardstock, Thankful Leaves Turnabout, jig, sentiment from Altenew Painted Greetings, Altenew mini ink cubes

How are you spending today?  I'll be posting more cards today as I make them.

Thinking of You

Hi friends!  Today I'm playing again with this pretty die that was released earlier this year.

supplies: white, Audrey Blue and Surf Blue cardstock, Tim Holtz Metallic kraft stock, Simon Carnation Frame die, sentiment from Delicate Flowers, embossed in Ultra Fine Gold powder

I cut the carnation frame from white, gold, and Surf Blue, then inlaid the flower and overlaid just the white frame.

It's weekend!  Hope yours is a great one!

Simon Says.........Think Pink!

Happy Wednesday - welcome to our challenge at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog!

This week, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness, our theme is Think Pink!  My teammates and I are showcasing Pink & Main products.

Being a 15-year survivor, I have always associated the butterfly as a sign of hope and new beginnings, so I chose this butterfly set.  Here's my card.

supplies: pink and white cardstock, Pink & Main You Can Fly stamps, Altenew Cherry Blossom mini inks and water, Your Next Stamp Mini Heart Ink Splatter stamp, Doodlebug Rainbow Heart sprinkles

Now it's your turn!  We have a $50.00 gift certificate 

to the amazing Simon Says Stamp store for 1 lucky random winner of this week's challenge!