My March Favorites

Here are my favorite cards made in March.

Thanks so much for your visit today! 

Simon Says.......Anything Goes

Welcome to our weekly challenge at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge!

Anything Goes is our theme this week, and the team is playing with Simon Says Stamp exclusive products.  You don't have to use this brand to play along with our challenge, but if you do have any of their products, we'd love to see them used.

supplies: white and pink card, Simon Blossom Field embossing folder, Mom's Meadow (flower spray and butterfly) and Beautiful Day (sentiment) clear stamp sets, Spellbinders Fluted Classic Oval dies

Now it's your turn!  We have a $25.00 gift certificate 

to the amazing Simon Says Stamp store for 1 lucky random winner of this week's challenge!  I can't wait to see what you all make this week!

More Spring from The Greetery

 Just playing lately with some goodies from The Greetery.  I bought this Budding Beauties Spring set last year when it was on sale, and this is its first stamping.  

supplies: white and cream card, retired heart patterned paper, The Greetery Just Mason Around and Cherry Blossoms from Budding Beauties Spring multi-step stamps and matching die, Cozy Cup Coaster die, a Tammy Tutterow sentiment

My container of choice when I bring in flowers from the garden is either a canning jar or one of my stoneware pitchers.  I liked the color of this jar with the blossoms today.

The Greetery has 4 seasons of these Budding Beauties stamps, all with matching dies.  They work perfectly with this jar, and also their watering can and glass bottles.  All are multi-step stamps, which I love since I am coloring challenged!

Thanks for stopping by today!

In the Garden Turnabout Cards

 I was recently gifted with an HSN/Sizzix set of gardening dies by my sister, and a few days later I saw the new In the Garden Turnabout, and knew they would make a great match.  Here are 2 cards using these sets.

supplies: white, brown, turquoise, and lilac card, vellum, Concord & 9th In the Garden Turnabout stamp, Altenew Lime, peacock feathers oxide, vintage photo distress, and Wplus9 Blossomberry inks, Sizzix Let Love Grow dies

I used a piece of vellum to separate the background and the die-cuts, and popped the watering can up

supplies: white and pink card, Concord & 9th In the Garden Turnabout stamp, Altenew Lime, kitsch flamingo and mermaid lagoon oxides, and Wplus9 Blossomberry inks, pot of flowers from Sizzix Let Love Grow die set, markers to color, stamped sentiment from (retired) Impression Obsession In a Garden clear set

It was fun using these spring colors of inks, and just as fun as tending a real garden at this time of year!  Thanks for stopping by!

You Make Me Smile

Recently The Greetery released some new spring products and I fell in love with these Pussy Willow Botanicuts.  

supplies: white and Cornflower Blue card, Doodlebug blue gingham dp, The Greetery Botanicuts Pussy Willows dies and Fit to Be Tied bow die, a Simon Sentiment Strip, Spellbinders Hemstitch Oval dies

This is a CASE of a card that Wanda Guess made (3rd card down) using these dies - hers was in golds, and she used a small gingham background also.  This blue has always been my favorite color, and pussy willows are a sign of spring to me (still waiting for it here), so these all worked together in my mind.  I needed a tiny sentiment, so this little pre-printed strip fit the bill perfectly (and seeing pussy willows does make me smile!)

Hope your week has gone well - enjoy the upcoming weekend!

Simon Says........Food and/or Drink

Welcome to our weekly challenge at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog!

 This week the theme is "Food and/or Drink".  I made a mini slimline coffee card.

supplies: white and tan card, Simon's Cup of Love clear stamp set

This set has everything you'd ever want to make a coffee card: several fun sentiments, and a nice selection of coffee art to put inside your cup!  I especially like the little berry and leaf sprig!

Now it's your turn!  We have a $25.00 gift certificate 

to the amazing Simon Says Stamp store for 1 lucky random winner of this week's challenge!  I can't wait to see what you all make this week!

Simon's New Release - Hello, Gorgeous!!

Simon's newest release, called Hello, Gorgeous, is live and available now!

My favorites?  Garden Boots and Sweet Birds stamps!

As always, there will be blog hops on Wednesday, March 23 and Thursday, March 24, a YouTube Livestream on Thursday, April 7 at noon (with Laura Bassen!), and an Instagram Hop on Friday, April 1!  And for more ideas, don't forget to check our Hello Gorgeous Gallery.  Enjoy! 

 

Is It Spring Yet???

 It's warming up in these parts, but no color to see yet, so I had a spring play with some older The Greetery goodies, and made 2 cards.

supplies: white, kraft, and Sunshine card, The Greetery Flower Market Bouquet multi-step stamp set and matching die, Fit to be Tied die, Newton's Nook Woodland Spring sentiment, Sunny Studio Frilly Frame Lattice die

I'm ashamed to say I only used this bouquet stamp and die set once last year, so this time I spent a fun afternoon and ended up with 2 cards.  This time I put it into a watering can and embossed a background for it.  The pinky tulips are made using the new Saltwater Taffy oxide ink as my base layer.

supplies: white and coral cream card, The Greetery Flower Market Bouquet stamps and matching die, Sprinkled with Kindness stamps and die, Simon's Pinpoint Starlets embossing folder, old PTI label die and sentiment from Friendship Jar Spring Filler stamps, natural twine to attach little label

I used a variety of inks for these cards: oxides, Altenew mini cubes, a Hero Arts dark red and a brand new Simon green called Dublin.  I am always astounded at how well these stamps layer; my tip for you this time around is that if you have the matching die for these multi-step stamp sets, start the process by cutting out the overall shape, and then put it into your misty, along with it's negative and use the die to line up the stamps.

Hope spring is creeping in to your little part of the world - enjoy!

Spring into Stitching - Stitched Petal Frame

 Here's another new stitching design from Spellbinders' Spring Into Stitching release.  This one is called Stitched Petal Frame.

supplies: white and Mint cardstock, Stitched Petal Frame cover die, embroidery floss, adhesive foam squares

This is one of those perfectly symmetrical designs that I hate to cover up, so I left off a sentiment for this one!    I just chose colors that were pleasing to me, and when finished, held the panel over several colors of backing - this mint won out today.  I lifted the panel above the backing for some fun shadow play.

This die is one of 4 stitching designs just released from Spellbinders, from a collection called Spring into Stitching.  You can see the other one I received on THIS POST.

Simon's April Card Kit

 ......arrived yesterday, and I chose some of the printed papers and a few elements from the stamp set to create today's card.  This month's kit is called Life Is a Party.

supplies: black and white cardstock, daisy and gold design papers from American Crafts Damask Love paper pad, sentiments and stamped black hearts from Life is a Party clear stamp set

I simply layered the 2 patterned papers, separating them with a black mat, and then stamped a few hearts inside some of the daisies, then added my fussy-cut sentiments.

There's lots more in this kit that I haven't even touched: balloon dies, 2 full-size jars of sparkly glitter gel in Galaxy and Venus, a fun starry embossing folder, and a full-size Saltwater Taffy oxide ink pad!!

Simon Says.......Use Your Favorite Thing

Welcome to our weekly challenge at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog!

This week we want you to "Use Your Favorite Thing"!  The team is featuring My Favorite Things products, and I took this favorites idea a bit overboard!  

One of my favorite themes is a wreath, and a favorite MFT product is their Stitched Flowers dies.  I love the variety, and each one has some stitching details.  I got into the habit early on of using Doodlebug patterned papers with these dies, so there's another favorite thing of mine.  And to top it off, I remembered this sentiment, which fits nicely inside my wreath.

supplies: white card, Petite Prints from Doodlebug paper pads, My Favorite Things Stitched Flowers dies, (retired) Spring Wreath, Doodlebug sprinkles, Gina K. Designs Wreath Builder sentiment

This set has lots of different shapes and sizes of flowers, but on this card I used the smaller flowers.  I also cut out a retired leafy wreath and used parts of it to fill in the rest of my wreath.  Here's another photo to show you the darling little prints in each flower and leaf.

Now it's your turn!  We have a $25.00 gift certificate 

to the amazing Simon Says Stamp store for 1 lucky random winner of this week's challenge!  I can't wait to see what you all make this week!

Spring Into Stitching release! Stitched Flower

 Spellbinders is releasing some new dies made for stitching - they're called "Spring into Stitching".  There are 4 different designs; over the next couple of days I'll be showing you 2 of them.  Today I'm playing with the Stitched Flower set.

First up, a card in happy yellows.

supplies: white, 2 yellows, and green card, yellow dotty dp from Lawn Fawn Watercolor Wishes Rainbow pad, Stitched Flower dies, 2 yellows and brown embroidery floss, Doodlebug tiny heart sprinkles, (retired) Hero Arts/Studio Calico sentiment

I used the multi-leaf sprig die that is included in this set, and stitched my flowers on colored cardstock, matching my floss as best I could to the 2 shades of yellow

Now here's a cool version., this time stitching on white cardstock.

supplies: white and Surf Blue card, Stitched Flower dies, embroidery floss, Spellbinders Hemstitch Rectangle die, a retired MFT sentiment

I used 3 strands of floss for my stitching.  I love the lacey effect that the flower edges have!

This would make a terrific beginner's set for anyone who hasn't done stitching before......each of the elements is small, and you can do as many as you'd like, then build them together for a bouquet.  There are incised guidelines in the dies to help guide your stitching.

And for those of us who have done stitching in the past, here's a nice use for all that floss we still have!

Many thanks to Spellbinders for sharing these dies with me; they were just what I needed to spend a relaxing afternoon. 

For a Friend

 Here's a mini slim-line card for a friend here in town who is going through some hard times.  

supplies: pale orchid, cream, and pale yellow card, vellum, various mauves from Memory Box Vibrant Violet paper pad, green paint chips for leaves, Altenew Mini Flower Cluster layering dies, Simon Mini SlimLine Lattice die, Simon Big Scripty Hugs dies

I constructed my flowers and leaves twice, and had decided I wanted to put them against some kind of cover die for a background.  I happened to have this lattice one already cut in my scrap basket, and I liked the cream color against the mauves.  "Hugs" is the perfect sentiment for this special lady.

It snowed again last night, so this card was my therapy this morning!!  Hope your weekend is going well; thanks for stopping by!

For Ukraine

 It's been heartbreaking these last weeks watching events unfold in Ukraine.  We all feel so helpless, but it does help to create something pretty to channel our thoughts. Here's my prayer for peace, and for the people of Ukraine.

supplies: 12" weathered blue woodgrain designer paper, The Greetery Botanicuts Sunflower dies, Pink Fresh Studio Phrase Builder Sending die

The colors of the Ukrainian flag are blue and yellow, and their national flower is the sunflower. so that's the basis for so many of our cards made to honor this brave country. Please join me in continuing prayers for a peaceful end to these events.

Simon Says........A Bit of Green

Welcome to the new challenge at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge blog!

"A Bit of Green" is our theme this week, and the team is featuring Altenew products.  You don't have to use this brand to play along with our challenge, but if you do have any of their products, we'd love to see them used.

Since spring is hopefully on the way, I chose this little layering die set called Mini Flower Cluster.  These flowers will be lovely in any color you choose, but today I made them creamy, like fruit tree blossoms.

supplies: ivory, cream, pale green, yellows, black, Surf Blue, and some green paint chips for the leaves, Altenew Mini Flower Cluster dies, Wplus9 Hand Lettered Hello die and stamped sentiment, cream embossing powder, Sunny Studio Eyelet Lace Frilly Frame die

I cut the floral cluster twice, and the leaves 3 times, and used the Press'n Seal method to make my arrangement.

Now it's your turn!  We have a $25.00 gift certificate 

to the amazing Simon Says Stamp store for 1 lucky random winner of this week's challenge!  I can't wait to see what you all make this week!

Green!

 I recently got some of the new Simon Says Stamp Pawsitively Saturated ink pads.  I chose these 3 greens because they look like they will work well for leaves with all my flower creations.  After doing a swatch test on white cardstock as I always do, and since I'm craving green,  I thought they would look nice also on a minty background.  So I pulled out an older Concord & 9th Turnabout stamp set and a Winnie & Walter sentiment die, and here is my result.

supplies: Mint and a darker green cardstock, Pawsitively Saturated inks in Trio 15:  Spring, Dublin, and Lucky, Concord & 9th Wreath Turnabout stamp, Turnabout Jig, (sadly retired) Winnie & Walter In a Word Hello die, adhesive foam

This turnabout makes a smallish wreath, so I didn't want to cover it up any more than I had to.  So I decided to add my sentiment using the eclipse/hidden sentiment technique.  I cut the hello out of my stamped design, then cut it 2 more times from adhesive foam and stacked them all before reinserting the word back into place.

Hopefully this will hold me awhile longer until spring actually shows itself around here!  

March Glimmer Hot Foil Kit

The March Hot Foil Glimmer Kit is coming up roses this month: 2 roses, a bud, and 3 different leaves, plus dies to cut out each one!  I mixed mine with a former large die of the month set to make a mini slimline card.

supplies: white and orchid pink card, Spellbinders March Glimmer of the Month Kit: Glimmer Edge Roses and gold glimmer foil, July 2021 Large Die of the Month slimline dies, sentiment from February Glimmer of the Month kit, pink and green markers

I simply put all the glimmer plates onto my machine at one time, added gold foil, and foiled them onto white card, then colored in the details with markers and cut out each one with the matching dies.  I did that twice to have 2 of everything, then I just made my little bouquets and added them above and below my foiled sentiment.

You can find all the information you'll need HERE to get this fun kit for yourself.  You'll have until March 24 to join the club, and you can "unjoin" at any time!  Each month you'll also get a roll of glimmer foil! 

Simon Says.......Add a Die-Cut

Welcome to the new challenge at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge blog!

 This week we want you to "Add a Die-Cut".  The team is playing with Memory Box products.  You don't have to use this brand to play along with our challenge, but if you do have any of their products, we'd love to see them used.

supplies: white, black, Green Apple, and Green Leaf card, Memory Box Just Because posh script dies, Concord & 9th Bloom Turnabout stamps, Concord & 9th Turnabout Jig,  Altenew mini inks, Concord & 9th flower and leaf dies

Now it's your turn!  We have a $25.00 gift certificate 

to the amazing Simon Says Stamp store for 1 lucky random winner of this week's challenge!  I can't wait to see what you all make this week!