April Favorites

 Here are my favorite cards made during April.

Thanks for stopping by!

Woodblock Wednesday

 What a great idea Amy has, to start a challenge which I love, called Woodblock Wednesday, where she asks us to use a woodblock stamp for a new creation!  I started stamping back when there were almost nothing BUT woodblock stamps, so I have quite a collection.  I've been thinking about what I'd like to use for my first entry, and in looking back through my Pinterest boards, I decided on Hero Arts Heart Winged Butterfly.  Mine has a date of 2009 on it.  Here's my card.

supplies: unknown aqua and pink floral design paper, pink cardstock, Heart Winged Butterfly woodblock, Simon Spring Bouquets sentiment, enamel dots from Altenew Cherry Blossom collection, unknown stitched scalloped rectangle

I chose my printed paper, and stamped the butterfly twice, then cut them out and layered them, securing them only along the body so that I could pop up the wings.  

Amy asked to see how we store our woodblocks.  Here's a picture taken a long while back, maybe about the era of my butterfly stamp.  I have open shelving and some old printer drawers on the walls to the right of my desk.  

Since that picture was taken, we've added another 4 shelves on the left of my desk.  They do double duty to display cards, too!

Thank you, Amy, for giving me a reason to use these old beauties!  I hope to play every month.

Blue and Yellow Roses

I have had this Altenew Antique Roses dies set on my wishlist forever, and finally brought it home!  They are a dream to work with, and I spent a fun couple of days making these in several colors.  I even used some blue paint chips, and here is the card I made with them.  I've always loved this particular shade of  blue and yellow together.

supplies: white, Green Leaf, 4 shades of yellow cardstock, blue paint chips, The Greetery Diagonal Tartan Builder layering stencils, squeezed lemonade distress ink, Altenew Eastern Sky and Ultramarine inks, Altenew Antique Rose Craft a Flower dies, sentiment die from Spellbinders Hugs 

The only problem I have is finding 4 shades of a color in cardstock to make these come alive.  As you can see, I'm still on the plaid-making wagon, too!  It's another pleasing activity......

It's Friday!  What do you have planned for your weekend?  Hope it's a great one!

Simon Says.........Anything Goes

 Welcome to this week's new challenge at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge!

This week the challenge is Anything Goes, and the team is using Hero Arts products.  You can use any supplies you'd like, but if you have a product from Hero, we'd love to see it on your entry.

Today is bittersweet for me, as it is also my last post as a design team member for the Wednesday team.  I remember the excitement I felt when I was chosen to be on the team waaaaaaaay back in June of 2012, so it's been almost 11 years!  In that time, I made 830 cards for this challenge (you can see them all HERE on my Pinterest page).  It's been a fantastic experience, but it's high time I stepped away.  Many, many thanks to sweet Heidi, Steph, and Lols for being so kind and generous.  My card today represents my thanks to them and to the rest of this team, current and past members.

supplies: white, yellow, Green Apple, kraft cardstock, Doodlebug yellow Gingham petite print and a text dp, Hero Arts Boutique Accessories and Envelope Accessories dies, Sending Love Mail sentiment, natural twine

These die sets and matching stamps were originally part of a card kit and were so popular that they have been brought back separately.  They certainly are some of my favorite Hero Arts products!

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!  

Ever in Bloom

Taylored Expressions has perfected a wonderful concept: layering stencils, called Quads, which can make 4 cards at one time, because the stencils are 8 1/2 X 11"!  I love Taylor's designs, and she's hit it out of the park with this idea!

Here is my first play with her newest Ever in Bloom stencil set.

I started with a piece of 8 1/2 X 11" white cardstock, then systematically layered the 4 stencils, using these inks: Simon Says Stamp Teeny Bikini, Melon, Duckling, Altenew Lime, and vintage photo distress ink.  Then I trimmed out each panel to a little less tha A2 size and framed each with a colored cardstock: kraft, Cotton Candy, a darker pink, and Green Apple.  Then I chose a stamp or die to fit each.  Here are the individual cards:

supplies: sentiment from Honey Bee Bitty Buzzwords dies, cut from a dark brown cardstock and shadowed with vellum

supplies: stamped sentiment from Taylored Expressions Handlettered Sentiments cling stamps, stamped in Altenew Dark Chocolate ink

supplies: Simon Just Miss You sentiment, Dark Chocolate ink

supplies: Avery Elle Loads of Wishes sentiment, Dark Chocolate ink 

HERE's a link to more of these Create-in-Quads sets.  If you love layering stencils, you will love these!  I can't wait to try some other color combinations!

For the Pink Fresh challenge

 I am all about flowers, so I had to enter this month's Pink Fresh Challenge: flowers!  Here's my card.

supplies: white cardstock, PinkFresh Studio Dainty Plaid cling stamp and matching stencils, Altenew Cotton Candy and Peach Perfect inks, Joyful Bouquet washi tape and matching die, Perfect Sentiments hot foil plate and matching die., gold glimmer foil, Altenew Fine Frames die

I really like this combination of products!  

Thanks for your visit!  Have a lovely Sunday!

This is the Day

 Here are a couple of cards using new PTI stencils called Wild Blooms.  I paired each of them with the same (but different) favorite bible verse stamp from 2 different companies.

supplies: white and Green Apple cardstock, PTI Wild Blooms layering stencils, Altenew inks, blender brushes, PTI Psalm Reflections January clear stamp, Altenew Fine Frames die

supplies: white and pink cardstock, PTI Wild Blooms layering stencils, Simon Pawsitively Saturated inks, blender brushes, Technique Tuesday (retired) This is the Day clear stamp

This combination would make a nice set of cards, just changing up the colors of the flowers and greenery each time!  

Simon Says......Things with Wings

 

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

This week the theme is "Things with Wings"!  The team is featuring Honey Bee Stamps products.  You don't have to use this brand to play along, but if you have any of their products that would work, we'd love to see them!

supplies: white, green, kraft, and Cotton Candy cardstock, Honey Bee Lovely Layers Coneflower dies, Simon You Shine butterfly and Friendly Flowers sentiment stamps, markers to color

I used markers to shade my pink cardstock for the flower, and the same markers to color my stamped butterfly.

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!  

The Little Things

 Here's a 2nd version of THIS card, adding in a robin this time.

supplies: Surf Blue, Audrey Blue, Dark Chocolate, Burnt Orange, Cream, Green Apple, and shades of kraft cardstock, Honey Bee Stamps  Lovely Layers Dogwood and Lovely Layers Nest dies, Simon Layered Birdie die, sentiment from Newton's Nook Little Lilies clear stamp set

This little scene brings back a memory from years ago.  We used to have a flowering plum tree out back, and a robin built her nest there at eye level for me.  It was so fun to watch things progress!  

Do we notice all the little things happening in spring because we have been so long starved for color and beauty over the winter?  

Just a (Spring) Note

 The Greetery had a recent spring release, and I chose the new Spring Sprays stencils and dies. Here's my first card.

supplies: white and peach cardstock, The Greetery Spring Sprays layering stencils and matching dies, Opposites Attract stamp and die, Sunny Studio Frilly Frames Lattice die, peach and white pearls

The stencils are 4 pieces and allow you to get the design down in your choice of colors, then add some layering dies for dimension..  The dies have an outline die for each spray, plus lots of individual flowers to add some fun details.

Thanks for stopping by - enjoy your day!

Cherry Blossom Wreath

Still being inspired by colors of spring!  

supplies: white, kraft, pale pink, Audrey Blue and Green Leaf cardstock, Spellbinders (retired) Layered Cherry Blossoms dies, Tim Holtz Funky Wreath die, sentiment from Newton's Nook Woodland Spring , Doodlebug Tiny Heart sprinkle

It seems to have taken forever, but I believe we've turned the corner - spring is unfolding beautifully here!  These blooms remind me of our crabapple tree just outside my craft room window - they are about to pop any minute!  Here's a picture taken 2 springs ago.

Simon Says........Shaped Card

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

This week we want you to make a Shaped Card - anything except a square or rectangle.  The team is working with Mama Elephant products.

supplies: white cardstock, Pink Fresh Studio Rainbow Floral washi tape wreath, Mama Elephant Paola's Wishes sentiment, Fairy Jewels, Circle die, adhesive foam squares

I love the size, beautiful font and nice variety of these sentiments in this stamp set - you'll be seeing lots more of them going forward!

My card measures 4" in diameter, so it fits into an A2 envelope easily.  I applied the washi tape to white cardstock, then trimmed it with a circle die, also cutting 2 more circles from white cardstock with the same die.  I fussy-cut out the center of the wreath.  After stamping my sentiment centered on one of the cardstock circles, I popped the wreath above it.  Then I scored the 2nd cardstock circle about 3/4" down from the top, and glued the 2 circles together from the score-line up to make my card.  To finish I added some tiny pastel gems for sparkle.

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!  

AllAll rea

Stitched Numbers

Spellbinders had a new release yesterday, and I used one of the dies sets to make our oldest grandson a birthday card for later this month.

supplies: white and a variety of aqua, and green cardstock, Stitched Numbers dies, 6 strands of embroidery floss in mint and aqua, Pink Fresh Studio Color Block Diagonal Stripes cover die, Taylored Expressions Graphic Impressions Birthday embossing folder

These numbers also come with shadow dies, but for this card I just cut 2 of each stitching number, stitched one and glued it to a 2nd unstitched number for stability.  For my background, I pieced various stripes together onto a panel of thin white cardstock, then embossed it - no need for any other sentiments, and the stitching can be the star of the show!

I know these dies will come in handy for our 3 grands as they get older and become more difficult to design for!

Thanks for stopping by!

Lemonade and Cotton Candy

Happy Easter - He is risen!! 

I've been in a plaid mood, and you'll be seeing more results later, but for today, here is a card that screams spring to me! (and the colors are kind of Easter-ish, too!)

supplies: white, kraft, Banana, Cotton Candy, and Green Apple cardstock, Spellbinders Be Bold Blooms dies, Hero Arts (retired) Made with Love sentiment, The Greetery Tartan Builder Diagonal layering plaid stencils, squeezed lemonade, spun sugar, and vintage photo distress inks

I made my plaid using all of the stencils except for the first one, because I wanted some white to show in my design.  The distress inks I used are a perfect match for these Simon cardstock colors!  My sentiment is an old favorite from a Hero Arts clear set from 2011.  I stamped it in a dark brown ink and clear embossed it to make sure it showed up on the busy background.  

Hope your Sunday is going well; thank you so much for your visit here today!

Spellbinders April Club Kits

 Today I have my cards that use the Spellbinders April Kits of the Month!

The Glimmer of the Month foiling plate has a small panel of leaves that's meant to be foiled twice horizontally on an A2 card, but I chose to use it just once vertically. There are 2 sentiments that you can foil, plus 5 dies that cut out a section of the design. And there's an add on stencil that goes with this set!  I liked this foiling/stencil combo so much, I made 2 cards!

Because it's April and spring, I wanted my leaves to be green, so I used Veridian Green foil; this pairs nicely with a kelly green cardstock.  My sentiment is a 2nd generation foiled one using a solid foiling plate.

supplies: white and green cardstock, Glimmer Leaf Panel Kit, Veridian Green glimmer foil, Leaf Panel stencil, Sweet Leaf and Just Green inks, solid foiling plate

My 2nd card uses the Blush glimmer foil that comes with this kit, and I discovered that you can run a foiling sentiment plate through your machine just as you would a die - look at the results! 

supplies: white and peach cardstock, copper foil cardstock, Glimmer Leaf Panel Kit, Blush glimmer foil, Leaf Panel stencil, Peach Perfect and Pink Pearl inks, Hydrangea Blooms embossing folder

After cutting out my sentiment I lined it with a strip of copper foil cardstock to make the details show up better.  AND I used the included dies to pop out 5 of the leaf sprigs, which I then glued to 3 more plain white layers and inlaid back into the design. (at top of card)

Next up is the 3D Embossing Folder of the Month: 3D Patchwork.  This is truly a patchwork, with a center floral panel and 5 other skinny panels surrounding it.

I honed in on the large center floral section of this folder for my card, and after embossing it on white, I trimmed it out and colored it with markers.

supplies: white and peach cardstock, 3D Patchwork 3D embossing folder, alcohol markers to color, Quilty Hugs die

The Stitching Die of the Month Kit is called Stitched Fanfare.  This month the stitching is minimal, just around the edges of 3 of the fan shapes.  The sentiment you see is included in this set.

supplies: white, Green Apple, purple, yellow, and orchid cardstock, Stitched Fanfare Stitching Dies, embroidery flosses to match, Flower Frenzy embossing folder

I used all 6 strands of floss for my stitching.

The Small Dies of the Month Kit called Punch and Pierce Borders has 5 different patterns of lacy strips that you can mix and match.  I think they would make a pretty wedding card - just choose the underlying color to fit the wedding colors!

supplies: white and bright yellow cardstock, Punch and Pierce Borders Dies of the Month, sentiment from the Large Dies of the Month: Punch and Pierce Frame and Sentiments (shown below),  Mini Blooms and Sprigs dies, white and gold pearls

And my last card features the Large Dies of the Month: Punch and Pierce Frame and Sentiments.

supplies: pinks, green, and white cardstock, Punch and Pierce Frame and Sentiments Large Dies of the Month, Mix & Match Holiday Greetings dies, Mini Blooms and Sprigs dies, adhesive foam to lift frame

This set consists of the frame, plus 6 different sentiments and shadow dies that you can mix and match. (I mixed in some older Spellbinders flowers and a sentiment for my card.)   If you look on the Spellbinders website, you can see that this will be a great set to make shaker cards!

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 of my cards, you can see the details of each kit.  There are many ways to combine these products, and you can cancel a subscription at any time without penalty.