A Stenciled Birthday Card

Hello friends!  I was in the mood for some stenciling, and pulled out this Gina K. Designs Floral Stencil which has hardly been used.  

supplies: white and pink cardstock, Gina K. Designs Floral Stencil, Altenew Cherry Blossom and Green Valley inks, Memory Box Pinpoint Leaf Plate, Rectangle die, sentiment from Spellbinders/Bibi Cameron Snowflake Wishes stamp/die set

This stencil is a single one, so I had to do a bit of masking so that my greens and pinks didn't mix, with varying results.  I wanted something subtle in the background, and this pinpoint plate fit the bill nicely.  After doing all of the above, I then cut out a rectangle from the center of the design, embossed it with the stencil and a rubber mat, then matted it in pink, and replaced it back where it belonged.  Then I added the sentiment.  You can never have too many birthday cards!

Hope your week is off to a good start!  

Woodlbock Wednesday

OOPS I'm a week early here!  The challenge is NEXT Wednesday, Dec 31.  I'm still sharing today, as I have a blog post scheduled for then. Sorry for the mixup this may cause!

Here's my final card for this year for Amy's Woodblock Wednesday.  I chose a lovely Memory Box one called Peace Collage and accessorized it with some Tim Holtz goodies and a new cardinal die from Simon Says Stamp.

supplies: colored cardstock, Memory Box Peace Collage, embossed in white, Tim Holtz Funky Wreath, Mini Holiday Greens, Simon Beautiful Cardinal, 3 snowflake dies

You can see more cards using woodblock stamps at Amy's blog.  They generally come on the last Wednesday of each month.

 Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you a Merry Christmas!

For Thanksgiving

I haven't played with Altenew's Garden Picks dies in a long while, and thought they'd make a nice card for Thanksgiving.

supplies: ivory, Memory Box Sunny Orange and Fresh Aqua Collections cardstock, Altenew Garden Picks dies, sentiment from Simon/Clearly Besotted Autumn Blessings stamp set, Spellbinders Hemstitch Rectangle die

Each of these lovely flowers is at least 4 layers deep, so I'm so glad I invested years ago in the Memory Box 6" paper pads of solid cardstock!  

I've decided going forward not to link any of my supplies anymore; getting lazy in my old age!  Most of them are retired anyway.  You can just google them if you're interested.  

Thanks for coming by today - enjoy it!

Fanciful Flowers stencils

 Remember when I ordered from Memory Box back around Labor Day?  One of the free goodies they included with my order was this set of floral stencils from Poppy Stamps called Fanciful Flowers.  I'm just now getting around to playing with it; wish I hadn't waited so long, because I love it!  It makes the perfect ditzy flowers background.

supplies: white, black, and Doll Pink cardstock, vellum, Poppy Stamps Fanciful Flowers stencil set, distress inks in picked raspberry, carved pumpkin, mustard seed, vintage photo, cracked pistachio, mowed lawn, and rustic wilderness, Just Because posh script dies

The stencils are 7 pieces, 4 for flowers, and 3 for leaves.  I used a favorite old color combination.  I like this sentiment because it's cursive, somehow more feminine to me.  

Hope this helps to brighten your day a bit - have a good one!

Just Because

Here's another set that was meant for Christmas, but I wanted to get some more mileage out of it, so I changed up the colors.  

supplies: various oranges, blues, and greens cardstock, vellum, Concord & 9th Festive Blooms dies, Memory Box Just Because posh script die

Blues always make me happy, so I borrowed the colors from THIS card.

Thanks for stopping by!

A Spring Hello

 I used some favorite little dies for today's card, and a mix of companies again.

supplies: white and dark green cardstock, Distress Grey Two-Tone Woodgrain cardstock, Lawn Fawn Magic Iris Floral Wreath Add-On, bird from Magic Iris Birdhouse, Fancy Scalloped Rectangle dies, Memory Box Pinpoint Leaf cover plate, My Favorite Things (retired) Home Tweet Home birdhouse, sentiment from Newton's Nook (retired) Woodland Spring stamp set, adhesive foam squares

This wreath has extra flowers and leaves to affix to the main image, but today I just used some markers to color a white cut of it, then added the birdhouse and bird popped above a bit.  And this time I set it against a subtle leafy background.

Are you seeing any signs of spring in your neck of the woods?  My husband put out our birdhouses last week and we couldn't believe the birds they attracted immediately!  

Time for a Wreath!

 You know I love making wreath cards, so here's one that features some heart berries for this month!

supplies: white, pink, 2 greens cardstock, Hero Arts (retired) Envelope Accessories leaf sprig, Memory Box (retired) heart sprigs from Scrollwork Heart Circle Frame, bow from Spellbinders Garden Wreath Add-Ons, Pink Fresh Studio Perfect Sentiments stamp and matching die, Simon Peony ink

This would work for so many occasions: Valentine's Day, of course, and because of the sentiment, birthdays, girlfriends, etc.  

I lightly traced a circle onto my white panel, then glued down the leaf sprigs only at the bottoms so that they sprung up a bit.  This gives me dimension, but also room to tuck in the next leaf or heart sprig.  

As always, thanks so much for stopping by today.

Sharing a Valentine

 My friend Mary Anne sent me a Memory Box die and we decided to use it for each other's Valentine cards this year!  Here's mine for her:

supplies: white and grey cardstock, Doodlebug tiny floral dps, Memory Box Scrollwork Heart Circle Frame, sentiment from Tammy Tutterow (retired) Tiny Sentiments

This is a retired die from 2019; it cuts out all that you see, including 2 of the little wispy heart sprigs, plus a large stitched circle, which I didn't use this time.  I cut it multiple times to paper-piece in the hearts and "leaves", then affixed it to a 4 1/4" square card base and stamped my sentiment.  

Those heart sprigs are perfect for adding to a wreath.  You'll see that idea in an upcoming post. 

Here is Mary Anne's card that she sent to me - so elegant!

She used a red foil paper with gold marbling, red glitter paper (little heart sprigs), and both shiny and matte gold metallic papers for this beauty!

Mary Anne was the person that got me interested in making cards, about 20 years ago now, and she still inspires and teaches me today.  Thank you, my friend!

Pink Fresh Studio September Challenge

 I came across this challenge earlier this month and couldn't resist the opportunity to make a wreath.  

supplies: ivory and various challenge colors of cardstock, Pink Fresh Curvy Leaves die, enamel dots in challenge colors, Bitty Buzzword sentiment dies, Pinpoint Leaf cover plate, adhesive foam

The challenge this month is to make a wreath or use leaves, and I also took it as a challenge to use the colors they posted.  I used their smallest Curvy Leaves die to make my wreath, and added more color with some enamel dots. I love when I can use older supplies to make a brand new design!    

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Washi Butterflies!

It's May!  

Here are a couple of cards that I made after receiving the Pink Fresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies washi and matching dies.  I have a lovely collection of their floral washi designs, and thought that these butterflies would be a nice accompaniment to them.

First I used just the elements in this set, which are lots of butterflies, along with some leafy stems.  I simply arranged them on a pierced leafy background and popped up a sentiment.

supplies: white cardstock, Memory Box Pinpoint Leaf cover plate, Pink Fresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies washi, matching dies, Perfect Sentiments foiling plate and die, gold glimmer foil, adhesive foam

Next I mixed 2 of the butterflies with a floral washi design, Hydrangea and Rose.

supplies: white cardstock, Paper Smooches (retired) Fab Frames die, Pink Fresh Studio Hydrangea and Rose washi, Fluttering Butterflies washi, and matching die, Taylored Expressions (retired) Handlettered Sentiments cling, gold embossing powder, adhesive foam

These washi tapes are beautifully designed and colored, and are a joy to work with!  Hope your day is full of joy!

I'm entering these into the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Feminine.

Woodblock Wednesday: Dots & Flowers

 Here's my card for this month's Woodblock Wednesday over at Amy's blog!  I chose a background stamp dated 2009 from Hero Arts called Dots & Flowers.

supplies: white cardstock, a woodgrain dp, Hero Arts S5213 Dots and Flowers woodblock, embossed in white, Memory Box (retired) Daisy Silhouette dies, natural twine, Pink Fresh Studio Perfect Sentiment stamp and matching die, Fluttering Butterflies washi tape and matching die

 

I'm so glad Amy is keeping her Woodblock Wednesday challenge going again this year - otherwise I'd probably just be admiring these treasures from afar!  Thanks, Amy!

Woodblock Wednesday

 Time for Woodblock Wednesday!  The particular one I chose for this month has only been used once before - bad on me!  

supplies: white cardstock, cloudy sky dp from MFT Happy Patterns 6" paper pad, Memory Box Hope Collage woodblock, Spellbinders Sweet Birds on a Branch die, light magenta marker

Memory Box had a whole series of these collage woodblocks.  I got this one sometime in 2013.  This time I stamped it on a cloudy patterned paper, then colored in the flowers and added a bird.

Be sure to visit Amy's blog to see all the other entries for this monthly challenge - it's always a fun walk down memory lane!

It's Anything Goes week over at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge, so I'll be entering this card there.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Today is one of my favorite holidays, so I had to have a card to post.  

supplies: white cardstock, Simon Says Stamp (retired) You Have My Heart heart wreath stamp, Hero Arts (retired) Celebrate Everyday sentiment, Memory Box Pinpoint Leaf cover plate, adhesive foam squares

Once again, sorry to say, most of these supplies are retired.  I stamped and cut out another little bunch of roses to add to the bottom left of the wreath, just to spread some more color around.

This year I didn't make as many Valentines as I usually do - I only brought a few stamp sets here to Florida, and forgot all the beautiful heart dies at home.  This stamp set is one of my all-time favorites, and I'm glad I have it.  

Hope you have a lovely day!

Double D Fall Plaid Challenge

 I came across a challenge that rang all my bells: to use a fall plaid in your creation!  It's the Double D Challenge.  Here's my entry.

supplies: white and fall colors of cardstock, The Greetery Tartan Builder Diagonal stencil set, Altenew Golden Sunset and Firebrick inks, Memory Box (retired) Pinpoint Rectangle dies, sentiment from Newton's Nook Fall-ing for You, Spellbinders Autumn Leaves die, adhesive foam squares to pop up leaves

I love it when I can bring various older supplies back again each season, like this fun fall sentiment from Newton's Nook.  And it played nicely with this pretty fall plaid!  

Thanks for stopping by today - have a wonderful one!

Heart Wreath

Today's card is a mix of some favorite products.

supplies: white cardstock, a variety of solid papers from paper pads, The Greetery Boxwood Wreath dies, Spellbinders Mini Blooms & Sprigs flower dies and Flower Frenzy embossing folder, foiled sentiment from Birch Press Design Sugar Script Hot Foil Plate and Die set, teal glimmer foil, Fairy Jewels

I cut and assembled the Boxwood Wreath, then reinserted the center and added my foiled sentiment.  Then I cut and arranged the flowers.  This was then glued onto an embossed flower panel, and for a tiny bit of sparkle, I sprinkled on some teensy pastel jewels.

Thanks for stopping by.  

Anniversary Roses

 I took advantage of a Memorial Day Sale at Birch Press Design and brought home this lovely.  In my opinion, you can never have too many roses!

supplies: white, 3 peach shades, and 2 green shades of cardstock, Rose Bunch Contour Layers dies, leaves from Altenew Garden Picks dies, (retired) The Crafts Meow Sweet Sentiments

On her wedding day, this bride carried shades of blush roses.  These new dies are a perfect size, needing nothing else but some leaves and a sentiment.  

Thanks for stopping by!

Lacey Stitched Butterfly

 Now that I have a bit more time, I've been enjoying pulling out my existing supplies and enjoying them again!  Today I have a butterfly card.

supplies: white and pink cardstock, Memory Box (retired) Cottage Meadow design paper, Spellbinders Stitched Glimmer Butterfly dies, pink variegated embroidery floss, 6 strands,  Wonderful Script Sentiments dies, Mini Blooms & Sprigs dies, stamped sentiment from Winnie & Walter (retired), enamel dots

I wanted to use some of my Mom's variegated floss again, and chose pink this time.  After constructing my butterfly, I went looking through my old printed papers for a background for it - don't you think this Cottage Meadows paper is perfect?  So pleased to use up something "old"!  I also really liked Yana's lovely font that she used for her "beautiful" die - it reinforces the femininity of this design!  As I did once before, I added some teensy flowers to the butterfly - these ones mimic the paper well!  

Hope you're having a great day - thanks much for stopping by today!

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

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

It's the end of the month, so our theme for you this week is Anything Goes, and the team is featuring Memory Box products.  I chose a favorite cover die and made 2 cards with it today.

supplies: kraft, Audrey Blue, Green Leaf, and white cardstock, Memory Box Pinpoint Leaf cover plate, Simon Layered Chickadee die and sentiment from Beautiful Butterflies, Pink Fresh Studio Curvy Leaves die

Here's a 2nd card, making leaves the sole theme.

supplies: white cardstock, a mottled green page from an old Basic Grey paper pad, Memory Box Pinpoint Leaf cover plate, Hero Arts leafy branch die, Honey Bee Bitty Buzzwords sentiment die

I thought the little leafy branch was a perfect match for the pinpoint ones in the background.  I recently did a clean-out and organization of my 6" paper pads, throwing away anything I didn't think I'd ever use, and keeping papers that appealed to me still.  Basic Grey always had a nice mix of patterned and solid papers in their pads.  I used a green marbled one for my little background behind the leaf dies, and also for my sentiment.

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!  

Winter Blues

Can you stand another card using these Antique Rose stamps?   I had stamped them in various colors, but never used these aqua ones, so I decided to do a monochromatic version.

supplies: white, and aqua foil cardstock, dotty dp from Whimsy Stamps Mix n Match 2 paper pad, Altenew Antique Roses stamps, Sweet Dreams and Green Valley inks, Fine Frames die, foiled sentiment from Birch Press Design Sugar Script Hot Foil Plate and Die set, teal glimmer foil, adhesive foam

I started with this paper with a mix of different sizes and shades of aqua dots.  Then I cut some fine frames from aqua metallic cardstock next, to reinforce my foiled sentiment, then arranged my florals and sentiment and popped them above everything. 

I didn't think of it until after I'd named my post for today, but those dots do look a bit like falling snow!  

Thanks for stopping by - have a good day!

Simon Says.......Not a Card

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

Our theme this week is "Not a Card", and the team is featuring Memory Box products.  I made a Christmas tag.

supplies: white and green cardstock, printed paper from Blurry Flurries pad, Poppy Stamps Evergreen Trio dies, Hero Arts Neighborhood Houses die, sentiment from Simon (retired) Winter Scene clear set, Unicorn Confetti, MFT Stitched Tag die

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!