Some Postage Collage Cards

 Playing with Waffle Flower Postage Collage goodies today, using the main die as a novel background and foregoing the postal details just this once.  I have 2 cards.

My first card is inspired by a childhood memory of watching a momma wren teach her babies to fly.  It uses a potpourri of supplies from lots of companies; unfortunately, many of them are discontinued.  The good news is that you can almost certainly substitute something that is current with a little searching.  I really love these birds with the heart wings from an old Wplus9 set.

supplies: white and colored cardstock, Waffle Flower Postage Collage die, Postage Collage Coloring Stencil, tumbled glass distress ink, Spellbinders (retired) Sweet Birds on a Branch (branches and leaves), Paper Smooches (retired) Birdhouse die, Wplus9 (retired) Folk Art Florals birds, a tiny flower die, sentiment from Simon Says Stamp Beautiful Butterflies, natural twine, Doodlebug tiny heart sprinkles, tiny pearls for bird eyes

My second card uses my new Wildflower Silhouettes stamps that I finally got.  I love the idea of making various colored backgrounds for them!  

supplies: white, black, and gold cardstock, Postage Collage die, Postage Collage Coloring stencil, scattered straw, carved pumpkin, and seedless preserves distress inks, blending brushes, Wild Flower Silhouettes, sentiment from (retired) Impression Obsession In a Garden

Do you have any of these postage collage goodies?  They certainly bring a breath of fresh air to our designs!

I'll enter these cards into this week's Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes.

Thanks for stopping by!

Birdhouse Shaped Cards for Spring

 Today I'm playing with a pop-up birdhouse die set, and once again I used products from a bunch of companies to complete my projects, so fun!

supplies: colored and kraft cardstocks, a blue woodgrain dp, Scrappy Tails Birdhouse Pop-up dies, Honey Bee Stamps Lovely Layers Dogwood dies, Spellbinders Tweet Cardinal dies, The Greetery Opposites Attract stamp and matching die

The birdhouse set has dies so that you can make your card into a pop-up one.  The birdhouse die is actually quite a bit taller, so that you can make a slim-line card, but I chopped it off at about 6" tall today.  The set gives you options for the opening in it: a circle or a heart.  That was a no-brainer for me!   I haven't played very much with this cute cardinal either, so that was my second choice, and then because of the blue color I chose for the birdhouse, I thought that some neutral cream flowers would look best, so that's where the dogwoods came in.  And I always like to use this sentiment when I make cards that have birds featured.

Here's another one with spring in mind.

supplies: colored cardstock, Honey Bee woodgrain dp, (retired) Distress Grey two-tone woodgrain cardstock, Scrappy Tails Birdhouse Pop-up dies, Pretty Pink Posh Spring Foliage dies, PTI Feathered Friends 2 bird dies, Simon Heart dies

This time I put the sentiment on the back of the card.

supplies: Simon Spring Blessings, Doodlebug enamel heart

These are so much fun I made another version, using the scalloped circle opening this time and yet another bird, colored with markers like a bluebird.  I left the flowers off this time so that I could send this to a guy.

supplies: white and kraft cardstock, Honey Bee Stamps plank design paper, Scrappy Tails Birdhouse Pop-up dies, Tim Holtz Feathered Friends and (retired) Funky Foliage dies, markers to color

Once again, I put my sentiment "Just Because" on the backside of my card.

I'm entering my first card into this month's Double D Challenge: Birds.

Do you enjoy watching the birds?  It's a favorite past-time for us!  We even made a garden devoted to our little visitors!

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!  

Windows with a View!

Spellbinders released a collection from Tina Smith just a few days ago, named Windows with a View, all themed around windows.  I have 2 cards for you today that use some of these new die sets.

supplies: white, beige, and various colors of cardstock, Spellbinders Vista View Window and Backyard Haven dies, sentiment from Happy Hello Floral stamp and matching die, Classic Backdrop 3D embossing folder

How fun is this Backyard Haven set!  You can see on my card the tree, bird bath, birds, birdhouse, and a squirrel, but what I didn't use was a tire swing, individual leaves and flowers, and an owl!  So much to play with to make your own perfect little scene!

There is a set of sentiments which I didn't receive, called Sending Sunshine Sentiments, with lots that will work with all of the sets.

Here's my 2nd card, using the Window again, plus the new Botanical Solarium dies.

supplies: white, charcoal, various greens, oranges, and rusts cardstock, Vista View Window dies, Botanical Solarium dies, sentiment from (retired) Through the Garden Gate Sentiments

I added a shelf to the bottom of the window, part of the Vista Window set, and then filled it with potted plants.  I used mostly green leafy plants, but there are also a nice selection of all kinds of florals, plus a pretty pitcher that you can use to display them, in the Solarium set.  I was especially tickled to see the gardening tools included, too!  Gardeners will love this set!

I hope you'll take a look at the other sets in Tina's collection; there's 1 called Up in the Air, Coastal Escape View, and the sentiment stamp set I mentioned above.  

Thanks for stopping by - have a good one! 

Winter Wishes

This Snowy Birdhouse was one of my favorites last year, but I was amazed that I only used it twice!  We need to fix that, so here is a card that mixes that 3D embossing folder with a bird from another. Friendly Birds.  

supplies: white and Schoolhouse Red cardstock, Simon Says Stamp Snowy Birdhouse and Friendly Birds 3D embossing folders and matching dies, markers to color details, tumbled glass distress ink for background, various small snowflake dies, sentiment from Tim Holtz Idea-ology Christmas 2023 sticker book, white gelly-roll pen for falling snow

I attempted to make a little chickadee visiting my birdhouse, as they are frequent visitors at our feeders in the winter - such perky little creatures!

Tim's Winter Wishes sticker was a happy accident as my sentiment, but doesn't it fit perfectly?!

More Blues for Spring

Something I really enjoy about this time of year is being able to open our windows and enjoy all the sounds and smells from outside.  Judging by the birdsong I hear, they are just as excited to have Spring back as we are!  So today I pulled a bunch of some of my favorite things and mixed them up for my card.

supplies: white cardstock, Tim Holtz Grey Two-Tone Woodgrain cardstock, Lawn Fawn Floral Wreath and bird from Magic Iris Birdhouse dies, My Favorite Things Home Tweet Home Birdhouse die, Spectrum Noir Tri-Blend True Blue and Light Green markers, The Crafts Meow (retired) Happy as a Lark sentiment, Winnie & Walter  (retired) Noelle Scalloped Rectangle die, adhesive foam mini squares

All of these elements have stitching in them, so I went looking for a cover plate die that had stitching also.  I had a few things to choose from, but I liked the scallops on this old Winnie & Walter one.

As always, thanks so much for coming by - have a beautiful day!

Snowy Birdhouse

I couldn't wait to get this Snowy Birdhouse embossing folder and die set from Simon's recent Cozy Hugs release!  I made it easy on myself and just used colored cardstock for both of my cards today - the embossing folder does all the work!

supplies: white-core pool, beige, kraft, black, Lipstick Red, and Schoolhouse Red cardstock, Simon Snowy Birdhouse embossing folder and die set, Taylored Expressions Cardinal die, (retired) Spellbinders sentiment, snowflake dies

I wanted the embossed snowflakes to be white, and the easiest way I could think to make that happen was to use a white core cardstock, and then lightly sand the snowflakes.  Then I used markers to color the pine branches and cones.  I used the dies to cut the birdhouse from kraft and white cardstock.  My sentiment is retired, but I think it's perfect for this peaceful scene!

Here's a 2nd version, with a white background and a chickadee this time.

supplies: white, Slate Grey,  Audrey Blue and Surf Blue cardstock, Simon Snowy Birdhouse embossing folder and die set, Layered Chickadee die, Christmas Blessings die, salvaged patina distress ink and blending brush

This time after embossing, I brought out the snow flakes by gently brushing on some pale blue ink before coloring the details and adding the dies.

Simon has brought out several of these embossing folder/die combinations, but this one is my favorite - so far!  Thanks for stopping by - have a good one!

Simon Says......Summertime Blues

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

Our theme this week is Summertime Blues, and the team is featuring My Favorite Things 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.

I used a variety of MFT products and my favorite color of blue to make my card this week.

supplies: white, blue, and kraft cardstock, cloud and blue woodgrain dp from Happy Patterns paper pad, Doodlebug grass and petite patterns dps, Home Tweet Home birdhouse and Heartfelt Fence dies, Lawn Fawn vine and flower dies, Simon Beautiful Butterflies sentiment, Spellbinders Sweet Birds on a Branch 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!

Spring Birds

 I had loads of fun making today's card - it's a mix of My Favorite Things and Spellbinders goodies, with an old The Craft's Meow sentiment.

supplies: white, kraft, Cotton Candy, Green Leaf, Green Apple, blues from Memory Box Ocean Blue collection, My Favorite Things Happy Patterns cloud dp,  Home Tweet Home birdhouse dies, and flowers from (retired) Birds of a Feather die set, Spellbinders Sweet Birds on a Branch dies, The Craft's Meow (retired) Happy as a Lark sentiment, heart sprinkles, twine to hang birdhouse

Hope my little blue birds of happiness brighten your day today!  Thanks for stopping by!

Simon Says.......Slimline Card!

Happy Wednesday!  Time for a new challenge at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday blog!

This week our theme is Slimline Cards, and the team is featuring Whimsy Stamps.  You don't have to use these products to play along, but if you have any we'd love to see them being used.  I chose their Tweetie Pie set of clear stamps for my card today.

supplies: white and Audrey Blue card, Tweetie Pie stamps, tiniest snowflakes from Lots of Snowflakes, glue pen, prisma glitter, tiny sequins

Though full-size slimline cards (3 1/2 " X 8 1/2") are hard for me to photograph, I chose to make my card this size so I could use all these adorable little elements on it.  There's still another bird in this set, along with lots of fun sentiments.  After stamping and coloring, I went back in and added some glittery snow and some tiny snowflakes, and then some sequins for some winter 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!  I can't wait to see what you all make this week!

 

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

It's Wednesday - welcome to our challenge at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog!

Our theme this week, as it is at the end of each month, is Anything Goes.  This week the team will be featuring Lawn Fawn goodies.  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, Green Leaf, Lipstick Red, Schoolhouse Red and a blue from Memory Box Ocean Blue collection cardstock, woodgrain dps from Lawn Fawn Knock on Wood, Lawn Fawn Magic Iris Birdhouse Add-On dies, Simon Falling Snow stencil and sentiment from Cozy Wishes, white pencil

This appears to be the year of birds for me so far this year!  And since it's still January and technically winter, I decided to have a light snow falling on my card.  Using a white pencil with my stencil gave the soft effect I was looking for.  I cut my birdhouse from woodgrain patterned papers, and added a little berried wreath around the opening, which was perfectly sized for my sentiment.  All of the dies that I used are from this same die set.  It is technically an add-on, but as you can see, it works just fine on its own!

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!

Sweet Birds

 I fell in love with Vicky's birds months ago when they were released, and I finally got some to play with!  I made a mini slimline card.

supplies: white, cream, Audrey Blue, Surf Blue, Green Apple, Green Leaf, Schoolhouse Red, Lipstick Red, Cornflower, Soft Navy, Burnt Orange, Smoke Grey, Slate, and kraft cardstock, Spellbinders Sweet Birds on a Branch dies, Paper Smooches (retired) birdhouses, Simon Build a Pond stencil (for clouds), tumbled glass distress oxide ink, sentiment from MFT Winter Songbirds, heart sprinkles

I had a fun afternoon making these darling little birds.  Today I used colors for them that you'd find in nature, but I can see them in pinks and greens, too!  The dies all have built-in details for the wings, leaves, and branch, so using colored cardstock for everything made this project go pretty quickly.  

I used a retired set of birdhouses for this design, but there are many options out there that would also work. Vicky designed 4 seasonal sets that coordinate with these birds, and Simon's Bitty Birdhouse would work nicely, too!

Many thanks, Vicky, for designing these cuties!

Some Birthday Birdhouses

 Once again, Jennifer McGuire "enabled" me with one of her videos to buy this Birdhouse Pop Up die set.  Today I used it to make some birthday cards.

supplies: white, purple, Audrey Blue, Surf Blue, Green Apple, Green Leaf, and kraft card, mauves from Memory Box Vibrant Violet pad, Scrappy Tails Birdouse Pop Up dies, Impression Obsession sentiment die from Greetings Top Edger set, My Favorite Things (retired) Birds of a Feather dies (birds, leaves, flowers), white pearls

My youngest sister loved purple growing up, so that's where I started for the trim of the house.  Then I added birds in aqua and flowers in mauves.  

These dies are so versatile.  Above I used the birdhouse die in all it's length as a slimline, but it can easily be chopped off  as I did below to make cards to fit any size envelope.  

supplies: 2 yellows, cream, and the greens and mauves cardstock I used above, (retired) Lawn Fawn Knock on Wood paper pad, Scrappy Tails Birdhouse Pop Up dies, PTI Feathered Friends 2 dies, same flowers and leaves as above, Tammy Tutterow (retired) Tiny Sentiments cling stamp, Doodlebug heart and dots

I inserted my sentiment inside this time, using the same heart die that I used to cut the hole out in the front.

Finally, another slimline for my Mom, using her favorite fuschias and purples.

supplies: white and slate grey card, colored cardstock in purples, mauves, green, and yellow, Scrappy Tails Birdhouse Pop Up dies, PTI Feathered Friends 2 bird die, same flower dies as above, Hero Arts and Tim Holtz leaf dies, yellow enamel dots

Because of all the flowers and leaves, I'll add a sentiment to the back of this one.

This set has spacers to make a panel into a free-standing house that folds flat for mailing and pops up when out of the envelope, and that's how I made all of these cards.  Now I have a little village of birdhouses in various sizes and colors to enjoy until I send them out next month!

These dies are on the pricey side, in my opinion, but if you get lots of use from them, then the price takes on lesser importance.  I already have lots of different birds that will pair nicely with these, so I know it will be worth it for me.

Thanks for stopping by - I hope you have a great weekend!

Hugs For Andy

 I'm honored to be participating in an InstaGram Blog Hop to honor my Simon teamie Andy Granick, who has some challenging health issues to face soon.  Sweet Sidnie organized the hop to let him know how much we're all pulling for him.  Here's the card I made.

supplies: white, Lipstick Red, Audrey Blue, Green Leaf, and Gumdrop cardstock, woodplank dp, Simon Clouds for Days stencil and salvaged patina oxide ink, Lawn Fawn Birdhouse die set (includes house, bird and wing, branches, and heart), stamped sentiment from Simon Beautiful Butterflies, PinkFresh Studio Stitched Scallop Rectangle die, adhesive foam 

The bird house is lifted a bit above the rest of the design, and then I inserted the sentiment circle down inside. I hope this simple design makes Andy smile!

To see a wonderful lineup of cards for Andy, use this hashtag on InstaGram: #HugsforAndy2021.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Simon Says........Spring/Easter Mood Board Inspiration

It's  Wednesday - time for a new challenge at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog!

 

This week we have a lovely Spring/Easter Mood Board to inspire your creations!

And the team is featuring Lawn Fawn products!  I fell in love with their Magic Iris Birdhouse Add-on dies, and was inspired by the pastels in our inspiration.  

supplies: white, Green Leaf, Lemon Chiffon, Cotton Candy cardstock, plank patterned paper,  Birdhouse Add-on dies, mustard seed distress ink, Newton's Nook Woodland Spring sentiment, Clouds stencil and speckled egg distress oxide ink, adhesive foam squares, white string, doodlebug tiny heart sprinkle

I used some wood plank patterned paper to cut out my birdhouse, giving it pale green trim.  Then I added some of the flower and leafy sprig dies.  I decided on yellow birds and gave them a little more definition with mustard seed distress ink.  I tried this against different backgrounds, but in the end went with a stencilled cloudy one, using my new speckled egg oxide ink.  Though there is a post die for the birdhouse, I added a piece of white string to hang it this time.  I pasted down the sentiment circle, then popped the birdhouse above it with some adhesive foam squares for some dimension

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!