Sketchbook Roses

 Here are some older supplies mixed together for a feminine birthday card.

supplies: white cardstock, Whimsy Stamps Mix-n-Match 2 dotted paper, The Greetery (retired) Sketchbook Roses stamps and matching die, Spellbinders (retired) Picot Petite Oval die, Curved Everyday Sentiments, adhesive foam squares

I was in the mood for some layered stamping, and went through my The Greetery collection.  This one is retired, but so easy to stamp, and I got the matching die (still available) more recently.  I enjoyed looking through my frilly oval dies, too, and tried some different combinations, but ended up with this Picot one, also retired.  And those curved everyday sentiments come in handy for when you want a smallish sentiment to not cover up too much of your design.  It's a glimmer plate, but today I used my BetterPress machine and black ink to make it.  The matching die comes with it, and it's one of those that does multiples at one go!

How is your week going?  Thanks for stopping in!

Delicate Garden

 I've been lusting after this Delicate Garden Craft Your Life set for a year now, and I finally caught it on sale earlier this month!  Here are some cards I made using this wonderful set.

supplies: white cardstock, dps from Whimsy Stamps Mix-n-Match 2 pack, Delicate Garden embossing folder, stencils, and matching die, Altenew Cherry Blossom, Pocketful of Sunshine, and Green Valley inks, Pink Fresh Studio Perfect Sentiments stamps and die

First I used the embossing folder to emboss this image, then the stencils to color it, and finally the matching die to cut it out.  Then I ran it through the folder again to refresh and deepen all the details.  I love dots and stripes, and this paper pack is a great one that has both!  There is a stamp set also in this set, but when using the embossing folder, I don't think you need it.  

The stamp set, stencils, and dies have 2 more floral arrangements in this set.  They are often used together with the above image, but today I wanted to let them shine on their own.

supplies: white and purple cardstock, Delicate Garden stamp, stencils, and die, Altenew Enchanted Garden purples and Green Meadows greens inks, Spellbinders Hemstitch Rectangle die, Simon Blossom Field embossing folder, Spellbinders All You Need Sentiments glimmer plate and die, Lavender Petal glimmer foil

supplies: white, lemon yellow, and black cardstock, Delicate Garden stamp, stencils, and die, Altenew Pocketful of Sunshine yellows, Golden Sunset oranges, and Spring Bouquet greens inks, Pink Fresh Studio Floral and Diamond Tiles coverplate, Spellbinders Curved Everyday Sentiments glimmer plate and die, gold glimmer foil

This is certainly a set that gives you your money's worth!  I love sets like these that give you lots of products that all coordinate.

Thanks for stopping by!

Just a Note

 Here's a card just because.......it started with this black and white dotty paper, black on 1 side and white on the reverse.  I die-cut out 2 scalloped rectangles and placed them on a white card base, then piled on some little posies.

supplies: white, black, Green Apple, various pinks, yellows, aquas, Doodlebug black and white dotty cardstock, Spellbinders Petite Floral Potpourri and Mini Blooms and Sprigs, Wendy Vecchi large scallop rectangle, MFT Stitched Mini Scallop Rectangle, Pink Fresh Studio Perfect Sentiment stamps and matching die

Happy March!  Is it spring for you yet?  

Summer Fruits

 I have 2 neglected rolls of washi tape that I thought I should give a little love to; they both feature summer fruits and flowers.

supplies: white cardstock, Doodlebug Gingham dp, Pink Fresh Studio Blossoms and Berries washi sprigs, Sunny Studio Fancy Frame Circle die, sentiment from Berry Bliss

supplies: white cardstock, green dotted dp, Pink Fresh Studio Lemons and Blueberries washi sprigs, Stitched Scallop Rectangle dies, sentiment from Altenew Painted Greetings

I think these little sprigs are perfect for last-minute cards.  I have found that fussy-cutting the designs is pretty easy, though there are dies to match.  I store what I don't use all together.  Then it just takes some color coordination with design papers or inks and you've got a card!

Hope these have given you some inspiration!

Brushstroke Blossoms

 I've been trying to use supplies that have been neglected.  Today's card uses some Tim Holtz Brushstroke Flowers dies, and I used solid cardstocks from some ancient 6" paper pads.

supplies: white, 2 yellows, 2 peaches, 2 greens cardstock, Lawn Fawn Rainbow Watercolor Wishes dotty patterned paper, Brushstroke Flowers 1 dies, a Tim Holtz Sentiments Label Sticker, Spellbinders Postage Edge Rectangle

This big fluffy flowers look like summer to me, and the dotty paper in the same colors makes a nice background for them. 

Thanks for stopping by today!

From the Scrap Basket

 I've collected 6" paper pads almost as long as I've been making cards, (it was a habit I got into when I quilted and collected fat quarters of fabric), and they took up lots of space in my craft room.  Recently my good friend and fellow cardmaker Mary Anne encouraged me to organize them.  I went through each little pad and ripped out patterns that still appealed to me, then threw away what was left.  It took me a good 4 days, but when I was finished, I had reduced and organized those papers into baskets holding papers I knew I would use.  And now I can find something lots faster than before!  I organized them into florals, dots, stripes, text, ginghams, plaids, hearts, and more.  I guess this is my version of spring cleaning!

There were some really lovely florals, so I chose one with a dark brown background, then found some dots and solids that would go with it.  I got 2 cards from this 6"square floral paper, with enough left to make another.  

Here's the first.

supplies: cream cardstock, unknown pink and green solids, a floral print, and a dot print, Tammy Tutterow/Crafters Edge Beautiful Succulents 3 flower dies, Tammy Tutterow/Spellbinders leaf from Pom Pom Posies, yellow button, Altenew Creative Edges Lace die, Honey Bee Bitty Buzzwords sentiment

Here's card #2, pulling out the yellows from the pattern this time.  

supplies: Cream and Green Apple cardstock, brown floral and a pale yellow tone on tone floral scrap, Simon Picnic Floral embossing folder, sentiment from (retired) Summer Garden, (retired) PTI daisy die, brown brad, Pretty Pink Posh leaves from Spring Foliage dies

I had lots of fun picking and choosing.  The embossing folder works nicely with the paper, as they both feature daisy-like flowers prominently.

Does this mean I'll never buy another paper pad?  I doubt it, but at least for now I'm going to try and use up what I have.  I encourage you to do some organizing, too!  

Thanks so much for visiting me today - enjoy your day!

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........Anything Goes

 

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

 

It's Anything Goes week, and the team is featuring Whimsy Stamps.  You don't have to use this brand to enter, but we'd love to see it being used if you have any of their products.  This week I chose a paper pad of neutrals.

supplies: white, Slate, yellows, Green Apple and Green Leaf cardstock, Whimsy Stamps Mix n Match Neutrals paper pad, Spellbinders Be Bold Blooms dies, Simon Painted Hello dies, small foam squares to pop up flower layers

This paper pad has 7 different patterns of 4 neutral colors: grey that I've used here, black, brown, and tan.  These small-scale patterns work beautifully with this sketch, and I popped some yellow flowers on top to brighten it all up.

These paper pads also come in 2 other color configurations.

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........Stamp It!

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

STAMPtember is a very special month in the Simon Says Stamp calendar, and this week we're showcasing some fabulous new STAMPtember products.  You don't have to use them to enter the challenge, but if you have any we would love to see them used.

I received a clear stamp set called Happy Faces, which has, besides lots of happy sentiments, some circles.  So I went with a polka dot/circle theme for my card this week.

supplies: white cardstock, Happy Faces clear stamp set, Audrey Blue, Khaki, and Wplus9 Blossomberry, and Wild Mango inks, Medium Dots stencil, Stitched Scallop Circle die, leaves from my scrap basket, enamel dots

After stamping the large solid circle all over my card front, I stamped my sentiment in the center.  To reinforce the circle theme, I attached a dot stencil overtop and embossed it, and also added a scalloped circle, cut 3 deep. I felt my card needed something else, so I added a leafy embellishment and some enamel dots.

I used this same stamp set HERE earlier this month, if you'd like to see another idea for using it.

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!

It's STAMPtember!!!

I'm excited today to be participating in a STAMPtember Blog Party!  This is NOT a hop, just a blog celebration of friends who are excited to show off the new STAMPtember goodies that were released yesterday HERE.  Each of us will have a promotional banner to share with our followers - we want you to have fun and see all the different promotions available throughout the party!  There are 13 different ones - 1 for every year we've had a STAMPtember!  Mine is up above - a Dream Big die set, free with any purchase of $30 or more, now through tonight at midnight!  Just use the code RM2MD1GK.   

Everything starts at the Simon Says Stamp Blog. Visit there every day, as throughout all of September we will be celebrating with exclusive collaborations, contests, prizes, promotions and lots of surprises!!  

I was sent the new Happy Faces clear stamp set.

supplies: white and black cardstock, Happy Faces clear stamps, yellow and black ink, Stitched Circle die, hat from (retired) Party Like a Panda clear stamp set, tiny sequin star

I glommed on to the happy face icon, which comes in a large version and a tiny one in this set, along with lots of fun sentiments.  So I repeatedly stamped the tiny face as a polka dot background, then centered the larger one inside a stitched circle and added my sentiment 4 times around it.  To finish I stamped, colored, and cut out a little party hat from an older stamp set, and added a teensy gold star sequin.

Thanks for coming by today.  If you haven't already, head over to the Simon Says Stamp Blog to see a complete list of others participating in today's party.  

And don't forget our STAMPtember Gallery for lots of examples using all of the new goodies.  Enjoy!

New 3D Embossing Folders

 Spellbinders is launching a line of 3D Embossing Folders, and they were kind enough to send one of the 10 new ones to me.  It's called Puff Dotty - here's what I did with it.

supplies: white, 2 shades each of aqua, blue, and green cardstock, Spellbinders Puff Dotty 3D embossing folder, a daisy and leaves from a 2019 Small Die of the Month kit, retired Happy die, Tim Holtz Sentiment label sticker

To begin I cut some strips from 6 shades of blue to green cardstock, and glued them diagonally onto a 1 3/4" X 5 1/2" strip, then attached that to my white card panel and ran it through my Big Shot machine with the complete platform and 1 cutting plate.  Then I simply added my stacked sentiment and a daisy!

Be sure to check out all 10 of these new 3D folders - they are a generous 5 1/2" X 8 1/2" size, so you can use them for slimline cards too!

Dotty Daisy

 I recently brought home this Daisy and Leaves die and for it's debut I decided to paper-piece it and use a favorite color combo of yellow, black, and white.

supplies: white cardstock, dotted patterned papers in yellow, green, and black, Simon's Daisy and Leaves and Thinking of You Line dies, yellow flower sequins

I thought this flower die was a good price point and a good size - you can use it just once on a card as I did, or twice, cut in white and placed over a colorful inked background for something bright and cheerful.

Thanks for stopping by - enjoy your weekend!

Foiling and Washi for a Birthday Card

 I needed some birthday cards this month, so I pulled out my new Scattered Dots glimmer plate for a background and topped it with a washi tape wreath.

supplies: white card, Spellbinders Scattered Dot glimmer plate and Aura glimmer foil, PinkFresh Studio English Garden washi wreath topped with Joyful Bouquet washi floral sprigs, Perfect Sentiments hot foil plate and matte gold glimmer foil, Perfect Sentiments cutting plate, adhesive foam to lift sentiment

These washi tapes have gold foiled outlines and details, so I piled on more gold with my background and sentiment - makes for a festive card in these dull days of January!

Thanks for stopping by!

Simon Says.......Anything Goes

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

It's an Anything Goes week, and the team is featuring My Favorite Things products.

supplies: white, Slate, and Green Leaf cardstock, Memory Box Vibrant Violet and Sunny Orange paper packs, My Favorite Things Stitched Flowers dies, sentiment from Simon Look for the Rainbows, Carta Bella Dot Stencil, grey ink, gold pearls

I masked off an area on my card base and stencilled the dot pattern.  Then I cut out flowers and leaves, layered them, and added my arrangement, leaving room for a sentiment strip.

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.........A Bit o' Green

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

 

This week we're asking you to use "A Bit o' Green", and the team is showcasing Sunny Studio products.  

supplies: white, orchid pink, and Green Leaf cardstock, Sunny Studio Everything's Rosy layering stamp set and Frilly Frames Lattice die, Altenew Green Valley and Cherry Blossom mini ink cubes, Simon's Medium Dots stencil and Spring Blessings sentiment die, adhesive foam squares to pop up flower arrangement 

After stamping my roses and leaves and cutting them out, I used the same green inks and a stencil to make a background.  Since Sunny Studio makes the nicest framing dies, I used this scalloped one to frame it up, then added my flower arrangement and 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!  I can't wait to see what you all make this week!

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

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

 It's Anything Goes this week!  My teammates and I are playing with Stamping Bella goodies.

supplies: white cardstock, Doodlebug pink Buffalo Check  and Echo Park green dotty dp, Stamping Bella Bundle Girl with a Snowdrop cling stamp, Simon (retired) Friendship Blooms sentiment, Simon Stitched Circle die, Lawn Fawn Fancy Scalloped Rectangle die, Doodlebug heart sprinkle

It's still January, but I'm ready for spring!  Snowdrops are a harbinger of the coming season, and I colored this in springy pinks and green, and used some patterned papers in the same colors.

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!