Warmest wishes

 I have made a lot of design team cards lately, but haven't just played in awhile, so this morning, I perused Paper Playful's list of challenges and found lots of inspiration for a card...

I created the background by smooshing ink on my glass plate, adding water, and dragging the white cardstock through it.  Once it was dry, I randomly rubbed VersaMark and heat embossed with clear EP.  I like the texture and shine it added! (see closeup below) My sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp Build Me a Snowman.  My cup of cocoa is Honey Bee Stamps Love You S'More.  Branches from a MS punch and green cardstock and a PaperTrey Button (cut from extra background) finished it off.  

Here are the challenges I'm entering...

A Cut Above Sept - AG with a die cut
Addicted to Stamps and More #500 - die cuts and/or stencils (I used die cuts)
As You Like It - layered or flat **I chose layers because I just love layers!  I also love CAS/one layer cards, but I am never satisfied with how mine turn out.  I always end up adding layers. :) 
Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge #45 - coffee, tea, or cocoa
Creative Knockouts #554 - lots of layers 
jingle belles - cardstock Christmas (no patterned paper) 
Just Us Girls #791 - die week
Merry Little Christmas #64 - AG Christmas and family friendly 
Simon Says Stamp Monday - Stamp It
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Stamp It
Word Art Wednesday #714-715 - AG family friendly

 Thanks so much for stopping by and have a blessed day! 

Sweet friend - C4G #258

 We are ready for another challenge at Cardz 4 Galz!  Our theme is stitching - faux or real.  I attempted to machine stitch on cardstock once and it did not go well.  I'm too impatient to stitch by hand on a card, so I have faux stitching on my card. :)  (With stitched dies, it's so easy!)

I cut out a panel with KatScrappiness Wonky Wavy Stitched Rectangles.  I then ran that through Sizzix Impresslits Sweet Friend embossing folder.  (Unfortunately, it somewhat flattened the stitching from the first die, so it's harder to see, but it's still there.) The sentiment and bees - yes, I know bees aren't brown - are from the same Impresslits set.  I dry embossed the piece peeking through with Sizzix Cloudy Day.  My hexagons are Echo Park Stitched Hexagons. All this stitching and I didn't poke my finger once! ;) 

We'd love to have you come play along with us at Cardz 4 Galz! 

Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day! 

To the one I love - HQCOLCB #9

Hello!  I'm excited that I was asked to be a guest designer at Heart's Quest Celebrations of Love challenge #9.  Their main theme is BEWAS - Birthdays, Engagements, Weddings, Anniversaries, and/or Sympathies, but there is always an optional theme, and this month's is Halloween or Harvest.  

My husband and I are celebrating 37 wonderful years of marriage, so I'm sharing the card I made for him... 

My paper is DCWV Love & Wedding.  The stamped and heat embossed "Happy Anniversary" is from Raisin Boat Formal Phrases.  The die cut sentiment is tonic Studios Partner Sentiments.  I heat embossed the "I LOVE" with Ranger Ultra Thick EP, so it really shines!  

I've enjoyed playing along at HQCOLCB and had fun being guest DT, so I hope you come play along, too! 

Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day! 

A happy, holly Christmas - SCC #176

Time is flying by!  It will soon be fall!  But there's still lot of time to get your Christmas cards created, and we are trying to help at Sparkles Christmas Challenge!  Our new challenge theme is "Let's see some holly!"  

Here is my holly card...

I could not find any cute holly paper in my stash, nor do I have a holly die, so I pulled out some scraps.  I dry embossed the green polka dot panel with Cuttlebug Holly Ribbons EF, and inked it with white pigment ink.  It's amazing how just a little ink makes it pop!!  My ornament is Echo Park Snowflake Ornament Trio, and the bow is Poppystamps Little Bow and String.  My sentiment is MME Holly Jolly and cut with SSS Tiny Tags. 

Please come and play along at Sparkles Christmas Challenge!  

Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day! 

Praying for you - C4G #257

Hi!  It's time for a new challenge at Cardz 4 Galz!  We want to see you use some vellum on your cards (or other craft projects) this time!  

Here is mine...

I cut my vellum to size then added a sheet of adhesive to the back of it. (My new favorite way to adhere vellum!)  I then dry embossed it with Sizzix TH Paper Airplanes and Dotted Lines Set EF.  I cut the solid piece of TH Detailed Butterflies in dotted vellum then added the outline.  My sentiment is Raisin Boat Flourishing Thoughts.  A few Echo Park enamel dots finished it off. 

We'd love to have you join us at Cardz 4 Galz!

Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day! 

I miss you - C4G #256

 Happy Thursday!  It's time for a new challenge at Cards 4 Galz!   The theme is "scenic" which means we want you to create a scene or use a scenic paper/topper. 

I ink blended my panel with TH peeled paint, mustard seed, ripe persimmon, and barn door using a circle mask for the moon.  (I need to work on my ink blending1)  Then I stamped DRS Designs Summer's End Tree.  My sentiment is Raisin Boat You Said It!  The button is PaperTrey Ink Buttoned Up #1. 

We'd love you have you come play along at Cards 4 Galz!

Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day! 

Plaid tree Christmas - SCC #175

Hello!  It is August 1 and time for a new challenge at Sparkles Christmas Challenge!  I got to choose our theme this month and chose "include a tree" which is pretty easy for a Christmas card! :). 

Here is my card...

I inked the Kraft panel through Echo Park Star Bright stencil.  My trees are MFT Cool Christmas cut from random plaid paper from my Christmas paper stash.  The sentiment is from Concord & 9th Yuletide Ornament.  

Challenges:

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #760 - Christmas

ABC Christmas N or O - Non-Christmas stash or One layer card (I used a non-Christmas stencil) 

The Holly and the Ivy #188 - AG Christmas 

This year is flying by, so come play along at Sparkles Christmas Challenge and work on your Christmas card stash! 

Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day! 

Thinking of you - C4G #255

Hello!  It's time for our new challenge at Cards 4 Galz!  The theme is "fun fold."  I made an easel card a couple of challenges ago (that's my go-to fun fold), so I wanted to make a different fold this time... a slimline gate fold with extra panels...   

I found the instructions for this card on YouTube HERE at about the 10:50 minute mark. 

I used a Kraft base.  My paper is K&Co Julianne.  The 3D flower is TH Tattered Flowers cut from the BG paper.  My sentiment is Scrapbook.com Homemade Essentials. 

The inside.

The view of the back when it's opened.  

(Oops!!  I now see that forgot to add my "made by..." stamp.)

There are so many fun (and easy) folds, so please make your favorite and join us at Cards 4 Galz! 

Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day! 

Happy forevering - C4G #254

 Time for a new challenge at Cardz 4 Galz!  Summertime often means wedding season, so I've been busy creating wedding cards.  "Wedding" (or wedding anniversary) is our theme this challenge, so here is one of the cards I made...

This was pretty simple to make, but it is still very pretty.  My image is Happy Forevering from Colorado Craft Co.  I colored it, added the sentiment, cut it out, and all done.  

Challenges:

Word Art Wednesday #706-707 - AG family friendly
Heart's Quest Celebration of Love #7 - BEWAS (mine is wedding)
Addicted to Stamps and More #496 - Make your mark (I used Spectrum Noir markers)  

Please come play along at Cardz 4 Galz!  

Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day! 

Sparkle & joy - SSC #174

 Happy Canada Day to my family and friends!! 

Being the first day of the month means it’s time for a new challenge at Sparkles Christmas Challenge!  This month, our theme is “Christmas sparkle.” 

Here’s my sparkling card… (you can see the sparkle better in the closeup 3rd pic.)

I am not a fan of glitter, but I do like shimmer and shine and sparkle.  I started by making a top fold card in black.  I cut Poppystamps Pointy Lace Plate in silver and added it to the card. I cut out the Poppystamps Delicate Poinsettias with DCWV Hippie Chic sparkly cardstock.  My sentiment is from a set that I purchased when I started card making in 2011... back when I didn't pay attention to who made it. ;)

We'd love to have you come play along at Sparkles Christmas Challenge!  

Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day! 

In a tent - C4G #253

Happy Thursday!  It's time for a new challenge at Cardz 4 Galz!  

Our theme is "welcome summer" which includes anything summer related.  I went camping several times in the summer growing up, so when I saw this digi in my stash of images, I knew it was perfect for this challenge...

I believe my image is Doodle Pantry.  (I have a whole box of printed digis waiting to be used!)  My paper is We R Memory Keepers Sunsplashed.  I added greenery from a MS punch and a few Prima flowers. 

Note I said I went camping many times as a child.  As an adult, we tried it a couple of times... it's a LOT or work to get everything ready!! I appreciate all the work my parents put into it!  but I have to say that I now prefer a hotel or timeshare. LOL

Please come play along at Cardz 4 Galz!  

Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day!! 

A friendly easel card - C4G #252

It's time for a new challenge at Cardz 4 Galz!  This time, I got to chose the theme, and we are making easel cards! :)  

Here is mine...

It was a fun and very easy card to make.  (Link to instructions below.)  My paper, including the main image/sentiment, is Carta Bella My Favorite Things.  My inside sentiment is Creative Worship Heartfelt Thoughts.  I fussy cut a flower and used a foam dot to raise it so it would hold the folded panel upright. 

 I found the instructions in this Youtube video... Beautiful World Easel Card. 

Please come play along at Cardz 4 Galz!  I think that easel cards are so pretty yet are very easy to make! 

Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day! 

Merry - SCC #173

 It's June!!  Time for a new challenge at Sparkles Christmas Challenge!  Our theme for this month asks that you "include the word merry" which is pretty easy when making Christmas cards! :)

Here's my card...

Ardyth - a wonderful card maker - has developed a technique for card making called LIMES.  It's a great way to use the inspiration of another's card without CASEing it.  (I've had a card pinned for along time and used it as my inspiration.  It's the second card in this post.) 

I trimmed down the musical paper and inked the edges.  My "merry" is Hero Arts Merry Stamp & Cut.  My trees are Poppystamps Evergreen Trio, and I inked the branches with white pigment ink.  "Christmas" is from a "Happy Christmas" die that I use often.  At that point I felt it needed a little more, so I added the punched snowflakes. 

We'd love to have you come play along with us at Sparkles Christmas Challenge!

Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day! 

Dimensional birthday - C4G #251

Time again for a new challenge at Cardz 4 Galz!  Our them is "floral frenzy"!  

Here's my card... It's actually my daughter in law's birthday card. :)

The flowers on my background are Altenew Sweet Spring Stencil.  I splashed some watercolor on the panel.  I then cut out the letters for "happy" and layered them over some fun foam for dimension.  The pic below shows what it looks like IRL better.  "birthday" is from Penny Black Your Day that I trimmed the "happy" off of.  

Please come play along with us and show off your floral stamps or dies or papers!

Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day! 

You are in my thoughts & prayers - C4G #250

It's time for a new challenge at Cardz 4 Galz!  Our theme is "things with wings - real or fantasy" for this challenge.  Here are my winged things... ;)

I started with a piece of paper from my "leftovers" (random sheets from paper pads) and inked the edge with black ink.  I heat embossed my sentiment from Creative Worship (formerly Sweet n Sassy Stamps) Heartfelt Thoughts.  My butterflies are Sizzix Thinlits TH Detailed Butterflies.  

We'd love to have you come play along with us at Cardz 4 Galz! 

Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day! 

A tulip bouquet - C4G #249

 It is time for a new challenge at Cardz 4 Galz!  For this challenge, our theme is "flowers."   That's a very easy theme!  I don't create many cards that don't have at least a small flower. :) 

Here are my flowers...

I have made few trips to Joann to see what deals are to be had as they are closing, and these tulips are one of my finds.  It's Hero Arts Layering Tulip Bouquet Stencil.  (Now the matching stamp and die set are on my wish list!)  I ink blended with TH Distress Oxide Inks.  The panels are cut out with Stitched Scalloped Rectangles, and my sentiment is Creative Worship Stamps (formerly Sweet n Sassy Stamps) Script Sentiments. 

Grab your flower stamps or dies or embellishments and come play along with us at Cardz 4 Galz! 

Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day!!

Fill your stocking - SCC #172

 A new month and a new challenge at Sparkles Christmas Challenge!  Our theme is "Christmas stocking."  

Here is my stocking...

I realized that I don't have a stocking die or stamps, so I hand cut this one.  My paper is Carta Bella A Wonderful Christmas.  I put a piece of vellum behind the stocking so it would stand out better against the plaid.  My sentiment is Hero Arts Merry Stamp & Cut.  A couple of branches from a MS punch and a few adhesive dots finished it off.  

We'd love to have you come play along with us at Sparkles Christmas Challenge!

Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day! 

Art deco happy birthday - C4G #248

 Happy Thursday to you!  It's time for our new challenge at Cardz 4 Galz!  Our theme for this challenge is "Art Deco."  

Here's my card...

I was wondering how/what to make for this theme when I remembered that I had Poppystamps Art Deco Birthday Greetings stamp set.  I started by making the BG using Paper Rose Abstract Trees stencil as a stamp with VersaMark and gold embossing powder.  I heat embossed the sentiment is gold and added a strip of gold behind the top and bottom.  I put a layer of foam behind it for some dimension.  I liked it, but it didn't necessarily look like it was for a gal, so I added Cheapo Dies Clover Flourish die cut in gold.  

Challenges:
Word Power Apr 2025 - sentiment as focus
Allsorts Challenge #821 - stencils. masks, or anything goes (I used a stencil as a stamp, but if that's not ok, this is anything goes)
Aud Sentiments #324 - embossing and/or flowers + a sentiment (I heat embossed my background and sentiment) 
A Cut Above: April - anything goes but must use die cut 

We'd love to have you join us for this challenge at Cardz 4 Galz! 

Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day! 

Butterfly hello - C4G #247

 Happy Thursday to you!  It's time for a new challenge at Cardz 4 Galz!  Our theme is "stripes."  Here is my card...

The striped paper is MME Breeze Fun Day Today.  My butterflies are Tim Holtz Detailed Butterflies.  The branch they are sitting on is from Sizzix TH Small Tattered Flowers.  The "hello" is Memory Box Hello Banner Script.  

We'd love to see what you create with stripes, so come play along at Cardz 4 Galz! 

Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day! 

A green Christmas - SCC #171

It's April 1st, and I'm not fooling! :)  

It's time for a new challenge at Sparkles Christmas Challenge!  Unfortunately, I've had many green Christmases, but that's not what I'm talking about... our challenge theme this month is Christmas foliage.  (I have to admit that I had to look up to see if flowers were considered to be foliage.  Sadly, they are not.)  So we want to see your greenery. 

Here's my card...

My BG paper is a scrap that was sitting on my desk.  My wreath is made from a MS branch punch and Poppystamps Orchard Leaves cut from a variety of green papers.  The "berries" are the leftover dots from a die.  The bow is Poppystamps Grosgrain Ribbon Bos and the sentiment is Poppystamps Small Freestyle Merry Christmas. 

We hope you find time to come play along with us this month at Sparkles Christmas Challenge!  

Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day!