LTPP July 26

 We are already into July with a new challenge at
Love Those Pretty Papers
which is a challenge that is all about using your pretty papers.

Though we are an ANYTHING GOES challenge as long as you use your
papers we always have an OPTIONAL theme for inspiration and this month it is
COASTAL!

For my themed card I used a paper from Best Creations Ocean Breeze,
this paper was made in Taiwan, you don't see that often do you?

I added a few fun little clouds cut from Memory Box Cloud Bank,
a few IO seagulls already cut and in my spare parts bin and
a sentiment from Sweet n' Sassy The Sea.

For my Anything goes card I used a newly
purchased (last year) paper Crimson Petals.
This package has 16 5x5 pages of beautiful floral designs
all in the pretty crimson colors.  Looks like I can make
15 more pretty cards with it!
I also added a die cut sentiment from Tonic.

Hope to see YOU over at

Love Those Pretty Papers!

Entering the following fun challenges:

The Card Concept 228A.... Summer By The Sea
(Clean and Layered Style)

Welcome Little One

 A new month, a new challenge at
Love Those Pretty Papers
the challenge that is all about using those pretty papers
we all seem to have and hoard!

We are an anything goes challenge using your papers with
an always OPTIONAL theme and this month it is
PASTELS.

I used the cutest paper from Craft Consortium Little Ones.
Each and every sheet is as cute as the one before and there are
40 sheets in all!  All you see on my card is from
this paper pad other then the sentiment
and that is a Spellbinders Betterpress.

For my anything goes card I used a gorgeous
Brutus Monroe Secret Garden paper.
Each of these papers, both front and back will make a card
on their own without needing much more,
they are so beautiful!!  All I had to do was add my
Pink Fresh Studios sentiment.

So get out YOUR pretty papers,
we would LOVE to see them at our
Love Those Pretty Papers challenge!

Entering the following challenges:
Just Add Ink ....Patterned Paper~Animals

May Your Day Be Brighter

 Our challenge this month at Love Those Pretty Papers
has an OPTIONAL theme of Fancy Fold.

I had the bright idea to do a Z FOLD card, and there are several
different Z fold tutorials from easy to somewhat 'fancy'.

I opted to go the easy way.  When I was looking thru my paper pads
for something else I saw these prints and right away had an idea to use
this fun Impression Obsession die as it reminded me of the papers,
which by the way are Brutus Monroe Bunny Hugs.  This is a really small
paper pad that has only 12 sheets of paper in it, but all are so cute!!
The circle die is PFS Folk Edge Circles and the sentiment is Stampendous Hugs.

Here is the card closed.

Because we are an ANYTHING GOES challenge we also always make
an ATG card for even more inspiration!

This card is using some VERY old designer paper that I think I won
on a challenge when Joan's Garden's had her challenges going.
It is Anna Griffin Olivia Collection 2013, yikes, yes it IS 13 years old

and I think this is the first time I have used it, I think I honestly
didn't know what to do with it!!  The frame, sentiment and butterfly

are all from my 'spare parts' box.

We would love to have you get out your pretty paper pads and join us over
at Love Those Pretty Papers!!

Entering the following challenges:
Card #1
Creative Creases .... Fancy Fold
Creative Knockouts .... Two or more Patterned Papers ( I used 2)
Allsorts .... Anything But A square

Card #2

Moving Along With The Times .... One or More Butterflies
Pearly Sparkles #119 .... One or More Butterflies

Happy Birthday & More

At Love Those Pretty Papers our challenge is all about getting out
those pretty papers you have either hoarded or neglected and
show them off in our challenge.

We are an ANYTHING GOES challenge with an OPTIONAL twist
of SPRING FLOWERS.

I was always one when using my pretty papers to pretty much just 'slapping' 
it on the front of my A2 card so this challenge has been good for me to
rethink of how I use my papers.  Pinterest has been a big help in that too
which is where I saw the designs for my two cards.

For my card using the 'twist' I used an old SU embossing folder  and beautiful paper
from Little Birdie Artsy Blooms.  This 6x6 pad is full of 12 beautiful
designs in floral prints.  I also added a few of my handmade flowers,
mostly Spellbinders Bold Blooms.  The pretty little doily is
from Cottage Cutz, the sentiment is Stampendous Hugs Sentiments.

My anything goes card uses a Honey Bee Spring Melody EB folder.

The paper is Craft Consortium Bluebells and Buttercups.

The butterfly is Cheapo Dies and the sentiment is

Spellbinders Garden Favorites.

I sometimes wonder if I will ever use up my pretty papers,
and that being said before writing this up (in 2025)
 I just ordered four new Brutus Monroe 6x6 pads,
five 12x12 single sheets and a pack of card stock.  

I just can't resist pretty papers.

We hope you will join us at Love Those Pretty Papers!!

Entering the following challenges:

Crafty Calendar .... Dies/Punches
Crafty Catz #710 .... ATG
Craft Rocket #135 .... Layer It Up
Just Us Girls #817 .... Die Week Spring/Easter

Happy Thoughts

 It's time for another Love Those Pretty Papers challenge
with our OPTIONAL theme of CIRCLES.
I have a stack of paper pads that are close to being used up
and that is where my 'circle' paper is from,
a Simple Stories Make It Merry pad.
The circle I stamped on and the die cut underneath all came from
my 'white' spare parts container. 
The stamp is one I purchased from Spellbinders at one of their famous
warehouse sales and is Butterfly Burst Mar 2023 stamp of the month.
I added a few enamel dots, (yes, I am trying to use them up too)!

Because the theme is OPTIONAL and the challenge is an anything goes challenge
we also make an anything goes card.

I used my Cheery Lynn Step card die since it was still sitting out from a
previous use along with a VERY old Stampin' Up designer paper
which you might have yourself!
I really wanted the paper to take center stage so I just added
a few of my already made flowers and a sentiment stamped
from Pink Fresh Simply Sentiments 'Hello'.

The side and inside view of the card.

We would love to see YOUR pretty papers over at
Love Those Pretty Papers.

Entering the following challenges:

Creative Creases .... Fancy/Fun Fold

Picked Posies

 At Love Those Pretty Papers challenge we give you an
excellent opportunity to use your pretty papers.

We are an 'anything goes' challenge with an OPTIONAL
monthly theme and this month it is POLKA DOTS.
Who doesn't LOVE polka dots??

Because I have so many scrap pieces of designer papers
and also because this is 'my' year I am trying to use some of my
things up, both my cards were made with scrap pieces of designer papers.

The first card I created using the polka dot theme and adding
Concord & 9th already created Picked Posies.
I have several of these in various colors already made and it's time
I started using them up.  The polka dot butterflies had taken 'flight'
on my desk so they landed on this card as well!
The sentiment is a Spellbinders Betterpress.

For my second 'anything goes' card, I had fished this piece of embossed
hearts vellum out long ago to use and had a slightly smaller then A2
card base to use so it worked perfectly for that.  The heart balloons
and love sentiment are from a 2024 Recollections stickers pack.
The oval they are resting on is from my 'pinks' spare parts container
as is the tiny red butterfly.
That vellum was little bit difficult to photograph.

So, get out those pretty papers and come and join us at
Love Those Pretty Papers!!

Entering the following challenges:
Die Cut Diva's .... Red and/or Pink

Make A Wish

I love our challenge at Love Those Pretty Papers as it is required
to pull out those pretty papers and create with them!
We are an ANYTHING GOES challenge with the use of papers
but always have an OPTIONAL theme and for January it is
SNOWMAN.

For my snowman card I used a fun paper I received free with an order from scrapbookdotcom.  Its a pad with fun holiday colors of
pinks, oranges and teals.  It's a small pad 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 perfect for card fronts.  I also die cut a Sue Wilson Build A Snowman die,
one I haven't used for a very long time.  This die comes with several
options to 'dress' your snowman...fun!  The sentiment is
a Spellbinders Betterpress.

For my ANYTHING GOES card I had a piece of Brutus Monroe
Butterfly paper left over along with a textured scrap of orange and decided to
put the two together along with an already embossed scrap piece
from my 'parts' box.  The sentiment is a Spellbinders Betterpress.

So, get out your pretty papers and come and join us
at our fun Love Those Pretty Papers challenge!

Santa Gift Card Holders

Hello friends, it's time to get those pretty designer papers out
you have been neglecting for so long and join us at
Love Those Pretty Papers challenge!

Our OPTIONAL theme is SANTA!!
But you can WOW us with anything as long as we see
those pretty papers being used!

I made these Santa money/gift holders using a die from
Art Impressions and LOTS of scraps of my pretty Christmas papers,
LOTS (the entire backs) more of these papers show on the back then they do the front
but I already had them bagged before I got pictures of their backs
but I think you get the idea!

Anything Goes:

Being the 'season' I created a second Christmas card
using some pretty papers from Mintay Winterland.
The die cut is Tutti Designs Poinsettia corner and the
large and fun sentiment is The Ton's Styled Christmas Sentiments.

I hope you will come and play with us at
Love Those Pretty Papers and show us what you have,
we can't wait to see it!!

Entering the following challenges:
Sparkles Christmas Challenge #179 .... Poinsettia
Jingle Belles ....ATG Christmas
Christmas Crafts All Year Long .... Santa Claus is Coming To Town
If You Gave A Crafter A Cookie .... Time For Santa

Be Merry

 Today is a new challenge at
Love Those Pretty Papers
where the challenge is to use all those pretty designer papers you have
been neglecting or hoarding !!
Our OPTIONAL them is Forest Critters!
But we are an Anything Goes challenge so you can create
anything as long as you use your pretty papers
as your 'main' focus, meaning NOT just a small piece of
designer paper but a lot of DS paper present,
make sense?  

My card came together pretty quickly as I had a scrap of
Martha Stewart left over paper from another project 
sitting on my work desk just waiting to be used.
So, I based my card on that scrap.
For my base I used Eco Parks Have a Holly Jolly Christmas paper.
The scenic paper was popped up as well as my IO deer.

For my anything goes card I used some very old paper from
a pad of My Minds Eye Fine and Dandy (2011).
I have about 20 pads pulled out with just a few remaining
papers in them to use up and this is one of them!

Most of what I used I pulled from my 'blue' stash of
already die cut pieces so am not sure of the name of
each and every piece I used.  But, the frame and birdhouse
are Impression Obsession, the bird is Memory Box
Meadowbird Branch (2015).  The scalloped edge on the 
bird paper is a Sunny Studios die.

So, get out all those pretty papers you have
and come and join us for some
Love Those Pretty Papers fun!!

October 2025 Halloween Colors

 Hello friends, we are into another month at
Love Those Pretty Papers  where you must use your designer papers.
Our OPTIONAL theme is Halloween Colors.

I opted to use a bit of purples and orange an make a more 'fall-ish'
card then a Halloween one due to the fact that from being on the TOB
team I have more then plenty of Halloween cards for the year.

I used a pretty plaid gold embossed paper from Memory Box
Gladiola Plaid that I won from them at one of their fun challenges,
die cut with a Waffle Flower Lacy Layers 2 die..
The image is (I think) is an old Flourishes stamp set that I first stamped
with Versamark them embossed with SNS Coffee EB powder.
The image was colored with Olo markers and the other pieces came from my 'spare parts' bin.

I have for my 'anything goes' card a cute and fun hen die cut and layered together
that I purchased from Cottage Cutz Folk Art Hen.  I used two different
pieces of paper from Carta Bella Country Kitchen, one piece being die cut with
Lattice Beauty Edger.  The sentiment is stamped on a Sizzix die and I added
a few bits of 'bling' to it.

I think she is pretty 'cool' hen and I love how colorful she is!
I have several of their folk art dies that I purchased at one of their
fabulous sales they have now and then.  Hope to see your Pretty Papers at our challenge too!

Entering the following challenges:
Crafty Cat Catz #701 .... ATG/Optional fall or Autumn Colors
Cut It Up Challenge .... Use More Then One Die
Craft Rocket #130 ....Fall/Halloween
Art Nudge .... Inspired by the Colorful Roosters

LTPP September 2025 Favorite Brand of Paper

Hello friends, time to get those pretty papers you have been hoarding and join
our Love Those Pretty Papers challenge.
Our OPTIONAL theme is  Your Favorite brand of paper and WHY!
However, we are an anything goes challenge as long
as you use your pretty papers.

That's a hard one for me as I have lots and lots of brands that I
dearly love but I went with one that I have adored for years and that 
is MINTAY, (why?) it is a gorgeous paper from Poland with page
after page of beauty in the best quality.  I used to have everyone
they ever came out with but slowed down buying it this last year.
I also love P13 also a paper from Poland and Paper Rose has gorgeous papers
and I could go on and on, I used to be a sewer and paper has always
reminded me of pretty fabric, hence my buying so much of it.
My card is Mintay Lavender Farm, you can tell by the name  how gorgeous it must be.
I let the paper do all the work and added a Spellbinders sentiment and a few
Sue Wilson butterflies and pearls.

For my anything goes card I used a cute and never been
used before Craft Consortium Bluebells & Buttercups (2021)to
create a child's card.  I also have the stamps that go with this
paper and of course haven't used yet either.  The image is part of 
the paper pack.

This challenge is great as it challenges you to use
all those pretty papers if like me you have been hoarding
for years! 

Entering the following challenges:
The Crafters Cafe .... Designer Paper
Crafty Animals .... ATG

Love Those Pretty Papers August Challenge

 Hello friends, sad to say but our summer is winding down
but not at Love Those Pretty Papers as our OPTIONAL theme is
SUMMERTIME!

Our challenge is always an Anything Goes challenge with the option to
use our theme, but it is required that you showcase those pretty papers!

Following the theme I used some of my favorite designer papers from
Mintay's Berrylicious 6x6 paper pad., isn't that the sweetest paper?  
I saw this design on Pinterest last year
and made a card for our Word Power challenge HERE.
I liked the design so much I chose to do it again and it's a fabulous
way to use and showcase your beautiful papers
(easy to mail too).
I'm not sure of whose the sentiment is as it was given to me by a friend
that gave up card making but thought it fit my little scene perfectly,
but I sure wish I had moved it a bit down before I stamped it!

For my anything goes card I used a pretty paper from
Doodlebug Love Notes, a pad that is almost gone and I am
trying to use up.  I die cut the paper with a Waffle Flower lacy
die, then  used a Lisa Horton Roses embossing folder that I cut
apart to make three different cards, will post the others at a later date.
I  added a The Ton Easy Expressions sentiment.

Come and join us, we would love to see YOUR
pretty papers at our challenge!!

Happy Birthday and More

 Can you believe we are into July already?  The months surely seem
to fly by and it will be winter before we know it, but luckily we still
are having summer and our Love Those Pretty Papers challenge
where our OPTIONAL theme is Happy Birthday, an easy theme
as I think birthday cards are the most needed!

For the theme of Birthdays I used a beautiful paper pad from
Paper Rose 'Wild Poppies'.  This pad is full of gorgeous poppy designed paper
plus many more.  I die cut a Tutti Designs postage die and stamped my
Sparkle N Sprinkle Poppies on it then colored in with Copics.
I had the little strip I used for my sentiment in my 'spare parts' bin
and stamped my sentiment with a Pretty Pink Post Simple Sentiments stamp.

For my 'Anything Goes' card I once again used beautiful paper from
Paper Rose, it is Bluebird Song, a pad full of the most beautiful bluebird sheets!
The frame is a Sizzix Bigz die 'Decor Frames'.  within the frame is a small
postage die that I perched my new Memory Box Bird Blossom on,
though the head piece is to be glued on the 'back' of the bird not the front as I have, 
whoops, I wondered why that piece covered up his eye, but mistake or not
I still think it's the cutest little birdie!
The sentiment is The Ton Easy Expressions.

Have lots of pretty papers?  Then come and join us at our
Love Those Pretty Papers challenge!

To A Special Couple

 Hello friends, at Love Those Pretty Papers challenge we have an
OPTIONAL theme of WEDDINGS.
I don't know about you but I can certainly use some wedding cards on hand.
You can create anything goes but we do require you to use designer papers.

I started with an old 12x12 paper pack from The Paper Studio called Pearl
that I picked up a long time ago (2011) at Hobbylobby.  It is full of  pretty pearl like shiny papers
slightly embossed with  a pearl like look.  The perfect papers for a wedding.
I used a Tutti Designs Dove Circle, a sentiment from Heartfelt Designs stamped on a first time used Stampin' Up framelets die 
and a few pearls.

For my anything goes card I figured as long as I had a wedding card
I might as well make an anniversary card too.
It's a simple card but it sure shows the pretty designer paper well.
The paper is Mintay's Antique Shop.  I used a frame from IO to frame some of the gorgeous roses on the paper, added a sentiment
I created using a Spellbinders Betterpress plate and die,
added some Pink Fresh Studio Pixie gems for sparkle.

Come on over and join us for some pretty paper fun!!

Entering the following challenges:

Word Art Wednesday....ATG

Florals At Love Those Pretty Papers

 Hello friends, our monthly OPTIONAL theme at
Love Those Pretty Papers is FLORALS!

We are a challenge where you get to quit hoarding those beautiful
papers you have and make some pretty creations!
Our theme is optional so you can create anything with your designer papers.

For our optional theme I pulled out two different Waffle Flower postage dies.
One cuts the scalloped 'frame' you see and one cuts the different postage shapes
that you can then 'piece' back in.  I used a gorgeous Paper Rose 6x6 pad
called Purple Haze, full of all kinds of pretty purple/lavender papers.
All the little stamped extras are postage stamps from Waffle Flower.

Anything Goes:

For my anything goes card I guess I kind of went with florals
again, I guess this time of year it's hard not to think of flowers!
I saw this design on Pinterest HERE and thought it was so
beautiful that I had to give it a try and love how it turned out.
I didn't use any of the measurements given but made an A2
card.  Doesn't it look like the butterfly is added to the embossed panel (?), well it isn't, it is actually cut out of the panel
using the 'negative' so the paper beneath shows through,
pretty clever.  I used a mix of products for this card,
Sizzix butterfly, Honey Bee Spring Medley embossing folder,
The Ton Easy Expressions sentiment, and the paper is
Paper Rose Rainbow Twirl.

I hope these cards inspire YOU to join in our fun
Love Those Pretty Papers challenge!

Entering the following challenges:
Elliebelle's Garden Party #2 .... Anything Garden
Craft Rocket Challenges .... Flowers
Simon Says Wednesday .... ATG

Fancy Fold Birthday Card

 Hello Friends and Happy April!
It's time to pull out all those pretty papers you have been hoarding
and come and join our challenge at
Love Those Pretty Papers.

We have an OPTIONAL theme of SPRINGTIME
but you can create anything new with your papers.

I found a fun fancy fold card on Pinterest and followed it to a blog HERE
and watched her video of how to do it.  I have to say it is pretty clever and
also pretty easy once you get the hang of the first one.

My main papers are from the gorgeous pad of Mintay Beauty In Bloom,
it is covered in daffodils one of my favorite Spring flowers
so it certainly spoke Springtime to me.  The other papers came from my
stash of scraps of which I have many!  The stamp set is a favorite one
from Simon Says Stamp Vintage Garden.   The inside sentiment is 
a Stampendous Birthday Wish set.

The die cut I used for the front
cut out is Spellbinders Labels Four.
The most important thing I learned is that to make this card is you need to use stacking dies for the cut out piece.

Inside of card looking through the front cut out.

How the front piece opens to the inside.

For MY anything goes card I made a 'shopping bag
gift card/money holder' that I saw on youtube HERE.
Once you get the hang of this it is really easy and fun.
The first one I did I had to watch the video and stop it a
few times to get it correct, but once doing it the 'correct'
way it is pretty easy.  My papers came out of my 12x12 stash
and they might be Stampin Up, not sure anymore as my 12x12
papers are OLD!    Since you can make these bags ahead and will
pretty much fit in any A2 card you can make them ahead and use them as needed.  I think these will be my 2025 gift cards for
my grands this year.  I added a paper doily that was just sitting here
begging to be used and some of my homemade flowers
and a few gems.

The inside of the card, the bag lies flat to mail.

Come on over to our fun challenge as it gives you the
opportunity to use some of your own paper hoard!

We have a Top winner and also a Top 3 and it just might be YOU!

Entering the following challenges:
Creative Creases #102 .... ATG
Die Cut Diva's ....Flowers
Daisy Chain #95 .... Not Square

Make A Wish

 Hello friends, we are into March already and are going strong
at Love Those Pretty Papers where our challenge is to get all
those pretty papers out you have been hoarding and put theme to use.

We are an Anything Goes challenge but always have an optional theme
and today it is Rainbow and/or Rainbow Colors.

I have two cards to for this challenge, the first one using the 'optional' theme.
All my papers used came from the Doodlebug 'lots o' luck' paper pack (2018).
I just added a few die cuts from Tutti Designs and Cherry Lynn Designs for the banner. 
I added a few tiny hearts pulled form my 'red' stash of already die cuts.
I think this will make a fun birthday card!

My second card is for the 'anything goes' choice of our challenge also
using Doodlebug papers, this time from 'love notes' (2019).
The flower stamp is Concord & 9th Flowers A La Carte.
Sentiment is a Spellbinders Betterpress.

I did a fun fancy fold/technique I found on Pinterest.
the polka dot portion you see folds back for the card to open up,
a pretty cute design called 'the back fold'.
You can find the instructions here if you want to try one of your own.

Get out YOUR pretty papers and come on over
and have some pretty fun with us!

Entering the following challenges:
Creative Creases .....ATG With A Fun Fold

Happy Birthday Cards

 Hello friends, it's that time again for a new monthly challenge at
Love Those Pretty Papers.
It's all about pulling all those beautiful designer papers out
and put them to use!
We are an anything goes challenge with an
OPTIONAL theme of RED his month.

For my red card (inspired by the optional theme)
I saw a card I liked on Pinterest and found there was a tutorial HERE.
I think there is a bit of a 'learning' curve here
(one which I am still working on to 'perfect')
and also think there are now dies for this cut
which would make it a whole lot easier!

By doing this technique you end up with 2 cards.
The papers I used are an older SU one (flower print)
and a Doodlebug Puppy Love (hearts).
The sentiment and center die cuts are Sizzix Layered Labels
which comes with the dies and the stamps. 
I just love the shapes of the cute dies!

Second card (my trial & error card):

For my anything goes card I created another birthday
card as I seem to need those the most.  I came across this
design using designer paper HERE .  I thought it was a 
great design to use some of the pretty papers.
My papers are Prima's Nature Lover.  I added a few
'inked' elements from my already die cut stash,
I have lots of those that I am trying to use up before cutting
anything else, we will see how that woks out!
The sentiment strip is Spellbinders Betterpress.

Now it's your turn to get out those pretty papers and
come on over and have some fun with us!

Also wanted to add that as crazy as Dar and I are we
have a new challenge starting on February 3rd and the 
first Monday of every month after. It is called
The Neglected Stuff, just follow the link and read all about it!!

Fun Fold at Love Those Pretty Papers

Hello friends, at Love Those Pretty Papers this January we have an
OPTIONAL theme of a Fun/Fancy Fold card!

I saw a video for this card (Fun Fold Corner Tuck)
but changed it to make it an A2 card.
I make a lot of 'top' open cards and that is what I did with this one
forgetting it was to be a 'side' open...whoops...I blame it on my
shingles pain while I was creating it as that pain is enough to make
you forget your name!  My second mistake was not jotting down the
measurements as I was making it into an A2 card!
All the papers used for this card are from Echo Park's 
Be Happy 6x6 paper pad.

Here is the link for the 'real' measurements if you want to try one yourself:

Fun Fold Corner Tuck you can find the video HERE

The front of the card that 'folds open' also tucks down into the corner
to keep it closed!  I decorated my card front with a few of my pre-made 
blooms from Spellbinders.  The sentiment is Stampendus!

I left the inside panel blank to write your own message, as you can see
this card has LOTS of layers

Here it is with the top flap opened up.

Because we are an anything goes challenge using your designer paper

we also create an 'Anything Goes' card for inspiration.

This is a card I created for a grandson's 21st birthday.
He got a big kick out of it and was showing everybody LOL!

I had seen this stamp set funky fossil 'Chatty Bar' on someone else's
blog and knew it would make some crazy fun 'adult' cards!
There are five fun images and 5 fun sentiments in the set.
I had to have this fun new set and hunted it down!
The background paper is Pink & Main It's A Party set.

So, let loose with some of those pretty papers and come on over to
Love Those Pretty Papers and have some fun with us!

Entering the following fun challenges:
Allsorts #814 .... ATG or Matching Pairs
Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers .... NBUS
NBUS .... Never Before Used Schtuff
Creative Creases .... Fun Fold