Birthday Balloons

 It's time for a new challenge at Double D and our theme is a 
fun and easy one:

BIRTHDAY BALLOONS

It was fun to get go through all my balloon stamps, dies and stencils,
though a hard decision of which one to use.
I finally settled on this never been used before Craft Consortium Special day.
It stamps really nice and then was colored in with Copics.
The background paper is from a pad I am trying to use up with jus ta few sheets left
DCWV The Birthday Stack, I am now down to 3 sheets!!
The sentiment is part of the stamp set, it comes with 3 sentiments, a tag, bee
and an extra balloon besides the one I used.

Make sure to visit Double D and see all the pretty and fun
Birthday Balloons from my teamies!!

Peace On Earth Challenge #48

It's time for a new challenge over at Peace On Earth
and we have a very snowy mood board for inspiration
but you can create anything as long as it is Christmas! 

This card is not one I would normally do as I am not real fond of using

scenes that are already created 
(I prefer to use my stamps, dies and stencils)!
But I save all my Christmas cards we receive and usually make gift
tags from them.  This one though had the most beautiful snowy scene on it
which I felt was perfect for our mood board, I framed it with a negative die cut panel
I had saved figuring it would come in handy some day and today was the day!
I mounted it on navy blue card then added a few silver matte half pearls.  It is very sparkle-y in real life!

Make sure to visit Peace On Earth (we all need a little peace in our lives)
and see all the pretty creations from our teams!

TOB September Mid Month Reminder

We are half way our month for our challenge at
TWO OLD BATS
but you still have a couple weeks to join in.
Keep in mind with 25 or MORE players we have a fun prize to give away!

We have a fun inspiration board but you can create anything as long as
it is Halloween themed! 

 Inspiration Board

I let the top right corner inspire me for this card, I thought the Mr. Pumpkin
man was kind of cute!  I used a never been used before Hampton Art Graphic 45
stamp.  The card base is a mere 4 1/2 x 4 1/2 square card.

Hope to see YOU over at TWO OLD BATS!!

Etch A Sketch

It's time for a new challenge theme at a Barrel of Monkeys
where kids toys and /or games are always the theme.
Let the toy inspire you, maybe it's the colors the shape, the shine
ot whatever YOU see to inspire.

This month it is the Etch A Sketch.
Remember those as a kid?  I think we all had one
but have to admit I was never very good at it!

I let the red 'frame' and the 'gray' screen inspire me for my card.
The red frame was already die cut in my mountains of ready to use die cuts
and the flowers are from my already made Spellbinders flower stash!
The sentiment is Sizzix 'hello sunshine' stamp set and first time I have used it,
I liked it's big size to fit in my frame.
The background paper is from my 'snippet's of scrap papers.

We would love to see YOU over at A Barrel of Monkeys
with your interpretation of our challenge!

Beautiful Blossoms September Challenge

A new challenge starts today at Beautiful Blossoms
and we have a pretty inspiration board but you can create anything
as long as you have made blossoms your focal point! 

I mainly went the red, pinks and green color combos for my card.
I used a new to me stamp, stencil and die set from Pink Fresh Studio
Wonderful In Every Way which I think was released in March 23.
The sentiment is from the same set.
After I stamped it, I used the stencils for coloring it in
which made me aware that I need to purchase some good red ink
graduating colors for layering stenciling.  I ended up having to use a combination
of dye and pigment inks to get the colors I needed
and it seemed to work out okay, but red inks are definitely on my
'to purchase' list for sure!

The embossing folder behind my flower is a real beauty,
I wish you could see the entire beauty of it but I do like 
how well it works with my flower.  It is from the Spellbinders
3D club Jan 23 called Floral Archway.  I cut it in half to accommodate my card

and now have another pretty half to use on something else.

Come and visit us at Beautiful Blossoms and see all
the pretty blooming cards for the design team, 
you won't be disappointed!!

Entering the following challenges:

The Flower Challenge .... Use A Die

Word Art Wednesday .... ATG

Altenew Collaboration Challenge

 At The Sisterhood of Crafters  we are collaborating with ALTENEW for this months challenge with an
optional theme of DIES, or ANYTHING GOES.
Simple, right?  

Are you familiar with Altenew?
If not then head on over and take a peek at all they
have to offer, they have lots and lots of beautiful stamps, dies,
stencils, washi tape and even an awesome stamp wheel.
If you are familiar then you know what I am talking about
and you should head on over to to see all the NEW they have to offer!!

My Altenew card was created using 
Build A Garden Dancing Poppies.
This set comes with stamps, stencils, a mini blending brush
(they are a game changer) and the coordinating die.
I used the following Altenew inks for the poppies, 
Ruby Red, Coral Berry, Forest Glades, Frayed Leaf,  and Jet Black.
The background is an Altenew stencil Beach Towel Stripes
stenciled with Frosty Pink ink.

Got dies??  Then head on over to The Sisterhood
and join in all the fun with us, plus see all the fun
'dies' cards my 'sistah's have!

For my second card I once again used the 
Altenew Build A Garden Dancing Poppies
and Beach Towel Stripes Stencil.

Altenew is giving away a $50 gift certificate to
one lucky random winner and it could be YOU!!

Want to have even more fun?
Then join in the challenge at Altenew too
for even another chance to win a gift certificate!

Altenew Inspiration Challenge
(be sure to read THEIR challenge rules)

Thanks Altenew!!

Entering the following challenges:
The Flower Challenge .... Use A Die

Word Art Wednesday .... ATG
Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday .... ATG
AllSorts .... Die Cuts

Sketch 734

We have  anew sketch for you at Sketch Saturday
and I think you will find it to be a fun one.
Our 'optional' add on is: Primary Colors
I have never been great at doing sketches so that is why I joined 
the SS team, to take me out of my comfort zone 

My card was created entirely with all things from my stash, including the 
stamped and colored image (Love Bunny HMD11014),
even the red gingham paper was from my 'red'
snippets bag of papers!

I hope you will visit Sketch Saturday and have some fun and join in with us too!!

Entering the following challenges:
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge .... Stamp It
House Mouse & Friends ....Anything Goes

Sit and Watch The Leaves Turn

 Here we are already with the beginning of fall.
Our time/days sure seem to speed by, it seems the older you get
the faster is goes.

It also brings us to a new challenge today at
Can You Handle The Pressure
with an 'optional' twist of TREES!

I created a shaker card using a never been used before Sizzix
cut AND emboss folder.  It also comes with several little dies.

It is  Changing of the Leaves.  Why I haven't used it before is
beyond me as I think it's pretty neat!  

Join in our fun with us at Can You Handle The Pressure and
get those poor neglected embossing folders out and put to use!!

Fall Plaids

It's beginning to look like fall at Double D and getting into the FALL spirit
we want to see your 
FALL PLAIDS

I created this  fun mood board for some pretty fall inspiration,
don't you just love the cute kitty cat?!

I created my own fall plaid background using a panel I had already
stamped from Altenew's TARTAN stamp set,  I have had this panel stamped
for well over a year so think it is about time I put it to use!
I found an already die cut doily in my die cut stash and also

had the Spellbinders stitched flowers just waiting to be used.
The sentiment is from my newest and favorite Easy Expressions Stamp and Die
from The Ton.  I can't say enough how much I LOVE these sentiments, it's  a
two step stamping and one die cuts them all, so easy!!
I added a few Pink Fresh Studio half gold matte pearls and was done!

We would love to see your pretty fall plaids at Double D
and be sure to check out all the pretty designs from the team as well,
always lots of beautiful inspiration to be seen and a fun prize to one lucky winner too!!

Entering the following challenges:
Mix It Up .... Create Your Own Background
Little Red Wagon .... Square or Rectangle
Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday ....ATG
Word Art Wednesday .... ATG
Happy Little Stampers .... Birthday

Sending Lots of Love

A new Stencil Fun challenge starts today and we have an 'OPTIONAL' theme of FALL
but you can create anything as long as a stencil has been used!

For my FALL card I used The Greetery Mason Jar Filler stencils.
This is a pack of 4 stencils (2 sets) that can
'fill' your Mason jar.   I stamped and die cut my mason jar
then just simply used the twigs and leaf stencil to fill it.
It's hard to see but I also used a Nuvo glitter pen
to add sparkle to each leaf.
It has been a long while since I have used this set
and it was fun to pull it out again!

Anything Goes

For my anything goes card I used a stencil
that I have used a lot so am sure you will see it again
many times on my blog from Pink Fresh Studio.
It is Daisy Wreath a five layer stencil
that I also purchased the matching die to easily
die cut it out.  The sentiment is also from
Pink Fresh Studio.

We would LOVE to have YOU join us over at 
Stencil Fun
and there is a fabulous prize to be won from one
lucky random draw winner, so head on over, read the rules
and join in with Dar and I!!

September 2023 Triple B Challenge

Our new challenge at Triple B has been a hit but how could it not be with
the choice of birds~butterflies~blooms ?
We always have a fun and beautiful mood board for inspiration as well
and as we are moving into fall we have a pretty fall one for inspiration!

I did let the mood board inspire me with all the pretty fall colors and though
my card inspiration has been blooms for the most part I added a pretty bird for
the center of attention using a 'new to me' and never been used before
Cottage Cutz Garden Bird die .  As always, I used white card stock 'snippet's' to cut all my die cut pieces, then all were colored in with Copics!
I find these dies fun to work
with and they always make a beautiful card!

Come on over to Triple B for a bit more inspiration and meet our

talented guest designer as well!!

Entering the following fun challenges:
Snippets Playground .... Snippets
Die Cut Diva's .... ATG
Festive Friday ... Die Cuts~Yellow~Flowers

Peace On Earth Challenge #47

A new challenge starts today at Peace On Earth 
and we have a fun mood board for you,
just to inspire you but you can create anything you want as
long as it is Christmas themed!

I loved this mood board so it was very hard to choose
but I went with the bottom right snowflake cupcakes,
they looked so yummy I must of been in a cupcake mood!

I used my very neglected Cricut to cut my cupcake
and die cut Impression Obsession snowflakes that I brushed on glue
then sprinkled with SU Dazzling Diamonds glitter.

Once dry I sprayed the snowflakes with hairspray, a trick used to keep
the glitter where you want it and not all over the recipient!
The sentiment is also a die cut Impression Obsession die.
The paper is from an older pad of Basic Grey (2014) Evergreen paper.  The brown you see on the side that looks like ink is
actually part of the paper color.

We would love to have you join us at Peace On Earth
and just think, that will put you at least one card ahead for the holidays!!

Entering the following challenges:
Merry Little Christmas .... ATG Christmas

Sending Big Hugs

Outrageous Orange is our color this month at Colorful Options 
and we have a fun mood board for inspiration!

I created this card in July for this challenge using a layered stencil I had ordered
from The Ton in June called Posy Bouquet.  It is a small stencil 4x3 making it fit perfectly on

my A2 card.  The sentiment is also from The Ton Easy Expressions sets.
The inks used for the flowers are Simons Pawsitively Mandarin,
Peachy and Grapefruit.  The green inks are Altenew Firefly and Mountain Pine.
The frame I made by placing one Cottage Cutz eyelet die inside the other.
The checked paper is from Lawn Fawn.

We would love to see your orange creations over at Colorful Options
and always a fun giveaway prize to a random winner.

Entering the following fun challenges:
All Sorts .... ATG

 

TOB September Challenge

It's time again for our
Two Old Bats
Halloween challenge and we have a  super fun inspiration board for you! 
You are welcome though to create anything you want as long as it is 
Halloween themed!

  Inspiration Board

I couldn't resist those spooky sunflower skulls.
I stamped, colored, and hand cut a sunflower then found a spooky skull
to place in the center.

I die cut a black doily die for the sunflower to adhere to and used a
background paper from my huge Halloween paper stash!
The bat and sentiment are very old rub on's,
I am surprised that they even still worked lol!

Join in with us for our spooky fun at
Two Old Bats!

Entering the following challenges:
Halloween Crafts All Year Round .... ATG Halloween

Four Seasons September Fall

 Can you believe it is already September first?
It seems as you age the time just goes faster and faster.

We have a new challenge season at Four Seasons and it is FALL.
We want to see all your FALL projects and have a pretty mood board for inspiration.

I let the fall leaves inspire me using and OLD set of stamps from
JustRite, remember them?
The set is Shabby Chic Autumn Leaves .
I first die cut a rectangle, then using just the negative I inked a
background with some distress inks and then stamped over that.
The sentiment is from Sparkle N Sprinkles Autumn Girlfriends set.
A few gold 'gems' were added.

Take a visit to Four Seasons and see all the beautiful design team designs,
then why not join in with us too!!

Entering the following challenges:
Simon Says Wednesday .... ATG
Word Art Wednesdays .... ATG

Birthday Balloons

Hello and welcome to another challenge month at
Simply Clean & Simple!
This month our OPTIONAL theme is STENCILS.

For my card I chose a never been used before stencil I have had
for quite some time My Favorite Things Party Balloons.
I stenciled my balloons with Distress Inks 
Festive Berries, Squeezed Lemonade and Mermaid Lagoon.
The sentiment is from The Greetery Sentiment Suite Birthday.
That's it, clean and simple!!

Make sure to visit us at Simply Clean & Simple
and see all the fun stenciled inspiration from the design team!!

Entering the following challenges:
Simon Says Wednesday .... ATG
Seize The Birthday .... ATG Birthday

 

Poppies For You

 Hello Friends!
Today I am sharing a card I created especially for the
Stay Crafty With a Blog Name Hero  August 2023 challenge.
where the theme is ANYTHING GOES.

I recently purchased and just received a new
Hero Arts Coloring Layering Stencil Golden Poppies.
  I grow poppies in my own gardens, Red~Orange~Pink Doubles
so this pretty stencil really appealed to me (plus I am addicted to stencils)!
I decided since we will soon be sliding into FALL
to make my stenciled poppies orange using a mix of inks,
Distress saltwater taffy, spiced marmalade for the flowers with 
Memento black ink for the centers and Memento Bamboo Leaves for the greens.
The sentiment is from The Ton.

Also entering these fun challenges:
Simon Says Wednesday .... Bright & Cheerful
Word Art Wednesday .... ATG

Sketch 733

 A new sketch at Sketch Saturday and it's a pretty simple one!!
The optional 'TWIST' is to add some sequins!

I went with a very simple design letting my designer paper do most of the work!
I added a handmade flower with leaves, a simple sentiment, and for the twist
added some sequins!

Won't YOU join us at Sketch Saturday?  Head on over and see
all the inspiration from the design team!!

Happy Birthday Poppies

 A new challenge theme starts today at 
Can You Handle The Pressure and it is an OPTIONAL theme of POPPIES!
Of course you MUST use an embossing folder, wet embossing can
be added in addition but an EB folder is required!

For my design team card I used an old poppy set from JustRite
Poppies Labels Twenty Nine set.  My embossing folder is a newer
folder Spellbinders 3D Flower Frenzy.
I stamped the poppies on a Cottage Cuts die
then colored in with Copics.
The sentiment is from Stampendous!

We would love to see you at our
Can You Handle The Pressure Challenge!!

Entering the following fun challenges:
Seize The Birthday .... ATG Birthday

Make A Scene

At The Sisterhood of Crafters our theme is to make a scene!

I have had this card in my photos just waiting for the right time to
feature it and decided it would be a good card for this theme.

I know this probably looks like an odd card for an anniversary
but my cousin contacted me and she wanted a special
anniversary card for her husband that was all about elephants ,
so who am I to question that, right?

I used Lawn Fawns Shadow Box card for the base,
birch tree and cloud dies along with some elephants
from Cricut Design Space.
I guess it was a hit with her hubby.

Side View

Head on over to The Sisterhood and check out all the fun scenes
created by my 'sistahs'!!  Join in with us too, we would love to see YOUR scenes!!

Peace On Earth Challenge #46

 At Peace On Earth our challenge celebrates Christmas
all year round and we aways have a fun mood board for you
but it's just for inspiration and you can create anything you
want as long as it is Christmas themed!!

POE Inspiration Mood Board

When I saw all these barns Dar put in the mood board I thought of my AI
Victorian House and Barn stamp set. pulled it out and started to create my card,
minus the Victorian house.

After I stamped and colored it, I added perfect pearls to the roof and silo top
and crystal stickles on and around the fence.  Trees were die cut from Impression Obsession

and the Merry Christmas is a Cheery Lynn Designs die.

Won't you join us at Peace On Earth and get a jump on YOUR holiday cards??

TOB August Mid Month Reminder

It's time for our mid month reminder for our challenge at
Two Old Bats .
We have an inspiration board to give you a few ideas
of where to start but you don't have to use it,
it's any anything goes challenge as long as it is Halloween themed.

Inspiration Board

I once again let the crow inspire me, I have had this Cheapo pumpkin/crow die
for awhile now and not sure if I have ever used it before!
Once cut out I colored it in with Copic markers.
I used a few scraps from my Halloween scrap bag and a sentiment
from Art Impressions!

There is still plenty of time if you would like to join us at our
Two Old Bats challenge and IF we have 25 or more players
we have a prize to give away!!

Entering the following challenges:
Halloween Crafts All Year Round .... ATG Halloween

Sunflowers

Hello Friends, it's time again for a new challenge theme at
Double D Challenges and it is 

 SUNFLOWERS

We have s sunflowery mood board for inspiration
and can't wait to see YOUR Sunflower projects!!

I stamped an older sunflower stamp from Penny Black (1997)
given to me by my friend!

After coloring it in with Copics I added a piece of 

sunflower vellum underneath but used the back side as I wanted a bolder color to show.
I purchased this pack of 8x8 Crafters Companion last year
and this is the first time I have used it.
Of course I had to add some gold gems for a bit of sparkle.

We hope to see YOU over at Double D with your Sunflower project
and take a peek at all the beautiful creations from the Design Team too!

Trouble A Barrell of Monkeys Challenge

It's time for a new challenge theme at A Barrel of Monkeys 
which is all about using kids toys and games as our starting point and today
we have the fun game of TROUBLE.
How do you see it?
Maybe the colors, the shape, the dots/circles? 

My first thought was to use a dots stencil in all the colors
but while locking through my stencil notebook
I came across this swirl background stencil from Pink Fresh Studio
that I had noticed on someone else's blog and had to order it.
That's why I love it when blog posts are written up with supplies used!
Anyhow, it seemed to me to be the perfect choice for the card I had in mind.
I used all Distress inks for the main swirls,  mowed lawn, salty ocean,
festive berries and squeezed lemonade.  For the shadow swirls I used all
Memento Dew Drop inks.  The hello is from Paper Smooches and the word friend
is from Pink Fresh Studios.  I had some old clear gel like dots I added.

We would love to have you join us at
A Barrel of Monkeys challenge!

Entering the following fun challenges:
Ally's Angels .... ATG