Things With Wings Challenge

 Hello friends, today is a new challenge theme at
Can You Handle The Pressure
and our OPTIONAL theme is Things With Wings!

During a warehouse sale at Sizzix last winter I purchased this
beautiful 3 layered butterfly stamp from them.
It was so easy to use and am hoping to make more in different colors.
The set is decorated butterfly!
I used one of my favorite embossing folders
from X-cut Falling hearts.
The sentiment is Stampedous True Friends.
I was hoping I still had some Stampin' Up Groovy Guava card stock
(remember that?), but I didn't so pulled out some that was a bit darker.,
but I sure do miss that SU Groovy Guava card, I do however still
have the ink!

Come on over for a visit at Can You Handle The Pressure,

plenty of pretty inspiration there!

Balloons Challenge

We have a new challenge starting today over at
The Sisterhood of Crafters and the theme is
BALLOONS!! 

I certainly had plenty of balloons to pick from with dies, stamps and
stencils and decided on this cute little Balloon Mouse from 
Pink Ink Designs!  He was so easy and fun to color in
he just might reappear again and again!!

I die cut the left corner with a never before used die from Memory Box (2015)
Distressed Baptisia Collage die.  There are 4 different dies in this set and
sadly to say it is the first time I have used even one of them, even sadder is
that I have 2 more different sets of them, same story!!
After I colored in Mr. Mouser with my Copics/Olo markers,
I stampeda Waffle Flower sentiment and add some sequins for bling
(plus the fact I have tons to use up)!!

Come join us at The Sisterhood and have some BALLOON fun with us!!

Peace On Earth Challenge #68

If you want to cool off on this hot July day 
then come on over to Peace On Earth and think 'cold'
and create a Christmas card with us!
We are an anything goes as long as it is Christmas themed
and always have a pretty inspiration board for you!!

All that pretty blue was inspiring to me and I went with
the upper right corner.
A pretty snowflake background paper
and a scrap of a textured paper to start.
A Memory Box Pillar Candle trio die was die cut in white
then once again in some glitter paper scraps and paper pieced in.
The sentiment and die are from Lawn Fawn!

Want more inspiration?
Then come on over to Peace On Earth and see all the beauty
from the design team, you won't be disappointed!!

Basket Full of Posies

 Hello friends, a new challenge theme is starting today at
Double D and it is
Basket Full of Posies
meaning use posies, a basket, or both!

For my basket of posies card I used several things
including a Doodlebug shaker sticker I purchased
during one of the Simon Says Stamp sales.
I thought it was so cute and full of such pretty colors
I just had to let it take center stage!
I adhered it to a Cottage Cutz oval die cut.
The top designer paper is Paper Rose Garden of Hope.
I embossed the bottom half with a Cuttlebug Gingham folder.
Both the sentiment and the butterfly came out of my already
precut die cuts as did the trim between the two papers,
it is a Cheery Lynn die cut.

The design teams at Double D have some really beautiful inspiration
so come on over and check them out and have some challenge
fun with us while there!

Two Old Bats Reminder July 2024

Want to have some wicked~spooky fun with us?
The join our year round challenge at Two Old Bats
and if 25 or more players we have a fun random prize to give away!

As always we have a fun inspiration board
but you can create anything Halloween related! 

Those fun witch hats inspired me to get out an OLD 
Eat, Drink & Be Scary stamp set by SU/
I stamped and fussy cut the hats and added them to a square
cut/sticker by Ella & Viv.
Background papers are from Pink & Main Not Too Spooky.

Come on over and join us at Two Old Bats
NO spells I promise you!!

Beautiful Blossoms July Challenge

We are halfway through July and it is time for a new challenge at
Beautiful Blossoms  
and have this colorful mood board below:

Somewhere this year I received this FREE stamp~die~stencil set

 Christmas Bells Couture Creations, it might have been from Scrapbookdotcom!

Anyhow, it reminded me of the mood board above for some reason so I

stamped and stenciled my card using Altenew inks.
I stenciled the dots on the side (also part of the set) lightly after
I had completed the floral.  The sentiment is also part of the set
that I stamped in Versamark then used Apricot Zing embossing powder to emboss.

Somewhere I read that someone said all their embossing powder was old and
didn't work anymore, I sure hope that isn't true as I have oodles of it myself
and this particular powder I used is very old!!

Come on over to Beautiful Blossoms and have some floral fun with us!!

In Full Bloom

Hello Friends, Dar and myself have a little bit of MADNESS
to share with you again as we have started yet ANOTHER challenge blog
and it's a fabulous one!!
It is LOVE THOSE PRETTY PAPERS CHALLENGE
meaning we want to have you get out all those pretty hoarded papers
and create something beautiful with them
keeping the papers your main focus,
not sure?  Then take a peek at the blog and see what Dar has created along
with what I have shown you here!!
We have an OPTIONAL theme and this time it is a technique
to make a Tri-angled card, all the video/youtube links are on the challenge site
but let me tell you it is SUPER easy!!

For my cards (both) I pulled out a pack of 6x6 Mintay paper 
Lilac Garden, Mintay has always been one of my favorite papers
and this pad was no exception!

After watching the video I cut my paper and used the reverse side of the 
paper that is the lilac clouds you see.
The sentiment is a Spellbinders Garden Favorites stamped on a die
cut Tonic layered label.  The little flower is previously made from my stash!

For my second card (and anything goes) I used papers from the same Mintay paper pad mentioned
above. such a beautiful paper that all I added was a sentiment (though crooked)
and a few Pretty Pink posh lavender gems.

We hope to see you over at our NEW challenge blog
Love Those Pretty Papers challenge!!

Stripes/Checks Challenge

Breaking News!!

We have  a NEW challenge blog starting on July 13th
that will normally start on the FIRST Saturday of each month
and end on the last day of each month and it is 
Love Those Pretty Patterned Papers
where the theme is to use your 'hoard' of pattern papers
you can read all about it HERE!

Hello friends, it's that time again for a new challenge
at Can You Handle The Pressure and our
OPTIONAL theme is Checks and/or Stripes.
You can create anything you want as long as an
EMBOSSING folder has been used.

I went with just the stripes using my never been used before
and 'new' to me Spellbinders Diagonal Stripes Slimline
embossing folder.
It was topped with a Tutti Designs Butterfly Vine Border.
For a bit of sparkle, I added a few gems to each butterfly.
The sentiment is Pink Fresh Studios.

Come on over to Can You Handle The Pressure and have
some embossing fun with us!!

Planes~Trains~Automobiles Challenge

Hello friends, it's time for a new challenge theme at
The Sisterhood of Crafters and it is
Planes~Trains~Automobiles! 

I grabbed my Lawn Fawn cloud stencils, Broken China ink
and stenciled some big fluffy blue clouds!
I added a Lawn Fawn stitched hillside border and a fence from ?
(Sorry too lazy to get up and look!!)
The truckload of carrots was die cut from Cottage Cutz Carrot Farmer
from white card scraps and colored in with Copics and Olo's!
The sentiment is Easy Expressions from The Ton!

Come on over to The Sisterhood and see all the fun creations
from my 'sistahs!

Peace On Earth Challenge #67

Breaking News!!

We have  a NEW challenge blog starting on July 13th
that will normally start on the FIRST Saturday of each month
and end on the last day of each month and it is 
Love Those Pretty Patterned Papers
where the theme is to use your 'hoard' of pattern papers
you can read all about it HERE!

We are back this month with another challenge at
Peace On Earth and  have a fun mood board
for your inspiration but you can create anything as long as it
is Christmas themed!

I used the red~white~blue colors for my card, always inspired by our
inspiration boards.
My bells were cute from Doodlebug Designs Yankee Doodle paper pad
using an Impression Obsession die.  The base frame is Tutti Designs
Holly Frame.

Come on over to Peace On Earth, join in the fun with us
and take a peek at beautiful inspiration from the design team!!

Heart/Annivesary Challenge

Breaking News!!

We have  a NEW challenge blog starting on July 13th
that will normally start on the FIRST Saturday of each month
and end on the last day of each month and it is 
Love Those Pretty Patterned Papers
where the theme is to use your 'hoard' of pattern papers
you can read all about it HERE!

Hello friends!!
This month at our new challenge for
Simply Clean & Simple
we have an OPTIONAL theme of HEARTS
and are also celebrating our ONE year birthday/anniversary
for our challenge blog!
I am pretty proud of the fact that Dar and I run a total of NINE
challenge blogs and that we are consistent every time
with the posting of the challenges and the challenge winners
on time each and every challenge!

For my SCAS card I used a
Poppystamp Roundabout Heart die.
Since this die cuts into and not out of the paper
I die cut a circle from Paper Rose Inky Antics 1.0
paper and placed it behind the cut out.
The sentiment is from The Greetery!

Come on over to Simply Clean and Simple
and join in with our one year celebration fun!!

Word Power #7

Breaking News!!

We have  a NEW challenge blog starting on July 13th
that will normally start on the FIRST Saturday of each month
and end on the last day of each month and it is 
Love Those Pretty Patterned Papers
where the theme is to use your 'hoard' of pattern papers
you can read all about it HERE!

 Hello friends, today brings us to another new monthly challenge at
Word Power  where the focal on your card should
be your sentiment!

The card I created makes me HAPPY just as the sentiment says!
I used a COLOR die and sentiments from Sunny Studio stamps
color collection.  I die cut the word color three times and
stacked one on on top of the other so it would 'pop'!
The embossing folder is an oldie from SU Elegant Bouquet,
I just flipped it upside down so it would work with my design
and to leave me a place for my sentiment.
The fun and colorful rooster is one of the Cottage Cutz
Folk Art line that I hit one of their fabulous sales
and got him (and a few, ahem, others) for a great price.
He was so EASY  to put together as this die was
made more like other dies where each piece is  a separate
piece and the main piece was like a Cricut cut where it
embosses to direct you where to put all those fun
'folksy' pieces you see.

Isn't he FUN??  Pop on over to
Word Power
 and join in the fun with us!!

Triple B July 2024

Breaking News!!

We have  a NEW challenge blog starting on July 13th
that will normally start on the FIRST Saturday of each month
and end on the last day of each month and it is 
Love Those Pretty Patterned Papers
where the theme is to use your 'hoard' of pattern papers
you can read all about it HERE!

A new month means a new challenge at
Triple B
and we have a fun inspiration mood board that perfectly fits the month of July,
BUT, you can create anything, any color as long as it has
birds~blooms~butterflies on it ,
One, two, OR all three!

I am celebrating the red, white and blue with my card
and totally let the mood board colors inspire me.
All the die cuts came out of my leftover die cut stash.
The bird has always been a favorite from Cottage Cutz Bella Springtime Bird,
he is a pricey little fella but if you wait until they have one of their 'up to'
85% off sales, then he is pretty reasonable to purchase.
The blanket stitched oval is from Pink Fresh Studios
and the banners at the bottom are Pretty Pink Posh,
the sentiments are Tim Holtz Crazy Talk.
I know it's hard to see but the blue banner has
'celebrate' stamped on it.

Come and have some birds~blooms~butterfly fun with us at
Triple B!

Entering the following challenges:
A Cut Above .... Celebrations with a Bang

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge .... Stars and Stripes
Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday .... ATG

Nautical

 Hello friends and HAPPY July!
It's the start of a new challenge theme at
Double D and it is
NAUTICAL!

We have a fun nautical mood board for inspiration below:

I was inspired by the anchor, the seagull and the  sailboat
incorporating all into my card!
The paper is from a pad that I've had quite awhile and is
almost gone, love that!  The sailboats on it that you can't see
have shiny silver on each of them making it shine like
glitter!  From another paper pad and using a Tutti Designs
banner, I die cut my background for my seagull.
The gull is from Cottage Cutz and the pilings are
also a CC die called Pelican.  I didn't use the Pelican
this time but stole/borrowed his piling for my gull!
I did make the Pelican though and he will 'debut'
at another time!  All the dies were cut from white
scrap card and then inked with various inks!
The sentiment is Avery Elle stamped on a Honey Bee
banner and the metallic anchor is a MS punch!

Come on over to Double D and have a bit of nautical fun with us,
no NOT naughty but NAUTICAL!!

Stencil Fun July 2024

Breaking News!!

We have  a NEW challenge blog starting on July 13th
that will normally start on the FIRST Saturday of each month
and end on the last day of each month and it is 
Love Those Pretty Patterned Papers
where the theme is to use your 'hoard' of pattern papers
you can read all about it HERE!

 A new Stencil Fun challenge starts today with an OPTIONAL theme of
SHADES OF BLUE
but we are an anything goes challenge as long as you
have used a stencil.

We also have a fun stencil prize to one lucky random drawn entrant:

Prize

For my 'shades of blue' card I used one of four of the background stencils
from the Spellbinders February 2024 stencil club.
I kept it real simple just by adding a Pink Fresh Studios sentiment.

My anything goes card you can see I used the same stencil as we are giving for the prize!
When I buy a prize stencil I (of course) have to purchase one for myself!
I turned my fish into goldfish that I had to add a little dot eyeball to each!
The sentiment is from a Catherine Pooler stamp set!

Come on over to Stencil Fun and have some stenciling fun
with us and be in the random draw for the prize!!

Two Old Bats July 2024

Breaking News!!

We have  a NEW challenge blog starting on July 13th
that will normally start on the FIRST Saturday of each month
and end on the last day of each month and it is 
Love Those Pretty Patterned Papers
where the theme is to use your 'hoard' of pattern papers
you can read all about it HERE!

 It's July but we are celebrating Halloween at
Two Old Bats
with our year round Halloween challenge.
We have a fun inspiration/mood board but you can
create anything as long as it is Halloween themed!

I was inspired by the upper left corner and created my fun card from that!
I die cut a Tonic die broom which I used a glitter pen on
and inked up and cut a few sentiments
for my signs from a sentiment strip Halloween set I purchased eons ago.
The background paper is Brutus Monroe Happy Haunting..
I added a few stitched pumpkins die cut from a Sue Wilson garden set.
The flying little witch is a MS punch!

Won't YOU join us over at Two Old Bats, with 25 or more players
we have a fun prize to give away!

Colorful Options July 2024

Hello friends, today at Colorful Options Makira has come with a
fun and clever challenge just perfect for the month of JULY!!
You can read the 'how to's' in her words below:

 Choose your favorite flag and use it's color(s) for inspiration for this month.  For Americans, don't forget your state flag. Other flag options: a college flag, organization's flag, pride flag......   You get the idea.  Choose any flag you wish.  Have fun!

I chose our beautiful American flag colors of
RED~WHITE~BLUE
and created a fun 4th of July card!!

I die cut out a star (Tutti Designs)
using only the negative (I'll use the die cut for something later)
then die cut several banner strips from Pretty Pink Posh
and lined them up on a piece of scrap card stock
then placed my star negative over the strips.
The sentiment is TH Crazy Talk.
A few RWB 'candi's' were added for fun!

This was a fun challenge and I hope you will join us
at Colorful Options!
I can't wait to see YOUR creativeness!!

Entering the following challenges:
A Cut Above .... Celebrations With A Bang

Four Seasons July Summer 2024

Breaking News!!

We have  a NEW challenge blog starting on July 13th
that will normally start on the FIRST Saturday of each month
and end on the last day of each month and it is 
Love Those Pretty Patterned Papers
where the theme is to use your 'hoard' of pattern papers
you can read all about it HERE!

It's mid summer and at The Four Seasons challenge we are right in
the heat of things with our SUMMER season!
We have a mood board for inspiration only but you can create
any summer project you want in any color!!  

I let the fun summer mood board inspire me with all it's
pink goodness and couldn't resist those pink flamingo floats!
I have had this silly Hampton Art stamp set for quite some time,
I think I purchased it after seeing it on another blog, I have 'a thing'
for fun~silly stamps!

I stenciled in colorful clouds using a Lawn Fawn stencil
and a few waves using an Ink n Splatter stencil. I added a scrap of sandpaper 
along the bottom.  My flamingos were cut on my Brother Scan N Cut
but I wish I had added a bit of an edge around them, next time.
I got this Scan N Cut almost three years ago (October 2021) from
the hubs for my birthday just to cut out stamps so I wouldn't have to purchase
matching dies anymore, (that didn't work, lol) and other then the
unboxing and creating the sample box it came with, this is the first time I
have used it, pathetic isn't it??  Well, that is going to change
as it was super easy and not as intimidating as I made
it out to be, in fact you 'might' have seen me use it
again before this post even went live!!

Want some SUMMER fun?

Then head on over to The Four Seasons and show us YOUR
summer fun creations!!

Also a NEW challenge blog is starting today
which is all about using your dies, 
go to A Cut Above

and check it out, be sure to read all the rules to entering!!

Birthday Cards

 Hello friends, today I have a couple cards I created for the fun challenge at
Just Us Girls where it is STENCIL week!

Awhile back I purchased Pink Fresh Studio's Inky Floral Background stencil,
not once but twice, yep that is correct I accidently bought the stencil twice
where I really needed to purchase the  stamp and stencil.  The stamp has all the
stamped foliage on it so it is a must have!

For my first card I stenciled mainly in various pink, corals with a goldy/yellow
thrown in.  The base stamp was stamped with a green ink.

For my second card I stamped the foliage in black then colored a few
leaves in with olo markers, the stenciling was done with

shades of lilac, corals and yellows.  The sentiment is 
a Spellbinders Betterpress'

I also decided to enter these cards into the monthly challenge at

Pink Fresh Studio inspired by not only some of the colors 
but the florals as well!!

Have a great and creative weekend!!

Also entering the following challenges:
Simon says Wednesday Challenge .... ATG
Inkspirational Challenge .... Use Stencils

Shimmer and Shine

Hello Friends, I have a second card today I created for the Poppystamps
challenge for June that will be ending soon!
When I saw the theme I pulled out my
Poppystamps Stitched Cupcakes  (can you believe this is the first time I have used them)
die and immediately thought of
a shimmer and shine look (fun but a bear to photograph)!!
I have a bag of nothing but metallic and glitter paper pieces
that I save every little bit as it comes n so handy for those little

small pieces you want to add to your cards!
I used a purple metallic for the cupcake liners
and a pink glitter paper for the frosting!
The stitched squares I placed them on are from Memory Box.
A sentiment and a few gems were added for even more sparkle!

That's it for me today, I am headed outside to work in the
'garden of weeden'!!

Thank You Very Much

 

Hello Friends, Amy Tsuruta has her Woodblock Wednesday
challenge up and running and I try to join in every month
as it gives you the opportunity to pull out those much neglected
woodblock stamps.  I know a lot of you have gotten rid of yours but
I keep everything LOL!!  I went to a garage sale a couple week ago that
had 'stamps' in their ad and this sunflower is one I picked up for a
mere 50 cents!  It looks as though it had never been inked and does
have the manufactures name on it but it is so light and blurry I can't read it.
As  many woodblock stamps I have I certainly didn't need to buy anymore
but who could resist the price!!
It was stamped then colored with Olo markers
and die cut out with a Cottage Cutz eyelet oval stitched die.
I have a pile of scrap papers sitting in a basket on my desk I am
trying to use up so that is where the background came from.
The sentiment is from The Ton Easy Expressions.

If you have some fun woodblock stamps you should head on over and join in the 
woodblock fun with us!! 

In The Garden Challenge

Hello Friends, today starts a new challenge theme at
The Sisterhood of Crafters and it is
In The Garden.

So many things to choose from with this theme but I remembered I had
 a never been used before die from Cottage Cutz Puppy In Garden Cart
and decided to let him make his debut for this challenge.
Cottage Cutz dies or The Scrapping Cottage as the website calls it
periodically has some great percentage off sales so I wait and buy
all my dies from them during those sales.

I might have/did say some bad words in the making of this card 
as there are no instructions to put these together and it is all by looking at the
photo included and you just have to make sure you do things in
somewhat of an order.  I did make a few mistakes but now know for the
next time I create the garden cart and puppy.  And why is it when you die cut
all your pieces and are ready to use them, some have totally disappeared?
All my pieces were die cut from white card stock scraps and then colored in
with Copics and Olo markers.
The sky was stenciled with Lawn Fawn clouds and I die cut a stitched edge grass,
the Stampendous sentiment is stamped with Dew Drop Teal Zeal ink.

Come and have some 'In The Garden Fun with the 'sistahs' at
The Sisterhood of Crafters!!

Entering the following challenges:
Simon Says Wednesday .... Anything Goes
Snippets Playground .... Snippets
Never Before Used Schtuff #63 .... NBUS

Sending Best Wishes

 Hello friends,  it is a raging storm outside
(rain, thunder, lightening, hail and a whole lot of wind)
so I thought I would sit calmly in my craft room
and ignore it!

I am joining in with the monthly Memory Box challenge
where the theme is Plenty of PLAID and use at least one MB product!

I pulled out a mini P13 plaid paper pad and used a Memory Box
Stitched Lattice Background die (2015) to cut my plaid paper from.
I added a die cut circle topped with the cutest Memory Box
Little Hibiscus Blossom (2019) inked with Altenew Coral Bliss and
Pink Pearl inks.  A The Ton sentiment and a few gems were added
to complete!

That's it for me today, have a good one!!

Also wanted to mention that there will be a NEW
challenge starting in July and will be the first Monday in
the month each and every month and nope, it's not one of Dar's and my challenges but being hosted and run by a very dear friend

Vicki.

This challenge will be all about die cutting.
here is the link to check it out and the first challenge starts
July 1st!!  Make sure read and follow all the rules
and have FUN!!

Sports Challenge

Hello friends, it is once again time for a new challenge at
Can You Handle The Pressure
where embossing folders are a must for this challenge.
You can add wet embossing too but an embossing folder MUST be used!

I pulled out an old, and I mean OLD embossing folder that I have
never used before with a bowling pin and ball.
Can you believe I have NEVER bowled in my life, nope just not my thing I guess!
I did work at a bowling alley years ago as a bartender if that makes
a difference LOL!
I added a few stitched strips across the top and a sentiment
that I thought worked well with the folder.
That's it, easy peasy!!

Come on over to Can You Handle The Pressure and have some embossing fun with us!

Entering the following challenges:

Never Before Used Schtuff (NBUS)

Reach For The Stars

Hello Friends, we have a new challenge theme starting
today at Double D and it is Reach For The Stars! 
As always we have an inspirational mood board
but you can create anything as long as it has stars!

I struggled a little bit with an idea for my card but then
let Pinterest help me along.  I came across a design used by a DT
member at My Favorite Things back in 2015
so used that to inspire me
plus the bottom right colorful stars from our mood board.
Using my rarely used Tutti Designs nesting star dies
and a few bright scraps of paper I came up with this card.
The sentiment is from Lawn fawn.
I still thought it needed 'something' so I splattered it with
gold metallic paint.

Come on over to Double D and see all the creativeness the
design teams have to inspire you, 
play along with us too as there is always a fun prize
for a lucky random winner, but you have to play to win!!