Pansies

 Hello friends, I FINALLY was able to join in the fun at
Woodblock Wednesday where the use of a Woodblock stamp is required.
It is always the last Wednesday of the month so get those woodblocks out,
head on over and have some fun like I did!

I hate to admit it but I have a ton and I mean a ton of woodblock stamps
that I will never purge (I rarely purge anything) to use whenever I can.
This stamp, PSX 1995 came in my haul from a friend that gave me
a car load (and I mean a car load) of stamps that she didn't want anymore
and 90% of them were woodblock!
I colored it in with a mix of Copics and Olo markers, my Copics are running dry
and I have never had luck with the refills so switched to Olo's which I love
as they go so smooth, someday I hope to have ALL the colors!
I got a little carried away adding some bling but am pretty happy with
how it turned out,  I picked this Pansy stamp as my Mom's birthday was
in May and her favorite flowers were pansies, she would of loved it!

Thanks to those of you that were kind enough to stop by!!

Also entering the following challenges:
Simon Says  Wednesday .... ATG
Shopping Our Stash .... How Does Your Garden Grow
Word Art Wednesday .... ATG
Retro Rubber .... Lavender Love

The Red White And Blue

 Hello friends,   being Memorial Day I thought I would share a little history of it's beginning and what it stands for:

The Civil War, which ended in the spring of 1865, claimed more lives than any conflict in U.S. history and required the establishment of the country’s first national cemeteries.

By the late 1860s, Americans in various towns and cities had begun holding springtime tributes to these countless fallen soldiers, decorating their graves with flowers and reciting prayers.

It is unclear where exactly this tradition originated; numerous different communities may have independently initiated the memorial gatherings. And some records show that one of the earliest Memorial Day commemorations was organized by a group of formerly enslaved people in Charleston, South Carolina less than a month after the Confederacy surrendered in 1865. Nevertheless, in 1966 the federal government declared Waterloo, New York, the official birthplace of Memorial Day.

Waterloo—which first celebrated the day on May 5, 1866—was chosen because it hosted an annual, community-wide event, during which businesses closed and residents decorated the graves of soldiers with flowers and flags.  If you would like to read more about it you can visit the site HERE.

Memorial Day is an American holiday, observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. 

My Dad WWII

My hubby

Thank you to all the men and women serving now too!

 Seeing the challenges at
The Card Concept (inspired by the Red~White~Blue)

and also inspired by the challenge theme at
Just Us Girls (stencils)

I decided to create a  Red~White~Blue themed card using a new 
stencil from Waffle Flower Postage Collage 4th of July and
Postage 4th of July stamp set.

I used mostly Altenew inks for my stenciling with the exception of

Lawn Fawn yeti for the white!
I just love it when a couple of challenges work so well together for one card!
Have a safe and Happy Memorial Day everyone!!

Flower Field Frame

 Hello friends, I have about a week until a new DT challenge
card appears on my blog, giving me an entire FREE week to
play with some of my NEW or VERY neglected supplies,
which brings me to a challenge at Poppystamps where the theme is 
'Bloom Where You Are Planted'

I certainly had a lot of poppystamp things to choose from for this challenge
and using both old and a newer die I came up with this card:

The requirement is to use at least ONE poppystamp product, I used 3.

The gorgeous frame is Flower Field Frame (2022).  I used two different dies for
the butterfly, one layered over the other, Murana Butterfly (2014) and

Samirah Butterfly (2014).
Here is a sideview of the pretty butterfly:

Poppystamps products used:

Well, I'm off to prepare another card for tomorrow, 
if you took the time to stop by and leave a comment

then thank you very much!!

Fruits/Veggies Challenge

 Hello friends, it's time again to get those
embossing folders out and join in the fun with us at
Can You Handle The Pressure
where embossing folders take center stage!
You can use wet embossing too but only in
addition to an embossing folder!

Our OPTIONAL theme is Fruits and/or Veggies!

I used for the first time an OLD embossing folder
from Cuttlebug Country Life.  I got this folder way back 
when Cricut was still making their cartridges and embossing
folders to go with, they had a BIG sale of a huge amount
of EB folders in one big box and this was one of them!
You have heard of 'the great pumpkin'?
Well I have 'the great strawberry' better known as
Outside In Stitched Strawberry from Lawn Fawn!
It is so big is covers up plenty of my EB folder
but you can still the embossed YUM word above!
I also used a Lawn Fawn Fancy Wavy Banner 
and Wavy Sayings sentiment and stamp.

Come on over to Can You Handle The Pressure,
get those embossing folders out, join in with us
and there is always a prize for one lucky US entrant!

Entering the following challenges:
Lawn Fanatics .... Mostly Dies #173

More Flutters

 Hello friends, after yesterdays butterfly card I decided to create a second card
for the Memory Box Challenge Pretty In Pink!

I once again pulled an oldie Memory Box die Reverse Butterfly Collage.
I have used this die many times as it always makes such a beautiful card
that is normally an easy mailer.
I die cut it in white card stock then inked it up with the same pinkalicious ink
I used on yesterday's card.  The panel was then placed over a pretty floral
designer paper, a sentiment and a few gems were added.
I wish you could see this card IRL as it is gorgeous, sometimes
these pictures just don't due justice not matter how hard you try!

Have you all been hitting all the Memorial Day sales, geesh, so many to choose from!
Cottage Ctuz is having an up to 75% off sale and Spellbinders is has a Super Sale going on,
so far I haven't caved in to either but I did do a sale at Tonic for a couple of their card kits,
the price was too hard to pass up and of course I hit the Simon 99 cent sale 3 times, 
how can you resist 99cents??

Have a creative day!!

Fluttering In Pink

 Hello friends, yesterday I had a bit of 'free' time and came
into my craft room to play a bit just for fun!
I saw the Memory Box Challenge was Pretty In Pink

and being I love Memory Box (and PINK) and have LOTS of their products 
I decided to join in.
I pulled an oldie (but a favorite) Dreamy Butterfly die (2019) and their 
Stitched Circle die layers (2015) and created my card. 
Once my butterflies were cut from white card stock
I inked them up with Pinkalicious ink, die cut some circles from
a pretty designer paper, added some gems and my card came to life! 

Well, it's back to the 'grind' for me today, I've been working in my
flower gardens nonstop for the last several weeks and have lot's more to go!!

Here are just a couple of my many peonies that are just starting to bloom!

Have a great and creative day!!

Also entering these fun challenges:
Word Art Wednesday .... ATG
Creations In Pink .... Mainly PINK

Guys Challenge

At The Sisterhood of Crafters it is all about the Men/Guys!
Last year I purchased this 12 x 12 masculine balloon paper
and was able to create 6 different masculine
birthday cards from just one sheet.
I used Perfect Sentiments stamps and dies from
Pink Fresh Studios for each card.

Card #1

Card #2

Card #3

Card #4

Card #5

Card #6

I think that one sheet of paper made some really great masculine cards
and easy mailers too, so how can you go wrong!!
Pop on over to The Sisterhood for some great masculine card  inspiration!

Peace On Earth Challenge #64

It's challenge time at Peace On Earth where we
celebrate Christmas year round by creating holiday cards
the entire year!

We have an inspiration board but you can created anything
as long as it is Christmas themed!!

Before I get into my card do you see the BIG booboo I made?
Take a close look at the background designer paper, do you see it?
Yep, it is upside down but only noticeable in a few places!

I used designer paper from Kaisercraft 'Frosted'
an Impression Obsession Bauble die
and The Ton Easy Expressions for the sentiment.
I added a glittered snowflake to finish!!
I think it's rather pretty, even upside down lol!!

Want more inspiration or to join in with us?
Then head on over to Peace on Earth.

Two Old Bats Reminder May 2024

We are halfway through our monthly/yearly challenge at
Two Old Bats
and would love to have you join us.
As always we have a mood board for inspiration
but you can create anything Halloween related! 

I'm a little 'creepy' today with my card using a sentiment block from,
Ella & Viv and a few added spiders die cut with Cheery Lynn Designs
spider dies, I have included one not show inside the card too!
The web paper is Brutus Monroe Happy Haunting.

So, get out those Halloween supplies and have some fun with us,
so what it is May, our challenge gives you an opportunity to
use those FUN Halloween goodies year round at

TWO OLD BATS!

May 2024

The month is halfway over, can you believe it?
But, it brings us to our new monthly challenge at
Beautiful Blossoms
and we have a pretty but 'optional' mood board but you can create
any colors you want as long as blossoms are your focal point! 

I had these layered Roses from Sunny Studios already made so decided to
put them to use for this card.  I did have to stamp the layered leaves which I
think turned out pretty cool.  The paper is P13 Coffee Break and the scallop oval,
the other greenery and the vellum butterfly all came from my
'white' box/bin of 'spare parts' just waiting to be used.
The sentiment is stamped in Dew Drop Peanut Brittle and the sentiment is
from Stampendous.

Come on over and have some 'blossom' fun with us at
Beautiful Blossoms.

Entering the following challenges:
Make My Monday .... Florals

Polka Dots

Hello friends, we are into our second round of challenges
here at Double D for MAY with a theme of
POLKA DOTS!

We want to see lots of polka dots on you creation
and have a very polka dotted mood board for inspiration! 

I went with a rather simple card this time, using an already die cut
card front with an oval window left over from another project.
I added a My Favorite Things polka dot paper behind the oval
and topped it with a Cottage Cutz Bird Trio die cut from a  scrap of green!
I was going to die cut it again and paper piece the birds on but decided
I liked the entire die cut in the green resting on the blue dots!
The sentiment is from Pink Fresh Studio Simply Sentiments-Hello
stamped in Dew Drop Teal Zeal.

Wonder on over to Double D and have some POLKA DOT fun with us!

Flowers Challenge

It's once again time for a fun challenge at
Can You Handle The Pressure
where you must use an embossing folder,
wet embossing is okay too as long as an
embossing folder is included!

We always have an 'OPTIONAL' theme and
this time it is
FLOWERS!

I used for the first time a 'new to me' embossing folder AND
layering stencil set from Lisa Horton Blooms & Berries 
I wish you could see this card IRL as the embossing is stunning!

I first started by stenciling all 8 layers using all Altenew inks
then lining it up in my embossing folder, easy peasy!
When I purchase one of these 3D dies if there is a stencil
available I always purchase it too, there is also a die to go with
which I will show at a later time! 
The sentiment is The Ton Easy Expressions.

Get those embossing folders out,
put them to good use and come on over to
Can You Handle The Pressure 
and have some fun with us!

Entering the following challenges:

Craft Rocket .... Flowers

Just Us Girls .... Word Week:  Garden

The Flower Challenge .... Color Your Flower

Inspiration Station ..... Inspired by the pretty flowers and flower
 colors in pink!

Dragonfly Dreams .... Use A Stencil

Ladies Challenge

 At The Sisterhood of Crafters our theme is all about the LADIES!
We want to see your creations that are made especially for the ladies!

Years ago my Mom gave me all of my grandmothers aprons which I split
with my sister.  I still have them all and when I saw this Cottage Cutz Apron die
it reminded me of my grandma so into my cart it went, I'm glad too as it is no longer
available for purchase.  I had fun cutting it out from scraps of various fun papers.
The intricate die cut underneath is from Cheery Lynn Designs.  I die cut it in my
Gemini and was very pleased how it die cut all those tiny pieces without
any trouble at all, yeah for the Gemini!!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you will visit The Sisterhood and see all
the feminine beauty from my 'sistahs'!!

Entering the following challenges:
Simon Says Wednesday .... Die Cuts

Stencil Fun May 2024

Yay, it's May, the weather here should be getting nice and the
Spring flowers should be blooming!! 
We have a new OPTIONAL theme at Stencil Fun and it's
GIRLIE!
But, we are an anything goes challenge as long as you have used a stencil!!

I did create a 'girlie' card all in pretty pinks and white!
The stenciled part of my card I love, heck I actually love all of it!!

The beautiful and FUN stencil used on this card is
Waffle Flowers Layered Bows.  Just think of all the fun colors
you can create with this pretty stencil!  I can't wait to use it again!
I topped it with a bunch of different products, starting with
Joy Crafts Bille's Circle.  The sentiment bow is
The Greetery Put A Bow On It stamp and die.
Lastly I added one of my already handmade flowers.
The inks used were all Altenew.

Since Dar and I are the only two on the design team we each also create a second
card for the ANYTHING GOES option of our challenge.
When I saw Spellbinders opened up a new 'stencil club' I jumped
right in to join as I have used their stencils before and they are
amazingly beautiful to work with!
That is where this stencil came from, their January 24 club stencil
It also has a couple of sentiment stencils with it but I chose not to use them this time.
My sentiment is from Stampendous True Friends, which I thought went well
with my pretty flower.  All inks used were Altenew.

Come on over to Stencil Fun and have some fun with us, there is a fabulous prize

for one lucky random drawn winner!!

Entering the following challenges:
The Flower Challenge .... Color Your Flower

Simon Says Wednesday .... Feminine
Seize The Birthday .... Anything Goes
Creations In Pink ..... Mainly Pink
Dragonfly Dreams .... Use A Stencil

Peace On Earth Challenge #63

Happy May!!
We have a new challenge starting today at
Peace On Earth
and a new mood board for inspiration!!
You can create anything though, as long as it is Christmas themed! 

I for one, was very inspired by the mood board,
not only the colors pink, but the Santa as well, and those fun candy canes!!

The candy cane background paper is from Doodlebug's Milk & Cookies paper pad.
The Santa (isn't he just adorable) is a scrapbookdotcom die, I dressed him
all in PINK!!  I die cut the TH Sizzix Woodland trees twice,
offsetting one for a shadow effect.
The sentiment stamp and die is The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday!

We would LOVE to have YOU join us at Peace On Earth
and make sure to stop by and see all the beautiful creations from the DT!!

Entering the following challenges:
Jingle Belles .... The Man With The Bag

Creations In Pink .... ATG Mainly Pink
Merry Little Christmas .... ATG Christmas

Triple B May 2024

 Time for a new challenge month at Triple B and we have a
gorgeous mood board for inspiration, but you can create anything as long as
it has BIRDS or BLOOMS or BUTTERFLIES on it,
one, two or all three!!

Last summer I created a bunch of BIG butterfly shaped cards for various
graduations and this is one of them using Spellbinders Butterfly Card Creator die.
This die is so easy to work with and in the end you have a gorgeous big,
beautiful butterfly card for that special person!!
All the flowers and the butterfly you see are part of the die set.
For this card I stenciled a background then die cut it out,
I like how it gives a soft feeling to it and makes the florals stand out!
Several gems were added for a bit of sparkle.

Hope to see you over at Triple B,

always plenty of beautiful inspiration there

both by our Design Team and our entrants!!

Entering the following challenges:

Little Red Wagon .... Shapely
Simon Says Wednesday .... Feminine
Cardz For Galz .... Mother's Day or any Celebration (graduation)
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge .... Shaped Card
Tic Tac Toe .... Flowers!Free~DieCuts

I Spy With My Little Eye .... Wings

Happy Birthday Floral

 At Simply Clean and Simple our OPTIONAL
theme is flowers, but you can create anything as long as it is CAS!

My card is extremely simple.
I ran a scrap piece of gingham along one edge
then stamped my flower and colored in with Olo's.
The stamp is one of those 99cent ones you find in the bins
at the craft stores but it was in the bags of stamps I received from my friend!

Pop on over to Simply Clean and Simple and have
some CAS fun with us!