Spring Tulips

It's the last Wednesday of the month which means it's time for
Amy's Woodblock Wednesday challenge where we/you are required to
use a woodblock stamp.  Yikes, I have lots and I mean lots of woodblocks
thanks to a friend that gave me ALL her fabulous woodblocks a few
years ago. 

I figured since it was April and tulip season that I would bring out this

BIG Penny Black Tulip Crate stamp.  I ended up having to make it into a

6x6 square card to fit the entire stamp on a card front.
It was colored with a mix of Copics and Olo's.

Have woodblocks?  If so, then come on over and join Amy's fun challenge!!

Also entering the following challenges:
Penny Black Saturday April challenge .... ATG or Easter
Word Art Wednesday .... ATG

In My Thoughts

 Hello friends, here we are again at our challenge
Can You Handle The Pressure
where you MUST use an embossing folder.
Our OPTIONAL theme is WEATHER
meaning anything to do with weather
but you can also choose to do anything else as long as an embossing folder has been used..

Last year I hit a warehouse sale at Sizzix.  Have you ever purchased at one of those?
It is the time to if you haven't the next time they have one as the prices are fabulous!
That is where my folder came from, a Sizzix Rain Clouds folder.
The big umbrella (and it is BIG) is also a Sizzix along with the kitty
Rainy Day die set.  It also comes with clouds, mittens, rain boots, rain drops,
butterflies, a coffee cup and a pup in a hat, pretty versatile.
The sentiment is a Spellbinders BetterPress.

Get those embossing folders out that you haven't used in forever
or even a newly purchased one and
come and join us at Can You Handle The Pressure!

Thanks a Million

Hello friends, Easter is over and it was a busy week for me.
We had a nice 70s degree day last Friday so I spent the day outside
cleaning up some of my gardens.  Saturday I cleaned house for our
celebration Easter dinner on Sunday, my dinner list grew from 3 to 8, 
so, much more cooking then I had anticipated.  I was so exhausted I went to bed at
5:30 Sunday night. Then on Monday we had a Catholic funeral to attend
where we also mourned the passing of the Pope.
So finally today I felt like I had a minute to play in my craft room!

Memory Box  has a challenge going where the theme is Butterflies
and I had recently purchased a new Memory Box Blue River Butterfly die.

The MB butterfly was inked with TH Distress Prize Ribbon ink.
After all with a name like Blue River he had to be blue right?
The body of the butterfly was coated with Versamark and then embossed
with gold EB powder. 

I also used an old 2016 Ultimate Crafts Bohemian Bouquet paper for the

background.  The circle die under the butterfly is Pink Fresh Studio
Folk Edge Circle.and the sentiment is a Betterpress.

Here is a close up of the butterfly.

If you stopped by and left a comment, then thanks a million,
I really appreciate it!

Merry Christmas

 Hello friends, at Peace On Earth we have a pretty inspiration board
full of non-traditional pastel colors but which I think are fun
for a change, but you can create using anything, any color as
long as it is Christmas themed, after all that is what we
are all about CHRISTMAS!

A few years ago, I purchased this pretty 12x12 paper with all kinds
of printed images on it I had planned to use for some quick and easy to
mail cards.  The backside of the paper is like the edge of my image, all pink Poinsettias.
I layered my image on a light yellow card stock, stamped a 
Hero Arts Christmas sentiment and added some gems for sparkle.
That's it, easy peasy, now I need to finish up the rest of the images!

If you come and join us at Peace On Earth
you will be cards ahead for the season
and we all know how that sneaks upon us!!

You Brighten My Day

 I was able to have a bit of fun today using a newly purchased stencil
from Waffle Flower Crocus Flutter Stencil
when I should be cleaning my house for Easter, but this is way more fun.
I am entering the Tic Tac Toe challenge and using the left row of
stencil~any color~flower.

All inks used were Altenew and the sentiment is a
Spellbinders Betterpress.  I kept the card pretty simple
and let the stencil do most of the work, though you should
check out the WF samples as they are beautiful!

If you happened to stop by, then thanks a lot, I appreciate it!

Springtime Flowers Just For You

Hello Double D friends, we are truly feeling SPRING 
with this months theme which is SPRINGTIME Flowers.
We have a beautiful inspiring mood board
but you can create ANY Spring flowers. 

I was inspired by the pansies in the upper right corner,
they remind me of my Mom that had a deep love for pansies
and loved all things pansy, I have a lovely tea set of hers that I treasure
that was covered in purple pansies.

For my card I used a Katy Sue 3D Pansy pop up sheet.  These sets contain 3 sheets
of pop up that you layer one on another, really making the flowers 'pop'.
The thin foam pop ups work best, gives them a nice slight uplift.

Here is a side view 'kind of' showing the 3D,

but they are stunning IRL

You can see another slightly different version of this card I did HERE!  It's funny how using a different color can change the card a bit!

Won't you join us at Double D?
Make sure to stop by and see all the Spring beauties from the DT!!

Entering the following challenges:
Elliebelle's Garden Party ... Anything in a Garden
Aud Sentiments .... Flowers and/or embossing + sentiment

Two Old Bats April 2025 Reminder

 Hello Friends, it's once again reminder time of our challenge
at Two Old Bats
you still have a few weeks to enter and have some
off season Halloween fun with us!
As always we have a fun inspiration board for you!

For my card I let all the spooky/eerie colors inspire me
and used a Picket Fence Glossy Blue Moon card front.
It doesn't get much better then that when you can let a
spooky card front do all the work!

I hope you enjoy my spooky easy peasy scene!!

Come on over to Two Old Bats and have some Halloween fun with us,
we run this challenge year round and love to give away prizes!!

Beautiful Blossoms April 2025

 Hello friends, it's mid-month and that means it's time for our new
challenge at Beautiful Blossoms.
We have this pretty inspiration board but you can create 
anything as long as florals are your focus!

I used a Pink Fresh Studio blanket stitched circle for my image.
This die cuts out the inner circle and leaves the outer blanket stich on
the card front.  Once I added my images 'Graphic 45 Flight of Fancy' Rub-ons,
I popped the circle up and placed back within the negative space.
The sentiment is a Spellbinders Betterpress ink and die.

Hope to see YOU over at Beautiful Blossoms!

Honeycomb Bunny

Hello friends, don't you just love it when things are 'kind of' meant to be?
That is how I felt when I saw the new challenge at Inspired By and it was those adorable bunnies that called to me. 
They instantly reminded me of my new dies from the March release
at The Greetery.  I really treated myself to this release but am mad at myself I just didn't
order the entire bundle, but I certainly bought a lot.  

Inspired By Bunnies

These are the 
Hey Honeycomb Bunny die and pastel honeycombs.

The tiny bouquet of flowers is also part of the March release
Bitty Botanicals Stamps & Stencil and the Bitty Botanicals die.

The card is bunny shaped and opens up at the ear.
It also has the option to either die cute the facial features
or stencil them in as I did. 

I love this cute bunny but also had to have the Hey Honeycomb chick
too, which I will show later.  If you want to see a cute youtube of these,
then visit HERE.

Also entering the following challenges:

A Cut Above .... ATG
Addicted To Stamps & More .... Die Cuts and/or Stencils
Shopping Our Stash .... Hippity Hop Bunny or Chick
Unicorn Challenge .... Dies

Rainbows and/or Rainbow Colors At CYHTP

 Hello friends, we have an OPTIONAL theme at
Can You Handle The Pressure and it is
Rainbows and/or Rainbow Colors.
You can create anything though as long as you use
an embossing folder.

Last year Simon had these fabulous 99cent sales with lots and lots
of all kinds of products on sale for 99cents.  I seemed to miss most 
of them but was able to once in a while get in on them
which is where this cute cute little 2 3/4 x 2 3/4 embossing folder
came from.  I was lucky to get 3 more others as well and this is the
first time I have used this one and have an idea for later use with it
for Halloween!  I used a Paper Rose straight banner die to cut my rainbow
stripes then die cut a circle and adhered them to that and placed behind
the cut out part on my EB folder.  The rainbow paper is Doodlebug 'lot's o luck'
( and I have almost used up the entire pad, yay).  I used my Spellbinders Arch
dies to cut both the designer paper and the card stock.  The sentiment is 
The Ton Easy Expressions.  The red embossed butterfly is from my
spare parts box.

Here is the card with that cute little embossing folder.

Hope to see you over at Can You Handle The Pressure!

Entering the following challenges:
Craft Rocket .... Layer It Up

Here's To Sunshine

 Hello friends at The Sisterhood of Crafters our theme is
Springtime Designer Papers.

I have a few very favorite makes of designer papers and one of them is
Paper Rose, this one is their Spring Bunnies paper.
I added some grass along the bottom and a die cut bunny
that for some reason I am not sure of whose it is, maybe Memory Box?
The carrot is from Sizzix.

Come on over to The Sisterhood of Crafters with YOUR Springtime papers.

Tea Cards In 3D

 There is a new challenge blog that no it isn't one Dar and I have
started,  but one Deanne created called First Cup Challenges
which is all about things drink related.
You can read all about it yourself by going to the blog link I have above.

For my cards I got out my Katy Sue Designs 3D images and put together 3 cards,
different but also the same somewhat.

All the cards were created 5x5 square cards.
I dug into my 12 x12" papers for all three
and used a die cut doily from my 'parts' stash of
already cut from one.

I felt they were a little fancy and needed a bit of bling
so added a few pearls for fun, plus the fact I am trying to
use up my pearl stash since I mostly use the Nuvo drops now.

All the sentiments are part of my Katy Sue Designs stash.

Card #1

Card #2

Card #3

Go and check out this new monthly challenge
and have some fun, we all could certainly use
some new good challenges and this is one of them!

Handmade For You

 Hello friends, our new challenge blog
The Neglected Stuff is quite a hit as we all have that 'stuff' we just had
to have and then either never used it or maybe used it only once.
I know I have a boatload of it myself and one thing I have lots and lots
of and never used or rarely used are the Sizzix Bigz dies.
This fun challenge allows me (makes me) put it to use as I did with
this Sizzix Bigz Layered Butterfly die.
I cut the under piece from Doodlebugs love notes paper and the top
layer from a scrap of red vellum.  I used a quilted WeR memory keepers
embossing folder and a sentiment from Spellbinders BetterPress dies.

It's a big butterfly that makes quite a statement.
Get out your neglected stuff and come on over and have some fun with us
but remember you MUST tell us what your 'stuff' is
and had in your stash 6 months or longer, the older the better!!

Entering the following challenges:
Creative Knockouts #544 .... Embossing

Guest Designing at Dragonfly Dreams

 Today I am guest designing at Dragonfly Dreams Challenge
and their theme is ANIMALS.

Easy theme for me as I have lots and lots  stamps/dies of
animals to choose from but this Waffle Flower Intertwined Bears
die has been a favorite of mine and I've only used it once
before, shame on me right??  I also have the intertwined dogs
I have yet to use, but coming soon!!

I followed directions on a few youtube videos to complete
but changing it a bit to make it how I wanted it.

The bears were cut twice from scraps of cream card stock
which as the video shows can then sandwich the flower
between the bears paws like she is holding it...clever!

The background paper is a beautiful pad I bought as soon
as it came out in February from
Paper Rose Bees & Butterflies basics 6x6 paper pad.
The sentiment is also from Waffle Flower.
The bears paws open up to disclose the sentiment inside
which is hidden from the front under the big bear.
I showed this card to my hubby and he said
'well isn't that cute' LOL!!

I want to put out a BIG thank you to

the DT at Dragonfly Dreams for having me guest design!!

Entering the following challenges:

Crafty Catz #691.... ATG
Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday .... ATG
Word Art Wednesday .... ATG
Crafty Animals #93.... ATG with an Animal
Critter Crazy #97.... Critter as Focus

Merry Grinchmas

Hello friends, we are into full swing with our Christmas cards at
Peace On Earth and have a fun inspiration board for April!
You can create anything Christmas themed though which will put you that
much ahead for your 2025 cards when the holidays come around, 
and the way time flies it's sooner then you think!

I let Mr. Grinch in the bottom right corner inspire today's card!
I purchased the Grinch Hand die set from Kat Scrappiness along with the
Grinch sprinkles on my shaker card .  I used a snowy
embossing folder for my base with a cut out circle for the
sprinkles to 'hide' in!  The sentiment is from another
Grinch set I found C.C. Designs Green One.
I started making this card in 2023, yep, can you believe it,
but finished it in 2024 to mail to my niece that has a big love
for Mr. Grinch, she even has Grinch Christmas sheets on her
bed, so I know she will appreciate this card!

Come on over to Peace On Earth and see all the
beautiful talent the designers have, join in with us too!

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

Hello Friend

 Hello friends, today at Simply Clean & Simple we have
an OPTIONAL theme of Umbrellas but you can create
anything as long as you keep it CAS!

For my card I pulled out a never been used before stamp set
from Streamside Studios, ever hear of them?  I know I haven't
but it sure is a cute set.  After coloring the image on a Sizzix labels die, I crimped a
white paper scrap and used it along the side trying to keep it CAS.
A Spellbinders BetterPress die was used for the sentiment.

Join our Simply Clean & Simple challenge
just remember to keep it CAS.

Entering the following challenges:
The Crafters Cafe #317 .... ATG or Optional CAS
Crafty Animals #93 ... ATG with Animals

Triple B Challenge April 2025

 Hello friends, it's a new challenge at Triple B Challenges and
we have a fun mood board for inspiration but you can
create any color as long as it has birds~blooms~butterflies on it,
one, two or all three.

I had some flowers all stamped out I was working on when my order from
scrapbookdotcom arrived in the mail and in it was  this beautiful package of
rub-ons Flight of Fancy from Graphic 45 that were the perfect match
to the colors in our mood board, so I had to switch gears and create with them.  I have to say there are a lot of them in the package
that will make beautiful cards.  I die cut a Tutti Designs heart
then applied my image to that, easy peasy.  Underneath I used
a newly purchased 3D embossing folder from one of the Sizzix
big sales they have a few times a year, it is called 'Tablecloth'.
These folders are typically only $3.20 at their sales, how can I resist?
The sentiment was created with a Spellbinders BetterPress die,
another favorite 'tool'!

So, get your blooms, butterflies and/or birds out
and come and join the fun at Triple B!

Word Power April 2025

 Hello friends, I'm back again with another card for our monthly challenge at
Word Power where our challenge is all about letting your sentiments 
take center stage!  When Spellbinders have their warehouse sales I
always try to take advantage of them as they are just too good to pass up!
This is where the die came from for my big Thank You.
It is a Betterpress Thank You Very Much plate, on sale at that time for $1.00.
It is a two step plate and very easy to do as it comes with a template
for easy line-up.  The small doily behind was from my already
pre-cut stash of die cuts, but it is a Cheapo Doily die from when I used to
work for Cheapo dies.  The butterfly paper is Brutus Monroe .

Come on over to our challenge and join us for some
Word Power fun!!

Full Bloom

 Hello Double D friends, we are into the Easter Holiday
and have a pretty inspiration board to get you as excited
about Easter as we are, but you can create any new Easter project you want!

I love this fun board and was inspired by all the pretty yellows and the
upper left picture.  Though I didn't use bunnies I did use a NBUS 
Cottage Cutz die I have had a long time Buster w/Spring Daffodil.
Buster is all ready for Easter with his Spring Daffodil bloom.
Unfortunately this die is no longer available for purchase.
I die cut him with a white card stock scrap then colored in with a mix of
Copic, Altenew and Olo markers.  The octagon die cut was in my spare parts
box that I inked up with some Altenew Dew Drop ink.
The background paper is Wild Rose Studios Annabelle's Garden
die cut with a Spellbinders Labels 17 die.  The sentiment is also Spellbinders,
Gardens Favorites punched with a SU circle punch.  Whew, that is a lot of explaining LOL!

Come on over to Double D and see all the beauty the DT
girls have to offer and we have a fabulous prize too
for one lucky random winner!

Entering The following challenges"
Halloween & Other Occasions #25 .... Spring 

Two Old Bats April 2025 Challenge

Hello friends, it's a new month which mean a new challenge at
Two Old Bats 
and we have a spooky fun inspiration board
which you can choose to use or not
as anything goes as long as it is Halloween themed!

I don't think I even have to tell you which tile inspired me as it's
pretty obvious!!  I used a new paper pack I bought last year around
the fall time by Brutus Monroe called Vintage Frights!
I die cut my pumpkin witch from one of the papers
with a Tutti Designs circle die and a spider web
using a Cottage Cutz die, then I cut it in half for
each corner.  The sentiment is from Picket Fence.
He is a bit frightful don't you think?

Get out those Halloween supplies
and come on over and have some fun with us!

Entering the following  challenge
Halloween and Other Occasions #25 ....Halloween

April 2025 Colorful Options

 Hello friends, at Colorful Options this month we are into
pretty PASTELS, but you can always use rainbow colors too if pastels isn't your 'thing'!

I had a hard time getting the true colors of my card when photographing it,
but the background has a bit more of a light teal color to it then what is shown
and is from Pink Fresh Studios Making The Best of It Paper pad. 
The birds are Sparkle N Sprinkle's Feathered Friends
stamped on a  Cottage Cutz Eyelet die cut.
The sentiment is a Spellbinders BetterPress.
The scallops lace across the top were made with a SU punch.
For a bit of sparkle I added some PFS gems.

We would love to see you having fun with us at Colorful Options .

April 2025 Spring

 Hello friends, it's the first day of the month and it might be April Fools Day
but we aren't fooling when we say it's also SPRING
and that is what season we are into at The Four Seasons challenge.

We have a pretty Spring mood board for inspiration but you can use anything as
long as it is Spring themed!

For my card I let the purple pansies inspire me as I had purchased a fun
set of Katy Sue 3D Pansy sheets.  Each sheet (you get 3) come with easy pop outs
that you layer with foam pop up squares, the thinner ones work best.
I ended up with three of these that you will see down the road on other posts,
each one made with a different color card base which changes them up a bit at least.

Here is a view that 'kind of' shows the 3D,

but they are really stunning IRL.

Come on over and join us at The Four Seasons with your Spring 'pretties'!!.

Stencil Fun April 2025 Challenge

Hello friends, happy April Fools day!
We aren't 'foolin' when we say it's time for a new challenge this month
at Stencil Fun!  We always have an OPTIONAL theme and this month it is
PATTERNS!

I created a friendship card using
The Greetery Scalloped Gingham Stencil.
Anytime I see the word 'gingham' it has my name all over it
and this stencil was no exception!
Plus the fact that it coordinates with the A2 Stitched scallops die.
I mean what more could you ask for right?
I stenciled with Altenew inks and then die cut from white
card stock scraps a Simon Says Exotic Blooms die
that I had recently purchased.  I used Copic markers to
add my colors.  The sentiment is  Pink Fresh Studio,
and a few half pearls were added.

For my anything goes card I used the last of the three stenciled
cards I created using Taylored Expressions In The Garden set.
She has several sets of these triple slimline sets to choose from
and I kind of want them all!

All stenciling was done with Altenew inks.  A few gems were added,
once again I couldn't help myself, I just love the look of gems!
The sentiment is The Ton Easy Expressions.

Get your stencils out and have some stenciling fun with us at
Stencil Fun!!