Hello My Dear Friend

 It's that time again for a new challenge at Can You Handle The Pressure
with an OPTIONAL theme of Orange and/or Pumpkins.
We are an anything goes challenge but an embossing folder is a MUST!

I went with orange for my card but have to say this was a cluster of disasters
from the get go!  This is a Lisa Horton stencil and embossing folder set
Cinnamon Sticks and Oranges.  I usually stencil first then fit into the
embossing folder and it comes out perfect., not this time though.

I pulled the stencils straight out of the package and started in,
big mistake as they were  put in there upside down but little did I know until 
I got about to the 3rd stencil (and they aren't numbered in use order either
like the other layered stencils I use are).  This resulted in a couple of stencils
being used not in the correct order, but I figured it out and kept going.

But because they were flipped wrong side up it made my stenciling
not fit in the EB folder correctly to emboss, so I now have the debossed side up.
resulting in the look I have here, not happy at all but after all the work
of the stenciling I went with it...live and learn as they say!!

The sentiment is a die/stamp set from Spellbinders 
'A Little Hello Sentiments'.

Hope to see you at Can You Handle The Pressure.

Entering the following challenges:
Just Us Girls #798 .... Stenciling

Woodblock Wednesday

 Amy is having her Woodblock Wednesday this month,
The challenge where woodblock stamps are the feature.

I used an older Pink Ink (2017) Cinderella Pumpkin,
stamped on a Tutti Designs Oval with a second one
framing it underneath and colored in with Copics.
The background paper is Mintay Autumn Splendor.

I added wax cord, a button and a few PFS gems.

An easy peasy card for sure with just my simple pumpkin stamp,
I'll add a sentiment later!

Make sure to go and check out all the FUN woodblocks used!!

The Magic of Christmas

Hello friends, can you believe we are already into October?
It will be Christmas before you know it and if you have been playing along in our
Peace On Earth Christmas challenge all year you will have a pretty good
nice stack of holiday cards made.  If not then come on over get started before
the holiday sneaks upon us.

As usual we have a mood board for inspiration but you can create anything
as long as you stay within the Christmas theme. 

I inked up for the first time a Pink Ink Designs stamp and if you
are familiar with their stamps then you know that most are quite large
and this image is no exception.  I colored it in with a mix of Copics,
Olo's and Atenew markers.  The sentiment is an old Kaisercraft.  I used a few glitter
markers here and there. It is a very large card and a fun image.

Hope to see you at Peace On Earth!

Two Old Bats October 2025 Reminder

We are halfway thru our challenge at
Two Old Bats
and have a super fun and somewhat 'spooky'
inspiration board but you can create anything as long
as it it Halloween themed!

For this card I have to honestly say I 'dug' in my scraps of all Halloween
and came up with this scrap piece of paper and a bit of ephemera,
plus the black cat from a MS punch!

 We would love to see you over at Two Old Bats for some spooky fun!!

Happy Birthday

 Hello friends, at Double D we have a new theme and it is
Halloween Colors.
We have a spooky and somewhat creepy mood board for inspiration
but you can create anything in Halloween Colors.

Since I had pretty much created all the Halloween cards I wanted/need for the year
I went more with the Halloween colors of purple, orange and black.

I stenciled Pink Fresh Studios Floral Focus in those colors using Pink Fresh Studios
Chasing Sunsets inks and Altenew Enchanted Garden and Green Fields inks.
The sentiment is Sizzix Hello Sunshine.  A few gold half pearls were added.

As usual the DT has amazing creations, stop by and see them!!

Entering the following challenges:
Dream Valley #346 .... Add Pearls/Gems
Addicted To Stamps & More #503 .... Birthdays

Beautiful Blossoms October 2025

 Hello friends, look at this pretty bight and colorful inspiration
board for our October Beautiful Blossoms monthly challenge.
Doesn't it just cheer you up?

You can always use any color floral or be inspired by the colors
like I was!  I bought a few new floral stamps back on February

(because I didn't have many...hahaha, that is too funny)!!

But I saw this new Paper Rose release with the Sketchy stamps and

they had my name all over them!  This one is Sketchy Floral 'Thanks'
and I purchased them from Ecstasy a newer online shop to me I discovered last year, they 
have fabulous sales!  I colored my image in with Olo's and stamped a

sentiment from Spellbinders Garden Favorites stamped in Altenew Azurite ink.
I left it as is, so simple to mail with the cost of postage now.

Hope to see you at our pretty floral challenge at Beautiful Blossoms! 

Beautiful Autumn

Today at Can You Handle The Pressure challenge our OPTIONAL theme is
Fall Harvest, meaning anything fall, but of course we are an anything goes
challenge and the theme is always optional but the use of an embossing folder is a MUST!

I used a beautiful Lisa Horton Acorns and Pinecones EB folder
for the first time on a dark chocolate card stock.  The image and sentiment are
Graphic 45 press ons (rub ons as I call them) Autumn Greetings.
I left this card simple as I really wanted all the pretty embossing to shine it's pretty head!!

We would love to have you get out those EB folders and join
us at our Can You Handle The Pressure challenge.

Entering the following challenges:
Crafty Catz #702.... ATG/Dry or Wet Embossing

Autumn Leaves

 We are feeling FALL at The Sisterhood of Crafters.
Fall is our theme for this month as we move into October.

I had this panel already made using Graphic 45 press on's and it
fit into our theme perfectly and was easy to turn into a card
plus the fact I have really been trying to use up more of what I have
purchased over the years.  I added a few gems for a 'bit' of sparkle.

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

Entering the following challenges:
The Card Concept  #220 .... Autumn Days (inspired by the colors and the Autumn concept with a clean and graphic look)

Stencil Fun October Challenge

 Hello friends, today our OPTIONAL theme for
the month of October at our Stencil Fun challenge is
Anything Halloween related.

I pulled out my Waffle Flower Postage Spooktacular stencil
and Spectacular stamps.  I used a mix of some Altenew
and Pink Fresh inks for my colors.  I read on one of the sites where
someone said these stencils from WF were a fad
but I have to whole hardily disagree as I feel I will never
grow tired of using them and look forward to a new one
every month, and I would call them more of an 'addiction'!
They are so FUN!!

For my Anything Goes card, I  have a card I created
for my 2024 Christmas cards using the Taylored Expressions
layered Holly Holiday stencil.
This stencil allows you to create three different card front panels
all at once with each layer (there are 3).
These are geared to make a mini slimline but I trimmed them down to
fit an A2 card front as I didn't want to have to make lots of mini
slimline envelopes!  I used four different colors of Altenew inks
Firefly, Green Field, Crimson and Velvet.

I'll be showing the other two cards in the coming months of
November and December.

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

Entering the following challenges:
Unicorn Challenge .... Autumn and/or Halloween Card #1
Daisy Chain #101 .... Autumn and/or Halloween Card #1
The Holly and Ivy Challenge .... ATG Christmas Card #2
Wednesday's Creative Inspirations .... Spooky/Autumn Card #1

Your Day To Celebrate

 Our The Neglected Stuff challenge starts again today, a new month, a new challenge!

It is always an anything goes challenge using your very neglected stuff
that you have had for a long time, you can even have used it before but just
not recently.

Back in October of 2024 Simon Says sent me this cute Festive Balloons
stamp and die set for my birthday, free!  All I had to do was put it in my cart
and pay shipping. 

I stamped it in Versamark on vellum then colored it with Copis on the back side.
I used the matching die to then cut it out and attach it to a Spellbinders die cut.
The background paper was also cut with a SB die from a mostly used pad of
Pink & Main It's A Party 6x6 paper pad I am trying to use up.
The sentiment is part of the stamp set.

I'm sure you have plenty of neglected stuff too and we would love to have
you join in with us!

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Creating!!

Creatalicious #293 .... ATG/Optional Birthday
Krafty Chicks #788 ....Birthday

Candy Cane Bouquet

Hello friends, the year is getting closer to the end  and if you have been
joining our challenge at Peace On Earth all year
then you should have a nice assortment of Christmas cards by now!

We always have a fun mood board to inspire!

I let the candy canes 'sway' me as I had a fun die set I bought in 2024
from Honey Bee Lovely Layers Candy Cane.
The canes themselves have 3 layers, I added a metallic silver for the
first layer giving a bit of shine.  All the pieces other then the
sentiment are part of the set.  I added a bit of white embossing
powder to the leaves for a bit of a 'snowy' look.  The sentiment is
from The Ton and the background paper is Mintay.

We hope to see you over at Peace On Earth,
always plenty of pretty inspiration there
from the design team!!

Entering the following fun challenges:
Girlz Creative Christmas #145 ...ATG
Die Cut Divas ....ATG

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

Pumpkin Time At Simply Clean & Simple

 Hello friends, we have an OPTIONAL theme at our
Simply Clean & Simple challenge and it is PUMPKINS!

I pulled out an old stamp I purchased years ago at a garage sale
that is a SU 1999 stamp.  Funny how many people get rid of
their wood block stamps, all the better for me LOL, as I keep them all!

I added a few strips cut with Honey Bee banners and a spider web
die cut with a Cottage Cutz die.
Pretty simple but that is what we are all about CAS!

Come on over and have some fun with us at SCAS
and see all the fun designs from our design team!!

October 2025

 Hello friends, we have our new monthly challenge starting today at
Triple B where are all about the three B's
Birds~Blooms~Butterflies.
You can one do one, two or all three, but at least one is a must!

We have a mood board for inspiration but you can use any colors
you would like. 

I was inspired by the orange colors and the green color
behind the robin using that color for my card base.

The flower stamp I used is one I won several years ago
from a challenge blog.  It is Woodware Boxed Daisies Trio
that I turned into orange cone flowers.

I spattered a gold metallic paint on, which is much easier to see IRL.

Thanks for stopping by...happy creating!!

Two Old Bats October Challenge

Hello friends and happy 'almost Halloween!
Our year round Halloween challenge at Two Old Bats has
finally made it's way back to October!
We have a fun and somewhat spooky mood board for inspiration,
but your creation just needs to be any Halloween!

I let a few things inspire me, one being the silly fun Frankenstein
on the mood board and also the Frankie's I have seen on Pinterest
made with the SU Sizzix Bigz die.  I think this die might be the first
Sizzix die I ever bought and it sure was fun to bring it out again
to use for Frankie!  His facial features were made with SU 1" and 3/4" punches.
The mouth was hand drawn and I debated about putting stitches on it,
in the end I decided not too, I kind of like his goofy grin.
  If you want to see a good video on it
then visit HERE as the design credit goes to her! 
My background paper is Brutus Monroe Spooky Halloween.

Come on over to Two Old Bats,
after all it 'tis the season'!!

Entering the following fun challenges:
Craft Rocket .... Autumn/Halloween
The Paper Funday .... Twist:  Cute or Creepy #2

A Good Day

 Our challenge at Word Power is all about the words,
meaning we want to see BIG sentiments/words on your card!

My card is nothing to write home about, but, the great thing about it
is that I used up the LAST piece of my Doodlebug Happy Harvest 6x6
paper pad, well, I do have scraps of it left but for the most part the actual
pad is gone.  This makes me so happy as I have a basket on my desk with
pads of paper in it that have 3 or 4 sheets left I am trying to use up, there are 34 of them
so to have one gone is exciting!

I used die cuts from Cheery Lynn Designs and Sizzix
to stamp my big
Hero Arts Handwritten Affirmations Sentiment on.

We would love to see your BIG sentiments at Word Power!!

Colorful Options October 2025

 Hello friends, today at Colorful Options our colors are fitting for
October, Black and Orange.  Lots of options here as it doesn't have to be Halloween
just anything in these two colors.  Not a fan of this months mood board?  Then
you can always use rainbow colors if you prefer!

I was inspired not only by the colors but the black kitty cat as well.
I used for the first time a Honey Bee Lovely Layers Scaredy Cat die
as well as an old embossing folder from Cuttlebug embossed on
Cord'dinations Black Magic paper that I then sanded to let the color through.

Come on over and have some 'colorful' fun with us!!

Entering the following challenges:
Show Us Your Pussycats Challenge .... Must be Cats

October 2025 Fall

We are into our second FALL Season at The Four Seasons
and have a very fun and 'fall-ish mood board for inspiration,
but you can create anything fall! 

I was inspired by the bottom left picture with all the fall colors and
the house.  I used papers from Brutus Monroe's Fall Into Seasons.
This paper is so pretty it really doesn't need anything more added  to it.
The sentiments are from the Hero Arts 2023 Fall card kit.

I ended up with two cards as I mistakenly adhered down the wrong side
of the paper I had intended to use, so just started over and made a
second card.

Card #1 (the one I had intended to do)

Card #2 (the one I adhered the wrong side)

Anyhow, both sides are beautiful papers so it worked out
well and I have two cards to show for it!

Thanks for stopping and happy creating!!

Entering the following challenges:
Dream Valley .... Autumn Colors
Make My Monday .... Autumnal Fall

Trick or Treat

Hello friends, Double D has a brand new theme for October and it is a DOOZY!!
We know some aren't fond of Halloween so we have a word inspired challenge theme this time,
you can read about it below! 

Theme:  Trick or Treat
Smell My Feet
Give Me Something Good To Eat
( let the words inspire you, Example: trick or treaters,
something that smells (even animals sniff and smell or so does an apple pie), something with feet,  something good to eat (Ice cream, candy, fruit)
Just let your imagine run with it!

Along with the words to inspire we have a fun
mood board for inspiration too, I think you will get the idea!

I did go with the Halloween concept and let the trick or treat
words inspire me right along with that cute ghost
trick or treating in the top left photo.  Of course having a new
Halloween Trick or Treat ghost die set also contributed a bit too!!

I purchased this die set around Halloween 2024 but it arrived too late
to use it that year, so this is my first time of pulling it out and using it.  I thought it was the cutest die from Simon Says!
The background is one of several packs I also purchased last year from
Picket Fence Studios, they come in an A2 card front but I trimmed off a bit
so I could have a nice card base edge underneath.  I left a sentiment off the front
as I felt the background and cute die cuts were all it needed.

Once again the DT girls did an amazing job with this
challenge theme, so make sure to go to Double D
and check out all the fun variety of inspiration!

Entering the following challenges:
Little Red Wagon .... 'H' Is For Holidays  (Halloween)
The Paper Funday .... Optional Cute or Creepy