Woodblock Wednesday April 2026

 Hello friends, today I am guest designing at Amy's
Woodblock Wednesday due to my win there in March.
It is the challenge to use those poor neglected woodblock stamps
and one of MY favorite monthly challenges I look forward to.

For my woodblock cards I always try to use a stamp that seems
to fit the month we are in, it doesn't always happen but this month it
sure did as the entire state of Michigan was covered in water.
Rain, rain and more rain led to lots of flooding.
Luckily though we live on a creek our home was high enough
it didn't affect us other then a flooded lawn.

My stamps are oldies, the sentiment I have had since almost day one
it says 1994 Stamp Crazy on it.  The main stamp is one I have always
loved being a cat person myself, All Night Media.

I stamped my image on a Spellbinders Arch die cut then colored with
Copics and a silver gel pen for a bit of sparkle.
The background papers are Scrapbookdotcom, they have some really
pretty papers. 
I recently just created a few more handmade flowers so added one of those.
The sentiment was stamped in Dew Drop (Memento) Grape Jelly.

I am sure Amy would love to have YOU join in her fun at the 
Woodblock Wednesday challenge, always the last Wednesday of the month!!

Purple Elegant Rose

 At Just Us Girls it is already Stencil Week again
which happens to be one of my favorite challenges and 
with the ever growing mountain of stencils I have it's a
perfect challenge for me.

A few weeks ago I stenciled several roses in various colors
using SSS Elegant Rose using all Altenew inks.
I didn't add any embellishments or a sentiment and kept a

clean, just stenciled card, not to say I won't later
depending on what occasion I am using it for.

You will be seeing the other stenciled colors later 'down the road'!!

.

Butterfly Day

 Here I am again with another challenge card,
so rare for me to be able to create for so many
challenges in a week, but so FUN!!

I saw this Sunbird Spark challenge #59 and immediately was
drawn to the colors.

I decided to use yet another stencil from Taylored Expressions,

one I have used before but not for quite sometime, Layered Butterflies
stencil and stamp.  I pulled several different inks out but ended up using
SSS Surf and Memento Dew Drop Pear Tart.  

I don't think this challenge is listed at Paper Playful or
Challenges For Days, they need to to get more players

as it is a very nice challenge!!

Color Hues Challenge #131

 Another 'free' day for me I can add another challenge to my 'belt'!
I choose The Color Hues Challenge of Coral & Green
with my neutrals of black and white.

One of my newest embossing folders and stencils this year was
the SSS Butterfly Escapade set.  My bank account 'cringes' every month
when Simon has a new release as there is always something I

need/want in each release!  

The inks I chose for this card was Altenew Coral Bliss and Shadow Creek.  I just wish the true colors of this showed up
better, it is way more of a suble green and coral color
then the picture shows.

I have a few more of these done in other color combos that will

'appear' at a later date, after all you can't stop with just one, right??

Also entering the following challenges:
Addicted To Stamps & More .... Die Cuts/Stencils

Let Joy Blossom

 I had some free days with no DT projects so I joined in a challenge at
CAS Colors & Sketches
with the sketch shown below.

This certainly was an easy CAS sketch with many possibilities
that if you visit the site you will see fabulous examples from the design team!

I had a new Whirl Butterflies die from SSS

that I was able to use for the first time today.
The sentiment is a rub on that just came in the mail
on Saturday!

That's it, pretty easy peasy!!

It's Your Day

 Can You Handle The Pressure is bringing to you an
OPTIONAL theme of FLOWERS
but you can create anything as long as an embossing folder is used, that is a MUST
to enter our challenge!

I found an already embossed panel in my 'spare parts'
box and since that is my goal of to use this year, plus the fact
that it is downright pretty, I pulled it out to use.
The folder is Spellbinders Flower Frenzy which I  'might' of picked up
during one of their warehouse sales.
I need to make more of my Spellbinders Bold Blooms flowers so am trying to 
use up what I already have made and that is where these flowers
came from.  They worked perfectly with my folder and perfect for the theme.
The sentiment is a Betterpress stamp and die.

So many new embossing folders out there
to purchase, we hope to see some at our
Can You Handle The Pressure challenge!

Entering the following challenges:
Cut It Up #354 ... Die Cut/Colors of Spring
Daisy Chain #106 .... No Designer Paper

Birds and/or Eggs Challenge

 I was once again able to have some free time to enter a challenge I saw
at Make My Monday where the theme is Birds and/or Eggs.

I purchased a set of rub ons from Prima Among The Wildflowers
 that had the prettiest images on it, one is quite large but it does fit a 6x6 card base. 
Do go and check them out!
The one I used has both a bird and eggs on it and I was thinking it
would make a beautiful baby card, but because it is a
Congratulations sentiment, it could be used for about any occasion. 
It was rubbed onto one of my favorite Waffle Flower dies
Lacy Layers 2 (no longer available).

It certainly will be an easy mailer, with the rise of postage
that is a 'good' thing!!

Do you like to use pretty 'rub on's too??

With Deepest Sympathy

 I saw this pretty Baby's Breath stencil at Papertrey ink and saw it had been used
for a sympathy card on one of their samples and thought it would be
perfect for that, but when I put it my cart and saw the shipping for
just one lightweight stencil I backed out, but along came my
|'partner in crime' Dar and when I showed her the stencil she
wanted it too and a few other things so she bought it for me and then 
mailed it to me, now how nice is that of a friend!!

I used some pretty Altenew inks for my stencil, if you do layering stencils
I can recommend these ink cubes, they come in a set of four colors
from light to dark and I have had them for quite a long time and they still
are as good as the day I had bought them.  The sentiment is Hero Arts.  A simple but pretty sympathy card.

I plan on making several more of these cards in different colors

Hoping this is CAS for the challenge at 
CAS On Friday#332 as it certainly was VERY simple to create
and lots of clean white space and the theme is SYMPATHY!

Mini Daffodils

 Hello friends, I created a card today specifically for a few CAS challenges.

Fab N Funky #635 with a theme of CAS

Addicted To CAS #306 with a theme of POSTAGE

Waffle Flower's Aprils release had the cutest Daffodil stencil
for a very reasonable price ($7)
and usually until supplies last if you spend $25or more
 they offer up a free 'something' the day of the new release
and this time it was the free 'Postage' die to go with the stencil.

Being that Daffodils are my favorite Spring flower,
how could I resist and with all

the fabulous newly released products it certainly isn't a hardship to spend $25!

I had just purchased some new yellow inks from SSS in the colors of
Lemonade, Sunbeam and Citrus, perfect for the three colors
the stencil required for the flowers.
The other colors used were Altenew Shadow Creek and Icy Water,
Dew Drop Rich Cocoa for the Pink Fresh Studio Simply Sentiments.

I'll be back tomorrow with another CAS card!

April Showers Bring May Flowers

It's time for a new challenge at Pick 3,
Projects
The challenge that you pick three out of six elements for your card.

For my card I choose Boots~Rain~Pastel.

Products Used:
Sizzix EB Rain Clouds EB folder
Paper Smooches Rain Boots
Paper Rose  Bluebird Paper
Sue Wilson Butterfly
Spellbinders Flowers

This is a fun new challenge, come and have some
fun with us at Pick 3.

Entering the following challenges:
If You Gave A Crafter A Cookie #215 .... Rainy Days

DL Art. Thankful Thursday #391 .... Optional Showers

Cardz For Galz #274 .... April Showers

Time Out #311 ... Rain~Pastels~Blooms

Country Barn

 Time for a new challenge at Peace On Earth
and we have a country barn mood board for
inspiration, but you can create anything as long as it
is Christmas themed!

I created a cute barn scene and I have to say this was the most
'pickiest' Cottage Cutz die I have ever used!  So MANY tiny pieces
to put together, look at the lean-to, each one of those stones was
a tiny piece to attach and color.  I did die cut the entire piece from a
white scrap of card stock, then colored each tiny piece with

Copics and Olos.  It took me about an hour and a half to put this together.
The background is Sizzix TH Falling Snow EB folder.
Whew, this was one time consuming project, I think my eyes are still crossed!  Much cuter IRL!!

We would love to see your projects over at Peace On Earth.

Entering the following challenges:
Little Red Wagon .... That Song (Frosty The Snowman)
The Paper Funday #86 .... Dies and/or Punches
Unicorn Challenge #119 .... Dies

A Friend Like You

 Today I had a little fun in my craft room, my favorite place to be
to take my mind off what is happening in our crazy and
unsettling world right now.

One of my favorite things to do in card making is using
the layered stencils.  These stencils were very easy to line up
so I created two different cards since I already had them out.

First card:

Products Used:
Altenew Beautiful Inside sentiment
Spellbinders  Stencil of the month AUG 24 Colorful Expressions Garden
Altenew Inks Warm Sunshine~Hydrangea~Evergreen~Forest Glades~Mangrove Root

Second Card:

Products used"
Same SB stencil as above
Inks:  SSS Mandarin,  Twilight~Dew Drop Memento Rich Cocoa~
Altenew:  Grass Field, Warm Sunshine~Shadow Creek and
Distress Walnut Stain
Altenew Sentiment

I created these cards specifically for a challenge at

Tic Tac Toe #290 .... Pastel~Free~Stencil

Addicted To Stamps & More which the theme is 

Spook-tacular

 It's halfway time at our Two Old Bats challenges
and we have a reminder to hopefully have you join us!

Always a mood board for inspiration but you
can create anything Halloween themed!

It was a rainy day when my little Simon ghosts went to the
Cheery Lynn Designs pumpkin patch and because they overbought
they used their Spellbinders umbrella to carry them back to the spooky house.

The sentiment is one I received free from Scrapbookdotcom with an order.

The embossing rainy folder is Sizzix.
All pieces were cut from scrap papers, the pumpkins from white
that were colored with Copics.

It sure would be fun to see you over at Two Old Bats!!

Entering the following challenges:
Simon Says ....  Quite Quirky
Cardz For Galz #274 .... April Showers
If You Gave A Crafter A Cookie .... Rainy Days

Tea Cup Full of Flowers

 Double D has a new challenge theme going and it is
COFFEE OR TEA
with a mood board for inspiration!

I don't have actual coffee OR tea but I do have a TEA CUP full of

beautiful flowers.  It is a Sizzix die called Tea Time.
I die cut all pieces from scraps of white card stock then colored them in

with either inks or Copics.  The tea cup and the embossed back piece is
Core'dinations paper that I sanded and embossed with a Simon Layered Vine
EB folder.  Once I use a folder I write 'front' on the front so I know which side is
up at a glance as it does make a difference when using the core'dinations papers.
I used a Cheery Lynn Designs doily die, the first doily die I ever purchased.  A pretty card for Spring!!

Feel like coffee OR Tea?  Then get creative and come on over to

Double D and have a little 'cuppa' with us!!

Entering the following challenges:

Crafty Calendar .... Dies and/or Punches
First Cup #13 .... Coffee/Tea Related 

First Class Mail

There is a new challenge starting today at Beautiful Blossoms
and we have a pretty floral mood board for inspiration,
but you can create any color floral you want. 

I used a postage wildflower stencil from Waffle Flower and inked it
with all Altenew inks.  The sentiment and postage stamps are also
part of the Waffle Flower postage series.  I stenciled in all pinks
but you can stencil in many colors for a pretty summer mix!

Come on over to Beautiful Blossoms to see all the
beautiful inspiration from the team!

Entering the following fun challenges:
Allsorts  #847.... In The Garden

Blue Birthday

Hello friends!  Today at Can You Handle The Pressure,
the challenge that is all about using your embossing folders
has a new OPTIONAL theme and it is BLUE ON BLUE,
meaning we want to see ALL blue cards or you can create
our anything goes theme as long as an embossing folder has been used.

I started out thinking I was going to make a baby card
and had an idea all set for it, but somehow this card came about instead.
I am in the process of trying to use up my SU card stocks as I have had them
for quite sometime and the way I store them they are fading along the edges.
For this card I used Bordering blue and Not Quite Navy.
The stamp is an OLD Flourishes A Year In Flowers 1.  I have used all but
one of the flowers for this set now and it makes me happy!
The pansies were stamped in Dew Drop Teal Zeal ink as well as the
The Greetery birthday stamp.  The scalloped background is a Cottage Cutz die.
The embossing folder I used is a 3d Honey Bee Spring Medley folder.

We would love to see you at Can You Handle The Pressure challenge blog!

Entering the following fun challenges:
Daisy Chain #106 .... No Designer Paper

Designer Paper Cards

 I have so many beautiful designer papers that I spent an
afternoon making a few cards with some fun papers.
I had the idea to use up every piece as much as I could
so I didn't have any more scraps to add to my scrap bags,
I did pretty well with that and have a few tiny pieces left of each.

First card uses a gorgeous paper from Paper Rose 
Bees & Butterflies Basics.  I layered a few cardstocks under
the pretty paper, added a The Greetery sentiment and a few half pearls.

The second card uses the rest of the same paper with a yellow piece
from my scrap bag and a edge die cut from my 'parts' bag
which is a Cheery Lynn Designs.  The sentiment is from a bag
of Katy Sue Designs sentiments.

The next set uses papers from Mintay Elodie and because the paper is so
pastel it was hard to get a great picture of it.
I also layered this card with card stocks, add a sentiment from
My favorite Things and a few enamel dots.

The second card from this set also uses the same DS paper,
along with a scrap from the scrap bags, another
Katy Sue Designs sentiments and a die cut from my spare parts
box, and it is also a Cheery Lynn Designs.

The third set of cards uses a paper I have had for quite some time
and using for the first time Dovecraft 'Bohemian',   it has a metallic shine,
once again layered with card stock and  a My Favorite Things sentiment,
enamel dots were also added.

The second card from the set uses a scrap paper, a die cut from my
spare parts box which is a Cheery Lynn Designs  and once again a
Katy Sue Designs sentiment.

These were fun and a great way to showcase some

pretty papers.

Entering the following challenges:
Craft Rocket #135 .... Layers

Age Is Just A Number

The Sisterhood of Crafters has a new challenge starting today 
for the month of April with a theme of 
'Make Someone Smile".
There is a silly inspiration board that is sure to make YOU smile!!

For my card I pulled out some VERY old products to make my 'smile' card.
First is a Stampin Up stamp Itty Bitty Backgrounds, though I haven't used it

in quite some time, it is one of those stamps that is very useful when needed.
I stamped it in Hero Arts Caramel ink.

The next thing I used I haven't ever used before and it's about time since I have
had it for 20 years is a Funky Chicken die from QuicKutz (2005).
I die cut it three times (plus) from white card then colored in with Copics.
The sentiment is the 'smiley' part of my card, from Woodware 'I Meant To" stamp set.
The QuicKutz is my first ever die cut 'machine' and luckily they 
have come a long way since!!

I hope my silly card with the funky chickens  made you smile today.

We would love to have you join us at The Sisterhood!

Entering the following challenges:
Critter Crazy #109 ..... Animals

 

Ends of The Rainbow

 We have a new OPTIONAL theme for our
monthly challenge at Stencil Fun and it is
RAINBOW COLORS.
I used a Lawn Fawn rainbow stencil I purchased during one of Simons 
99cent sales, I purchased well over 20 different  stencils
during their sales, same with the Simon
End of The rainbow stamp set I used.

Anything Goes Card:

 I have used once again the beautiful
Waffle Flower Butterfly Blossom Texture Plate and stencils to
make my 'partner in crime and great friends' birthday card
which was July 15th 2025.  I think it is more then safe to post it now LOL!

Because her favorite color is purple I made the flowers in purple colors
and because I love the combo of purple and yellows together
I opted to make the butterflies in yellows.

The inks are all Altenew and the colors used are
Soft Lilac~Lavender Fields~Deep Iris~Midnight Violet~Lemon Ice~
Mango Smoothie and Sweet Leaf.  The sentiment is a Betterpress.

I have to say this is one of the most easy die/stencil 
combos to use and makes a gorgeous card!

We would love to have you join us at Stencil Fun!

Scruffy Puppy

 Our The Neglected Stuff challenge is all about using all
those craft supplies you bought but for some reason or another
you have just never gotten around to using them maybe for months or even years
or maybe it's something you have used but not for a very very long time.

I purchased this Unity Pissy Puppy  stamp back in 2024 and have been
meaning to use him for quite sometime and now IS the time.
The background paper is one that I had pulled and had in a basket to use
so haven't a clue of whose it is, but another one I have had forever.
The square double stitched die cut is also a first time use from Cottage Cutz.

It feels so GOOD to use my The Neglected Stuff
and I am sure if you join us you will feel the same way!!

Entering the follow9ing challenges:
Crafty Animals #104 .... Animals
Critter Crazy #109 .... Must have a critter
Pearly Sparkles #118 .... Something Old (Designer Paper) Something New (Stamp set)
Unity FB Show & Tell .... Pizzaz Papers

Cross Stitched Eggs

 Happy Easter!!
Today I decided to add another card since my first post is
Christmas themed for our challenge at Peace On earth.
After all it is Easter, plus the fact I still have lots of new Easter
that I haven't even been able to use yet.

As soon as I saw these cross stitched egg shapes I really debated
about ordering them, but the more I looked at them the more
I decided they had to come and live with me!

I saw the sample made and decided to use bright card stock scraps,
die cut some Easter eggs then use white embossing powder with
the stamps.  But without thinking I die cute WHITE eggs, well
that certainly wasn't going to work with white EB powder.
I die cut 4 colorful bright eggs then embossed what I thought was
a white EB powder but it turned out to be a 'sparkle' powder,
so I once again cut 4 more eggs and this time grabbed the
correct powder, geesh!!

I opted to make a 6x6 square card to fit all the eggs on plus I
have 2 packs of 6x6 card blanks and envelopes I am trying to use up.
The sentiment is part of the stamp set, the little bows are from
a Christmas tag die set I have.  One of the samples had little white pompoms
on the bunnies for tails but the ones I had were too big and it was such a
cute idea too, maybe next time!!

Supplies used:

Whimsy Cross Stitch Spring stamps
Echo Park Spring Fling Paper
Spellbinders Nesting Eggs
SNS white EB Powder

Have a great Easter!!

Merry Christmas

Here we are in April and it's the start of our first challenge
this month for Peace On Earth.
For inspiration we have a fun mood board but
you can create anything Christmas themed. 

I let the upper right photo inspire me to create my deer

from Memory Box Woodland Deer and stole (borrowed) the scarf from
Poppystamps Woodland Fawn.  The background paper is from another

freebie from scrapbookdotcom Simple Stories Simple Vintage Christmas Lodge.

The sentiment is Hero Arts Christmas Messages, the die cut the deer is on is a 

Spellbinders Essential Arches.  Stickles Crystal was applied to the antlers
and the snowbank.

Come on over and have some Christmas fun with us at
Peace On Earth!

Easter Daffodils

 With Easter here tomorrow I had created these daffodil cards
this past winter and decided they need to get posted in time for Easter.

I used a Katy Sue Designs 3D card set.  I am not going to say these
are a fast way to create cards as they are a bit time consuming,
something I did watching TV in the cold winter evenings.

These two cards are alike just using different color card bases.

Card #1

Card #2

Hard to tell, but these cards have layers and layers on them,
for instance the bible is three layers as is the candle and flowers.

Have a happy Easter!!

Entering the following challenges:

Fab N Funky .... Spring
Cardz 4 Galz .... Spring Flowers
Allsorts .... It's Springtime or ATG