Inkspirational Challenge #315 - Seasonal

Spring...the season of flowers blooming, changing weather patterns, birds revisiting and so much more. As I sit looking out my studio window, I can observe it all. This morning I decided to participate in the latest challenge over at Inkspirational Challenges.

The theme is seasonal, so my first thought was spring flowers. As usual, I was looking at YouTube videos for fun fold cards and came across one I really liked. Click HERE for a link to the video I found.

I started with a tan base card and folded it according to the measurements. For the two front panels I used a dark tan and white card stock. I embossed the two white panels with one of my newest embossing folders and backed them with the darker tan. I stamped the flowers and leaves, fussy cut them out, then attached them to the two embossed panels. Inside the folded card I added a sentiment panel with a flower at the top. Lastly I stamped a sentiment quote for the front and made it into a banner tag.

Flower & Leaf Images - Stampin' Up! Fabulous Florets
Embossing Folder - Cuttlebug Oriental Weave
Sentiment - Stampin' Up! Fabulous Florets
Green Ink - Stampin' Up! Garden Green
Pink Ink - Stampin' Up! Pink Passion

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge # 634

I'm 'last-minute' again. Today I thought I'd participate in the latest Freshly Made Sketchs Challenge.

I needed a birthday card for an upcoming birthday, so made a card using the sketch. I started with a 6-3/4" x 4-3/4" black base card. I had some gray and white diagonal striped card stock so stamped a Happy Birthday sentiment across the center. I added a couple of gold gems on each side for a little bling. Above and below the sentiment I added some pink and gold diagonal striped card stock. I die cut a pen out of black and gold and attached it above the sentiment. I cut out a clip art inkwell and attached it below the sentiment. I backed the decorative layer with gold then added the layer to the black base card.

Happy Birthday Sentiment - Close To My Heart Birthday Script
Die Cut Pen Image - The Greetery
Inkwell - Clip Art

Inkspirational Challenge #314 - Bright Cheery Colors

I took three colors from the Mood Board for the card I decided to make today for Inkspirational Challenges #314.

I started with a 5-1/2" x 6" light blue base card. I die cut a feather-edge piece from purple and attached it to the left side of the card. I stamped a fancy script 'hello' in purple onto pink card stock, die-cut it out and attached it to the bottom right. Lastly I added some pink gems for a little bling.

Blue Card Stock - Bazzell Bling
Purple Card Stock - American Crafts
Feather Die - Crafter's Companion
Hello Stamp and Die - The Greetery
Bling Gems - Recollections

Diamond Point Card

I am always looking for new ideas for handmade cards. I saw a card this week that I had never seen before and just had to make one. I searched YouTube for a video showing how to make the card and found out that this type of card has been around for at least two years. It's called a Diamond Point Card. The card not only has an interesting shape to the front, but is very easy to make.

I began with a 5-1/2" square lilac card base. Once the front panels were cut, I glued on the designer paper and arranged the pieces of the card front. For the center I die cut three round pieces in the colors of the designer paper then stamped the sentiment on the top layer. I attached it to the center of the card with foam mount tape to raise it off the card. I then added three lilac adhesive mini-beads and a small bow. Lastly I added a piece of designer paper inside the card.

Friendship Sentiment - Stampin' Up! Rare Blessings
Designer Paper - Crafter's Companion

Inkspirational Challenge #313 - Word Prompt FOLD

I'm in a black and white card-making mood. I decided to make a double gate-fold card using only black and white for the current Inkspirational Challenge.

I started with a 5-1/2" x 11" black card. I scored it to make the basic gate-fold card. I cut black and white designer paper (then backed the paper with white) to fit the folds and glued them on. With the card folded, I made a belly-band to go around the card to help keep it closed. On the center of the belly band I attached a black and white die cut that I stamped with 'hello my friend'. I then stamped and die cut a bee image and attached it at the right of the sentiment.

I decided on making a folded black card to hold the inside greeting. I added some black and white floral designer paper to the center and backed the card with a white layer. I attached it to the inside of the card. On a smaller piece of white card stock I stamped my inside message and attached it inside the folded black card.

'hello my friend' sentiment - Gina K. Dazzling Dahlia Stamp Set
Bee Image - Stampin' Up! Honey Bee Stamp Set
Black Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black

Spring Flowers & Hummingbird

It all started when I was searching for a wreath die to make a few spring/summer cards. I searched the Internet and the wreaths I found didn't seem to be what I was looking for. I wanted a simple but pretty leaf wreath and finally found one on eBay. It was just what I wanted but I wasn't familiar with the company that made it. As it turns out, the die comes from Spain but was being sold by someone here in the US, so I purchased it.

I received it yesterday and today cut a few wreaths to make cards. You can't tell by the package photo, but this is a large wreath die, cutting 5-1/4" wreaths. Since I enjoy making 6" square cards I thought it would be a perfect size for making a wreath frame so I could add flowers, birds, butterflies, large sentiments, etc. I began with a 6" green base card. I cut a 5-1/2" white layer and attached the wreath die cut. I stamped (and die cut) three flowers and attached it to the right side (raising it off the card using foam mounts). I then added a digital hummingbird die cut to the left. I love how it turned out.

Wreath Die - Mintopia Floral Wreath Crown
Dalhia Flowers - Gina K. Dazzling Dalhias
Hummingbird - Digital Die Cut
Stamp Dye Ink - Melon Mambo

Seize the Birthday Spring Floral

I am delighted to have been chosen for a winning design for the Seize the Birthday challenge #278. I'm a guest designer for challenge #280 where the birthday card topping is Spring Floral.

For this challenge I started with a 6" x 6" square pink card. I cut a 5-1/2" square white layer and stamped vines and leaves in green using a large cover-a-card rubber stamp. I cut a rectangle white piece of card stock and stamped Happiest Birthday at the bottom, backed it with gold card stock, added three gold brads, and attached it to the bottom of the card. I cut a piece of pink card stock (same as the base card) and scored lines down it to give it a little texture. I attached it to the left side of the card. For the floral part, I stamped flowers on white card stock and colored them in. I cut it to size and backed it with a piece of gold card stock then added a white ribbon and bow. I attached it to the card using foam mounts to lift it off the card a bit.

Lastly I die cut a foil pink hummingbird and attached to the flower.

Pink Card Stock - Bazzill Bling "In the Pink"
Leaves and Vine Stamp - Impression Obsession
Floral Stamp Image - Stampin' Up! Elements of Style
Foil Pink Hummingbird - Hero Arts Hummingbird Die
Stamp Pads - Stampin' Up! Glorious Green and Pixie Pink

Inkspirational Challenge #312 - White on White

It's a cold morning here in south Texas, so after grabbing a hot cup of coffee, I decided to make another card for a challenge. Today I'm making a white on white card for challenge #312 over at Inkspirational Challenges.

I started with a 5" x 7" white base card. I die cut a 5" x 7" white layer using my newest swirl die (leaving 1-1/4" uncut at the bottom for the sentiment). I stamped the sentiment at the bottom in black then attached it to the base card. I die cut a golden bee and added it to the swirly die cut then die cut a leaf branch and attached it at the top.

Sentiment - Close To My Heart Icons and Sentiments
Swirl Die - Crafter's Companion Grande Swirls
Leaf Die Cuts - Memory Box Fresh Foliage
Golden Bee Diecut - Stampin' Up!

Color Hues Challenge #83 - Cream and Blue

Whenever I decide to join a card challenge I get so many ideas. The colors for the current challenge at Color Hues is cream and blue.

I had recently purchased a designer paper tablet that has all light blue designs, so chose a sheet from that for the blue. As usual, I wanted to have a little sparkle to the card, so used a blue floral paper with a little silver (an allowed neutral) in the flower designs. I started with a 5-1/2" square cream color base card. I cut my designer paper to 5" x 5" then backed it with a layer of black to make a border. I attached this layer to the base card. On a piece of cream colored card stock I stamped 'just a note' and die cut it out. I attached it to the bottom right using foam mount tape to lift it off the card a bit. I die cut a fountain pen out of black and silver and attached it on the left side of the card.

Just a Note Stamp and Die - The Greetery
Fountain Pen Die - The Greetery

Easter 2024

I thought Easter Sunday always came in April. I was surprised to see it falls on March 31st this year, so I needed to get started on my Easter cards. I recently purchased a set of hexagon nesting dies and then I saw a card I just had to case. It uses hexagon shapes in three different paper designs across the card with a few accents.

I started with a 5" x 7" white base card. I cut a smaller white layer and backed it with a color layer. I attached the designer hexagon shape papers first then did the stamping. On a seperate white hexagon shape I stamped "sending Springtime smiles" and attached it to the card. I put a small pink bow under the sentiment. At the top I stamped "HAPPY Easter" then added a small white butterfly and three gems to the card.

Easter Sentiments - Stampin' Up! Easter Blossoms Set
Butterfly Punch - Martha Stewart
Teal Solid Cardstock - Bazzill
Pink Bow - The Paper Studio

Aleene's Quick Dry Tacky Glue

I'm not affiliated with this company but wanted to share a little about the glue I use for 3-D paper projects. I had been using the Tombow Multi Mono Liquid Glue and it works fine for card layering. I used it on a couple of 3-D projects (like my little purses) and it just didn't hold well. I found some Aleene's Quick Dry Tacky Glue at Hobby Lobby and gave it a try and it worked great. It does just what it claims to do...it's fast drying, fast tacking and holds very well.

So if you are having problems with your glue holding your dimensional papercraft projects, you may want to give this glue a try. It's very reasonably priced...I paid only $2.49 for a 4-ounce bottle at my local Hobby Lobby.

Seize The Birthday Challenge #278 - The Color Red

My daughter's birthday is coming up on February 28th and I decided the perfect gift would be cash, candy and lottery tickets. She loves all three. So today, when I saw the newest challenge at Seize the Birthday I decided to make a little purse to put the goodies in.

The challenge is to use red as the main color, so I went with just red and white for the purse. I recently purchased the purse die, so it was easy to die cut the pieces out. I used a heavyweight white card stock for the base of the purse then red for the designer die cuts and heart. I stamped and embossed 'Birthday Wishes' (in white) on the red heart and attached it to the handle.

Purse Die - Crafter's Companion Arizona Bag
Red Card Stock - Bazzill Ruby Slipper
Birthday Wishes Stamp - Darcies
Embossing Powder - Recollections Snow
Bow - The Paper Studio

Inkspirational Challenge #309 - Hearts

Japan's warm weather this year has the cherry blossom flowers blooming early. With that in mind and the latest challenge at Inkspirational Challenges, the card I wanted to make was an easy decision.

I started with a 5" x 5" white base card. For the top layer, I die cut a heart into a 4-1/2" x 4-1/2" piece of heavyweight card stock. I also die cut the same heart into a piece of cherry blossom decorated Japanese Washi paper. I attached the Washi paper to the card stock and attached it to the base card using some foam mount adhesive to lift it off the card. I took one of the hearts I die cut out and attached some cherry blossom dimensional acrylic stickers then glued it inside the heart opening on the card. Lastly, I stamped 'You make me smile' on a white banner tag and attached it under the heart.

Cherry Blossom Yuzen Paper - ChibiJay Shop
Acetate Cherry Blossom Stickers - The Paper Studio
Sentiment Stamp - Stampin' Up! Calming Camellia
Dye Ink - Stampin' Up! Not Quite Navy

Just Add Ink Color Challenge #689

This is my first project for a Just Add Ink challenge. The colors for the challenge are gorgeous grape, tahitian tide and white.

I thought about a card then decided to make a 3-D project. I had just received a purse die in the mail, so decided to make a purse.

I assembled my colored card stock and die cut the pieces out. Assembly was easy and it came together fast. The purse size is 5-1/4" x 4" (not including handles) x 1-1/2", so perfect for holding little gifts, gift cards, candy and more. For the white, I added a small white ribbon bow.

Purse & Heart Die - Crafter's Companion Arizona Bag
Card Stock - American Crafts Core'dinations

Blessed To Call You Friend

I like sketch #622 over at Freshly Made Sketches, so decided to play along.

When I first saw the top layer I thought of a frame for the center. If you have seen past cards I've made, you know I like to add a bit of gold to my cards whenever possible. For the center of the frame, I added some golden leaves then a sentiment image I just purchased. Love it!

Flower Frame - The Paper Studio Pretty As A Poppy
Leaves Die Cut - Penny Black Leaves
Black Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black
Black Cardstock - Park Lane
Gold Cardstock - Park Lane
Sentiments - The Greetery

The Paper Players Challenge #675 - Love

I will say one thing...these challenges I am participating in help me stay creative and get cards made. The latest challenge over at The Paper Players is LOVE.

With that theme in mind I made another Valentine card. I started with a decorative layer that I attached to the center of a 4-1/2" x 6" white base card. I added a small strip of gold card stock to the top and bottom of the decorative layer. On the left side of the card I put a die cut gold and red heart. I die cut a "With Love" script sentiment in gold and layered it with a solid red shade die cut. I attached it to the lower right. I stamped 'Thinking of You' in red on a white banner then backed it with red. That was attached at the top right. I am very pleased with how this card turned out.

Base Card - Semi-Gloss White Card Stock
Decorative Layer - The Paper Studio
With Love Die - Crafter's Companion
Thinking of You Stamp - Bo Bunny
Heart Die - Team JB Hobbies
Gold Card Stock - Park Lane
Red Card Stock - Bazzill

The Greetery Rubber Stamps & Dies

Why didn't I know about this company? I recently saw some cards on Pinterest that grabbed my attention. I had never heard of The Greetery, so I checked out their website. I was impressed at all the great stamps and dies they carry. My birthday was coming up so I decided to give myself a birthday gift. I ordered two sets of stamps and 2 die sets. They just arrived (quick shipping) and I can't wait to start making cards with them.

This morning I couldn't help myself and ordered another set of sentiments with dies. I think I need to stay off their website before it becomes an uncontrolable addiction. I love their stamps and dies!

The Color Hues Challenge #80 - Red and Pink

Red and pink, a perfect idea for a February challenge over at The Color Hues challenge blog. I just mailed off a batch of Valentine cards to stamping friends, so I made a few more to send out using the red and pink theme.

I started with a white layer and at the bottom stamped one of my favorite Valentine script sentiments in red. Above the sentiment I scored several lines across the top using my Martha Stewart score board. I die cut two cute birds in red and backed them with a glittery pink paper. The die set I used has birds facing both directions, so it was perfect. I attached them to the top of the card with foam mount tape then added a little red heart between them. I backed that layer with black and attached it to a hot pink base card. Lastly I added a little gold gem on each side of the sentiment.

Bird Die Cuts - Elizabeth Craft Designs
Pink Glitter Paper - American Crafts
Valentine Sentiment - Inkadinkado
Hot Pink Base Card - Bazzill
Red Card Stock - Bazzill
Gold Gems - jolee's Boutique

Festive Friday Challenge #151 - Valentine's Day

It's the last few moments of the Valentine's Day challenge over at Festive Friday and I just completed my card. We were to pick three items from the list below to include in our project. I chose Red-Hearts-Foiling from the list.

To find the 'foiling' on the card, you will have to look closely at the word 'friend'. I started with a white A-2 base card. I cut a white layer the same size and stamped 'Happy Valentine's Day' in red at the top. I die cut a heart shape under the sentiment. I embossed this layer then attached it to base card using foam mount strips to raise it off the card. I found some pretty rose designer paper and die cut a heart the same size as the open heart and attached it on the base card so it would show through the open heart. I then die cut the word 'friend' in red and attached it to the bottom of the heart. Lastly, I die cut a tiny gold foil heart and used it as the dot above the 'i'.

Valentine's Day Rubber Stamp - My Sentiments Exactly
Friend Die - Poppystamps Friend Folksy Script
Rose Paper - Pretty Petals by The Paper Studio
Red Ink - Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler
Embossing Folder - Gina K. Tapestry
White Cardstock - Hammermill
Red Cardstock - Bazzill

Color Throwdown Challenge #777

I really like the colors for the current challenge at The Color Throwdown. These three color really blend well together.

What started the idea for the card below was a birthday gift I just received. A friend, who knows my love of dies, sent me a chain link lattice die and I made a die cut to incorporate into my card. I used some of my pretty Japanese Washi paper (which has pinks and navy colors in it) and framed it with the die cut. I backed that layer with a red and white layer then attached it to a navy blue base card. I stamped a 'Thinking of You' sentiment on a white strip and stamped (and cut out) a fan to finish off the card.

Thinking of You Sentiment - Bo Bunny
Red and Blue Card Stock - Bazzill
White Card Stock - Hammermill
Japanese Washi Paper - Etsy
Fan Image - Stampin' Up!

Beautiful Blossoms Floral Challenge #13

I love making floral cards, and recently came across another challenge site, Beautiful Blossoms Challenge. This month they are having an 'anything goes floral challenge' with optional mood board.

I thought I'd make a card with a little different take on the mood board (above) but still incorporate the blue floral colors. I began with a 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" white layer that I cut out with one of my stitch rectangle dies. I stamped a large and small floral bee on the card then stamped a trailing floral swirl at the bottom of the bigger bee. I made a stencil for the flower parts of the bee then added the blue color using dye ink. The sentiment Thinking of You was stamped last. I then backed the layer with a black layer and attached it to a 5" x 6-1/4 blue base card. I added a little bling by attaching blue gems to the bees and flower swirl.

Thinking of You Sentiment - Bo Bunny Beautiful Butterflies
Bee Rubber Stamp Images - Sizzix Framlits BEE WELL
Blue Ink - Stampin' Up! Tempting Turquoise
Floral Swirl Stamp - Inkadinkado
Black Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black
Base Card - Bazzill Prince Charming
Bling - Recollections Bling Stickers

Poppies and Dragonfly Card

I love designer paper and cardstock that have a foil accent to it. I recently went to Hobby Lobby to see what they had and I was not disappointed. Aside from the gorgeous 12" x 12" Eucalyptus paper (with golden foil accents), I found some gold foil dotted paper, some gold floral paper and a paper (actually cardstock) pad from The Paper Studio called PRETTY AS A POPPY.

So many pretty designs and most with a foil accent. Today I made a dragonfly tri-fold card using the foil accented Eucalyptis paper and a sheet of the PRETTY AS A POPPY card stock. For the center design I die cut a 3-layer circle (with designer foil paper on top) then added a die cut golden dragonfly.

PRETTY AS A POPPY Foil Cardstock - The Paper Studio
Eucalyptus Foil Scrapbook Paper - The Paper Studio
Dragonfly Die Cut - Dee's Distinctively Dies
Gold Card Stock For Dragonfly - Park Lane
Base Card - Bazzill Bling Atlantis

Color Hues #79 Copper and Green Challenge

First, a question...why, when you make a card, does your trash can get mysteriously full? I think the answer to that is impatience. I want to make a card I like, and if it doesn't fit that description, (which means I usually find a flaw in it because I hurried through the process), I throw it away. Am I a perfectionist? No, I don't strive for perfection. I think I'm a purest. I want to follow certain rules exactly — to the letter, and be absolutely pleased with the results. I am (finally) pleased with this card I made for the current Color Hues challenge.

I started with an A-2 light green card. I die cut a lattice frame in white and backed it with a green and white floral paper. That layer was attached to the card. I die cut a white oval for the front of the card and stamped and embossed (in copper) a butterfly and sentiment. I backed that oval with a larger green oval and attached it to the center of the card using foam mount strips. Lastly I added some green leaves (at an angle) to the top and bottom of the card.

Lattice Frame Die - Waffle Flower Triple Line Diamond Panel
Butterfly Stamped Image - Bo Bunny Beautiful Butterflies
Sentiment Stamped Image - Darcies Butterfly Birthday Wishes
Embossing Powder - Ranger Copper Embossing Powder
Leaves Die Cuts - Memory Box Fresh Foliage
Oval Die Cut - Spellbinder's Nestabilities
Base card - Stampin' Up! Pear Pizzaz

Seize The Birthday #275 Embossing

Time for another birthday card. This is my first time making a card for the Seize The Birthday challenge. The challenge this week is to make a card with embossing (wet or dry).

I had recently die cut some golden bees, so decided to make a bee-theme birthday card. I began with an A-2 tent-fold black base card. I embossed a white layer with a honeycomb embossing folder and attached it to the front of the card. I stamped "Thinking of you SWEET FRIEND" on a white square then backed it with black and gold. Under the sentiment I attached my golden bee and attached the layer (using foam mount tape) to the top of the card. At the bottom I added a strip of designer paper and added two golden dots. Between the dots I added a stamped "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" strip.

Happy Birthday Sentiment - Stampin' Up! From the Heart Stamp Set
Thinking of You Sentiment - Stampin' Up! Honey Bee Stamp Set
Honeycomb Embossing Folder - Sizzix Stampin' Up!
Bee Die Cut - Stampin' Up! Detailed Bee Die
Gold Card Stock - Park Lane Gold Paper Pad
Black Card Stock - Park Lane