Sunday 30 June 2024

Die Cut Divas ~ End of June Challenge with Elizabeth Craft Designs

Our challenge, ending later today at Die Cut Divas is

"Your Favorite Die Cut Shapes"

Our sponsor this month is Elizabeth Craft Designs who will be giving our winner a $25 gift card. A big thank you to Elizabeth Craft Designs for their generosity.


I'm pretty boring. My favorite die cut shape is a rectangle. There is something about crisp right angles and parallel lines that make it my favorite. Here's my card


I again used Elizabeth Craft Design's Fancy Cut-Aways dies for my rectangular A2 card. I ink blended some white cardstock, larger than the size of the die using mowed lawn, peacock feathers and mermaid lagoon distress inks, applied with oval ink blending brushes. I then die cut the pretty frame with the vines. I felt it needed something more, so I added some die cut flowers that I die cut with Elizabeth Craft Design's Floral Minis from white cardstock. I inked the flowers up using wild honey, carved pumpkin, ripe persimmon and gathered twigs distress inks, applied with oval ink blending brushes. I arranged the flowers on the frame and adhered them to a light gray A2 card base. For the sentiment, I used Clearly Besotted's Many Mini Messages and PinkFresh Studio's Aquamarine ink. 

We'd love to see your creations in our gallery which closes tonight.

Thanks for stopping by
sue

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Tuesday 25 June 2024

Addicted to Stamps and More! Challenge #471

If you're looking for inspiration, we have a new challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More!



Here's my card


I stamped this poor kitty (think it might be hungover or maybe hit its head on a wall when it was zooming around) using Clearly Besotted's Feline Fine stamp set and Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I added color with Copic markers - C2, C3, E02, E33, RV21, W3, YR20. I stamped the sentiment from the same stamp set below the image. I trimmed the white A2 panel slightly so that I could have a thin black mat. I adhered the layers together and then to a white A2 card base to complete my clean and simple card.

We'd love to see your MAKE YOUR MARK card in our gallery. MAKE YOUR MARK could mean that you've used inks, paints, markers, colored pencils, etc. You get the idea, right?

Thanks for stopping by
sue

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Monday 24 June 2024

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #583

Happy Monday! It's time for a new challenge at Altantic Hearts Sketch Challenge. Here's the sketch


Here's my take on the sketch


So, I took the lazy way. I saw the sketch with the flowers along the left edge and thought of PinkFresh Studio's washi. They have 4" wide washi tape with a coordinating die so all one has to do is cut one "repeat" of the designs and adhere it to cardstock, in my case, white cardstock. Then using the die, all the designs are die cut - ready to use! In my case, I used PinkFresh Studio's In the Meadow washi and die set. I chose this large collection of flowers, there are several other smaller groupings of flowers. I die cut the oval from light pink cardstock, using Echo Park's Stitched Oval Nesting Die Set. I stamped the sentiment using Hero Arts Year Round Sentiments and Gina K Design's Soft Stone ink. I adhered the pieces to a light gray A2 card base to complete my card.

We'd love to see your cards inspired by our sketch in our gallery.

Thanks for stopping by
sue


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Sunday 23 June 2024

AAA Cards ~ Challenge #268

It's a great day to start a new challenge at AAA Cards. Who am I kidding? It's always a great day when you have time to craft! Our new challenge is


Here's my take on the sketch


I flipped the sketch so that my element was in the lower left corner. On a white A2 card base, I added the circles using Simon Says STAMPS' Irregular Dots stencil, some scrap paper for masks and distress inks - cracked pistachio, peacock feathers, mermaid lagoon applied with oval ink blending brushes. I used the scrap paper to isolate the circles through which I was ink blending. I stamped the silhouette using Catherine Pooler Designs' Wild Garden stamp set and Versafine Onyx Black ink. For the sentiment, I used Clearly Besotted's Many Mini Messages and the same Versafine ink. Once I figured out what I was going to do, this one layer card came together pretty easily. 

We'd love to see your takes on our sketch in our gallery.

Thanks for stopping by
sue

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Saturday 22 June 2024

Addicted to CAS ~ Challenge #261

Hey Crafty Friends! Can you believe that it's almost the end of June, meaning that 2024 is almost half over. When I reflect on the first half of 2024, I'm left wondering if I accomplished anything of significance. Did I help a friend? Did I help a stranger? Did I make the world a better place? Hmm - OK, that's enough of the "deep thought" for today. It makes me aware that I could be doing better. 

Back to the business at hand! We have a new challenge at Addicted to CAS and we'd love it if you joined us.


Here's my "critter" card


For my card, I started by stamping this cute bird using Katzelkraft's Tes Piafs stamp set with Memento Tuxedo Black ink on some white cardstock. I added color with Copic markers - BG05, BG49, Y06, Y17, YG06, YG09, YR04 and fussy cut. I wanted a bit of a background on my A2 white cardbase, so I used My Favorite Things' Oval Extraordinaire stencil with tumbled glass distress ink lightly applied with an oval in blending brush. I added some glossy accents to the bird's eyes for a bit of shine and dimension. I glued the bird, slightly off to the left of the oval. The sentiment is from Paper Smooches' Birthday Buddies stamp set. 

We'd love to see your "critter" cards in our gallery.

Thanks for stopping by
sue

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Tuesday 18 June 2024

Try A Sketch On Tuesday ~ Challenge #649

I get inspired by sketches and love to created cards based on my interpretation of sketches. We have a new sketch at Try A Sketch On Tuesday.


Here's my card


Quite some time ago, I purchased the Mama Elephant Little Cat  Agenda stamp set and dies but haven't used them, until this card. I stamped four cats with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I added color with Copic markers - BG13, BG49, C1, C2, C3, C7, E25, E40, E43, E71, G07, R32, R35, Y15, YR20 and die cut the cats with the coordinating dies. I found some party inspired patterned paper for the background. I used Technique Tuesday's Smirthday stamp set for the sentiment which I die cut with a Simon Says STAMP's Labeled With Love die. I adhered the elements in place and adhered the panel to a white A2 card base to complete my card.

We'd love to see how you're inspired by our sketch in our gallery.

Thanks for stopping by
sue

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Tuesday 11 June 2024

Addicted to Stamps and More! Challenge #470

Greetings Crafty Friends! We have a new challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More! which we hope will inspire you to get ink-y.


Here is my card


For my card, I used both a stencil and die-cut. For our challenge, you can use either a stencil or die-cut or both. I used supplies that I received as part of the kit from Crop & Create Delivered, Spring 2022. I started with a white A2 card panel and the Honey Bee Layering Streamers stencil and distress inks - mowed lawn, mustard seed, carved pumpkin, picked raspberry, wilted violet, blueprint sketch and Hero Arts' dusty blue ink, all applied with oval ink blending brushes. Using the "leftover" ink from the oval ink blending brushes, I added color to a scrap of white cardstock, long enough for the die cut. Then, I cut the sentiment with Honey Bee's Celebrate die set. I stamped the Happy Birthday using Honey Bee's Celebrate stamp set and Hero Arts ' dusty blue ink. I glued the sentiment die cut in place and adhered the panel to a white A2 card base to complete my card.

We'd love to see your die cut &/or stencil creations in our gallery.

Thanks for stopping by
sue

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Monday 10 June 2024

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #581

I'm having one of those days. I thought I had everything ready to write this blog post. But no - I hadn't taken a photo of my card. Fortunately, the sun was out today and I was able to take a photo ... after work. Yup, I had to work today - UGH. So I was further delayed and of course, I had to have a nap when I got home from work. I feel like this is one of those "If you give a mouse a cookie" stories.

It's OK though. It's still Monday, at least on the West Coast. We have a new sketch challenge at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge


Here's my take on the sketch


I started by creating the little scene. I ink blended Gina K Designs' Sweet Mango, Passionate Pink and Turquoise Sea on some white cardstock. I then stamped the trees using Gina K Design's Friendly Silhouettes. I then die cut using a Sizzix circle die and I matted with a dark orange cardstock, die cut with a Spellbinders Scalloped Circle die. I used the same dark orange cardstock for the 1/2" horizontal strip. I went through my 6x6 paper packs and found the chevron and polka dot papers. I cut them to size and added a fish-tail banner to the chevron paper. I stamped the sentiment using Hero Arts Year Round Sentiments stamp set and Gina K Design's Turquoise Sea on a strip of natural cardstock. I adhered the various elements onto a natural A2 card panel which I then adhered to a natural A2 card base to complete my card.

We'd love to see how you're inspired by our sketch by adding to our gallery.

Thanks for stopping by
sue

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Sunday 9 June 2024

Die Cut Divas ~ June Challenge with Elizabeth Crafts

There is a new challenge at Die Cut Divas for the month of June. Our challenge is

"Your Favorite Die Cut Shapes"

Our sponsor this month is Elizabeth Craft Designs who will be giving our winner a $25 gift card. A big thank you to Elizabeth Craft Designs for their generosity.


I'm pretty boring. My favorite die cut shape is a rectangle. There is something about crisp right angles and parallel lines that make it my favorite. Here's my card


For my card, I started with some white cardstock. I ink blended using distress inks (mowed lawn, peacock feathers, mermaid lagoon) and oval ink blending brushes. I die cut using Elizabeth Craft Designs' Fancy Cut-Aways. I backed the die cut with silver shimmer cardstock. I found a polka dot patterned paper which I used for a horizontal strip. For the sentiment, I stamped the sentiment from Clearly Besotted's Many Mini Messages with Gina K Design's Turquoise Sea ink on a light teal A2 card panel. I adhered the pieces to the panel and then adhered the panel to a white A2 card base to complete my card.

We'd love to see you use die cuts in our gallery and please tell us your favorite die cut shape or type of die cut shape. 

Thanks for stopping by
sue

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AAA Cards ~ Challenge #267

We have a new challenge at AAA Cards that might help you with Father's Day cards, if you use the Optional Twist. Our challenge is


Here's my card. I incorporated the Optional Twist to my card. However, now that I look at it, it's not extremely masculine. It's definitely not feminine though. 




I positioned the My Favorite Things' Oval Extraordinaire stencil with my white A2 card panel on my Wendy Vecchi's Make Art STAY-tion. I used Simon Says STAMP's Clouds for Days stencil with Tumbled Glass distress ink applied with an oval ink blending brush to add the clouds. I started close to the bottom, added the distress ink and then changed the orientation of the clouds slightly, choosing a different part of the stencil for the next group of clouds. I continued up the card panel until I reached the top of the oval stencil. I removed the panel and stencils. I stamped the plane and the sentiment using Unity Stamp's For the Guys stamp set and Versafine Onyx Black ink. I trimmed the panel down slightly and matted with a black A2 card panel for a bit of a frame. I adhered the panel to a white A2 card base with double-sided tape to complete my card.

We'd love to see your Clean and Simple cards in our gallery. Will you be inspired by our Optional Twist of Masculine or not. 

Thanks for stopping by
sue

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Saturday 8 June 2024

Addicted to CAS ~ Challenge #260

Ready for a new challenge at Addicted to CAS? For the next fortnight, our challenge will be


Here's my card


For my one-layer card, I started with one of the stencils from Simon Says STAMP's Simple Patterns Trio set. I added color with distress inks (victorian violet, crushed olive, aged mahogany, pumice stone) applied with oval ink blending brushes. I removed the stencil and stamped the treble clef and sentiment using CASual Friday's Big Treble stamp set. 

We'd love to see your music-inspired cards in our gallery. Please remember to keep your cards, Clean and Simple.

Thanks for stopping by
sue

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Tuesday 4 June 2024

Try a Sketch On Tuesday ~ Challenge #648

We have a new sketch for you at Try a Sketch On Tuesday


This sketch reminded me of a scene. Here's my card


For my card, I started with the mountains and trees using Simon Says STAMP's Holiday Horizon Stencil and rustic wilderness distress ink for the trees and hickory smoke and pumice stone distress inks for the mountains, applied with oval ink blending brushes. I made a circle mask using a post-it note and a 1 1/4" circle punch. I added the clouds with the circle mask in place with Simon Says STAMP's Clouds for Days stencil and tumbled glass distress ink, applied with an oval ink blending brush. With the negative of the mask in place, I added mustard seed distress ink for the sun. For the sentiment, I used Clearly Besotted's A Little Sentimental stamp set. I adhered the panel to a white A2 card base to complete my card.

We'd love to see how you were inspired by your sketch in our gallery.

Thanks for stopping by
sue

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