More Dahlias

Hi all - Happy weekend & International Scrapbooking Day! It's been quite a while since I've done any scrapbooking so I'm not planning to celebrate.

It's also been a while since I've been able to play at Just Us Girls so I wanted to get in on Challenge #773 where it's Die Week - use a flower. No problem! I combined this with my Craft Roulette card for Episode #265 which aired last night.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Solar White;

Recollections A2 card; Authentique wood plank;

Spellbinders Betterpress Pebble

Stamps w/Dies - Altenew Dear Dahlias 

Press Plates w/Dies - Spellbinders A Little Messages Sentiments

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape;

Memory Box Fairy Jewels; gift card

When I made the stamped dahlia card for my April 30th post, I stamped an extra image. This one I die cut with the coordinating outline die. Once the CR colors were announced, I colored the image during the show using Copic Markers. That's as far as I got in terms of crafting last night - was trying to watch the Twins game (Red Sox beat us - darn it) at the same time which doesn't work very well...

Mary Gunn Funn, host of Craft Roulette, had a mother/daughter team as guests. This is in honor of Mother's Day which she did last year too. This week Alison Heikkila (@Alison Heikkila) & her daughter Rhiannon guested; next week it's Gina and Rina K which should be funn too. Alison appeared on Episode #259 so I won't repeated her bio. Here's what the wheel spun for us:

• Project - Gift Card: I tucked a gift card under my flowers. Other people decided to call the card a gift, like some cards state on the inside, meaning no gift with it - LOL.
• Colors - Train: I used Thomas the Train colors - blue, green, red, yellow, orange.
• Element - Science: The viewers felt that flowers = botany, a science, so I used it.
• Random - Add A Flower: My floral spray has multiple flowers, which is ok.

After coloring my floral image, I went looking for paper with black & silver, two other colors prominent on trains. Found a wonderful wood plank piece in an Authentique 6x6" collection. I wanted to make a Mother's Day card but didn't have such a sentiment at the satellite studio. Decided to get a gift card that has the sentiment on it - great idea, eh? This one will go to our Queen Mum Mary who recently celebrated her 90th birthday. I thought it was a great way to slip a gift to her since we weren't supposed to bring gifts to her bday party! I really wanted a Starbucks card since Queen Mum loves her coffee but do you think any store around here had the card with Happy Mother's Day?? NO! So I settled for the one from Target. Works fine since there's a purple train in the Thomas set! Added a couple Betterpressed sentiments which also help to hold the gift card on the front. Some gems finished the card.

That's it for today, friends! Thanks for stopping by & have a crafty weekend!!

April 2025 Card Chain Reveal

Hi everyone - it's that time again! We're revealing cards that went around the world for the Card Chain Challenge. Twenty-two people participated in April - you can see the full reveal HERE. My card traveled to the talented Robyn (Waterlily Cards by Robyn) in Australia:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Solar White; 

Sunny Studio Flirty Flowers; scrap of kraft

Dies - Hero Arts Shoes and Hat Fancy Die (sold out);

Frantic Stamper Slimline Frames

Other - sentiment sticker from Tim Holtz;

flowers & leafy vines from my bits box

We had the following options when creating our cards:

Color Palette Option

Sketch Option

Theme Options: Hats / Rabbit / Friendship

Product / Technique Options: Fabric / Vintage

I went with the sketch and the themes of hats & friendship. First I formed a mini slimline card. Trimmed a floral mat layer & added to the card. Die cut a scalloped slimline frame and trimmed off the left and right edges to form two pieces. Added  them to the mat layer, along with a narrow piece that cuts with it. Next I die cut the hat & bow & adhered to the card along with the sentiment label. I felt like it needed something else & my eyes lit upon the pink vines and bitty white flowers (not sure which brand) sitting on my craft tray. Onto the card they went & I felt like they added the perfect touch. Some pink gems to the flower centers finished the card.

I received this beautiful Easter card from Barbara (Happy Paper Moments) in Switzerland. I just love the trio of windows with the sweet bunnies and flowers! Thanks Barbara!!

If you'd like to participate, it only takes one handmade card! So easy and fun! Go HERE to sign up for the May chain by May 6th.

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Dear Dahlias!

Hey there - it's the final day for our Die Cut Divas April Challenge to use Flowers. I'm popping in with more floral inspiration & you can see the end-of-month team post HERE.

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane A2 cards;

Momenta watercolor print

Stamps & Dies - Altenew Dear Dahlias

Dies - Altenew Mix and Match Frame Dies &

Garden Picks 3D Die Set

Other - Various TH Distress Oxide Inks; foam tape

I used the Dear Dahlias set in a December 2023 post, also with Altenew as our Diva sponsor. Altenew generously had sent this set to me along with my order & I fell in love with it. I had yet to use the dies that create a dahlia so I wanted to try them - amazing result and so easy to work with, given the key hole to line up the pieces. I also die cut a rose, bitty flowers and foliage from Altenew's Garden Pick set.

After die cutting, I inked with some DOI for shading. Next I die cut two pieces of the Mix & Match Frame set from an A2 card and layered. Added using foam tape to an A2 card one shade lighter, then arranged my floral spray on top. Stamped and fussy cut a sentiment from the Dear Dahlias set - done!

Since the dahlia dies got first play here, I'll add my card to Darnell's April NBUS Challenge 73. I'll also play at Darnell's IDEAS project where Anything Goes this week. You can see Darnell's gorgeous inspiration HERE.

How about a bonus? This time I used the dahlias stamp, along with the coordinating stencils from the bundle. 

I simply stamped the dahlias spray onto a piece of Neenah and die cut with a favorite stitched rectangle. Used the set of  4 stencils to add inks using various Distress Oxide inks. Stamped another sentiment from the set and adhered the panel to a pink Park Lane A2 card. Used some Memory Box gems on the little flowers. Very quick and easy!!

That's it for today, friends! I hope to see you in the April Diva gallery by 9pm Pacific Time tonight. Thanks for stopping by!

Poinsettia Spray and more!

Hi everyone - I'm back with my third and final entry for the current Christmas Kickstart Challenge #97 - Positively Poinsettias. Jo & elf Bobby want to see poinsettias on a Christmas card & I have so many poinsettia items in the stash that it was hard to chose!!

Supplies: Paper - Printed A2 card; 

many scraps; Spellbinders Betterpress Porcelain

Dies - Spellbinders Poinsettia Spray &

Essential Four Petal Labels

Press Plate w/Die - Spellbinders Merry & Bright Sentiment Strips

I really enjoy die cutting and assembling the floral sprays from Spellbinders - so fun!! I'm using the Poinsettia Spray for the first time here. As I used each die, I put it on a magnet sheet for next time. Usually I do this when I buy a set but I'm quite behind on "processing" my dies!! I totally used scraps from one of my loaded plastic bins. Assembled each piece and added it to the holly spray. Then I looked through my labels and decided on the Four Petal ones. Cut a background and a mat layer, stacked them and added to a printed A2 card - can't remember if it was from Hobby Lobby or Michaels. Added the poinsettia spray and a pressed label from the bits box. Done!

I'll also add my card to Darnell's April NBUS Challenge #73 since my poinsettia set is new & to her IDEAS project where this week Anything Goes.

And here's my card from Friday's Craft Roulette Episode #264 which I just made yesterday.

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane A2 card;

Anchor Paper cardstock; Echo Park patterns

Stamps - Hero Arts Simply Handmade (retired);

Waffleflower Postage Collage Lucky

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Recollections Stickers & Vellum heart;

DMC embroidery floss & needle

I couldn't watch live since I was at my Regional singing convention. Quartets sang Friday night and choruses on Saturday. The chorus I'm in won the chorus contest and my former lead and bass singers won with their current quartet Spice. We had a great time!! But back to card-making...

Mary Gunn Funn had Ardyth (Clever Card Making Inspiration) as the guest artist. Ardyth was making her 12th appearance on CR - wow! She likes to find unexpected ways to use our craft supplies. The wheel spun:

• Project - Card for an Influencer: I made one for a fashion design.
• Colors - Dreamy: I found a color palette HERE; gold/lavender/blue/peach/white (#13 on the website's list of 15).
• Element - Craft(er)/Crafts(ers): Sewing is considered a craft.
• Random - Off Center: Everything is off center, except the floral background mat layer.

I thought I'd try using the shareable photo that the CR contribution page gives you when you upload. What do you think? It has the parameters as well as the banner with my contribution number - this makes 55 already! Saves me from having to take a photo of the parameters too!

I stamped the sewing backgrounds on blue and lavender card stock & die cut with stitched rectangles. Die cut a gold floral pattern with the A2 mat layer die & added all three to an A2 card. I wanted some ephemera so made a trip to Michael's and found the sewing stickers which included the scissors, thimble and Sew Happy sentiment. Also found some vellum hearts which I thought would make a cute focal point. They were quite sheer so I layered three of them. Also stamped a sub-sentiment and made a little banner. Added a threaded gold needle to the heart too - found the gold ones at Michael's in the embroidery section; my stash only had silver ones.

That's it for today, friends. Thanks for stopping by! I'll be back tomorrow with the last of the month Diva post - hope you'll stop back!

Inky Bouquet Two Ways!

Hi everyone! I'm here with a card that I shared on my regular Die Cut Diva post today, plus a bonus card only here, as usual.

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts A2 card;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Violet Studio patterned

Stamps w/die & stencil - Altenew Inky Bouquet 

Stamps - Altenew Bellaroma Hybrid Tea Rose

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set 

Other - Copic Markers; Memento Tuxedo Black ink;

DOI Tumbled Glass & Black Soot inks;

 white gel pen; Altenew Carnival Magic enamel dots 

We're doing Flowers at the Divas for our April Challenge with Altenew as our fabulous sponsor. You can't go wrong with all the gorgeous Altenew floral sets available. I chose to use a fave of mine which, sadly, is sold out right now. The sentiment is from a different set which, as of when I wrote this post, was still available.

I stamped the bouquet onto Neenah with Memento ink and die cut the panel with a stitched rectangle. The Inky Bouquet set comes with a coordinating die and stencil - you'll see those later in this post. Instead, I colored the image with Copics & then stamped some dots (also from the set) with Tumbled Glass DOI; I blended the same ink around the edges. Stamped a sentiment from the Bellaroma set & added some Carnival Magic enamel dots to the panel. Adhered it to an A2 card that I'd covered with a piece of patterned paper edged with Black Soot DOI. Done!

For my bonus, I used the same bouquet stamp. 

This time I colored it with various inks from the stash by blending through the coordinating stencil. I added a bit of shading with coordinating Copic colors, then die cut the image with the matching die. I added it to a rectangle of the same patterned paper as above and adhered to a Paper Studio pastel card. Added a different shade of enamel dots from the same set & then a Betterpressed sentiment from the stash (one from the Spellbinders You Are Everything Sentiments set).

I'm adding my first card to the April We Love Stamping Challenge where Anything Goes or you can use a fave stamp which I did. I'll add my bonus card to the April Flower Challenge #101 where they're doing Spring colors.

Thanks for stopping by & happy crafting! Hope to see you in the April Diva gallery!!

Sending Sunshine

Hi everyone - I'm popping in with my latest Craft Roulette creation! Episode #263 aired last night & I multi-tasked trying to make my card with the CR playing live on my laptop & the Twins baseball game (ugh - a loss) playing on my phone. Needless to say, I didn't get very far on my card and had to finish it today.

Supplies: Paper - Spectrum Noir white;

Hero Arts A2 card

Recollections Plaids (includes solids)

Stamps - Hero Arts Sending Happy Thoughts,

Cherish, Elephants, & Sky's the Limit (all retired)

Dies - AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape; 

Hero Arts Sparkle Lacquer

Mary Gunn FUNN had Ann Butler (@BellaCraftsPublishing‬) as her guest. Ann is founder, editor & CEO of Bella Crafts Publishing which has a quarterly online magazine. Ann designs stamps (including for Unity Stamps) & has her own line of paper! The wheel wasn't too hard on us this week:

• Project - Sending Sunshine: A2 card with Sending Sunshine sentiment.
• Colors - Spring: Pastels you'd find in spring.
• Element - Rodent: Used a mouse stamp.
• Random - Shiny: Sun has sparkle lacquer.

Once again I was visiting my dad so I use stamp sets from the satellite studio stash - all Hero Arts goodies from 2009! Colored the images with Copics & fussy cut since no matching dies back then! Stamped and fussy cut a sentiment. Die cut a blue panel and a green one, cutting the green one down for "grass". Covered an A2 card with the coordinating plaid paper & added everything else.

I'll add my card to the April We Love Stamping Challenge using the Anything Goes option.

That's it for today. I'll be back Monday with my regular Die Cut Diva post. Have a wonderful weekend, including Easter if you're celebrating!

Thanks for stopping by!

Poinsettia Spray with Candles

Happy Wednesday! Here's another card for the current Christmas Kickstart Challenge #97 - Positively Poinsettias. Jo & elf Bobby want to see poinsettias on a Christmas card & I have many poinsettia items in the stash!!

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane A2 card;

 BoBunny Joyful Christmas; many scraps

Dies - Spellbinders Holiday Label Motifs

(retired but found HERE at Frantic Stamper);

Sizzix Tim Holtz Vault Festive Wreath;

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape

Just because I have many poinsettia items, there's always room for more! Not too far from my dad's house there's a JoAnn store & I popped in to shop their Going-Out-Of-Business sale. I picked up the Tim Holtz wreath set plus a few more items I couldn't resist. First I die cut the candles, flowers, and foliage from the TH set and assembled. Shaded with Copics where desired.

I didn't want to made the wreath from the set - so, what to do with my candle arrangement? I spotted another never-before-used set in the stash - this one from Spellbinders. I picked it up during a 2023 Arizona trip & hadn't given it a go until now. It features the ray label with a lantern; I skipped the lantern and substituted my candles. Die cut the rays plus a background and mat layer, then assembled. 

Die cut a rectangle from musical patterned paper & adhered to an A2 card. Added the ray panel with foam tape, then the candle arrangement. I finished it off with a banner sentiment from the bits box. It's been there forever &, as I, it's a long retired Spellbinders banner shaded with Copics (one left HERE at Frantic Stamper as of this post date). It was stamped, I believe, with an old Hero Arts sentiment - no idea which set. Quick and easy!!

I'm playing along with Darnell's IDEAS program (see her fabulous inspiration cards HERE) where the week's theme is Dies. Since both the candles and rays die sets are getting first play here, I'll also add my card to Darnell's April NBUS Challenge #73. Finally, I'll link to the current Creative Crafters Challenge #87 where anything goes.

That's it for today, friends. I appreciate you stopping by & hope you have a wonderful day!