Just A Hug

After not having stamped much this past month, I've been on a card-making roll these past two days...and I even used a stamp set that I only recently purchased.  I had seen this adorable coffee themed stamp set by Hero Arts on several blogs and had to have it. It's called Foam Animals...for obvious reasons. I combined it with a fun sentiment from This is Big, also by Hero Arts, and a die cut arrow by Paper Smooches (from Wise Dies). The tiny star is by Winnie and Walter. I heat embossed the sentiment with embossing powder by Brutus Monroe and colored the images with alcohol markers, then I made a matching envelope. Hmmm, I think I may need to make a whole set of these!

 So when I first made this card, I stamped the foam kitty in dark brown ink and got carried away by turning him into a striped tabby (haha). Then, at 1:00 am I suddenly realized that it didn't look like foam at all, but rather like a cat sitting in a hot tub! So...re-did the foam kitty this morning and I think it looks better. Still kind of prefer my hot-tub kitty though...sigh   So I'm sharing both of them!

 Time Out challenge 131, Hugs, Kisses and Birthday Wishes
Hero Arts National Craft Month
A Blog Named Hero , embossing with Hero Arts
Stamplorations march challenge, coffee or tea

Papercraft Challenge 16, animals
Paper Smooches Birthday challenge, I used the arrow die by Paper Smooches
Paper Smooches website

SUYP challenge 40, cats
2 sisters on the blog March challenge, CAS
SSS Wednesday challenge, Cute
Stamplorations CAS challenge, A/G

TCP challenge 355, decorate an envie

Warm Wishes

I've been waiting to see if Scrappy Mo had her monthly Rudolph challenge because I was itching to use this pretty die that I've had in my stash for several years. It was given to me by a craft friend, who got it as a freebie in a UK stamping magazine. I combined it with stitched circle dies by MFT, a fancy circular die bySpellbinders,  and a metallic star brad.

ABC Christmas challenge, I used E for embellishment
March Rudolph Challenge
Lost Coast Designs challenge, Round and Round
DL. Art March linky
Hero Arts National Craft Month, A/G
Crafty Hazelnut March PP

Spring Coffee

While I had my Stamplorations coffee stamps out, I made this spring tag design. The image is from Coffee for All Seasons by Stamplorations, and the tag die is by Taylored Expressions. I added a stitched die ring, which I made by nesting stitched circle dies by MFT and a die cut border by Spellbinders Celebration. The embossed background is a folder by Stampin' Up.Then, I went one step further and decorated a matching envelope.

 Hero Arts National Craft Month challenge, decorate an envie
TCP Tuesday March Challenge, decorate an envie 
DL. ARt March linky

Stamplorations Never-ending A/G challenge

Mod Squad challenge, use metal dies
Stamplorations Tagplorations challenge, all about spring

Lost Coast Designs challenge, circles

Penny Black and More, going around in circles

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned paper challenge
Crafters Castle challenge 15, A/G 

Coffee Time card and matching envie

There are a couple of challenges out there this month that call for decorated envelopes, so I challenged my daughter to make one or two..which meant that I also had to step up. I used a coffee pot stamp by STamplorations for this, and just matted with a stitched rectangle by Lawn Fawn. Some royal blue twine from my stash and recycled card backing made this a fun masculine design. The stamped kraft envelope uses another stamp set by Stamplorations. This was so simple and fun that I don't know why I don't this more often.

 Hero Arts National Craft Month challenge, decorate an envie
TCP Tuesday March Challenge, decorate an envie 
DL. ARt March linky

Stamplorations Theme and Sketch, coffee or tea

Stamplorations Never-ending A/G challenge

Mod Squad challenge, use metal dies
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned paper challenge
Crafters Castle #15, A/G  

Guest designer Shannon

Here I am, popping up on my mom's blog again to share a card that I made using a cute little llama stamp set by Craftswell.  I made this one to send to my cousin who is crazy about llamas. The stitched circle dies are by MFT and stitched flag die is by LDRS.

 Penny Black and More March challenge, going around in circles

On a roll

Hero Arts National Craft month, any craftUnstampabelles March challenge, no stamping, masculine with optional metalAfter not having crafted for over a week, I managed to make several cards in the past two days. Following my resolution to use more of my dies, I pulled out this one by Ultimate Crafts (Framed Owl),which I just got last week. I usually let my stamps and dies mellow in my stash for at least a couple of months before I break them out so this was a first. I combined the owl die with a stitched oval by Gina Marie, and a clear sentiment sticker from my sticker collection. This sticker was so old I barely pulled it off the backing sheet in one piece. Some colored staples and inking, plus a couple of enamel dots finished it off.

 

Unstampabelles March challenge, no stamping, masculine with optional staples or pegs
DL. Art March linky
Allsorts challenge 512, feathered friends
Double Trouble challenge 24, Thing 1: use something metallic
Papercraft Challenge 16, AG with optional animal 
Crafty Hazelnut's patterned paper challenge

By the Seashore

I meant to post this card last week but got sidetracked...so here it is now. I've been trying to use some dies that I've had for months and hadn't yet tried out...and to make some masculine cards in the process. This is a Spellbinders die (sun rays, and lighthouse), and I added a sailboat by Simon Says Stamp, along with a wave cut by Lawn Fawn. This seashore set had a lot of fun elements that I didn't use yet so I'll have to keep it out on my craft desk for summer themed cards.

Unstampabelles March challenge, no stamping, for men
DL. Art March linky
Mod Squad challenge metal dies
Hero ARts blog National Craft month challenges, Any craft
Crafters Castle challenge 15, A/G

Dream

I recently decided to buy some Build a Scene dies by Do-crafts as they looked like a quick and easy way to make masculine cards. Well, I'm not sure how much I like them yet because they don't come with any instructions, except for some tiny, dark, samples on the package..and I still don't quite know what I'm doing. My first cuts were too far down on my paper so I had to re-cut everything. I'll need to find a tutorial that helps me cut correctly the first time so each card doesn't take a week to make..ugh.
This die is the Countryside set and comes with that cute little dog and signpost. I didn't use all the layers so there are lots more I can do with this. Some simple inking adds a little dimension, and I added a die cut sentiment by Jillbean Soup.
This was also a good way to use up scraps from my stash. The dark gray cardstock was from the covers of accounting reports, and the green scrap was barely large enough to die cut!

Unstampabelles march challenge, masculine card
Crafty Hazelnut PP challenge. The building cuts were made using paper with a subtle marbled pattern
DL. Art March linky
Mod Squad challenge metal dies
Pixies Snippets challenge 348

Lucky Me

Here is another card that I made with the Verve sentiments. I used old paper from my stash, and dies by Spellbinders, with stitched square dies by Gina Marie. That metallic gold card stock is upcycled gift certificate holder stash that I will dearly miss once it's all used up.

Double Trouble challenge, wearin' O' the green. I did all 3 options 
Heart2Heart challenge, use green

DL Art March Linky

Jo's Scrap Shack AG

SSS Work it Wednesday, green and gold

Cardz TV challenge 85

 Crafty Hazelnuts March patterned paper challenge

Irish Blessing

Although I hadn't planned to make any St. Paddy's Day cards, as it turned out, I found a sheet of digital sentiments by Verve stamps that I had printed out and decided to turn them into cards. I have several friends that are actually originally from Ireland so what more motivation do I need? I cut the sentiment and matted it with gold metallic card stock, using a label die by Spellbinders. Then I added some crinkle ribbon for a simple embellishment.

Double Trouble wearin' O' the green. I did all 3 options

Heart2Heart, use green

DL Art March Linky

SSS Work it Wednesday, green and gold

Crafty Hazelnuts March patterned paper challenge 

Stamplorations March CAS challenge

Birthday Guy

I always need masculine birthday cards so took the opportunity to pull out the Man Card collection by Photo Play for this card. Most of the sentiments in this collection aren't ones that I can easily use on cards but the colors and patterns are great so I'm determined to use it. I layered different elements, traced and cut a file folder tab, die cut a circle mat, and added twine for this quick and easy design. I am patting myself on the back for also using colored staples...yay me! Now to figure out how to use journaling cards that say things like STUD, Eat My Dust, and Sun's Out Guns Out...haha! I guess I just don't know the right men, right?

Unstampabelles March Challenge, Masculine
DL Art March Linky
Crafty Hazelnuts March patterned paper challenge

Lucky

I hadn't planned to make a St. Paddy's card this year, but then I saw one that my blogger friend, Janis, made and got inspired. So...off to my craft room I went. I dug around in my huge stash of green paper scraps, and found a couple of tiny pieces of recycled gold card stock from a gift certificate holder that I've been hoarding. I used a sentiment by Spellbinders, rainbow stamp by Unity StampCo, a tag die by Taylored Expressions, and tiny envelope die by The Cats Pajamas to make this. The gold cord added to my tag is recycled from an old candy box. Love it when I can re-use pretty things. I feel like this card is general enough in theme to fit something besides St. Paddy's Day and could also be a congrats card, or even just for springtime.

Double Trouble Chall 23, Wearin' O' the green. I did all 3 Things

Heart2Heart Challenge, Wearin' of the Green

DL Art March Linky

Craft Stamper March Challenge

Artistic Stamper March challenge, use green

Dare2BArtzy March challenge

Jo's Scrap Shack AG

SSS Work it Wednesday, green and gold

Cardz TV challenge 85

 Creative Fingers A/G

Allsorts Challenge 511, favorite stamp or die. I love this tiny envelope die by The Cats Pajamas, and this tag die is also a favorite.

Crafty Hazelnuts Patterned Paper challenge

Stamplorations Tagplorations challenge, all about spring

Let the Good Times Roll

Papercraft Challenge 16, animals I pulled out some stamps and dies that I hadn't used before to make this birthday card today. I've been wanting to use this adorable dog image by Elizabeth Craft Designs from the Puppies stamp set, and combined it with these Winnie and Walter Dies from the Josephine Cutaways set, a party sentiment from the W&W set
( Party On) and the Good Times sentiment by Cardz TV. The stitched tag die is by Gina K . The papers are by Kite Tails.

Winnie and Walter Birthday Bash , use 3 or more stamp sets

Winnie and Walter Birthday Bash, layered die cuts

Winnie and Walter Birthday Bash use 5 of something. I used items from 5 different manufacturers

Southern Girls challenge, flora and/or fauna

Love to Scrap A/G

DL Art March Linky

Craft Stamper March Challenge

Jo's Scrap Shack AG

Three Amigos challenge 24, rainbow colors
Cardz TV #85

Hero Arts National Craft Month, birthday cards

Time Out challenge 131, inspired by Birthday wishes and Hugs

Creative Fingers A/G

Special Person

I had an idea for a card that seemed like a simple and easy design. Three days later, I FINALLY finished it after taking it apart at least four times and re-cutting the die pieces three times, ugh. My stamped sentiments kept smearing and my cuts were crooked. I didn't like the first arrangement at all because it was way too busy. All in all, this was the opposite of quick and easy...but I did manage to use a die that I've had and never used (the wreath die by The Cats Pajamas)..along with three stamp sets by Winnie and Walter (Mini-background Multi-grain, Sentimental Gifts, and Winter Wonderland). I also used the Audrey Cutaways die frame by Winnie and Walter. The stitched circle die is by MFT. Whew, I need a nap now!

Winnie and Walter 5th Birthday Bash challenge, layer die cuts: https://www.blog.winniewalter.com/2019/02/w-5th-birthday-bash-layering-die-cuts.html

 Creative Fingers A/G


Craft Stamper March challenge, AG: http://craftstamper.blogspot.com/2019/03/take-it-make-it-challenge-march.html

  DL.Art March Linky: http://dianamlarson.blogspot.com/2019/03/dlart-march-2019-linky-challenge.html

Hero Arts National Craft Month challenge, A/G

Winnie and Walter 5th birthday Bash challenge, use more than 3 stamp sets: https://www.blog.winniewalter.com/2019/02/w-5th-birthday-bash-3-stamp-set.html

Snippets Challenge #347: http://pixiescraftyworkshop.blogspot.com/2019/03/pixies-snippets-playground-challenge-347.html 

Love To Scrap Challenge 119, AG:https://lovetoscrapchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2019/03/ltscb-119-anything-goes.htm

Penny Black and More March Challenge, going around in circles: http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.com/2019/03/march-going-round-in-circles.html

Southern Girls March challenge, flora and/or fauna: http://southerngirlschallenge.blogspot.com/2019/03/flora-and-fauna-with-team-lou.html

They Are Not Gone

While I started out March with a bang, as far as card-making goes, I pretty much slowed to a halt and hadn't been in my craft room for several days. My mind was filled with card ideas as soon as I went to bed (of course) but when morning came..my mojo was gone. So I dragged myself to my craft table last night and decided to dig up several cards that I had started working on some time ago..and finish them! This one was actually started about 8 years ago. Yes, you read that correctly, it's been sitting in a baggie for at least 8 years, waiting for me to make up my mind. Since I always need a sympathy card to have on hand, I stamped the sentiment with a very old Stampin Up set, then used two Spellbinders die sets to make a frame, a stitched rectangle by Lawn Fawn, and stitched oval by Gina Marie . A bit of inking with Vintage Photo distress ink (also a very, very old ink pad) and I can tick one card off my list. I'm debating whether to add a couple of pearls or not, but if I leave it plain then it could work for men, as well as women....so not sure what I'll do. One unfinished project down and only 200 to go!

Love To Scrap Challenge 119, AG:https://lovetoscrapchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2019/03/ltscb-119-anything-goes.html

Cardz TV challenge 84: http://cardztv.blogspot.com/2019/03/cardz-tv-anything-goes-challenge-84.html 

DL.Art March Linky: http://dianamlarson.blogspot.com/2019/03/dlart-march-2019-linky-challenge.html 

Moving Along With the Times challenge 92, sentiment only: https://movingalongwiththetimes.blogspot.com/2019/02/92-sentiment-only-no-image.html

The Artistic Stamper March challenge, color it green: http://theartisticstampercreativeteam.blogspot.com/2019/03/marchs-creative-challenge-colour-it.html

TTCRD AG: http://ttcrd.blogspot.com/2019/03/ttcrd-challenge-anything-goes-week-of.html 

Crafty Hazelnut's patterned paper challenge: http://craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.com/2019/03/craftyhazelnuts-patterned-paper-march.html

Rose Trio

One of the Birthday challenges on the Winnie and Walter blog this month is to make a set of at least 3 cards. I usually give my sister an assortment of about a dozen cards as part of her birthday present so this was a good opportunity to get started on that. I used the mini-scenery Bed of Roses stamp and the Audrey Cutaways die set by Winnie and Walter (scalloped frames), along with die cut sentiments by Spellbinders to make this set. I used the heat resist technique, with ink blending for my rose image and added glitter to the tiny butterfly die cut that is also part of the Audrey Cutaways die set. In order to make this set more useful to my sister, I used different sentiments on each card, but the same stamps, dies and layout.
I am loving this color combo of teal, wisteria, linen and lime from the MFT Color Challenge blog. Now I can't wait for springtime!

Winnie and Walter 5th Birthday Bash challenge with Crystal, customize die cuts. I embossed my word die cut with an embossing folder for texture: https://www.blog.winniewalter.com/2019/02/w-5th-birthday-bash-customize-die-cuts.html

Winnie and Walter Birthday Bash, make a set of 3 cards

Winnie and Walter Birthday Bash, layer die cuts

 Winnie and Walter 5th Birthday Bash challenge, use 5 of something. I used 5 layers on each card: https://www.blog.winniewalter.com/2019/02/w-5th-birthday-bash-five-challenge-with.html

Love To Scrap Challenge 119, AG:https://lovetoscrapchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2019/03/ltscb-119-anything-goes.html

DL.Art March Linky: http://dianamlarson.blogspot.com/2019/03/dlart-march-2019-linky-challenge.html  

 Allsorts Challenge 509,favorite season. I chose spring as my favorite season...perfect weather and great for the garden!: http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2019/03/week-509-seasons-whats-your-favourite.html

Craft Stamper March challenge, AG: http://craftstamper.blogspot.com/2019/03/take-it-make-it-challenge-march.html

Hero Arts National Craft Month challenge, favorite coloring medium  

Dare2BArtzy March challenge 

Wishing for Springtime

We've been having some much welcome rain here in Northern California for the past several weeks, but it's also been dreary and cold. The good thing is that our spring garden will be very happy in a couple of months, and I'm looking forward to seeing our bulb flowers bloom. We have iris and tulip bulbs planted all over the backyard and front..and it's wonderful to see how many keep popping up. The bulbs were given to us by a friend who found them in a huge pile that was being discarded, so we had no idea what color they were. It's even more fun to be surprised. I pulled out this old wood-mounted stamp from my stash and made this simple stamped card to remind me of the coming spring. A little bit of matting with solid and patterned papers, and some grosgrain ribbon was all it really needed.

Through the Craftroom Door challenge, AG: http://ttcrd.blogspot.com/2019/02/new-anytthing-goes-challenge-26th-feb.html

Love To Scrap Challenge 119, AG:https://lovetoscrapchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2019/03/ltscb-119-anything-goes.html

SSS Wednesday challenge, AG:https://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-anything-goes-59/

DL.Art March Linky: http://dianamlarson.blogspot.com/2019/03/dlart-march-2019-linky-challenge.html  

Allsorts Challenge 509,favorite season. I chose spring as my favorite season...perfect weather and great for the garden!: http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2019/03/week-509-seasons-whats-your-favourite.html

Crafty Hazelnut's March Patterned paper challenge: http://craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.com/2019/03/craftyhazelnuts-patterned-paper-march.html  

 2 Sisters On the Blog March Challenge, CAS: http://2sistersontheblog.blogspot.com/2019/03/challenge-25.html 

Peace

I recently got a new word die by Winnie and Walter, and decided to play with it today. Turns out that Winnie and Walter is having a series of fun challenges to celebrate their 5th birthday, and this die inspired me to enter with this card.  The PEACE word die is by Winnie and Walter, and the stencil is by Stamplorations. I embossed the word die cut with an embossing folder by Darice and edged the red strip behind the sentiment with a silver Sharpie. I don't often make a card that doesn't have any stamping on it, but this one was fun and easy to make. The thing that took the longest time was stenciling.

Winnie and Walter 5th Birthday Bash challenge with Crystal, customize die cuts. I embossed my word die cut with an embossing folder for texture: https://www.blog.winniewalter.com/2019/02/w-5th-birthday-bash-customize-die-cuts.html 

MFT Sketch Challenge 426:  http://www.cardchallenges.com/2019/02/wednesday-sketch-challenge-sketch-426.html

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas challenge 426:http://craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge.blogspot.com/2019/02/chnc-challenge-426.html

 Unstampabelles Feb. challenge, bright and cheerful with no stamping: https://unstampabelleschallenges.blogspot.com/2019/02/first-challenge-for-2019-86-simply.html

 Stamplorations Never Ending Challenge, use Stamplorations products  :https://stamplorations.blogspot.com/p/stamplorations-anything-goes-challenge.html

Winnie and Walters 5th Birthday bash challenge, layered die cuts: https://www.blog.winniewalter.com/2019/02/w-5th-birthday-bash-layering-die-cuts.html

Stamplorations CAS challenge, AG with a CAS design: https://stamplorations.blogspot.com/2019/02/cas-challenge-february.html

Moving Along With the Times challenge 92, sentiment only:   https://movingalongwiththetimes.blogspot.com/2019/02/92-sentiment-only-no-image.html

Cardz TV challenge 84: http://cardztv.blogspot.com/2019/03/cardz-tv-anything-goes-challenge-84.html

Through the Craft Room Door, AG: http://ttcrd.blogspot.com/2019/02/new-anytthing-goes-challenge-26th-feb.html

SSS Wednesday challenge, AG: https://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-anything-goes-59/

2 Sisters On the Blog March Challenge, CAS: http://2sistersontheblog.blogspot.com/2019/03/challenge-25.html

 DL.Art March Linky: http://dianamlarson.blogspot.com/2019/03/dlart-march-2019-linky-challenge.html