Vintage birthday

Happy Friday!!!  It's time for a new challenge from the Cut It Up Challenge Blog.  This week, the challenge is: Happy Birthday

Here is my card for your inspiration:

Almost this entire card was created with leftovers that were already (or still) on my desk from other recent projects.  I decided to take some process photos and share a bit of my creative process with you, so this post will be a bit longer than normal, but hopefully it will also be a bit of fun!  I didn't think about doing that until after I had already die cut the border piece, but it was die cut from a scrap of white that was on my desk as well.  

Here is the start of my card:

I knew the sketch I was going to use and I knew I was going to use that tiny bit of ribbon as part of the dividing border between the two pieces of patterned paper.  When I do that, I often will use a scrap piece of cardstock to layer under the patterned paper to give a good base to wrap the ribbon around, so this is what I'm showing in the photo below:

I felt the urge to go a bit vintage looking with this, so I distressed the edges of my patterned papers with my scissors and then used Old Book distress oxide ink to give a old feel to the papers.  On the pink dotted paper, I used the same ink to stamp a French script stamp on the paper.

I had just a tiny piece of the ribbon (that I distressed with Vintage Linen oxide ink) and the scrap of white carstock I used for the border die was not long enough for the card, so this is how I solve that problem.  Since I knew I was going to have a panel covering up a section of the border, I laid it on the card in the general spot I was going to place it and cut both the ribbon and the border die cut so that cut would hide behind the image/sentiment panel.  On the finished card, you will never know they don't span the entire card.

Here is the final result:

I stamped the butterfly first with the Vintage Linen Distress ink and then inked just the edges with Worn Lipstick Distress Oxide and stamped it again.  I stamped the sentiment and a flourish with a pale gray ink.  I was even able to use some of the pink mulberry paper behind the image panel.  To finish it off, I added three pink pearls.  I really LOVE how this turned out!!

Since I was having so much fun and was feeling really inspired, I decided to decorate the front and back of my envelope to match the card.  I used the same butterfly and French script stamps with the same inks.  I also distressed the edges of the envelope with the distress oxide ink.

I finished off the back as well with a sentiment, and I created a "seal" with the same butterfly and a matching die.  I will add it after I seal the envelope.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you will hop over to the Cut It Up blog for the full details of the challenge and to see what the rest of the Design Team has created. 

Supplies:

Stamps: Picket Fence Studios "Butterfly Boutique"; PaperTrey Ink "Just Sentiments: Birthday" and "The Sweet Life" flourish; Hero Arts "French script"; Concord and 9th "Perfectly Penned" both sentiments on the envelope

Dies: PaperTrey Ink border die; My Favorite Things "Blueprints 13" banner; Picket Fence Studios "Butterfly Boutique" on envelope

Challenges:

Krafty Chicks #810--birthday

Creative Knockouts #566--birthday wishes

Pixie's Snippets Playground #527--anything goes with snippets

Sweet Stampin'--a special woman (this is for my best friend from high school--a very long time ago!)

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #273--anything goes

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #671--sketch

Cards Galore #145--anything goes

Crafter's Cafe Blog Challenge #327--for the girls OR anything goes

We Love Stamping--wildlife OR anything goes

Double D Challenge--books/bookmarks OR postal/postage (I hope the fact I decorated the envelope to put in the post will count for postal/postage.)

 

One

Happy March 1st!!  It's time for a new challenge on the Critter Crazy Challenge blog!  As always, it is a month long challenge: Anything Goes as long as you feature a creature.  Here is my card for your inspiration:

A sweet little girl in our family just turned one!!  This is the card I created for her.  I've had this paper pack for several years.  The bright colors and patterns always make me think of them when creating cards for babies or very young children.  I pulled out 5 of the pink patterned papers to create the card.  I used dark gray cardstock for contrast and silver and silver glitter paper for the accents.

Thanks for stopping by!  Hop on over to the Critter Crazy blog and check out the details and the rest of the projects from the Design Team.

Supplies:

Stamps: Papertrey Ink "Big Birthday Wishes"; Verve "Emory"

Dies: PaperTrey Ink number die; MFT "Balloon Cluster" and "Blueprints 14" stitched rectangle; Spellbinders "Right this way" arrow; Altenew frame

Challenges:

Crafter's Cafe Blog Challenge #327--for the girls or anything goes

Creative Inspirations--think pink

Fab n' Funky Challenge #631--dies or punches

Crafty Catz #707--anything goes

Creative Fingers Challenge Blog #316--anything goes

Word Art Wednesday #741--anything goes with uplifting sentiment

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--anything goes

Hope

Happy Friday!!!  It's time for a new challenge from the Cut It Up Challenge Blog.  This week, the challenge is: By the Sea (pretty much any water source)

Here is my card for your inspiration:

This started out with one idea and changed into something similar but different.  I pulled out a bunch of old, old, old stamp sets and had some fun playing with them.  The papers are from a beautiful water themed SU! pack, the blue has a really pretty foil/holographic element to it and the white paper has some crabs and mussel shells to add to the sea theme.  I die cut the label die and stamped a palm tree/beach image in a light gray before adding the sentiment with navy ink.  I die cut the anchor and wheel from vellum and stamped the images with a dark gray ink.  I tried the vellum because I didn't want them to be the center of the show just some supporting elements.  But, I wanted them to have a bit of substance to them so I also die cut from white card stock and adhered the vellum pieces on top.  It is still subtle, but they don't get lost on the patterned papers.  Then for a little bit of fun, I tied some twine to the anchor and looped it up and around.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you will hop over to the Cut It Up blog for the full details of the challenge and to see what the rest of the Design Team has created. 

Supplies:

Stamps: Verve "Strong Anchor" sentiment and images; Sweet n' Sassy Stamps "Landscape Silhouettes" palm tree image

Dies: unbranded stitched label die from Amazon; Verve "Strong Anchor"

Challenges:

We Love Stamping--hearts OR anything goes (I chose anything goes)

Word Power--anything goes with sentiment as focus

Cardz 4 Guyz #353--monochrome

Make My Monday #271--use 2 dies (I used three)

Crafty Catz #707--anything goes

Creative Fingers #316--anything goes

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #272--anything goes

Try a Sketch on Tuesday #689--sketch

Fab n' Funky #631--dies or punches

Word Art Wednesday #740--anything goes

Bear Hug

Hello, everyone!  It's time for a new challenge from the Creative Moments Challenge blog.  The theme is: Feminine.  I am using an image from our fabulous sponsor: All Dressed Up.

 Here is my card:

This image is just so adorable!!  I used it a couple months ago on a Christmas card, but I thought it could be perfect for a love card, too.  I mean, such a sweet hug is perfect for Valentine's Day!  I used some feminine elements with the pink, floral paper, scalloped dies, ribbon and mulberry paper.  I softened the sweetness with some dark gray accents.

You have all month to play along.  So, get inky and link up your creation; I can't wait to see what you create!

Supplies:

Stamps: All Dressed Up (unfortunately, I don't see it in their shop); Verve "Text Objects" sentiment

Dies: unbranded circle die from Amazon; Verve "Scalloped Trim Trio"; Sweet n' Sassy Stamps heart die

Challenges: 

Cards Galore #144--anything goes

Pattie's Creations #239--anything goes

Die Cut Divas--red AND/OR pink

Cheerful Sketches--sketch

Crafty Calendar--Love is in the air

Creative Inspirations--think pink

Crafty Gals Corner Challenge #273--anything goes with the optional twist: heart

Aud Sentiments #334--dies AND/OR love, anniversary, wedding

Love Those Pretty Papers--polka dots

A Gem of a Challenge--anything goes

Pearly Sparkles #116--hearts

Fab 'n' Funky #630--love is all around

C.R.A.F.T. #773--love or anything goes

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #271--anything goes

Make My Monday #271--use 2 dies (I actually used 3)

Blessed the Man

Happy Friday!!!  It's time for a new challenge from the Cut It Up Challenge Blog.  This week, the challenge is: This Makes Me Having

Here is my card for your inspiration:

So, the things on this card that makes me happy are: Dies (I love using dies on my cards), blue, patterned paper (it's so hard to rest a beautiful sheet of patterned paper) and clear stamps.  Oh, and adorable little enamel dots!!

This is a birthday card for an older gentleman we know who is celebrating his 88th birthday this weekend!!  I used three different sheets of patterned paper--I stamped the sentiment and the lighthouse on the same sheet of patterned paper and used two different sheets for the accent squares.  I die cut the frame die out of navy cardstock once and a dark gray cardstock twice before adhering them all together for a bit of dimension.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you will hop over to the Cut It Up blog for the full details of the challenge and to see what the rest of the Design Team has created. 

Supplies:

Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Cape Hatteras Light"; Verve Jeremiah 17:7 plain jane

Dies: Lawn Fawn "Peek-a-boo Background"

Challenges:

The Paper Shelter #664--these are a few of my favorite things (dies, clear stamps, blue, and enamel dots!)

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #271--anything goes

Cards Galore Challenge #144--anything goes

Crafter's Cafe #326--one for the boys

We Love Stamping--hearts OR anything goes

Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 #321--sketch

Aud Sentiments #334--dies AND/OR love, anniversary, wedding

Word Power--anything goes with sentiment as the focus

Word Art Wednesday #738--anything goes with uplifting sentiment

Bananas about you

Happy February 1st!!  It's time for a new challenge on the Critter Crazy Challenge blog!  As always, it is a month long challenge: Anything Goes as long as you feature a creature.  Here is my card for your inspiration:

My middle daughter loves monkeys so I always try to incorporate them into the cards I make her.  This is going to be her Valentine's Day card.  I'm very close to using up all the scraps from a pack of patterned paper; the banners were made from strips of card stock covered with thin strips of that paper pack.  If you want to see some other cards I made with the remnants of the paper, you can see them here.  The little hearts are also craps from that pack.

Thanks for stopping by!  Hop on over to the Critter Crazy blog and check out the details and the rest of the projects from the Design Team.

Supplies:

Stamps: Tracey Hey monkey, bananas and sentiment

Dies: unbranded pierced label die from Amazon

Challenges:

Pattie's Creations #238--anything goes

Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 #226--sketch

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #271--anything goes

Simon Says Stamp Monday--have a heart

Shopping Our Stash #566--love me do

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--anything goes

Crafty Catz #706--anything goes

Creative Fingers #315--anything goes

Sweet Stampin'--All you need is love

I mean it

Hello, everyone!  It's time for the mid-month reminder for the challenge from the Creative Moments Challenge blog.  The theme is: Romance. 

Here is my card for your inspiration:

This is my Valentine's Day card for my sister and her husband.  She LOVES orchids, so I thought this was the perfect image to use (specially since it also fit the layout I wanted to use in my mind!).  I'm working on using up the scraps from this paper pack, so I used 3 banners cut from strips of patterned paper I had created last week and I paper pieced the pot for the orchid.  Also, the hearts are cut from the same paper as the pot.

You have all month to play along.  So, get inky and link up your creation; I can't wait to see what you create!

Supplies:

Stamps: Avery Elle "Orchid"; My Favorite Things "Essential Sentiments"

Challenges: 

Pattie's Creations #238--anything goes

Creative Knockouts #563--something to say

Word Art Wednesday #737--anything goes with uplifting sentiment

Simon Says Stamp Monday--have a heart

Shopping Our Stash #566--love me do

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--anything goes

Crafty Catz #706--anything goes

Creative Fingers #315--anything goes

Sweet Stampin' Challenge--all you need is love

Scrap busters

This time of year, I always feel the need to start using up all the bits and pieces that accumulate from making cards throughout the year.  This time, I am determined to finally use up this paper pack that I have had for years and years and years and it has finally gotten down to mostly small scraps.  So, this post has 3 cards using these little bits that are left.  I have one more card that I will show on the 1st, and will be able to make 1 or 2 more cards before I finished it up completely.  One of my favorite things to do with these little scraps is to adhere them to a narrow strip of cardstock to create a strip of stripes of patterned paper.  Each of these cards today uses one of those strips.  On the first card, it is the fishtail banner on the left.  This card uses most of the larger scraps that were left.

This second card uses the only piece of patterned paper that did not belong to the pack I'm focusing on.  So, the dotted pink paper is not part of it.  But each of the little "cards", the hearts and that strip across the middle are part of the pack.

The final card is a cute little Christmas card using 4 of those striped paper strips!  I embossed a snowflake background and added an adorable die cut snowwoman.

This snowman die set is absolutely perfect for using up scraps of card stock.  I forgot to add the orange for the nose, but otherwise the photo below shows how perfect it is!

Card #1:

Supplies:

Stamps: Verve "Text Objects"

Dies: Sweet n' Sassy Stamps heart

Challenges:

Creative Sketchy Girls #111--sketch

Pearly Sparkles #115--use patterned paper

Crafty Catz #705--anything goes

Creative Fingers #314--anything goes

Card #2:

Supplies:

Stamps: PaperTrey Ink "Kid Kudos"

Dies: Sweet n' Sassy Stamps hearts; My Favorite Things "Blueprints 14" stitched circle

Challenges:

Pixie's Snippets Playground #524--anything goes with snippets (everything except the pink dotted paper is cut from scraps)

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #524--anything goes

Fab n' Funky #629--going around in circles

Word Art Wednesday #736--anything goes with uplifting sentiment

Paper Funday Challenge #83--anything goes or sketch (I used the sketch)

Aud Sentiments Challenge #333--anything goes

Word Power--anything goes with sentiment as the focus

Creative Knockouts #563--something to say

Card #3:

Supplies:

Stamps: Verve "Ornamental Christmas'

Dies: Lawn Fawn "Build a Snowman"

Darice snowflake embossing folder

Challenges:

ABC Christmas--A is for anything Christmas goes, B is for bright (I think I have both!)

Crafty Gals Corner Challenge #273--anything goes with the optional twist: snowman

Christmas Kickstart #106--Dreaming of a pink Christmas

Peace on Earth #103--optional mood board

Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmaker Challenge #65--sketch

Love Those Pretty Papers--anything goes with the optional twist: snowmen

CRAFT #772--Christmas and/or first Christmas

Alphabet Challenge--T is for Texture

Can You Handle the Pressure--anything goes with the optional twist: all white

Cheerful friend

Happy Friday!!!  It's time for a new challenge from the Cut It Up Challenge Blog.  This week, the challenge is: My Heart

Here is my card for your inspiration:

This challenge is the perfect excuse to start making those Valentine's Day cards.  My card started with the die cut floral panel in the center of my card.  It has been lying on my desk for months, a left over from a previous project.  I pulled out an old set from Verve "Text Objects" for the sentiment and also for those fun hearts.  I stamped them on patterned paper from the same paper pack as the blue papers and fussy cut them out.  I decided to stamp the sentiment on vellum to keep a soft look; white cardstock seemed like it would be too bright.  I finished it all off with some pink pearls.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you will hop over to the Cut It Up blog for the full details of the challenge and to see what the rest of the Design Team has created. 

Supplies:

Stamps: Verve "Text Objects"

Dies: STAMPlorations rectangle die (it has a beautiful wavy stitched detail)

Challenges:

Cards Galore Challenge #143--anything goes

Creative Inspirations--anything goes

We Love Stamping--something new or anything goes (I went with the anything goes option)

Moving Along with The Times #185--use stencils AND/OR dies (I used a die)

Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 #319--sketch

Aud Sentiments #333--anything goes

Word Power--anything goes with sentiment as the focus

Pearly Sparkles #115--use patterned paper

Make My Monday #269--patterned paper

Crafty Catz #705--anything goes

Creative Fingers #314--anything goes

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #270--anything goes

Word Art Wednesday #736--anything goes with uplifting sentiment

Snow couple

Hello, everyone!  Happy New Year!  It's time for first challenge of the year from the Creative Moments Challenge blog.  The theme is: Romance (Perfect for getting a start on your Valentine's Day cards.) We do not have a sponsor for this month, but I believe there is still going to be a prize, so make sure you play along!

Here is my card for your inspiration:

I created this adorable little snowman card to give to my husband for Valentine's Day.  This die set from Lawn Fawn is just too cute and there are soooooo many options and little tiny dies to personalize these adorable snowmen!

I first cut my snowman and snowwoman from scraps of all sorts of different card stocks and adhered them all together with liquid glue.  I then decided to ink up a snowy background for them.  I used several different ink colors (and started with a light blue card stock to make the blending easier) to create the background.  Then I spritzed on some water and some white paint to make it look like a snowy sky.  I die cut the panel with this fun deckled edge die and used the same die to die cut a white glittery snowy ground.  The little red heart is also from the same snowman die set.  Then I added a stamped "Love" banner to finish it off.

You have all month to play along.  So, get inky and link up your creation; I can't wait to see what you create!

Supplies:

Stamps: Verve "Text Objects"

Dies: Lawn Fawn "Build a Snowman"; unbranded rectangle die

Challenges:

Cards Galore Challenge #143--anything goes

Creative Inspirations--anything goes

Moving Along With the Times #185--use stencils AND/OR dies

A Gem of a Challenge--anything goes

Pixie's Snippets Playground #523--anything goes with snippets (all of the snowman and woman pieces were cut from scraps of card stock)

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #269--anything goes

Fab 'n' funky #628--winter wonderland

C.R.A.F.T. #771--anything goes

Winter Birthday

Happy Friday and Happy New Year!!!  It's time for a new challenge from the Cut It Up Challenge Blog.  This week, the challenge is: Favorite Die/Set

Here is my card for your inspiration:

I used a couple of my favorite dies/sets on this one.  My absolute favorite die (or at least the one that I use the most) is the stitched rectangle die from the My Favorite Things set "Blueprints 13".  I also used the curved tag shape from the same set.  One of my other favorite sets is the large snowflake die in the background from Papertrey Ink.  This whole card came about because of the cute little snowman.  I created him for a previous project and didn't end up using him.  But he was just too cute to leave sitting on my desk!  So, I pulled out some papers with reds and some other colors and created this fun, winter, birthday card.  The little polaroid frame die is from Taylored Expressions and I was gifted it quite a while ago.  I had not had a chance to play with it until this card.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you will hop over to the Cut It Up blog for the full details of the challenge and to see what the rest of the Design Team has created. 

Supplies:

Stamps: Paper Trey Ink "Hands of Time" sentiment; Your Next Stamp snowman

Dies: My Favorite Things "Blueprints 13" stitched rectangle and curved tag, "Cute Snowflakes" small snowflakes; PaperTrey Ink "Fancy Flakes"; Lawn Fawn "Stitched Hillside" border die; Taylored Expressions "Feature Frames"

Challenges:

Shopping Our Stash #564--free is good (the frame die set was a prize/gift)

The Paper Shelter #662--anything goes with the optional twist: out with the old, in with the new (old MFT die set and snowflakes--had them both for about 10 years; new frame die set)

Cards Galore #143--anything goes

Unicorn Challenge #116--birthday

Die Cut Divas--use new crafty item (frame die)

Cheerful Sketches--sketch

Crafty Calendar Challenge--anything new (frame die)

Creative Inspiration--anything goes

We Love Stamping--something new or anything goes (frame die)

Craft Rocket #132--something new (frame die)

Moving Along With The Times #185--use stencils AND/OR dies

Aud Sentiments #333--anything goes

NBUS #82--never before used schtuff (frame die)

Love Those Pretty Papers--anything goes with the optional twist: snowman

A Gem of a Challenge--anything goes

Pearly Sparkles #115--use patterned paper

Sweet Stampin'--new (frame die)

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #269--anything goes

Simon Says Stamp Monday--something new (frame die)

Fab n' Funky #628--winter wonderland

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--something new (frame die)

Double D--birthday

 

Lil' Red Wagon #840--Happy New . . . (frame die)

Snowy Birthday

Happy January 1st, 2026!!  It's time for a new challenge on the Critter Crazy Challenge blog!  As always, it is a month long challenge: Anything Goes as long as you feature a creature.  Here is my card for your inspiration:

My cousin's birthday is December 30, so I needed something quick since we went away for Christmas.  As I was looking through my stash of brand new items, I came across this adorable little reindeer and figured I would give him a little outing.  I stamped him and colored him up, stamped the sentiment and added some die cut snowflakes and dots.  I also stamped his little bow tie on a plaid paper, fussy cut it out, and adhered it in place.  Quick, easy, and pretty darn cute if I do say so myself.  

Thanks for stopping by!  Hop on over to the Critter Crazy blog and check out the details and the rest of the projects from the Design Team.

Supplies:

Stamps: My Favorite Things "Something for Everything"; Woodware Craft Collection reindeer set

Dies: Papertrey Ink "Snowglobe" snowflakes and dots.

Challenges:

Creatalicious #296--anything goes with the optional twist: winter animals

NBUS #81--never before used schtuff (first time for the reindeer)

A Gem of a Challenge--anything goes

Cardz 4 Guyz #381--Christmas critters

Inkspirational #357--COLD

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #268--anything goes

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--add a sentiment

Word Art Wednesday #733--anything goes with uplifting sentiment

Shopping Our Stash #564--Free is good (the reindeer stamp set was a prize from a challenge win--I love free!)

The Paper Shelter #662--anything goes with the optional twist: Out with the old; In with the new (the reindeer stamp is new--first time using it--the snowglobe die set is at least 10 years old.)

Little Red Wagon #839--use the Force (I used a die cutting machine)