Wire Wrapture: 2026

Friday, May 1, 2026

The Best

Happy May 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 husband needed a card for a work friend who was turning 40. This guy also happens to love golf, so I combined both into this card. I didn't have time to color an image, so I printed it out onto a patterned paper which gives it interest with out having to color. In hind sight, it might have been a fun idea to add some shading, but as I said, I really didn't have time to color. I barely finished the card in time for my husband to leave for the party as it was. And because of that, I didn't even have time to take a good photo; we just shot it right there on my work desk.

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: Di's Digi Stamps "Ted In the Rough" digi; PaperTrey Ink "Big Birthday Wishes"

Dies: PaperTrey Ink "By the Numbers" border die

Challenges:

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #276--anything goes

Crafty Catz #712--anything goes

Creative Fingers #321--anything goes

Simon Says Stamp Monday--4-legged friends

Word Art Wednesday #450--anything goes with uplifting sentiment

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--anything goes

Polar Bear

Hello, everyone! It's time for the mid-month reminder for the challenge from the Creative Moments Challenge blog. The theme is: Gone But Not Forgotten (Use an image from a designer that is no longer in business). I am using an image from Bugaboo Stamps.

Here is my card:

This cute little polar bear is my absolute favorite Bugaboo Stamps images, in fact it is one of my all time favorite images from anywhere! It is so adorable! I made this card using scraps from the same paper pack I used on one of my last cards. (I also used the same sketch--it was such a good one!) I have only a few very small scraps; I can't wait to use them up--it's one of my favorite things! The blue ribbon was a scrap on my desk and the snowflakes were left over from a previous project. They finished the card off perfectly--even covering up a seam in one of the strips on the tag. I love the non-traditional color scheme.

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: Bugaboo Stamps "Polar Bear" digi

Dies: MFT "Blueprints 13" tag die; PaperTrey Ink "Snow Globe" snowflakes

Challenges:

ABC Christmas--H is for hat: I is for image only (no sentiments)

Pixie's Snippets Playground #551--anything goes with snippets (the entire card (other than the base) was snippets)

Paper Funday #86--anything goes with the optional twist of dies or punches

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #276--anything goes

Creative Knockouts #569--use 2 or more patterned papers (I used 4 different papers)

As You Like It--Favorite: brights or pastels? (I don't know if mine count as pastels, but I definitely prefer softer colors over bright colors)

Crafty Catz #712--anything goes

Creative Fingers #321--anything goes

Simon Says Stamp Monday--4-legged friends

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--anything goes

Birthday Flyby

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

Here is my card for your inspiration:

I have made several of these never ending cards using this tutorial. They look really complicated but really the hardest part is deciding how to decorate them--you have to do 4 cards in place of one! This card is for my nephew who, you guessed it, just turned 9. I wanted to use some bright, happy colors, to match his level of energy! I used my favorite dragon stamp set and decided to stamp them on patterned paper instead of coloring them. But after having to fussy cut out around all those little spikes and claws, I don't think I actually saved any time. But I think they turned out super cute and fun!

I got to use up a lot of fun patterned scraps on this one. For a little more fun, I die cut some bright yellow stars to use as embellishments.

On the last side, I left a blank square so I could write a message.

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:

Side #1:

Stamps: MFT "Magical Dragons"

Dies: MFT "Blueprints 12" stitched banner; Verve stars

Side #2:

Stamps: MFT "Magical Dragons"; PaperTrey Ink "Big Birthday Wishes"

Dies: Paper Trey Ink "By the Numbers"; Verve stars

Side #3:

Stamps: MFT "Magical Dragons"

Dies: MFT "Slice of Cake" and "Blueprints 12" banner; Verve stars

Side #4:

Stamps: Paper Trey Ink "Big Birthday Wishes

Dies: Paper Trey Ink "By the Numbers" border die; Verve stars

Challenges:

Creative Creases #115--more than one fold

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #276--anything goes

Shopping Our Stash #572--up, up, and away (something you would see in the sky)

Simon Says Stamp Monday--4-legged friends

Word Art Wednesday #750--anything goes with uplifting sentiment

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--anything goes

Friday, April 17, 2026

Birthday Wishes

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

Here is my card for your inspiration:

This is the card I made for my mom's birthday. I saw the sketch and it really caught my eye and I had to use it! Lily of the Valley are not blooming here in Southern New England, yet, but they should be starting in a couple weeks. The ones we have around here are all white, but there are some very pale pink ones out there and that is how I colored mine up. I fussy cut the image and draped it around the sentiment strip so neither the sentiment nor the image were covered up very much. I think it adds a fun and interesting touch. Before adhering both to the card, I added some gold embroidery thread and that was a really good choice if I do say so myself! It instantly took the card from "meh" to eye-catching. I finished it up with some pink pearls. It is a smaller sized card: 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 so it would fit the sketch but not be too gigantic for the flower image.

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: Fred She Said "Lily of the Valley" digi; Verve "Be Blessed" sentiment

Dies: MFT "Blueprints 13" stitched banner

Challenges:

Cards Galore #146--anything goes

Pattie's Creations #241--anything goes

Unicorn Challenge #119--use dies

Die Cut Divas--anniversary/birthday

Creative Inspirations--Easter/Spring

We Love Stamping--Spring

Moving Along with the Times #188--anything spring

Crafty Gals Corner #276--anything goes with the optional twist: spring

Aud Sentiments #336--watercolor AND/OR spring

Beautiful Blossoms #40--anything goes with flowers with the optional twist: inspiration picture

Love Those Pretty Papers--spring flowers

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #275--anything goes

Crafty Catz #711--anything goes

Creative Fingers #320--anything goes

Inkspirational Challenge #365--sketch

Word Art Wednesday #748--anything goes with uplifting sentiment

Thursday, April 16, 2026

Groovy

Yesterday, I had a bit of time to just play. (I mean, I could have used that time for something more productive, but I didn't!) This card was inspired by all these little scraps from a paper pack. It started out with this card I made for my mom using some of the pieces from the paper pack. And then since there were only scraps left, I decided to use a bunch of them up. I created this card and a second card using the same layout that I will post at the beginning of next month. The striped circle was already die cut and all the rest of the patterned paper pieces were scraps. Even the stars were die cut from scraps as well. This isn't normally a color combination that would appeal to me, but I do actually really like how it turned out! And the patterns made me think of this "groovy" sentiment. Such a fun card all around!

Supplies:

Stamps: Verve "Surely Goodness"

Dies: Spellbinders "Classic Circles, large"; Verve stars

Challenges:

Unicorn Challenge #119--use dies

Crafty Calendar--dies/punches

Craft Rocket Challenge #135--Layer It Up

Word Power--sentiment as focal

Try A Sketch on Tuesday #693--sketch

Pixie's Snippets Playground #530--anything goes with snippets

Word Art Wednesday #748--anything goes with uplifting sentiment

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

Creative Moments Template

Hello, everyone! It's time for a new challenge from the Creative Moments Challenge blog. The theme is: Gone But Not Forgotten (Use an image from a designer/company that is no longer in business). I am using an image from one of my old-time favorites: Bugaboo Stamps.

Here is my card:

Bugaboo Stamps images are so adorable and I was very sad when they went out of business. I needed a birthday card for my dad, and I thought this fun image was just perfect! I colored him up and used the die cutting out of the box technique. Then I added some glossy accents to the balloon to give it a beautiful shine! The fun image needed some bright happy papers The two striped papers are from a patterned paper pack that is almost used up (just little bits to use up!!) and was able to find a bright yellow from another pack to go along with them. I finished everything off with some bright red enamel dots.

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: Bugaboo Stamps "Bear Balloon 3"; MFT "Essential Sentiments"; PaperTrey Ink "World's Greatest" DAD

Dies: MFT "Blueprints 13" stitched banner; unbranded stitched label die from Amazon

Challenges:

Cards Galore #146--anything goes

Pattie's Creations #241--anything goes

Unicorn Challenge #119--anything goes

Die Cut Divas--birthday or anniversary

Crafty Calendar--dies/punches

Craft Rocket #135--layer it up

Paper Funday #86--anything goes with the optional twist: die cut/punches

Colorful Options--yellow

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #275--anything goes

Crafty Catz #711--anything goes

Creative Fingers Challenge #320--anything goes

Simon Says Stamp Monday--bright & cheerful

Double Trouble #214--Let's make this Air-mazing (#1: 3 patterned papers or special papers, 2 colors, 1 image; #3: any flying element (balloon)

Friday, April 3, 2026

1st Birthday

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

Here is my card for your inspiration:

We have a young family in our church who's little guy just turned one. So, I decided to take this opportunity to make a first birthday card for him. I had several of these stamped onesies left over (probably from the baby's baby shower) and thought it would be fun to create a little background using them. Luckily, I managed to find the same patterned paper and stamped one more of the blue onesies and the reverse of the paper was the green, so I stamped four on that paper as well. Because the originals had been mounted on white card stock, I had to mount the new pieces on white and cut them out as well. It adds a texture to the background for a bit more fun. I die cut a vellum circle to help the die cut "1" to stand out from the background and stamped "st" directly onto the circle. I added the sentiment to die cut stitched banners. I think it turned out so fun!

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: SU! "By Ones and By Twos"; PaperTrey Ink "Big Birthday Wishes" st; My Favorite Things "Essential Sentiments"

Dies: PaperTrey Ink "By The Numbers"; My Favorite Things "Blueprints 13" stitched banner; unbranded circle die from Amazon

Challenges:

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #274--anything goes

Crafty Catz #710--anything goes

Creative Fingers #319--anything goes

Pixie's Snippets Playground #529--anything goes with snippets (3 of the onesies were left overs and the others were fussy cut from a scrap of paper, all the die cuts were cut from scraps as well)

Double Trouble Challenge #213--SomeThing, AnyThing, EveryThing (#1: 3 die cuts, 2 patterned papers, one number one!)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--happy birthday

Little Red Wagon #852--M is for masculine

Krafty Chicks #814--birthday

Cards Galore Challenge #146--anything goes

Die Cut Divas--anniversary or birthday card

Paper Funday #86--anything goes with the optional twist: die cut/punches

Word Power--sentiment as the focal point

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

Butterflies galore

Happy April 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:

I went a little bit different than normal on this one. I usually go with more animal animals, but as I was looking for something to use for the card, I came across this gorgeous butterfly cover plate die and decided to go with insect animal. It took me a bit to get this to die cut well since it is so detailed, but the end result is worth it!! I layered the die cut over a distressed patterned paper and added some stretchy lace trim--ruffling it onto some double sided-tape. Then I added a die cut leaf stem and a beautiful flower I have had for ever! I added some clear nuvo drops that kind of look like dew drops and I ended up with a pretty elegant card, I think!

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:

Dies: Papertrey Ink butterfly cover plate die and "Turning a New Leaf" die

Challenges:

613 Avenue Create --anything goes with the optional twist: things with wings

Crafty Catz #710--anything goes

Creative Fingers #319--anything goes

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #274--anything goes

Shopping Our Stash #570--white out (no white)

Friday, March 20, 2026

Today is your day!

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

Here is my card for your inspiration:

My oldest daughter's birthday is this week and it just so happens that green is her favorite color, so I took the opportunity to use this "Forever Green" theme to create a birthday card for her. She's turning 20, though I have absolutely no idea how that happened! I felt like something a little different, so I created a gate fold card. I die cut the paw print cover panel out of green card stock and adhered it to some green check paper. Then I adhered the whole thing to one side of the card base and used a craft knife to cut off the overlap so it would fit perfectly on the other half of the gate fold base. I used some brown glitter paper to die cut the "20" and also two paw prints that I layered on top of some of the green leftover pieces and inlayed back into the main panel. I used some green mulberry paper to mat the sentiment circle and added a cute little pup to the bottom circle.

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: PaperTrey Ink "Just Sentiments: Birthday"; Mama Elephant "Lunar Animals

Dies: Your Next Stamp pawprint cover plate die; Papertrey Ink "By the Numbers" border die; unbranded circle dies from Amazon

Challenges:

Cards Galore #145--anything goes

Pattie's Creations #240--anything goes

Crafter's Cafe #328--fancy folds OR anything goes

Creative Inspirations--cute critters

Paper Funday #85--anything goes with the optional twist: fur or feathers (I went with fur)

Crafty Gals Corner #275--make it green

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie #214--clovers are green

Aud Sentiments #335--glitter/bling AND/OR St. Patrick's green

Colorful Options--green or rainbow

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

A Gem of a Challenge--anything goes

Creative Creases #133--anything goes with more than one fold

Word Power--sentiment as focal

Shopping Our Stash #569--I'm counting on you

Crafty Catz #709--anything goes

Creative Fingers Challenge #318--anything goes

Inkspirational Challenge #363--greens

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #274--anything goes

Try a Sketch on Tuesday #691--sketch

Fab n' Funky #633--four-legged friends

Sunday, March 15, 2026

Birthday Bunny

Hello, everyone! It's time for a new challenge from the Creative Moments Challenge blog. The theme is: Bunnies and Blooms. I am using an image from our fabulous sponsor: Polkadoodles.

Here is my card:

Obviously, the image was the start of the card, but the layout was inspired by the blue patterned paper square. It's been sitting on my desk for quite a while and I found a sketch that was perfect for it! There was a piece of vellum on my desk as well, and I thought it was perfect for the circle element and wouldn't cover up that beautiful blue paper. I forgot to take a picture of it, but I added some gold glitter pen to the tutu and the balloon. It adds just a bit of sparkle to the image. I decided to pull out some embellishments that matched with the image and had a bit of fun adding more embellishments than I usually do. But, once I've already made a square card, it won't be able to go in a regular envelope anyway, so why not??

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: Polkadoodles "Birthday Party Bunny Balloon" digi; Verve "Better Together" sentiment

Dies: unbranded circle die from Amazon; My Favorite Things corner bracket die; Verve "Scalloped Trim Trio" left over tiny hearts

Challenges:

Cards Galore #145--anything goes

Pattie's Creations #240--anything goes

Cheerful Sketches--sketch

Creative Inspirations--cute critters

We Love Stamping--wildlife OR anything goes

The Paper Funday #85--anything goes with the optional twist: fur or feathers (I've chosen fur)

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

A Gem of a Challenge--anything goes

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--make it cute

Creative Knockouts #566--birthday wishes

Friday, March 6, 2026

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.)

Sunday, March 1, 2026

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

Friday, February 20, 2026

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

Friday, February 13, 2026

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)

Friday, February 6, 2026

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

Sunday, February 1, 2026

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

Sunday, January 25, 2026

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!