Happy 30th!

A friend's daughter turned 30 this past weekend, so she commissioned me to make a special card for her. The main element she wanted me to include was a Rottweiler image colored to look like her daughter's dog, Mocha. She sent me several photos of Mocha for reference for her colors & markings, & I found a Rottweiler coloring page that proved to be perfect for this card.

I first printed the coloring page, since it was a pdf file & I wanted to make it a resizable image file. I scanned the printout into my computer, & opened it in Photoshop. I created a blank "canvas" in Photoshop, sized to 4x5-1/4", which would be the final size of my main panel. I used that to help me resize the dog image. I used a greeting from Dreamees, from a CD that I'd gotten in a papercrafting magazine several years ago. I positioned & sized the greeting on my canvas in Photoshop to work with the dog. Once I knew what size I wanted the dog, I created another blank canvas & moved the image to that so I could print just the dog onto a panel of Strathmore vellum bristol paper.

I colored the dog with my Prismacolor pencils, referencing the photos of Mocha my friend had sent. Thankfully, it wasn't hard to get the markings & colors right. After I finished coloring, I fussy cut it out.

For my background, I wanted to create a little scene with a light blue cloudy sky. Because the ink in my printer smears if I ink blend over it with Distress inks, I needed to add my stenciled clouds before I printed the greeting. So I cut a panel of Canson XL mixed media paper to my panel size, & ink blended the clouds on the upper portion with Tumbled Glass Distress ink & the "Cloud" stencil from My Favorite Things (discontinued). (My camera couldn't pick up the stenciling because it's so faint, but it does show in real life.) After I finished stenciling the clouds, I printed the greeting at the top of the panel. To add a finishing touch, I used a blue Tombow marker to color in the outline "fabulous" letters & a pale purple for the butterfly.

I die cut a few grass layers with the "Grassy Hillside Borders" dies from Lawn Fawn for my foreground. I cut another layer with Picket Fence Studios' "A2 Tall Grass" die (discontinued). I added the layers to the bottom of my panel, situating the dog's feet within the layers to make it look like she was standing in the grass, rather than just on top of it.

I wanted to make number balloons like the fancy ones party shops sell. I found the "Balloon Dreams" font on dafont.com, & used that to type a 3 & a 0 in Photoshop. I sized the numbers, & added a triangle to the base of each, which I "drew" with Photoshop's Shape tool. I flipped my "balloons" horizontally so they would print backwards, & printed them onto plain copy paper. (By printing them reversed, I could adhere them to the back of my cardstock & they would be correct when I cut them out.) I roughly cut around them & temporarily adhered them to the back of a scrap of gold mirror cardstock. I fussy cut around each number, & then removed the paper templates.

I die cut several balloons from rainbow colors of cardstock with the "Birthday Balloons" dies from My Favorite Things (discontinued). I applied embossing ink to the front of each, & coated them with Ranger Clear Super Fine Detail embossing powder. I repeated this 2 more times. In hindsight, I'm kind of sorry I went that route. I wanted shiny balloons, but by the time I'd glued them to the card, the heat embossed layers were a bit crazed & dull, rather than clear & shiny. I could have used Glossy Accents in the first place, but because the balloons were so small, I wasn't sure how I could manage & not have them look like one huge balloon, or get messed up somehow if I added it before gluing them to the card. But, they're really not that bad, & since they're in the background, I just left them alone. I did adhere the end of a piece of crochet twine for a balloon string to the back of each balloon before gluing them to the card.

After I glued the regular balloons, I glued the number balloons down on top of them. I was able to use Glossy Accents on those without messing anything up, to make them a bit more dimensional & shiny. Then I set the card aside overnight to let the Glossy Accents dry thoroughly.

I die cut a balloon holder from Recollections holographic cardstock with a die from My Favorite Things' "Party Decor" set (discontinued). To gather the balloon strings behind it, I first punched a 1/16" hole where the holder would cover it. I threaded the ends of the strings through the hole & taped them to the back of the panel. Because the gathered strings created a little bulk on the front, I added the balloon holder with a small foam dot to make it even with them & glued the top of the holder directly to the strings to keep it from flipping up. Finally, I matted the panel with blue cardstock that I adhered to a white A2-size card base.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Seize the Birthday #309: "Anything Goes"

Critter Crazy Challenge #100: "Birthday Bash"

Little Red Wagon Challenge #816: "Honky Cat" (aka any household pet)

Ellibelle's Corner I Spy with My Little Eye Challenge: "Something to Celebrate"

Paper Funday Challenge #78: "Anything Goes" (playing the optional "Fun with Stencils" twist)

Season's Greetings Mouse

This week's challenge at Christmas Card Throwdown is a sketch challenge. I followed the sketch pretty literally, just slightly changing the lengths of the strips going across to incorporate my greeting into the design better.

CCT July 2025 Sketch

I decided to pull out the "Merry Little Mice" stamp set from Honey Bee for my focal image. I actually got this set during their New Year's Eve sale last year, but it has sat in my as-yet-unused stash since. This seemed to be the perfect occasion to use it though.

I decided to begin with the background, since I was using white pigment ink & that would need time to dry. I got out my Penny Black "Dotlets" stencil (discontinued) & stenciled onto a panel of kraft cardstock with Lawn Fawn's Yeti ink. After I hit it with my heat gun to speed the drying a little, as well as letting it sit & air dry for a few hours, I replaced the stencil. I shifted the stencil slightly to one side & up, & inked over it again with Candied Apple Distress ink. My intended look was offset stenciling, but it didn't quite match my vision in the end. While the bit on each circle where the red ink is not over the white does look a hint darker if you look at it just right, it's not truly as noticeable as it should be. I'm not sure what happened, but I think maybe the kraft cardstock I used is just too pale to allow the darker ink color. I might need to experiment with this technique more. At any rate, I decided it's OK, & moved on.

I stamped the image in Versafine Onyx Black ink onto a second piece of kraft cardstock. I don't often color on kraft cardstock with my colored pencils, but decided it would complement my stenciled panel better than white. I used my Prismacolor pencils, & then cut out the image with the coordinating die. Because the pencils covered some of the black stamped lines with a colored haze, I tried going over them with a black felt-tip pen. Unfortunately, the ink wouldn't really mark on the waxy finish, so I ended up using my black colored pencil. That worked much better, so a little pro tip there. Finally, I used a black glaze pen to go over the mouse's eyes & nose to give them a bit of shine.

For the greeting, I pulled out my "Sentiment Strips: Christmas" set from Pretty Pink Posh. I stamped it onto a scrap of white cardstock with the Versafine black ink. I cut it into a 3/8"-wide strip to match the 3/8" wide ribbon I wanted to use for the accent strip on my card.

To assemble the card, I first trimmed my stenciled panel to 4x5-1/4". I adhered green cardstock to my white A2 card base to mat my main panel. I cut a piece of patterned paper from the "Christmas Plaids" 6x6" pad from Recollections, & adhered that to my stenciled panel to go behind my mouse. I wrapped the striped ribbon around the panel & adhered the ends to the back. I added my greeting strip, & trimmed the ends slightly to fit the width of the panel. Finally, I adhered the stenciled panel to my card base, & glued the mouse on. I am really pleased with how this card came out, & will send it to Send a Smile 4 Kids. Hopefully it will bring some joy to a hospitalized child this coming holiday season!

I'm also entering this card in the following challenges:

Send a Smile 4 Kids: "Christmas in July 4 Kids"

Creative Knockouts Challenge #550: "Christmas in July"

The Paper Funday Challenge #78: "Anything Goes" (playing the "fun with stencils" optional twist)

No One Elf

The theme this week for Christmas Card Throwdown's challenge is "Santa's Helper." For my card, I used this cute upside-down elf selfie image & greeting from the "Christmas sELFies" stamp set from My Favorite Things (discontinued).

I stamped the image onto a scrap of 140 lb. watercolor paper with Versafine Onyx Black ink. After heat setting the ink, I used my Inktense pencils & damp paintbrush to color the elf & ornament. I added a pale blue wash around the image, & dried it with my heat gun.

I die cut one of the frames from the "Polaroid Tag Set" from Mama Elephant from plain white cardstock. I adhered that over the image. Thankfully, the window in the frame was *just* the right size to cover the black border on the image, as I didn't want that line showing. Whew! The first time I adhered the frame, I actually had the image upside-down. I didn't even notice this until I used the frame-with-image to "audition" patterned papers! Fortunately, I had used double-sided tape to adhere the 2 together, so with a little Undu adhesive remover, I was able to flip the image panel around.

For the background, I found a scrap of an old patterned paper from The Paper Studio in my stash. I cut it to size, & matted it with green cardstock that I'd adhered to my A2-size white card base.

I stamped the greeting in 2 parts onto a scrap of Bazzill Icy Mint cardstock. I masked off the second part of the greeting with a small piece of painter's tape, inked up the rest of the stamp, removed the mask (always the most important step for this technique!), & stamped the text. I flipped the cardstock 180° & repeated the process to stamp the second part of the greeting. I cut them into small strips, & adhered them to the bottom of my frame, a little askew for a more playful look.

After I adhered my frame to my card (again - almost upside-down 😕), I die cut the clip from the "Polaroid Tag Set" from silver shimmer cardstock. The die actually cuts so you can fold the clip in half along the top. I suppose that's if you need the back to be as nice as the front. I didn't need that, though, so I just cut it in half at the top fold line, & glued it in place. Finally, I coated the ornament ball & jingle bell with Glossy Accents. I will send this card to Send a Smile 4 Kids later this year. Hopefully it will bring a smile to a hospitalized child's face.

I'm also entering this card in the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday challenge: "Anything Goes"

Paper Funday Challenge #77: "Anything Goes" (not playing the optional twist)

Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday June/July challenge: "Anything Goes"

613 Avenue Create's June Challenge: "Anything Goes" (not playing the optional twist)

Yappy Mother's Day

Every year for Mother's Day, I create a card for my sister-in-law from their dog. This year the current challenges at Double Trouble Paper Crafting & Try a Sketch on Tuesday inspired my color choices & design. (Melissa Grant's card featured at TSOT inspired the stenciling on my card.)

Double Trouble's challenge, as usual, is a 3-2-1 Recipe challenge. The elements this month are 3 pastel colors (excluding neutrals), 2 words in one greeting, & 1 slimline card (either mini or full-size). You can exceed the numbers of elements, but need to include at least that many of each. I went with Tattered Rose, Squeezed Lemonade, & Cracked Pistachio Distress inks for my pastels; a 3-word greeting; & a mini slimline card.

I stamped the puppy from Hero Arts' "Fawn and Friends" stamp set (discontinued) onto a scrap of Strathmore vellum bristol paper, & colored it to look like their dog, Glennis. Then I die cut it with the coordinating die.

For the background, I used my chosen Distress inks to color over the "Gingham" stencil by Tim Holtz. Inspired by the sketch, I masked off each section as I ink blended, moving the masks as necessary.

I stamped my greeting with Lawn Fawn's "Harold's ABCs," using their Doe ink for a softer look. I cut each word into a strip, & inked the edges with the same Distress ink colors I'd used for the background, going in the same color order as I'd done the stenciling.

To ground the puppy, I die cut a heart from white cardstock with a die from the Nellie's Choice "Straight Heart" set (discontinued). I laid it on my background where I wanted it & made tick marks where it overlapped each stenciled section. I masked off each section as I'd done with the background & inked in the corresponding colors. Then I glued that to my background, & glued the puppy on top.

I adhered my greeting strips, angling them for a more playful look. Finally, I adhered my panel to a white mini slimline card base. All I have left to do now is add an inside sentiment, & this card will be ready to present.

I'm also entering this card in the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge: "Make It Girly"

Ellibelle's Corner: Ellibelle's Corner April Challenge: "Anything Goes"

Paper Funday Challenge #75: "Anything Goes" (not playing the twist)

1 Sketch - 2 Cards

Christmas Card Throwdown has a Sketch Challenge this week. For both my cards, I was able to make use of scraps & frames from my stash, which always makes me happy!

I used images from the Essentials by Ellen "Santa's List" stamp set (discontinued) for both of my cards. I found a couple of chipboard frames in a desk drawer that I have had for years. I picked out one for each card to use for the smaller element in the sketch. 

For my first card, I stamped the reindeer onto a panel of Strathmore vellum bristol paper that I'd cut to fit behind the frame. I masked off the deer, and then stamped the tree from the set "behind" the deer & another on the right side of the panel. I masked the first tree I stamped & stamped a third tree next to it. I was very careful to make sure the baseline of each image that was behind another was higher in the scene than what was in front, to make sure they truly looked like they were in the background. I colored the images with my Prismacolor pencils, & then used white acrylic craft paint to splatter snow over the scene.

I covered the frame with a scrap of patterned paper that was larger than the frame. When the glue had dried, I used my craft knife to cut around the outside of the frame & cut out the center opening. After I used a nail buffer to smooth the edges, I inked around the inside & outside with Barn Door Distress Oxide ink to finish everything off. The frame already had holes punched in the bottom section, so punched through those in the patterned paper. I threaded some red ribbon through them & tied a bow in the middle. Finally, I glued my scene panel behind the frame.

I got my greeting from Simon Says Stamp's "Merry & Bright" stamp set (discontinued). I die cut 2 tabs from white cardstock with one of the "Tab" dies from Creek Bank Creations (one for each card), & stamped my greeting onto those. I glued one to to back of my reindeer frame so it peeked out from the top.

I adhered my patterned paper (again from my scrap stash) to the left of my card front, & then glued the frame on top. As a finishing touch, I added a drop of Christmas Red Stickles to the reindeer's nose. (I just had to make him Rudolph!)

I kept my design for my second card even closer to the sketch. I used most of the same processes & products to create this one. I stamped the sleigh onto a panel of vellum bristol. I also stamped Santa onto vellum bristol, and cut him out with the coordinating die. I stamped the list image onto a scrap of heavyweight white cardstock, & die cut that as well. I used my Prismacolor pencils to color Santa & the sleigh & sky on the image panel. I also added some shine to Santa's eyes & buttons with a black glaze pen. Then I glued the list to his hand & a bit behind the bottom corner of his coat.

To ink the edges of the frame, I used Shabby Shutters Distress Oxide ink. I glued the image panel behind my frame, and glued Santa on top. Because he overlapped the inner edge of my frame, I added foam tape under him in that part to give more support. I also used foam tape under the edge of the list that overhung the outer edge of the frame. I adhered my patterned paper panel to the card front, & then glued my frame element to the card. As a finishing touch, I squeezed a dollop of Tulip Puffy fabric paint to the pompom on top of Santa's hat. I let that dry (as per the instructions), and then steamed it with an iron to puff it up. I will send both cards to Send a Smile 4 Kids, hopefully to bring some holiday joy to a couple of hospitalized kiddos!

I'm also entering these cards in the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp's Monday Challenge: "Use Patterned Paper"

Send a Smile 4 Kids October Challenge: "Holiday/Celebration Cards 4 Kids"

Ellibelle's Corner October Wednesday Challenge: "Anything Goes"

613 Avenue Create October Challenge: "Anything Goes" (not playing the twist)

Die Cut Divas October Challenge: "Anything Goes on a Card for World Card Making Day"

Season's Greetings (Faux) Postage

I have another floral-themed Christmas card for Christmas Card Throwdown's "Flower/Flourish" challenge. Nichol Spohr's work strongly inspired the look of this card, especially these cards she recently shared. While I didn't have any of the stamps or dies she used, I loved the overall look of her cards, & just put my own spin on her techniques.

I began by creating my faux postage stamps. I die cut the outer part from a scrap of white cardstock with one of the "Postage Stamp Squares" by Elizabeth Craft Designs (discontinued). I didn't have a square die exactly the dimensions I needed, so I used my paper trimmer to cut 3 squares from Strathmore smooth bristol paper. I stamped the poinsettia from Hero Arts' "Vintage Christmas Post" set (discontinued) on each square, varying the orientation & how much of the flower showed. I used the "2" from Sunny Studio Stamps' "Kinsley Alphabet" stamp set for the postage amount, & just drew a cents symbol with a black felt-tipped pen. I hit each square with my heat gun to make sure the ink was totally dry, and then colored with my Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers. Finally, I glued each square centered on its background.

For the frame, I centered a Waffle Flower "Additional A2 Layers" die inside a "Scallop Rectangles" die from Pink & Main. I taped the dies together, & cut 5 frames from white cardstock. I glued them together, one on top of another, to create a more dimensional frame.

I cut a panel of white Hammermill cardstock to A2 size, and ink blended an ombre background with Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, & Rustic Wilderness Distress inks. I only wanted my background stamping inside the framed area. So after I finished ink blending, I determined how much of the panel I needed to mask off around the framed area. It ended up being about 3/8", so I applied yellow Frog tape around the perimeter of my panel. I then stamped the "Crackle Background" from Simon Says Stamp with white pigment ink. I used a dry cloth to wipe the ink off the tape (so the ink wouldn't smear onto my panel), then carefully removed the tape. I thoroughly dried the ink with my heat tool, to ensure the embossing powder for my greeting wouldn't stick everywhere.

After deciding where to place my "postage stamps," I positioned my greeting stamp, from Honey Bee's "Pretty Poinsettias" set (discontinued). I stamped with clear embossing ink, and then heat embossed with Ranger White Super Fine Detail embossing powder.

To bring the card together, I first adhered my background to a white card base. I added my postage stamps, & finally adhered the frame in place. I hope I have done Nichol proud, and will definitely employ these techniques in future cards! :)

I'm also entering this card in the following challenges:

613 Avenue Create: "Anything Goes" (not playing the optional twist)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: "Anything Goes"

Paper Funday Challenge #69: "Anything Goes" (playing the optional twist to make your own background)

Double Trouble Challenge #175: "Any Way You Punch It"

Merry Christmas to You

Yes, it's the Christmas card creating time of year for me again! This week's challenge at Christmas Card Throwdown is "Flower/Flourish." I actually made use of both on this card, with some foiling in the background using the Prima "Flourish" stencil (discontinued) to jazz things up a bit.

I decided to go with a mini slimline card size for this. I actually had an inside sentiment panel left over from last year that I had not yet used, so I kind of built this card around that. Hey, whatever gets things used, right? :)

I cut a panel of Bazzill Dark Seas cardstock to 3-1/4x6-1/4". I stamped the smaller poinsettia flower from Honey Bee's "Pretty Poinsettias" set (discontinued) in 2 opposite corners. I wanted to color them with my colored pencils, but wanted to heat emboss in gold as well. To make it easier, I first stamped (using my MISTI stamp positioning tool) with Lawn Fawn's Hippo ink, to give me the coloring outlines. I left the stamp in my MISTI, & colored the images with my Prismacolor pencils. When I finished coloring, I put my panel back into the corner of my MISTI, & restamped with embossing ink over each flower. I heat embossed with Simon Says Stamp Antique Gold embossing powder.

To do the foiling on the background, I first cut a mask for each of the poinsettia images. I lined up the masks over the flowers, & laid my stencil over the panel. I pounced leafing glue through the stencil with a makeup wedge. I removed the stencil & flower masks, & let the glue dry for about half an hour until it was tacky. Then I cut a piece of Opal DecoFoil to size & laid it over my panel. To transfer the foil, I put the panel between the plates for my die cutting machine, covered it with a piece of copy paper to keep the plate from marking it up, & ran it through my machine. Much to my delight, it worked like a charm! I love how the opal foil adds interest, but doesn't overwhelm the poinsettias.

I used a greeting from Gina K's "Holiday Wreath Builder" stamp set. I heat embossed it with Antique Gold onto a scrap of the Dark Seas cardstock, & die cut it with a Spellbinders "Lacey Circles" die (discontinued). And I hated it! I just didn't like the way the die cut blended in with the background too much. So I tried again with a lighter blue cardstock, & liked that much better. To give it a bit of dimension, I die cut another circle from the lighter blue, & then layered those & the Dark Seas die cut together. Finally, I glued it centered onto my panel. I adhered my panel to a white card base, & that wrapped this up! I am so happy with this card, AND the fact that I finally got that inside panel into a card. :)

I'm also entering this card in the following challenges:

613 Avenue Create: September "Anything Goes" (not playing the optional twist)

Paper Funday Challenge #69: "Anything Goes" (playing the make your own background twist)

Double Trouble #175: "Any Way You Punch It"

Happy Holidays Shaker Card

The current theme for Christmas Card Throwdown's challenge is shaker cards. I decided to challenge myself further & make a shaker card using 4 stamps from Hero Arts' "North Pole Express" set & their coordinating dies to make one window. I'm happy to report I succeeded! :)

I did a test run for the image stamping & die cutting on scrap cardstock to make sure my idea would work before going to my "good" paper. This also gave me a template to help me line up my images on my card panels. I cut 2 pieces of Strathmore Smooth Bristol paper to 5-1/2x4-1/4". I positioned the first in my MISTI stamp positioning tool, & lined up my test run guide with that to place the first stamp. I stamped that in Versafine Onyx Black ink, and without moving my stamp, repeated on the second piece of bristol paper. I did this for each of the other stamps to create my train. Stamping both panels at the same time ensured that my images on the background would line up with the window on the front panel.

I cut a piece of patterned paper from my stash to the same size as my bristol panels, & used low-tack painter's tape to attach it temporarily to the back of one of my bristol panels. I lined up one of the coordinating dies over the stamped image on the bristol, & die cut it through both the bristol & patterned paper panels. I did this process for each of the other images, and then removed the tape attaching the two panels. I adhered the patterned paper panel to the front of the bristol panel, making sure the die cut openings lined up. I adhered a piece of acetate to the back of this panel, & added 2 layers of foam tape to create the well for my clear seed beads. I added the beads into the well, and adhered a second piece of acetate to the back to seal my shaker. This is a tip I got from Nina-Marie Trapani, which both helps shaker bits move more freely & makes it easier to line up the shaker over an image panel.

On my other bristol panel, I used my Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers to color the images. I adhered my shaker panel over that, making sure to line up the window opening with the images. I used liquid glue to stick the "inner" pieces of patterned paper from the die cuts to the shaker window. I stamped my greeting, also from "North Pole Express," in Lawn Fawn's Guava ink onto a scrap of white cardstock & cut that into a banner. Finally, I adhered my banner in place & added my card front to a white A2-size card base. I am so happy with how this card came out, & as a bonus, I have 4 more of these images that I can color & add to another card!

I'm also entering this card in the following challenges:

Stay Crafty with a Blog Named Hero October challenge: "Holiday/Celebrate"

Send a Smile 4 Kids: "Holiday/Celebration Cards 4 Kids"

My Favorite Things: "Ready, Set, Christmas"

613 Avenue Create: "Anything Goes" (not playing the optional twist)

Merry Christmas Mouse

This week's challenge at Christmas Card Throwdown is "Christmas Cup." I have had this panel with the "Sweet Cocoa" digital image from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps on my desk for at least a year or 2, waiting for me to color it & make a card around it. This challenge inspired me finally to do just that!

To create the original focal panel, I opened the image in Photoshop & resized it to fit a panel as per an old Operation Write Home sketch. I typed the Merry Christmas words along the rim of the cup, making sure to delete the text where Cocoa's paws covered it, just to increase the realism. Then I printed it onto a piece of Canson XL Mixed Media paper. And, as I said, it has sat on my desk ever since.

I used my Prismacolor pencils to color the image, & then matted it with red cardstock. I adhered 2 scraps of patterned paper from my stash to a panel of the same red cardstock, & adhered my focal panel. I glued 3 buttons to my card front, let the glue dry (well, mostly - I did get impatient!), & then pierced holes through the buttons into my background and stitched through the buttons with white crochet twine. I had to squirt a little more glue under the buttons, just to anchor them further. (I did let that dry thoroughly!) Finally, I added my card front to a white A2 card base.

I'm also entering my card in the following challenges:

My Favorite Things: "Ready, Set, Christmas"

Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge: "Anything Goes"

Send a Smile 4 Kids "Holiday/Celebration Cards 4 Kids"

Happy Bird-day

This is my second card for Lawn Fawnatics' current color challenge. I was able to use leftover leaf die cuts from my first card I made for this challenge, which were actually the inspiration for the design of this card.

I used the center panel from my die cut frame for my first card for the background on this one. I ink blended a sky with Salvaged Patina Distress ink. I also die cut a scrap of yellow cardstock with the same "Small Stitched Rectangle" die that I'd used for the background, so it would be the same width & carry the stitching detail on down. I cut the top edge of that piece with one of the "Stitched Hillside Borders" dies.

I stamped the images, from Lawn Fawn's "Special Delivery" & "Special Delivery Box Add-on," onto Strathmore Vellum Bristol paper. I used my Prismacolor pencils to color them, then cut them with the coordinating dies. I ink blended over the top of the strings die cut with Salvaged Patina, so it would blend into the sky. After I glued the strings to the box, I used a black marker to draw the ribbon & box lines across the strings die cut, then colored over the white edges with the same pencils as I'd used on the box.

I wanted to put the greeting in a speech bubble, but didn't have one that was the right size. I stamped the greeting on white cardstock, & then die cut it with one of the coordinating dies for "A Birdie Told Me." I made sure to place the die so the right side was close to that side of the greeting. Then I shifted the die cut in the die, & ran it through my machine again to make the speech bubble shorter. I misjudged the die placement the second time, so the greeting was off-center. But I just stamped the little heart from "Special Delivery" to fill in the space.

I glued my leaves along the bottom of the panel, & then glued my images in place. After I trimmed off the overhanging bits of the leaves, I adhered my panel to a cream mat that I'd mounted to a white card base. I will send this card to Send a Smile 4 Kids, to help a hospitalized child celebrate their birthday.

I'm also entering this card in the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge: "Take Flight"

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge: "Make It Cute"

Creative Knockouts Challenge #502: "Anything Goes"

The Paper Funday Challenge #57: "Anything Goes" (not playing the optional twist)

613 Avenue Create: "Anything Goes"

Die Cut Divas: "Anything Goes"

I Be-leaf in You

Lawn Fawnatics is having a color challenge at their blog. I don't have most of the ink colors they suggested as matches, but chose some Distress inks that looked pretty close. I got the inspiration for my design from this card I found on the Lawn Fawn website. I created this card to send to Send a Smile 4 Kids, hopefully to cheer up a hospitalized child.

For the background, I cut a panel of 140 lb. watercolor paper. I used Picked Raspberry, Seedless Preserves, & Evergreen Bough Distress inks to ink smoosh on my panel. Once I had covered the background with color, I felt it was a little too bold for what I wanted. So I squeezed a little white acrylic craft paint on my non-stick mat, thinned it with a bit of water, & smeared it onto my paper with my finger. I wanted just a little more color, though, so when the paint layer dried, I ink smooshed a bit more Evergreen Bough onto the panel. I dried it with my heat tool, then set it aside while I worked on the other elements for my card.

I die cut several leaves from watercolor paper, using the "Stitched Leaves" & "Small Stitched Leaves" sets from Lawn Fawn. I ink smooshed them with the same colors as the background, adding in Fossilized Amber & Shabby Shutters Distress inks. The Shabby Shutters came out a bit too pale, so I smooshed those a second time with Mowed Lawn ink. I did 2-3 colors on each leaf, just for interest.

I stamped my images, from Lawn Fawn's "You Autumn Know" stamp set, onto Strathmore Vellum Bristol paper. I used my Prismacolor pencils to color them, then die cut them with the coordinating dies. I also cut a few more plain die cuts for each image, then stacked them behind my images. This gives them some dimension so they stand out a bit from the background.

I glued my leaves around my background, as in the inspiration card, & cut off the bits that overhung the edges. For the frame, I used the largest of Lawn Fawn's "Large Stitched Rectangle" & "Small Stitched Rectangle" die sets. I nested the smaller inside the larger, and ran them through my die cutting machine with white cardstock. I added a few cardstock strips behind the sides of my frame to beef it up a bit, then adhered it to my card. I glued my images in place, overlapping the frame slightly. I stamped the greetings onto white cardstock. I don't have any banner dies to cut on that particular curve, so I penciled an outline around each & cut them out with scissors. I went over the eyes of the mouse on the leaf with a black glaze pen to help them pop, glued my banners in place, & that finished this card.

I'm also entering this card in the following challenges:

Creative Knockouts Challenge #502: "Anything Goes"

The Paper Funday Challenges #57: "Anything Goes" (not playing the optional twist)

Die Cut Divas September challenge: "Anything Goes"

Send a Smile 4 Kids September challenge: "Cute Fall/Halloween Cards 4 Kids"

A Better Dad

I am excited to be the Guest Designer for this month's challenge at Send a Smile 4 Kids! Their theme this month is "Cards 4 Dads/Special Guys." I created this Father's Day card to go along with that theme. My design is based on Sketch #SC783 at Splitcoaststampers.com.

I stamped the mice & dandelion (from Lawn Fawn's "Dandy Day" set) onto a scrap of Strathmore vellum bristol paper. I colored them with my Prismacolor colored pencils. It doesn't show up much in the photo, but I added a little light grey to the fluff on the dandelion. Then I die cut them with the coordinating dies. I actually had to redo the dandelion, since I apparently really messed up aligning the die with the stamped & colored image! So I tried die cutting first, taping the die cut from the back into the negative space, lining up the stamp with the die cut, & stamping. It's still not absolutely 100% perfect, but like Jennifer McGuire says, it's handmade, not Hallmark!

For the background scene, I used one of the "Grassy Hillsides Borders" dies from Lawn Fawn to cut the grass from green cardstock. I added a bit of shading with Mowed Lawn Distress ink. I wanted the father & baby mouse to be looking up at the other mouse, hence my decision to have them on a hill. I found a blue patterned paper with a bokeh look that I'd gotten as a gift with purchase from Lawn Fawn. I thought the bokeh supported the magical idea of blowing dandelions, so I used it for the sky. I adhered my sky & grass pieces to a backing of white cardstock, just so I didn't have to fiddle with them as smaller individual elements. After gluing down my mice & dandelion to the background, I also stamped the flying seeds on the sky paper.

I stamped my greeting, also from "Dandy Day," in black on a scrap of grey cardstock. I cut that into a strip, as per the sketch. I adhered my strip & scene panel to a piece of patterned paper from Crate Paper's "Botanical Gardens" 6x6" pad. Finally, I mounted my card front to a white A2-size card base. 

You're a Winner

I created this card based on the sketch for Try Stampin' on Tuesday's Challenge #596. I rotated the sketch 90 degrees. For the purple banner in the sketch, I have a panel running the height of the card. I used the white block for my greeting.

I began by stamping the game controller from Simon Says Stamp's "All Boy" stamp set (discontinued). I colored it with my Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers, then fussy cut it. I stamped my greeting onto a strip of patterned paper from the Recollections "Paddywack" 6x6" pad with Mermaid Lagoon Distress Oxide ink.

I die cut a circle from pink houndstooth paper from the My Mind's Eye "Adorbs" 6x6" patterned paper pad, & glued it to my background panel. I trimmed down a scrap from an inky technique piece I'd done months ago that has been sitting on my desk, & adhered it overlapping the circle, as per the sketch. I glued the greeting banner & game controller in place, & and adhered the panel to a white A2-size card base.

Hope Your Day Blooms with Happiness

The current Lawn Fawnatics challenge is "Interactive Cards." I created this card with Lawn Fawn's "Magic Picture Changer" & "Magic Picture Changer Add-on" die sets. I also used the "Garden Before 'n Afters" stamp set for the images & greeting.

I began by tracing the openings with a pencil in the 2 dies that create the magic picture changer onto pieces of Strathmore Smooth Bristol paper. This helped me to know where to stamp my images so they would both show up in the window. I stamped the images on their respective panels, & colored them with my Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers. Then I lined the dies up & cut out the pieces.

I die cut the frame for the magic picture changer from a patterned paper from Lawn Fawn. (I don't know the name, as it was just a gift with purchase.) After I assembled the magic picture changer, I adhered the frame in place, making sure my adhesive didn't interfere with the mechanism. I die cut the "pull" stopper piece from pink cardstock, & glued it to the pull tab. I also heat embossed my greeting with white embossing powder onto the same pink cardstock, cut it into labels, & glued those to the frame.

I die cut a piece of plaid patterned paper (another gift with purchase from Lawn Fawn) with the largest of Lawn Fawn's "Large Stitched Rectangle" dies, & adhered it to my white A2-size card base. I adhered the magic picture changer with foam tape, to make it easier for the recipient to pull the tab. And that finished this card!

I'm also entering this card in Send a Smile for Kids' "Easter/Spring Cards 4 Kids" challenge.

Out of This World Birthday

I had created a multi-colored inky background following a Jennifer McGuire tutorial that came out not to my liking. I was kind of disappointed at my "fail," since I had followed her instructions to the letter. Rather than chuck it, though, I decided to do something different with it. So I inked over the whole panel with Black Soot Distress ink & splattered with Gansai Tambi Starry Colors White Gold watercolor to make a galaxy background. That became the basis for this birthday card.

I stamped several images from Lawn Fawn's "Beam Me Up" set onto scraps of Strathmore Smooth Bristol paper, and colored them with my Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers. For shading & added dimension, I used a damp paintbrush to draw more diluted color out to the highlight areas. Finally, I die cut them with the coordinating dies.

I used an oval die to cut the "planet" from light grey cardstock, & adhered that to the bottom of my background panel. I trimmed off the excess, & glued my images to that. I stamped a greeting from "Beam Me Up" in black on the bottom of the planet. I matted the panel with a dark plum cardstock, & adhered that to a white A2-size card base. Finally, I used Ranger Multi Medium Matte to glue googly eyes on to each of the aliens. I love how this card came out, & I think it will bring a smile to a child's face. And to think, it all started with a "failed" background!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Creative Knockouts Challenge #486: "Celebrations"

613 Avenue Create January 2023 Challenge: "Anything Goes" (not playing the twist)

Santa & Friends

This week's challenge at Christmas Card Throwdown is all about "Santa & Friend(s)." Basically, create a Christmas card with Santa & one or more of his friends. I immediately thought of Bugaboo's "Scene It: Santa and Friends" digital image (discontinued), & thought it would be perfect for this challenge. With the proportions of this image, you really don't need anything else to make an impactful card!

I decided to make the image the size of my 5-1/4x4" panel, which leaves a 1/8" border on all sides of my A2-size card. I sized it in Photoshop, & printed it onto a panel of Strathmore Vellum Bristol paper. I used my Prismacolor colored pencils to color the image. The most difficult part of coloring was trying to determine in a couple of spots what went where. Because this is a rather complex image, I just went one element at a time while coloring.

After I finished the coloring, I matted my panel with burgundy cardstock that I'd adhered to a white card base. I decided to add a little something extra, so I went over Rudolph's nose with White Blizzard Nuvo Glitter drops. I also added that to the bell on the elf's hat & more bits here and there around the snow areas. And that finished this card! The longest portion was honestly the coloring. I love how this came out, though!

I'm also entering this card in Send a Smile 4 Kids' "Happy Holidays 4 Kids" challenge.

Ho Ho Ho!

This week's theme challenge at Christmas Card Throwdown is "Christmas Critters." I have had the "Candy Claus" stamp from Stampendous (discontinued) for at least a couple of years, and have never inked it up! I finally decided to pull it out for this challenge.

I cut a panel of Strathmore Vellum Bristol paper to 5-1/2x4-1/4". This image is rather large (about 5x3-1/4"), so I knew I would need the maximum amount of real estate for an A2 card. I stamped the image with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I was glad I used my MISTI stamp positioning tool, since I had to stamp it a few times to get a good impression. I then colored it with my Prismacolor colored pencils. After I finished coloring, I used a black fine-tip pen to add a few more dots to the snow area, as the dots in the stamp kind of stopped short at either end. By extending the area of dots, I just feel it gives a smoother look.

The greeting turned out to be the trickiest part of the whole card. I planned to use a die from the "Delightful Day Conversation Bubbles" set by Taylored Expressions (discontinued), with the "Ho Ho Ho!" greeting from the October 2020 My Monthly Hero kit (discontinued). Unfortunately, the only speech bubble die that came close to being the right size was both a bit too long & in the wrong orientation for my design. I had to think about it for a few minutes, but finally tested to see if I could do partial die cutting to shorten the speech bubble. I just cut a scrap of cardstock, & ran it through my die cutting machine, making sure the die hung out of the plates where I didn't want to cut it. Then I slid the die over, and finished the cut. And it worked like a charm! Plus, I could flip the die cut over to get the bubble in the right direction. When I die cut for real (using Simon Says Stamp's Fog cardstock), I placed another scrap of cardstock between the Fog piece & my cutting plate, so the impressions in the plate wouldn't mar the Fog cardstock. After I die cut the final piece, I stamped my greeting with Versafine Onyx Black ink onto the back of the speech bubble. Finally, I adhered my card panel to a white A2 card base, & glued down my greeting bubble. I really love how this card came out! I will send it to Send a Smile 4 Kids, hopefully to bring a smile to a hospitalized child's face.

I'm also entering this card in Send a Smile 4 Kids' "Holiday/Celebration Cards 4 Kids" challenge.

Happy Birthday #2

The son of a friend of my mom's recently turned 2 years old. My mom asked me if I had any birthday cards that were appropriate for a young child. I didn't, so I created this one.

I stamped the bear & party hat, from Lawn Fawn's "Really High Five" set, onto scraps of Strathmore Vellum Bristol paper. I used my Prismacolor colored pencils to color them in. Because the balloon I would die cut wouldn't have an outline, I decided to fussy-cut the images so they would match better. Thankfully, they weren't too hard to cut out! After I cut them out, I "painted" the edges of each with a black brush-tip marker, to camouflage the white core of the paper & give a cleaner appearance.

I die cut the star balloon from Lawn Fawn's "Party Balloons" set & stamped the "2" from Lawn Fawn's "Quinn's 123s" onto that. I heat embossed the (outline) number, then colored it in with a Versamarker pen & applied more embossing powder. I used my heat gun to melt the powder for a custom balloon. I added shading to the balloon with a blue colored pencil, just so it didn't look so flat.

For the background, I added clouds with the My Favorite Things "Rolling Clouds" stencil & Tumbled Glass Distress ink. They are light, but they are there. I matted that with a rainbow striped paper from the "Party Boy" 6x6" patterned paper pad from Photoplay. I glued my balloon in place & tied a bow from crochet twine around the balloon neck. I "sealed" the knot of the bow with a little liquid glue. I glued the bear on the background, & glued the one end of the twine to his paw, so he can "hold" the balloon string. I also glued the party hat on top of his head.

I heat embossed my greeting - also from "Really High Five" - onto a scrap of blue cardstock. I cut it into 2 labels, & added them to my card at angles for a more playful feel.

I'm entering my card in the following challenges:

The Paper Funday Challenge #45: "Anything Goes" (not playing the twist)

Stay Crafty with a Blog Named Hero September Challenge: "Die-lightful"

Double Trouble Challenge #121: "Punch It Out" (had a can of soda during my crafty session)

Squirrelly Happy Halloween

Challenge #200 at Dies R Us challenge blog is "Anything Goes with any brand of die DRU sells." I have been in full-on Halloween card creating mode, to send several to Send a Smile 4 Kids. I came across Sketch #SC866 at Splitcoaststampers.com, & thought, if you turn it sideways, it looks like a stepped wall. What else to do but put a bunch of Jack-o'-Lanterns - that 2 squirrels have dutifully carved - on the "steps"? I used stamps & dies from Lawn Fawn's "Pick of the Patch" set for this card.

I stamped the pumpkins, squirrels, knife, & scoop onto Strathmore Smooth bristol paper with Versafine Onyx Black ink. I used my Tombow markers to color everything, & add a bit of detail to the pumpkins. Then I stamped the faces on the Jack-o'-Lanterns. Finally I die cut everything with the coordinating dies.

For the wall, I cut the stepped levels into a piece of grey cardstock. I used the "Small Brick Wall" stencil from My Favorite Things to stencil the bricks. I used 2 colors of Distress ink - Rusty Hinge & Fired Brick - to add a bit of "life" to the bricks. I used the other half of the grey cardstock to create the ledges at the tops of the steps. I adhered it to the back of the wall panel so it stuck about 1/8" above the bricks, & then trimmed off the vertical bits so it was just a ledge on each step.

I used My Favorite Things' "Mini Cloud Edges" stencil & Salvaged Patina Distress ink to do the sky on a panel of white cardstock. I stamped the greeting onto a scrap of green cardstock with Lawn Fawn's Jalapeno ink. Then I die cut the top of the grass with a "Grassy Fields" die (discontinued), also from My Favorite Things.

I adhered the wall to my stenciled background, & added the grass, applying ATG adhesive only to the bottom part of the strip. That way I could tuck my pumpkin & one of the squirrels behind the grass. I glued all the images onto my card. I added some shine to the squirrels' noses with a black glaze pen, & that finished this card.

I'm also entering this card in the following challenges:

Send a Smile 4 Kids: "Cute Fall/Halloween Cards 4 Kids"

Through the Craft Room Door: "Anything Goes"

Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge: "Stamp It"

When It Rains

First view of pop-up

The current Lawn Fawnatics challenge is to "Change the Scene." I admittedly went a bit "dramatic" with my card, with a complete change of scene!

Jennifer McGuire's tutorial on "Pop-Up Panel Cards" inspired my design direction. I began by creating the front (pop-up) panel. I stamped the bear from Lawn Fawn's "Here for You Bear" (gift with purchase from Lawn Fawn) onto a square of Strathmore vellum bristol paper. I masked him, & stamped the puddle & splash from the same set. I masked off the sky area with yellow Frog tape, & ink blended the ground with Pumice Stone Distress ink. I was going for kind of a concrete walk look. I masked off the ground with the same tape, & inked the sky with Stormy Sky Distress ink. With the bear mask still in place, I also stamped raindrops, from "Rain or Shine Before 'n Afters," in the sky, with Stormy Sky Distress Oxide ink. I unmasked the bear, & used my Prismacolor pencils to color him in. I also added a bit of blue pencil to the puddle & splash, so they look like they "reflect" the sky.

I die cut a scrap of vellum bristol with one of Lawn Fawn's "Puffy Cloud Borders" dies, inked it with Stormy Sky + Pumice Stone Distress inks, & adhered it to the top of my panel. I stamped my greeting, from "Here for You Bear," on that. I then matted the panel with a 1/16" blue cardstock mat, just to help it stand out a bit better from the background. Finally, I used a black glaze pen to go over the bear's eyes & nose.

Second view of pop-up

I cut a slightly smaller square of vellum bristol for the back panel. I stamped the rainbow image from "Rain or Shine Before 'n Afters" on that, & colored it with my colored pencils. I masked it off, & ink blended Tumbled Glass Distress ink for the background sky. I stamped one of the smiley faces in the set on the sun, & finished the greeting with another stamp from "Here for You Bear." I finished by matting that with yellow cardstock.

For my card front, I used 2 patterned papers from Lawn Fawn. (They were a gift with a purchase, so I don't know the names of the collections they are from.) I cut them to 4x5-1/4", & then trimmed each piece in 2 at an angle for a bit of dynamism. I adhered them to a scrap of cardstock, just so I could work with them as one panel.

I put together the pop-up mechanism as per Jennifer's instructions. I did have to make one small alteration, because the larger square wasn't too much bigger than the smaller. Rather than scoring at 2" & 2-1/2", I had to have my score lines only 1/4" apart. It worked in the end, though! Of course, I had to put everything together to figure out that was a problem, and then pull it apart to redo it. Thank heavens for double-sided tape & UnDu adhesive remover!

Once I had the mechanism working, I matted my patterned paper panel with a piece of Bazzill Gumball cardstock that I'd adhered to a white A2-size card base. I stamped "pull" using the "Interactive Labels" stamp set from My Favorite Things on the tab, rounded the corners with my scissors, & that finished this card! I will send it to Send a Smile 4 Kids, where it will hopefully bring joy to a hospitalized child's spirit. 😊

I'm also entering this card in The Paper Funday Challenge's "Anything Goes" challenge #44 (not playing the twist).