Fuchsia Happy Birthday

 I dug out this Hero Arts stamp set to make a birthday card for a dear friend and found myself making many, many of these flowers today. I stink at getting layering stamps right in less than 100 tries, especially older ones. It took me a long time to get them right. I used a regular and Mini MISTI and made a little assembly line to make multiple images of these flowers in 4 stampings to die cut and tuck away in the storage envelope for future use. I love this plant, and it has special meaning for my birthday friend and me.

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	Hero Arts Fuchsia
Cardstock	110lb. Neenah Solar Crest 80lb. Neenah Solar Crest SU Melon Mambo LCI Cotton Paper for BetterPress
Ink	BetterPress Black DO Dried Marigold, Abandoned Coral PTI Raspberry Fizz, New Leaf, Pine Feather
Embellishments
Other	BetterPress System and A Little Message Sentiments Press Plates & Dies Sizzix Honeycomb 3D EF  Spellbinders Platinum Plus Scor-Pal Score Board Fiskars 12" SureCut Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer MISTI Stamping Tools My Sweet Petunia Precision Glue Press Scor-Pal Score Tape-3/4" Waffle Flower Foam Strips

I am playing at:

Just Us Girls #788 - Word Week

Color Throwdown # 838

sitting here, thinking of you

 

It's time for a new challenge at Time Out. Time Out #295 is a photo inspiration challenge that opens today and runs through August 13. 

You can see the details better with this enlargement of the photo.

Photo credit: Jenny Martin,  Queenscliff Harbour, Victoria, Australia - July 2024

The photo was taken by Time Out Design Team Member, Jenny Martin. I would love to be there, sipping on that lovely coffee drink and nibbling on that pastry! Wouldn't you?

We are generously sponsored by lawn fawn with a $25.00 Store Credit for our Challenge winner as chosen by the Design Team.

Our awesome Guest Designer is Kathy Schweinfurth of Stamps at Play. Check out her fabulous project on the Time Out Challenge Blog. Her take on the photo is absolutely fantastic! Kathy's blog is also chock full of wonderful inspiration. You can check it out HERE. Get ready to be inspired!

When I saw Jenny's photo, the Greetery's Cozy Cup Stamps and Dies immediately came to mind and I knew I would build my card around them. I kept it very simple. I used Altenew's From Land to Sea Embossing Folder to mimic the water and sky in the photo, though I left it white for simplicity. The sentiments in the stamp set are all rounded, but I straightened the one I used by sticking it to my MISTI so I could create the sentiment strip. I am very happy with the way it turned out.

 Please head on over to the Time Out Challenge Blog where you can see what Kathy and the Design Team have cleverly created for your inspiration. Come play with us! I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	The Greetery Cozy Cup stamps and Dies, Cozy  Cup Coaster Dies
Cardstock	110lb. Neenah Solar Crest 80lb. Neenah Solar Crest SU Bordering Blue
Ink	VersaFine Onyx Black Altenew Sand Dunes, Mocha & Espresso PTI Ripe Avocado, Simply Chartreuse & Berry Sorbet Distress Oxide Lost Shadow & Hickory Smoke
Embellishments
Other	Altenew From Land to Sea EF WOW Clear Embossing Powder WOW Dual Speed Heat Tool Spellbinders Platinum Plus Scor-Pal Score Board Fiskars 12" SureCut Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer MISTI Stamping Tool My Sweet Petunia Precision Glue Press Scor-Pal Score Tape-1/4" Waffle Flower Adhesive Foam Strips

I'm also playing at:

Freshly Made Sketches #699

Tic Tac Toe Challenge #276

Top left to bottom right diagonal - friendship, free, embossing

Goodbye, Columbus

 Inside sentiment:

with heartfelt sympathy for the loss of your beloved companion

I chose Torn, Rainbow, and maybe Transport if you are of the belief that all cats go to heaven... 😊

It's time for a new challenge at Time Out. For Time Out #294, We have a new challenge for you that opens today and runs through August 13. This time it is a Pick Two challenge. The idea of this challenge is very simple: we give you 6 word prompts and you pick at least 2 for your project!  To be clear, you can pick more than 2 if you like - you can include all 6 if you really want to challenge yourself but just make sure to pick at least 2! Be sure to tell us in your post which prompt you have chosen.

The words for Challenge #294 are:

Torn, Transport, Star, Stripes, Rainbow, Book

We are generously sponsored by lawn fawn with a $25.00 Store Credit for our Challenge winner as chosen by the Design Team.

Our awesome Guest Designer is Bonnie Klass. Bonnie is an incredibly talented and prolific crafter, and we are so pleased to have her with us. Please treat yourself to a stroll through her blog for a delightful experience. You are sure to be inspired.

I have a dear friend who just lost her beloved cat. I zeroed in on the rainbow (bridge) and went from there. Columbus will surely be missed. He was a sweet and gentle guy. He will be missed.

 Please head on over to the Time Out Challenge Blog where you can see what Bonnie and the Design Team have cleverly created for your inspiration. Come play with us! PLEASE mention the Pick 2 prompts that you used on your project. I can't wait to see what you came up with!

Project Details
Stamps/Dies/Stencils	My Favorite Things Critter Condolences A Colorful Life Designs Heart Hug Stencils Funky Fossil Pawsome Heart
Cardstock	110lb. Neenah Solar Crest 80lb. Neenah Solar Crest SU Basic Gray
Ink	VersaFine Onyx Black DO Inks: Tattered Rose, Tea Die, Lumberjack Plaid, Tumbled Glass, Twisted Citron,   Squeezed Lemonade,Wilted Violet, Spiced Marmalade
Embellishments
Other	American Crafts Stitched Love Spun EF Spellbinders Platinum Plus Scor-Pal Score Board Fiskars 12" SureCut Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer MISTI Stamping Tool My Sweet Petunia Precision Glue Press Scor-Pal Score Tape-1/4" Spellbinders Foam Squares

I am also playing at:

Krafty Chicks Challenge #779 - AG

Can You Handle The Pressure - AG w/a twist of Birthday or Anniversary

No twist on my card

Favorite: Cats or Dogs and why

I grew up with cats and have always loved them. They can be snuggly and independent at the same time.  They are wonderful company.

Stencil Fun July 2025

Home Again

 

It's time for a new challenge at Time Out. For Time Out #293, we are challenged to be inspired by our favorite song in our projects. 

We are generously sponsored by lawn fawn with a $25.00 Store Credit for our Challenge winner as chosen by the Design Team.

Well, I think for many people, it is impossible to pick one favorite song. For me, there is one that stands out in my very long list of favorites because it holds such in incredibly special place in my heart and soul. The song is called Home Again by Batdorf & Rodney, released in 1971. Later in the 70's, I was in a band playing guitar and dulcimer and sharing the lead singing. My bandmates were incredible musicians. We did this song often as a finale. It always filled me with so much joyful emotion when we were performing it. The music & lyrics were so special to me and we sang in tight harmonies. This was surely a favorite part of my life. So this is the song I chose for my favorite. It is in my iTunes and I am known to sing it at the top of my lungs quite often while driving with the windows open. I truly love this song.

 Please head on over to the Time Out Challenge Blog where you can see what the Design Team has cleverly created for your inspiration. Come play with us! I can't wait to see what favorite songs are chosen for the projects in the gallery. PLEASE mention the song you chose in your post, and we'd love to know the story about why you chose it.

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	PTI Larger than Life:Home Die and Mini Stamp Set PTI Mat Stack 4 Dies
Cardstock	110lb. Neenah Solar Crest 80lb. Neenah Solar Crest SU Early Espresso Authentique Lively Collection 6x6 Bundle
Ink	VersaFine Onyx Black Lumberjack Plaid DO Ink
Embellishments
Other	Spellbinders Platinum Plus Scor-Pal Score Board Fiskars 12" SureCut Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer MISTI Stamping Tool My Sweet Petunia Precision Glue Press SU Dimensionals

I'm also playing at:

FMS #695

TTTC274 - Column 1

Love Those Pretty Papers July 2025

Word Power Challenge July 2025

That's It!

It's time for a new challenge at Time Out Challenge #292 opens today and runs through July 16th. It is a "Theme Challenge" where the theme is TRAVEL. This is a wide open one - so many directions you can go it here like your favorite place to travel, the travel destination of your dreams, mode of travel, traveling home... so many options. Use your imagination! Please tell us how you were inspired to create your project.

We are sponsored by Angie Blom Digital Designs with a. $20.00 Store Credit. We are so grateful for Angie's sponsorship. Thank you so much for your support of Time Out.

We are joined by Sherri Schmidt, winner of Time Out #287, as our Guest Designer for this challenge. Check out her wonderful card on the Time Out Challenge Blog where you can link to her Flickr post for the details.

I went with a CAS design inspired by Cathy Zeleski of CZ Designs. There are so many people I would love to send this card to and then book the flight!

  Please head on over to the Time Out Challenge Blog where you can see what Sherri and the rest of the Design Team has created for your inspiration. Come play with us. I can't wait to see your projects! 

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	CZ Design Miss You Missy SSS Miss You Wafer Dies. Pink & Main Sentiment Strip Dies
Cardstock	110lb. Neenah Solar Crest 80lb. Neenah Solar Crest My Mind's Eye 4.5x5 Photo Mats Ellen Hutson 100lb. Ebony Black Smooth Cardstock
Ink	VersaMark PIT New Leaf, Bright Buttercup
Embellishments	Little Things by Lucy's Cards Raindrops
Other	Ranger Embossing Powder White Spellbinders Platinum Plus Scor-Pal Score Board Fiskars 12" SureCut Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer MISTI Stamping Tool My Sweet Petunia Precision Glue Press Spellbinders Foam Squares

I'm alsp playing at:

Word Power - July Challenge

Water You Been Up To?

It's time for a new challenge at Time Out Challenge #291 opens today and runs through July 2nd. It is a "Photo Inspiration Challenge". Use the photo to inspire your project and tell us how you were inspired,

We are sponsored by Frantic Stamper with a. $20.00 to the Frantic Stamper Store. We are so grateful for Fran's sponsorship. Thank you for your support of Time Out. 

It's easy to see how I was inspired by the photo. I took several sea themed images from my stash and colored them with many of the colors in the photo. I placed them around a die cut heart that I placed over a panel of ocean water. I finished it off with a punny sentiment by Julie Ebersole from her "Just Squidding" stamp set for Essentials by Ellen.

  Please head on over to the Time Out Challenge Blog where you can see what Jaydee and the rest of the Design Team has created for your inspiration. Come play with us. I can't wait to see your projects! 

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	SU Sea of Textures Hero Arts Color Layering Seahorse CZ Design Noted Heart Essential By Ellen Just Squidding
Cardstock	110lb. Neenah Solar Crest 80lb. Neenah Solar Crest PTI White Linen Cardstock
Ink	Catherine Pooler - Various Distress Oxide - Salty Ocean Versafine Majestic Blue PTI -Kraft VersaMark
Embellishments
Other	My Favorite Things Pool Water Stencil WOW Clear Embossing Powder WOW Dual Speed Heat Tool Spellbinders Platinum Plus Scor-Pal Score Board Fiskars 12" SureCut Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer MISTI Stamping Tool My Sweet Petunia Precision Glue Press Scor-Pal Score Tape-1/4" Spellbinders Foam Squares

I'm also playing at:

ATSAM #495 - Diecuts and/or Stencils

Cards 4 Guys #374 - Seashells

Double D Challenge - Let's Go To The Beach

Everybody-Art-Challenge #581

No One Stacks Up To You

 

It's time for a new challenge at Time Out Challenge #290

 opens today and runs through June 18th. It is a "Pick 2" challenge. With each of our "Pick 2" challenges, there are 6 different inspiration cues to choose from to create your project. Incorporate 2 of the items in your project and link up to our gallery! You may use more than 2, but you must use at least 2 and you must state in your post which 2 (or more) inspired your project.

We are sponsored by our own Design Team Member, Kate Lesh, who is generously offering Sizzix Thinlets Die Set 664379 Garden Shed by Sophie Guilar as the prize for our Challenge Winner as chosen by the Design Team.

In addition, our Challenge Winner, will also get an invitation to join us as Guest Designer for a future challenge.

We are joined by Jaydee of Stampin! with Jaydee, and winner of Time Out #285 as Guest Designer. Jaydee is a very talented designer, world traveller and a kind and compassionate person who makes wonderful art. Do treat yourself to a stroll through her blog where you are sure to be inspired.

Now for a bit about my card... Did you grow up with these in your kitchen? I surely did. There was the pink casserole dish in which my mother always made her most delicious mac and cheese. The primary color bowls in different shapes that bring her coleslaw and potato salad and so many other wonderful things to mind.

Concord & 9th recently released a stamp and die set called "Kitchen Classics" that pays homage to these wonderful vintage cookware pieces. The minute I saw them, I just had to have them. They are so fun and nostalgic, and they were my choice for this challenge. I picked Repeat and Ribbon. If I were to stretch it, I'd pick Place too, because of the sweet and happy place I went in my mind and heart with this card.  

 Please head on over to the Time Out Challenge Blog where you can see what Jaydee and the rest of the Design Team has created for your inspiration. Come play with us. I can't wait to see your Pick 2 projects!

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	Concord & 9th Kitchen Classics
Cardstock	110 lb. & 80 lb. Neenah Solar Crest SU Old Olive, Shimmery White
Ink	DOX Fossilized Amber, Broken China, Saltwater Taffy Versafine Onyx Black VersaMark
Embellishments	SU Always Artichoke 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon
Other	We R Memory Keepers Layer Guides Ranger Super Fine White EP, WOW Clear EP Spellbinders Platinum Plus Scor-Pal Score Board Fiskars 12" SureCut Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer MISTI Stamping Tool My Sweet Petunia Precision Glue Press Spellbinders Foam Squares

I'm also playing at:

Just Us Girls #778 - Die Week - Layers

As You Like It Challenge - Favorite Type Of Embossing and Why

All of the trim on the cookware and the sentiment are heat embossed. I love heat embossing because it makes the stamped images pop in a beautiful way. It's magical to see the images come alive as the embossing powder melts. This technique got me started with stamping MANY years ago!

Cut It Up #331 - Anything Goes

You're In My Heart

 

It's time for a new challenge at Time Out. Challenge #289 opens today and runs through Wednesday, June 4th. This time it is an "Inspired By Challenge" with Your Favorite Winged Thing as our inspiration. Many living things and inanimate objects have wings. Some examples include birds, bats, insects and even some types of fish like flying fish.  Additionally, airplanes and other aircraft also have wings.  So use your imagination and come play with us!

We are joined by Kathy A as our wonderful Guest Designer. You can see her wonderful card on the Time Out Challenge Blog, and you can get all the details on Kathy's blog.

Our wonderful sponsor is Lawn Fawn, generously offering a $25.00 Store Credit as a prize for our Challenge Winner as chosen by our Design Team. In addition to the prize, our winner will also receive an invitation to join us as Guest Designer for a future challenge.

I used a butterfly from a stamp set by Pinkfresh Studio that was created by Lea Lawson to benefit Layton’s Legacy, a card drive and fundraiser for NICU parents. This is a cause that is so very close to my heart, so I chose this winged thing for my card. I used a smooshed panel from my snippet box, die cut it with a Deckled Rectangle and overlayed the vellum and white embossed butterfly on top of it.  There are many great sentiments of sympathy in this set. It will be a perfect card for anyone who has experienced a loss of any kind or someone going through a difficult time. 

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	Pinkfresh Studio Forever In Our Hearts Spellbinders Deckled Rectangles LG
Cardstock	110lb. Neenah Solar Crest Essentials By Ellen White Linen Cardstock Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Cardstock Bazzill 40 lb Vellum
Ink	Versafine Onyx Black, Versamark, DO Inks, Golden Opal Twinkling H2O
Embellishments
Other	Spellbinders Platinum Plus Scor-Pal Score Board Fiskars 12" SureCut Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer MISTI Stamping Tool My Sweet Petunia Precision Glue Press Scor-Pal Score Tape-.75" White Fun Foam Brutus Monroe Alabaster Embossing Powder WOW Dual Speed Heat Tool

Please head on over to the Time Out Challenge Blog where you can see what Kathy A and the Design Team have created for your inspiration. I can't wait to see how you interpret our theme! Please remember that we allow linking to a total of 5 challenges, including ours. See you in the gallery!

I'm also playing at:

Paper Players #738 - CAS

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge

Try It On Tuesday Challenge - Keep It Simple

Triple B Challenge - May 2025

To The Moon And Back

It's time for a new challenge at Time Out Challenge #288 opens today and runs through Wednesday, May 21st. This time it is a "Theme Challenge" in celebration of Star Wars Day on May 4th. Think the movie series, celestial, galaxy, sky, northern lights, etc.

 

We are generously sponsored by Top Flight Stamps with a $25.00 store credit as the prize for our challenge winner chosen by the Design Team. Thank you, Top Flight Stamps, for your continued support of Time Out. We appreciate you so much!

We are joined by Jaydee of Stampin! with Jaydee, and winner of Time Out #283 as Guest Designer. Jaydee is a very talented designer and a delightful person. Do visit her BLOG and leave her some love. You will surely be inspired by her work! Check out Jaydee's wonderful card on the Time Out Challenge Blog.

While pondering what I was going to create for this challenge, my mind went to galaxy, and while looking for some inspiration, I came across a video by Jennifer McGuire in which she uses Ranger Distress Resist Spray to create a couple of galaxy cards. Something somewhere along the line inspired me to buy the product, and I promptly put it in a cabinet in my craft space, and forgot about it. I was intrigued and decided to try it out, and this card happened. It's a hot mess, but I really like the way it turned out. I was a little nervous to hear that you have to be very careful not to get the spray anywhere you don't want it, and I can now see why. I took Jen's advice and sprayed it into a deep box... The whole process was fun was fun.

 Please head on over to the Time Out Challenge Blog where you can see what Jaydee and the Design Team have created for your inspiration. Come play with us! I can't wait to see how you interpret our theme!  Please remember that we allow linking to a total of 5 challenges, including ours. See you in the gallery!

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	Paper Smooches Space Cadet Altenew To The Moon Mama Elephant Studded Stars
Cardstock	110lb. Neenah Solar Crest 80lb. Neenah Solar Crest Craft Perfect Glossy Black Mirror Cardstock
Ink	Memento Tuxedo Black VersaFine Onyx Black Altenew Warm Gray Ink Cubes, Distress Inks: Wild Honey, Black Soot, Chipped Sapphire, Blueprint Sketch, Seedless Preserves, Peacock Feathers
Embellishments
Other	Ranger Distress Resist Spray Spellbinders Platinum Plus Scor-Pal Score Board Fiskars 12" SureCut Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer MISTI Stamping Tool My Sweet Petunia Precision Glue Press Spellbinders Adhesive Foam Squares

I'm also playing at:

NBUS #74

Mama Elephant Studded Stars

A Cut Above Challenge

May, AG With. Die Cut