Happy Birthday Tommy!

I made this card for a sweet 6 year old in our family whose birthday is tomorrow. He loves all things art, so we got him a bunch of grown up art supplies chosen with the help of my art teacher friend who I love. She is the coolest Art Girl in the world! I was inspired by Freshly Made Sketches #734, and also by a post on Instagram about Paper Smooches former owner Kim (Hughes) Mraz collaborating with Honey Bee Stamps. Who knew? It's so wonderful to see her back in the card making world. So I went through my Paper Smooches stash and came up with this card for this special little ginger who is dear to my heart. The sentiment is a little heady for a 6 year old, but his parents save these handmade things and hopefully he will revisit it some day with a smile.

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	Paper Smooches Birthday Sampler, I Heart Art,  and Spreading Sunshine Stamp Sets, Easel Die. Spellbinders Torn Paper Edges Die.
Cardstock	110lb. Neenah Solar Crest 80lb. Neenah Solar Crest Tim Holtz Watercolor Cardstock STAMPlorations Mixed Media Card Fronts
Ink	VersaFine Onyx Black Various PTI Inks Diane Davenport Mermaid Markers
Embellishments
Other	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 SSS Foam Squares

I'm also playing at:

Seize The Birthday #325 - AG

Tic Tac Toe Challenge #291

Bottom Row

Creative Artiste Challenge #126

Your Path

Photo Credit - Deepti Agarwal - Durres Albania 6/30/2025

There 's a new challenge at Time Out. This time around, we have a photo challenge with a photo taken by our own Design Team Member Deepti Agarwal. 

Our wonderful sponsor, is DoodlebugsWA, is generously offering a $25.00 store credit as a prize for our Challenge Winner, who will also get an invitation to join us as Guest Designer for a future challenge.

We are joined by Fran Wing of FranmadeInOregon, and winner of Time Out #307 as Guest Designer. 

Fran is a wonderful designer and a frequent player at Time Out. Do visit her BLOG and leave her some love. You will surely be inspired by her work!

Initially I was a little stumped as to what I would do with this photo as inspiration. I then got the idea to use  one of the card fronts from STAMPlorations Boho Landscapes A2 Card Fronts as the star of my project. I thought the colors were so congruous with the photo along with the setting sun. The sentiment is from STAMPlorations Beautiful Courage stamp set. I thought it went incredibly well with the image. I used a die from SSS Artful Pallete die set to cut the sentiment out. I love the way this turned out.

Please head on over the the Time Out Challenge Blog and join us in the gallery. Create something inspired by Deepti's beautiful photo. The design team has come up with some brilliant interpretations of the photo. I can't wait to see where your imagination takes you!

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	STAMPlorations Beautiful Courage Stamp Set SSS Artful Palette Dies
Cardstock	STAMPlorations Boho Landscapes A2 Card Fronts PTI Ocean Tides SSS Rainbow Splash Buttercream   Gina K Black Onyx Card
Ink	VersaFine Onyx Black
Embellishments
Other	WOW Clear Embossing Powder WOW Dual Speed Heat Tool We R Memory Keepers Layer Guides Spellbinders Platinum Plus Scor-Pal Score Board Fiskars 12" SureCut Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer MISTI Stamping Tool My Sweet Petunia Precision Glue Press SSS Foam Squares

I'm also playing at:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Love Those Pretty Papers

Hope Is Never Lost

 There 's a new challenge at Time Out starting today. It's a Pick 2 challenge where you must pick at least 2 of the cues from the list and incorporate them into your project. You may pick more than 2 but you must pick at least 2. Our cues this time are Pastel, Earth, Rain, Hope, Tree & Bloom.

We are generously sponsored by STAMPlorations with an offer of a $25 store credit as a prize for our Challenge Winner. In addition, the winner will receive an invitation to join us as a Guest Designer for a future challenge.

We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Shery Russ back as our wonderful sponsor. After facing a life-changing health ordeal, Shery has reopened her business following nearly four years away. Her strength and creativity continue to inspire us all.

We encourage you to read Shery’s story and explore the STAMPlorations store, where you’ll find a fantastic range of both classic and new products. Monthly challenges started in January and right now, Shery is running a Spring Cleaning Sale—definitely worth checking out for some amazing deals!

Her new lines of paper goods are especially impressive, and you can see some of them and other STAMPloration products featured in our Design Team projects below.

We are joined by Karen Walker of Random Reflections, and winner of Time Out #306 as Guest Designer. Karen is such a talented designer with a great eye for design and color. Treat your self to a stroll through her BLOG. You are sure to be very inspired!

For my card I used a combination of goergeous collage and ATC papers provided by STAMPlorations papers to create this wonderful collage design. It includes Simon Says Stamp Artful Palette Stencils and dies and Tim Holtz Noteworthy Stamps. 

Please head on over to the the Time Out Challenge Blog and join us in the gallery. Pick at least 2 of our queues for your project! I can't wait to see where your imagination takes you!

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	Simon Says Stamp Artful Palette Dies MFT Blueprints 27 Dies Tim Holtz Noteworthy Stamps
Cardstock	PTI Ocean Tides Cardstock Stamplorations Botanical Beats Collage Paper &    Watercolor ATC
Ink	VersaFine Onyx Black
Embellishments
Other	Simon Says Stamp Pawsitively Perfect Gold    Splatter Medium WOW Clear Embossing Powder WOW Dual Speed Heat Tool Simon Says Stamp Artful Palette Stencils Spellbinders Platinum Plus Scor-Pal Score Board Fiskars 12" SureCut Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer MISTI Stamping Tool My Sweet Petunia Precision Glue Press

I'm also pllaying at:

Tic Tac Toe Challenge #290

Middle Horiontal Row - Pastel/Color(s), Free, Stencil

Triple B Challenge

Blooms & Butterflies

Just Us Girls #819

Mood Board Week - Colors in top middle panel

Love Those Pretty Papers April 2026 Challenge

Optional - Spring Flowers

Treat For My Sweet

 

There 's a new challenge at Time Out starting today with a theme of Sweet Treats. The possibilities are endless here from baked goods to coffee drinks, to candies to baby kisses... use your imagination and come play with us!

We are generously sponsored by Lawn Fawn with a $25.00 store credit for our winner. Thank you, dear Lawn Fawn, for your continued support of Time Out Challenges!

We are joined by Dawn Turley of Dawn's World as Guest Designer, and winner of Challenge #305. Check out her FABULOUS card on the Time Out Challenge Blog where you can link to Dawn's blog and get all the details of her creation. 

For my card, I broke out my NBUS Spellbinders Perfect Pie sets and went to town with a Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie, which is Joe's favorite. This will be squirreled away for Valentine's Day next year. It's absolutely perfect. He is a dessert lover, and this is his favorite.

Please head on over the the Time Out Challenge Blog and join us in the gallery. Create something with a Sweet Treat theme for your project! I can't wait to see where your imagination takes you!

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	Spellbinders Perfect Pie Sentiments, Perfect Pies, Serve A Slice, Fluted Classic Circles Dies
Cardstock	110lb. & 80lb. Neenah Solar Crest Authentique Lively 6x6 Paper Pad SU Brushed Silver
Ink	VersaFine Onyx Black Various DO Inks
Embellishments
Other	Clear Wink Of Stella (sparkle on chocolate ganache) 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-3/4" SSS Thin Foam Squares

I'm playing at:

NBUS Challenge #85

Little Red Wagon #852 - "M" is for Masculine

Paper Players #779 - Leftmost Column

(There is sparkle on the "chocolate ganache")

Easter Shaker

It's time for a new challenge at Time Out. Challenge #309 is all about using a clear element(s) on your project. The challenge runs from March 19th to April 1st. 

Think sequins, enamel dots, gemstones, stickers, and nylon thread,  to name a few. Also, clear elements like acetate sheets or window plastic can be used on handmade cards to create shaker windows, floating elements, interactive overlays, or full transparent card bases. They add dimension and a modern feel, perfect for highlighting stamped, embossed, or die-cut designs behind a glossy surface. YouTube has many videos on how to use acetate on cards. Here's a wonderful one by Jennifer McGuire in case you are interested: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/52424783146996336/

 Our wonderful sponsor, UNIKO, is generously offering a $25.00 store credit as a prize for our Challenge Winner, who will also get an invitation to join us as Guest Designer for a future challenge.

We are joined by Verena Shapiro of Simple Stamper on Instagram, and winner of Time Out #304 as Guest Designer. Verena is a frequent player at Time Out. She has a wonderful sense of color and design and we are so pleased to have her with us as Guest Designer again. 

For my card, I used much NBUS including my Gina K Fuse foiling system. I have had a pack of Waffle Flower A2 Shaker Card Fronts for a very long time, lots of Easter sequins, transfer foil... these things were calling me as I went to make this card. TWICE. I was not happy with the first iteration, and I am not really sure how I feel about this one, Here it is nonetheless. The background is foiled along with the sentiment. I wanted to glue the frame down, which resulted in many of the shaker bits sticking. I wanted to scream a little, but it is cute, and the littles in the family will like it!

Please head on over the the Time Out Challenge Blog and join us in the gallery. Create using a clear element on your project! I can't wait to see where your imagination takes you!

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	Happy Easter Die-unknown origin Pinkfresh Studio Stitched Scallop Rectangles
Cardstock	110lb. Neenah Solar Crest SU Melon Mambo Gina K Easter Delight Poly-Glaze Foiling Sheets
Ink
Embellishments	Various Easter themed sequins-unknown origin
Other	Gina K Fuse Foiling System Thermoweb Deco Foil Waffle Flower A2 Infinity Shaker Cover Spellbinders Platinum Plus Scor-Pal Score Board Fiskars 12" SureCut Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer Scor-Tape 1/4"

I'm also playing at:

NBUS #84

Waffle Flower A2 Infinity Shaker Cover, Gina K Easter Delight Poly-Glaze Foiling Sheets

Wish I Was There

 

A new challenge starts today at Time Out! We are celebrating our 12th birthday! You can read all about it HERE on the Time Out Challenge Blog. 

In recent years, we started a tradition of celebrating our birthday at Time Out by with a "CASE The Designer" challenge. We choose a fabulous designer from our crafting community to be our Muse. That person designs a card in celebration of our birthday. This year, the lovely and very talented Stef Perry is our Muse. The challenge is to create a card inspired by her gorgeous card which you can link to on her blog HERE. Your card can be for any occasion, not necessarily a birthday card. It just has to be inspired by Stef's card. Please explain in your post how you were inspired by her project.

Waffle Flower Crafts is our generous sponsor offering a $25.00 store credit as a prize for our Challenge Winner, who will also get an invitation to join us as Guest Designer for a future challenge.

We are joined by Verena Shapiro of Simple Stamper on Instagram, and winner of Time Out #303 as Guest Designer. Verena is a frequent player at Time Out. She has a wonderful sense of color and design and we are so pleased to have her with us as Guest Designer again. 

For my card, I used Altenew Tranquility Rose Stamps, Stencils & Dies with the Royal Brocade EF in the background influenced by Stef's floral design with a wonderful embossed background. Happy Birthday Time Out! I joined the Design Team in October of 2016 and I am so happy to celebrate our 12th birthday.

Please head on over the the Time Out Challenge Blog and join us in the gallery for our Birthday Celebration. Create something inspired by Stef's card to celebrate with us! We can't wait to see what you come up with to celebrate with us!

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	Altenew Tranquility Rose Stamps, Dies & Stencils Pink & Main Sentiment Strip Dies
Cardstock	110lb. Neenah Solar Crest 80lb. Neenah Solar Crest
Ink	VersaMark Altenew Red Cosmos & Green Valley Dye Inks
Embellishments
Other	Gold EP - unknown brand WOW Dual Speed Heat Tool SSS Medium Gold Splatter CZ Design Reverse Birthday Sentiment Strips Altenew Royal Brocade 3D 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" Waffle Flower 1/16" Foam Strips

I'm also playing at:

Kraft Chicks Challenge #810 - Birthday

Happy Birthday, Friend

Time Out Challenge #307 opens today and runs through March 4th. It is a special Photo Challenge. We are generously sponsored by Kim Heggins of Running Stitch Designs, and a former Time Out DT Member. 

Running Stitch Designs

 

For the past several years, Kim has donated one of her marvelous handmade bags for this special yearly challenge as both the inspiration AND the prize.  

This enlargement of the inspiration photo provides more detail.

Our Challenge Winner, as chosen by our Design Team, will receive Kim's Handmade Bag as a prize, and will also get an invitation to join us as Guest Designer for a future challenge.

We are joined by the Marvelous Michele Ferguson of I Card Everyone, and winner of Time Out #302 as Guest Designer.  Michele is an incredibly talented designer with a keen eye for design and color, and a great sense of humor.  Be forewarned that a stroll through Michele's BLOG will may cause a little swooning and will surely leave you inspired.

When I was thinking about my design for this challenge, I wanted to use 2 designer papers - one striped and one other with some kind of dots in it. I chose papers from an Authentique  6x6 paper pad from 2013 with a Bee theme. I love the way the 2 papers I chose go together. I went with vanilla cardstock for the card base. I used my newly acquired Plaque Slides Love and Friendship Stamps & Dies from SSS for a simple sentiment. My project need a little zhuzh, so I used another new SSS die to add interest, some twine for the label, and a few Pinkfresh Matte Silver Metallic Pearls.

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	SSS Plaque Slides Love & Friendship SSS Winsome Branch Die
Cardstock	Gina K Pure Luxury Pure Ivory  Card stock Authentique Be(you)tiful 6x6 Paper Pad
Ink	VersaMark VersaFine Onyx Black
Embellishments	Pinkfresh Matte Silver Metallic Pearls
Other	WOW Clear EP 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 Spellbinders Foam Squares

I'm playing at:

Challenge #846 - Just the Way You Are

A Valentine Hug for Jon

 

This is my Valentine for my youngest son (by 8 minutes). I made cocktail Valentines for most of my family this year... this is due to those awesome Spellbinders Happy Hour Dies! I have been having so much fun with them. Jon loves an Old Fashioned. I think this is a funny drink for the young these days - that drink has been around forever and is suddenly in revival mode. Google tells me that popular lore credits its creation to a bartender at the Pendennis Club in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1881, inspired by distiller James E. Pepper. Jon will love this.

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	Spellbinders Love on the Rocks Dies
Cardstock	110lb. Neenah Solar Crest 80lb. Neenah Solar Crest SU Real Red SU Brushed Silver Various scraps
Ink	Wild Hone DO Ink VersaMark
Embellishments
Other	Pink & Main Sentiment Strip Dies Brutus Monroe Alabaster Ultra Fine EP Simon Says Stamp Falling Hearts EF 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 Waffle Flower Foam Strips

I'm playing at: 

Make My Mondady - Use 2 Dies

The Cupcake Challenge #634

Just Us Girls #810 - Valentine

Joe's Valentine

 

And my last Valentine of the year - for my husband, Joe. More fun with Spellbinders Love On The Rocks! We love to go to Happy Hour at this wonderful bar/restaurant by the sea called Black Eyed Susan's. One of their Happy Hour special cocktails is called Flora & Fauna made with cucumber juice and garnished with Rosemary served in a glass much like this one. The strawberry garnish on mine is wrong, but I did not have a die for an orange, so it had to do.Very refreshing! He will love this card.

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	Spellbinders Love On The Rocks Dies BetterPress Cheers Sentiments Press Plate & Dies Spellbinders Christmas Cocktails Dies
Cardstock	110lb. Neenah Solar Crest 80lb. Neenah Solar Crest SU Real Red and Brushed Silver Various scraps
Ink	VersaFine Onyx Black Twisted Citron, Lost Shadow and Pumice Stone DO Inks
Embellishments
Other	BetterPress System SSS Falling Hearts EF 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 We R Memory Keepers Layer Guides

I'm playing at:

Make My Monday #271 - Use 2 Dies

Cupcake Inspiration Challenge #634

Just Us Girls #810 - Valentine

First Cup Challenges- February

Pearly Sparkles Challenge #116 - Hearts

Luv You So Much

 

I made lots of Valentines this year, and am pleased to have gotten them in the mail. I paid more to ship some chocolates than I paid for the chocolates themselves, but I sure did love the contents of those packages, especially the cards. The two cards above are completely inspired by THESE cards made by laurafadora. I used a different background, ink, edges and papers, but I used Laura's wonderful design for my cards. This was a NBUS stamp & die set for me, so I was glad to give it some love.

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	SSS Circle Sentiments Stamp & Die Set Avery Elle Wonky Stitches Dies
Cardstock	110lb. Neenah Solar Crest 80lb. Neenah Solar Crest SU Pretty In Pink, Cameo Coral, Melon Mambo, Regal Rose, Pink Passion, Groovy Guava
Ink	VersaFine Onyx Black VersaMark PTI Vintage Cream
Embellishments
Other	WOW Clear Embossing Powder WOW Dual Speed Heat Tool AALL & Create Stencil #134 Spellbinders Platinum Plus Scor-Pal Score Board Fiskars 12" SureCut Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer MISTI Stamping Tool My Sweet Petunia Precision Glue Press Spellbinder Foam Squares

I'm playing at:

NBUS #83

Die Cut Divas February 2026 - Red and/or Pink

Tic Tac Toe #286

Top Row - Hearts, Die Cutting, Red/Pink

Cupcake Inspiration Challenge #634