Poppystamps December Challenge - Anything But A Card

December has arrived, and I am thrilled to be guest designing for Poppystamps Monthly Challenge. The theme for December is "Anything But A Card". 

This one really took me out of my comfort zone, which I love. I started thinking about seasonal traditions as I was growing up. My mother had a magic about her that just made everything so special in a warm, wonderful and deeply loving way. She was creative in all things and she was a talented cook.  All holiday dinners were hosted by my family of 6, and our regulr guests for many years were My Aunt Gina and Uncle Pat. Oh how I loved them and miss them still. My sisters and I always had specific jobs in preparation of a feast like polishing the silverware, making the cornucopia, setting the table, making place cards... We certainly didn't need them, but they were always made. That was my job (much preferred to the silverware polishing), and to this day, I always make place cards for holiday dinners. So I took it a little further and decided to make little treat bags for each place at our Christmas table, and my project for this challenge was born.

I found directions on YouTube for making these adorable little bags from a 6x6 sheet of paper. Easy peasy. I used the gorgeous Memory Box Poinsettia Garland 6x6 Paper for the bags and some of the "clothing items" for snowman, bear and gnome. I dressed them all up in patterned paper and Copic colored "outfits" and placed them on Spellbinders Nestabilities die cut white ovals framed in gold. I put candies in the treat bags, then closed the up with SU ribbon. I popped the ovals up using foam tape on the outer edges of the ovals. Instead of putting names on the bags, I stamped and die cut various sentiments from Poppystamps Holiday Banners stamps and dies, popping them up with foam tape.

Please head on over to the Poppystamps Blog for all of the challenge details and to see what the incredibly talented Design Team has created for your inspiration! Come join us in the gallery. A winner will be chosen at random to win a $20 Gift Certificate to spend in the store!

Huge thanks to Lisa Elton for selecting me to guest design for this challenge, and to Jeanne Jachna for having me. What a wonderfully special way for me to start December.

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	Poppystamps Holiday Banners Stamps & Dies,  Nordic Dancing Gnome, Nordic Happy  Snowman, Nordic Bundled Bear
Cardstock	Memory Box Poinsettia Garland 6x6 Paper 80# Neenah Solar Crest Simon Says Stamp Matte Gold Cardstock Various SU Colored Cardstock Scraps
Ink	Copic Markers
Embellishments	Various SU 3/8" Doublestitched Ribbon (retired)
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-1/4" 3M foam tape

AAA Cards #276 Guest Designer

I am thrilled to be here today as Guest Designer at AAA Cards. This challenge was my very first Design Team gig back in 2015, and the start of a wonderful run of design teams for me over the course of time. It was here that I really developed an understanding of CAS which was not easy to grasp at the time because I started my "stamping career" with lots of layers. I grew to love the genre and to design for other CAS challenges including Less Is More.

For my card, I stamped this gorgeous leaf directly on the card base and added 3 sequins as a small embellishment in keeping with the sketch. I embossed the stamped image with clear embossing powder then colored it with DO Inks. I then used the mask that comes with the stamp and sprayed the aperture with clear shimmer spray to bring out the colors and shine. I love the way it turned out.

Thanks to the AAA team for having me as Guest Designer for this challenge. It was fun to be able to design for this challenge once again.

Please head over to the AAA Cards Challenge and see what the Design Team has created for your inspiration, then join us in the gallery. I can't wait to see how the sketch inspires you. Happy crafting!

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	Stampendous Cling Penpattern Leaves Spellbinders Fall Thoughtfulness
Cardstock	110lb. Neenah Solar Crest 80lb. Neenah Solar Crest
Ink	Memento Tuxedo Black Copic markers
Embellishments	Little Things by Lucy's Cards - Fallen Leaves
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-1" 3M foam tape

I'm also playing at:

Day of the Month Card Club #68 - National Tic Tac Day

Top left to bottom right diagonal - die, fall colors, leaf

Spooky

I am super excited to be here as Guest Designer at Color Hues where the colors for the first challenge of the month of October are purple and orange. To play, you may use any gradient tone of the two challenge colors. Neutrals (white, black, grey, kraft, brown, cream, gold, and silver) are welcome. There are so many directions in which to go with these gorgeous colors at this time of year. Where does your imagination take you?

After lots of consideration, I went with a Halloween theme for my creation. There are lots of cute little goblins in my world at present, and because of that, I am in Halloween mode. This one will go to my sweet new pen pal, Olivia. I just love the way this one turned out and I know she will love it to pieces. 

Please head over to the Color Hues Challenge Blog to see the projects that the wonderful Deign Team has come up with to inspire and ignite your imaginations. The challenge is open until  October 14th at 9:00 AM EST, Come play with us! I can't wait to see your creation in the gallery!

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	Pretty Pink Posh Ghost Friends Essentials By Ellen Halloween Magic CZ Design Spooky Wafer Die
Cardstock	110lb. Neenah Solar Crest 80lb. Neenah Solar Crest American Crafts 6x6 Glitter Paper Pad
Ink	Memento Tuxedo Black Copic markers
Embellishments	Little Things by Lucy's Cards - Lucky Dip Mix Lawn Fawn Spooky Hemp Cord
Other	Cuttlebug Spider Web Embossing Folder Spellbinders Platinum Plus Various blending brushes Scor-Pal Score Board Fiskars 12" SureCut Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer MISTI Stamping Tool My Sweet Petunia Precision Glue Press Scor-Pal Score Tape-1/2" White Fun Foam

I'm also playing at:

Sunday Stamps Challenge #SSC345 Get Spooky

Hello Fall!

 

 I had the good fortune of being chosen as the winner of the Day Of The Month Card Club July Challenge. With that win came an opportunity to join the Design Team as Guest Designer for a future challenge.

 I am excited to be posting here as Guest Designer for the Day Of The Month Card Club Challenge #67 where the theme is "Autumn Stroll Day" - Anything Goes with a theme of Autumn - my favorite season. I broke out my NBUS (never before used schtuff) Fall Bounty Dies. I have had this wonderful Honey Bee die set since last year and had not used yet. This was the perfect opportunity.

I ran across this video on YouTube Hot Foiling With Dies With Channin who used these dies in her video. When I first die cut and colored them with Distress Oxide Inks, the beautiful detail was lost. When I hot foiled with them using the Glimmer System, the detail shone beautifully. The photo above does not do it justice, but IRL these gourds and leaves look marvelous.

Big thanks to the DOTMCC Design Team for choosing my card and to give me the opportunity to Design with them for this challenge.

Please head over to the Day Of The Month Card Club Challenge Blog to see the wonderful inspiration projects from the Design Team.  Come play with us! We can't wait to see your Autumn themed projects in the gallery.

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	Photoplay I Love Fall Stamp Set Honey Bee Fall Bounty Dies My Favorite Things Blue Prints 33 Die-namics
Cardstock	110lb. Neenah Solar Crest 80lb. Neenah Solar Crest SU Garden Green & Early Espresso Gina K Pure Luxury heavy base pure ivory
Ink	DO Inks: Scorched Timber, Peeled Paint, Shabby Shutters,Crackling Campfire, Spiced Marmalade, Wild Honey, Mustard Seed, Fossilized Amber,, Scattered Straw, Fired Brick, Rustic Wilderness, Crushed Olive VersaMark
Embellishments
Other	Brutus Monroe Alabaster Ultra Fine Embossing      Powder Simon Says Stamp Forest Floor Embossing      Folder Spellbinders Glimmer Hot Foil System Spellbinders Polished Brass Glimmer Hot Foil 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-14" 3M foam tape WOW Dual Heat Tool

I am also playing at:

NBUS #66 - September

Honey Bee Fall Bounty Dies

Allsorts #797 - Autumn Colors or Anything Goes

The Sisterhood Of Snarky Stampers #253 - A if for Autumn

Inspiration Station #65

Inspired by the season of Autumn and Autumn colors

Happy Red, White and Purple BD

Hello! Seize The Birthday Challenge #256 starts today.  It is all birthday all the time, with an optional twist. This time, the twist is to use red, white an one other color. I'm so pleased and proud to be the Surprise Party Guest for this final challenge of my Party Guest tenure. I have so enjoyed being a part of this celebratory fun for January and February!! Thank you, dear STB Design Team, for having me!!!

So my reds look orange and those reds were intended to more of an ombre effect, but that is hard to see in the photo. I used 3 DO inks in red hues that look orange. My additional color is purple, but looks black in the photograph. Oy! It looks much better in real life, but I am going for it. In any case, I like the way it turned out, just not the photo so much!

Please head over to the Seize The Birthday Challenge Blog and see what the Design Team has created for your inspiration. Come play with us and have fun building up your birthday card stash!

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	SSS CZ Design Happy Birthday Word & Shadow die set Waffle Flower Stitched Flower Panel
Cardstock	110 lb. Neenah Solar Crest 80 lb. Neenah Solar Crest Bazill 40 lb. Vellum
Ink	Candied Apple, Crackled Campfire and Lumberjack Plaid DO Inks
Embellishments	Recollections Rhinestone Stickers
Other	Spellbinders Platinum Plus Die Cutting & Embossing Machine Scor-Pal Score Board Fiskars 12" SureCut Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer Bearly Art Precision Glue Scor-Pal Score Tape-1/8" Honey Bee Reverse Tweezers

I'm also playing at:

Krafty Chicks #652 - All Occasions

Stargazer Happy Birthday

Hello! Seize The Birthday Challenge #255 starts today.  It is all birthday all the time, with an optional twist. This time, the twist is to use your initials.I m so pleased and proud to be the Surprize Party Guest for this and the next challenge. I love being   a part of this celebratory fun!!

My initials are SL. I do not have a middle initial. When contemplating what I would use for this twist, I ran across Altenew's Stargazer Lily Build-A-Flower Stamp Set, and that was it. S(Stargazer) and L(Lily). Perfect! 

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	Altenew Build-A-Flower: Stargazer Layering Stamp & Die Set Pinkfresh Stitched Scalloped Rectangles
Cardstock	80lb. Neenah Solar Crest PTI Sheer BasicsVellum Pattern Pack Neenah Desert Storm
Ink	VersaFine Onyx Black Various Altenew Inks
Embellishments
Other	CZ Design Sentiment Strips Reverse Birthday Spellbinders Platinum Plus Die Cutting & Embossing Machine Scor-Pal Score Board Fiskars 12" SureCut Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer MISTI Stamping Tool Bearly Art Precision Glue Scor-Pal Score Tape-1" SSS 3D Foam Squares

Please head over to the Seize The Birthday Challenge Blog and see what the Design Team has created for your inspiration. Come play with us and have fun building up your birthday card stash!

I'm also playing at:

SSS Wednesday Challenge - Fun With Dies

HB2U

                             

Hello! Seize The Birthday Challenge #254 starts today.  It is all birthday all the time, with an optional twist. This time, the twist is candles.

I am so happy to be back as Surprise Party Guest for another great challenge!

For this one, I chose to make a mini slimline card featuring the Spellbinders Birthday Candle Background Glimmer Hot Foil Plate and Glimmer Rainbow Confetti Hot Foil. I LOVE the way it came out, but I do not love how difficult it is to photograph this awesome effect and get it right. No matter what I did with the card standing up, I could not get the color to come through. So I took some pictures of the card as I turned it in the light, and you can at least see the colorful foiled effect in the closeup photos. It really looks fabulous IRL.

Please head over to the Seize The Birthday Challenge Blog and see what the Design Team has created for your inspiration. Come play with us and have fun building up your birthday card stash!

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	CZ Design Simple Sentiments 2 Pink & Main Sentiment Strip Dies Pinkfresh Studio Essentials-Mini Slimline Essentials Bundle Die Set Cardstock 110lb. Neenah Solar Crest Neenah Desert Storm 80 lb. Cover Ink VersaMark
Embellishments
Other	Spellbinders Glimmer Hot Foil System Spellbinders Birthday Candle Background Glimmer Hot Foil Plate Spellbinders Glimmer Hot Foil Roll-Rainbow Confetti Fiskars 12" SureCut Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer Scor-Pal Measuring & Scoring Board 12"X12 Scor-Pal Score tape 1" Spellbinders Platinum Plus Die Cutting & Embossing Machine MISTI Stamping Tool Bearly Art Precision Glue White Sticky Foam Sheets

I'm also playing at:

Krafty Chicks Challenge #648 - All Occasions

AAA Birthday #45 - Anything Birthday Goes

So Glad You Were Born

 

I am super excited to be here today and also for the next three challenges as the Surprise Party Guest at Seize the Birthday! I am so pleased and honored to have been invited!!! Today's Challenge #253 is Anything Goes Birthday as usual with the optional topping of "Winged Things". You can choose to incorporate the topping or not, your card just has to have a birthday theme. I chose to use the topping for my card.

I so love the Hero Arts Dragonfly Fancy Die. I love the size of it and the detail in it, so I made it the  winged star of my creation. I created a panel of strips in shades of purple, including a couple cut from purple glitter card stock. I added a white heat embossed sentiment strip and my card was complete.

Please head on over to the Seize The Birthday Challenge Blog and see what the Design Team and Surprise Party Guest Elizabeth Stewart of Paper Sweetness (Overall winner to Challenge #252) have created for your inspiration. Come play with us and build up the birthday card stash!

I'm also playing at:

CAS On Friday #248 - Insects

AAA Birthday - Anything Goes

Double D Happy Birthday Challenge 

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	Hero Arts Dragonfly Fancy Die SSS CZ Design Simple Sentiments 02
Cardstock	110lb. Neenah Solar Crest Various strips of solid purple card stock
Ink	VersaMark
Embellishments
Other	Fiskars 12" SureCut Deluxe Paper Trimmer ScorPal Score Board Spellbinders Platinum Die Cutting and  Embossing Machine MISTI Stamping Tool Bearly Art Precision Glue 3M foam tape Altenew Double Sided Adhesive Sheets Brutus Monroe Alabaster White EP WOW Dual Speed Heat Tool

Have a Joyous Easter

I am here as Guest Designer with my reminder card for the March/April Uniko Challenge #64 - Signs of Spring with an optional twist of Easter. It has been such an honor and a joy to design among these lovely people who are some of my favorite crafting rock stars. I am grateful to have had the opportunity.

For my card, I chose to use the Uniko Mid Century Modern Florals Clear Stamp Set. I just love the images in the set. I binge-watched the entire Mad Men series while on lockdown and I can't tell you how many times I thought of these stamps as I studied the furniture and fashion on the sets of the show. Rather than go with spring pastel colors, I went with some bolder colors in rainbow order. I popped an Easter sentiment from Paper smooched in as it fit perfectly between two of the flowers. I just love the way it turned out.

Please head over to the Uniko Challenge to be inspired and to play along. Thank you Bev and the Uniko Brand Ambassadors for having me.

 I'm also playing at:

Krafty Chicks #553 - Stamp Act

The Card Concept #152 - Celebrate Easter

My Clean & Graphic card is inspired by the theme of Easter.

Shopping Our Stash #442 - Celebrating All Things Spring

Retro Rubber #155 - Rainbow Connection

I purchased Uniko's Mid Century Modern Florals when it was released in May of 2019.

Always Fun #207 - Rainbows

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Easter/Spring

Make My Monday #145 - Easter/Spring

The Sisterhood Of Crafters - Easter/Spring