Just a Note and Happy Birthday

Squeaking in with a last minute entry for JUGs Photo/Mood Board Challenge.  The first time I looked at it, I thought of pink tissue paper flowers.  

I die cut Poppystamps Layered Pointy Petals using 3 layers of pink tissue paper at once.  Then I pulled apart the layers and glued 2-3 different size flowers together.  Instead of the diecut centers, I used pink transluscent enamel dots.  Couldn't resist the recent 50% off flash sale at The Greetery and picked up 2 dies.  This is my first card using It's a Wrap: Mini Posy Pocket which I die cut from PTI printed paper.  Decided my flowers needed something, so I added Memory Box Garland Greenery die cut from vellum.  The embossed panel is SSS Dibble Tile and the sentiment stamped in Versafine Clair Morning Mist is from PFS Perfect Sentiments.  Glad I had enough Sweet Blush cardstock for the mat, which actually is just a frame.  I cut a smaller rectangle from the center to use for another card.  I'm also entering NBUS.  This is the first outing for the flower wrap, flowers and greenery.

Next is my card for Uniko's 14th BD Celebration.  I admire Beverley's designing skills and ability to run her own company.  And I'm happy to count her as one of my friends.  

I used CN9 inks for the floral image and Versafine Clair Nocturne for the sentiment.  The base stems/leaves layer of Beautiful Blooms III was stamped in Artichoke, the fill-in color in Parsley and the veins in Artichoke.  For the flower and berry I used Pink Lemonade and Dragonfruit.  I wasn't happy with the flower outline and didn't want to start over, so I carefully traced it using a Gelly Roll Clear Star pen.  Thankfully, that gave me a look I liked.  Floral Vines is another Uniko stamp set I really like, but this time I just used the birthday sentiment.  I splattered black ink and added 3 pearly white sequins.  The black dry embossed background was made with  Altenew's Angled Mosaic.  I'm also entering SSS Wednesday.

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

Valentines

I'm still working on Valentines.  Luckily, cardmaking friends appreciate happy mail whenever it arrives.

First is my card inspired by Color Hues Red and Pink Challenge.  Finally pulled out Uniko Layering Flower Fusion stencil set and I love it just as much as Picked Posies.  

My inks are CN9 Honeysuckle and Poppy plus PTI Weathervane.  I used Versamark through the flower centers stencil so I could silver emboss them.  SSS Layered Bird Bunch has just the right size little birds.  I colored one by brushing the pieces alternating with the red and pink inks--red being the head.  I used Stamplorations circles cover plate for added interest.  I flipped the cut down panel so the bird could be popped up on the branch next to the Alex Syberia die cut word.  I used vellum for the shadow and silver cardstock for the word.  The Valentine sentiment is inside.  I'm also entering SSS Monday and DCD, if I didn't use too much gray.

My next card was made with Gina K Wreath Builder Template and Sketched Wreath Builder stamp set.  Hadn't used the template in awhile and it really is such a fun technique.  

The inks are CN9 Sweet Pea, Ballet Slipper, Parsley and Sprout.  Even though I stamped the tiny hearts 3 times, they were barely visible.  So, I stamped over them twice using PTI Sweet Blush and got the look I wanted.  The embossed panel was done with a very old folder that has tiny hearts at each intersection of lines.  Love the difference it made compared to using a plain white panel.  I'm entering Time Out Challenges using the words Pink and Heart.  I have light pink hearts and darker pink flowers, plus the tiny white hearts in the embossed background.  

Last is another Valentine using a paper pad given to me long ago by my sweet friend, Cat.  I love the gold and kraft papers, but I struggle to use printed paper.  So glad I watched Juliana Michaels' Craft Your Stash video recently.  Again I used her basic sketch and this time covered the seam with a strip cut from one of the papers with the reverse side up.  

Couldn't come up with any additional colors I liked with these papers.  I found a yellow vellum that looked like gold and used that for the shadow of  SSS Simple Happy Valentine's Day.  The words were cut from the reverse side of the paper, like the strip.  Clear embossing the words let them stand out and perfectly match the card.  Gotta say, I love how this turned out, although I wasn't so sure in the beginning.  By the way, did you see the SSS tip to cut down a silicone basting brush to use with glue?  Check this out!  Someone recently gave me 2 of the brushes, so I tried it out.  Worked great to attach the words to the shadow.  I'm entering SSS Wednesday.

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

Thanksgiving and Christmas

I was intrigued by Brenda's recent card using a real leaf as a "stamp."  Plenty of leaves laying on the ground, so I picked up a few and gave it a try.  My first attempt went in the trash--used way too much water.  I tried again with a smaller leaf and Distress Oxides spiced marmalade and crackling campfire on a cream panel.  

The very old PTI trees were stamped in Versafine Clair Pinecone--a very dark brown.  Added some small splatters and used gold metallic cardstock for the mat.  The sentiment is from SSS Full of Thanks.  I covered the card front with slightly lighter brown textured cardstock.  I'm entering Color Hues and WAW.

I love layering stencils and really had fun using the Miss Ink cups set.  Decided to make a red, teal and silver Christmas card.  

The inks are CN9 Poppy, Oceanside and Delicata Silvery Shimmer.  The little snowflakes and berries are Uniko.  The Precious Remembrance Shop sentiment was embossed with Sparkle powder and I added Stickles to the snowflake centers.  I'll put a Christmas sentiment on the inside.  I'm entering Fall/Winter Coffee Lovers Blog Hop.

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

Christmas Cards

I've been having fun making a variety of Christmas cards.  First is another one for Michelle Lupton's Case me a Christmas Card 2025.  I was inspired by these cards made by my friend, Tracey McNeely.

Her cards were made by ink blending Distress Oxides and then spraying the panels with DO ink through a stencil.  She used a large sentiment die and added some bling.  Here's the card I made.

I used Distress Oxides Fired Brick and Lucky Clover.  Uniko Winter Foliage stencil was laid on top and I sprayed with Distress Spritz Fired Brick and Mowed Lawn.  

I still love my old W&W Noel die which I stacked 2 high, brushed with shimmer and covered with glaze.  The embellishments are tiny black gems I've had forever.  The shimmer and shine can be seen better in my IG post. 

Next is my entry for JUGS CASE a DT.  There is a wide variety of cards to choose from--all wonderful!  I was drawn to this beautiful card made by Carol using dry embossing, patterned paper and ephemera. 

I was reminded of my old Christmas stickers, die cuts and chipboard still waiting to be used.  I'm not sure my card counts as a case, but I'm really glad Carol inspired me to finally use these festive, shiny die cuts.  

The embossed panel was made with SSS Holiday Greenery folder and I sprayed the panel with Heidi Swapp white Color Shine which gives a beautiful shimmer.  I added Christmas Red Stickles to the berries.  Quick festive card that won't need extra postage.  I'm also entering SSS Wednesday.

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

Thanksgiving and Christmas

I've had this card in mind for several weeks.  The Stamp Market Mini Autumn Leaves and some Lindy's Magicals have been sitting on my table.

The die cut leaves were simply watercolored with Lindy's Magicals Ponderosa Pines Olive, Canna Lily Burnt Orange and Poutine Gold.  You can see the beautiful shimmer in my IG post.  Love the texture from SSS Refracted embossing folder on another of my newly discovered terra cotta note cards.  I brushed brown ink on the edges.  The SSS sentiment from Full of Thanks was stamped in Versafine Clair Pinecone and clear embossed.  Embellishments are SSS Mocha Java sequins.  I'm entering Time Out Challenges #300 with the Fall Thanksgiving Celebration in the US and TTTC282 using Leaves/Free/Die Cuts from my friend Betty's board.

Christmas Kickstart Snow Alert! challenge is about to close.  Again, I finally made a card that's been in the back of my mind for weeks.

Box 12 that Your Paper Insider generously sent to me contains a beautiful shimmery light blue cardstock called Aquamarine Curious Metallics.  I thought it'd be perfect embossed with SSS Fanciful Flurries folder.  It's really gorgeous in person!  I have several snowflake dies and purposely chose the one from Uniko because it has large enough sections to show off the Holographic More Dots cardstock.  Check out the video in my IG post.  I stamped the W&W sentiment in Versafine Clair Blue Belle and used the same ink to color the edges of the mats.   I'm also entering SSS Monday, SSS Wednesday and WAW.

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.   If your blog address is in your profile or comment,  I will visit you.

WCMD

I was so happy to see 2 companies sponsor challenges for WCMD:  Uniko and SSS.  Years ago there were quite a few.  Took awhile to come up with something that worked, but I did finally get a card made on Saturday. 

Therese's video on stencil techniques inspired my background.  I colored molding paste to get a soft brown which I spread through Uniko's Winter Foliage stencil.  The holly leaves and berries from the stamp of the same name were stamped in CN9 Clover and Poppy.  I used the matching dies and glued the leaves just at one end.  The berries are covered in Christmas Red Stickles and are slightly raised.  The sentiment from Season of Beauty was stamped in Versafine Clair Acorn.  I'm entering Uniko via IG, SSS WCMD and DCD.

On Sunday I made a birthday card using an embossed panel I made months ago with Memory Box Blooming folder and Saltwater Taffy Distress Oxide ink pad.  

I cut a 2 inch strip and matted it with black cardstock and white cardstock inked to match.  The sentiment from PTI Tuck it Sentiments was stamped in Versafine Clair Nocturne.  Really love the size and font, so it will get lots of use.  I added clear drops for a subtle embellishment.  I'm entering SSS Wednesday, SSS WCMD via IG and DCD via Flickr.

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

Uniko, Altenew, Memory Box

Sharing 4 recent cards, so feel free to just scroll down and look at the pictures.  First up is a card that made me sooo happy!  I've struggled to use Uniko's Ink N Flip stencils, but finally made a panel that didn't go in the trash!

The Layering Flower stencil was used with CN9 Aqua Sky, Harbor, Tidepool, Grapefruit and Pink Lemonade.  The sentiment from Simply Said Blocks was stamped in Versafine Morning Mist.  I used 3 clear low profile dots for embellishment.  Please don't buy Ink N Flip stencils from any company but Uniko.  Beverley came up with this concept and designs all her own products.  I'm hoping the American company who plans to offer their version this summer will think better of it.

Next is my entry for Uniko's 12 Days of Christmas Challenge.  I used the branch from Season of Beauty with GKD Wreath Builder Template and tiny berries from Rustic Wreath.  

The inks are Versafine Clair Green Oasis, Grass Green and Strawberry.  The background was made with Heidi Swapp white Art Screen Ink through the Winter Foliage stencil.  Love the beautiful shimmery texture which you can see in my IG video.  

When I saw the colors for Altenew's July Inspiration Challenge are blue, green and beige, I decided to make an anniversary card for my sister and her hubby.  She loves blue and he's fond of green.  

I do love wreaths, including Altenew's Wonderful Wreath stencil.  This time I did 4 layers for the top wreath and 2 for the bottom one.  The Altenew inks are Lime, Limeade and Persian Blue, with Lime also being used for the splatters.  The little flowers from Layered Floral Elements die set were brushed with the blue ink darkest in the centers.  I added Stardust Stickles to the petal tips and the darkest Deep Sea Sapphire Gem Sparkles to the centers.  You can see the sparkle in my IG video.  The sentiments are from Flower Vine.  Really love the look of the beige cardstock panel on the white card.  

My final card is for the July Memory Box Challenge: Summer Vibes.  I used MB Backyard Floral Stems for the focal point along with Friends and Family stamp set for the sentiment.  The vellum butterfly is the smallest one in Birch Press Simple Butterfly Contour Layers. 

I purposely used one of my white cardstocks that give this somewhat textured look when brushed with any inks.  Here I used Distress Oxide Prize Ribbon with the MFT rectangle stencil to represent a summer sky.  Fun to use Altenew Tropical Fiesta Watercolor Brush Markers to color the focal point.  I used 2 greens, red, purple, yellow and orange--summery colors to me.  The sentiment was stamped in Versafine Clair Blue Belle.  I added little blue gems and tiny white pearls.  I'm entering Word Art Wednesday and TTTC274 as my card fits several rows, including Die Cut/Free/Butterfly.

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.