Can You Handle the Pressure - Twist - Balloons

Hello Friends, thanks for stopping by today!

We have a new challenge starting today over on our new Can You Handle The Pressure Challenge Blog and the TWIST theme is ...

Balloons

Remember, the twist is optional but you MUST use an embossing folder on your projects to qualify for the prize.  Heat embossing is also permitted but only in conjunction with an embossing folder.

 Here's what I've created to inspire you today ...

  

 Product used:

 

Lisa Horton 'Celebration Balloons' embossing folder 

 
Tombow Marker
Impression Obsession 'Balloons' DIE359

Endless Creations sentiment stamp 

 

  

 I do hope you'll come check out our challenge blog and play along.

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by today,
I appreciate it more than you'll ever know!!

As always . . .

Black & White

 Happy Friday Friends ... 

I have a busy day ahead of me but wanted to share a quick card I created for the May Colorful Options challenge where their main theme is Black  & White. 

 

 I have used the Simon Says 3D embossing folder 'Blossom Bursts (SF470)' as the base of my black & white card and colored in the flower centers using a black Tombow marker.  

 The center sentiment is from Heartfelt Creations (no longer in business) and was an RAK from NC friend Sandy.  She went crazy during their close out sales and was kind enough to stamp/die cut this set in a variety of colors and sent them along to me.  I have colored in the flowers on several to use later but since the theme today is black/white I just added it 'as is'.  

Challenges to share in:

Aud Sentiments Chlg #337 - Embossing and/or flowers + sentiment (ends 5/29)
AAA Birthday Challenge #85 - ATG Birthday (ends 5/31)



 Addicted to CAS #307 - Birthday (ends 5/15)

 

Well, that's it for me today.  I'd better get started on these other projects ... 
time is a wasting as they say!  lol

Thanks so much for stopping by today and here's wishing you an amazing day today & FABULOUS weekend ahead.  Every day is a blessing!!

As always . . .

Word Power (5/2026) Challenge

Hello Friends . . .

It's time for a new challenge over on our WORD POWER challenge blog! 
Have you check it out yet?  If not, please come join us ... inspiration is welcomed!!  

 Here's what I've created for you today . . .

 I started my project by die cutting white card stock using a Tutti Designs 'Scallop Stitched Oval' die.  Next I placed that die cut oval between my 49 and Market Blendables 02 (#BV37780) rub on and the backing sheet.  Using my bone folder I simply rubbed on just that part of the image I wanted to showcase.

 

 I had already chosen the word stamp I wanted to use so I then stamped it atop of my floral rub-on image and wet embossed it.  Then matted it with the next largest oval die cut using the same Tutti Designs die set from a green card stock that matched the image.

 Setting my focus panel aside, I used that same wood block sentiment stamp (sorry so old I can't read the mfg name anymore) and created my background paper panel.  I felt it need a few other little things in the design so cut a couple thin strips from the green matting card stock and positioned top & bottom.  I found a few Prima flowers in my collection that I thought matched to color of the focus image so added those in the lower corner and used Black Nuvo Crystal Drops for the flower centers.  

 

 You have until the LAST Thursday of the month to enter.
Thanks for stopping by and have a great day ahead!

As always . . .

Live Today Fully

 Hello my friends ... thanks so much for stopping by!

I have some exciting news to share with you today!  Back at the beginning of the year I was asked to join the talented ladies at the Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 challenge blog as their May Guest Designer.  So the cards I'm sharing with you today are for their current challenge. 

They offer two different sketches for your inspiration each challenge and also offer a huge array of sketches to help get your creative juices flowing in the side bar of their challenge blog.  If you're ever 'stumped' on where to begin on a project, I'm sure you'll find a sketch that will be an excellent starting point!

Now, onto today's challenge & projects.

Their first sketch  #326 . . .

 and here is the card I created . . .

 

 I do not make square cards due to the extra cost in postage but I do create A6 cards which is what I have to share today.  The background floral designer paper is from Brutus Monroe called 'Cherry Blossom'.  The focus flowers were created using an older Stampin' Up wood block stamp set called 'Fifth Avenue Floral'.  I have stamped my flower several times and colored in various colors using Tombow markers.  Then I have conditioned them with a stylus to add some body.  They have been adhered together and added to a die cut square background before being place in the center of my card.  The sentiment is by Tutti Designs ... the bow is by Cheery Lynn Designs (no longer in business), and White Nuvo Crystal Drops were used to complete the design.

 

Their second sketch is #327 . . .

 and here is the card I created . . .

For this card, I went to my drawer of purple (my favorite color) paper packs and etc.  I've chosen a 2-sided paper from the Paper Rose 'Dear Isabella Patterns' 6x6 paper pack in order to showcase BOTH sides of this beautiful paper which worked perfectly for this sketch design.

The focus image is a sticker from the Paper Studio (#2405801) purchased at Hobby Lobby.  The matting die cut panel was created using the Cottage Cutz 'Nested Stitched Eyelet Square' die set (CCB-060).  White Nuvo Crystal Drops was also used on this card for dimension.

Please be sure to pop over to the Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 challenge blog and play along.  Thanks again for stopping by and I hope you've enjoyed today's cards.

 

As always . . .

 

Double D - Watercolor

 Hello Dear Friends!

It's time once again for a new challenge over on the Double D Challenge Blog!

 

Here's today's theme:

 

WATERCOLOR

 

 and here's an inspiration board created to help get you started . . .

 

 

 

 What a fun theme ... I don't do this technique nearly enough!  I'm always happy with the outcome!  Here's what I've created for you today using a product I haven't used in YEARS!  That is Ken Oliver 'Color Bursts' and watercolor paper.  I don't see where he even carries them in his store any longer.

 

 

 

 I actually made two panels ... there was so much color on this panel I placed another watercolor panel on top and smooched them together.  I'll use that second panel on another card for the sale boxes.

 

 The floral stamp is from the Penny Black 'Finest Petals' (#31-138) set.

   

 I used an artist brush and a little more water on the stem, leaves and bud to remove a little more of the color.  I'm very happy with the outcome.  What do you think?

 

 You'll want to be sure to pop over to the Double D Challenge Blog to see all the details and amazing samples offered up by our VERY TALENTED design team ladies!!

 Thanks so much for stopping by!
Hope to see you at Double D! 

  As always . . .

 

Stencil Fun Challenge (5/2026) - See Through It

Hello Everyone!

It's time for another fun challenge over on our Stencil Fun Challenge!

Remember, this challenge is all about using your STENCILS.
We are a MONTHLY challenge that begins on the FIRST TUESDAY of each month.
Theme will always be ANYTHING GOES USING STENCILS but we will also offer an OPTIONAL theme.

Here is the OPTIONAL theme chosen for this month:

 

 See Through It

 

 

 

 To satisfy our optional SEE THRU IT theme, I've created a window on the outside of a stone wall.  The stone wall stencil is another one by Tim Holtz.  After doing the stenciling I die cut a smaller rectangle from my 'wall' in order to pop up and add my window.   The window was die cut twice with a panel of clear acetate sandwiched in between.

 

       

 

Other products used:

 

Frantic Stamper - Cute Kitten
Sue Wilson - 3D Window Box (CED22003)
Poppy Stamps - Grand Madison Window die (815) 

 

The window curtains were created with a scrap of designer paper laying on the worktable. 

 

 

For my second card (Anything Goes)

 

 This CAS card uses the Clear Scraps 6x6 'Bubbles' stencil and TH distress oxide ink.  It immediately made me think of the Don Ho song 'Tiny Bubbles' so I used the first verse of that song for my computer generated sentiment.

 

Hopefully you'll get those stencils out and have some fun with us.
We won't always have a prize but periodically we will, you just never know!
We do have a Top 3 and a Top winner and it could be YOU!

 

Please come join us and GOOD LUCK!!
As always . . .