March 2026 - First Cup Challenge

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

 Remember to check out the rules for this fun challenge in the TAB under the header over on the First Cup Challenge Blog titled 'But first ... some rules'.

Here's what I came up with for today's card . . .

I've had some tea cup images in my stash for quite some time now.  I used to lend a hand and share some of my designs at a local 'Tea Shoppe' where the ladies enjoyed anything to do with Tea!  Unfortunately due to a death, that lovely, unique little shop had to close .. sure miss those ladies!

Anyways, I dug deep into my stash and found this sweet image to create with today!  Hope you like it. 

 If you haven't yet checked out this challenge owned/hosted by Deanne, you'll want to be sure to pop over and then play along!  I'm sure you have some goodies in your stash to create  with.

Thanks for stopping by and as always . . .

 

 

Four Seasons Challenge - Spring (3/2026)

 

 Hello Friends

Over at the Four Seasons Challenge Blog, we are ready for a change in seasons! 
This months theme is:

Anything Goes - Spring

check out this fabulous inspiration board we have created to help inspire you . . .

 

 Today's card was inspired by the pretty tulips in the vase (upper left corner).

For my card I've used: 
Altenew  'Exotic Tulips' stamp set (sorry don't see where it's still available)
TH distress oxide inks
Hot off the Press 'Sweet Pea' 6x6 designer paper

Frantic Stamper 'Art Deco Frame' (FRA-DIE-10170)

 
Black Nuvo Crystal Drops

 I love how the Art Deco Frame draws your eye to this pretty tulip.

 Please be sure to check out our other fun challenge blogs. 
All the links can be found on the side bar. 

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

As always . . .

 

 

Peace on Earth Challenge #107

 Hello Friends and welcome back to my blog! 

SO happy you stopped by!

Today I have a card to share for the new challenge over on the PEACE ON EARTH CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE BLOG.  Of course the theme is Anything Christmas and we hope you'll come join in the fun! 

Here's a fun inspiration board we've created to help get you started ...

 

 Today I was inspired by all the GREEN in our mood board.  I can honestly say I've never created a primarily green holiday card but happy with today's outcome!

I was also inspired by the green candle and went with that as my main focus.  While looking through some of my dies to see what I had available in candle dies, I spotted this stencil in the inside pocket of my one binder.  I have had this stencil for YEARS ... long before I did any actual stenciling and, it's metal.  Do you remember these??  

  

 This stencil is a very thin metal and I have to be careful not to bend it as I can see where it would snap in half easily enough.  Instead of using my typical inks/sponge daubers or brushes to do my stenciling, I reached for my Tombow markers instead.

 

After stenciling my image I die cut it using one of the dies in the Tutti Designs 'Stitched Scallop Rectangles' die set.  Using SU 'Old Olive' card stock, I created my matting with the next size larger die from the set.  Then I used the darker green Tombow marker I had used on my  Spellbinder 'Holly Frame' holly corner die to accent the stitching lines in my mat panel.  Gold Stickles was used for the berries and embellishments.

    

 PLEASE be sure to pop over to THE BLOG and check out the amazing designs our design team has created for your inspiration.  What a group of talented ladies!!  Then come join in the fun!!  

 As always ... thanks again for stopping by!

Can You Handle the Pressure - Twist - Sympathy

 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 ...

Sympathy

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 ...

  

 Today for my background panel, I've used an embossing folder I received while being a member of the Spellbinder 3D EF Club a couple years back called Spring Burst.  This is actually the first time I've used it (good grief!) lol.   I embossed onto a very light pink card stock so ran my hot pink inked sponge dauber over it very lightly to give it a bit of a highlight.  My sentiment is from my Doni Collection and is one in a set from Paper Smooches.  A chipboard flower and a few black Nuvo drops and my card is ready to send comforting greeting to someone in need.

 

  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 . . .

Spring

 Hello again . . .

I have a second card for today ... sorry couldn't help myself!  
So many fabulous challenge blogs in blogland!

 

This one was created for the Sunday Stamps Challenge which ends on March 6th.
Here's their inspiration image . . .

 

 This was a fun sketch that worked perfectly with this beautiful Brutus Monroe 'Secret Garden' designer paper.  This panel made me think of Spring so I went to by binder of word dies and pulled the Frantic Stamper (FRA-9402) SPRING die and cut it using the same card stock I used to mat the designer paper panel. 

    

 

Challenges to share in:
Cardz 4 Galz Challenge #270 - Wings - birds, bees, butterflies, etc (3/5)
Try It On Tuesday Challenge - 3-2-1 (3 flowers, 2 birds, 1 sentiment) (3/4)

I will also be using this quick & easy sketch for more cards in the future.   
Could be used for just about any occasion!!

 Thanks so much for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend ahead!!

As always . . .

Hope your birthday is 'peachy' . . .

 Hello friends ...

I have a card to share with you today that was created with the latest sketch offered over on the Freshly Made Sketch Challenge blog as my inspiration.

 

 Product used is as follows:

The outside 'frame' is an older die  by Memory Box, the orange branches are a stamp from Stampin' Up that I colored with Tombow markers and fussy cut.  I used the remnant ink in my orange sponge dauber to color the area behind the die cut frame.  

The Endless Creations sentiment panel was stamped using Stampin' Up 'Pumpkin Pie' ink and die cut using one of the Sue Wilson flag dies (CED4317).

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a wonderful day ahead!!

As always . . .

Take Time to Smell the Flowers . . .

 Happy Hump Day All . . .

February is running out quickly and I only had a few more days to join in on a fun challenge that I've been enjoying over the past couple of months so I took the time today to quickly create for their fun sketch.

Product used:
OLD 6x6 designer paper
Scraps of card stock
the Paper Studio floral sticker
The Stamp Pad Co. sentiment stamp

 
 The challenge blog is the Paper Players and it's actually one of few WEEKLY challenge blogs out there in blogland.  Most have gone to monthly or bi-monthly.  This is their weekly lineup . . .

Week One: Theme Challenge

Week Two: Color Challenge

Week Three: Clean and Simple Challenge

Week Four: Sketch Challenge

Week Five: Tic Tac Toe

 This is SKETCH week and here is the sketch to inspire us . . .

 

 I liked this sketch so much, I had to made a 2nd card.

 This time I did something I haven't done in YEARS ... Paper Piecing.
The background paper & paper piecing paper comes from the Mintay 'Fall Festival' 6x6 pad.  The stamp I chose to used for today's design is Simon Says Stamps 'Wild & Free Flowers' (2026ssc).

After coloring the leaves with a Tombow marker, I added the fussy cut paper piece panels the proceeded to fussy cut around the image.  Then I didn't think it stood out on the floral background panel so I adhered it to a scrap of the burgundy card stock I used for the horizontal panel and fussy cut again.  All fussy cutting was done with a swivel craft knife.  The sentiment is a stamp/die set by the TON.

What a lovely sketch ... I'm sure I will I will be using it again soon. 

Hope you have a FABULOUS day ahead!

As always . . .

Wood Block Wednesday Challenge

 

Hello Friends

Amy Tsuruta has her Woodblock Wednesday challenge up and running and I've been trying to join in each month as it gives me the opportunity to play with all my old wooden block stamps which don't get the love they deserve since clear stamps came about.

  

 The wood block stamps I've used today are Stampa Rosa 'Robins in Trees' (circa 1998) and Penny Black 'to say hi' (circa 2006).

 

 I stamped the image onto white card stock twice and colored only one of the images.  Then I die cut a circle from the colored image using a Tutti Designs circle die and popped it up over top the black/white stamped image.  

 The decorative faux stitching was done with a ruler & a fine time black marker.
Coloring was done with Tombow markers (not sure why the pine looks blue ... it was a green marker!! ?? )

 

  Why not pop over and check out her blog and play along ... you know you have wood block stamps that need some love just like I do!  LOL

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a wonderful day ahead!!

As always . . .

Tag:  #Woodblockwednesday #woodblockstamps