TOB May 2026 Challenge

 Hello friends and thanks for stopping by today!

It's time once again for a new monthly challenge over on the
Two Old Bats Halloween Blog!

Just wait until you see what the team has created ... OMG!!  And to help us get our mojo going, Diane (yep, my Old Bat partner) has created this fabulous inspiration board. . .

 

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

 

 Had a little fun today with an online image that I then die cut using one of my 'fractured die sets' for my design.   After getting it all put back together, I then did some doodling around the outside parameter and added a sentiment & Prima flowers with Black Nuvo Crystal Drop centers.

 Just to refresh your memory ... here's a recap of how things are done on our blog.

Monthly Challenge

• Start on the 2nd of the month
• Ends on the 28th of the month
• Badge Winners chosen by the DT
• Badge Winners announced on the 1st of the month prior to start of next new challenge.

I hope you've enjoyed today's share and thanks so much for stopping by!

REMEMBER ...

You have until the 28th to enter.
Hope to see you there!

Have a SPOOKTACULAR DAY
and PLEASE be sure to tell your friends about this challenge!!

As always . . . 

Love Those Pretty Papers May 2026 Challenge

Hello Dear Friends

It's a new month and that means it's time for a new challenge over on our
LOVE THOSE PRETTY PAPERS blog.

Today, our OPTIONAL theme is

FANCY FOLDS

 Diane & I will be sharing a Themed pretty paper card as well as an Anything Goes card.

 Here's my card using today's THEME:

 

 I found this center step card in my stash that I had started awhile back and figured today was a good day to complete it and send it to a friend whose favorite color is purple lol.

 I remember the background paper was a sheet of 12x12 designer paper that I had picked up at JoAnn's (sure miss that store) years ago.  I die cut a Tutti Designs scallop stitched rectangle to use behind my Hearty Crafts 'Flowers in Watering Can' Topper.  I had ONE little piece left of this pretty purple lace so just had to use it.

 

 Now for my 2nd card (anything goes) ... 

 

I definitely let this pretty paper do all the work on this card.  The paper is from the Paper Rose 'Christmas Holidays' 6x6 pack.  I simply added an Impression Obsession sentiment using India Ink (as this pretty paper has a smooth finish).  

 

 I hope you've enjoyed what I created to inspire you today!  Please come join our fun and show us what you have created using pretty patterned papers.

Thanks for stopping by and as always . . .

 

May 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 . . .

 

 While going through my 'Doni Collection' I spotted this fun The Cat's Pajamas 'Ship Happens' stamp set so just had to pull it for today's card.  I also recently purchased this Brutus Monroe 'Coffeestains' 6x6 designer paper.

 

Tombow markers were used for the coloring, fussy cut the image and popped it up. 

 If you haven't yet checked out this new 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 . . .

 

Simply Clean & Simple (5/2026) - Things that FLY

 Hello my friends and welcome to my blog!

Today I have a card to share for our challenge blog using the CAS (clean & simple) design style. 
Our blog is called Simply Clean & Simple and today's OPTIONAL theme is:

 

 Things that FLY

  

I struggled with what to use for today's challenge then decided to go back through some dies that I haven't used is a very long time ... in fact, I'm not sure if I've EVER used this one!!  But thought it worked well for our optional theme while keeping the over all card CAS.

The die used is Impression Obsession Serendipity Dies - Hot Air Balloons Reverse (sorry ... no longer available) ... not even on Amazon.

    

 

For the background, I used one of the panels in my pack of Blue Knight Stamps 'Night Sky 2 Set'.  A sentiment panel from the TON and my card is complete.  I'll be using this die more often now that I remember I have it lol.

 

 

Remember, our challenge is Anything Goes CLEAN & SIMPLE but we do offer an OPTIONAL theme.  You have until the 28th to share your CAS design into our challenge blog. 

Challenges to share in: 

 Alphabet Challenge - A is for Air (plane, bird, anything in the air) [ends 5/14]
Time Out Challenge #312 - Photo Inspiration [ends 5/13]  Inspired by the sky colors. 
 Little Red Wagon #856 - Anything related to Travel, Skylines, urban scenes, etc. [ends 5/5]

 

Hope to see you at SIMPLY CLEAN & SIMPLE!

As always . . .

Four Seasons Challenge - Spring (5/2026)

 

 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 is all about those first signs of SPRING ... when the daffodils start popping up out of the ground!  LOVE when I see that happening ... lets me know Winter is almost in the rear view mirror!  LOL

Today I've used the Altenew Build-a-Garden Daffodil Delight stamp set.  I didn't purchase the dies that went with this set so after coloring with Tombow markers, I fussy cut and popped up my daffodils onto a VERY old design paper that I spotted in my stash.  I'm sure it was purchased long ago at JoAnn's.  

A few orange Nuvo crystal drops were used as an accent. 

 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 . . .

 

You Can Count on Me . . .

 Hello dear friends!

Today I'm excited to tell you I'm guest designing for the Christmas (or Not) Bingo Challenge #19.  Here is the Bingo Card you can select from. 

 

 I've gone with the letter ' I '  . . .   1 layer card, Green, Free, Stamped image, Ink blending.

 I've used a Tutti Designs Stitched Scallop Rectangle die cut panel to create my white center.  Temporarily attaching it to my card front, I then ink blended around it using Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks 'Twisted Citron', 'Mowed Lawn' and 'Rustic Wilderness'.  After removing my 'masking panel', I then stamped the Altenew Build-A-Garden: Rosa Gallica stamp & sentiment.  I used a Tombow marker to color in the flower center.

I considered coloring in the leaves of the stamped image with a darker green Tombow marker but was afraid I wouldn't like it and would have to start all over so 'nixed' that idea!  LOL  What would you have done?  Color leaves or NOT color leaves? 

 This challenge runs through June 15th.
Pick a BINGO letter and come join in the fun!!

  Thanks so much for stopping by today!

 As always . . .

Cheers!

 Hello Friends . . .

I've finally found time this week to participate in the fun sketch challenge over on The Paper Players blog.  Here's the sketch they are offering this time around . . .

 

 I could have gone in SO MANY directions with this sketch but then I spotted this Blue Knights 'Ship on the Seas' that I had stamped & die cut a few weeks back but not created with yet and decided it was time to show it some love.

 The background paper is also one of theirs called 'Day Sky 3' (A2 size).  The stripe I cut from my image panel was used for the side strip.  A quick sentiment and my card is ready to go.

 Thanks so much to The Paper Players for another awesome sketch to get my creative juices flowing!

Busy few days ahead since they are to deliver 10 yards of mulch this afternoon.  Ugh ... getting too old for this lol.  Anyways if I become MIA, you'll know where to find me LOL.

Challenges to share in:

Cupcake Inspiration Challenge #636 - Travel (ends 5/9)



Dragonfly Dreams April Challenge  - CAS (ends 5/2)
 

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

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 a 'circa 2007' Inkadinkado floral stamp and 'circa 2006' DRS sentiment stamp.

 

Tombow markers were used for the coloring.

 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

Spring flowers . . .

 

Hello friends . . .

Here in Akron, Ohio the grass is getting so beautifully green with the spring rains and many of the budding bushes like the lilac, azalea, forsythia are in bud or already blooming which warms my heart immensely after such a long, cold winter.

Call me crazy but I love mowing the lawn ... so rewarding when it's done ... looks SO NICE!!

Anyways, I had a few minutes last evening and after chatting with BFF Diane (Nellie's Nest) I decided to join her in the Sunbird Spark Challenge where they are having a color challenge ... here's their inspiration board . . .

 

 You'll want to be sure to pop over to Diane's blog and see her fabulous creation for this same challenge.

 I decided to use one of my favorite Altenew stamp/die sets called 'Statement Flowers'.  I've used Tombow markers and a water brush for the coloring.  My background panel is a 3D embossing folder by Simon Says called 'Dancing Floral'.

 

    

 

Nuvo Crystal Drops were used for the embossed flower centers and as an accent here and there on the background.   The focus flower has been popped up using dimensional tape.

I have yet to add a sentiment as I'm not sure which direction I want to go with this design.   

Challenges to share in:

We Love Stamping April Challenge - Spring (ends 4/30)
Crafty Catz Challenge #712 - ATG (ends 5/7)
Crafty Gals Corner Chlg #276 - ATG twist/Spring (ends 5/12)
Daisy Chain Chlg #106 - No Design Paper (ends 4/29)

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

As always . . .