Simply Clean & Simple (7/2026) - Birthday

 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:

 

 Birthday

  

 Over time, I have truly learned to enjoy creating CAS style cards.  

Believe it or not, I used to struggle with this design style as I always thought I needed 'more' to make my cards stand out ... hence, making a CAS designed card look 'incomplete' to me.  I actually applied for a CAS DT spot a few years back to force myself to work more with this style of designing.

 

Today I've used a 'cloud stencil' for my background, the Paper Studio balloon stickers and a sentiment from an Altenew stamp set called 'Birthday Greetings'. 

I hope you like it!

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.

Hope to see you at SIMPLY CLEAN & SIMPLE!

As always . . .

Triple B (7/2026) Challenge

 Hello Friends!

Have you checkout our challenge blog called TRIPLE B?
It's all about using any of your stash but your project must have at least a BIRD, a BUTTERFLY or BLOOMS (flowers) visible on it.  Hence the title Triple B.

Here's this months inspiration board ...

 

 Here's what I've come up with . . .

 

 A heart warming card with a heart warming message!

I've created the background using a cloud stencil and TH 'broken china' distress oxide ink.  My tree and eagle come from the Stamperia 'Forest' paper cut outs.  The sentiment is a set by Stampscapes called Sheet 2 - Sky/Clouds/Stars. 

 

Remember, our challenge begins on the 3rd of each month, ends on the last day of the month and Winner's are announced on the 2nd of each month.

I hope you'll come join in the fun!
Thanks for stopping by today!

As always ...

 

 

Word Power (7/2026) 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 . . .

 This beautiful Heartfelt Creations (no longer in business) paper was, I felt, the perfect backdrop for this sweet old sentiment.   I have had this stamp set by Fiskars (yep  I said Fiskars lol) for years!  I believe I purchased it at Pat Catan ... a fabulous crafting store here in Ohio that I just loved but unfortunately like so many others, they went under a few years before JoAnns closed and Michaels ended up taking over both of them ... UGH!  You can still find this set on eBay I've noticed.

 

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

As always . . .

TOB July 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 . . .

 

 I spotted this image over on Pinterest and just had to print it for today's card.  Creepy but fits the time frame lol.  After printing I die cut it using a Tutti Designs 'Stitched Scallop Rectangle' die.  Computer generated a sentiment then die cut it using one of the Sue Wilson flag dies and added a couple blue die cut stars.  

 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 . . . 

July 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 . . .

 Product used:

Stampin' Up card stock for card base

OLD 12x12 designer paper

Hearty Crafts Coffee Cups 3D Topper 

 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 . . .

  

Four Seasons Challenge - Summer (7/2026)

 

 Hello Friends

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

Anything Goes - Summer

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

 

Today's card was inspired by the lemons in the blue bowl.

I began with this beautiful designer paper by Brutus Monroe called Sunflowersoiree.  All I need to go along with this beautiful paper is a sentiment so I computer generated my own using a phrase we've all heard at some point in our lives!  I actually thought I had a stamp with this sentiment in my 'Doni Collection' but I couldn't find it right off hand so created my own.

I started out typing the words in a Word Document then grabbed a 'lemon' clipart from within the Word software and VIOLA.  

Of course when I went to print it out, my computer decided to NOT print the color yellow!  Ugh!  Turns out I hadn't cleaned the 'print heads' (nor did I know how lol) so HUBBY TO THE RESCUE!!  

(It's so handy to have a smart husband lol ... that man can fix just about anything!) 

 Anyways, I used a Tutti Designs Stitched Scallop Square die set to die cut my sentiment then using the next larger die, I matted with the blue polka dot paper.

 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 . . .

 

Double D - Potpourri

 Hello Dear Friends!

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

 

Here's today's theme:

 

POTPOURRI

 

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

 

 

 WOW!  SO many options here!

I went this way ... then that way ... and noticed I kept coming back to the colors in the upper right corner so THAT is where my card started!  Grabbing the colors that caught my eye, I cut 1/2" and 1" strips and created my background panel. 

  

 And, since there are flowers in that image, I went to my 3D toppers and chose this one from the 'Flowers in Watering Can' (HC14214) to use for my focus image.  Coordinating Nuvo Drops (sorry got carried away lol) were used as an accent.

 

  

 

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 . . .

 

Double Vision with a Twist card . . .

 Happy Tuesday Friends . . .

I've been a bit obsessed with creating these Double Vision cards lately and while trying to go to sleep last night I got the bright idea to put a spin on the technique by using 12x12 designer paper and laying out the 1/2" strips at an angle.  So first thing this morning I just HAD TO put my thoughts down on paper and created this card.

 

Though difficult to see, the blue strips are popped up with dimensional tape.
Here's a photo taken at a bit of an angle ... that might help you see the dimension a bit better.

 I have used a VERY OLD 12x12 - double sided sheet of designer paper.
The fact that this paper pattern was a random floral on one side and a generic muted solid color on the other side worked out perfectly for this technique.

I used scraps of both the card stock and the designer paper for my sentiment panel, die cutting with a Tutti Designs scallop rectangle die set.

 I simply adhered one of the extra 1/2" strips to the inside panel to help bring it all together.  And with that size designer paper, I have plenty left over if I want to decorate the envelope flap also.  In fact . . .

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

As always . . .

Trying new techniques . . .

 Happy Monday Everyone!

It's going to be a VERY HOT week here in Ohio so I'll be spending a lot of time in my crafting cave.  Over the weekend I was once again playing with that new (to me) technique called Double Vision (there are several videos over on You Tube).

Here are a few I made the other day . . .

   

   

 (Beware ... they are addicting to make lol)

 

Then I spotted this video   https://www.facebook.com/reel/27314627054885545

She combined the Black Out technique with the Double Vision technique and came up with a card like this.  You'll see in the video hers is much better than mine as I was in a hurry and didn't take as much time with my coloring as I should have.  Still turned out to be a pretty card ... thoughts?

Unique huh?
 

 Ok, I spotted another technique I want to try today before time to go to the gym and get my walk in.  Hope you've enjoyed today's share and will give these technique's a try.

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

As always . . .