Heartfelt Condulences

 Hello Friends . . . Happy Friday!

WOW!  Another week has gone by and time is just zipping by!!  Need to make the best of each & every day because they seem to be passing by faster than they used to!  LOL

Anyways ... with that being said, I was in need of a quick sympathy card so turned to my Blue Knight Stamps products and created this card.  

 

After convention a few weeks ago, I stamped, colored and cut several of the  Blue Knight Blossoming Branches Stamps/dies to have on hand for such times as this.

         

 

The background paper is the 'back side' from the Misty Moons 6x6 papers.

 

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The stamped sentiment comes from my 'Doni Collection' and is from one of her Paper Smooches stamp sets.  Well . . . busy day ahead so I'd best get after it!

Have a wonderful day my friends and thanks so much for taking the time to stop by today!

As always . . .

 

Just BEE-cause!

 Hello Friends!

I created this card a few weeks back and thought to finally share it here with you today!

 Here in Ohio, even though we're still getting some freezing temps here & there, Spring is doing it's best to make an appearance and all the flowering trees have really started to pop out in blossom.  Such a wonderful sight after a long, bitter cold winter.  It is truly an uplifting sight for me ... as I get older, winters become harder to tolerate and I find myself getting slightly depressed (which I have never done before).  Come on Spring/Summer!!!

This stamp/die set comes from a kit I purchased from Hero Arts several years ago and I still love creating with it.  I've used Tombow markers for the coloring (some solid & some watercolored). The background paper is also Hero Arts called 'The Bees Knees' 6x6 pack.

 Inside view

I make up several of these little bees and have them on hand to use with other floral designs.  They are just so chubby & cute!

Challenges to share in:

Crafty Gals Corner Chlg #276 - ATG w/optional twist - Spring (ends 5/12)
Fab'n'Funky Chlg #634 - Easter / Spring (ends 4/16)
I Love Promarkers Chlg #604 - ATG using markers (ends 4/12)
I Spy with my Little Eye #35/#36 - Spring Flowers or Spring Showers (5/17)
The Paper Funday April Chlg #86 - ATG w/optioal twist: Die Cuts/Punches (ends 5/3) 

 Wishing you a fabulous day ahead!
It's to rain later tonight ... hopefully I can get outside and do some spring clean up.  We will see how much I can get done before my old body says 'ENOUGH!' lol

 As always, thanks SO MUCH for taking the time to stop by!

Sisterhood Challenge (4/2026) - Make Someone Smile

 Hello my friends!

Today I have a card for the new challenge over on The Sisterhood of Crafters!

 

Our theme today is:

 

 Make Someone Smile

 

 Here's a fun mood board I've created to help inspire you . . .

  

 What fun ... here's what I've come up with today . . .

 

I have had this Art Impressions 'Old Goat' set #AiCS37 for quite some time now and rarely use it ... well today's the day and here's a peek at the inside for another chuckle . . .

 

 

 

Of course you'd have to be careful who you sent this card to as some folks are very sensitive to aging lol.  But I think it's funny and hope you do too!

 

Along with the stamp set (images colored using Tombow markers), I've created the background farm scene using stickers from 'The Falling Leaves' sticker book I purchased online last year.

 

 

  

I hope you'll come join in our challenge fun at The Sisterhood of Crafters!

My 'sistahs' have created some fabulous creations to help inspire you ... 

be sure to pop over and check them out!

 As always, thanks SO MUCH for taking the time to stop by!

Stencil Fun Challenge (4/2026) - Rainbow Colors

 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:

 

 Rainbow Colors

  

 Using an older Memory Box Stencil called 'Modern Pop Dots', I've used the various TH distress oxide inks to create my 'rainbow' effect.  The big butterfly is an older Cheery Lynn Designs die , the sentiment stamp is Serendipity Stamps (circa 2008) and the mat panel is a Sue Wilson die.

 

 

 

 

 For my second card (Anything Goes)

  

For this card I've used a stencil that has been in my stash for awhile now and never used.  I must admit it turned out prettier than I anticipated.  I've used Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks with this Lisa Horton Layered Floral Roses stencil set. 

 

 

 

 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 . . .

 

 

Neglected Stuff (4/2026)

Hello friends!

Today I have a project to share that was created for our newest
NEGLECTED STUFF CHALLENGE. 

Click on the link then come join in the fun!

   

The neglected items I've used today are these pretty Prima butterflies which have been hanging out on my 'embellishments board' for several years.  I actually think I bought them at Archiver's (we all know how long they've been out of business).

 

 

 

 I've also dipped into my pile of designer paper scraps for my design.  An OLD Cuttlebug embossing folder was used for my background then I simply reached for pink based papers to put together for a design.  The flip side of my sentiment panel is actually the same as the black background/pink roses paper.  I had a couple extra punch out sentiments laying on my work table so instead of stamping a sentiment I grabbed one of them to use ... VIOLA.

 

 

Be sure to pop over and check us out then play along!
If you're a crafter, I'm sure you have some 'Neglected' goodies in your stash
that are just waiting to be loved!

You  have until the 28th to play along!

Thanks for taking the time to stop by today!

As always . . .

 

Peace on Earth Challenge #109

 

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 ...

 

 As you can see, I have chosen the deer as my focus for today's card!
There were so many different directions I could have gone today but I ran across this 3D topper in my stash and just had to showcase him!

 

 The background panel comes from an Echo Park  'Gnome for Christmas' 6x6 paper pack and the white snow embossed panel was in my stash of extras so thought it would make a good backdrop for this fabulous buck.    I added a little baker's twine (from my neglected stash lol) for a touch of added holiday color.  

 

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!

Ship-ahoy . . .

 Hello friends . . .

If you follow my blog you already know that I had a wonderful time last weekend attending the Adventures in Stamping Convention (held here in Akron, OH annually) with a couple of crafting friends and then spent an entire day following just sharing our goodies and crafting the day away.

 Friend Laurel purchased this stamp/die set and was kind enough to let Sandy & I stamp/die cut a few for ourselves.   It's from the Blue Knight Stamp Company (one of our first stops at convention where we always partake in at least one of her make 'n takes ... we did 2 this year ... I will share those at the bottom of this post ... using Pan Pastels & Blue Knight stamps).

 Blue Knight Stamps - Ship on the Sea Stamp Set

 Ship on the Sea Die Set 

       

You can see one of the cards I made above and one below.
The background papers are also from the Blue Knight Stamp Co.  They are fabulous and I think I have most all of them (like I need more paper!  lol) AND they are 2-sided.  They certainly made for quick & easy cards.

 

Challenges to share in: 

 Little Red Wagon Challenge #852 - "M" is for Masculine (ends 4/7) ✓
 The Male Room Challenge #209 - Vehicles or Transport (ends 4/15)

The Paper Funday Challenge #86 - ATG  Opt Twist - Die Cuts/Punches (ends 4/30) 

 

Here are the two make 'n takes done at AIS convention mentioned above . . .

 

Pan Pastels are so much fun to work with ... now I just need more hours in my day to play with all the goodies I have available in my crafting cave!  LOL

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

As always . . .

 

Love Those Pretty Papers April 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

SPRING FLOWERS


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 discovered a 12x12 pack of papers from Carta Bella in my stash that I believe was within a kit that I had purchased sometime over the last who knows how many years.  I opened it for the first time today and the papers are beautiful  with coordinating sentiment panels.  I didn't particularly care for what the sentiment said on this one but liked that it matched the paper so die cut Tutti Designs oval and stamped my own sentiment.

 

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

Using up more of my OLD 12x12 designer papers to create sets for my sale boxes.

Challenges to share in:

Cardz 4 Galz Challenge #273 - Spring Flowers (4/16)
Craft Rocket Challenge #135 - Layer it Up (4/30)
Fab'n'FunkyChallenge #634 - Easter / Spring (4/16)

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 . . .

Simply Clean & Simple (4/2026) - Baskets

 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:

 

 Baskets

  

 When I saw today's theme, my thoughts first went to my die collection but then I remembered I had a few toppers that had a basket of this or that and opened my topper drawer to see exactly what was available and found this adorable basket of kittens.  

 

I just love these 3D toppers.  All of them are beautiful and make a quick CAS card.  Today I've used the Hearty Crafts 'Cats' HC13890 topper.   

I had an extra frame cut & hanging on my 'extras' board so popped it up then created a sentiment via computer and die cut it.  Here are the two die sets I've used . . .

    

Paper Rose 'Stitched Rectangle Frames'  #16679

Sue Wilson 'Frames & Tags Collection - Stitched Flags'  #CED4317

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:

Try it on Tuesday Challenge - Make it Cute (4/14)
Unicorn Challenge #119 - Use Dies (4/30)
Crafty Animals Chlg #104 - ATG Animals (4/27)
 Die Cut Divas April Challenge - Birthday or Anniversary (4/30)
The Dream Factory Chlg #148 - Sweet Little Things (4/15)

 Hope to see you at SIMPLY CLEAN & SIMPLE!

As always . . .

Triple B (4/2026) 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 . . .

 

 Product used on today's card:

Brutus Monroe 'EVERafter' 6x6 paper pad (colored the flower centers with a yellow Tombow marker)

 

 Hearty Crafts 'Butterflies on Flowers' (HC9233)

 

 Butterfly Stickers from Hobby Lobby
Simon Says Stamps Sentiment Stamp

 

 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 ...