Birthday in Pink

 Happy Monday ... 
Welcome to a New Week!

I have a card to share today that was inspired by the Freshly Made Sketches challenge.  Here is the sketch we're playing with today ...

 And, here's what I've created . . .

 I knew my scraps would come in handy for this design and I chose these three strips.  I wanted to make it a birthday card, especially since I had this Tutti Designs 'Happy Birthday' already die cut and on the work table just waiting for the right card.  

I felt I needed a 'focal point' and up on my accessory pegboard this pretty pink rose from the Paper Studio 'la petites' jumped out at me.  And, a precut ivy branch is all that was needed to finish my design vision.    What do you think?

 

 Challenges to share in:

 AAA Colourful Challenge #24 - see mood board

 

 Lil Patch of Crafty Friends February Challenge #271  - ATG (2/14)
Addicted to CAS Challenge #301 - Pink

 

 CAS on Friday Challenge #327 - ATG (2/18)
Krafty Chicks Challenge #806 - Birthday

 

 Thanks for stopping by ... hope you  have a FABULOUS week ahead!

As always . . .

Fun Technique . . .

 Happy Sunday Everyone!!

I had some time today to just play around and I spotted a card online the other day that I just had to try and replicate ... but of course put my own spin on it.  I'm sorry I didn't write down the artist who created this card but whoever you are, BEAUTIFUL job and you have truly inspired me.  Here is the card that inspired me today . . .

 

 Here are a couple versions of this card that I created . . .

Card #1 

 For my first attempt, I basically copied the inspiration card.  However, I didn't have the same embossing folder but I did have this pretty Lisa Horton 3D 'Floral Frenzy' folder (sadly discontinued) that I thought would work and I'm very happy with the outcome.   The die cut I chose to use for this design is from Frantic Stamper 'Elementals #20' (FRA-DIE-10170).

    

After embossing the front of a white card base, I then die cut my frame from a panel of light moss colored cardstock.  Since the center pops out of the frame, I then embossed that popped out panel using the same folder.  I have the coordinating 'Floral Frenzy Layering Stencils' so used small sponge daubers & TH distress oxide inks to color the center embossed panel.

I'm very happy with this first attempt ... what do you think?

 Card #2

 For my second card, I used the same embossing folder & frame die.  But, this time after embossing the front panel of my card base, I adhered the white die cut frame to the front of my card then temporarily adhered the center (cut out) panel in the middle and proceeded to sponge the outside edge and frame using TH 'Wilted Violet' distress oxide ink.  Then removed the center panel.  

I needed one more card for a 20 Get Well card order, so went with this sentiment flag & small Prima flower.  White Nuvo crystal drops was used for the flower center. 

 Basically the SAME but yet very DIFFERENT one to the other.
Needless to say, Card #2 was the quickest card of the two.

Challenges to share in:

 Cut It Up Challenge #349 - This Makes Me Happy (2/16)  [being inspired by others]
Craft Rocket Challenge #133 - Flowers (2/28) 
Creative Inspiration Challenge #35 - ATG (2/28)
Elliebelle's Garden Party #11 - ATG in/from a garden (2/9)
 The Paper Funday Challenge #84 - ATG (didn't use the option) (2/28)

Thanks for stopping by and as always . . .

 

Love Those Pretty Papers February 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

POLKA DOTS

 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 decided to use polka dot papers from both the Echo Park Dots & Stripes (yellow) pack and the Scrapbookcustoms.com Rainbow Plaid (blue ) paper pack to create the background, after choosing to use this pretty hummingbird topper from the Hearty Crafts 'Hummingbirds (HC12970)' 3D Topper pack. 

 

 Here's a peek at the inside:

A Tutti Designs 'Scalloped Stitched Rectangle' die was used as the matting panel behind this pretty topper.  The sentiment is a stamp & die set from the TON.
 

 

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

I don't like finding lady bugs in my house but I sure had fun creating this cute Z-fold card using the lady bug papers from Echo Park called 'Little ladybug'.   Tutti Designs 'Stitched Scallop Rectangle' dies used for inside panel.  I make so many 'regular' cards that 'It Makes Me Happy' to create something 'off the beaten path' such as this z-fold card.  I should do more like this.

 

 

Challenges to enter: 

 Alphabet Challenge  - U is for Up-Lifting (2/20)
Creative Creases #112 - 2/6 thru 3/5
Cut It Up Challenge #349 - This Makes Me Happy (2/16) [something other than the normal fold design]
Craft Rocket Challenge #133 - Flowers (2/28) 
Dragonfly Dreams February Challenge - Fun Fold or Shaped Card (2/28)

 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 (2/2026) - Greenery

 

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:

 

 Greenery

 

 Here's what I have to share with you today . . .

 

 These beautiful stamp/die sets are from Heartfelt Creations.

My N.C. friend Sandy LOVES Heartfelt and when they were going out of business, she bought a TON of stuff and was kind enough to share a few with me when she came to visit last year.  There are two different stamps used here ... one is just the greenery and the other has the hollyhock flowers on it.  I decided to put a stem of each together and pop up the one with the flowers.  Coloring was done with Tombow markers. 

 

Hollyhocks was one of my grandmothers favorite flowers.
Here's a photo of her in her flower garden  . . .

 

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 . . .

Word Power (2/2026) 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 and I hope the words are encouraging to you!! 

  I discovered a 12x12 pack of papers from Carta Bella (Botanical Garden) in my stash that I believe was within a kit that I had purchased sometime over the last who knows how many years.

 

 The papers in this set are just gorgeous and a full sheet of sentiment to match each of the 4 different color -  3 sheet groups.  This truly makes for beautiful coordinating (and FAST) cards for my sale boxes.

All I simply did today was mat the sentiment panel with a scrap of green card stock that was on the table and popped it up.  VIOLA! 

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

As always . . .

Double D - Vintage / Shabby Chic

 Hello Dear Friends!

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

 

Here's today's theme:

 

Vintage / Shabby Chic

 

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

 

 

 

 I have always loved vintage/shabby chic design as you would know as soon as you walked into my home!  Between my vintage decorated parlor w/Victorian furniture and lace curtains to the tea pot collection atop my kitchen cabinets, this challenge theme was right up my alley!  LOL

 

 Here's what I've had fun creating today . . .

  

My background paper is a sheet called 'Feminine Key' from an old ScrapBerry's 12x12 paper pack ... the Cherished Jewels Collection.  The die set used to mat my lovely Ecstasy Crafts tea pot topper is Sue Wilson 'Cathedral Background' set #CED7101still available on Amazon.  

 

         

 

 

 The little cluster of flowers in the upper right corner I found down inside one of the boxes of stamps in my 'Doni Collection' ... I'm thinking she left it there for me to find & use on today's card!  Sure do miss my crafting friend!!  

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 (2/2026) - Create a Background

 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:

 

 Create a Background

  

 The background was created by using Tim Holtz distress oxide ink with the Tim Holtz 'Flourish' (THS032) stencil.  A scrap piece of purple card stock was used for the dividing line.  This beautiful bird is a 'stain glass sticker' from the Paper Studio purchased at Hobby Lobby.  The double matting for the bird was created using Tutti Designs 'Stitched Scallop Oval' dies.  My Art Impressions sentiment was stamped onto one of the smaller dies in the Sue Wilson Designs 'Stitched Flags' die set.  A few coordinating Nuvo Crystal Drops were added as a finishing touch.

 

   

 

 

For my second card (Anything Goes)

 

 

 

 Stencil used for the left side is a Tim Holtz stencil called 'Splatters' (THS009).
The designer paper & sentiment panel are from the P13 'Coffee Break' 6x6 paper pad (thanks Diane!) and the 3D topper is from Hearty Crafts 'Coffee Cups' set (HC12782).

 

       

 

  

 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 . . .

 

 

Triple B (2/2026) 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 . . .

 

I was recently going through some of my old 'special' dies and came across this old Sizzix (#660025) 'Hearts Step Up Card' and thought it would be fun to create with and use for today's card.

I also found this cute Hearty Crafts 'Birdhouses in Winter' (HC13434) topper.  From there I rummaged through my papers and found and found this red/white polka dot that tied in with the dots around the heart on the birdhouse heart opening.  

It just all seemed to come together ... the birds, the heart on the birdhouse, the hearts on the die ... and of course I just happened to have a sentiment die that worked perfectly too.  

It's a GOOD CRAFTING DAY!!

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.

 

Challenges to share in:

Creative Creases #111 - ATG w/fun fold (2/5) ✓
Inspiration Station February Challenge #82 - Photo below (inspired by the colors) [3/2]

 

Critter Crazy February Challenge - ATG Critters (2/25)

Die Cut Divas February Challenge - Red and/or Pink (2/28) 

 Pearly Sparkles Challenge #116 - Hearts (2/30)
Dragonfly Dreams February Challenge - Fun Fold or Shaped Card (2/28)

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

As always ...

 

TOB February 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 found this awesome image online, printed and die cut using the Tutti Designs 'Stitched Scallop Rectangle' die set.  I also die cut a panel of black cardstock and off set the pair.  My 'Love' die is also Tutti Designs and the added hearts came from a Frantic Stamper 'Random Hearts Border' die.  A little hand done doodling around the parameter finished off my card.

Challenges to share in:

Creative Moments Challenge #278 - ATG w/option: Love & Romance (2/12)
Die Cut Divas Feb Challenge - Red and/or Pink (2/28)
The Dream Factory Challenge #146 - Love Actually [love/hearts and/or V-day] (2/15)
 Heart Quest Challenge #82 - ATG hearts w/option: red or gold hearts (2/27)

  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 . . . 

Neglected Stuff (2/2026)

 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 Stuff  I've used today is this Sizzix Framelits Stand-Ups die (#659645 - circa 2013/14) and a very old BoBunny 'Serendipity Collection' 6x6 paper pack.

 

Challenges to share in:

Class Design Challenge #01-2026 - ATG with Optional Twist: Use Circles (2/12)
Creative Creases #111 - ATG w/fun fold (2/5) ✓

 

 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 . . .