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'Funky Challenge #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 (4/22) ✓

 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 ...

 

 

Word Power (4/2026) 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!!  

Spring is on it's way ... YAY!!

 I'm SO looking forward to seeing green grass, spring flowers & sunshine!

Here's quick card I created using images from one of my sticker books ... 
I found the sentiment to be very uplifting!  Hope you do too!

For those of us with 'older eyes' ... here's a close up of said sentiment:

Challenges to share in:

Cardz 4 Galz Challenge #273 - Spring Flowers (4/16) ✓
Fab'n'Funky Challenge #634 - Easter / Spring (4/16) ✓
 

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

As always . . .

TOB April 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 . . .

 

 LOL. . . when I saw the mood board Diane so smartly created, 
'Singing in the Rain' instantly came to mind.  

I've used an image I found online and  showcased it by matting it with a very old Spellbinder 'Heirloom Oval' (S4-447) die.  The card base was embossed and my sentiment was computer generated then die cut using a Sue Wilson flag die.

Hope you like it! 

 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 . . . 

April 2026 - First Cup Challenge

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

We are excited to be celebrating our 1st Anniversary! 

 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 . . .

 

 This Brutus Monroe designer paper created the perfect back drop for my lovely 'Coffee & Tea'  3D Topper by Hearty Crafts.  I just love these 3 dimensional images and they are perfect for the 'LADIES' !  

I spotted a pack of paper doilies hanging on my accessories board and thought it was also a good fit for this image. 

     

 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 (4/2026)

 Hello Friends

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

Anything Goes - Spring

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

 

 There's nothing that makes me smile more than spotting my spring flowers popping up out of the ground after a cold, white winter!!  

My beautiful focus image is a 3D Decoupage die cut sheet by Katy Sue Designs called 'Vases of Pansies'.

   

 For the background I've used a panel from the Paper Rose 'Dear Isabella Patterns' 6x6 paper pack.  

 

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 - Humor

 

Hello Dear Friends!

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

 

Here's today's theme:

 

HUMOR

 

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

 

 

 

 

 I bought a few Unity Stamps 'Pissy Kitty' stamp sets last year and thought they would be fun for the 'Humorous' category of my Craft Show sale boxes.  Here's my card using just 1 of the 3 sets I purchased.

 

 

 

I know so many people that this card would fit ... do you??  LOL 

 

 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 . . .

 

Inspired by others . . .

 Hello Friends . . .

WOW what a fun & busy weekend.  Had such a great time with a couple girlfriends the past couple of days shopping at the Adventures in Stamping convention, lunches, dinners and a whole day of crafting ... shew!  I'm, exhausted!! LOL  And, sad it over!  

I'm still working on putting together a few things from our purchases to share with you but in the meantime, early last week I was scrolling through some FB reels and saved a couple card making videos that inspired me and here's my take on one of those cards/videos.

 First is this beautiful 'cross card' by Stamptastic Designs and here's the FB Reels link:  https://www.facebook.com/reel/2350258975449749

 

I need to quickly make a couple more of this design and get them in the mail for Easter cards ... good grief, time is getting away from me this year!!! 

 

 I hope you're able to open the reel but if not, this one isn't too hard to figure out on your own.  After making my card base, I made it into a Z-fold card by scoring in from the outside edge (front cover) 1-1/2" and folded it back.  I cut another 1-1/2" white (scraps) panel to be used for the horizontal cross panel.  Also using scraps I cut a narrower strip of white, embossed it with one of my folder to create the cross.

You can use what ever designer papers you wish, as well as the sentiment, embellishment.

 There is SO MUCH inspiration out there from other crafters, I'm truly enjoying creating my version of their vision!  Give it a try why don't you!?!

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

As always . . .

Birthday wishes . . .

 

 Hello friends . . .

Another month is quickly drawing to a close and while playing with some of my new Lisa Horton 3D embossing folders, I created this card and wanted to quickly get it entered into the Alphabet Challenge where the theme is X for X-Ray - Black & White only. 

 The Lisa Horton folder I've used was purchased over the weekend at the Stamplistic store located about 45 minutes from my house in Broadview Heights, OH.  This one is called 'Corner Hydrangea' and comes with a coordinating outline cutting die.

The sentiment is from the Stampendous 'Birthday Messages' stamp set and Black Nuvo Crystal Drops were used for the floral centers and accent.  A thin strip of b/w gingham ribbon & Prima flower were the only extras needed to complete today's card.

Here's a closer look at the embossing ... I just LOVE these 3D folders!! 

 

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

As always . . .

Just for You . . .

  

 Hello friends ... Happy Sunday!

Today's a busy day for me but wanted to share a quick card with you before my NC friend Sandy & I head over to the annual Adventures in Stamping convention to see how much money we can spend on new crafting goodies LOL.

But before heading out, the new challenge over on the Sunday Stamps blog ✓ spoke to me the other day and I wanted to make a quick card to share.  Their challenge (ends 4/3) is called 'Oval Things' and here's the sketch they have to share.

 

 For my background, I've used a panel from the Mintay 'Springtime' 6x6 paper pad.  The oval medallions are from an old Spellbinder die set called 'Opulent Ovals' (S5-160).  Like I said, this is a VERY OLD set and I don't see where it's available anywhere online ... sorry!

 

I've stacked the two larger medallions together then placed a K&Company dimensional flower sticker in the center as the focus image.  My sentiment is from the 'So Happy' Altenew stamp set and was die cut using the Sue Wilson 'Stitched Flag Frames' die set.  Nuvo Crystal Drops were used for added dimension.   

 

Other challenges to share in:

 Path of Positivity Challenge #139 - ATG w/twist - Use 3 Gems  (ends 4/5) ✓
Papercraft Challenges #128 - Joy of Spring  (ends 4/14) ✓

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

Can You Handle the Pressure - Twist - Kids

 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 ...

Kids

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 ...

 

 I spotted these puffy stick on critters hanging on my accessory wall and thought they'd be cute for a kids card (specifically my great grandson Charlie) climbing up the wall with their googlie eyes!  LOL

 

 I've used an old Darice brick wall embossing folder, the sentiment is Sue Wilson and the ivy vine was laying on the work table so added it too.

  

 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 . . .