Inkspirational #366 - Word Prompt: Rain

 Today I'm sharing my DT card for the newest Inkspirational Challenge.

This could be an encouragement card or a get well card - I haven't stamped anything inside yet.

The stamp and die set are All Weather Friends from Colorado Craft. I colored the image with Copics

The frame and background was die cut using Emerald Cut Labels and Tag Dies by Spellbinders.

I put the outside frame up on foam strips and the bunny and umbrella up on foam dots.

I just happened to have these raindrop gems!  I found them on sale at Joann's before they closed.  

I knew I'd want them someday!

So please join us over at Inkspirational - and link up your card inspired by RAIN!

This challenge ends on May 8th.

Also sending my card to:

We Love Stamping - April Challenge - Spring

ends 4/30

NBUS

First time using the Emerald frame die and the rain gems

TIME OUT Challenges

Earth, Rain, Pastel, Hope  ends 4/29

Stamps:  All Weather Friends - Colorado Craft.

Paper:  Hammered White - Amazon, Blueberry Sky, White - Papertrey Ink.

Ink:  Morning Mist and Nocturne - Versafine Clair.

Other Supplies:  All Weather Friends Die - Colorado Craft, Emerald Cut Labels and Tag - Spellbinders.  Copics E00, B23, B37, foam strips and dots, Rain Drop Gems - Park Lane (JoAnn).

Bokeh Birthday

 Today I'm joining in on a few challenges with my stenciled Birthday card.

I used a newly purchased stencil - Bokeh Stencil Trio from Waffle Flower.

When I used the two colors from the Color Hues Challenge with this stencil it ended up looking more like a Christmas background?!

But I didn't want it to be a Christmas card (!) so I tried 4 different Birthday sentiments with many mixes of the colors: white/black/green and coral - before finding this Birthday Trio Die from Gina K Designs which made the background look more like a birthday card and I was happy!

 On my first card, I used white, coral and green inks on the 3 part stencil.

On my second card I just used coral and green inks on the stencils.

Sending my card to:

The Color Hues Challenge 

ends 4/29

Just Us Girls

ends 4/29

NBUS

1st time using the Bokeh Stencil

Paper:  White, Berry Sorbet - Papertrey Ink, Caramel Apple - Bazzill.

Ink:  Ranger Distress Abandoned Coral, Mowed Lawn, Glacier White Pigment Ink Pad - Ranger.

Other Supplies:  Bokeh Stencil Trio - Waffle Flower, Birthday Trio Die - Gina K Designs, Nested Rectangle with Square Holes - Rubbernecker (now Brass and Bliss), foam dots, blender brushes.

Inkspirational #365 - Visual Prompt - Cat Mom

 It's time for the next Inkspirational Challenge!

And here's my DT card for the challenge.

I made a birthday card for a friend who has a tabby cat so I used orange/brown colors on the stencils from Postage Collage Meow by Waffle Flower.  The sentiment is from Purrfect Sentiments also from Waffle Flower!

I used the Tufted Embossing Folder from Spellbinders to look either like a comforter or pillow the cat(s) are on!?

Here's what I put on the inside.

So please join us over at Inkspirational and show us how you are inspired by the Visual Prompt!

This challenge ends on 4/24

Also sending my card to:

NBUS

1st time using the cat stencils

 Die Cut Divas

Birthday or Anniversary

ends 4/30

Can You Handle the Pressure

anything goes with embossing  ends 4/22

Stamps:  Purrfect Sentiments - Waffle Flower.

Ink:  Ranger Distress - Weathered Wood, Tea Dye, Wild Honey, Lost Shadow, Black Soot, Nocturne - Versafine Clair.

Paper:  White, Soft Stone, Bright Buttercup - PTI

Other Supplies:  Postage Collage Stencil Meow,  Postage Collage Die - Waffle Flower, Tufted Embossing Folder - Spellbinders, yellow enamel dots - Altenew, Blender brushes, foam dots.

March 2026 Card Chain Challenge Reveal!

 Today is the day we see all of the cards exchanged for the March Card Chain Challenge!  

25 people participated this month from all over the world!

I sent my card to Lucille in NJ and I received a lovely card from Jeanne in MN!

Each month we are given suggestions for colors, sketch, theme options, and product/technique Options.  You only need to use one of the suggestions or you can use as many as you feel creative about!

This month I just went with one of the theme options - Home.  ETA - also technique patchwork and stamps! 

My card is 5" x 5" but the bird will fit on 4 1/4"x 5 1/2"

I made the bird by layering thin strips of DP (1/4" or less x 4 1/2")  over a  4 1/2" square panel of white card (I save all the little strips of DP that I cut off when making cards!)

Then I die cut the panel using Bird Silhouette Bigz Die from Tim Holtz/Sizzix (there are a few available on Ebay) I layered it over a panel of Untamed Meadow DP from Unity.  I stamped the sentiment from Backyard Friends (Ellen Hutson/Retired - there's one set available on Ebay!) on a piece of white card cut with a 1 1/2" circle punch.  I added a black bead for it's eye, colored the beak with a black Copic and added 3 yellow acrylic dots to the sentiment!

We'd love to have you join us for the April Challenge, you'll find the challenge and all the details on how to sign up and join in over at The Card Chain Challenge Blog.  

Sign up for April ends on 4/6.

Also sending my card to:

Allsorts Challenge

Spring time or anything goes   Ends 4/10

The Paper Players

Die cut, flowers, Layers diagonal  

Could also be diagonal  sentiment, Flowers, Circle!

or - circle, patterned paper, layers!  Trifecta!  ends 4/3

Snippets Playground

I used left over strips of DP for my die cut bird  ends 4/11

Just Us Girls

Stamps: Backyard Friends - Ellen Hutson - retired (1 available on Ebay)
Ink: Nocturne Versafine Clair
Paper: White PTI, strips of various DP from stash.
Other Supplies: Bird Silhouette Bigz Die - Tim Holtz/Sizzix retired (a few on Ebay), 1 1/2" circle punch - SU, enamel dots - Altenew.

Inkspirational #364 - Clean and Simple - Optional E is for.....

 It's time for the next Inkspirational Challenge #364!

And there is an Optional Twist -  E is for ...???

So I made my card CAS and it's an Easter Card!

I simply stamped the bunny and sentiment from Hipster Stamp and Stencil Set from Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous onto a panel of water color card.

I used my Misty to stamp it as water color card has a texture and you usually need to stamp a couple of times to get good coverage.

I used Sand Dune Versarfine Clair ink on my first card - thinking 'brown bunny'!

Then I wanted to try some brighter 'Eastery' colors and used Hawthorn Rose and Arctic Versafine Clare on these two below.

We'd love to have you join us and show how you do CAS and maybe use the Optional Twist: E is for....?

You'll find Mr. Linky and some lovely inspiration from the rest of the team 

over at the Inkspirational Blog!

This challenge ends on April 10.

Also sending my card to:

Double D Challenges

ends 3/29

Creative Inspirations: March

Cute Critters  ends 3/31

AAA Cards

ends 3/28

AAA Cards

ends  4/11

Stamps:  Hipster Stamp and Stencil Set - Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous.

Paper:  Water color card - Spellbinders

Ink:  Sand Dune, Arctic, Rose Hawthorn - Versafine Clair.

Other Supplies:  Misty

An Embossed Floral Birthday

 Today I made a card for the latest Color Hues challenge.

I've had this lovely Rosemal Reflections embossing folder from The Greetery for a month or so and it's been sitting beside my worktable just waiting to be played with - so today was the day! 

I love the beautiful detail on this embossing folder- but it's bigger than an A2 card  so you miss the pretty floral in the center on top and bottom.   Several of The Greetery's releases have larger than A2 card designs (they say it's for an A2 or 5x7 card)  and I can't figure out why they did that.....?! 

I embossed a panel on Harvest Gold card (for the marigold) and die cut the frame out of Royal Velvet (for the purple) and added two sparkly purple gems.

The sentiment is from Rosemal Reflections Sentiments set that are all curved to fit on the ribbon in the center of the embossing.

Also sending my card to:

NBUS

1st time using the embossing folder and frame die

AAA Birthday

Use Die Cuts  ends 3/31

Stamps: Rosemal Reflections Sentiments - The Greetery
Ink: Royal Velvet - PTI
Paper: Harvest Gold, Royal Velvet - PTI
Other Supplies: Capsule Basics Dies, Rosemal Reflections Embossing Folder - The Greetery, purple dots from stash,

Painted Stones - Florals

 I've been learning a new craft, painted stones, after seeing many posts of them on FB - and then, of course, I searched for them on Pinterest for more inspiration.  

So the latest Just Us Girls challenge called my name!  

I did check the challenge rules and it doesn't say it has to be a card!

I am a beginner stone painter do I didn't try to make the blooms as detailed as the inspiration. It might be easier to add detail with actual acrylic paints and small brushes but I have lots of POSCA pens so just use those.  

I was inspired by the flowers on the two largest stones and the black background.

The acrylic spray makes them SO shiny - it's hard to get a photo without some glare. 

(the bits of white on the edges are reflections of light)

I use POSCA and other acrylic paint pens to draw and color my stones -  some have fine points.  I buy the stones from Amazon 2-3" smooth stones - I buy both natural and painted white stones.  After the painting is dry (a few hours or overnight) I spray them with 2 coats of  Krylon Acrylic Spray - letting them dry at least 2 hours between sprayings.   

This is how the stone looks before painting and spraying.

You can see how the acrylic spray makes the background look black where ever I didn't paint- it's like magic!  

Just Us Girls

ends 3/25

Supplies:  2-3" smooth stones - Amazon, POSCA Pens and other brands of acrylic pens (some have fine tips), Krylon Acrylic Spray.