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 Challenge #350 - Word Prompt Trees

 Today, I'm sharing two cards I made for the newest Inkspirational Challenge that posted today.

I created my backgrounds using two different Northern Lights tutorials on YouTube which I've linked below if you are interested in trying them.

For my first card I found this YouTube Video by Ciara T Designs  - Beautiful Northern Nights.  She sponges vertical lines of blues and green for the sky along with a darker blue and black around the edges.

I used Ranger Distress Inks on this one, stamped the trees in Nocturne Versafine Clair and splattered with water.

For my second card below I watched this YouTube Video by Marilyn G - Northern Light Demo.  She uses two curved horizontal patches of green and purple color along with dark blue and black.

I used Ranger Distress Oxide inks on this one accept for the black which is Ranger Distress.  I stamped the image with Nocturne Versafine Claire.   I splattered this panel with water as well -  but it made a more muted splatter since the inks were Oxides so I then added "star" dots with a white Gel Pen.  

So please join in our challenge and link up your card inspired by TREES over at the Inkspirational Blog where you will also find creative inspiration by the rest of the talented DT!

This challenge ends on 9/26

I'm sending my Oh, Holy Night card to:

Peace on Earth Christmas

Inspired by the blues and trees ends 9/18

TIME OUT Challenges

Winter nights

Allsorts Challenge

Trees, leaves, plants

ends 9/26

Oh Holy Night Card

Stamps:  Silent Night - PTI (retired), 3 Tree Group - Stamp Oasis (Rubbernecker)

Paper:  White, True Black - Papertrey Ink.

Ink:  Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Chipped Sapphire, Evergreen Bough, Wilted Violet, Black Soot - Ranger Distress, Nocturne - Versafine Clair (for sentiment)

Other Supplies:  Blender Brushes, water mister.

Wishing You Peace

Stamps:  Lakeside Cabin - Stamp Scapes, Christmas Greetings - Lavinia Stamps.

Paper:  White, True Black - Papertrey Ink.

Ink:  Chipped Saphire, Wilted Violet, Cracked Pistachio - Ranger Distress Oxide, Black Soot - Ranger Distress, Nocturne - Versafine Claire (for sentiment)

Other Supplies:  Blender Brushes, water mister.

Inkspirational #349 - Add a Tag

 The newest Inkspirational Challenge is up today - 

and here is the DT card I made for it.......with a tag added!

I adhered it to the card with a single foam dot in the center so the receiver can easily remove and hang up the tag if they want to!

The tag is 3 3/4" diameter.

I made 2 more tags using this die set but didn't attach them to cards!

I made the tags using Hey Honeycomb Flower Power Die, Inflated Sentiments Stamp Set, and Honey Comb Balls - all from The Greetery.

So please join us and add a tag to your card design!  

You'll find inspiration from the rest of the talented Design Team as well as Mr. Linky over at the Inkspirational Blog!

This challenge ends on 9/12!

Also sending my card to:

We Love Stamping

Flowers  ends 9/4

Seize the Birthday

end 9/9

NBUS

First time using the flower dies

Allsorts Challenge

Birthday ends 9/12

Stamps:  Inflated Sentiments - The Greetery

Ink:  Nocturne - Versafine Clair, Aqualicious - Altenew

Paper:  Hammered White - Amazon, White, Hibiscus Burst, Hawaiian Shores, Summer Sunshine, DP Bitty Big Pale Peony - Papertrey Ink.

Other Supplies:  Hey Honeycomb Flower Power Dies- The Greetery, Make a Wish Arch Labels die - Spellbinders, Honey Comb Balls - The Greetery, Twine.

Group of 7 Cardmakers - January 2025 Technique

 Today the Group of 7 Cardmakers are playing with the technique of Dry Embossed Highlights over Ink Blending.

You'll find links to a couple of YouTube Videos over at the Group of Seven Blog.

I tried two of the techniques with varying success depending on the embossing folder and lighter colored ink I used over the panel.  

The instructions say to use a white pigment ink to rub over the embossing. All of my white ink pads seem to dry out by the time I go to use them?! I used the one I had on the heart card below this card - but it wasn't very 'juicy' and also picked up the pink from the background.

So, I used Antique Linen Distress Oxide over the embossing on the two cards below.  I used Distress Oxide Seedless Preserves, Squeezed Lemonade and Salvaged Patina on the backgrounds.

A few creation photos for these two using the same embossing folder.

I used an old Colorbox Frost White Ink rubbed over the embossed hearts on the card below -  the pad wasn't very 'juicy' and picked up some of the Festive Berries Distress Oxide ink so the white was not very 'white'!  But I liked the result.  This older embossing folder was not very deep. 

I rubbed my Squeezed Lemonade Distress Oxide ink pad over the embossing, using Speckled Egg Distress Oxide inside the rectangle.

Notes:  I decided to use light Distress Oxide Inks to rub over the embossing on 3 of my designs instead of white (accept on the Valentine) since I didn't have a 'fresh' White Pigment Ink.

I found if the embossing wasn't deep enough, the ink pad I rubbed over the embossing would also get ink onto the un-embossed areas of the card.

I tried 4 other embossing folders that didn't work out either with the colors I used on the background or the thinner depth of the embossing - so keep playing!

We'd love to see what you create using this technique.  You can link up your card over at the Group of Seven Cardmakers blog so we can all come and see them!

I'm linking my Thank You card

 to:

Can You Handle the Pressure

anything goes with embossing ends 2/5

Allsorts Challenge

optional: Close to Nature (flowers) ends 1/31

Thank You and Sympathy Cards

Paper:  White - Papertrey Ink, Gold foil, Silver Foil

Ink:  Ranger Distress Oxides - Seedless Preserves, Squeezed Lemonade, Salvaged Patina, Old Paper.

Other Supplies:  Masking Tape, Flowers and Leaves Embossing Folder - Altenew, Way with Words Hot Foil Stamps (Thank You) - Ellen Hutson, Classic Frame Foil Set (Sympathy)- Waffle Flower, foam dots, blender brushes.

Valentine Card

Paper:  White - Papertrey Ink, gold foil

Ink:  Ranger Distress Oxide - Festive Berries, Frost White - Color Box.

Other Supplies:  Masking Tape, Hearts 3D Embossing Folder - Sizzix, Way with Words Hot Foil Stamps (Love You) - Ellen Hutson, foam dots, masking tape, blender brushes.

Congratulations Card

Paper:  White - Papertrey Ink, gold foil

Ink:  Ranger Distress Oxides - Speckled Egg, Squeezed Lemonade.

Other Supplies:  All Star Burst Embossing Folder - Simon Says Stamp, masking tape, foam dots, blender brushes, Way with Words Hot Foil Stamps (Congratulations) - Ellen Hutson. 

Sept 2024 Card Chain Challenge Reveal of Cards Exchanged

 Today's the day we see all of the cards exchanged for the September Card Chain challenge.  I sent a card to Jo in England and I received a card from Kath in England!

Each month there are options for sketch, colors, themes, and products/techniques. You can use one suggestion - or you can use them all!   

This month I just used one of the suggested themes - Egypt.

Kent and I went to a traveling exhibition of King Tut when it stopped in Boston a couple of years ago.  I knew of King Tut - but not all the particular details of his life and times - it was a wonderful education on this Boy King and his short reign.  He actually wasn't historically well known until they found his tomb in 1922.

So after we saw the exhibit - as a crafter - I went searching for stamps/dies that might be out there - and sure enough  I found Museum Busts Die set by Hero Arts (no longer available but there are some available on Amazon!  It has King Tut, Queen Nefertiti (King Tut's stepmother and mother in-law as he married her daughter, Tut's half sister, Ankhesenpaaten!) and two Grecian busts as well as a column stand.

Please check out this fun Card Chain challenge and join in for October - you have until Oct 6th to sign up!  

I'm also linking my card to:

Die Cut Divas

world card making day ends 10/31

Little Red Wagon

Lady Strange - something different

Allsorts Challenge

800 challenge - anything goes. ends 10/4

Paper: White - PTI, Metallic Kraft Gold - Tim Holtz/Idea-ology
Accessories: Text box generated on computer and laid over photo, Pyramid photo found Googling "Egypt" and printed on card stock, Museum Busts Dies - Hero Arts (retired but some on Amazon), Border Bling: Embossed Skinny Frames - PTI, Be Curious - Label Stickers: Thoughts - Tim Holtz/Idea-ology.

Aug 2024 Card Chain Challenge Reveal - Let's Play a Record!

 Today is reveal day for all the cards exchanged for the August Card Chain Challenge.  This time I sent my card to Mia in Greece and I received a card from Dagmara in Germany! (she sent me one last month too).  Mia hasn't received my card yet even though it was mailed from the US on Aug 8! So frustrating! Update:  Mia finally received my card on 9/9 - yay!!

I used the suggested colors and the themes of  Music and Friendship.

Here is my card closed.

And it opens to reveal a record player.  

You can really spin the record with your finger too!

(No music, but you can sing a tune as you spin it??!!)

I used dies from For the Record by My Favorite things (retired) but search Amazon for Record Player Die and there are a few non brand ones there.

To make the record player base - cut a strip of card stock or DP 4" x 12".  Score at 4", 7 1/2", 8" and 11 1/2".  Fold on all the score lines and adhere the 1/2" end to the 4" panel.  The card will fold flat for mailing in an A2 envelope when you close the 'cover'

To allow the record to spin - I punched a 1" circle, attaching it to the bottom of the record with a small brad put though the center of the record.  I added a few foam dots to the bottom of the circle (not between the record and the circle but on the bottom of the circle) and adhered the record to the player with those foam dots.  Then the record is raised and free to spin.  the SPIN and arrow are from Interactive Labels from MFT.

If you don't want it to spin don't add the circle - just adhere the record to the base with foam dots.

If you'd like to join in this fun card exchange challenge for Sept - you have until 9/6 to sign up.  

You'll find out all the details on how to participate at The Card  Chain Challenge here.

I'm also linking my card to:

NBUS

First time using the Longfellow Quote stamp

Time Out Challenges

ends 9/12

Shopping Our Stash

Just Because  ends 9/9

Allsorts Challenge

Add a Sentiment  ends 9/5

Stamps:  Longfellow Quote - Serendipity,  For the Record - Honey Bee Stamps, Interactive Labels - My Favorite Things.

Ink:  Nocturne - Versafine Clair

Paper:  Raspberry Fizz - Papertrey Ink, Brushed Silver - Stampin' Up, black, green, orange - Kraft Core Core-dinations, DP - Elegant Jungle - DCWV.

Accessories:  For the Record Dies - My Favorite Things, Nested Stitched Scallop Frame - Amazon. foam dots, small brad,  Puffy Hearts - Michaels.