Sympathy Artwork

 I, unfortunately, needed some more sympathy cards for my stash.  So I took the opportunity take out a recently purchased, but not yet used, Postage Collage Picture Perfect Stencil Set and Picture Perfect Details Stamps to make my card.  

The stencil set has 6 different art work images that fit on the Postal Collage Die, so, since I had all the inks out, I stencilled 4 panels.  So, I have a lot of art work images ready to use when the inspiration hits!

  I framed the 'artwork' using a frame die in the Postage Collage Frame Dies set.

The framed artwork and sentiment are up on foam dots.

Sending my sympathy card to:

Just Us Girls

ends 8/12

Time Out Challenges

floral, geometric ends 8/18

Allsorts Challenge

Colors of Summer ends 8/14

NBUS

1st time using the Waffle Flower Picture Perfect stencils and stamps

Stamps:  Picture Perfect Details - Waffle Flower

Paper:  White, Sweet Blush - PTI, DP  6"x 6" Groovy GinghamPack - Unity

Ink:  Light Spruce - Gina K Designs, Sand Dunes, Mountain Mist, Misty Morning, Sweet Blush - PTI, Nocturne - Versafine Clair.

Other Supplies:  Postage Collage Picture Perfect Stencil, Postage Collage Die, Postage Collage Frames Die - Waffle Flower, Nested Stitched Scallop Frame dies - Amazon,  Ideal Moments Sentiments - Better Press plate and die set - Spellbinders.

Card Chain Challenge - July 2026 Reveal!

 Today's the day all of the cards exchanged world wide for the July Card Chain Challenge are revealed over at the blog!

This month I sent my card to Alice in Austria and I received a beautiful card from Greta in Oregon!

Twenty-six cards were exchanged in July.

Each month we are given options to inspire our card designs, colors, sketch, themes, product and technique options.   You only have to use one of the suggested ideas but you can use as many as inspire you!

I was inspired by the Theme - Cocktails this month!

I have had this wonderful cocktail die set Cheers to You by Elizabeth Craft Design for over a year and this challenge gave me the push to finally use it!

I die cut all the pieces out of Water Color Card from Spellbinders and sponged the color on using Ranger Distress Inks. (it's quicker than cutting each piece out of colored papers).  The water color paper adds nice texture to the drinks.  I pretty much copied the samples on the die packaging to help with colors and what goes with what. (!)  

I just love how they came out! 

Would you like to join in on this fun card exchange - you can try it out for August and decide?  You sign up each month so your not committed to do any more than you want to.  You send to the person in front of you on Mr. Linky and the person after you on Mr. Linky sends to you!  You'll find all the details on how to join in at the Card Chain Challenge blog here.

Sign up closes on August 6th

I'm also sending my card to:

NBUS

1st time using these fun cocktail dies!

Allsorts Challenge

Colors of Summer  ends Aug 14

Krafty Chicks  ends Aug 4

Cardz 4 Galz

Word Inspiration: Rainbow  ends 8/5

Stamps: Simple Strips: Background - Taylored Expressions.
Ink: Nocturne - Versafine Clair, Ranger Distress - Saltwater Taffy, Fired Brick, Peeled Paint, Twisted Cintron and Tumbled Glass.
Paper: Water Color Card - Spellbinders, DP Bitty Big Smokey Shadow - Papertrey Ink.
Other Supplies: Cheers to You Die set - Elizabeth Craft Designs, Edge die - Unknown, Simple Strips - Straight Edge die - Taylored Expressions, foam dots, Mini ink blending tool and sponge daubers - Ranger, Copic R29 for the dot on the olive.

Inkspirational #373 Visual Prompt - Beach Scenes

 Time for another Inkspirational Challenge!  #373 Visual Prompt - Beach Scene - a great challenge for the middle of August when we'd all probably like to be at the beach! (Unless you live in the Southern Hemisphere!)

I was inspired by the ocean waves!

First time using this wonderful Making Waves Stencil, Hey Honeycomb Fish Die and Hey Honeycomb Summer Sentiments all from The Greetery release in June.  Inside I stamped "You're FIN-tastic" from the same sentiment set.

I die cut the fish out of water color card and sponged with Ranger Distress Inks.  I punched the sentiment with a 1" circle, then punched a 5/8" and 1/2" circle to look like bubbles floating up.  I added an enamel dot for his eye. The fish and bubbles are popped up on foam dots.

We hope you'll join us and show us your inspired card design using our Visual Prompt!  You'll find inspiration from the rest of the team as well as Mr. Linky over at the Inkspirational Blog!

This challenge ends on Aug 14th.

I'm also sending my card to:

NBUS

1st time using the stencil, fish die and sentiment set!

Cardz 4 Guyz

Summer Theme  ends Aug 17

Time Out Challenges

ends Aug 5

Krafty Chicks

ends Aug 4th

Allsorts Challenge

Colors of Summer  ends Aug 14

Four Seasons Challenge

August - Summer  ends Aug 25th

Stamps:  Hey Honeycomb Summer Sentiments - The Greetery.

Ink:  Nocturne - Versafine Clair, Carribean Sky, Persian Blue - Altenew, Peacock Feathers, Twisted Cintron - Ranger Distress.

Paper:  Water Color Card - Spellbinders, White - Papertrey Ink.

Other Supplies:  Making Waves Stencil, Hey Honeycomb Fish Die - The Greetery, 1", 5/8",1/2" circle punches, enamel dot - Altenew, foam dots, blender brushes.

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.