February 2025 Card Chain Challenge Reveal

 It's time for the reveal of all the cards sent around the world for the February Card Chain Challenge!  I sent this card to Darlene in Canada and I received a card from Gail in Norway!

This is Darlene's first time participating in the challenge - so Welcome Darlene!  And I hope you'll sign up again for the March exchange!

Every month we are given options to help us with ideas for our cards.  You only have to use one suggestion.   This time I used the suggested colors, the sketch (sort of, I left off all the back layers), a Theme option of Hearts and Flowers and Technique option of die cuts.

And here's my card!

These wonderful blooms made using Fresh Picked Daffodils dies from Spellbinders certainly take front and center attention!   The sentiment was made using the Classic Frame Foil Plate from Waffle Flower.  The enamel hearts are from Altenew

If you'd like to join us for March exchange - check out this post that gives you all the info!  

You have until March 6th to sign up!

I'm also sending my card to:

Little Red Wagon

Tiny Dancer -  I used tiny enamel hearts on my card. ends 3/3

Paper:  Lemon Tart, Summer Sunrise, Cocoa Bean, True Black - Papertrey Ink,  Red Hots, Caramel Apple - Bazzill, DP Bitty Big Spring Moss - Papertrey Ink, Silver hot foil.

Other Supplies:  Fresh Picked Daffodils die - Spellbinders, Classic Frame Foil Plate (sentiment) - Waffle Flower, enamel hearts - Altenew.

Inkspirational #335 Mood Board - Inspired Flowers

 Inkspirational Challenge #335 has just posted and it's a lovely Mood Board!

I was inspired by the aqua colors and the florals.

Still trying to follow my New Year's resolution to use things I've had for ages and never used,

I pulled out the Craft-A-Flower Lily die set from Altenew.  And boy, aren't these pretty blooms?!  I didn't think they would still have them, I bought them so long ago - but they do!   I added Silver Wink of Stella on the stamens but it doesn't show much on the photo.  The flower on the right is popped up on foam dots.

This challenge ends on Feb 28th so we hope you will join us before then and link up your card inspired by our Moodboard!   

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

I'm also sending my card to:

NBUS

1st time using these Altenew Lily dies!

Love those Pretty Papers

did not use optional red ends 2/27

Cut It Up Challenge

Flowers make me smile ends 2/17

The Neglected Stuff Challenge

ends 2/28

Paper:  Robins Egg - Bazzill, Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shore, Tropical Teal, True Black - PTI, DP: Untamed Meadow - Unity two shades of textured green from my stash.

Other Supplies:  More Sentiments Hot Foil Plate and die set - Spellbinders, Silver Hot Foil, Glimmer Hot Foil System, foam dots, Silver Wink of Stella.

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. 

Group of Seven Cardmakers - March 2024 - Cover Die Eclipse

 It's time for the Group of Seven Cardmakers March Technique.  This month we are creating using the Cover Die Eclipse Technique.

I recommended this technique to the GO7 after seeing it in a challenge over at Splitcoaststampers a year ago.  You will find a link to a video as well as a list of instructions over at the GO7 Blog.

I made 3 samples today. 

This first one using the Fresh Floral Background Stamp from The Greetery, Layered Plaid Cover Die A - Altenew.

My second card was made using a smaller image (Stiple Rose - SU retired) stamped in the center of a panel with  stripes cover die from Amazon.

And then I tried the technique but with no stamping -  just using two panels of the same patterned paper - one for the background and one cut with an Arched Deco Plate die.  I love how this came out!

Here are some photos of how I made the 2nd and 3rd samples.

1) Take two panels of white card stock (I used white A2 card size, 4 1/4" x 5 1/2")

2) Put your panel into a card positioner and stamp the image you have chosen,  Put the second panel in the same spot in your card positioner and stamp the image in the same spot on the second panel.  

3)  Die cut one of the panels with a cover all die.  Adhere the die cut stamped panel over the stamped panel and  the image should line up.

Then I wanted to see what would happen if I just used the same patterned paper for each panel - no stamping.

1.  Take 2 panels of patterned paper cut 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

I used 2 sheets of 6x6 from the same pack and cut them in the same place on each sheet so the patterns matched.

2.  Die cut one with the cover all die and lay it over the uncut panel

It worked!

To finish this card,I hot foiled the sentiment with gold foil and popped it up on foam dots.

As with any technique - you need to play with the supplies you have to see which stamps/dies work best!

So please join us and try out this Stamped Eclipse technique, make a card and link it up over at the Group of Seven blog so we can all see it!   While you are there - check out all the samples created the the other G07 DT!

I'm linking my Birthday card to:

AAA Birthday Game #59  Geometric Ends 3/31

Die Cut Diva's Anything Goes  ends 3/31

Just a Note Card
Stamps: Fresh Floral Background Stamp, Little Labels Stamps and Die - The Greetery
Paper: white - PTI
Ink: Blue Lagoon - Elements Lavinia
Accessories: Layered Plaid Cover Die A - Altenew, Little Labels Stamps and Die - The Greetery, foam dots.

In this Time of Sorrow Card

Stamps:  Stiple Rose - SU (retired), Simple Strips: Sympathy - Taylored Expressions.

Paper - White, Vellum - PTI

Ink:  Confetti - Elements/Lavinia, Gold Pigment Ink - Color Box, Versamark.

Accessories:  Gonal Stripes Layering Dies - Amazon, Simple Strips Die - Taylored Expressions, Black and White POSCA pens, Gold Embossing Powder, heat tool.

Happy Birthday Card

Paper:  White - PTI, DP Welcome Spring 6"x6" paper pad - Rubbernecker.

Accessories:  Arched Deco Plate die - Poppy, Elegant Occasion Sentiments Hot Foil Plate and Die Set,  Gold Foil, Glimmer Hot Foil System - Spellbinders, foam dots.