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.

January Inspiration Team - Using Eileen Hull's Sizzix dies on Card Designs

 This month Eileen Hull's Inspiration and Educator Teams are creating cards using her Sizzix Dies.  You'll find them gathered every Wednesday on Eileen's blog.

I made two cards for my post today.

A Valentine using Eileen's Mitten Box Die.

(See the mitten box I made on my previous post here.)

A new home card using the smaller tag house die from her House Ornament  Die.

(See how I used this little house tag on a summer card on my previous post here.)

It's always fun to figure out how to use the dies you purchase in perhaps unthought of ways!

Please check out Eileen's blog every Wednesday in January to see how her Teams use her dies for cards.

I'm linking my mitten card to:

The Card Concept

My card is clean and layered

Mitten Valentine

Stamps:  Happy Valentine's Day from Perfect Match - Papertrey Ink, Sending Warm Fuzzies from Hero Arts set CL342.

Paper: White - PTI, DP Sweet as Sugar - Reverse Confetti.

Ink:  Obsidian - Altenew

Accessories:  Mitten Box Die - Eileen Hull/Sizzix, Skinny Strips Dies - Neat and Tangled, Nested: Pinked A2 die - PTI, foam dots.

New Home

Stamps:  A Cottage Home - Waltzingmouse (retired)

Paper:  White, True Black - Papertrey Ink, DP Farmstead Harvest Mat Stack - DCWV, Kraft Stack Classic - Tim Holtz/Idea-ology.

Ink:  Obsidian - Altenew

Accessories:  House Ornament Die - Eileen Hull/Sizzix, Noted: Scalloped Square Die - PTI, foam dots, Oval Punch - SU, Clay hearts - The Greetery

September CAS Stencil - Use Baby Wipes!

This month I'm honored to be the hostess for the September CAS Stencil Card Challenge.  My challenge is to use baby wipes with your stencils.

There are 3 techniques that I found on the topic (they are also linked over at the CAS Stencil Challenge Blog).

One uses Distress Inks, one uses Pan Pastels and one uses acrylic paint - but feel free to use another technique you may know about and share it with us!  It just has to involve baby wipes and stencils!

Techniques:

Baby Wipe over a Stencil laid over a Distress Ink background: YouTube - Ali Loves Cardmaking

Pan Pastels over a stencil and wiped with a baby wipe:  YouTube - Carolyn Dube

Acrylic paint, stencils and baby wipes:  (no video just a description below)

Since I am the hostess this month - I felt I should show you two different techniques to inspire you!   I used the same stencil and card design on both - but different materials to create the stenciled panel.

Here are some process photos for each card. 

For the card on the left above, I sponged Ranger Distress Mowed Lawn and Broken China over a panel of white card stock. 

I laid the stencil over the panel in the location I wanted it.  I used the same Portal Shutters Stencil from Stencil Girl for both cards.  This is a 6"x6" stencil with 4 different windows/shutters on it.

Then I dabbed/rubbed over the stencil to remove the ink with a baby wipe.  Don't press too hard as you can rub off the paper!  And be sure your Baby Wipe isn't dripping water or it will seep underneath the stencil! I could see when the ink was being removed - and I lifted up an edge to see if the stenciling was clear enough before removing the stencil completely.

So here's the result.  I heated it just a bit with my heat tool to dry it.  Drying also reveals the stenciling a little more.

To finish this card, I die cut the panel with a stitched edge square die, mounted it to a slightly larger panel of Tropical Teal card.  I die cut a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" piece of white card and die cut it with Halftone Cover Die from Altenew.  I stamped the sentiment from Happy Village by Lawn Fawn on a white strip and layered it below the stenciled panel.  I punched a heart out of some blue vellum I found in my craft room (!) and adhered it with a tiny piece of ScorTape just at the top of the heart.

Here's how I created my 2nd card - on right at the top of my blog post.

I put drops of 3 acrylic paints on my white card stock panel.  I found that using inexpensive acrylic paints like you get at Michaels or JoAnn worked better than then my more expensive Paper Artsy paints (which did not rub off!)

Then I spread the colors with my brayer over the panel.  Just roll up and down - you don't want to mix the colors too much.

Again, I used one of the windows on the Portal Shutters Stencil from Stencil Girl. 

 (Lay the stencil over your panel quickly - you don't want the paint to dry too much or it won't rub off.)

I wiped over the stencil with a baby wipe until I could see the paint was being removed.

And here is the result - the top layer of paper tore off in a tiny spot when I removed the stencil there at the bottom center below the stenciling - I guess the paint stuck to the stencil - but luckily it was just a spot and just adds a little more to the distressed look!?

I finished off my card in the same way I did the first one.

So there you have two ways to participate in the CAS Stencil Card Challenge!  Easy, right?!!  I can't wait to see how you use baby wipes with your stencils.

You'll find the challenge, lots of inspiration from the Design Team as well as our guest designer this month, the very talented  Sarah, over at CAS Stencil.  You have until 9/24 to link up your CAS design!

I'm linking my card to:

Make My Monday Challenge

Use shapes on your card

1st Card
Stamps:   Happy Village - Lawn Fawn
Paper:  White, Tropical Teal - PTI, Watercolor Vellum - Making Memories.
Ink:  True Black - PTI, Ranger Distress Broken China, Mowed Lawn.
Accessories:  Portal Shutters Stencil -Stencil Girl, baby wipes, sponge and blending tool applicator- Ranger, craft mat, Stitch Mat Squares Die - Lil Inker Designs, Halftone Cover Die - Altenew, Heart Punch - Marvy.

2nd Card
Stamps:   Happy Village - Lawn Fawn
Paper:  White, Amethyst Allure - PTI, Watercolor Vellum - Making Memories.
Ink:  True Black - PTI.
Accessories:  Portal Shutters Stencil -Stencil Girl, baby wipes, Americana Acrylic Paint Mint Julep Green, Wild Orchid, Cadmium Yellow - JoAnn, craft mat, Stitch Mat Squares Die - Lil Inker Designs, Halftone Cover Die - Altenew, Heart Punch - Marvy Uchida, breyer.

Felt Embroidered New Home

Today I have a project to share that I made using another of Eileen Hull's new dies that were introduced at Creativation in January.  For this project I made a stand up card using her House/Pocket Stitchlits die and the LOVE from her Word Stitchlits dies

I started by making the base of the card using Eileen's Mailable Frame die that I cut out of Cream Little Sizzles Mat Board and layered a piece of wood grain patterned paper over it.

I die cut the house and decorative pieces out of felt and glued them together.  The die cuts holes along the edges of the house so it is very easy to embroider a blanket stitch around the edges which I did with red embroidery floss.  I die cut the love over the door and embroidered that as well.  I added a little flower brad to the door as a cute little door handle.

I adhered the house to the front of the Mailable Die cut and stamped a new home sentiment inside.

Wouldn't this be a fun and impressive card to send to someone in a new home?!

You can also use this die to make a little purse by cutting two pieces of the house, cutting off the roof of one (just below the roof line - so you're left with a rectangle), layering the two pieces together (with the rectangle in front) and folding down the roof piece of the back for the purse flap!

  

You will find examples of the purse made by some of the Creative Team over on Eileen's blog where she will be posting our projects during the month of March!

I'm linking my card to:
Happy Little Stampers

 

WMS Team Talk Post

It's my turn to post over at the Waltzingmouse Team Talk Blog.  

Here's a snippet of my card:

I'd love if you'd take a peak over there!  Thanks so much for stopping by - and I hope you have a super weekend!

Waltzingmouse Products used:
Stamps:
A Cottage Home
Funky Flowers
Gift Card It
Dies:
Stitched Tag Dies

New Home Congrats Tag

I have a tag to share today that I made using a Mega Mat die from PTI rather than a tag die.  I also used another die and stamp set that I haven't used since purchasing it almost a year ago (the stamp set is only $5 and the die is only $3!). It's called  Polka Dot Parade #10 by PTI.  Because they are clear stamps - I could bend the congrats one to stamp it on the curve.

I die cut two Mega Mats -  die cut the house and roof out of one of them and then layered one mat over the other.  I stamped on the cut outs and inserted them into the openings on the top mat.  I love the look of the inlaid die cuts - so fun!  On the back of the tag I stamped "where your story begins' from the same stamp set.

My new home tag was inspired by the latest Tag You're it challenge.

Stamps:  Polka Dot Parade #10 - PTI
Paper:  White - PTI
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Tangelo, Bamboo Leaves and Rosebud
Accessories:  Mat Stack 3 die - PTI, Cropadile, Honey Dew and Pink Sorbet Twine - The Twinery, Polka Dot Parade #10 die set - PTI, home made enamel dots from Perler beads, Glue N Seal - Ranger, foam dots.

Home Sweet Home

I've been wanting to use my Alterations Artful Dwellings die for quite a while - and today I finally got it out!  This cute New Home card was so easy to put together!

The die cuts all 4 of the dwelling shapes.  I attached them by laying them down side by side on my work table with just a little space between each one so they could fold over each other.  I ran a piece of Idea-ology Tissue Tape across all 4 pieces - then wrapped it around the back over each panel to where I started.  Here's the view from the back when it's opened up.

Here's how it looks folded up. It's small enough to be mailed in a regular A1 envelope.  Kind of cute isn't it?!  (It actually folds flatter - but I opened it a bit so it would stand up!)

I was inspired to make my house card by this month's Virginia's View Challenge - Shape Card

and I used stripes on it for the Cas-ology Cue card - Stripe.

The little windows and door were die cut using Tim Holtz Movers and Shapers Mini Openings die and Where Women Cook Windows Die from Sizzix.  The sentiments, front door and little house stamps are from A Cottage Home, A Cottage Christmas and Country Labels 4 from Waltzingmouse.

Stamps:  A Cottage Home, A Cottage Christmas, Country Labelsd 4 - Waltzingmouse

Paper:  Black, Vintage Cream - PTI, DP October Afternoon - Sidewalks and Farmhouse pads.

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories:  Dies - Alterations -  Artful Dwellings, Mini Openings Movers and Shapers;  Windows - Where Women Cook - Sizzix, Sketch Book Tissue Tape - Idea-ology, Glue N Seal - Ranger.