April 2026 Card Chain Challenge Reveal

 Today's the day for the Card Chain Challenge Reveal of all the cards sent and received in April.  I sent my card to Gail in Canada and received a beautiful tag-card from Dagmara in Poland!

This time I used two of the suggested themes in my card design -Long Ears and Spring!

I embossed the background and rubbed Scattered Straw ink pad over it.  I die cut the bunny pieces and sponged them with Scattered Straw and Brushed Corduroy adding a little Tattered Rose to the ears and nose and glued all the pieces together.  I  die cut the grasses (twice for more width and volume) and sponged them with Peeled Paint, adhered them to the bottom of the panel, spreading the tops out a bit so the bunny could be 'peeking' through them!  I stamped the sentiment on a white panel and adhered it across the top of the panel

We hope you will come and join us for the May Card Chain Challenge.  You'll find all the info on the challenge and how to sign up at the Card Chain Challenge blog here.

You have until May 6th to sign up!

Also sending my card to:

Tic, Tac, Toe

Die cut - Dry Emboss - Layers  ends 5/7

Crafty Gals Corner

Anything Goes - Optional: Spring

Stamps: Inside Greetings: Spring Blessings - Papertrey Ink.
Paper: Soft Stone, True Black, white - Papertrey Ink, water color paper - Better Press/Spellbinders.
Ink: Brushed Corduroy, Scattered Straw, Peeled Paint, Tattered Rose - Ranger Distress, Nocturne - Versafine Clair.
Other Supplies: 3D Plaster Embossing Folder - Spellbinders, Rabbit Die, Grass Die - Magnolia Ink Market, sponge daubers.

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).

Better Press Poppies

 So, I had right shoulder torn rotator cuff surgery at the end of March, and I have been in a bulky sling 24/7 so unable to stamp (or do much of anything!)  My sling comes off next Wednesday. I've already been going to PT and that will continue 8 more weeks.    

But none of the above stopped me from purchasing new stamping supplies!  

So one of my new purchases (after seeing so many of you creating with them and denying that I needed it for a year) was the Spellbinders Better Press.   

After looking at it in the box for two weeks - today I got it out to see if I could play with it with my limited arm use!

I used the Poppy Background Press Plate and Stencil set and the You Are Everything Sentiments Press Plate and Die set - all from BetterPress/Spellbinders.

I found inspiration from the following challenges:

Color Hues

Blue and Yellow  ends 5/14

  

Double D Challenge

Spring Flowers  ends 5/4

The Card Concept

colors blue and yellow and spring

Clean and Layered  ends 5/12

NBUS

First time using the

Better press Poppy Background and stencils
 

Paper:  Better Press Cotton Panel, watercolor paper - Canson Cold Press

Ink:  BetterPress Black - Spellbinders, Ranger Distress Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed and Broken China.

Other supplies:  Better Press - Spellbinders, Poppy Background and Stencils set - Better Press/Spellbindes, You Are Everything Sentiments Press Plate and Die Set - Spellbinders, blender brushes, foam dots, Enamel Dots - Altenew.

Easter Eggs

 I went really CAS with my Easter Cards this year, using a 2" x 3" egg die from Nestability, rub-ons from Taperlogy and sentiments from Waltzingmouse. 

I'm sending my Chick card to:

Double D Challenges

Easter ends 4/13

Stamps: Spring Baskets - Waltzingmouse (retired).

Ink:  Nocturne - Versafine Clair

Paper:  White - PTI

Other Supplies:  Easter Rub-ons - Taperlogy, score tape.

March 2025 Card Chain Challenge Reveal

 Today is the day all of the cards sent around the world for the March Card Chain Challenge are revealed!  I sent my card to Linda in Minnesota and I received a card from Imke in Germany!

This month I used the theme: Stripes and Friendship and the Technique - Layers (layers of die cuts)

Would you like to join in on this fun monthly challenge?  Check out the details over at The Card Chain Challenge blog.

You need to sign up by April 6th for the April Challenge!

FYI -  I had surgery on my right shoulder for a torn rotator cuff on March 26th and I'm 6 weeks in a sling so can't stamp or leave lengthy comments on your blogs for a bit!  I have done all of my DT posts ahead for the next two months so I will have posts on my blog!

I'm also sending my card to:

NBUS

first time using this lovely Little Blooms die set from Spellbinders.

The Paper Players

vertical line on left - flowers, diecut, lavender

Paper:  white, Aqua Mist, Lilac Grace, Green Parakeet, Hibiscus Burst, Sweet Blush, True Black - PTI, DP Bitty Big Smokey Shadow - PTI.

Other Supplies:  Little Blooms Dies - Spellbinders, Mid Century Frame Die - Altenew, Label Stickers: Thoughts - Tim Holtz/Idea-ology, enamel dots - Altenew.

Tulips Blooming in Spring

 Spring is on its' way, in my garden and on my card!  The tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths are pushing up out of the ground and will start blooming in two or three weeks!

My card was inspired by Parrot Tulips.

The tulip stencil is a long slim line size - so after stenciling, I cut it down to 5 1/2" x4 1/4" to fit an A2 card.

I used a 'new to me' embossing folder called Plaster from Sizzix which adds great subtle texture..

I sponged over the EF with Soft Stone ink and I used a BG90 (soft gray) Copic over the edges of the white parts on the stems and tulips, just to add a little dimension to the clean white!

The tulips are up on foam dots.

I'm sending my card to the following challenges:

NBUS

First time using the Plaster Embossing folder

Tic Tac Toe

Center Vertical row - Flowers, Spring, Add dimension ends 3/27

Split Coast Stampers Saturday Inspiration Challenge

K. Van Bourgondien Dutch Bulbs - Website

Time Out Challenges

Inspired by the white and red gowns ends 3/26

Stamps: Birthday Basics - PTI
Paper: White- PTI
Ink: Strawberry, Verdant - Versafine Clair, Soft Stone - PTI
Accessories: Tulips Slim Line Layering Stencil - Unity, foam dots, blender brush, Copic BG90

Card Chain Challenge - April 2024 reveal

 Today is reveal day over at The Card Chain Challenge - where all the cards exchanged around the world in April are revealed.

I sent my card to Kath in the UK and I received a card from Jeanne in Minnesota.

Each month we are given options for our cards - a sketch, themes, colors, product/technique.  We have to use one but can use more.

This month I used two of the colors - green and lilac (didn't use silver!) and I used two of the themes - Spring and Friendship.

The images (flower box, bunny and butterflies) are all rub-ons from the Easter Collection from Taperlogy.  The sentiments are all from Garden Sayings from Impression Obsession.

The card fold is called Center Display Fold.

It folds up to 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" so it fits into a regular A2 size envelope for mailing.

View from the back when it's open.

The card fold is called Center Display Fold and I found it at one of Splitcoaststampers Technique Lovers Challenges.  

You will find Sabrina's challenge here.  

And here is her diagram and tutorial that she shared on the challenge. 

You will need a piece of cardstock for your base 8” wide by 5 ½” high.

Score from top to bottom at 2” and 6”.

1 ¼” from the top and from the bottom, cut between the 2” and 6” lines. 

Now score at 3” and 5” between the cut lines, and at 4” above and below them as shown in the diagram. 

The 2” and 6” score lines become valley folds.

The two shorter inner scores and the ones at the centre of the card become mountain folds.

I cut my DP for matting just ⅛” smaller than each cardstock panel I was layering it onto.

So for the two tall side pieces, that was 5 ⅜” x 1 ⅞”.

For the four smaller strips top and bottom, that was 1 ⅞” x 1 ⅛”

For the centre panel it was 2 ⅞” x 1 ⅞”

And if you want to layer the strips on each side of the centre, that was 2 ⅞” x ⅞”

As mentioned in my write-up, when you are adding die-cuts to the centre panel, make sure that you can still easily fold and open the card.

Folds to 5 ½” x 4” so will fit in a regular US A2 envelope.

For metric measurements:

Base is 20 cm x 14 cm.

Score at 5 and 15 cm.

Cut between these two score lines at 3 cm and 17 cm.

Then score above and below the cut lines at 10 cm, and in between them at 7.5 and 12.5 cm

So please check out all of the cards exchanged in April over at The Card Chain Challenge and sign up to join in for May!  You have until May 6th to sign up.

I'm just in time to link my card to:

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers

F is for FOLD It -  ends May3

NBUS

First time using this Garden Sayings Sentiment set

Tic Tac Toe

Ends 5/9

Middle vertical - Butterflies/Free/Patterned paper

Stamps: Garden Sayings - Impression Obsession

Paper:  White - Papertrey Ink, DP Dainty Flowers 12x12 pack - Stampin Up.

Ink:  Nocturne - Versafine Clair

Accessories:  Oval die - Spellbinders, Oval Punch - SU, Easter Collection Rub-ons - Taperlogy