Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge #486 - Make Your Mark

 Back with a new challenge for the Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge Blog.  This one is a Make Your Mark challenge . . . we want you to use paints, markers, inks, colored pencils, or other media which can make a mark!

I used a variety of inks for my card this time.  I started with some new "toys" from Altenew.  I fell in love with the flowers from their Spark Joy: Ornamental Bouquet set which includes a hot foil plate and layering stencils.  I don't have a hot foil system, so I used the hot foil plate like a press plate by inking it up, running it through my machine, and then used the layering stencil for colors.  An old-favorite piece of patterned paper from my scrap drawers pulled all of the colors together as a bottom strip of paper.

I went crazy with creating lots of different color combinations with this set and they ALL look amazing!  It was worth the price of the hot foil plate and stencil set, plus it's coming into tulip season in MN, so I know I will pull this out again!

I hope you will make time to join our Addicted to Stamps & More "Make Your Mark" Challenge over the next two weeks.  Thanks for stopping by my blog!

In kindness, Cathy

Dragonfly Dreams February Challenge - CAS

 This month's Dragonfly Dreams Challenge theme of CAS was chosen by Francesca. I have gotten out of practice with CAS cards so I had to really pull back from adding things to my card!

The flower die cut is called Cheerful Flowers from Concord & 9th.  I die cut it from white paper and a second time from a scrap of patterned paper.  I then did some shading with inks.  The "thanks" is from Gina K and is foiled in gold and backed with white.  I added a little bit of ink behind the flower and a strip of patterned paper to ground the flower. Three pink sequins finish it off.  I am not sure if this is Francesca's version of CAS, but there is lots of white space on this one!!  Hope you have a chace to play along with us this month.  Thanks for stopping by my blog.

In kindness, Cathy

Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge #485 - Die Cuts & or Stencils

 Welcome back to a new Addicted to Stamps & More challenge.  

This one is to use die cuts and/or stencils.

I used a recent Concord & 9th die purchase to create my card.  The main image is a die called Cheerful Flowers, which comes with two flower dies and the sentiment.  The second die is their A2 Thin Frame Dies.  I used ink to shade the flower die and love the color combination of this card!! I was inspired by a kitchen I saw on an episode of International House Hunters!  

Hope you can join us for this challenge.  It will be live for the next two weeks.  Thanks for stopping by my blog.

In kindness, Cathy

P.S. By the way - I need to give a shout out to Concord & 9th for customer service that is "above and beyond".  I can't say enough about it.  They have more than earned my loyalty.

Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge #484 - Any Occasion

 Welcome back to the Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge Blog for 2025! We start the new year with and "Any Occassion" challenge, so I used the opportunity to pull out my BetterPress and a simple alphabet letter plate to create a just-a-note card.

I kept my card pretty simple, using black ink and a rose background paper.  The embellishments are rose-colored and gold. I love the simpleness of this card and the BetterPress plate!  Hope to see you in our challenges in the coming year.  Thanks for stopping by my blog.

In kindness, Cathy

Dragonfly Dreams Challenge - Use Pinks and Purples

I hope 2025 has begun with a warm and gentle start for all of you.  I am starting the year as a new member of the design team for the Dragonfly Dreams Challenge Blog.  I love the idea of a monthly theme challenge where I get to use my stash to make cards!  I have lots of stamps and dies I don;t want to get rid of, but they also don't seem to get used!  This DT spot is great motivation to give my stash some love!

The first theme for 2025 was chosen by Deanne who is asking us to use pinks and purples. I have to admit that is a combination I don't use much, but had fun with this card.  I used a suite of products I got from the Pinkfresh Studios Craft & Connect Event last spring.  It is called Fluttering Butterflies.

I stamped and then heat embossed with white.  I used the stencils, shading with a variety of pink and purple inks for the butterflies and greens for the leaves. The die was perfect for cutting the whole pieces out at one time.  Some sequins in those same pinks and purples from my stash finished off the card.

I hope you will make some time in to get crafty this month and then share your creation in the Dragonfly Dreams Challenge Blog gallery.  Thanks for stopping by my blog.

In kindness, Cathy

Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge #483 - Birthday

The final challenge for 2024 on the Addicted to Stamps & More Blog has a birthday theme.

 I was making a birthday card for my grandson using an MFT die and decided to make three at the same time using complimentary papers and colors.  You never know when someone will ask me for a birthday card so it's good to have some extras around!

I hope you will join our birthday challenge. The ATS&M blog is on a break and will be back with new cards and challenges in January. Thanks for stopping by my blog today.

In kindness, Cathy

Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge #482 - Christmas

 The new challenge theme for the Addicted to Stamps & More Blog is "Christmas," so I pulled out one of the cards I made during my Pinkfresh crafting weekend.  

This card uses a die and stencil for the greenery and a die for the jar.  The jar panel is raised off od the card base using foam strips.  I just love the colors of this one.  I am planning to make another one using more traditional colors.  

I hope you make time to join us over the next two weeks.  Thanks for stopping by my blog.

In kindness, Cathy

Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge #481 - Make Your Mark

 Back with another Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge for the next two weeks.  This theme is "Make Your Mark"- that means use markers, colored pencils, inks, paint, etc. to "make your mark"!

My "mark" is made with inks and colored pencil highlights.  I started with a background stamp I have had for a long time and pulled out an Altenew suite of stencils and dies for the pumpkins and leaves.  This card went to a neighbor who is feeling better after hip replacement surgery.

Hope you are able to join our challenge over the next two weeks, Thanks for stopping by my blog.

In kindness, Cathy

BYSHC - Falling for the Holidays Linky Party/Day 2

 Back on Day 2 of the 

Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers 
2024 Falling for the Holidays Linky Party.

My card uses products from Waffle Flower, one of our Linky Party sponsors.  I was fortunate enough to win the Waffle Flower prize from our last Linky Party, and there was no doubt I would choose the Postage Collage suite of products with my prize!

  

The background is created using random ink blending with their Knitted Background Stencil. The main images are from the Postage Collage Snowman Stencil and cut out using the Postage Collage Die.  I love how versatile the Postage Collage Suite is in creating cards.  Don't those snowmen look like they could be stamps from the USPS?!? I die cut the background using an older layering die from another one of our regular sponsors - Gina Marie Designs. 

I hope you make time to play along with the BYSHC Linky Party.  You can find inspiration in the gallery and a list of sponsors as well.  Remember to share your makes in the BYSC FB Group, and Instagram using the hashtag #fallingfortheholidays2024byshclp too!  Thanks for stopping by my blog.

In kindness, Cathy

BYSHC - Falling for the Holidays 2024 Linky Party

 It's that time of year again!! Fun, Inspiration, and PRIZES with the 

Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Falling for the Holidays Linky Party!

My card uses some great new products from Pinkfresh Studios.  I took their class at the beginning of October and this was one of the cards we made.  I am crazy about the jar and the greenery dies, too. The fun greetings with coordinating dies came with the kit, too.  I think Pinkfresh will be releasing some of the products for the holidays.

I hope you can make time to join us this week and enter your cards in the Linky Party gallery!  There will be a trainload of inspiration and fun all week - plus you get a great the chance to get a headstart on holiday cards! Thanks for stopping by my blog!

In kindness, Cathy

Addicted to Stamps & More - Challenge #479/Any Occasion

 Hi Card-making Friends!  I'm back with another post for the Addicted to Stamps and More Blog. Challenge #479 is Any Occasion. 

I just finished the Altenew Cozy Comfort Retreat and especially love the pumpkin products in the kit.  It's perfect for this time of year.  I used the embossing folder for the feature panel.  The pumpkins are stamped in VersaMark and embossed with gold.  From there, I inked them up using their layering stencil in the set.  The leaves are even part of the stamp/stencil package!

Hope you can join the fun on the Addiicted to Stamps & More Blog.  You have two weeks before the next challenge.  Thanks for stopping by my blog.

In kindness, Cathy