Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge #503 - Birthday

 The latest Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge is Birthday themed.  I used some things on my desktop on my desktop for this card.  If you scroll through the past 5-6 blog posts, you will see the results of other card I've made from playing with the flower die cuts and the background technique of inking over colored cardstock.  I popped on the sentiments and have this finished card in my birthday collection!  

Hope you make time to join the ATS&M challenge!  Thanks for stopping by my blog.

In kindness, Cathy

Dragonfly Dreams October Challenge - Shaped Card (Not a Rectangle)

 This month's Dragonfly Dreams Challenge is all about at shaped card.  I pulled out my arched stack nesting dies and inked the edges around the card.  Pinkfresh flowers and sentiment from their most recent Craft and Create class are layered on top of an Altenew die cut background.  I hope you will play along with us this month!  Thanks for stopping by my blog. 

In kindness, Cathy

Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge #501 - Make Your Mark

 I decided that inks and layering stencils would work for the "Make Your Mark" challenge #501 on the Addicted to Stamps & More Blog.  I used an older version of Taylored Expressions Create in Quads I received from their Stamp Joy event a few years ago and layered another patterned stencil in two key sections.  I used Distress Inks for my stenciling, so splattering water and ink from a few of the colors in the design added some fun texture.  I really love the technique of layering stencils to give some visual interest to my cards.

I hope you will make some time in your life to play along with the ATS&M challenge over the next two weeks.  Can't wait to see you in the gallery!  Thanks for stopping by my blog.

In kindness, Cathy

Dragonfly Dreams September Challenge - Birthday

You may notice a pattern on the backgrounds of some of my previous blog posts!  I recently, went a little crazy layering ink colors over dark colored papers and used this blue one for my September Dragonfly Dreams Birthday Challenge card.

One of the things I love when I get in the mood to "play" is that ideas keep generating and I find joy in the, "What if I try ___" mindset!  Those sessions often lead to a pile of papers on my craft table.  This card is no exception! 

I think the Altenew embossing folder "sings" with this Simon Says Stamp coneflower die.  Adding the white frame, sentiment and gold sequins finished off the card!  I hope you have some time to "play" yourself this month.  Can't wait to see your make in the Dragonfly Dreams Challenge Blog gallery.  Thanks for stopping by my blog.

In kindness, Cathy

Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge #500 - Die Cuts and/or Stencils

 Challenge #500 on the Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge Blog is to use die cuts and/or stencils.  Well Pinkfresh has done it again!  They have created a layering stencil with accompanying dies to give all of those delicious flowers, and another stencil/die combination to create the brown paper wrap.  

I participated in their most recent weekend of technique classes and this card was taught by the talented Carissa Wiley.  It was a fun class and there was LOTS of colors for the ink blending with those stencils, Carissa really emphasized just creating light and dark areas.  This was my first try.  I have two more in production!  I love that the paper wrap die has slits in it so you can tuck your stems behind.  I have lots more playing to do!  I just need to find some time!

I hope you will join the ATS&M Die Cuts and/or Stencils challenge.  Can't wait to see you in the gallery!  Thanks for stopping by my blog.

In kindness, Cathy

Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge #499 - Any Occasion

 Challenge #499 on the Addicted to Stamps & More Blog has an "Any Occasion" theme. 

My main image is a sweet American Art Stamp rubber stamp from artist, Karen Stolper.  It's one of the few stamps I still have on a wooden block in my collection.  I have always loved the whimsy of this girl and she was a perfect compliment for the colorful background I created after watching Altenew's You Tube video about layering inks on colored cardstock. The bold sentiment die from Cathy Zielske's collection at SSS was just the right size and font to add to the card.  Hope you have the chance to play along with the ATS&M challenge!  Thanks for stopping by my blog.

In kindness, Cathy

Dragonfly Dreams August Challenge - Lots of Layers!

 The first Sunday in August means a new challenge rolls out on the Dragonfly Dreams Challenge Blog!  This month's challenge is "Lots of Layers!"  My card has four layers. I almost went for a 5th behind the flowers, but decided the background would be lost and I wanted it to play into the card design.

I tried a technique I saw on the Altenew blog with a 3D embossing folder and colored cardstock. I ran a piece of orange through my machine and then swiped white pigment ink across the raised part of the image.  After letting the white ink throughly dry, I came back in with other inks and a blender brush to create a colored image. I cut the orange panel out with an old Reverse Confetti die in my stash and mounted it on a dark teal background.  This gorgeous vase has been sitting on my desk for over a year - just waiting to be colored and it was the perfect image for the background.  I pulled in the yellow, orange and some of the darker blues from the background into the bouquet.  I finished it with a white die cut frame from Taylored Expressions, popped on a birthday sentiment and a few yellow-gold sequins.

I hope you find time this month to join the Dragonfly Dreams "Layers" Challenge.  I am looking forward to the gallery! Thanks for stopping by my blog.

In kindness, Cathy

Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge #498- Birthday

 The next challenge on the Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge is a Birthday challenge.  I created this card with an old Greetery stamp set for my granddaughter's 16th birthday.

Lots of stamping took place to get those 16 candles in place!  It's been a while since I last pulled out this set and I forgot how much fun this stamp is to use! I bet if a company made this now, it would come with a layered stencil set rather than so many stamps!! I hope you are able to join our challenge and pop your birthday card into the ATS&M Challenge #498 gallery.  Thanks for stopping by my blog.

In kindness, Cathy

Day 1 of the 2025 BYSHC "Christmas In July" Linky Party!

Today is the first day of the 2025 Christmas in July week of fun, inspiration, and prizes on the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Blog! We have a list of fabulous sponsors for the random prize drawing at the end of the week! 

My first card features a the Nordic Forest Gnome and Nordic Wispy Trees from Poppy Stamps.  I bought both dies last year and am just getting around to using them.  This little gnome is so darn cute!  The photo doesn't show the clear glitter I used on parts of the trees and the gnome, so you will have to take my word for it!  It is there to add some fun sparkle! 
 

I hope you can join in the fun over the course of this next week.  There will be lots of inspiration and it's another good chance to get a start on your holiday stash.  Just add your card to the linky party on the BYSHC Blog! Thanks for stopping by my blog!

In kindness, Cathy

Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge #497 - Christmas

What could be better than a Christmas in July challenge?!?  If that's your jam, we've got you covered because the theme for  Challenge #497 on the ATS&M Blog is Christmas. 

I pulled our my Waffle Flower Postage Collage dies, stamps, and stencils for my card.  I fell in love with the Postage Collage Christmas stencil last season and started working on this card - only to finish it up months later! Has that ever happened to you?!?  I hope you feel inspired to join us for this challenge.  There sure are a lot of Christmas in July sales, products, and challenges on the web!  Thanks for stopping by my blog.

In kindness, Cathy 

Dragonfly Dreams Blog July Challenge - Use Polygons

 Welcome back to a new monthly challenge on the Dragonfly Dreams Challenge Blog! This month's theme is to use polygons.

I had the perfect die in my stash for this challenge - one I picked up on my travels to Arizona a few years ago and it paired perfectly with this sweet Bundlegirl Beekeeper stamp from Stamping Bella.  I colored her with my Copics and used a scrap of patterned paper for her dress.  Did you notice the way I used the cut out pieces from the hexagons as part of my design?  I love how this one turned out.  

I'm looking forward to your take on this month's challenge! Thanks for stopping by my blog.

In kindness, Cathy