Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge #488 - Birthday

 Challenge #488 on the Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge Blog is all about birthdays!  

This is a card I made for my son-in-law; I knew he would appreciate the humor 

and his reaction did not disappoint!!

The main image is the Mushroom Stems Wafer Die from Simon Says Stamp.  The "shiitake" sentiment is a CZ Design's clear stamp, called Oh Shiitake.  I inked the mushrooms and the caps with a variety of red Distress inks from my collection and then added dots of water.  I love the detail in the mushroom stems and the underside of the tops.  This combination of die and sentiments has so many possibilities.  

I hope you can join our birthday challenge for the next two weeks.  Thanks for stopping by my blog.  

In kindness, Cathy

Dragonfly Dreams March Challenge Theme - Gardening

 Back with this month's challenge from the Dragonfly Dreams Challenges Blog.  The theme for March is "Gardening".  

I have been playing around with cards using an Altenew set, called Spark Joy:  Ornamental Bouquet.  The card base is an embossing folder I have had for several years from Cuttlebug, called Juli's Garden and the foiled sentiment is from Taylored Expressions.  The Altenew set includes a hot foil plate (which I used like a press plate) and a layering stencil.  Here is another card I posted recently using the same set, but in different colors.  I think this could be one of my new favorite sets!!

I hope you will play along with the Dragonfly Dreams team this month!  It's great to start thinking about spring's arrival in my area of the world with the challenge's "gardening" theme!!  Thanks for stopping by my blog.

In kindness, Cathy

Addicted to Stamps & More #487 - Christmas

 Welcome back to a new two-week challenge on the Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge Blog.  The theme for Challenge #487 is Christmas.  I went to my Spellbinders Better Press for my card's main image.

 I kept it simple with just the inked image and used Taylored Expressions arched dies to cut the shape.  The background is made with fun Echo Park papers, some Pinkfresh gold embellishments and a small bow.  The sentiment seemed perfect for the times.

I hope you have time to play along with the ATS&M Christmas Challenge.  Thanks for stopping by my blog.

In kindness, Cathy

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