ATS&M Challenge #505 - Die Cuts and Stencils

 I decided to pull out a mix of supplies for the latest challenge over on the Addicted to Stamps & More Blog. Aside from the “sweet home” sentiment, everything on this card fits perfectly with the die cuts and stencils theme! It turned out to be a fun, fall-inspired design to share with a friend who just purchased a new home.

I started with an Altenew embossing folder background to add some texture and visual interest. Next, I inked up a few Altenew die-cut leaves, a flower, and a pumpkin for that cozy autumn feel. The “home” sentiment and matching roof die (from Papertrey Ink) were each cut four times and stacked together for extra dimension.

To complete the sentiment, I heat embossed the remaining words in rich brown embossing powder for a warm, seasonal touch. A few gold sequins sprinkled around the card finished everything off with just the right amount of shine.

I hope you are able to join us for the AST&M team for this challenge.  Can't wait to see what is added to the gallery.   Thanks for stopping by my blog. In kindness, Cathy

Dragonfly Dreams November 2025 Challenge - "Feminine"

The November Dragonfly Dreams Challenge Blog theme is “Feminine,” so I decided to focus on a few classic, feminine-inspired touches—soft colors, ruffly edges, and of course, a little pink!

For my card, I used the Layered Mistletoe Bundle from Gina K Designs. I love finding ways to get more mileage out of seasonal sets, so I challenged myself to create something that could work year-round. By varying the colors of the berries, softening the greens of the leaves, and using an everyday background paper, this holiday set takes on a whole new look. I even flipped the ribbon over to show its softer side!

To start, I used one of Gina’s Poly-Glaze Sheets with silver foil—so pretty and delicate! Then I added stenciled details to build some texture and depth. The leaves are a gentle sage green, the berries a yummy blue, and the bow a sweet blush pink. The mistletoe cluster is popped up with foam for a bit of dimension, and I finished it off with a few sequins and a foiled sentiment for sparkle.

A soft, feminine design that still feels fresh and versatile—perfect for this month’s challenge!

I hope you have time to join us this month!  Thanks for stopping by my blog.

In kindness, Cathy

Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge #504 - Any Occasion

 Any Occasion is the theme of Challenge #504 on the Addicted to Stamps & More Blog.  I have to admit that my card is a complete CASE of Kristina Werner's sweet, romantic wedding card from her blog at the end of August.  I have a wedding coming up for a niece and this was the perfect card, so I bought the Long Line Roses stamp to replicate Kristina's card. I picked up the stencil, too.  A video from Kristina's You Tube channel explains how to make this 5x7 card.  The gold embossing and narrow gold foil frame make it such an elegant card. I admire Kristina's work and her creativity, so it was a joy to watch her video and give this a try for myself.

I didn't stop with the wedding card and have created three other cards with the set- some are still "in process".  I finished an A2 size card using VersaMark ink and gold sparkle embossing powder for the card below.  The same general layout resulted in a quick and easy Christmas card - which extends the use of the stamp! 

I can see using this set for a variety of occasions!  I'm thinking about buying the dies!  Hope you make time to link up a card in the challenge gallery.  Thanks for stopping by my blog.

In kindness, Cathy

{BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2025 Linky Party - Day 4

 Back with another card to share for the {BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays Linky Party. This one uses some of the products I have been playing around with from sponsor, Gina K Designs Christmas in July card kit.  

The strand of lights and sentiment are from a set called, "Let Your Light Shine," which has a stamp, die, and stencil.  There are also poly glaze foiling sheets for the set!  I used green foil for the light strand and a silver star foil for the sentiments.  I love how the light bulbs look on this card!  A detail blending brush allowed me to concentrate color near the light base.  

I had the white die cut tree and star base in my stash from a Pinkfresh Studio class and the green tree was from the same class.  I added some baubles to it for color.  The green glitter paper was a "find" from the dollar store. I like how it looks behind the die cut base.

I hope you will join us for the Linky Party!  There are still 3 days left to add your holiday card to the gallery and be eligible for the prize drawing!  Thanks for stopping by my blog.

In kindness, Cathy

P.S.  Here is a card I posted earlier today on Instgram using the same light strand but I kept the lights all yellow and then used gold glitter glaze on top.  I love how the Penny Black Christmas Edger Die works on an angle!

 

{BYSHC} 2025 Fall Into Christmas Linky Party - Day 1

Welcome to the first day of the {BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2025 Linky Party!  You can read more about all of the festivities, the sponsors, prizes, and find the link to add your card to the gallery on the BYSHC Blog.  The Fall Linky Party is the last of three we have during the year and it is a great chance to make a dent in your holiday card-making!

My first card features several products from one of our generous sponsors - Taylored Expressions.  The houses are Home for the Holidays Foil It, stencil, and die plate combination.  I picked the set up last season and have debated whether it needs to stay in my collection, but after making this card I know it's a keeper!

For the background, I used TE's Diamond Embossing Powder with an old favorite from my stash: Hero Arts Tiny Star background stamp. I've had it for years and still love to bring it out for holiday cards.  I used TE's Oval Masking Stencil to darken an area behind the houses and help create some contrast.  

The tall green trees are from the Through the Trees stamp set (also from TE) and then fussy cut.  The smaller green trees were cut from a house I didn't end up using, but they worked to help build the scene.  The snowy hills are made from white glitter paper with some soft ink blending for shading. To finish the card, I added a few more trees and a sentiment I had waiting on my desk. 

Choosing colors for stenciling the nine houses can sometimes leave me feeling stuck. One thing that has helped is keeping a finished reference set with the stamps. I can bring it out when creating a new card, which makes it easier to decide on color combinations for each house. It does take a bit more time, but it's definitely worth it. I have to say—this card is one of my favorites of the season!  I hope you will play along with us this week! Thanks for stopping by my blog!

In kindness, Cathy

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