Time Out Challenge #323 - Guest Designer Spot

One of the cards I made back in July was chosen as a winner for Challenge #317 at the Time Out Challenge Blog! Not only did I win a prize from the sponsor, but I was also invited to be a guest designer for Challenge #323.

This week’s challenge is a Pick Two challenge, which means we’re asked to choose at least two of the six prompts and interpret them however we like. For my card, I chose circle and gingham.

I went digging through my stash and even pulled out some products from this week’s challenge sponsor, Lawn Fawn, to create my card. My circle element is the Lawn Fawn Reverse Stitched Scalloped Circle Windows, which I paired with their Giant Happy Birthday die and some gingham papers to create a fun shaker card on a square card base.

I brought out my Copic Markers to color a bunch of the Tiny Birthday Friends stamps, then die cut them and arranged them around the card. I love how all those little birthday buddies add so much personality to the design!

The result is a sweet and cheerful birthday card—and although it’s square, it still fits perfectly in an A2 envelope.

I’ve really loved the opportunity to be a guest designer for the Time Out Challenge Blog. It’s been such a fun experience, and I hope you’ll find some inspiration from my card and join us for this week’s challenge! Thanks for stopping by my blog.

In kindness, Cathy

Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge #526 - Make Your Mark

Challenge #526 on the Addicted to Stamps & More Blog is a “Make Your Mark” Challenge, which means featuring inks, markers, colored pencils, or other coloring mediums in your design.

For my card, I used Altenew’s Blue Mountain Fresh dye inks along with a variety of green inks to create the focal image with their Build A Garden Harvest Bouquet stamp, layering stencil, and coordinating die. I absolutely love the beautiful blues in this collection of inks!

One thing I might try differently next time is keeping the flower stamens a little lighter. I may have to dig through my stash and see if I can find my tube of masking liquid—hopefully it’s still in there somewhere!

For the background panel, I used the Spellbinders Better Press Petite Criss-Cross Plate with a warm, deep yellow ink. (It happens to be on sale right now on the Spellbinders site.) I layered a small arch die behind the floral image, then added a variety of bling and a birthday sentiment to finish off the card.

I hope you’ll join us for this week’s Make Your Mark Challenge. We’d love to see what you create.  Thanks for stopping by my blog!

In kindness, Cathy

Color Dare Challenge #720

 The newest Color Dare Challenge is posted, and I hope you’ll join us!

For my card, I used all four of the challenge colors and featured Altenew’s Magnolia Ballerina Stamp and Stencil. 

I started by stamping the image in a light ink so I could easily line up the layering stencils. The result is a soft, no-line look that I just love!

Once I had all of the colors in place, I embossed the image using the BetterPress Petite Criss-Cross Plate. The added texture is such a fun detail.

I finished the card with a simple sentiment from the stamp set and three gold sequins for a little sparkle. I hope you’ll join us for the newest Color Dare Challenge. I can’t wait to see what you create! Thanks for stopping by my blog.

In kindness, Cathy

Dragonfly Dreams September Challenge - Monochromatic Colors

I’m back with the September Dragonfly Dreams Challenge, and this month we’re creating with monochromatic colors!

I recently added some new “toys” from The Greetery to my craft room and have been having lots of fun using them on my cards. For this card, I featured the Shortbread Shapes Rectangle Tiles embossing folder and BotaniCuts Pussy Willow die cuts.

I started by inking the flat side of the embossing folder with a soft yellow ink and then ran it through my die-cutting machine. This technique allowed the raised images to remain white while adding a wash of yellow to the background. I then inked around the edges for a little contrast and added splatters using gold, yellow, and just a touch of brown.

After trimming the embossed piece into a square, I mounted it onto two layers of white cardstock and added it to a soft yellow card base. I tied the pussy willow branches together with a ribbon and placed them next to the die-cut sentiment. A few yellow-gold sequins finished everything off with a little extra sparkle.

I hope you’ll join us for this month’s challenge! I’m looking forward to seeing your monochromatic inspiration. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog!  

In kindness, Cathy

Addicted to Stamps & More #525 - Die Cuts or Stencils

 Die Cuts or Stencils is the theme of the newest Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge, and I had a lot of fun with the die-cutting for this one!

I started with an embossing folder from my stash for my card base—because sometimes those old favorites are just too good to retire! Then the die cutting began. 😊

I layered a Slatted Oval Die from Craft Addiction with yellow paper behind it to create a bright focal point. Then I brought out my Bottled Up Stamps and coordinating die from The Greetery to create the vase. I filled it with a cheerful mix of die-cut flowers from my collection.

I just love how this card turned out! The layering stamps add so much dimension to the bottle and really give it the look of a glass vase.

Now it’s your turn! I hope you have some time to play along with us at Addicted to Stamps & More. I’d love to see what you create with die cuts or stencils! Thanks for stopping by my blog. 

In kindness, Cathy

Color Dare Challenge #718

Today starts a new Color Dare Challenge, featuring four possible colors. For this card, I used all four colors, along with a few neutral choices for the splatters and white heat-embossed sentiment.

For the main panel, I used The Greetery’s Shortbread Shapes Embossing Folder. I inked the flat inside of the embossing folder with blue ink and then ran it through my embossing machine. The result was a fun reverse effect, with the embossed pattern appearing white against the blue background.

I die cut several florals from my stash and tucked them behind the Shortbread Shapes Rectangle Label Die, which I cut from a scrap of patterned paper. For the blue and purple dashed border and the sentiment inside the label, I used Kristina Werner’s Bold Stripes Greetings Stamps.

I love how all the different elements come together to create a cheerful card using this week’s Color Dare combination!  Hope you can play along.  Thanks for stopping by my blog.

In kindness, Cathy

Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge #524 - Any Occasion

 I’m back with an Any Occasion Challenge on the Addicted to Stamps & More Blog!

For my wedding card, I combined a variety of products from The Greetery’s Capsule Basics collection. I used the card-shape die for the base, along with a detail embossing folder that add the double embossed lines and stamp for the outer gold embossed border.

The flower and sentiment are from Kristina Werner’s Long Line Roses stamp, die, and stencil suite. I heat embossed the design using Brutus Monroe’s Gilded embossing powder, which creates a beautiful gold that isn’t too warm or too cool. A few Pinkfresh Studio Gold Dust gems add the perfect finishing touch.

This card came together pretty quickly, and I love how the unique shape gives it an extra-special touch. I hope you’ll have time to join us for the challenge!  Thanks for stopping by my blog. 

In kindness, Cathy

Color Dare Challenge #716

Another fun color challenge is up on the Color Dare Challenge Blog! This week you can add any color of your choice to the two colors provided. I chose navy as my third color and paired it with a new stamp and die set from The Greetery's latest release.

I have to admit I went a little crazy with this release and there are a few new additions to my craft room!  This card, made to celebrate my niece's engagement, features The Greetery's Canned Die along with the Something Fish stamp  and sentiment die set.

I made the mistake of watching the release unfold in real time—which is never good for my checkbook! I wanted almost everything they released, but I did manage to practice a little restraint. I also justified this purchase because, after all, it's not another flower set! Who would have thought a can of sardines could look so cute on a card?

I can't wait to see what color you add to this week's challenge. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog!

In kindness, Cathy

Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge #523 - Birthday

 "Birthday" is the newest theme on the Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge Blog.  It was the perfect time for me to pull out the Pinkfresh Studios Ribbons and Balloons Stencil that I picked up on sale at my local stamp store.  

After inking the balloons and ribbons, I added a layer of glitter gel for a little sparkle before die cutting a few framing layers.  To finish the card, I added a Concord & 9th sentiment and a few sequins.  

This was a relatively quick card to create, but it's full of color and shimmer!  I hope you'll have time to join us for the Birthday challenge! Thanks for stopping by my blog.

In kindness, Cathy

Dragonfly Dreams August Challenge - Beach or Seaside

Welcome back to the Dragonfly Dreams August Challenge! This month's theme is "Beach" or "Seaside," and I had so much fun creating a card for it.

For my project, I was inspired by a shadowbox pop-up card video from Jennifer McGuire and decided to make one to send to my granddaughter while she was away at month-long sleepaway camp. Since water sports are her favorite activity, an underwater scene seemed like the perfect choice for her.

I followed Jennifer's instructions for creating the shadowbox card, adjusting the dimensions to fit an A2-sized card. For the back panel behind the fish, I used Tim Holtz's Dotted Fade Texture embossing folder. After embossing, I inked the raised dots with a darker turquoise than the cardstock to add depth and dimension. The front panel is embossed with the Tiny Twinkles embossing folder from Taylored Expressions.

Like Jennifer, I used the Fun Fish Dies from Simon Says Stamp, along with a variety of greenery dies from my collection. I had fun ink blending the fish to create bright, colorful sea life while keeping the greenery simple so the fish would remain the focal point.

Two of the fish are adhered directly to the background, while the other three are attached to heavyweight clear acetate strips, allowing them to gently move when the card is handled. I think this is definitely a WOW! card, and I'm already looking forward to making more shadowbox cards in the future.

I hope you'll join us for this month's Beach or Seaside challenge! I can't wait to see what you create, so be sure to share your projects in the gallery.

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog, and happy crafting!

In kindness, Cathy

Challenges Entered:

Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

Inkspiration #373 - Beach (Visual Prompt)

The Four Seasons - Anything Goes Summer

If You Give A Crafter A Cookie - Beach

Time Out #318 - Mother Nature

Color Dare - Surprise Challenge!

Teams A and B are combining this week for an extra Color Dare Challenge!  It's an opportunity for you to create a card choosing YOUR favorite colors

Earlier this month, I was asked to make a card for a celebration honoring the Community Manager in our building. The party theme was "You Are Our Sunshine," so I created two cards to give the party planners a choice.

This is the first card I made for Color Dare's Surprise Challenge, where you get to choose your favorite three colors for your card. I picked three of my favorite summer colors—turquoise, yellow, and pink.

I took the theme quite literally with this design, using a small sun die to cut 10 sunshine images. I mounted each one on a small square to create a fun background. The focal point is Lawn Fawn Stitched Sun Die, paired with a die-cut "you" and tall alphabet letters from Scrapbook.com to spell out the word "sunshine." Be sure to check out the second card I created for the celebration here. I'd love to know which one you like better!

I hope you'll join the fun and play along with both Team A and Team B in this Color Dare Challenge! Thanks for stopping by my blog.

In kindness, Cathy