Dragonfly Dreams Challenge Blog - April's Theme is CAS

Back with Dragonfly Dreams April’s Challenge, and this month’s theme is all about Clean and Simple (CAS)!

I started my card by inking up a rectangle masking stencil from my stash, creating a focal area. Within that inked space, I layered a few stamped images to mimic a subtle mixed media look while still keeping things clean and uncluttered and then added water droplet splatter.

For the focal point, I added a die-cut butterfly from Waffle Flower’s Mix-n-Match Butterfly Collection, which brings just the right amount of dimension and detail. To finish the card, I included a foiled sentiment from Taylored Expressions for a touch of shine.

I love how this design balances a hint of mixed media with a CAS aesthetic—perfect for this month’s challenge!

Hope you will make time to join our CAS challenge this month.  I am looking forward to seeing your creations in the gallery!  Thanks for stopping by my blog.

In kindness, Cathy

Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge #514 - Any Occasion

Welcome to Challenge #514 over on the Addicted to Stamps & More Blog! The theme for this challenge is “Any Occasion.”

Do you remember when layering stamps were all the rage nearly 10 years ago? I absolutely loved using Altenew’s Oriental Orchid set—it was one of those must-have stamps! While it’s been part of my collection since 2017, it doesn’t get as much attention these days with layering stencils being a newer (and often quicker) option. For today’s card, I decided it was time to give it some love again.

My daughter-in-law is truly a miracle worker with Phalaenopsis orchids. She has several plants in her windows that are absolutely dripping with blooms, and they were the perfect inspiration for this card. Because of the size and number of flowers, I opted for a slimline-style card to give everything enough space to shine.

I stamped one layer of blooms directly onto the card front, then created a second set that I fussy cut and popped up with foam adhesive for added dimension. Since the orchid set didn’t include a pot, I turned to one of my Papertrey Vase Collection sets to ground the arrangement. I finished the design with a die-cut “hugs” sentiment and a touch of bling for some extra sparkle.

I hope you’ll join us for the challenge over the next two weeks! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog.

In kindness, Cathy

Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge #513 - Birthday

Details take center stage in this Birthday Card–themed challenge over on the Addicted to Stamps & More blog. This card, for Challenge #513, is full of them, used in small, subtle ways to add texture and depth.

The stars of the card are Papertrey Ink’s Into the Blooms: Fun Flowers dies and the Vases 13 Mini Stamp set. I borrowed the flower dies from my SIL and die cut a whole bunch from white cardstock, then went back in with inks to add color and soft shading to each bloom.

The vase stamp was easy to fussy cut, and then came the fun part—assembling all of those pieces together. It took a bit of time, but the result is so pretty and full of dimension!

For the background, I used a script die to add detail to the scalloped frame behind the vase. I also inked up a Pinkfresh plate (originally meant for foiling) to create a softly colored background with the texture and feel of an embossing folder.

To finish it off, I added a few sequins and a sentiment before popping it in the mail to another SIL on the west coast. And guess what—it might have actually arrived on time for her March 1st birthday this year!

I hope you’ll join our newest ATS&M challenge. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog!

In kindness, Cathy

Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge #512 - Christmas

It’s time for Challenge #512 over on the Addicted to Stamps and More Blog, and this one is all about Christmas!  I hope you’ll take some crafty time to join us.

I created a 5x5 card for this one, and I absolutely love how the texture turned out!

The background was made using the Poinsettia and Pine 3D Embossing Folder from Taylored Expressions. To achieve this look, I inked up the raised side of the folder with aqua ink before running it through my die-cutting machine. This technique gives such beautiful depth and really makes the design pop.

Once embossed, I may have gone a little splatter happy! I added diluted white paint, a darker aqua ink, some water splatters, and finished it off with a touch of mica spray for subtle shimmer and dimension.

The focal image is a die cut from an oldie but goodie — Chilly the Gnome from Picket Fence Studios. He adds the perfect whimsical winter touch.

To finish the card, I added a die cut sentiment from Cathy Zielske’s collection at Simon Says Stamp, which ties everything together beautifully.

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog.

In kindness, Cathy

Dragonfly Dreams Challenge Blog - March Theme: Butterflies

 The theme for March on the Dragonfly Dream Challenge Blog is Butterflies. I don't have many butterfly stamps in my collection, but luckily I remembered this Wings & Petals Ledger Background Stamp from Unity Stamps. I seriously need to pull this one out more often because I absolutely loved working with it!

I started by stamping the image onto white cardstock. Then I reached for my much-neglected Copics and had so much fun coloring in the flowers and butterflies. There’s something so relaxing about bringing a detailed background like this to life with color.

Next, I pulled out a stencil and lightly inked over the entire image with a soft, pale blue. This added just the right touch of texture without overwhelming the stamped design.

To finish things off, I inked around the edges with brown ink to give the card an aged look. I love how the brown blending softened the pale blue stenciling and gave it more of a gentle green tone. Such a happy accident!

I completed the card with a simple Happy Birthday sentiment to let the background really shine.

I hope you’ll find time to join us this month! I’m so excited to see all of the beautiful butterflies fluttering into the Dragonfly Dreams gallery. Thanks for stopping by my blog.

In kindness, Cathy

Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge #511 - Make Your Mark

Back with another fun challenge on the Addicted to Stamps & More Blog! This time the theme is “Mark Your Mark” — and the idea is simple: pull out those inks, markers, watercolors, or any favorite coloring medium and make your mark! Whether you love bold Copic blends, soft watercolor washes, or vibrant ink smooshing, this challenge is all about getting inky and creative.

For my card, I went digging through some older stamp sets and rediscovered Cup of Friendship from Reverse Confetti. It’s definitely an oldie, but still such a sweet floral set — perfect for coloring.  I stamped the florals and pulled out my Copics — which, I’ll admit, have been seriously neglected lately. Some of them are even starting to feel a little dry (oops!). But once I got blending, it reminded me why I love them so much. There’s just something so satisfying about building depth with layered color and smooth shading.

To create a soft focal backdrop, I used the Nested Elongated Ovals layering dies from Pinkfresh Studios. I cut an oval from vellum and ran it through an embossing folder to add a bit of subtle texture. The embossed vellum gives just enough interest without competing with the colored florals. To frame everything, I used two of the dies to cut a frame from patterned paper. I love how the frame helps anchor the design and draw your eye straight to the bouquet.

For the sentiment, I chose the Kristina Werner's Written Words 2 Stamp and Die sets. The clean, modern font pairs beautifully with the soft florals and adds just the right finishing touch.

This card was such a good reminder to:

• Pull out those older stamp sets

• Use the supplies that have been sitting too long

• And most importantly — make your mark!

Now it’s your turn! What medium will you reach for — Copics, watercolors, distress inks, or something else entirely?

I can’t wait to see what you create for this challenge! Thanks for stopping by my blog.  

In kindness, Cathy

ATS&M Challenge #510 - Die Cuts or Stencils

 We are asking you to show off your die cuts or stencils for Challenge #510 

on the Addicted to Stamps & More Blog.   

Today’s card features the Papertrey Ink Into the Blooms – Fun Flowers dies, and I have to say—I absolutely love the shape of these blooms. One of my favorite things about this set is how easy it is to create completely different looks with just a bit of ink blending. Same dies, fresh results every time!

Truth be told, the flower centers can be a little fiddly. I did use one of the die-cut centers on the pink flower, but for the rest I grabbed my Copic markers and kept things simple. Sometimes crafty shortcuts are the best shortcuts 😉

To finish off the card, I added a Pinkfresh Studio bow die cut that was already sitting on my desktop (don’t you love when that happens?) and paired it with a sentiment from Taylored Expressions.

Now it’s your turn—break out those dies and stencils and join us! You’ll have two weeks to link up your card, and I can’t wait to see what you create.

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog. In kindness, Cathy

Dragonfly Dreams February Challenge - Fun Fold or Shaped Card

Welcome to February’s Challenge at the Dragonfly Dreams Blog!

This month’s theme is all about fun-folds or shaped cards, and I had so much fun creating my project.

For my card, I used a Z-fold design, adding patterned paper to the back panel for extra interest. The front features Altenew’s Blooming Branches suite of products. I glued three layers of the branch together to give it some lovely dimension and depth.

One of my favorite things about this fold is that the inside of the “Z” leaves plenty of room to write a message, making it perfect for this birthday card.

I hope you’ll join us for this month’s challenge—I can’t wait to see all the creative takes on this fun theme! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog, and happy crafting!

In kindness, Cathy

ATS&M Challenge #509 - Any Occasion

Welcome to Challenge #509 for the Addicted to Stamps & More Blog .
We're excited to be back with an "Any Occasion" theme. 

The possibilities are wide open with this theme!

It’s winter here in Minnesota, so I pulled out my Nordic Bundled Snowman Die from Poppystamps. I die-cut the scarf and hat from patterned paper to add some fun texture and interest. The background was created from a scrap of patterned paper, with die-cut snow hills and trees finished off with a little ink shading.

The sentiment is an oldie from my stash, and I think it works perfectly here. This card makes a great winter-themed version of a thinking of you card!

I hope you have time to play along with us over the next two weeks. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog!

In kindness, Cathy

ATS&M Challenge #508 - Birthday

"Birthday" is the theme for the first Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge for 2026. When I need a quick but memorable birthday card,  I often break out this Wish stamp and die set from Pretty Pink Posh. 

Today’s card is a shaker card with a clean, colorful design. The card base was ink blended from navy to yellow, then stamped and heat embossed with white embossing powder. The word “wish” is die cut from the top panel, while “make a” is stamped and embossed above it. To ground the design, I added a strip of white glitter paper along the bottom of the card.

This is one of the simplest shaker cards to create. I adhered acetate behind the die-cut word, added 1/4" foam tape around the opening, and filled it with a mix of shaker pieces from my stash. To finish it off, I added a few enamel dots for extra detail and shine.

A fast, fun birthday card that still feels special!  Hope you will make the time to join along with our Birthday Theme this month.  Thanks for stopping by my blog.

In kindness, Cathy

Dragonfly Dreams January 2026 Challenge- Flowers

"Flowers" are the theme for this month's Dragonfly Dreams Challenge Blog.  My card features a single stem of flowers and I am taking inspiration from Ardyth Percy-Robb by trying a new size card!  This one os 4.25 x 4.25 and I absolutely love it!

Kristina Werner's Long Line Roses suite of stamps, dies and stencil from Concord and 9th is the star of my card.  I started with an A2 card base and trimmed it to a 4.25" square.  One of my square nesting dies created the perfect frame.  

The rose image was stamped and heat-embossed with gold embossing powder, then stenciled with blue-greens and pinks before being die cut. The sentiment was also embossed with gold embossing powder and die cut to match. To finish it off, I added a few gold embellishments for a touch of sparkle.

I hope you will join the Dragonfly Dreams Challenge this month.  Thanks for stopping my my blog.

In kindness, Cathy