Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge #491 - Make Your Mark

 I pulled out my Copic markers for the newest challenge on the Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge Blog.  It only seemed appropriate for a "Make Your Mark" challenge - especially because my Copics have been sadly neglected since I discovered a love for layering stencils!  

This year for Easter, I looked for character stamps and then added a Tim Holtz bunny ear stamp on the head (with the "Don't judge me" sentiment to create a novel creature such as this Little Miss Muffet Broasca the Frog stamp.  It's an oldie in my collection, but perfect for this occasion!

Thanks for stopping by my blog and taking a closer look at my card!  Hope you are able to play along with our "Make Your Mark" challenge.  The challenge is all about using something that can make a mark. . .alcohol markers, colored pencils, paint, stenciling, chalk, etc.  Can't wait to see your take on the challenge!

In kindness, Cathy

Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge #490 - Die Cuts and/or Stencils

  Using die cuts and/or stencils is the newest challenge on the Addicted to Stamps & More Blog.  

The background of my card features a freebie with purchase layering stencil from Taylored Expressions that I have had in my stash for a couple of years.  I die cut it with a Reverse Confetti die that I purchased around the same time.  The vase is die cut from a scrap of patterned paper and the sentiment is another TE freebie with purchase.  I fussy cut the tulips from the background paper and used some Pinkfresh Studio greenery die cuts behind them.  I love the way this came together - it's fun and fresh and spring-like!  I hope you have a chance to play along with our newest challenge.  Thanks for stopping by my blog.

In kindness, Cathy

Dragonfly Dreams April Challenge - Animals

 April's theme on the Dragonfly Dreams Challenge Blog is animals.

My card features a layering stencil and stamp from Taylored Expressions for the chickens and a second TE layering stencil and die for the flowers around the border.  This is a birthday card for my sister in law who turned 60.  

Hope you break out your animal stamps, stencils and dies to join the Dragonfly Dreams Blog this month!

Thanks for stopping by my blog.

In kindness,  Cathy 

Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge #489 - Any Occasion

 Today starts a new two week challenge on the Addicted to Stamps & More Blog.  

This time, it is an "Any Occasion" Challenge.

My card features a combination of products from Concord & 9th.  The background is their Cottage Garden Layering Stencil  and the hashmark from the accompanying stamp set.  The "happy" die cut is from their Oh Happy Day die set that goes with the triple step stamp of the same name. I got caught up in a couple of their new releases and "had" to buy some new things!!  I need to remember to my resolution about using what I have in my plentiful stash of supplies!!  I just couldn't resist the whimsy of these flowers!!

I hope you will have a chance to play along with our latest challenge! Thanks for stopping my by blog.

In kindness, Cathy

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