Miss U Fur Real Card

My youngest daughter serves in the Navy, and we don't get to see her very often. She is on our minds and in our prayers every day though. And sometimes I like to send her a note from our dog Smoose just for fun. For this card, I printed a couple photos from the last time she was home (of course she gave Smoose lots of attention while she was here!) and added them to an A2 card I had debossed with Altenew's Dotted Lines coverplate die. I ink blended an ombre look using Altenew's Ruby Red ink and then added some red spray before adhering the photos and adding the chipboard letters. I also added a few sequins to the bottom left of the card. 

For the inside, I die cut 3 shapes from Altenew's Circular Elements die set and spelled out the punny: "Fur real" sentiment using more of the sparkly black chipboard letters. I'm hoping a card from Smoose will lift her spirits as she has a very challenging job with long hours. 

You can see a bit of the coverplate die pattern from the front of the card here:

 Challenges I'm entering: 

New tab (timeoutchallenges.blogspot.com): Alphabet magnet letters C5 (4/5; ends 5/22/24)

Art Impressions Blog: Just For You! Challenge #378 Week #1 (artimpressionsstamps.blogspot.com): Just for you (1/2; ends 5/22/24)

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge (trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.com): ATG (1/2; ends 5/22/24)

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (1/5 for the week; 5/10 for the challenge; ends 5/21/24)

****Pammie's Inky Pinkies**** **********Challenges********** (pammiesinkypinkieschallenges.blogspot.com): ATG (1/3; ends 5/19/24)

Sending Warm Hugs Card

I've recently been participating in the Altenew Fan Group challenge for the month of May, and each day there's a different prompt. One of them was to create a card using a stamping technique. I hadn't tried no-line stamping before, so I decided to give it a go for this card.

First I stamped the outline of the floral focal point in Altenew's Rose Quartz light pink ink. I've normally seen people use light gray ink, but I didn't have any light gray, so I figured the light pink would work instead. After stamping the image from Altenew's Build-A-Garden: Dear Dahlias set, I used the coordinating stencils to color the image using the green, red, and purple colors from Altenew's monthly challenge on their blog. I really like how this turned out. I'm not good at coloring images, so I love Altenew's layered stamp sets and stencil sets that do the shading for me! 

For the background, I decided to emboss the A2 card panel using Altenew's Craft-Your-Life: Bewitching Rose 3D embossing folder. It's a very large embossed pattern, and I like how it peeks out from behind the stamped floral focal point. 

To finish the card, I stamped "Sending warm hugs" in white pigment ink onto the focal point, and then I adhered the focal point to two layers of foam to give it some dimension. 

Challenges I'm entering:

May 2024 Inspiration Challenge (altenew.com): 

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge: ATG with flowers as the focus (ends 5/12/24)

Can You Handle The Pressure? (cyhtp.blogspot.com): ATG with dry embossing with optional twist of flowers (1/3; ends 5/22/24)

We Love Stamping: Vintage or ATG (1/3; ends at the end of the month)

Stamping Sensations: Moodboard or ATG (1/3; ends at the end of the month) 

Crazy is our fame - STENCILS are our game! (stencilfun.blogspot.com): Girly or ATG (I used a set of stencils to color the floral focal point) (2/3; ends at the end of the month)

The Paper Funday Challenges: ATG with twist of Flower Shoppe (3/4; ends at the end of the month)

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: Use die cuts (the floral focal point was cut with a coordinating die)  (4/5; ends 5/15/24)

Double D Challenges (daranddiane.blogspot.com): Flowers for Mom (2/3; ends 5/12/24) Prize winner 5/14/24 Spellbinders Sweet Pea die set

****Pammie's Inky Pinkies**** **********Challenges********** (pammiesinkypinkieschallenges.blogspot.com): ATG (3/3; ends 5/12/24) C10

No more challenges. 
 

HB2U Pop Out Card

My son's birthday is this month, and I wanted to make a special card for him, so when I saw this pop out cut file in my Silhouette Card Making & Paper Crafts FB group, I knew I wanted to try it out for my son's birthday card. A huge thank you to Sabine Harris, the creator of this cut file. She generously donates many beautiful designs to that FB group!!

After opening the cut file in my Silhouette Design Studio program, I chose the ocean-themed paper pack I wanted to use and decided what papers to use for what parts of the card. I used a coordinating card stock for the card base and the mechanism that makes the pop two flaps pop out. 

I adhered the parts together and chose the ephemera I wanted to include. I die cut the wooden rowboat using an Altenew set aptly titled: Wooden Rowboat die set. I colored some of the pieces with my Ohuhu alcohol ink markers and adhered all the pieces together. Then I added foam tape to the bottom piece and a double layer of foam tape to the top panel. I adhered the wooden rowboat with more foam tape (this is going to be hand delivered, so it can be as thick as I'd like 😁. 

For the inside of the card, I kept it simple and added a little bottle from the ephemera pack. I attached a stamped message ("Enjoy your day" from Altenew's Build-A-Flower: Larkspur set) with a bit of twine and popped the bottle and the message up on foam tape. After I took the photos, I added a personal message to the two pop up flaps. This was a fun card design, and I definitely plan to use it for other occasions. 

 

 

Challenges I'm entering: 

Anything Goes with a Fun Fold for Creative Creases #82 (secretstamper.com): ATG with a fun fold (ends 5/24/24)

New tab (timeoutchallenges.blogspot.com): Alphabet magnet letters C5 (3/5; ends 5/22/24)

****Pammie's Inky Pinkies**** **********Challenges********** (pammiesinkypinkieschallenges.blogspot.com): ATG (2/3; ends 5/12/24) C10

Allsorts challenge blog: Spots and/or stripes (1/3; ends 5/16/24)

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: Use die cuts (the rowboat is made of die cuts) (3/5; ends 5/15/24)

Gatefold Easel Card for Creative Creases #82

It's time for a new challenge over at Creative Creases, and I'm honored to be a guest designer! If you'd like to join the fun and enter your fun fold project in the new challenge, here's the link: Anything Goes with a Fun Fold for Creative Creases #82 (secretstamper.com). We'd love for you to join us!

I did a set of gatefold easel cards for a few of the homebound moms I send cards to, and I used a Lori Whitlock cut file I purchased in the Silhouette Design store to cut the card base, belly band, and layers. I added some word art of Proverbs 31:30 for the inside panel and picked out some pretty floral papers I wanted to use. I found some coordinating card stock for the card bases and set to work cutting everything out on my Silhouette Cameo 4. Then I glued all the parts together and set to work on the dahlias for the belly band and the stenciled flowers I added to the sentiment panel inside the card. The dahlia dies are from Altenew's Build-A-Garden: Dear Dahlia set. I die cut all the pieces out of various water color papers I had painted on, used Lindy's Magicals on, and/or used shimmer sprays on and then assembled the pieces to create the dahlias. I popped them up on foam tape for some dimension. The stenciled floral on the inside sentiment panel is from Altenew's Craft-Your-Life: Vintage Tapestry set. 

Here's a look at what the card looks like when first opened:

Now here's how it looks when the easel is set up:

Close up of the verse:

Here's a close up of the dahlias die cut from papers I had made with sprays, water colors, and Lindy's Magicals:

 Challenges I'm entering:

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (3/5 for the week; 3/10 for the challenge)

The Paper Funday Challenges: ATG with twist of Flower Shoppe (2/4; ends at the end of the month)

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: Use die cuts (the dahlia is made of die cuts) (2/5; ends 5/15/24)

Double D Challenges (daranddiane.blogspot.com): Flowers for Mom (1/3; ends 5/12/24)

****Pammie's Inky Pinkies**** **********Challenges********** (pammiesinkypinkieschallenges.blogspot.com): ATG (1/3; ends 5/12/24) C10

Inspiration Station (inspirationstationchallenge.blogspot.com): Photo prompt: I was inspired by the flowers and created a floral-themed card

A Place To Start (hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com): ATG or optional twist: For a lady (ends at the end of the month)

613 Avenue Create (avenue613.blogspot.com): ATG with option: For the kids (ends at the end of the month)

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge: ATG with flowers as the focus (4/6; ends 5/12/24)

Gem of A Craft Challenge (pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com): ATG (1/2; ends 5/16/24)

No more challenges. 

Faceted Frames 60th Birthday Card

My brother-in-law is turning 60 soon, so I thought I'd make him a special card to celebrate. I used some Lindy's Magicals and did some ink smooshing on a panel of water color paper to create the blue background. Then I used Altenew's Faceted Frames 3D embossing folder to emboss the panel. I first tried inking the embossed portion with white pigment ink, but I didn't love how that turned out. Then I used blue ink but didn't like that, either, so I ended up using my new Brutus Monroe Sterling Shimmer Splash to cover the embossed portions. I also used the shimmer splash to add a few splashes of silver to the blue background panel. They don't really show up in the photo, but there's some nice shine in person. 

The "60th" was die cut and the "Happy birthday" (from Altenew's Craft-Your-Life: Bewitching Rose set) was stamped with VersaMark ink and embossed with white embossing powder. I adhered the blue panel to a top-folding white A2 card base. 

Close up of the embossed portion:

Close up of the Sterling Shimmer Splash:

 Challenges I'm entering: 

TIME OUT Challenges: (2/5; ends 5/22/24) (I'm hoping the "TH" I die cut qualifies as looking kind of like the alphabet magnet dies in the photo) C5

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (2/5 for the week; 2/10 for the challenge)

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: Use die cuts (the "60" and "th" are die cuts) (2/5; ends 5/15/24)

The Diva's that cut ....paper! (die-cut-divas.blogspot.com): Monochromatic (1/4; ends at the end of the month) 

****Pammie's Inky Pinkies**** **********Challenges********** (pammiesinkypinkieschallenges.blogspot.com): ATG (1/3; ends 5/12/24)

No more challenges. 

You Are Loved Eclipse Card

A relative of ours lost her son back in early February, and having lost my nephew that same month, I've been keeping her in my prayers along with my sister and her family. I wanted to reach out and let her know she's still in our prayers and is so very loved, so I made a special card using a die cutting technique I've been seeing a lot of but had never tried. It's called the eclipse technique, and the process is to die cut a sentiment from a panel and then pop it up on the panel. 

To make this card panel, I used some water color paper and did some watercoloring in light blues. Then when that was dry, I sprayed Lindy's Magicals Starburst Spray over three small flower stencils to create some texture on the panel. Then I die cut the "you" using Altenew's Mega You die and popped it up on two layers of yellow foam. I kept the small pieces from the die cut and glued them back in for the "y" and "o." Then I added some die cut pieces from Altenew's Craft A Flower: Daisies and adhered them randomly on the card. The "are loved" sentiment came from Altenew's Craft Your Life: Bold Bouquet set. Can you tell I'm a big fan of Altenew?! If you are, too, come join the fun over at Time Out Challenges where the winner will receive a $15 gift certificate to Altenew!

 Challenges I'm entering:

TIME OUT Challenges: 

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (1/5 for the week; 1/10 for the challenge)

simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge: Light and airy (I'm not exactly sure what that theme means, but I think of daisies as light and airy, so I'm hoping this qualifies) (1/5; ends 5/13/24)

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: Use die cuts (the dahlia is made of die cuts) (1/5; ends 5/15/24)

Crazy is our fame - STENCILS are our game! (stencilfun.blogspot.com): ATG with stencils with option of girly (1/3; ends at the end of the  month)

No more challenges. 

Peony Dream Mother's Day Card

With Mother's Day around the corner, I thought I'd work on my last of three Mother's Day cards I want to make before May 12. I've already made a card for my amazing mom (see my post here: Carrie's Custom Cards: 3-Panel Mother's Day Card for Creative Creases #79 (carriescustomcards.blogspot.com) and my lovely daughter-in-law (see my post here: Carrie's Custom Cards: Mother's Day Teepee Card for Creative Creases #81 (carriescustomcards.blogspot.com), so now it's time for a special card for my wonderful mother-in-law. 

To make this card, I used the instructions for Connie Stewart's Diamond Gatefold Card found here: How To Make A Diamond Gate Fold Card: Beginner Friendly Too! (youtube.com). I chose some pretty double-side pattern paper and created the card base. Then I used Altenew's CAF: Peony Dream die set to make a pretty peony using vellum, glitter gold card stock, and a scrap of yellow card stock. I used scraps to make the leaves, also. These Craft-A-Flower sets are great for using up my snippets!

After adhering the layers of the peony with liquid glue and foam tape for some of the layers, I added the flower and leaves to the front panel of my card. For the inside of the card, I stamped "Happy Mother's Day" and die cut it using a Gina Marie Designs stitched hexagon die. Then I added another leaf from the Peony Dream set that I die cut in vellum and the same glitter gold card stock I used for some of the layers of the peony on the front of the card. 

Challenges I'm entering:

Anything Goes with a Fun Fold for Creative Creases #81 (secretstamper.com): ATG with a fun fold (ends 5/10/24)

A Place To Start (hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com): ATG or add one or more flowers (5/8; ends at the end of the month)

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (2/5 for the week, 2/10 for the challenge; ends 5/5/8/24)

The Paper Funday Challenges: ATG with optional twist of Sweet Treats (3/6; ends at the end of the month)

613 Avenue Create (avenue613.blogspot.com): ATG with option of A Splash of Color (ends at the end of the month) Top Rocker April 28-May 5

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge: ATG with flowers as the focus (3/6; ends 5/15/24)

simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/: Feminine (1/5; ends 5/6/24)

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge: ATG (2/5; ends 5/1/24)

Double Trouble Paper Crafting (doubletroublechallenge.blogspot.com): Thing 1: ATG Thing 3: yellow, green, and pink from the photo Thing 2: entered Beautiful Blossoms, Creative Creases Challenge  and the Paper Funday (1/4; ends 5/5/24)

Polkadoodles Cardmaking, Craft & Scrapbooking Challenge: ATG (ends 5/10/24)

Digi Choosday Cardmaking & Crafting Challenge: ATG (2/2/; ends 5/6/24)

Gem of A Craft Challenge (pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com): ATG (ends 5/3/24)

Allsorts challenge blog: Use a stencil or ATG (ends 5/4/24)

As You Like It Challenge: Clean or Fussy and Why: I definitely prefer fussy! Bring on the layers! I think a card looks extra special with lots of layers/embellishments! (2/3; ends 5/1/24)

Doodle Challenge (rabiscochallenge.blogspot.com): ATG (ends at the end of the month) Winner 5/9/24 Paper Shelter prize

Tic Tac Toe Challenge - Inspiring creativity 8-ways each week: Diagonal: Flowers, free, die cuts (1/3; ends 5/9/24)