The Card Concept: Easter Blessings

There’s a new inspiration challenge at The Card Concept: Easter Blessings! My Clean and Layered card was inspired by the various patterns, the "Easter Blessings" sign, and the colors.

The Impression Obsession Bunny Buddies has eight bunnies!  But I got the set for this particular bunny (and one other sweetie who is looking up). Then when I went looking for carrots, I saw the older Spellbinders Hop Into Spring Small Die of the Month set. It had the carrots and the flowers - and it has also absolutely charming bunnies.  I probably should have switched my bunnies to stick with one set (I tend to obsessively stick with one company (or a couple) on each card) but the little guy that I used had my heart.

I used a bold sentiment from Kat Scrappiness inspired by the sign in the inspiration. I put it on woodgrain (just like the sign). The buffalo check in the background came from the bunny next to the sign. 

There's so much to be inspired by in the photo! I hope to see you playing along with us at The Card Concept.

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Kat Scrappiness Easter Blessings, Impressions Obsession Bunny Buddies, Spellbinders Hop Into Spring - Small Die of the Month (carrots "grass" and flowers)

Paper: Doodlebug Designs Buffalo Check-Woodgrain Rainbow Petite Prints, Taylored Expressions Candy Corn, Peapod, Granny Apple Green, Sprinkles, Sea Salt

Other: Studio Katia Champagne Pearls

Freshly Made Sketches: Hugs and Butterflies

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by Jen Timko and here’s what I did with it!

 

I happened to be organizing my flower dies (I think I like organizing my stuff as much as I love creating with my stuff!)  I had the Hero Arts Flower Garden background die out on my desk and it occurred to me that I could use a piece of it for the gray section of the sketch. A happy accident! 

I tried a number of sentiments but I ended up liking the look of the Hugs (by PhotoPlay) with the Flower Garden. Then I had used this little butterfly by Birch Press on last week's card but he really seemed to fit on this week's card too. (There's a bigger butterfly in the set but this little guy is a great accent.)

My husband is heading out today to be with his mother through another surgery.  That's three times that he's been there since November plus his sister-in-law had to help her through an emergency problem. There's so little I can do, but I do inundate her with cards - at least twice a month and often weekly since she went into hard lock down during COVID.  I've known her for a long time and it's possible the sheer number of cards might even be a little annoying to her; I'm sure she rolls her eyes and thinks that I should have better things to do (like clean my house!)  I'm betting a lot of you can relate to our relationship! But I also know these cards fill her mantle so she sees them every day. I figure this cheerful "hugs" card will go out soon after this surgery. (I sent a number of "feel better" cards with my husband to use as needed over the next week.)

I hope to see you playing along with us at Freshly Made Sketches.

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Hero Arts Flower Garden, Photoplay Say It With Stamps Hug/Hugs, Birch Press Simple Butterfly Contoured Layered

Paper: Doodlebug Designs Buffalo Check-Woodgrain-Rainbow Petite Prints, Stampin' Up Groovy Guava

Poppystamps: Farm Fresh Eggs for Easter

 I'm on the Poppystamps blog today with this fresh and clean Easter card.

I used the Farm Fresh Eggs with a splattering of different colors. Then I tucked them behind the Flower Field Corner and added a sweet little bunny from the Spring Bunnies set cut from felt.

I love this grouping but it was a bit too small for a full card front so I added Double Scalloped Stitched Frame. I love the accent and it gave me a smaller space to fill (so made the eggs and the bunny a more prominent focal point). I love that the Splendid Happy Easter fit perfectly. And I topped it all off with a Grosgrain Bow.

There are more picture and more details on the Poppystamps blog. Be sure to check it out!

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Poppystamps Splendid Happy Easter, Spring Bunnies, Farm Fresh Eggs, Flower Field corner, Double Scalloped Stitched Frames, Grosgrain Bow

Paper: Memory Box Vibrant Violet and Sunny Orange paper packs

Other: Open Studio Pastel Jewels

Freshly Made Sketches: Spring is in the Air

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by Jacquie and here’s what I did with it!

   

I went to the Impress website to order their Spring Words set. I have some of their other word sets and really like the mix. While I was browsing, I noticed this Birch Press butterfly - and then I grabbed an embossing folder that worked with it all!  I didn't actually plan to use it specifically for this sketch, but I love how it came together!  

I pulled out some of my favorite colors to do the three strips. Then I used the yellow and orange on the butterfly - he has a sparkly white body but that doesn't show up well in my pictures. I liked the embossing folder with the butterfly because it has a fun and chunky look just like the butterfly.  I kept the background white for a fresh look.

This will be one of my weekly cards to my mother-in-law. She prefers cute or funny cards but I think this is cheerful enough, it will still be a bright spot in her mailbox!

I hope to see you playing along with us this week at Freshy Made Sketches.

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Impress Spring Words

Dies: Birch Press Simple Butterfly Contour Layers

Cardstock: Stampin' Up Mango Melody, Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green

Other: Darice Wild Flower Embossing Folder

Christmas Card Throwdown: Holly & Joy

 I was thrilled to be a winner at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown with this card for their masculine card challenge. Now I am honored to be their guest for the current challenge: Holly andor Ivy.  Here's how I was inspired.

After I decided on the Holly Ring, I happened to have the pad of mirrored pastel cardstock out on my desk for another card. It was a happy coincidence because it got me thinking that maybe I'd take my card in a slightly different color direction than red and green. I went with soft pastels and a variety of neutrals - white, ivory and that soft plaid in the background. 

I experimented with a variety of sentiments for this card.  I thought about stamping but I didn't want it in black and white embossing wouldn't show up well on that light colored background and I didn't want to add cardstock back into the center (I like the dainty look of the Holly Ring without filling it in.)  So then I looked at sentiment dies. I'm a "rule-follower" so I started looking at dies that fit inside the frame - because that's what a frame is, right?!   I don't really know what made me try the big "joy" but I knew right away I liked it even though it didn't fit and should have made me a little twitchy! I found some regular cardstock that matched the mirrored berries, then I added the mirrored ivory on the edges to accent it.

Thank you so much to the group at the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown for giving me this opportunity. I love the challenge they give me each week and I love inspiration that I get from their design team.

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Poppystamps Holly Ring and Double Joy

Paper: Memory Box Vintage Pastel Mirror pad, Lush Green Collection and Garden Folly (for the background), Stampin' Up Petal Pink

Dragonfly Birthday

While I was working on this card, I was experimenting with colors and made a variety of dragonflies in other colors.  As I was cleaning up from that card, I saw three of the dragonflies that I rather liked together. I just couldn't let those little guys go to waste so here is another dragonfly card.

I love their fun look, although as I mentioned on Wednesday's post, I got them intending to color them especially that little guy in the upper right. He's just begging to be full of colors. I'll keep the set in the front of my stash and will definitely get him colored at some point. Although they really aren't half bad simply embossed in white - here are the two cards together.

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Catherine Pooler Flight of the Dragonfly + does, Waffle Flower Elegant Sentiments + dies

Paper: Stampin' Up Bermuda Bay, Pool Party, Magenta Madness, My Favorite Things Black & White

Other: Buttons Galore Caribbean Sea Doodadz

Christmas Card Throwdown: Merry Days

 The current challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown is a color challenge which includes the color purple.  I have a work friend who adores purple and I usually need a push (or a throwdown) to play with purples!  Here's what I did with the bold colors.

This card started with the idea that I had snowflakes in those colors. So I added some trees, a little snow on the ground and a wonderful bold sentiment.  The trees are from two sets by Alexandra Renke - the Pine Trees and the Pine Trees Little. I love that they are slightly different shapes and some are open. For interest, I used polka dot paper for the green tree and I added sparkle to the teal tree.

A big thank you to the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown for pushing me into the purples!

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Waffle Flower Wonderful Christmas

Dies: Alexandra Renke 5 Pine Trees and 5 Pine Trees Little

Paper: Stampin' Up Gorgeous Grape, Granny Apple Green and Bermuda Bay

Other: Kat Scrappiness Rainbow Snowflakes

Freshly Made Sketches: Take Care

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by Judy and here’s what I did with it!

 

I got the Catherine Pooler Flight of the Dragonfly some months ago because I loved the samples in which those detailed butterflies were colored in multiple bright colors.  Funny thing - when I get around to using the set, I simply white embossed them - no coloring at all!  I'll color them before it's over but I loved the idea of multiple stripes with simple dragonflies.  I actually started out with plain black and white dragonflies but they needed a bit more color.

The sentiment is from Pinkfresh.  I wasn't sure what type of card I was making when I added the dragonflies. As I paged through my stash, this sentiment jumped out because of its font - it just felt right for the look of the card.

I already have another card done with these dragonflies - I think I'll post on Friday - and guess what? They still aren't colored in!  I had a couple of extras from this card as I experimented with various colors. I think this set is going to have to stay in my not-yet-used stash until I used it in the way I had planned.

I hope to see you playing along with us this week at Freshly Made Sketches.

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps:Catherine Pooler Flight of the Dragonfly + dies

Dies: Pinkfresh Take Care

Cardstock: Stampin' Up Mango Melody, Coastal Cabana, Flirty Flamingo, Bermuda Bay

Other: Various Gumdrops from Your Next Stamp

The Card Concept: Our Redeemer Lives

 It's time for a new challenge at The Card Concept: Spring Garden. My Clean and Simple card was inspired by the spring theme, the garden of flowers and the colors. 

I meant to use the colors identified on the bottom of the inspiration. In fact, the colors are what inspired me to pull out this die.  I thought a kraft-colored cross surrounded by flowers would be gorgeous but I got it all together and I just felt it needed to be brighter. The flowers on the boots include yellow so I traded out my kraft colors for yellow and it's just the bright and cheerful look that I wanted.

I know it didn't show up well in my photos, but the sentiment is gold-embossed and says "Our Redeemer Lives". I sponged the edges of the cross with some yellow to give it a little dimension. I layered the die cut three times and then cut it again in blue, green and deep pink using the individual pieces in my die cut.  For a bit more dimension, I added three little pearl "berries".

I want to send hugs and prayers to the Card Concept team - it's been a tough few months for many. 

Because He lives
I can face tomorrow
Because He lives
All fear is gone
Because I know
He holds the future
And life is worth the living
Just because He lives

I hope to see you playing along with us at The Card Concept.

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Simon Says Stamp Tiny Words Faith

Dies: Simon Says Stamp Outline Floral Cross, Reverse Confetti Stitched Rays Cover Panel, Trinity Stamps Modern Embossed Rectangle Stack (the edging on the white panel)

Cardstock: Taylored Expressions Fruit Punch, Peapod and Gumball, Stampin' Up Soft Saffron (along with Soft Saffron ink brushed on the ends of the cross)

Other: Taylored Expressions Fine Gold Embossing Powder, Studio Katie Champagne pearls

Poppystamps: Flower Fields For You

I'm on the Poppystamps blog today with clean and simple "for you".  There are beautiful flower dies in the newest release at Poppystamps and there's also beautiful new paper at Memory Box. The Vintage Pastel Mirror Pad has metallic and pearl papers in lovely soft colors.  So I kept it simple and put the focus on these new products.

I cut the Flower Field Corner die and the For You Poe Script, then arranged them to fit into the square. I did trim one extra tiny little flower out of the corner die for the top left corner. I LOVE the way this turned out. I can see it in so many different colors - what about navy blue and white - or black and white - or go folksy with red and white.

Check out the shine on the mirror paper!

There are more pictures and details on the Poppystamps blog - be sure to check it out.

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Poppystamps For You Poe Script, Flower Field Corner and Flower Field Tall Curve Border, Memory Box/Open Studio Stitched Square Layers

Paper: Memory Box Vintage Pastel Mirror Pad

Other: Open Studio Pastel Jewels

Freshly Made Sketches: Hope for Ukraine

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by Amy and here’s what I did with it.

 

I have been wanting to create a card that speaks to the fear and suffering in Ukraine. I can't imagine there is much hope  - but yet there has to be given the fact that the people are fighting back and standing firm. With their national flower being the tall and very solid sunflower - I used it with a sentiment of hope. It feels so simplistic and even naïve on my part that this sentiment has meaning but I think all people often have to find hope in small things. A flower can make a difference. 

I found a bold sunflower by Simon Says Stamp. I back it with a postage frame as I am "sending" hope.  The paper is old paper by Stampin' Up - their Pacific Point seemed like a good match for the Ukrainian blue. The sentiment is from one of the many Verve stamp sets that will stay in my stash forever even though they are closed.

I hope to see you playing along with us this week at Freshly Made Sketches.

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Verve Stamps Hope Blooms

Dies: Simon Says Stamp Radiant Sunflower, Avery Elle Postage Stamp die

Paper: Stampin' Up Brights 6x6 dsp (an older version), Stampin' Up cardstock in Granny Apple Green and Early Espresso, Taylored Expressions Lemon Meringue

Other: Sunny Studio Blue Sapphire Jewels

Freshly Made Sketches: A Big Easter

I had a second idea for this week's sketch at Freshly Made Sketches (created by Karren).  My first card is here. I recently got this large Easter Bunny & Butterflies die by CottageCutz and it fit perfectly with the sketch.

With all of the detail in the die, I wanted the full focus on it - and that's what drew me to use this sketch!  I added a kraft background with a little bit of texture and a few very softly colored pink stripes.  Then with the die I added a few pink pearls and gave my bunny a little bow.

I love how this simple card came together. It's a charming die.  Plus it's hard to go wrong with white and kraft - and then just a hint of pink - LOVE it!

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: CottageCutz Easter Bunny & Butterflies

Other: Stampin' Up Subtle Embossing Folder, Studio Katia Rose Pink Pearls

Freshly Made Sketches: Alleluia

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by Karren and here’s what I did with it!

 

With all of that wonderful open space, I wanted something dramatic.  I have a number of wonderful flower builder stencils and decided to add a full meadow of flowers. This is Pinkfresh's Enchanting Meadow. 

After I got the colors layered up, I didn't love my choice of dark greens. I didn't want to start over so that led me to the sentiment. I had planned on a sentiment strip so as not to hide any of the flowers - but I ended up with the bigger "alleluia" so the green I don't like just peeks out. I think it ended up working beautifully especially with my need for Easter cards.

I hope to see you playing along with us this week at Freshly Made Sketches.  I'm looking forward to seeing what everybody does with the open space!

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Simon Says Stamp Alleluia

Stencil: Pinkfresh Enchanting Meadows and die

Other: Stampin' Up Brick & Mortar embossing folder

The Card Concept: Spring Joy

There’s a new inspiration challenge at The Card Concept and the theme is Wearing O' the Green.  I don't think I've ever made a St. Patrick's Day card so I took some liberties with the theme.  I skipped the first holiday of the spring and moved on to Easter! My Clean and Simple card was inspired by the colors and by the pops of patterns on the pillow.

 

There's such a variety of ways to find inspiration in this photo. There's the beautiful tree - or the bike - or go full St. Patrick's and use shamrocks. I found the Floral Burst Collage die and thought it had the look of the shamrocks. Then I pulled out greens and yellows - even one in polka dots - and it was so fresh and springy.  I still wasn't sure where I was going with it so I tried a variety of sentiments.  It's always in the back of my head that Easter is about 6 weeks away and I typically send about 40 cards - so "Easter Joy" was my choice! I did it in brown based on the inspiration and then added some sparkle (you can see that better in the first picture.)

I hope to see you playing along with us at The Card Concept!

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Simon Says Stamp Floral Burst Collage, Impression Obsession Easter Joy

Addicted to CAS: Snowflake Love

The current challenge at Addicted to CAS is "snowflake".  Other than leaves, I think snowflake dies are the most out-of-control part of my stash so I definitely had to play along. I went to my not-yet-used stash and this is the first snowflake I saw. It's gorgeous and the detail in it creates such a beautiful clean and simple card.

My original plan was to add to my Christmas card stash but then I saw my mini set of snow sentiments from Papertrey Ink. I love the various fonts - and this sentiment tucked into the snowflakes so nicely.  It may still be used for Christmas but it could also be used for a winter encouragement card.

I used Stampin' Up's Balmy Blue which is one of my favorite blues (outside of the many aquas that I have).  I also have an older set of gingham papers from them - and the jewels. I am a very matchy-matchy person and it certainly helps me with my clean and simple cards to just pull out all the matching items and start creating!

Thanks to Addicted to CAS for the challenge and inspiration.

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Papertrey Ink Just Sentiments: Snow

Dies: Paper Rose Snowflake Circle

Paper: Stampin' Balmy Blue and retired gingham paper

Other: Stampin' Up Blue Adhesive-Backed gems