Beautiful Blossoms Challenge : Best Birthday Ever

 Hello and welcome back to a Beautiful Blossoms Challenge, where we have a monthly inspiration card challenge. Come along and join us this month for some fun inspiration!

This month's challenge photo is :

Truly a unique photo challenge! 

I chose to use my Altenew stamp set Paint-A-Flower: Lotus set, that I colored in with Copics. I cut out a gold filagree using Spellbinders's A2 Radiant Navette dies, placing them under my image so they barely peaked out. I added a white doily under my image, with some candy dots from Bo Bunny called Willow and Sage. Then I used a decorative piece of cardstock from some packaging that some scrap stuff came in, that I kept because it was so pretty! Lastly, I added my foiled sentiment from Pink Fresh to finish my card.

As you might have read, I used some decorative packaging as my backing cardstock. Don't be afraid to be creative with things that aren't technically actual scrap items. I kept that particular piece of light cardboard for over 6 years, knowing it would be perfect for something, and I love how the card turned out with it! 

I can't wait to see what you and everyone else creates from that inspiration photo! 

Best Wishes!

 Welcome back, Friends!

I don't know about you, but I've always loved Altenew's stamps. I've been slowly collecting them over the last year, but I hadn't yet participated in one of their blog challenges, so I decided why not give it a whirl? 

Every month they challenge crafter's with a fun and inspiring photo or challenge. So this month, Altenew's February 2025 challenge is : Blue & Gold w/ Textures 

And here is their inspiration photo.

Gorgeous blues and a nice splash of a posh gold. What's not to love? I love that they decided to feature blues this month instead of pinks, reds, and whites for February. Nothing wrong with those colors, I love them myself, I just love a good challenge :)

I don't have many Altenew sets but I knew right away that I wanted to use the "Enjoy Your Journey" set. I stamped it out and colored it in with Copics, then I stamped out my sentiment from Altenew's "Gracious Peonies" set. Then I cut my image out with MFT's Stitched Rectangles dies, and matted it with Tim Holtz's Metallic Gold Cardstock, cut into a scalloped rectangle using MFT's Scalloped Mini Rectangle dies.

Obviously, I used a lot of Blues and added some gold touches in my image and coloring. For my Textures part of the challenge, I chose to use a shiny, smooth metallic cardstock as my texture for the challenge. It adds a bit of texture and sparkle to the card that I love!

Thank you for joining me and I'll see you next time I post my next project!

Hello

 Hey Crafty Friends! Welcome back to my little corner of crafting paradise. 

Today, I'm submitting a card for Altenew's blog challenge, for January 2025, which you can find HERE.

Here is the challenge photo.

What beautiful colors, right?! I Love the color depths, but decided to keep my image colors lighter than the shades shown.

I chose to use Altenew's Timeless Tulips stamp set, coloring them in with Copics, and the sentiment from Altenew's Gracious Peonies set. I cut out the image with a die from Momenta, but I don't have a name of the die shape. Then I put popdots under the image and added that over some polka dot design paper from Bazzil called "Mint", diecut into a scalloped rectangle shape using the Taylored Expressions "Petite Scallop Mini Stacklets" die. I placed more popdots under the polka dot design paper to pop it off of the white cardstock from Brutus Monroe called "Not Your Momma's Cardstock".

I love how the dies really show off the image without distracting from it, but still adding to the overall look. I really enjoyed layering everything together and how clean and simple it is.

I look forward to seeing you again on my little blog, and until then, have a great crafting day!

Happy New Year 2025!!!

 Welcome back and Happy New Year to my erratically posted, blog 😆 

You know, I could really try harder to post more often, so I will. My goal is to post 2 cards a month, this 2025 year. So lets begin. 

I decided to participate in Color Throw Down's color challenge : Black, White & Gray. 

Super simple, right? But it's actually tricky to do cards in monotones without getting bored or challenged by the lack of pizzaz or color pops. A master or intermediate card maker would enjoy this challenge and blow it away, but for little more than an amateur card maker like myself, I struggled. I ended up making two cards because I felt the first one was way too simple, so I went back to the drawing board and tried harder.

I stamped Altenew's "Enjoy Your Journey" on Neena Solar cardstock, and cut it out with MFT's Selfie Square & MFT's Stitched Mini Scallop Rectangle in Black cardstock. Then I added Gem Stickers from Honey Bee Stamps from the "Farm Fresh Holiday" collection.

Then, I decided to try another card, and really challenge myself again.

I stamped out Avery Elle's "Look For Rainbows" bunny, out on Lawn Fawn's "Narwal" gray cardstock, and fussy cut it out. Then I masked off the face of the bunny, and sponged a pattern from Gina K's "Leafy" stencil, in Distress Ink "Weathered Wood", to add some texture on the umbrella. I created a background by stamping out MFT's "Scene Builder" on some more Narwal cardstock, in Memento " London Fog" ink.  After that, I used popdots placed for dimension on the back of the bunny, and placed it in the scene on my card.

Then, I diecut a pennant out for my sentiment by using MFT's "Skinny Strips" dies, and stamping out the sentiment from Penny Black's "Rain or Shine" set, in white ink from Pink Fresh, called "Calico White". To add just a touch of sparkle, I added some Gem Stickers, from Honey Bee Stamps, from their "Farm Fresh Holiday" collection.

This was quite the challenge, and one that I want to challenge myself with again, because I enjoy the effort to think outside the creative box! I still wish I could add some pink to the nose and ears, but those are the rules! 😄

Until I post again, Enjoy your crafting day!

Lift Up My Eyes

Hello again Friends! Today I have a Clean And Simple card to share.  

A few weeks ago I got a message from a friend I'd lost touch with, telling me that he was in the hospital and his body was essentially breaking down to the point of paralysis. My heart broke for him and I created this no frills, simple card, to be and encouragement.

I used a leafy stamp from an Altenew set called "Rosy Blooms" and watercolored it with a combination of Aqua Markers and Arteza watercolor brushes. I paired the image with a verse from Verve Stamps I've had for years, to offer encouragement.

I matted it with Bazzil "Jade" green cardstock and cut a decorative edged bottom with a Spellbinders die. Then added a watercolored butterfly I put Popdots under it to give it lift and dimension so it looks like it just landed on the leaf, and some pearl gems to finish the card.

I kept it clean, simple, and as masculine as I could, keeping the focus on the message and not the image, for once.

I hope it brings the encouragement and comfort, that I'd try to give if I was able to see him in person.