Classic Design Team Challenge : Seas the Day

 Hi again, Friends! I am thrilled to announce that I have been accepted onto another monthly design challenge team! I'm so excited!! This Design Team works with various digital stamp creators. I have dabbled once or twice in digi images, but am not very familiar with using them creatively, and it's been an adventure figuring this whole thing out. But as you know, I like a good challenge, and I'm enjoying both the stamps and the process!

This month, we are featuring Angie Blom Digital Designs. Angie a wide assortment of designs to choose from and I couldn't decide which one I wanted to try for a digi card. I decided to start small for my first one.

For my first ever Classic Challenge, I chose Seas the Day, featuring a sea gull, a pillar, and a heart! 

I chose it because as a first foray into digital stamping again, and it's a good place to start. Especially since I don't have a laser printer and need to be careful about how much shading and alcohol ink I use when coloring the image.

I cut out the main image with MFT's Stitched Rectangles, and colored it in with Copics, keeping it simple. I put popdots under the main image just to give it some lift off of the diecut beneath it, for visual interest. I layered my main image over a Penny Black Simple Stackers die cut in Bazzil Navy, then placed popdots under that, over my card base. Again, keeping things Clean and Simple.
 

I think the card turned out pretty good looking for my first digital card attempt in years. Many years ago I received a couple to play with and they were nice, but haven't used them since. So it's like learning it all over again like it's new! 

I hope you check out her designs. She has so many, I'm sure you'll find something you love! 

I'll see you next month for another Classic Design Team Challenge!

Beautiful Blossoms Design Challenge : Congratulations

 Where has the time gone? It's May already!

I haven't been as active on here as I'd like but I had to pick up a second job and that takes most of my crafting time away, sadly.

But this month I have another Beautiful Blossoms Challenge. I love to color in flowers, so I look forward to these monthly challenges! Here is the May 2025 inspiration photo.

So pretty! So many blues, purples, mauves, and peachy-orange flowers! 

I stamped out Honey Bee Stamps "Simply Stated" stamps and colored them in with Copics. I diecut the image out with MFT Double Stitched Rectangle, and placed popdots under it so it will offer a slight 3D look because it's popped out. Then I matted the image with Bazzil's Mauve polka dot design paper diecut with MFT's Stitched Scalloped Rectangles.

I tried to add in some of the colors of the bouquet without it looking too bold with too much color. I think I hit just the right notes, and still have it look simple and uncomplicated. 

Thank you for joining us at Beautiful Blossoms Monthly Challenge! We'll see you next month!

Beautiful Blossoms Blog Challenge : A Happy Hello

Welcome back to my little blog, I'm happy that you visited!

This month, the Beautiful Blossoms Challenge is another beautiful and inspiring bouquet photo.

Isn't it lovely? I know I'd love to receive a bouquet of those cheery, happy flowers!

I chose to use Flourishes Heartfelt Thanks stamp set, colored in with Copics. I stitched along the photos edge, and matted it with some leftover design paper. Then I cut a banner strip with MFT's Skinny Strips die, stamped with a sentiment from Flourishes Taglines stamp set.

I kept it very, very clean and simple so the colors stand out and speak for themselves. I love how it turned out, all colorful and cheery!

Thank you for visiting my blog and I hope you have some inspiration to join us in the BB challenge. I can't wait to see what you create!

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! 

Welcome Little One

 Hello again, Friends!

I'm back again with another challenge card, and this time I am using a new stamp & die set from Ebay, called Better Together by My Favorite Things.

I stamped out the main image of the ark and the rainbow, diecut them out and colored everything in with Copics & Touch Twin markers. The design paper is a soft neutral brown gingham from Honey Bee Stamps Gingham Galore Holiday collection, that I stitched around with my sewing machine. Then I matted the stitched DP with some Bazzil Kraft paper. I used a long since retired bookplate die to layer under my images, then started layering my diecuts over it, and adding some clouds from a retired MFT die called Cutest Clouds Ever. I placed some podots under my ark just for some depth and interest, then added my sentiment from the new stamp set, using MFT's Skinny Strips die.

Here are the Blog Challenges I am entering with this card :

Polkadoodles - Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Inspired By ... Gingham 

Thank you for stopping by and I hope to see you at my next post!

Thinking of You

 Hello and welcome back, Friends! I'm back with another creation.

I created this card out of combining a few online challenges. And as always as of late, keeping it simple, choosing to focus on the image instead of accessories.

I stamped out my image and colored it in with Copics, and cut it down to my desired size. Then, I ran a metallic gold sharpie pen along my edges, just to make them pop a little off my background and stand out a bit. It's barely noticeable but it creates depth so the images stands out and the edges don't get lost in the background matting.
I chose my favorite MFT Dienamic matting die, Stitched Scalloped Rectangles and cut out some Bazzil cardstock in Pale Rose; offering a breath of color but still a neutral enough to be a subtle background note.
I placed some popdots under my floral image so it would pop off the scalloped edge Bazzil cardstock, and placed it in the center of the card.

I truly love how it turned out! So simple, clean and pretty! Love it!

I'm entering it in the following Blog Challenges :

Color Throwdown - Teal, Pink & Lime

Polkadoodles - Anything Goes

Inspired By... - Spring Colors

Just Add Ink - Pick Two (Colors & Thinking of You)

Hello Friend

 Hello again and welcome back, Friends!

How is the weather where you are? It's -1 here today and definitely a snug, tucked in, and cozy day to make a card!

I chose a new stamp set I had yet to try, from China. It doesn't have a name, though I got it from Amazon. It's silicone, and I don't care for it as it makes terrible impressions and doesn't like the ink I normally use. This might be the only time I ever use this set, so..

I stamped out my background image and colored it in with Touch alcohol markers, then used MFT's Stitched Scalloped Squares dienamics to cut out the scene.
I cut another Stitched Square piece out from Echo Park's Designer Dies using Kraft cardstock, and matted that, yet again, with Gina K's white cardstock, cut with MFT's Scalloped Stitched Squares dienamics. I layered all the diecuts together to create my layered layout for the card.
Then I stamped out the chickens from the stamp set, fussy cut them out, and popped them up on popdots. After that, I stamped my sentiment from Honey Bee Stamps Farm Fresh Flowers stamp set.

I created this card with a couple challenges in mind :

Inspired By... Sketch

Polkadoodles - Friends

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge : Sending Smiles

 Hello and welcome back crafty Friends! I'm back with another fun blog challenge card. But first, I have some fun news. I joined Donna and the rest of the talented Beautiful Blossoms Blog Challenge Team! I'm so thrilled!

If you haven't heard of the Beautiful Blossoms blog challenges before, on the 15th of every month they offer a Floral Focused challenge. Easy Peasy, right? Exactly! Who doesn't love a good flower focus? I know I do :)

Here is the DT's February 2025 design challenge photo.

Beautiful, isn't it? I know I was inspired by it!

I chose Gina K's Poppy Garden Stamp that I colored in with Copics. After that, I cut out the image using Pink Fresh's Stitched Rectangles. I matted the main diecut image out onto some design paper from Simple Stories called Simple Vintage Life in Bloom. Then I used Lawn Fawn's Stitched Sentiment Banner's to cut out a banner out of vellum and stamped my sentiment from Flourishes (a beloved but now closed stamp company) Tulips stamp set.

Honestly, I took forever to find the perfect design paper for that card! I was obsessed with finding the perfect, but not too distracting, background color and print! 

Thank you for visiting my blog today, and don't forget to join us over at the Beautiful Blossoms Challenge. I love to see your creations there and for you to see the other DT's inspirations, too!