January Classic Design Challenge : Patties Creations

 Happy New Year, Crafting Friends!! Can you believe it's another year down?? I feel like every year just blitzes by even faster than the year before!!

This month we're featuring digi's from Patties Creations. I had so many great images to choose from!! In fact, I bought a few other images along with the one I am featuring today! The image I chose to feature is Flamingo Happy Hour. It's just so happy, vibrant, and quirky that I HAD to play with the image! LOL!

I printed off the image and colored it in with Copic markers, then cut out a border at the bottom of my image with a long since retired Spellbinders borders combinations dies. After cutting out the border and trimmed my image sides, I sponged some Distress Oxide ink lightly around the image in various areas, in Carved Pumpkin. I didn't want it dark, just a highlight around the image. I put popdots under my main image and placed that over Bazzil's "Mint" cardstock. Then I placed the image & polka dot Bazzil cardstock over some A2 card-backs from Mintay Papers. Then, I placed a "Celebrate" rub-on from 49 & Market and some clear enamel candy dots from Bo Bunny.

I had SO Much FUN coloring this image in!! So easy and effortlessly fun! I hope it inspires you to color in a fun and quirky image for a card, even if it's just for the fun of it! :)

Have a great day, and I'll see you next month for another Classic Design Challenge!

January Beautiful Blossoms Challenge : Thinking of You

 Hello Blossom Friends! It's 2026!! Oh my goodness, 2025 went by so fast!

I'm back with a Beautiful Blossoms Design Challenge inspiration card for you, based on this challenge photo. Isn't it gorgeous?! Love those colors!

I really struggled to decide on what color I wanted to focus on or if I wanted to use all the shades of pink and peach I see. I love all those colors and colored in quite a few images with them all, but ultimately decided to focus on one color for more impact.

I stamped out Gina K's "Single Peony" on thick vellum, and colored the image in with Copics. Then I cut a frame to frame my flower image in, using Spellbinders A2 Filigree Delight. Then I cut my image out using the frame die, then glued the vellum to the frame diecut. I matted that with some design paper from Prima's "With Love" 12x12 paper pad, cutting my matted DP out with Spellbinders A2 Rectangles die, then placed more white cardstock behind the DP to add some weight to the card. to finish my card, I added a few decorative details from Anna Griffin's "Garden Fountain Embellishments" package.

I really enjoyed the process of making my card and it gives me a few other ideas for future cards using vellum, dies and textures. Don't be afraid to try new things, tools, techniques and ideas - you just never know how it might turn out!

 Thank you again for joining me and the rest of the Beautiful Blossoms Challenge team, please join our fun monthly challenges; we can't wait to see what you create with each new theme! Have a great day and see you back here for next month's challenge photo! :)

Classic Design Team Challenge: The Dancer

 Hi again, Friends! I'm back with another digital stamp challenge with the Classic Design Team!

This month, we are working with SheepSki Designs Digital Images and Art. I had many designs to choose from, but I chose a solo flamenco dancer. The silhouette and the movement just captivated me.

I printed the image out on Gina K paper (with MUCH difficulty, as it's pretty thick), in a 4x6 format.

I chose to color the dancer in pink instead of a red, to give the dancer a real feminine, soft look. My main Copic colors on the dancer were R81, R83, R85, and R89. I cut the main image out with Pinkfresh's Stitched Rectangles, then matted that over some blue 49 & Market paper, just to pop that pink a tad more. I cut a fancy border on the blue design paper with a long since retired MFT die, then matted that on top of popdots over a scalloped backing, cut from Spellbinders Heartfelt Thanks and Scallops die. I did place some white gems from Honey Bee Stamps along the decorative edge for some interest, but otherwise, wanted just the dancer to be the focus of my card.

I really love how it turned out! The pink just sings and I love the simplicity of it all! Until next month, stay Crafty!

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!

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)

Happy Birthday

 Hello and welcome back crafty Friends! I hope everyone is having a great weekend so far! I don't know about you, but I look forward to my weekends of crafting :)

Today I have a card that combined a few blog challenges :

Addicted To CAS : Center Focus

Word Art Wednesday : Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp Blog : Anything Goes w/ Spellbinders

A Cherry On Top : Sketch

Just Add Ink : A Touch of Bling

I didn't want to combine too many challenges together, because I wanted to keep my card as clean and simple as possible this time. I usually have clean designs, but I really wanted this card to be clean and simple so the design would speak for itself and keep the focus front and center.

I chose to use Spellbinders Scalloped Symphony Notecard die set, on Tim Holtz's Metallic Cardstock in Rose Gold. I chose a close matching pink paper cardstock from The Paper Boutique's Moon Meadows cardstock collection. I stamped my sentiment from Crafter's Companion in a set called Gemini. After stamping my sentiment and placing it in the center of my card, I added a couple of gem stickers from Honey Bee Stamps from their Log Cabin gem collection.

Again, I felt it would look better if I made it as clean and simple as possible and I'm glad I did. I generally don't work with shimmery cardstock for many reasons, but mainly because I feel it's difficult to photograph well. I had to close some blinds and shades to keep from the high reflection on this card, but the darker room, I feel dulls it out. So it's tricky if you want to take photos with it, but in real life it just sparkles in such a lovely, eye catching, way!

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you have a happy, crafty weekend!

Good Friends

 Welcome back, Friends! I have another card created from blog challenges.

This time, I'm going to be combining three challenges together. 

Color Throwdown Blog : Blue, Pink, Yellow

Inspired By Blog : Pillows/Bright Colors

A Cherry On Top Blog : Weekly Sketch

I was very much inspired by the colors and using just a sentiment. But I decided that my sentiment would run from "top to bottom", instead of side-to-side.

I chose a long retired, but never used stamp set from Just Rite stamps, "True Friends" (I think). I chose to stamp it in Staz-On Timber Brown (because the black was just too harsh looking, though it definitely stood out better), on Acetate. I framed my sentiment with an old piece of Ephemera frames from a card kit I received years ago that I found in my stash. I put popdots under my pink Ephemera frame, placing it over my a scrap piece of paper that has blues, pinks, and yellows, so it pops off the background. Then I cut out a scalloped square frame from Bazzil's Pink cardstock, using MFT's Stitched Scalloped Rectangles. Then I added a few pearls for an elegant finishing touch (without them it looked like it was missing something).

As I said, I could have used black ink but I decided that I liked it better, almost faded looking. It was just too strong of a color with all the light colors in the card. Too striking for me. That being said, if you're stamping on Acetate, keep in mind it's slippery and difficult to get a nice crisp image. You really have to work on finding just the right pressure so it imprints, but not so much that it slides as you're pressing the stamp onto it.

Thank you for stopping by my little blog to check out my creations, I'm happy to see you here! Please leave some love, and come back soon!

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!

Love You Very Much

 Hello again Crafty Friends! I'm back again with a new Card Challenge that I found online. This weeks challenge is from My Favorite Things. Their challenge this week is a Sketch, and here it is.

I Love, Love this sketch and I got so many ideas from it! Without further adieu, here is my submission.

I chose MFT's "Wish You Were Hare" stamp & die set, colored it in with Copics, and set it aside. I cut out and embossed the background with Taylored Expressions Diamonds Piercing Plate, then I cut out the Stitched Mini Scalloped Square to frame the background. I chose to use Bazzil'z Blush Polkadot pink background, cut into scallops using Simon Says Stamp's "Slim Line Borders", sponged in with "Tattered Rose" Distress Inks. I cut the Sentiment out using a retired die set from MFT called "Blue Prints 2", and finished the card using some blush pink Zva Pearls.

I absolutely love how cute the card turned out and non-fussy it looks. The only difficulty I had was choosing what design papers I wanted to use! :)

Well, that's it Friends! I'll see you the next time I post my challenge creations. Until then, stay Crafty! :)

Apple Postcard

I love apples and I'm getting excited that fall is here so I can go apple picking!! I LOVE Fall and I Love Apple Picking!! I always look forward to crisp air, hot apple cider, and warm caramel to dip my apple slices in :) I don't know about you, but there's just something about fall and apples that make me giddy, happy, and cozy all at once.

I made this watercolored postcard on a whim years ago while I was just playing around with my watercolor paints. I actually painted the picture first and realized it would make a great Postcard instead of just a greeting card image.

I used Power Poppy's "Apples in Season" stamp set that I colored in using Distress Inks and watercolor markers. I added the lines with a fine line pen, and then sponged on a border and background color using the Distress Inks again. Super Simple! 

I kept the Postcard sweet and simple, just letting the image shine, as it should. By just playing around and experimenting, I think I stumbled upon creating a sweet looking Postcard by accident. 

Now that I'm hungry and inspired, I'm off to go Apple Picking!

Happy Birthday!

 Of all the kinds of cards I create, I love making Birthday cards the most! 

I realized I haven't made a nice, bold card with colors that POP! I wanted a card that just said summer, using some of my favorite "tart" vivid shades that invoke those summer vibes. 

So I created this card for my daughter's birthday last week, and she LOVED it.

I stamped out half of my (large!) image from Colorado Craft Company, called "Sweet Friend Cupcake" and colored it in with Copics, using some strong colors that would Pop off the card. Then I stamped my sentiment with a stamp set from Spellbinders called "Birthday Pennants". Then I matted my image using Doodle Bug Company's "Pistachio" cardstock, layering that over some really vivid patterned paper (no designer given on it). I placed the PP over some "Buttercup" yellow cardstock from Simple Stories and added some white cardstock under that that I punched out a "lace" edge using Fiskars "Swiss Dots" edger. I placed more Pistachio cardstock under the white Swiss Dot punched edge paper, but I popped that off the Pistachio using PopDots to offer depth and keep it from feeling "flat". I then added the image over the PP using more PopDots so there'd be some "lift" and life to the image.

This has to be one of my favorite cards I have made of recent. I love all the bright, bold and sassy colors! They just make me squeal with delight! I could make a hundred cards using these colors and they'd still make me smile. I don't know about you, but I'm just not ready for summer to end!

Kindness Is The Way

 Kindness. Hard to find these days, at times. I like to remind myself it's a long sought after but rarely found gift. I believe in being as kind as you can to everyone as best as you can.

That's why I love this image.

I used Power Poppy's "Kindness Is The Way" free digital stamp to create this card. I used a lighter paper to print it out on, almost vellum like, and colored it in with Copic markers. I paired it with a very light blue gingham checked paper that just added to the intense POP of color I colored the flowers in with that didn't distract from them. After that, I added a simple border of stitching around the image to keep it looking simple and cheery, like I wanted it to be.

Gerbera Daisies are some of the most colorful and cheerful flowers I have ever seen. I mean, who wouldn't want to be given a beautiful bouquet of them?! If you can't give real flowers, this card could certainly take their place, it's so bold. I could walk in a garden of these for hours, they bring such a smile to my face and heart!

Sunday Morning Flourishes

Hello again, I'm back with another Flourishes card that I kept very simple and sweet.

Remember those cool shaped cards that were all the rage a few years ago? Yep, I decided to go "retro" and make one and just have fun with it.

I picked Flourishes Garden Picks stamp set and stamped it on Flourishes Classic White cardstock. I colored the flowers in very softly with my Copics, then fussy cut it out and set it aside. I stamped Flourishes Love and Lace as my circular background, in Memento Desert Sand on Flourishes Classic Ivory cardstock I diecut out into a circle. I matted the diecut circle with Spellbinders Picot Circles die, using a very light and soft pink cardstock, to give it a lacy and feminine feel.
I attached my base to my top half and I cut out a scalloped circle shape in a soft pink cardstock, attaching it to my base for decoration. Then I added a fancy tag shape so that my top could have a "catch point" so my card wouldn't flop closed. Then I stamped the flower images in Memento Desert Sand on the fancy tag piece, adding my sentiment in the middle. I finished off my card with some pearls and swirl bling, keeping it very simple and not fussy.

I hope this card inspires you to try another retro card shape or style!

As promised I am also announcing my blog candy winner from Flourishes Release Week! The winner is: Liz Williams!!! Liz, please email me at : havonfamily@yahoo.com to claim your prize!!

Challenge Blog Link Up List For This Card:

Brown Sugar - Anything Goes
Colour Crazy - Anything Goes
Creative Corner - Favorite Color Combo - (Pink & Creams)
Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
Cut It Up! - Summer Time Memories - (Picked Flowers in a Jar)
Fussy and Fancy - Pink & Cream w/ Lots of Bling
Morgan's Art - Add 3 Of Something - (3 or more Pearls and Bling)
Pattie's Creations - Anything Goes


Thank you for joining me and I will see you soon with another Flourishes card!
~ Amanda

YOU Are Special

Hello friends and welcome back to another fabulous Flourishes card. This such a special and pretty card, I just love how it turned out!

I used Flourishes You Sentiments that I stamped and framed in a metal frame and I painted over with white paint to "shabby it up", adding some pretty pearls under the sentiment. After that, I added some Prima flowers, a half a doily, and some Flourishes May Arts Mauve Ribbon. Then I matted everything in Flourishes Classic Ivory cardstock cutout into a frame using the Spellbinders Regal Frame die.

I wanted to go for a mixed media shabby chic look, so I decided to use something's I usually never use on my cards, such as Prima flowers and a metal frame to frame my sentiment. I am not comfortable in the mixed media realm, but I like to push myself creatively just to see where it goes.

I have created all of maybe 3 mixed media items or projects and I always over analyze each embellishment or accessory thinking it looks like too much or looks too "heavy". This time I just rolled with it and decided not to look at the in-process card too critically. After it came together I realized because I wasn't used to it, it was all "too much" before I even gave it a chance to evolve. So next time you're creating your next card, try using something you don't normally use or like to use, keep an open mind and see where it goes!

Thank you for stopping by and I'll see you next week with some new inspiration!

~ Amanda Havon

S'more Fun!

Hello Friends! I'm on vacation at my Mom's home in Minnesota  with my two girls, helping her out and just having some summer fun!

Yesterday I was looking through some of the cards I have made with Flourishes new June release, and  I found one that just speaks to me of summer vacation and S'mores Fun!

I stamped S'more Fun out in Versafine Onyx Black in out onto Classic White paper. I colored my image in with the following Copic Collections: Dusty Rose, Sky, Azure, Fuschia, Tonal Neutrals, Lenten Rose, True Blue, Olive Green, Burnt Orange, Sunflower, Terra Cotta & Copper Collection. I matted My card in Color Made Easy Sunflower cardstock, and I used Turquoise Twill Striped Ribbon and Mauve Ruffled Edge Trim.

Here are my two lovely girls having fun at Grandma's farm in the northwoods of Minnesota.

They are living it up and we are planning our first s'mores party of the summer, with more to follow ;)

Thank you for visiting and have a great summer this year!

Free For All Friday!!

Hi all! Just like we do every Friday after our release, our designers pick up their favorite new sets and let their creativity go crazy with a "Free for All Friday!" The goal is to show off those new images and give you even more ideas on how to use them!

This is just a taste of what you'll see when you hop around and see what the design team has to offer today! Also, time is running out for our New Release Bundle Bargain! Today is the last day to get all of our new sets at 10% off when you purchase them in a bundle. If you want to know more, just click HERE  to see the bundle in the Flourishes store!

 I chose to keep my card simple and as if you were looking out a window.

I used Flourishes new "Bees and Blooms" stamp set that I stamped onto Classic White cardstock, in Memento Angel Pink. I stamped out my sentiment, also from Bees and Blooms, in Versafine Onyx Black, then I added Kaiser Kraft pearls in Blush. I framed the card with Color Made Easy Candy Pink cardstock and popped it up on popdots to make it seem like you were looking out a window at the Bees and Blooms.

Ok, now it's time to hop on over and see.....

   Amanda Havon
  Christine Okken
  Cindy Lawrence
  Danielle Kennedy
  Heather Jensen
  Julie Koerber 
  Maki Jones
  Silke Ledlow
  Stacy Morgan

Hope you have a fabulous weekend and we’ll see you all back here soon!

Flourishes Release Week : Spring Blossoms

Hi all and welcome to day 1 of Flourishes April Sneaks! Oh my goodness, where does the time go? We are excited though because our April release brings a bevy of beauty that is ripe for spring. Starting with this little number......

Did you recognize the flow of these flowers? Well, you should! This gorgeous stamp set is the final set in our Blossoms Collection, this beautiful array of spring blossoms illustrated by Marcella Hawley features a bouquet, corner stamps, and pieces to create your own borders or frames. Add in four of all occasion sentiments and you have the perfect set to create cards for every day correspondence. Set measures 4 by 6" and is the perfect companion to sister sets Happily Ever After, and Letters in Blossom. If you like this set, you might also like our Summer Blossoms set featuring summer florals, our Autumn Blossoms set featuring Autumn florals, our our set Winter Blossoms with gorgeous late winter/early spring blooms.

I used Spring Blossoms, coloring it in with Lenten Rose, Dusty Rose, Dahlia, Fuchsia, Poppy, Sweet Pea, Sunflower, Daffodil, Beehive, Terra Cotta, New Leaves, and Olive Green Copic Collections. I fussy cut the image out and popped it up on popdots and placing it on a small die cut for stability, then mounted that onto a piece of old lace I found at a Garage Sale. I matted my background paper on a dark piece of Color Made Easy Rich Brown cardstock, then mounted them on to a lighter Rich Brown cardstock that I cut with a decorative punch along the side of the card. I added some Ivory Laurel Venise lace, some Color Made Easy ribbon from the Poppy Collection, called Basque Red, and a hatpin I made.

I enjoyed this stamp set so much I made two cards! So my second is a little softer and a little more pink!

Once again, I used Spring Blossoms and colored it in with Lenten Rose, Poppy, and Olive Green Copic Collections, that I fussy cut and popped up on popdots. I used the dotted frame image from Flowers and Frames set stamped in Memento Angel Pink (under my popped up flowers) and stamped out my sentiment in Versafine Onyx Black ink. I used a Antique Frame and Accents, Spellbinder die cut, to center my image and give it some presence and stitched around the card. With some pink ribbon and Kaiser Blush Pearls, my card was complete.

Well, just as we have done in past release weeks, we offer our little guessing game of….

We don’t know which one of these ladies below will be the Mystery Blogger but one will, so leave comments on all of our designers’ blogs and you’ll be in the running to win today’s Spring Blossoms Stamp set!  Want to see all the beautiful things you can create with this gorgeous array of spring blooms? Head on over and see…..

   Amanda Havon
  Christine Okken
  Cindy Lawrence
  Danielle Kennedy
  Heather Jensen
  Julie Koerber 
  Maki Jones
  Silke Ledlow
  Stacy Morgan

As you make your way around blog land to visit Flourishes’ designers, you might notice that some of them are using a brand new 123 Create Kit called… Stationery Noted! Check out the lovelies in this kit!

To find out all the goodies in this color-coordinated, elegant kit, just click HERE! DO YOU WANT TO WIN OUR ENTIRE RELEASE?
If you want a chance to win all three of our soon-to-be released sets, you can always play in our Summer Lovin' Challenge – there will be multiple winners here! OR, play along with the gals for this week’s Timeless Tuesday Challenge! Check out the links for the official rules! Also, if you like what you see on our designers’ blogs today, you can pre-order this set (along with the other two sets as well). You can also take advantage our New Release Bundle and get 10% off, when you purchase all three together in a bundle. All sets will be live first thing Friday morning along with the coordinating cut files for this release. So, be sure to stick with us this week as we unveil a whole new host of paper crafting goodies!
We’ll see you back here tomorrow for another new release sneak peek! This one is blossoming with beauty as well!