Sunday, January 25, 2026

Scrap busters

This time of year, I always feel the need to start using up all the bits and pieces that accumulate from making cards throughout the year.  This time, I am determined to finally use up this paper pack that I have had for years and years and years and it has finally gotten down to mostly small scraps.  So, this post has 3 cards using these little bits that are left.  I have one more card that I will show on the 1st, and will be able to make 1 or 2 more cards before I finished it up completely.  One of my favorite things to do with these little scraps is to adhere them to a narrow strip of cardstock to create a strip of stripes of patterned paper.  Each of these cards today uses one of those strips.  On the first card, it is the fishtail banner on the left.  This card uses most of the larger scraps that were left.

This second card uses the only piece of patterned paper that did not belong to the pack I'm focusing on.  So, the dotted pink paper is not part of it.  But each of the little "cards", the hearts and that strip across the middle are part of the pack.
The final card is a cute little Christmas card using 4 of those striped paper strips!  I embossed a snowflake background and added an adorable die cut snowwoman.
This snowman die set is absolutely perfect for using up scraps of card stock.  I forgot to add the orange for the nose, but otherwise the photo below shows how perfect it is!


Card #1:
Supplies:
Stamps: Verve "Text Objects"
Dies: Sweet n' Sassy Stamps heart

Challenges:













Pearly Sparkles #115--use patterned paper
Crafty Catz #705--anything goes
Creative Fingers #314--anything goes

Card #2:
Supplies:
Stamps: PaperTrey Ink "Kid Kudos"
Dies: Sweet n' Sassy Stamps hearts; My Favorite Things "Blueprints 14" stitched circle

Challenges:
Pixie's Snippets Playground #524--anything goes with snippets (everything except the pink dotted paper is cut from scraps)
Fab n' Funky #629--going around in circles
Word Art Wednesday #736--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Paper Funday Challenge #83--anything goes or sketch (I used the sketch)













Word Power--anything goes with sentiment as the focus
Creative Knockouts #563--something to say

Card #3:
Supplies:
Stamps: Verve "Ornamental Christmas'
Dies: Lawn Fawn "Build a Snowman"
Darice snowflake embossing folder

Challenges:
ABC Christmas--A is for anything Christmas goes, B is for bright (I think I have both!)
Crafty Gals Corner Challenge #273--anything goes with the optional twist: snowman
Christmas Kickstart #106--Dreaming of a pink Christmas
Peace on Earth #103--optional mood board


























Love Those Pretty Papers--anything goes with the optional twist: snowmen
CRAFT #772--Christmas and/or first Christmas
Alphabet Challenge--T is for Texture
Can You Handle the Pressure--anything goes with the optional twist: all white



Friday, January 23, 2026

Cheerful friend

Happy Friday!!!  It's time for a new challenge from the Cut It Up Challenge Blog.  This week, the challenge is: My Heart

Here is my card for your inspiration:
This challenge is the perfect excuse to start making those Valentine's Day cards.  My card started with the die cut floral panel in the center of my card.  It has been lying on my desk for months, a left over from a previous project.  I pulled out an old set from Verve "Text Objects" for the sentiment and also for those fun hearts.  I stamped them on patterned paper from the same paper pack as the blue papers and fussy cut them out.  I decided to stamp the sentiment on vellum to keep a soft look; white cardstock seemed like it would be too bright.  I finished it all off with some pink pearls.


Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you will hop over to the Cut It Up blog for the full details of the challenge and to see what the rest of the Design Team has created. 

Supplies:
Stamps: Verve "Text Objects"
Dies: STAMPlorations rectangle die (it has a beautiful wavy stitched detail)

Challenges:
Creative Inspirations--anything goes
We Love Stamping--something new or anything goes (I went with the anything goes option)
Moving Along with The Times #185--use stencils AND/OR dies (I used a die)













Aud Sentiments #333--anything goes
Word Power--anything goes with sentiment as the focus
Pearly Sparkles #115--use patterned paper
Make My Monday #269--patterned paper
Crafty Catz #705--anything goes
Creative Fingers #314--anything goes
Word Art Wednesday #736--anything goes with uplifting sentiment

Thursday, January 15, 2026

Snow couple

Hello, everyone!  Happy New Year!  It's time for first challenge of the year from the Creative Moments Challenge blog.  The theme is: Romance (Perfect for getting a start on your Valentine's Day cards.) We do not have a sponsor for this month, but I believe there is still going to be a prize, so make sure you play along!

Here is my card for your inspiration:
I created this adorable little snowman card to give to my husband for Valentine's Day.  This die set from Lawn Fawn is just too cute and there are soooooo many options and little tiny dies to personalize these adorable snowmen!
I first cut my snowman and snowwoman from scraps of all sorts of different card stocks and adhered them all together with liquid glue.  I then decided to ink up a snowy background for them.  I used several different ink colors (and started with a light blue card stock to make the blending easier) to create the background.  Then I spritzed on some water and some white paint to make it look like a snowy sky.  I die cut the panel with this fun deckled edge die and used the same die to die cut a white glittery snowy ground.  The little red heart is also from the same snowman die set.  Then I added a stamped "Love" banner to finish it off.

You have all month to play along.  So, get inky and link up your creation; I can't wait to see what you create!

Supplies:
Stamps: Verve "Text Objects"
Dies: Lawn Fawn "Build a Snowman"; unbranded rectangle die

Challenges:
Creative Inspirations--anything goes
Moving Along With the Times #185--use stencils AND/OR dies
A Gem of a Challenge--anything goes
Pixie's Snippets Playground #523--anything goes with snippets (all of the snowman and woman pieces were cut from scraps of card stock)
Fab 'n' funky #628--winter wonderland
C.R.A.F.T. #771--anything goes

Friday, January 9, 2026

Winter Birthday

Happy Friday and Happy New Year!!!  It's time for a new challenge from the Cut It Up Challenge Blog.  This week, the challenge is: Favorite Die/Set

Here is my card for your inspiration:
I used a couple of my favorite dies/sets on this one.  My absolute favorite die (or at least the one that I use the most) is the stitched rectangle die from the My Favorite Things set "Blueprints 13".  I also used the curved tag shape from the same set.  One of my other favorite sets is the large snowflake die in the background from Papertrey Ink.  This whole card came about because of the cute little snowman.  I created him for a previous project and didn't end up using him.  But he was just too cute to leave sitting on my desk!  So, I pulled out some papers with reds and some other colors and created this fun, winter, birthday card.  The little polaroid frame die is from Taylored Expressions and I was gifted it quite a while ago.  I had not had a chance to play with it until this card.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you will hop over to the Cut It Up blog for the full details of the challenge and to see what the rest of the Design Team has created. 

Supplies:
Stamps: Paper Trey Ink "Hands of Time" sentiment; Your Next Stamp snowman
Dies: My Favorite Things "Blueprints 13" stitched rectangle and curved tag, "Cute Snowflakes" small snowflakes; PaperTrey Ink "Fancy Flakes"; Lawn Fawn "Stitched Hillside" border die; Taylored Expressions "Feature Frames"

Challenges:
Shopping Our Stash #564--free is good (the frame die set was a prize/gift)
The Paper Shelter #662--anything goes with the optional twist: out with the old, in with the new (old MFT die set and snowflakes--had them both for about 10 years; new frame die set)
Cards Galore #143--anything goes
Die Cut Divas--use new crafty item (frame die)













Crafty Calendar Challenge--anything new (frame die)
Creative Inspiration--anything goes
We Love Stamping--something new or anything goes (frame die)
Craft Rocket #132--something new (frame die)
Moving Along With The Times #185--use stencils AND/OR dies
Aud Sentiments #333--anything goes
NBUS #82--never before used schtuff (frame die)
Love Those Pretty Papers--anything goes with the optional twist: snowman
A Gem of a Challenge--anything goes
Pearly Sparkles #115--use patterned paper
Sweet Stampin'--new (frame die)
Simon Says Stamp Monday--something new (frame die)
Fab n' Funky #628--winter wonderland
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--something new (frame die)
Double D--birthday


 






Lil' Red Wagon #840--Happy New . . . (frame die)

Thursday, January 1, 2026

Snowy Birthday

Happy January 1st, 2026!!  It's time for a new challenge on the Critter Crazy Challenge blog!  As always, it is a month long challenge: Anything Goes as long as you feature a creature.  Here is my card for your inspiration:

My cousin's birthday is December 30, so I needed something quick since we went away for Christmas.  As I was looking through my stash of brand new items, I came across this adorable little reindeer and figured I would give him a little outing.  I stamped him and colored him up, stamped the sentiment and added some die cut snowflakes and dots.  I also stamped his little bow tie on a plaid paper, fussy cut it out, and adhered it in place.  Quick, easy, and pretty darn cute if I do say so myself.  

Thanks for stopping by!  Hop on over to the Critter Crazy blog and check out the details and the rest of the projects from the Design Team.

Supplies:
Stamps: My Favorite Things "Something for Everything"; Woodware Craft Collection reindeer set
Dies: Papertrey Ink "Snowglobe" snowflakes and dots.

Challenges:
Creatalicious #296--anything goes with the optional twist: winter animals
NBUS #81--never before used schtuff (first time for the reindeer)
A Gem of a Challenge--anything goes
Cardz 4 Guyz #381--Christmas critters
Word Art Wednesday #733--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Shopping Our Stash #564--Free is good (the reindeer stamp set was a prize from a challenge win--I love free!)
The Paper Shelter #662--anything goes with the optional twist: Out with the old; In with the new (the reindeer stamp is new--first time using it--the snowglobe die set is at least 10 years old.)
Little Red Wagon #839--use the Force (I used a die cutting machine)


Friday, December 26, 2025

Christmas Anniversary

Happy Friday!!!  It's time for a new challenge from the Cut It Up Challenge Blog.  This week, the challenge is: Anything Goes

Here is my card for your inspiration:
My parents' anniversary is the day after Christmas (49 years this year!!).  So, I figured I could get away with using some Christmas themed items on my card for them.  The paper and gold ribbon were already on my desk from previous Christmas cards and the little sparkly red heart has been on my desk for a loooong time (in my little bits and pieces stash).  The ripped edge rectangle die cut had its very first outing on this card.  I have had it for a while, but haven't used it.  I honestly have no idea where it even came from (their was no info on the packaging) or when I got it.  But now that I have rediscovered it; I will definitely be using it more often!
Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you will hop over to the Cut It Up blog for the full details of the challenge and to see what the rest of the Design Team has created. 

Supplies:
Stamps: Verve "Be Blessed"; Repeat Impressions "Pine Cone"
Dies: Eliazabeth Craft Designs pine branch; Picket Fence Studios "A Bow for all Reasons"; Memory Box "Snowberry Twigs"; Verve "Scalloped Trim Trio" little heart negative; unbranded stitched label die from Amazon;  stitched rectangle die (I have absolutely NO idea where it came from)

Challenges:
Crafty Calendar--winter or Christmas
We Love Stamping--red and green
613 Avenue Create--anything goes with the optional twist: sparkle & shine
NBUS--never before used schtuff (the rectangle die)
Colorful Options--green, red, brown, white OR rainbow
Love Those Pretty Papers--anything goes with the optional twist: Santa (I did not use the twist)
Word Art Wednesday #733--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Simon Says Stamp Monday--sparkle & shine













Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--add a sentiment


 

Friday, December 19, 2025

Wrap it Up

Hello, everyone!  It's time for the mid-month reminder for the challenge from the Creative Moments Challenge blog.  The theme is: Wrap it Up.  I am using an image from our fabulous sponsor: Mirtillamente.

 Here is my card:
My ribbon is my "Wrap It Up" element.  My sentiment is from Mirtillamente; I didn't feel like coloring an image and I thought the font on this was really beautiful!  So, I printed it out nice and large, not quite sure what I was going to do with it.  As I was looking for a circle/oval die I discovered this wreath die and the card grew from there.  I found a circle die that matched the interior of the wreath die and used it to die cut the sentiment.  Then I die cut two of the wreath shapes out of a pine green card stock.  Then I chose a plaid patterned paper pack that had some of that same green in it and pieced several strips together to form the background.  I adhered it to a green base and adhered the sentiment circle to the background, then I layered the wreath die cuts together and adhered them around the sentiment.  I added the bits of gold sparkle ribbon and then used red enamel dots to create "berries".
You have all month to play along.  So, get inky and link up your creation; I can't wait to see what you create!

Supplies:
Stamps: Mirtillamente "Mrs. Peters 2-2" digi sentiment
Dies: Paper Trey Ink "Rustic Wreath"; unbranded circle die

Challenges:  
Double Trouble #206--Wrap It Up (Thing #1: 3 of something {3 colors: red, green, gold}, 2 or anything {2 wreath die cuts}, 1 of everything else {sentiment}; Thing #3: ribbon, twine, bow, etc.)
Penny's Challenge #610--anything goes
Jingle Belles--anything (Christmas) goes
Sweet Stampin'--It's Christmas
Cards Galore #142--anything goes
Die Cut Divas--Christmas/winter
Cheerful Sketches (I turned the sketch on its side)













Crafty Calendar--Christmas/winter
Creative Inspiration--Tis the Season
Crafty Gals #272--'Tis the Season













613 Avenue Create--anything goes with the optional twist: sparkle and shine
Word Power--anything goes with the sentiment as the focus
C.R.A.F.T. #770--anything Christmas goes
Alphabet Challenge--R is for ribbon
Simon Says Stamp Monday--anything goes for Christmas holidays
The Paper Shelter--anything goes with the optional twist: Christmas