Category Archives: Handmade Cards

#TGIFC144 – Card in a Box

It’s time for another TGIF Challenge!  This week is a technique challenge to create a “Card in a Box.”  To see all the designers amazing projects, go to the TGIF Challenges website. I decided to go literal and make a traditional card in a box, but I think you could use some freedom in interpretation for this challenge and come up with other shapes and ideas.  For example, I almost… Read More »

Patriotic Sympathy

Sympathy cards are so hard to do!  I usually don’t have many (if any) on hand, so when I make them, it’s usually because of an immediate need.  Then, it’s hard to get creative when you’re feeling sad.  I really need to start making two at a time, so I have one left in inventory. Last week, a very dear friend of my husband’s passed away.  He was simply an… Read More »

Cake Soiree

Hello Friends!!!  I know I haven’t posted for a while.  About a week ago, I drove to my mom’s house for a much needed visit after the holidays.  We had so much fun visiting, hiking, playing cards, crafting, and even going to a local violin concert.  But then I got back, and it’s been pretty hectic ever since.  Lots to do with year-end. I have a few projects to share from my visit,… Read More »

#TGIFC142 Sketch Challenge

It’s Friday and that means time for a new TGIF Challenge!  This time, we have a sketch challenge.  The template is clean and simple, so there’s lots of possibilities for interpretation.  You could add your favorite stamps, coloring technique, designer paper, and/or embellishments.  Just have fun!!!  Click on the template below to go to the TGIF Challenges website and see all the designers’ projects for this week. For my project,… Read More »

“Painting” with Stamps

I am crazy about the new Waterfront stamp set!  I knew immediately that it was going to be one of my all-time favorites, but now that I’ve used it a few times, I’m realizing it’s even better than expected.  I particularly love the watercolor style of the stamps and the individual brush stroke stamps that I can use to “paint” a picture. What’s even better is sharing ideas with other… Read More »

December Paper Pumpkin

December’s Paper Pumpkin kit is called Flora And Flutter, and I have to admit that I was super excited when I opened the box!  The cards are really different from any of the past kits, and I LOVE the color combinations.  (I love to be inspired by color combinations I never would have thought of myself!) The kit includes supplies to make 8 cards total, 4 each in two designs.  See… Read More »

Celebrate 2018 — #GDP119

Happy New Year!  Well, almost… I was playing with my new Brusho Crystal Colours again today and thought it would be fun to experiment a little.  So, I tried using Brusho on top of Year of Cheer Specialty Designer Series Paper (SDSP.)  I figured I might be able to create a background that looked like fireworks, and it worked!!! I created this card as part of the Global Design Project… Read More »

#TGIFC140 December Designer’s Delight

I have a super exciting announcement!  I was asked to join the TGIF Challenges Design Team!!!  I was so flattered, because this team is made up of AMAZING designers, including many past and present Artisan designers.  They post challenges every week that are so inspirational.   I think you will love following along and hopefully, participating!!!  So click on TGIF Challenges to see the projects from this week and follow the… Read More »

Just Breathe

It’s finals time for my daughter and her boyfriend in college!!!  That can be such a stressful time of year, especially with the holidays looming.  I know they’ll both do great, but I also know they both love getting little surprises to lift their spirits. This past weekend, I worked on putting together some “finals” care packages with fun treats to let them know we’re thinking of them and wishing… Read More »

TGIF Color Challenge #tgifc136

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I look at all my stamps and feel overwhelmed, I don’t know where to start.  I was feeling like that last Saturday; I wanted to design Christmas cards and needed some serious inspiration.  To help, I started looking at websites with challenges.  Challenges help me think outside the box and be more creative.  So, I thought I’d try the TGIF Color Challenge for this… Read More »

Home For Christmas #GDP115

This week, the Global Design Project group is having a theme challenge!  The challenge is to share the joy of Christmas.  Yay!!!  I love Christmas!  I love the wonderful feeling of friends and family as well as spirit of love and giving.  To see all the beautiful projects created by the design team, click HERE. Since this was such as open challenge … I mean ANY Christmas project would qualify… Read More »

Wonderful Life

Hello!  I have a fun and festive Christmas card to share today, featuring the Wonderful Life stamp set.  This is one of my favorite holiday stamp sets, because it’s so cute!!!  It reminds me of packing up the car to visit grandparents on Christmas day. But this stamp set works great for WAY more than just the holidays!  There are all sorts of embellishments for the car, so you can create… Read More »

Just Add Color With Blends!

The new Stampin’ Blends markers are so fun to use!!!  But be warned, they are seriously addicting!  Once I got mine, I immediately started looking over all my stamp sets to figure out which ones I could color.  Then I remembered!!!  I had the Just Add Color Specialty Designer Series Paper!  This paper is PERFECT for coloring with the new markers.  And what’s even better is that the paper comes… Read More »

Snowflake Watercolor #GDP112

This week, the Global Design Project challenge is to CASE (copy and share everything) one of the designers, Connie Collins.  Connie is one of my all-time favorite Artisan Designers.  I’ve followed her blog for years.  She is amazingly artistic … simply one-of-a-kind.  Every single one of her projects is meticulously perfect and detailed.  She’s just awe inspiring. The card she designed includes beautiful watercoloring and Fall colors.  See below for… Read More »

Favorite Sympathy Card

In the past month, I’ve had to make a few sympathy cards for some good friends.  While it’s a sad occasion, I think making handmade cards and writing heartfelt notes inside really help friends know how much you care and wish you could help ease their pain. One of my favorite Sympathy cards was one I made using past Paper Pumpkin stamps from August and September 2017.  You can see the original… Read More »

Happy Halloween!!!

Happy Halloween everyone!!!  Hope you have a fun, spooky day! My little kiddies are all grown up and off on their own.  But, I still have wonderful memories of many, many costumes and fun Halloweens.  Plus, I like to let them know I’m thinking of them.  So, I made care packages to mail off and surprise them.  Bahahaaaa! OK, so I need to start off by qualifying that I did not… Read More »

October Paper Pumpkin

This month’s Paper Pumpkin kit is called “Pining for Plaid.”  It’s the first in a series of two coordinated, back-to-back kits created for the holidays, and boy is it cute! If you’ve never heard of Paper Pumpkin, click here to learn about this great subscription service.  It’s only $20 a month.  Click here to subscribe before November 10th and receive the next monthly kit. The October Paper Pumpkin kit includes… Read More »

Half Full & Stampin’ Blends

I just love the Half Full stamp set.  I love the sayings, the fonts, and the stamps as well.  Plus, it’s a PERFECT stamp set for playing with the new Stampin’ Blends alcohol markers!!! These markers are currently only available to demonstrators for a short time, so we can practice using them, perfect our techniques, and get ready to teach classes.  But, they will be available to the public later… Read More »