Hip Hip Hooray! Have A Happy Birthday!

It's time for the Favorite Things release by Simon Says Stamp, and it's available now!!  My card features a super cute stamp set call Hip Hip Hooray.

I hadn't made a card with masking in quite a while, and it's so fun!  I stamped both hippo images and the water  from the Hip Hip Hooray stamp set onto masking paper.  I used my scissors to cut each one out.

Next I planned where I wanted to stamp each image and which one would be in the foreground.  That's important to know since it is the first image you will need to stamp.  I stamped the hippo on the left first with alcohol marker safe black ink.  I placed the coordinating mask over that hippo.

Next I stamped the water, then placed its mask over it.  Then I stamped the hippo with the watermelon.  I placed a mask over it so I could use blending brushes with green and blue inks to fill in the scene.  The ink colors I used are in the list below.

Here's a photo collage showing the scene after removing each mask.  The reveal is so fun!

I used my Copic markers to color the stamped images.  Then I used a rectangle die to cut out the piece.

Next I chose two sentiments from the Hip Hip Hooray stamp set.  I stamped these with black pigment ink.  Then I stamped the two butterflies and colored them with Copic markers.

I added foam tape to the back of the panel and adhered it to an A2 card base.

While it's not a one-layer card, it is a one-layer scene, which I rarely make!  It was fun and I like how it turned out.  I hope you do to and found some inspiration to make a card with this adorable Hip Hip Hooray set.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

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A Birthday Fishes Card -- A Sneak Peek of Honey Bee Stamps Pet-Tastic Release

Hello crafty friends! Today I have a sneak peek of Honey Bee Stamps' upcoming (NOW available) Pet-tastic release.  You may think it's all about dogs and cats (that we all love), but if you love other types of pets, you will not be disappointed!! I've used four new sets for my card today. 

These are the now available products I've used for this card: Lovely Layers: Fish, Lovely Layers: Tank, Lovely Layers: Tank Aquarium Add-On.

First I die cut the Lovely Layers: Tank about five times from white cardstock. I die cut the wood-grain top and bottom pieces once. This set will die cut the frame for the tank, two wood grain strips, and the center.)  I glued the layers of the tank together and set it aside to dry. I used a brown ink from my stash to color the wood layers with a Detail Blender brush. Next I glued those pieces to the tank.

I used one of the die cut tank center pieces and added some blue ink with a blender a blender brush. To make this have a watery look I spritzed on some water drops, let it sit several seconds, then used a clean paper towel to blot up any excess water. I set it aside to dry.

All of the following elements are die cut from white cardstock and inked up with various inks in my stash with blender brushes. I also die cut several pieces from the Lovely Layers: Tank Aquarium Add-On Honey Cuts. Then I chose three of the several fish from the Lovely Layers: Fish Honey Cuts to die cut and color. Be sure to print off the Layering Guides to store with your sets--these are SO helpful in creating your elements. I've never had a fish tank, so I just did a quick search of types of home aquarium fish. I couldn't believe how many colorful fish there are!

Next I made a shaped card base for the fish Tank by taking a top folding 5-½" x 4-¼" card base and trimming the top folded edge just a bit. I drew a cutting line by placing the tank on the card base and tracing a link with a pencil where the top edge of the base extended beyond the tank. Then I glued the Tank to the base.

I decided on an arrangement for the elements and used glue and some foam dots to adhere them to the card. I stamped a sentiment from the new Pet-tastic stamp set with Intense Black ink. I used the coordinating Pet-tastic die to cut out the sentiment and popped it up with a foam strip.

For a bit of bling, I glued on some pretty clear Dew Drops.

I hope you've enjoyed seeing this sneak peek of the upcoming Pet-Tastic Release! Be sure to pop over here later Friday evening to grab the links to the products I've used here and the other awesome sets! Thank you for stopping by today!

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Happy Birthday Gorgeous!

I made a fun and quick card with Spellbinders February 3D embossing folder of the month.  Embossing, die cutting, inking, and a BetterPress sentiment completes this card.

First I die cut the diamond shape from the center of an A2 sized piece of Fruit Punch cardstock using a die from the Essential Diamonds set.  Then I embossed it with the 3D Folder Of The Month (called Petite Bow).  Next I inked around the edges of the cardstock with a slightly darker coordinating ink.

To make the embossing really stand out, I swiped a white pigment ink pad over the piece and set it aside to let the ink dry.

Then I die cut white cardstock with several of the dies from the Vivid Blooms die set.  I used inks from my stash to color them with ink blending brushes.  I used glue to adhere the layers.

Next I embossed white cardstock with the Petite Bows 3D embossing folder.  I used foam tape to adhere the pink embossed panel to the white cardstock.  These layers were glued to an A2 card base.

I arranged the flowers and leaves around the die cut opening and adhered them all with some glue.  I used a sentiment from the Bougie Birthday Sentiments Press Plate & Die Set and popped it up with a foam strip.

I thought about adding some bling, but decided that I liked the card just as it is!

If you like this folder (how could you not?!) there is still time to sign up for the 3D Embossing Folder Club Kit for February!

I appreciate you stopping by today and hope you have a fabulous week ahead!

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Why Do You Need the NEW Altenew Petal Palette?

Hello crafty friends!  Today I am sharing my thoughts about the new Altenew Petal Palette watercolor palette along with a card I watercolored.  Do you need this?  Well, honestly, I wasn't sure why I did.  However, keep reading to find out why I am thrilled to have this beautiful watercolor palette in my craft room!

I was gifted these products, including the Petal Palette.  I am not required to give any certain type of feedback and all of my opinions here are truly mine!

First, anytime I have any type of new color medium, I like to make some swatches.  I'm such a visual creator, that this is a necessity!

I put a very small dollop of each of the Palette Perfection Artists' Watercolor Tube paints into a well of the Petal Palette.

Next, I die cut 10 tags with one of the dies from the Terrific Tags die set from a sheet of Altenew's Watercolor Paper Pad.  After I added a drop or two of watercolor to each color, I used an Altenew Fine Watercolor Brush to paint the bottom of a tag with each of the colors.  (See the list below for links.)

I added the labels to each tag with the name of the watercolor with my label maker.

Now it was time to put the Petal Palette to work!  I used one card from the Botanical Elegance 5x7 Watercolor Book to use the watercolors and the Petal Palette.

I love having the large open area to mix my colors!  

The only additional color I used outside of the Palette Perfection watercolors that I used was Coffee Break.  This is a brown watercolor from Altenew's Watercolor 36 Pan Set.  I used that brown to mix into my yellow to use as another layer of paint to achieve more depth in my coloring.

I also used the brown watercolor to mix into my green paint.  There is plenty of room on the Petal Palette to mix several colors!

I trimmed the finished watercolor image and matted it with a black cardstock layer.  Then I glued it to a 5" x 7" card base.  The sentiments are from the One-Go Solid Sentiment Strips and coordinating dies.

So, if you cannot tell, I am VERY happy to have the beautiful Petal Palette!  It was easy to mix my paints on it, easy to clean, and will look so pretty on display in my craft room!  I definitely recommend it!!

I hope you will join us over at the Instagram Hop where there will be some awesome prizes to be drawn from those that leave comments along the hop!

Thank you so much for stopping by!

Let's Make A Card For Our Friend With New and Older Sets!

Hello crafty friends! It is SO cold here, and a lot of other places, I know!  I've been staying warm in my craft room and making another card my favorite way!  I love using new products with older ones, and I've made a card that features two of the products from the Honey Bee Stamps Perfect Match release and two products that are older, but still favorites!

If you follow me, you may have noticed that I don't make a lot of cards that have critters on them. It's not that I dislike them, I just don't seem to reach for them often. However, this Sweet Spring Mice stamp set is one that I have used multiple times!! I stamped this cute mouse with Copic safe black ink and did some simple coloring with a few Copic markers. I cut it out with the coordinating Sweet Spring Mice Honey Cut and set it aside to work on the other card elements.

The second older product I used is the Clover Petals 3D embossing folder. I embossed light green cardstock with the embossing folder. Then I custom dyed some pearl shimmer paste with a couple drops of light green reinker that coordinates with the cardstock. Once I had the paste mixed I used my finger to rub the paste onto the raised areas of the embossed cardstock. I set it aside to dry.

Next I die cut white cardstock three times with the top layer of the Lucky To Have You die. I die cut the layer once more from more light green cardstock. I used glue to adhere the layers together and then glued it to the white layer I die cut with the bottom layer of the Lucky To Have You die. I swiped a clear glitter pen over the sentiment for some subtle sparkle.

Then I stamped "friend" from the Love You, Friend stamp set with light green ink and cut it out with the coordinating die. I adhered it to the middle of the Lucky To Have You sentiment with thin foam tape.

After making sure the embossed panel was dry, I trimmed it to 3-¾" x 5" and glued it to an A2 card base. Then I glued the sentiment to the card.

I adhered the cute Sweet Spring Mouse with foam dots. I wanted a bit more bling and was happy to find that the Dappled Moss acrylic hearts coordinated perfectly! I used little dots of glue to adhere the hearts to my card.

While this card has a bit of a St. Patricks Day vibe to it, I think it is good to send to a special friend at any time! Thank you so much for stopping by! Have a wonderful and crafty day!

As always, I sure appreciate you when you use my affiliate links to shop (never any additional cost to you)!

Vivid Blooms Floral Card with Letterpress Background

Today I'm sharing details about this card I made featuring Spellbinders gorgeous February BetterPress Of The Month Club Kit!   This beautiful press plate, Luxe Damask, made an awesome background for the die cuts from the Vivid Blooms die set!

The February BetterPress press plate actually presses two rows of the Luxe Damask pattern.  There is a preprinted "registration template" with guide lines for placement of the press plate to get a perfect pattern for a full card front.

I used three shades of yellow ink for the Luxe Damask press plate and the flowers from the Vivid Blooms die set.  The inks are linked in the list below.  After you tape the registration template to your magnetic insert on the BetterPress Letterpress System's chase, you line up the press plate according to the template.  Ink up the press plate and run the chase through your die cutting machine.  I use a Platinum 6.

Then I moved the Luxe Damask press plate to the next set of lines on the template and repeated the above steps until I had the entire piece of Porcelain cotton card covered with the pattern.

I used several of the dies from the Vivid Blooms die set and cut them from white, light green, and dark green cardstocks.

I used blending brushes to add yellow inks to the flowers and a black Copic marker for the flower centers.

The sentiment is one of three sentiment press plates (and coordinating dies) included with the February BetterPress of the month.  I pressed it with black ink onto Porcelain cotton card.  I used foam tape to pop it up on the card.

 I wish you could see the beautiful impressed, textured background this Luxe Damask press plate creates!  You can check out all of the Spellbinders Club Kits and the information for subscribing by clicking HERE.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a wonderful, crafty weekend!

Thank you for using my affiliate links to shop (never any additional cost to you)!

Love You Card for Anyone!!

Hello friends! Today I'm sharing my card that features new products from the Perfect Match release along with a couple of older (and favorite) product! This could be used as a Valentine card, but also for other occasions to say "Love You"!

First I used the Jackpot stencil set. I stenciled each layer onto an A2 sized piece of Neenah cardstock. I used blending brushes to add various shades of pink, green, yellow, teal, and apricot inks through the stencils. You can use any colors you want to match the theme of your card!

Did you know that there is a small little coordinating Jackpot Honey Cuts set? It has six dies that will cut out six of the stenciled images. I used the die to cut out three of the cards from the stenciled piece. There was still a good sized piece of the stenciled panel left and I trimmed that to 2" tall.

I embossed more white cardstock with the Aces 3D Embossing Folder. After I glued it to an A2 card base, I glued the 2" stenciled piece at the bottom of the card front. I added a narrow strip of coordinating pink cardstock just above the stenciled piece.

Next I die cut from white cardstock the Lovely Layers: Wood Crate and the flowers and leaves from the Lovely Layers: Sweetheart Roses. I used blending brushes and the same pink and green inks I previously used to color the flowers and leaves. The crate was colored with a couple shades of brown ink.

I glued the layers of the colored pieces together. For the Sweetheart Roses to go into the Wood Crate, I trimmed a portion from the bottom of the stems. If you take care and trim it neatly, you can use those extra leaves to tuck into the top of the rose bush like I did.

I blended more pink ink onto a scrap piece of white cardstock. Then I die cut the top layer of the Love You sentiment from the new Great Greetings: Love dies. I die cut those twice more from white cardstock and glued the layers together. Then I glue the sentiment to the white die cut shadow layers.

The sentiment from the So Lucky stamp set helps to tie the florals with the Aces embossing folder and the Jackpot stenciled pieces. I stamped it with black ink, cut it out with the coordinating die, and popped it up on the card with a foam strip.

I added a few pink hearts that are from the Sweethearts Clay Hearts for a little something extra!

I love how so much of Honey Bee's products can be used together, no matter how new or old! Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you have a wonderful, and crafty, day!

Altenew February 2025 Release Blog Hop + Awesome Giveaway

Hello friends!  I'm so happy to be a part of Altenew's Blog Hop to celebrate their amazing February 2025 Release.

By leaving a comment below, and on each stop of this hop, you will be entered to win an awesome prize!  Keep reading for the details below.  If you would like to start at the beginning, please head over to the Altenew Blog.  There are so many talented creators on this hop, so please go visit them all!  I have the list below.

For my card today, I've used several new products including the gorgeous Craft-A-Flower: Bearded Iris!  Bearded Iris are one of my most favorite flowers and my colors are inspired by a variety I have grown in my garden!

Can you believe that I colored these gorgeous Bearded Iris with ONE ink color and ONE Detailed Blending Brush?!!  It is true!  I used a size 10 Detailed Blending Brush (angled) and Midnight Violet Fresh Dye Ink to color each petal of the Craft-A-Flower: Bearded Iris.

By turning the angled Detailed Blending Brush and just using the tip of the angle, you can get some amazing effects with your ink blending!  To get more coverage of ink at the base of the petals I used a Mini Blending Brush.

I colored the leaves with three of the inks in the Tropical Forest Fresh Dye Ink collection and a Mini Blending Brush.

I added these gorgeous flowers to a background I made with a panel of Deep Iris Crafty Necessities Cardstock.  Have y'all tried the new Shimmer Relief Pastes?  If not, let me just say that these pastes are truly the best because they spread like butter and have so much gorgeous shimmer!!

I used stencil 3 in the Patterned Petals Builder Stencil Set and spread Pearl Shimmer Relief Paste through it with a pallet knife.  Once the paste was dry, I used a Mini Blending Brush with Deep Iris ink and the stencil 4 Patterned Petals stencil to add more detail.  Then I blended more Deep Iris ink around the edges of the panel

I used glue and Instant Dimension Foam Tape to adhere the Bearded Iris flowers and leaves to the card.  The stencil is from the Craft Your Life Project Kit: Garden Whispers stamp set and stamped with Obsidian black ink.  I cut it out with the coordinating die.

I hope you've seen some inspiration at my stop for using this beautiful Craft-A-Flower: Bearded Iris set!  Be sure to comment here and at each stop along the way to increase your chances of winning one of these fabulous prizes!!

Giveaway info: 

• • $300 in total prizes! To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $100 gift certificate to 1 lucky winner and a $50 gift certificate to 4 winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog and/or each designer’s blog post on the blog hop list below by February 13th for a chance to win. Altenew will draw 5 random winners from the comments left on each stop of this blog hop and announce the winners on the Altenew Winners Page on February 15th, 2025.

  • The winner of the $100 gift certificate will be chosen from comments left on the Altenew blog.

Blog Hop List:

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Here are the supplies I've used for my card (affiliated links-never any additional cost to you).

Spellbinders February Embossing Folder with Winnie The Pooh

I knew I wasn't done playing with the awesome sets of Spellbinders' Classic Pooh Collection!  Today I've paired it with the awesome February Embossing Folder of the Month.

This month's Embossing Folder of the Month, Wicker Basket, is a fabulous more generic design that you can use to create your textured background for all of your stamps and dies!

I've paired the Wicker Basket embossed panel with two sets from the most adorable Classic Pooh Collection.

I die cut Pooh that is from the Pooh & Piglet die set.  I colored him with YR12, YR21, and Y21 Copic markers.

Next I die cut the pieces from Pooh's Hunny Pot from white cardstock.  This time I used a blender brush and green and brown inks to color it.  To get the green band, I created a mask by die cutting printer paper with the dies.  I used temporary adhesive to hold each piece in place as I blended on the ink.  The bee is colored with Copic markers.

I colored the honey layer with E33, E31, Y38, Y35, and Y32 Copic markers.  Then I added a few white gel pen highlights.  Since the honey and Pooh are similar colors, I wanted to help distinguish the honey from Pooh.  I did that by added Crystal Glaze to the honey.  I love the shine this gives!

The background features the Wicker Basket Embossing Folder of The Month.  I used my Platinum die cutting machine to emboss white cardstock.  Then I cut it to 4" x 5-¼" and matted it with black cardstock before I glued it to my A2 card base.

When the Crystal Glaze was dry, I adhered the layers of Pooh together and added him to the honey pot.

The sentiments are from the Silly Old Bear Sentiments BetterPress Press Plates & Die set.  I totally love that the press plate is one piece with all of the sentiments!!  After inking it with black BetterPress ink, I ran the BetterPress System plates through my Platinum machine.  I used the die to cut out the sentiments.

I like how the Wicker Basket embossing folder compliments this adorable Pooh set!  Be sure to check out all of the Spellbinders Club Kits and see which clubs you might like to join!

Thank you for using my affiliates links to shop (never any additional cost to you)!

Lilacs and Roses Card With Stencils and Copic Markers

Hello crafty friends! Today I'm sharing my card featuring the so beautiful Nancy's Lilac Bouquet stamps and Honey Cuts. These were so fun to color! I used stencils to create a subtle heart background--read on for the details!

First I stamped all of the images from Nancy's Lilac Bouquet stamp set with Intense Black ink onto 80# Neenah. I colored them with various shades of pink, purple, and green Copic markers. Here's a list of the markers I used:

• Lilacs: RV66, V06, V05, RV63 (Altenew marker R705)
• Roses: RV17, RV13, RV23, RV02, RV10
• Leaves: G28, YG67, YG17, YG25, YG03
• Crate: E59, E27, E25

I cut them all out with the coordinating Nancy's Lilac Bouquet dies.

Next I made the background layer. I trimmed 80# Neenah to 4" x 5-¼". Then I used ink blending brushes to add two shades of pink ink through the Scattered Hearts stencils in the upper left and bottom right corners of the panel. I used a very light hand to keep the pink inks a light shade so it wouldn't distract from the main image.

Then I added black splatters to the piece. You can use a drop or two of a black ink pad re-inker or diluted black acrylic paint to do this.

When the paint splatters were dry, I used glue to adhere it to an A2 card base. Then I used foam dots to adhere the colored images of Nancy's Lilac Bouquet to the card. I adhered the extra leaf and lilac bunch with glue behind the main image.

The sentiments are two of seven that are included with the stamp set. After I stamped them with black ink, I cut them out with the coordinating dies.

Can you believe that this card was with created with one stamp set, one die set, and one stencil set? And with the Nancy's Lilac Bouquet set there are so many possibilities for different looks you can make using the extra florals and leaf that's included!

Thank so very much for stopping by today. I hope your week has been a good one!

Thank you for using my affiliate links to shop (never any additional cost to you)!