Hi

I just had a fun afternoon working on my card for Just Us Girls #819...the colorful moodboard chosen by my teammate Carol shown below. I have never been a butterfly "person" but Amy Tsuruta has made some cute ones with this die and I couldn't resist getting it. One die cuts out all the different parts, including the backing to put behind the cutouts on the wings. 

Here was my process:

Watercolor with distress inks on watercolor paper using an aqua pen.

Dry the watercolored panels with a heat gun.

Die cutting the butterfly pieces.

Assemble them.

Add them to a black cardstock panel.

Add the sentiment.

What I used:

• Waffle Flower Mix-n-match Butterflies die, Overlapping Hello Additions stamp and die sets
• Ranger Distress ink pads
• Aqua painter (Stampin' Up!)
• Altenew Obsidian black ink pad

There are lots of ways to be inspired by the moodboard this week as you can see in the team's cards. Be sure to visit their blogs and that of our Guest Designer Milla. Can't wait to see all the color in the gallery!

I'm happy you stopped by,

Carol

Hello

It's a new challenge day at Time Out Challenges #309: In the Clear. That means we want to see some thing clear on your project. Think sequins, enamel dots, gemstones, stickers, and nylon thread,  to name a few. Also, clear elements like acetate sheets or window plastic can be used on handmade cards to create shaker windows, floating elements, interactive overlays, or full transparent card bases. They add dimension and a modern feel, perfect for highlighting stamped, embossed, or die-cut designs behind a glossy surface. YouTube has many videos on how to use acetate on cards. Check out the Time Out challenge blog for more details and ideas.

I used a clear vintage bottle that pops up on a column when you open the card. The team has all sorts of creative ideas for you so be sure to check out their cards and blogs. Also, our guest Verena Shapiro has a fun card for you as well so don't forget to visit her page, too.

What I used:

• Stampin' Up! Vintage Bottle punch and plastic bottle, Exposed Brick 3D Embossing folder
• My Favorite Things Wild Greenery dies
• Simon Says Stamp Hello die
• Your Paper Insider glitter cardstock (inside the bottle)
• Papertrey Ink Into the Blooms II dies (leaves)
• Concord & 9th ink pads

I saw Rachel Tessman's video here for the card idea and I CASEd her card using my own colors, sentiment and theme. The card lies flat and fits into an A2 envelope which is great.

Our generous sponsor is Uniko who is offering our winner a $25.00 credit to their store. The winner will also be invited to be a guest designer in a future Time Out Challenge.

Thanks for stopping by and do join us for this fun challenge! Thanks for visiting!

Carol

Beachy Drinks Trifold

The Global Design Project current challenge is Beachy and I was so escited to dust off my summer stash! I got out some of my tropical dies and stencils to make this tri-fold card full of beachy drinks. It was a fun card to make.

What I used:

• Spellbinders Stitched Pineapple dies, Delicious Decorations die (flower)
• The Greetery Wicker Weave Stencil set 
• Picket Fence Tropical Cocktail Shaker die (straw, cherry/lime on a pick)
• Waffle Flower A2 Nested Domes die (arches)
• Papertrey Ink Into the Blooms II dies (leaves)
• MFT Wild Greenery dies (leaves)
• Pink and Main Rectangle Patterns stencil (stripes on straw)
• Concord & 9th Basket Weave Card Front die (on coconut), Orange You Sweet dies (lime)
• Simon Says Stamp Summer sentiment
• Signo white pen 

First, I love using this wicker stencil. Quick, easy and fun to see the pattern emerge. Creating the three different drinks was the best part...colors, patterns, drink garnishes. If you have read this far you get to hear the secret of this trifold card. I made the first pineapple on the left and added it to an A2 card base...with the fold on the wrong side! So I thought about it and decided it was going to be a trifold card! Lol!

Are you in a summer mood now that spring break is happening around us? Hope these drinks get you started.

Thanks for stopping by!

Carol

Thanks - CASE It Hop for March

It is time for the CASE It Instagram Hop for March. We are group of cardmakers who, once a month, find a card we like and CASE (Copy and Selectively Edit) it. I asked my CASE cardmaker's permission to use her card and she so graciously gave me a thumbs up to do so. You can start the hop at my account: @sawithadtomakeit.

I absolutely fell in love with the very talented @paperandribbonsofficial's Greek-inspired card with the blue patterned background and the gorgeous lemons. All of her cards are beautiful with their bold colors and detailed work. Take a look at her account to see what I mean. Here is my CASE.

This is the gorgeous card I CASEd.

What I used:

• Waffle Flower Mix 'n' Match Butterflies die, Overlapping Hello Additions Stamp and Die sets
• Spellbinders frames
• Park Lane Patterned paper 
• Ranger Distress Oxide ink pad
• Concord & 9th ink pad
• Vellum

To CASE her card I used a patterned paper background (mine is paper, hers is beautiful stenciling) and the white frame. I also added die cuts in two corners and a die cut sentiment like she did. I wasn't ever much of a butterfly fan until I saw Amy Tsuruta @craftee1 on Instagram use these cute versions on some of her cards. 

I die cut two different sized frame dies at the same time to make the wide border in white. I popped it up on the patterned paper on my card base with thin foam tape. I ink blended the die cut butterflies to match the patterned paper, assembled them, then added them to the frame. Next, I stamped and die cut the two word sentiment and cut a strip of vellum for them. To attach the words to the bridge I added glue behind the word die cuts. Last, I added glue on the back side of the vellum behind the h, s and e to hide the glue and adhere the bridge to the white frame.

Come hop along with us! There will be lots of ideas from the makers in the hop as well as the cards they CASEd.

Thanks for visiting!

Carol

XO

It's time for Just Us Girls Word Week #814: Embossing...which can be dry embossing or heat embossing. If there is another kind, go for it! I did an old technique of inking the background side (debossed) of an embossing folder with distress ink, inserted a white cardstock panel into the folder, then ran it through the Big Shot to pick up the ink on the background and emboss the pattern in white. it took two inkings and passes to really cover that background well. Be sure to explain what you did to emboss your card in case it is not apparent in the photo you submit. Here's my card.

What I used:

• Stampin' Up! Embossing folder
• Spellbinders Embroidered Alphabet dies, Envelope of Wonder flower dies
• Distress Ink pad
• Pretty Pink Posh gems

Don't look too closely because there are flaws...but the overall look (especially in person) is an inked background with the raised white embossed pattern. I die cut the letters, flowers and leaves from ink blended watercolor scrap leftovers from a card I have coming soon. Lots of bright color on my card for spring.

Please join us this week! The team has made a wide variety of ideas for you to check out. You can find the products and techniques used on their blogs, so take a visit.

See you in the gallery!

Carol

The Good Stuff

This card is for the Inspired By Challenge #IB378 Spring Blossoms. I admired the photo there with the pretty pitcher and the soft colors. I decided on three spattered pitchers full of new blooms. I have always loved this kind of "watering can" or "vase" so I decided to go that route.

What I used:

• MFT Freshly Picked dies
• Handmade stencil for background
• Stampin' Up! Classic ink pad
• Cardstock scraps
• White Acrylic paint
• Aqua pen
• Tim Holtz Small Talk sentiment sticker

I did the die cutting and arranging first. Then created a stencil for a soft ink blended background. I watered down some white acrylic paint and spattered the pitchers and adhered it all together. My go-to sentiments are these stickers by Tim Holtz and I can find any and all topics in them.

Hope your spring has begun where you live and that the white stuff is melting away quickly!

Thanks for stopping by,

Carol

Spring "chicken"

It's time for the March Gorgeous Tags Instagram Hop with Easter as the optional theme! This little bunny is dressed up as a freshly hatched chick amongst the other eggs in the garden. The tag could be attached to identify whose Easter basket or present it belongs to or as a surprise for someone special. "Hop" along and see all the tags our group was inspired to make this month.

What I used:

• Chickie stamp set (lost packagine years ago)
• Waffle Flower egg die, A2 Nested Domes dies
• Spellbinders Hello Peeps die set (2021)
• Altenew Obsidian Black ink pad
• Patterned paper and cardstock scraps

You can start the hop at my account on Instagram: @sawithadtomakeit and go from there. We don't see each others' tags until the hop starts, so it's a fun day for us too. It's always on the 5th of the month at 2:00 pm Eastern Time. You can always look it up by using these hashtags: #gorgeousgifttagsMar26 or #gorgeousgifttags.

Happy hopping into spring!

Carol