Happy Place

I'm playing along at Inkspirational Challenge #365 Visual Prompt Sketch with a window of my happy place. If only we could just wish and have a beachy scene outside the window. So this card is an indoor view looking out. The lamp shines the light on the wish sentiment. 

Here's a view of the acetate in the window.

What I used:

• Stampin' Up! Hearth & Home Framelits dies
• MFT Floor to Ceiling patterned paper
• La La Land Crafts Summer Vacation Designer Paper
• Paper Smooches Get Out of Town stamp set
• Altenew Obsidian Black ink pad
• Acetate
• Black gems

I die cut the window, then added the acetate behind it. I cut the tropical scene to fit in the window opening and put foam tape between the acetate and the scene.

I made a 5" x 5" white card base and cut the "wallpaper" to that size for the front of the card.

The lamp is handmade. I used Post It tape to mask off the light shining down and ink blended yellow below the lamp.

I stamped the sentiment and matted it on black cardstock. It is popped up on foam tape to be at the same depth as the window. A few gems finished it off.

And that's it!

Thanks for stopping by!

Carol

You're Pretty Fintastic

It is time for the CASE It Instagram Hop where we Copy And Share Everything (or Copy And Selectively Edit) from a card we liked on Instagram. I chose my friend Richard's mediterranean-feel/fish/sardine can o'fish themed cards. The card you see here by me is my third attempt at something as fun as his cards. I just love the colors and designs he mixed together and the nautical feel you get from them. Here is my card.

And here is the card I CASEd from Richard's amazing card series. I also took his knotted rope design from his third card below.

More of his nautical/fish themed cards.

So my CASE uses shades of aqua, red, navy and white, is fish-centered (mine with patterned paper, his with fun embossing and ink blending) the knotted rope design, and a silver can o' fish like his does. 

What I used:

• The Stamp Market Sardines stamps and die sets
• Stampin' Up! patterned papers
• Matte silver cardstock
• Ranger Distress Oxide ink

The silver of the can isn't obvious in the photo but the inside, the key and the twisted back lid are all made with matte silver cardstock. The patterned papers are ones I have hoarded for years from SU! 

I hope you will go see our CASE Hop entries. You can start from here: @sawithadtomakeit. You have the opportunity to see the cards that were CASEd and how our group changed them in some way. I think it is fun.

Thank you for visiting!

Carol

Peace

It isn't December or the Christmas season, but it never hurts to make holiday cards at other times of the year. The Just Us Girls Challenge #818 Word Week is Spotlight Technique. I saw a really pretty card using an embossing folder of poinsettias with a stenciled ornament over it. I just loved it. I CASEd that card and here is my version.

What I used:

• Concord & 9th Ornament Stamp and Stitch dies
• Spellbinders Adorning the Tree 3D embossing folder
• Silver glitter cardstock
• Ranger Distress ink
• Rhinestones

I made a stencil using the ornament die and a piece of cardstock. I stenciled it onto the embossed panel, then added the hanger to the top. After die cutting the word peace, I traced around the die on vellum and fussy cut a mat for the word. I wanted a flat surface for adhering the word to the embossed surface. That's it!

We hope will join us for this blast from the past technique. It's a fun one.

Thanks for stopping by,

Carol

A Gift for You

Happy Easter weekend! It is time for the Gorgeous Gift Tags Instagram Hop for April 2026! The optional theme is Flowers. I made this mini bouquet that probably took as long as a tag with large flowers on it because it is fussy to arrange them with their small size. 

What I used:

• Reverse Confetti tag die
• Concord & 9th Weekend Market dies
• MFT Mini Messages stamp set
• Altenew Obsidian black ink pad

Making a bouquet is fun but as nerve wracking as a real one. I fret over how many flowers and leaves to add and really you can't go wrong with this set. I like the die that cuts the paper wrapping around it and the real-looking stems peeking out below it. I die cut a bottom portion of the scalloped edge with a black patterned scrap to cover about 1/3 of the tag and matched the ribbon to it. The set comes with the cute little bow, too, to "hold" the paper wrapped around the flowers.

We hope you hop along this month, no Easter pun intended. Thanks for stopping by! You can start the hop at my Instagram: @sawithadtomakeit.

Carol

Hoppy Easter

It's time for an Easter card at Just Us Girls Die Week Challenge #817. We are looking for Spring/Easter cards made with dies. You need to see all of the cards the team and our new guest of the month Rosemary Dennis made for your inspiration! 

This die set was a good purchase in 2021 because I use it just about every year. It also makes a lamb and can be an interactive card with the special dies that came with it.

What I used:

• Spellbinders Spring Together die set
• Simon Says Stamp Bunny Trail stamp set
• Stampin' Up! Decorative Dots embossing folder
• Altenew Obisidan black ink pad
• Vellum
• Cardstock scraps

It was a fun die cut and embossed card to make with those cute characters! What will you make? Happy Easter and spring!

Thanks for stopping by!

Carol

Hey Sugar

This Inspired By round at Time Out Challenges #310 is going to be really fun! Our theme is Sweet Treats and there are lots of ideas for you from the team and our guest Dawn Turley. We are looking for projects that incorporate sugary, indulgent foods enjoyed as desserts, snacks, or rewards, offering instant enjoyment. 

I went with white chocolate-and-sugar-dipped strawberries as well as regular chocolate and white/pink chocolate candies. I added "sprinkles" of sparkly fun around the sweets on my card.

Our wonderful sponsor, Lawn Fawn, is generously offering a $25.00 store credit as a prize for our Challenge Winner, who will also get an invitation to join us as Guest Designer for a future challenge.

We are joined by Dawn Turley of Dawn's World, and winner of Time Out #305 as Guest Designer. Be sure to visit her blog to read all about her card and how she was inspired by the theme.

What I used:

• Pretty Pink Posh Valentine Mug Additions die set
• Paper Smooches You make Life Sweet stamp set
• Hero Arts brown ink pad
• White glitter cardstock
• Picket Fence Studios Diva Hearts embellishment mix
• Ranger Distress Oside ink pads
• Concord & 9th ink pads

I started by ink blending on white card stock with the colors I needed, then die cut the strawberries and candies from that piece. I assembled the each of the elements, then arranged them on a pale pink panel of cardstock. I popped it up on an A2 hite card base with foam tape, then stamped and die cut my sentiment and added it to the card. Last, I added some iridescent sequins for sparkle and to fill in blank spaces.

We look forward to seeing your sweet treats in our gallery!

Carol

A Sunny Hello

Spring break is also for the gators I guess and here is a duo having some water fun! I am playing along at Poppystamps Challenge PSC#136 Using Stencils or Patterned paper. I got out my Perfect Pool  Water stencil by MFT to use with this adorable Whittle Tropical Gator Kit from Poppystamps. It came with fun stamps, too.

I die cut the gators (the standing-on-all-fours one is so funny showing his cheesy grin!) then ink blended some shading on them. Next I die cut the palm tree and leaves and added shading to them also. I ink blended the water and sunshine then adhered the die cuts to the card, adding foam tape behind them for dimension. Last, I stamped the cute sun and sentiment, both from the kit, and called it done! This card makes me want to go out to the beach, but until spring break is over, I'll wait. IYKYK!

Thanks for stoping by and I hope you are getting some nicer weather these days!

Carol