Hi all!

Welcome to the 2nd Annual Suicide Prevention Card Hop. During Suicide Prevention Week, we aim to spread messages of hope and support. We encourage friends, co-workers, and loved ones to use the resources shared this week to help those in need. If you're struggling, please contact #988 for 24/7 support via call or text.  Together, we can help #StopSuicide.  Active listening is an important and powerful step in having an honest conversation about mental health. Everyone deserves to feel heard and supported! #realconvo .  If you think someone is struggling, trust your gut. Ask directly and listen.

Active listening is an important and powerful step in having an honest conversation about mental health. Everyone deserves to feel heard and supported! #realconvo .  If you think someone is struggling, trust your gut. Ask directly and listen.

Today's theme is to have patience with yourself.  I chose to use the Altenew Craft your Life Blossoms of Encouragement set.

This set is very pretty...very elegant...very demure....and the sentiments are perfect for reaching out to someone in need of support.  The image was stamped and stenciled using Altenew's Botanical Brilliance Fresh Dye Ink set.  Using all the pieces from the CYL kit and the inks made this come together very quickly!

A special “Thank you” to our special guests! Today, Kerryn Murnain @kanddmurnain and Ceal Pritchett @cealp are joining us to share their voices and creativity to support our mission.

Please visit the other designers on our Instagram Hop to see more messages of encouragement!

SIMON SAYS STAMP's STAMPtember Event is STILL ON!

 

Hi all!

Welcome back for another CAS on Friday challenge!  The challenge theme is THANK YOU, which is something I am always in need for in my card giving.  How about you?  What card theme do you send out the most?

I chose to use my NEW Simon Says Stamp STAMPtember die, Elegant Blossom Branch.  It's at a great price point and is 1 solid die, so you won't loose any little dies anywhere...I have that problem...  One single run through the machine and I have all the pieces I need to ink blend a beautiful little floral stem!  Be sure to head over there and pick up your goodies before they sell out...I've already missed out on 1 set I really liked...

The dies were inked with Altenew's June Fresh Dye Ink release combo, Botanical Brilliance and the Northern Shore color families.  These colors go so well together and is just soft and lovely.  The stem was inked with Mocha...not part of the release...and the leaves were inked with Pistachio and Misty Sage.

The blossoms were inked with Icy Water for the blue and a touch of Blush Rose to give it a purple-ly center.  The blossom center was inked with Amber Blaze left on my blending brush.

The background was inked with Pinkfresh Studio's Ballet Slipper for a soft barely there circle using the Altenew Circle stencil.  The foiled sentiment was found in my stash and is a perfect little touch.  Finally, a little splatter of Icy Water ink for a little interest and this card was finished in less than 10 minutes!  Who knew such a sweet little card could be so easy to make?

No head over and visit the other DT members and give them a little love.  Have a colorful day!

 Suicide Precvention Card Hop with GINA K!

Hi all,

Welcome to the 2nd Annual Suicide Prevention Card Hop. During Suicide Prevention Week, we aim to spread messages of hope and support. We encourage friends, co-workers, and loved ones to use the resources shared this week to help those in need. If you're struggling, please contact #988 for 24/7 support via call or text.

Together, we can help #StopSuicide. We can find support and hope by having honest conversations with one another. #realconvo.  If you think someone is struggling, trust your gut. Ask directly and listen.

Today I have the honor of participating in this hop with the fantabulous Gina Krupsky of Gina K Designs!  I had the opportunity to meet her at the CREATE event this year and she is adorable as well as talented!  I hope I can live up to her...

This tri-fold card was created using Altenew's Billowing Peonies set.  I probably should have used a Gina K product, but I created this card before I knew she was participating... Since I'm out of town currently and had to make these in advance, I couldn't whip up a new one.  Sorry Gina!

The image was stamped and stenciled twice, once using the Botanical Brilliance Fresh Dye Inks from Altenew lightly, then again with a heavier application.  Using the lighter florals for the background, helps to make the foreground flowers stand out along with the sentiment added over them.

The foreground florals were die cut using the coordinating die along with the front panel of the tri-fold card.  The second panel has the lighter florals and the hidden inside sentiment stamped in the bottom corner along with the die cut sentiment you can see from the front of the card.

A special “Thank you” to our special guests! Today, Gina Krupsky @ginakdesigns and Aditi Mahajan @addi.mahajan are joining us to share their voices and creativity to support our mission.

Please visit the other designers at our Instagram hop to see more messages of encouragement!  

Suicide Prevention Card Hop using THE GREETERY!

Hi all,

Welcome to the 2nd Annual Suicide Prevention Card Hop. During Suicide Prevention Week, we aim to spread messages of hope and support. We encourage friends, co-workers, and loved ones to use the resources shared this week to help those in need. If you're struggling, please contact #988 for 24/7 support via call or text.  Together, we can help #StopSuicide. If you think someone is struggling, trust your gut. Ask directly and listen.

All your feelings are valid, including those that are difficult or unexpected. Allow yourself to feel whatever comes.  Today, especially on the anniversary of 9/11/01 give yourself grace to feel all the feels…it is a solemn day for the United States.

Today, I opted to create a card sharing my faith in God's role in our lives when we are struggling.  The last 18 months have been hard for us, but God definitely has a plan and leaning on our faith in Him has gotten us through it all.  There are many companies that have stamp sets to share your faith.  Altenew, Papertrey Ink and the Greetery are just a few.  I chose to use products from the Greetery for this card.  

The background panel is a stencil from Simon Says Stamp  called Tiled Posey.  It is inked with Altenew's Botanical Brilliance and Northern Shore Fresh Dye Inks.  Over that, a piece of vellum die cut from the Greetery's A2 Stitched Scallops.

On the foreground, a tag using their Tag Team Duo: Dots and Stripes stencils and dies with Altenew's Strawberry and Peachy Glow inks to create a gingham pattern.  The sentiment is from the Greetery's Strength for Today stamp and die set.  It was perfect to show that the recipient is strong with God.  Finally, the butterflies and leaves are from Pinkfresh's Fluttering Butterflies set.  So much going on here on this card!

A special “Thank you” to our special guests! Today, Shalana Glass @sglass1908 and Amrita Pettus @amritapettus are joining us to share their voices and creativity to support our mission.

Please visit the other designers in our Instagram Hop to see more messages of encouragement!

Suicide Prevention Card Hop with CATHY ZIELSKE!

Hi all,

Welcome to the 2nd Annual Suicide Prevention Card Hop. During Suicide Prevention Week, we aim to spread messages of hope and support. We encourage friends, co-workers, and loved ones to use the resources shared this week to help those in need. If you're struggling, please contact #988 for 24/7 support via call or text.  Together, we can help #StopSuicide. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health!  If you think someone is struggling, trust your gut. Ask directly and listen.

Today I have the privilege of participating in a hop with the super talented Cathy Zielske!  I have several of her stamp sets from Simon Says Stamp...Oh Crap is my favorite!

For todays card, I chose to use the Flutter & Bloom set from Altenew, along with the Kaleidoscope stencil from Spellbinders.  

The background was stenciled using Altenew's Polar Bear and Icy Water Fresh Dye inks.  The card front panel was then cut at a diagonal and the stenciled panel was then cut to match the angle.  The idea came from a recent Gina K live event she did.

The remainder part of the stenciled panel was added to the inside of the card that is showing from the front, lined up to give the illusion it is all one panel.  Next a butterfly from the Flutter & Bloom set was stenciled, stamped and die cut and added to the cut edge of the card front.  An added sentiment from my stash and LOTS of sparkle on the background finished up this card!

A special “Thank you” to our special guests! Today, Cathy Zielske @czdesign and Monica Conlakappa @monica_conlakappa_cards are joining us to share their voices and creativity to support our mission.

Please visit the other designers on our Instagram Hop to see more messages of encouragement!

Suicide Awareness Week using

 Hi all,

Welcome to the 2nd Annual Suicide Prevention Card Hop. During Suicide Prevention Week, we aim to spread messages of hope and support. We encourage friends, co-workers, and loved ones to use the resources shared this week to help those in need. If you're struggling, please contact #988 for 24/7 support via call or text.  

Together, we can help #StopSuicide. You are not alone. If you’re struggling, reach out to @800273TALK, text TALK to 741741 at the @crisistextline, or get involved with your local AFSP chapter.  If you think someone is struggling, trust your gut. Ask directly and listen.

I’m happy to be a part of this hop this week.  Suicide touched the life of one of my BFFs and my heart continually bleeds for her and her family.  Mental health is no joke…

For today’s card I pulled out @pinkfreshstudio Rare & Beautiful stamp set.  I have had this for a while and love the sentiments that are included in the set.  I chose a creative fold for this card as well so both the sentiments can be viewed together.

A special “Thank you” to our special guests! Today, Claire Timko @claires_card_on and Kim Taylor @touchofmagik are joining us to share their voices and creativity to support our mission.

Please visit the other designers to see more messages of encouragement!  You can visit the hop on Instagram.

Have a colorful day...

Suicide Awareness Week Hop using ALTENEW

Hi all,

Welcome to the 2nd Annual Suicide Prevention Card Hop. During Suicide Prevention Week, we aim to spread messages of hope and support. We encourage friends, co-workers, and loved ones to use the resources shared this week to help those in need. If you're struggling, please contact #988 for 24/7 support via call or text.  Together, we can help #StopSuicide.  Not sure how to start a #RealConvo about mental health? Check out @afspnational’s #RealConvo Guides at https://afsp.org/realconvo!  If you think someone is struggling, trust your gut. Ask directly and listen.

I’m happy to be a part of this hop this week.  Suicide touched the life of one of my BFFs and my heart continually bleeds for her and her family.  Mental health is no joke…

I chose to use an @altenewllc Craft Your Life set called Zero-Waste Flowery Pattern.  This set has beautiful sentiments directed toward reaching out to someone you haven’t talked to or someone needing an invitiation to talk.  This set, along with their Botanical Brilliance Fresh Dye Ink bundle released this summer, creates a soft welcoming card to reach out to someone in need.

A special “Thank you” to our special guests! Today, Libby Hickson @createwithlibby and Kelly Santi @createwithkas are joining us to share their voices and creativity to support our mission.  Please visit my Instagram page here for list of other designers to see more messages of encouragement!

I plan on posting all this week to bring awareness.  Please visit our hop on Instagram starting here.

May you all be blessed and have a colorful day!

Simon Says Stamp’s STAMPtember GIVEAWAY and hop party!

Exciting GIVEAWAYS and Hop party for Simon Says Stamp’s STAMPtember event!

Hi all!

I am so excited to be a part of Simon Says Stamps’ STAMPtember Event! All of the people involved at SSS have been working incredibly hard to make this 15th anniversary event the most exciting one yet… So many fantastic collaborations and products being released, get ready with your checkbooks… They’re going to take a hit!

Yesterday at noon, Heidi showcased all of the NEW Simon Says Stamp branded products on the YouTube live event and they are AMAZEBALLS!!  She even gave me a shout out…EEEKKK!… and shared three of my projects for the adorable Pumpkin To Talk About stamp set.  Check out the video below for all the inspiration, my cards are featured at the 35 minute mark…

Since she shared those three cards…the black and white one was my favorite btw…I will focus on one of my other favorites that I made for STAMPtember.

I loved how this one came out! The image was stamped onto black card stock and embossed with gold embossing powder.  Each of the pumpkins were then painted with Altenew metallic watercolor paints.

Using the watercolor paints on black paper, really makes the shimmer so much more intense!  If you are looking for a huge impact with your metallic paints, try it on Black paper. You won’t be sorry…

The perfect pumpkin-y puns are included with this stamp, and it even has a matching die set. These pumpkins are sassy and definitely have something to talk about!  They definitely needed to be finished off with a bunch of sequins to match… I am a sparkle girl, and I need lots of sparkle in my life!

Now be sure to visit the Simon Says Stamp blog every day at noon for new product and giveaways. Speaking of giveaways… How would you like to get a free embossing folder?

Follow the instructions on the image above to receive your FREE… with $30 qualifying purchase… embossing folder.  I know I can hit 30 bucks super quick… So this is an easy free thing to get!  This link is only good until midnight on September 3rd so ACT FAST!

Now go find other blogs and social media Participants for other free items you can have the opportunity to get as well.  And stay tuned every day for more exciting STAMPtember Inspiration!

Have a colorful day!

Sending SOC Hugs with a card I've never shared!

Hi all!

Have you done this?  Created a card for something, then never got around to sharing it?  This was one of my favorite creations that I made for Altenew when I was a guest designer toward the end of last year.  I NEVER got around to sharing it on social media, and it's a perfect fit for today's Sisterhood of Crafters challenge HUGS!

This slimline card features Altenew's Folk Mandala foil plate and stencil set.  I loved the colors I chose, and the sentiment stencil came with the set...Those are always a double bonus in my book.

The mandala was foiled 3 times down the length of the card.  It isn't hard, just takes some patience and tape for perfect placement.  The mandalas were then stenciled with Altenew's Fresh Dye inks in Dew Drops, Fresh Lemon, Olive and Rose Quartz.

The sentiment strip was created by stenciling the top half of the 'hugs' in the pink and yellow hues, then moving the stencil down half an inch, then stenciling the bottom half of the sentiment.  Then the added mini sentiment strip over the space created finished it off.  That was all placed on a piece of olive cardstock and added a few coordinating enamel dots for a little more shine. 

I LOVE how it turned out!  What will you create for our challenge this time around?  We look forward to seeing you work... Have a colorful day!

Fun times with PINKFRESH STUDIO Create and Connect weekend!

Fun times with PINKFRESH STUDIO's Create and Connect weekend!

Hi all!

I think the only positive thing to come out of the Covid shut down, was the development of virtual card making retreats!  I just participated in my 2nd Pinkfresh Create and Connect event and it was AMAZEBALLS!  If you haven't done one of their events, or any other...they're worth the time and money. You learn from the best creators EVER, get fabulous products and can craft in your pj's!

Pinkfresh had amazing instructors and the super talented @Kristina Werner was one of them!  I had the opportunity to meet her at the Simon Says Stamp CREATE event this year...that's us with Gina K...and she is even more sweet and kind in person than she is in her videos...if that's even possible!

For the class, she showed us how to make this card...this is my copy of her card.

I decided to recreate it again, but to change the colors.  I decided to use all blues, it's my mom's favorite color.  Her 1st cousin passed away last week after a long drawn out illness, and I hope this will make her smile.

This card looks complicated, but Kristina made the instructions super easy and the impact is fantastic!  The stamp set is a yet-to-be-released one from Pinkfresh...one of the perks of attending...first dibs on the new stuff.  This cover stamp Modern Botanicals won't be released until 2025, but keep it on your radar.  It has a coordinating stencil and die so it makes card making FAST.

THe blues are Pinkfresh inks in Slumber, Storm, Sapphire and Stargazer.  The image was heat embossed with gold embossing powder then inked with the use of the stencil.  Each layer extends to the bottom of the card with just a strip of the ink blending done on the part that shows.  

After everything was inked, the flowers were die cut and tucked into each section.  Finally some bling...'cause I'm a sparkle addict... to finish it off.  I am entering this card in the Just Add Ink challenge this week.  It's been a couple months since I've done any challenges other than my DT duties.  It's fun to get back into the swing of it!

Have a colorful day!

Oh Crap…

 Super EASY card for our AAA Cards Challenge!

Hi all!

This is the end of summer for us…I’m leaving in a few hours to take my oldest back to college, and despite a ruptured ear drum, my daughter was able to start school this past Friday too!  The summer went by too quickly… but now I’ll be able to spend more time in the studio, baring anymore family emergencies!

My card for the new AAA Cards challenge perfectly depicts how July went for us…

I love this set by Simon Says Stamp and CZDesigns! It’s called Giggles And…  I laugh everytime I use it.  Poop humor is still my sister’s favorite so this will be sent to her when the time is right.

The background is from Altenew’s color blobs stencil and I just used my dirty blending brushes to stencil them.  The emojis were colored with Altenew alcohol markers the  die cut with the coordinating dies.  

Super fast and funny card!  What will you create for our challenge?  Hope to see your creations…have a colorful day!

Super quick CAS on Friday card!

 Hi all!

I haven’t been home much this summer.  Dealing with family issues and previously planned trips, have dominated the entire month of July and now the first part of August.  Thank goodness I planned ahead for my DT work in June!  God must have known what he was doing, giving me a few days of uninterrupted crafting time in the studio.  I didn’t however take the time to preschedule posts my for August so this will be quick!

Our challenge for CAS on Friday is 2 colors and white.  I opted for yellow and blue using an old Altenew Father’s Day stamp set.

It’s been coupled with and Altenew embossing folder and tag due.

Super easy card CAS card to make with just a few little enamel dots and some twine!

What will you make?  What are your favorite colors?  I can’t wait to see them, be sure to upload them to our gallery so we can send you some love!

Have a colorful day! 

 Vintage collage card with 'vintage' stamps!

Hi all!

How old is your oldest supply?  I cracked a few of my oldest stamps for my Sisterhood of Crafters DT creation.  The theme for this challenge is BALLOONS.  Any type or theme can be used to get creative!

For this card, I decided to create something for my eldest daughter.  She is moving into her first apartment in August...it's crazy to think she's old enough for this move!  The stamps I used are easily from 2004ish...I can tell by how old she is.  I started stamping when she was born in 2004. and the script stamp was one of my first SU! purchases as a demonstrator.

I inked the stamp using Simon Says Stamp Charcoal ink onto SU! kraft paper...also vintage since I haven't bought any SU! paper since 2010...  The next stamp set I used was an old Papertrey Ink stamp set called Postmark.  I'm not exactly sure when it was released, but I'd guess before 2010.  The wings and the air mail dashes are from that set.  I also added Altenew's Windsome Delight floral stamp...it's not vintage, but it's a simple image I thought went well.

Altenew's Raw Umber ink was used to add a bit of warmth to the card and the flowers. The vintage images were from a book I have had for a few years, and I haven't a clue where it is from.  They were trimmed up, and white gel pen was added to the little girl on the suitcase and flowers for some added highlights.  Finally, some khaki iridescent sequins for some sparkle.

Let us see your creations using balloons!  Be sure to add them to our gallery so we can come visit you.  Have a colorful day!

sending Hugs from SOC!