Category Archives: General Cards

- Stamps –
- Paper Parachute “Parade #2”
- Technique Tuesday “Amaryllis” (Celebrate sentiment)
- Stencils – Stampendous/Tim Holtz: Feather, Hearts, Thatched, Countdown
- Ranger Distress Oxide inks – Picked Raspberries, Broken China, Squeezed Lemonade, Antique Linen
- Sequins – Doodlebug Designs
I created this card from experiments done after reviewing the March 2018 issue of Craft Stamper Magazine. I created the background by applying several colors of Distress Oxide inks with a foam applicator, radiating from the center. I then stenciled over the inked sections with more Distress Oxide inks, sometimes just concentrating more ink over the same color and sometimes with a contrasting color. I then splattered a bit of water onto the background, illustrating the beauty of Oxide inks. Once it was dry, I stamped the main image onto the background with black Versafine ink, added the sentiment with dimensional adhesive, and scattered a few sequins around the cast of characters. Thanks for stopping by.
Challenges:
Just Add Ink Challenge #420 (Inspiration)
Block Quick Quotes Friday Challenge #90 – Add A Creature
5 Comments | tags: cardmaking, distress techniques, fauna, Ranger, Stamper's Anonymous, stamping | posted in Birthday, Distress Techniques, General Cards

- Stamps – The Cat’s Pajamas “Friendship”
- Die – Spellbinders Nestabilities “Labels Fifteen”
- Patterned paper – BoBunny “Black Tie Affair Diamonds”
- Cardstock – Bazzill
- American Crafts Glitter Buttons
- Twine – Doodlebug
I created this card for an exchange called “All About Me,” for which we all made a card that reflected us in some way. So I figured I had to have a penguin or two, and when I saw this sentiment I knew it was appropriate. Laughing is a good way to pass the time! Once I stamped the penguins, I colored the beaks, feet and phone with Sakura sparkle gel pens. I put together the elements a little off-kilter, which also seemed to kind of represent me! Thanks for visiting.
Challenge: Cute Card Thursday – Challenge 540 – Too Cute!
3 Comments | tags: bobunny, cardmaking, Cat's Pajamas, die cuts, penguins, spellbinders, stamping | posted in General Cards, TCP

- Patterned papers – Doodlebug Designs “DragonTales” Collection
- Stamp – Paper Smooches “Huge Hugs 2”
- Candy Buttons – Basic Grey “Capture”
- Cardstock – Bazzill and Paper Accents
This was a fun card to make. A cardmaking friend has a relative with kids who need some cheering up, so this is a card I’ve made for the cause. I love these dragons. I’ve had the sentiment stamp and the little epoxy stickers for years!
Challenge:
Shopping Our Stash #354 “For the Kids”
1 Comment | tags: basic grey, cardmaking, doodlebug designs, fauna, paper smooches, stamping | posted in Challenges, Children's Designs, General Cards, Shopping Our Stash


- Inks – Ranger Distress Oxides:
- Background – Squeezed Lemonade, Peacock Feathers, Twisted Citron
- Flowers – Spiced Marmalade, Worn Lipstick, Wilted Violet, Lucky Clover
- Sentiment – VersaFine Clair: Medieval Blue
- Stamps –
- Hero Arts – F2665 – “A Real Field Wildflower” and H3259 – “Real Fuchsia”
- Avery Elle – “Loads of Wishes”
- Die – Spellbinders Nestabilities
- Metallic embellishments – made with Imagine “irRESISTible” Silver Pico embellishing drops
- Cardstock –
- BoBunny Ocean Double-Dot
- Neenah Solar White
It was fun to pull out these wood-mounted stamps that I’ve had for years (copyrights on the stamps are 2003 and 2005, when I most likely purchased them)! I started out by making the backgrounds with Distress Oxide inks and water in some of my favorite color combinations. Then I applied ink directly to the rubber stamps and spritzed them with water, then stamped onto the backgrounds. These stamps lend themselves well to a watercolor effect. For a clean and simple card, I just added a die-cut (split one between the two cards), and stamped a sentiment. For a final flourish, I added some subtle bling with the irRESISTible drops and mounted onto a white card base. Thanks for visiting.
Challenges:
Always Fun Challenge #56 – Flowers
Crafty Friends Challenge #82 – Flowers
2 Comments | tags: Avery Elle, cardmaking, die cuts, distress techniques, flora, Hero Arts, Ranger, spellbinders, stamping, tim holtz, watercolor | posted in Distress Techniques, General Cards

- Stamps – Honey Bee Stamps “Zen Floral”
- Dies – Honey Bee Stamps Honey Cuts “Zen Floral” and “Hello”
- Inks – Ranger Distress Oxides: Peacock Feathers, Worn Lipstick and Squeezed Lemonade
- Copic markers
- Cardstock scraps
- Sequins – Simon Says Stamp “Moonshine”
For this card, I used this floral stamp set in two different was. First I created the background, beginning with covering a piece of watercolor paper with Peacock Feathers Distress Oxide ink, direct to paper. This ink covers the paper so smoothly and thoroughly with just a few swipes! I then stamped the border stamp from the Zen Floral set with another color of the oxide inks with a spritz of water, which activates the ink. I used Worn Lipstick ink for the top border and Squeezed Lemonade on the bottom. I then cut the “Hello” die-cuts and stamped and colored more flowers using Copic markers, picking up the colors in the borders. I arranged the flowers and sequins around the greeting. Ta da! Thanks for stopping by.
Challenges: Happy Little Stampers – April Anything Goes with Dies Challenge
3 Comments | tags: cardmaking, clean and simple stamping, die cuts, distress techniques, flora, honey bee stamps, stamping | posted in General Cards, Happy Little Stampers

- Stamps –
- Designs by Ryn “Faeries”
- The Cat’s Pajamas
- Dies –
- Elizabeth Craft Designs “Stitched Squares”
- Spellbinders Shapeabilities “Little Leaf Sets”
- Spellbinders Nestabilities “Labels Seventeen”
- Patterned papers – BoBunny “Chiffon Vintage” and Pink Paislee “Back 2 School”
- Cardstock – Bazzill
- Copic markers
- Ranger Distress Inks – Walnut Stain, Peeled Paint and Spiced Marmalade
- Wink of Stella
I’m not always attracted to images with fairies, but I really liked this one with a fairy and a chipmunk! I’m sure that’s a big surprise to those of you who are familiar with my critter infatuation! I colored the image with Copic markers and edged all of the die-cut elements with Walnut Stain Distress ink. I colored the leaf die-cuts with Distress inks as well. I added a couple of layers of sparkle to the fairy’s wings with the Wink of Stella pen for the glitter effect. Thanks for stopping by.
Challenge: Get Creative Challenges – Challenge #67- Fantasy, Mythological
Leave a comment | tags: cardmaking, Cat's Pajamas, copics, die cuts, distress techniques, fauna, flora, ryn, spellbinders, stamping | posted in Challenges, General Cards, Spring, Uncategorized

- Stamps –
- Penny Black “Allegro” (iris)
- Avery Elle “Loads of Wishes” (sentiment)
- Patterned paper – Creative Imaginations Christine Adolph “Beautiful You” 6 X 6″ paper pad
- Cardstock – Bazzill
I made this simple card featuring stamped iris. The colored ink was applied to the stamp with Marvy markers. I then added the sentiment at the base of the card. I mailed this card to a friend of a friend in Scotland, who is soon to be undergoing cancer surgery and treatment. Wishing Sandra only the best. Thanks for visiting.
Challenge: A Gem of a Challenge #213 – Spring Flowers
2 Comments | tags: Avery Elle, cardmaking, clean and simple stamping, flora, penny black, stamping | posted in General Cards

Supplies:
- Patterned papers – My Mind’s Eye “Indie Chic” 6 X 6″ paper pad
- Dies –
- Impression Obsession “Squirrels”
- Simon Says Stamp “Smile Circle”
- Spellbinders Nestabilities “Standard Circles Large”
- Cardstock – Neenah Solar White and Kraft
I’m helping a friend put together a box of cards to send to a military unit so they can send cards home to their friends and family, similar to what we used to do for Operation Write Home. A group of us are challenging each other to use sketches, use up supplies, and so on. I created these three cards using a sketch from the Operation Write Home days. Here are a few of the cards I’ve made with this sketch so far. Thanks for stopping by.
1 Comment | tags: cardmaking, die cuts, Impression Obsession, my mind's eye, Simon Says Stamp | posted in General Cards

- Dies –
- Memory Box “Busy Squirrels” and “Playful Squirrels”
- Simon Says Stamp “Maple Leaf Corner”
- Creative Expressions Craft Dies “Atlantic Ocean Collection – Cape Verde”
- Stamp – Inkadinkado Personal Expressions “Expressions”
- Ranger Distress Inks
- Cardstock – Bazzill
I enjoy making Fall cards. When October begins, I think of leaves changing colors, my birthday (hee hee), pumpkins, and squirrels scampering. So I decided to make a card featuring squirrels scampering among the Fall leaves. I’ll probably send this to my son at college, who enjoys all things squirrel.
For this card, I die cut all of the Memory Box pieces from white cardstock and then used Distress Inks to color them. I cut the maple leaf die in the corner twice so I could inlay the contrasting color in some of the leaves. All of the supplies I used for this card have been in my stash for a long time, particularly the sentiment stamp that appears to be made in 2006! Thanks for stopping by.
Challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge – Simon Says Thinking of You (featuring Memory Box)
Simon Says Stamp Flickr Group – Challenge #82 Fall is in the Air
1 Comment | tags: cardmaking, die cuts, distress techniques, fauna, inkadinkado, leaves, memory box, Simon Says Stamp, stamping | posted in Autumn, Challenges, General Cards, Simon Says Stamp

- Stamps – Penny Black “Butterfly Trio”
- Die – Technique Tuesday “Crocus” set
- Enamel dots – Teresa Collins Designs
- Zig Clean Color markers
- Watercolor paper
- Cardstock
After stamping the butterflies onto watercolor paper, I began watercoloring the background for this card using ink from the Zig Clean Color markers and a waterbrush. I added layers of color until I was happy with the look. Then I colored the butterflies with the markers and waterbrush as well, and added the die-cut and dots. Thanks for visiting.
Challenge: Happy Little Stampers October Watercolour Challenge
2 Comments | tags: butterflies, cardmaking, clean and simple stamping, die cuts, penny black, stamping, watercolor | posted in General Cards, Happy Little Stampers, Uncategorized