Friday, June 30, 2023

Polkadoodles 4th of July Step Rocker Card

I recently won a few lovely Polkadoodles digis, and when I mentioned to Nikky Hall (the owner of Polkadoodles) that I have a daughter in the Navy and was looking forward to using her adorable Bob the Dog in a Boat digi stamp for her, Nikky mentioned I should pick up the free USA 4th July Celebration - Free digital download bundle - Polkadoodles Ltd. It shows up as free once you add it to the cart, so if you are looking for some great patriotic papers, toppers, and the digi stamp I used in my card below, follow the link above. Thanks so much, Nikky! Note: I used precolored version of the digi stamp. Someone complimented my coloring of the digi, and I realized I hadn't mentioned I didn't color the digi myself. Trust me, Nikky did a way better job than I ever could have when she colored this digi, but there's also an uncolored black and white version included in the set so you can color it yourself if you'd like. 

For the card base, I used a cut file I had created based on a template from Craft World. I printed out the template and measured all the elements so I could create a cut file in my Silhouette Design Studio software. That made making a set of these cards for the shut ins I mail a card to each week so easy! 

I pulled out my patriotic card stock and made a few bases to start off. I flipped the card horizontally to see if I liked the steps on the other side of the card better and decided it didn't really matter! Both ways worked fine!

I sized up the Polkadoodles digi of the girl with the flag and then did an offset of her before making a print and cut with 5 of them to a sheet. They are so detailed and colorful! I love that the file comes with both a precolored digi (that's what I used here) and an uncolored one so I can color it up myself when I'm not making a set of them. 

I stamped the "4th of July" sentiment using a rubber stamp I've had forever. I matted the sentiment on card stock and adhered most of them with foam tape for dimension. Each card is a bit different from the others in how I decorated it, but all of them have the same digi stamp and the same "4th of July" sentiment. I found a page of 4th of July stickers, so I had fun using some of those to decorate the cards. 













Close up of the digi stamp:

 

A look at the back of one of the cards:


Inside the card:




The set of cards:

Challenges I'm entering: 

Anything Goes with a Fun Fold for Creative Creases #60 (secretstamper.com): ATG with a fun fold (ends July 7)

Paper Dragonfly Creative Challenges: Anything Flies (5/5; ends at the end of the month)

Creative Fingers Challenge Blog: ATG (2/3; ends July 14)

Through The Purple Haze Challenges: ATG (3/3; ends at the end of the month)

Gem of A Craft Challenge (pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com): ATG (1/3; ends July 7)

Polkadoodles Cardmaking, Craft & Scrapbooking Challenge: ATG (2/3; ends 7/7/23)

613 Avenue Create (avenue613.blogspot.com): ATG (8/8; ends 6/30/23) Top Rocker Choice June 25-30

Dragonfly Dreams (dragonflydreamschallenges.blogspot.com): Fancy Folds (ends at the end of the month)

A Place To Start (hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com): ATG (ends at the end of the month) Rising Star Choice June 26-30

Digi Choosday Cardmaking & Crafting Challenge: ATG (2/2; ends July 4)

Gerda Steiner 4th of July Card

I like to participate in the monthly challenge over at Gerda Steiner Designs, and this adorable little patriotic mouse seemed perfect for this month's challenge with the 4th of July just around the corner!

I recently saw a step rocker card in a card challenge and looked up a template online. Then I created a cut file following the measurements in the template so I could create this rocker card base. I can flip it horizontally to put the steps on the other side of the card, also. It's fun to play around with files in my Silhouette Design Studio software.

I had some great red, white, and blue card stock for the card base, and some blue paper with white stars for the layer behind the digi stamp. I sized up the "Happy 4th Mouse" digi stamp (thanks, Gerda! He's darling!) and then did a print and cut of him. I colored him with Ohuhu Honolulu alcohol ink markers and then matted that panel to the blue one. I glued the panel to the steps on the rocker card and then stamped "Let Freedom Ring" from a retire Close to My Heart stamp set. I matted that panel onto a some red card stock and then added a patriotic truck sticker. 




Back of the card:


 Challenges I'm entering:

Share your Designs - Gerda Steiner Designs, LLC (gsd-stamps.com): ATG with a GSD image

Paper Dragonfly Creative Challenges: Anything Flies (3/5; ends at the end of the month)

Creative Fingers Challenge Blog: ATG (3/3; ends July 14)

Through The Purple Haze Challenges: ATG (2/3; ends at the end of the month)

Gem of A Craft Challenge (pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com): ATG (2/3; ends July 7)

A Place To Start (hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com): ATG (ends at the end of the month)

Digi Choosday Cardmaking & Crafting Challenge: ATG (1/2; ends July 4)

The Paper Shelter: Furry Friends (1/2; ends 7/5/23)

Thursday, June 29, 2023

Literally The Best Hero Arts Card



Stay Crafty with A Blog Named Hero: June 2023 Challenge | Hero Arts: Sentimental Journey (ends 7/2/23) 

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (5/5 for the week; 6/10 for the challenge; ends 7/5/23)


TIME OUT Challenges: Funny (3/5; ends 7/6/23) C5

As You Like It Challenge: Favorite: Plain or patterned paper? I love both, but plain paper can be fun because I can create my own pattern on it, and stamped images and sentiments are easier to see on plain paper generally (1/3; ends 7/13/23)

No more challenges

Happy Graduation Hero Arts Card

This month over at the Stay Crafty With A Blog Named Hero Challenge, the theme is "Sentimental Journey." I chose to create a background doing some ink blending with 4 Simon Hurley inks on a white panel. Then I covered the ink-blended panel with Hero Arts' Daisy Mosaic stencil and used Simon Hurley's Prom Queen colored Lunar paste over the stencil. Then I adhered that panel to a yellow panel and then added that to a top-fold A2 card base I created using blue card stock. You can't really tell from the photo, but the lunar paste adds some great texture and shine to the card. 

You can't really tell from the picture, but the lunar paste adds great texture and shine to the card. 
For the sentiment, I used the "Happy" die and the "graduation" stamp from Hero Arts' Congrats & Happy stamp and die set. 




 Stay Crafty with A Blog Named Hero: June 2023 Challenge | Hero Arts: Sentimental Journey (ends 7/2/23) 

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (5/5 for the week; 6/10 for the challenge; ends 7/5/23)


Crazy is our fame - STENCILS are our game! (stencilfun.blogspot.com): ATG with a stencil (I used Hero Arts Daisy Mosaic stencil) (ends at the end of the  month)

As You Like It Challenge: Favorite: Plain or patterned paper? I love both, but plain paper can be fun because I can create my own pattern on it like I've done here using a stencil and lunar paste (2/3; ends 7/13/23)

Through The Purple Haze Challenges: Use buttons and/or flowers (1/3; ends at the end of the month)

Double Trouble Paper Crafting (doubletroublechallenge.blogspot.com): Thing 1: ATG Thing 3: Entered with Crafting Happiness challenge

Crafting Happiness Challenges: ATG (ends 6/30/23)


Polkadoodles Cardmaking, Craft & Scrapbooking Challenge: ATG (3/3; ends 7/7/23) third entry since I used a Polkadoodles digi in my second entry



Wednesday, June 28, 2023

Penguin Palace Color Challenge 3

My final card for the Penguin Palace color challenge this month features the alligator in the Adventures in Australia digital stamp set. I sized up the beach towel, alligator, and sentiment using my Silhouette Cameo 4 and then did a print and cut of them. I colored them with my Ohuhu Honolulu alcohol markers. To create the background, I took a white A2 card blank and did some ink blending with brown on the bottom of the card and blue at the top. I added the beach towel and umbrella to the bottom right of the card and then popped the alligator up on foam tape. The sentiment was also adhered using foam tape. 




 Challenges I'm entering: 

ppstampschallenge.blog: Color Challenge: 
TIME OUT Challenges: Funny (2/5; ends 7/5/23) C5

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (3/5 for the week; 4/10 for the challenge; ends 7/5/23)


simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge: Vacation (1/5; ends 7/3/23)

No more challenges

Penguin Palace Color Challenge 2

I'm back with another card using the "Adventure in Australia" digital stamp set from Penguin Palace. I sized up the digi and the sentiment and then did a print and cut of them using my Silhouette Cameo 4. I colored the shark using my Ohuhu Honolulu alcohol markers and also colored the sentiment strip using a light brown marker from the set. 

For the background, I used Penguin Palace's Waterspout stencil on my Stencils 360 platform and inked the stencil with the colors from the challenge. I mounted the focal panel to a top-folding blue A2 card and added the sentiment and shark with foam tape to give them some dimension. It was a quick card to make, and I love the way the Waterspout stencil creates such a fun background!



 Challenges I'm entering:

ppstampschallenge.blog: Color Challenge 

TIME OUT Challenges: Funny (1/5; ends 7/5/23) C5

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (4/5 for the week; 5/10 for the challenge; ends 7/5/23)


Crazy is our fame - STENCILS are our game! (stencilfun.blogspot.com): ATG with stencils (I used the Penguin Palace Stencils 360 Waterspout stencil) (ends at the end of the month)

No more challenges

Penguin Palace Color Challenge 1

I recently found out that Penguin Palace hosts a monthly challenge, and this month it's a color challenge. I won a gift certificate there last week for commenting on their new release blog posts, and along with purchasing the stencils from their summer release, I also purchased this darling "Adventure in Australia" digital stamp set. It was perfect for making a few last-minute cards to join in the challenge with!

I started by sizing up the digital stamp and doing a print and cut of it with my Silhouette Cameo 4. Then I colored the digi with the light brown, gray, and different shades of blue in the challenge. To created the bottom of the card, I used the "Waterspout" stencil from PP's Stencil 360 collection, and I inked it in the various shades for the color challenge and moved it around to fill in different areas. 



Challenges I'm entering:
ppstampschallenge.blog: Color challenge: 
Word Art Wednesday: ATG (4/5 for the week; 5/10 for the challenge; ends 7/5/23)


Crazy is our fame - STENCILS are our game! (stencilfun.blogspot.com): ATG with stencils (I used the Penguin Palace Stencils 360 Waterspout stencil) (ends at the end of the month)

As You Like It Challenge: Favorite: Plain or patterned paper? I love both, but plain paper can be fun because I can create my own pattern on it like I've done here using a stencil and digi stamps (3/3; ends 7/13/23)

simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge: Vacation (2/5; ends 7/3/23)

Double Trouble Paper Crafting (doubletroublechallenge.blogspot.com): Thing 1: ATG Thing 3: entered Crafting Happiness challenge (3/4; ends 6/30/23)

Crafting Happiness Challenges: ATG (ends 6/30/23) Top Pick 7/1/23

Paper Dragonfly Creative Challenges: Anything Flies (4/5; ends at the end of the month)



Digi Choosday Cardmaking & Crafting Challenge: ATG 3rd entry because I used a Polkadoodles digi stamp on my second entry) (3/3; ends 7/4/23)

Wednesday, June 21, 2023

Curved Pop Up Halloween Card

I know it may seem early for Halloween cards, but since I needed to create 170 of them, I started early this year! I chose a card design by Lori Whitlock called A2 Curved Pop Up Card and modified it to be a Halloween card (hers was a floral-themed Mother's Day card). I used some Halloween fireworks card stock for the background and then created a print and cut sentiment for the front using Fresh Mix font. I chose some coordinating card stock patterns for the bendy mechanisms and sized up 4 donuts from a full color Halloween treat font to create my focal point. I did a print and cut of the donuts and adhered them to the inner pop up mechanism using Art Glitter liquid glue. 

For the back of the card, I used a fun "Eat, Drink, and be Scary" sentiment from the Silhouette Design store. For the envelope, I used another file from the Silhouette Design Store and printed it on my envelopes. I don't care for candy corn, but I couldn't resist that fun sentiment!

A look at the front of the card:


Back of the card:


Envelope:


Close up of the sentiment on the envelope:


Side views:








Challenges I'm entering: 

As You Like It Challenge: Favorite non-birthday celebration and why: I really love to create Halloween cards because there are so many cute ideas for Halloween, from Halloween treats like I used on this card to adorable animals all dressed up in costumes. Also, there are infinite possibilities for puns like I used in this card. (3/3; ends 6/28/23)


Creative Fingers Challenge Blog: ATG (3/3; ends 6/30/23)

Most Magical Time of the Year!: ATG Christmas or Halloween (ends 6/30/23)

Double Trouble Paper Crafting (doubletroublechallenge.blogspot.com): Thing 1: SomeThing, AnyThing, EveryThing; Thing 3: entered Creative Creases Challenge  and Inspiration Station (1/4; ends 6/29)


Inspiration Station (inspirationstationchallenge.blogspot.com): Inspiration Photo: the black and orange colors remind me of Halloween, and the photo even looks a little spooky! (2/8; ends at the end of the month)


Word Art Wednesday: ATG (1/5 for the week; 1/10 for the challenge; ends 7/5/23)

June Mood Board Card Challenge (not2shabbyshop.com): The donuts on the mood board made me think of how cute Halloween donuts would be! I love the idea of using donuts in unique ways! (2/3; ends at the end of the month)

No more challenges









 

Sunday, June 18, 2023

Father's Day Grill Card

My husband bought a Pit Boss smoker a couple years ago, and he loves it! He smokes just about everything on it: ribs, pork shoulder roast, chuck roast, steaks, chicken, ham, and even vegetables like asparagus, sweet corn, and brussels sprouts. My youngest daughter told him that men over 50 have to choose one of the following hobbies: smoking meats or the Civil War 😂. I guess I'm grateful my husband went with smoking meats because he's saved me a lot of time in the kitchen! Anyway, when I saw this darling grill box card from Lori Whitlock, I had to make it for DH for Father's Day! It didn't come with any sentiments, so I created a print and cut of "Happy Father's Day" for the front of the card and then purchased the "I'd smoke that" sentiment from the Silhouette Design Store and did a print and cut of that for the back of the card after sizing it up to fit the back of this card. It was pretty easy to assemble, and I think my husband will love it. 



Back of the card: 


 Challenges I'm entering: 

Anything Goes with a Fun Fold for Creative Creases #59 (secretstamper.com): ATG with a fun fold (ends 6/23/23)

Creative Fingers Challenge Blog: ATG (2/3; ends 6/30/23)

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge ... ATG (1/3; ends 6/25/23)

613 Avenue Create (avenue613.blogspot.com): ATG with option of the Good Old Summertime(5/8; ends at the end of the month)

Dragonfly Dreams: June Challenge - Fancy Folds (dragonflydreamschallenges.blogspot.com): Fancy Folds (ends at the end of the  month) Top Pick 7/9/23

A Place To Start (hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com): ATG (ends at the end of the month)

Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog: Fun folds and/or summer plus a sentiment (4/5; ends at the end of the month)

{Cupcake Inspirations}: Father's Day/Masculine (2/3; ends 6/23/23)

fourseasons (thefourseasonschallenge.blogspot.com): Summer (ends at the end of the month)


Inspiration Station (inspirationstationchallenge.blogspot.com): Inspiration photo (I used the colors from the photo in my card: black, burgundy, yellow, and white) (1/8; ends at the end of the month)


simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/: Masculine (ends 6/19/23)

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (2/5 for the week; 6/10 for the challenge; ends 6/21/23)

The Paper Funday Challenges: ATG with optional twist of no squares (2/4; ends at the end of the month)

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: Lots of layers (2/5; ends 6/21/23)

The Paper Shelter: Get outside (2/2; ends 6/21/23)

Crafty Gals Corner (craftygalscornerchallenges.blogspot.com): Fancy Folds for Dad (1/3; ends 7/10/23)

Art Impressions Blog (artimpressionsstamps.blogspot.com): Midnight Snack (2/2; ends 6/22/23)

As You Like It Challenge: Favourite Non-Birthday Occasion (& why): This year I've had so much fun making personalized Father's Day cards for my dad, my father-in-law, my son (it's his first year as a dad!), and my husband. I've been blessed to have so many great men in my life, and making Father's Day cards to celebrate them has been wonderful. (2/3; ends 6/28/23) Top 3 pick 6/29/23

Creative Fingers Challenge Blog: ATG (2/3; ends 7/2/23)

Paper Dragonfly Creative Challenges: Anything Flies (2/5; ends at the end of the month)

Allsorts challenge blog: ATG (1/3; ends 6/24/23)

Polkadoodles Cardmaking, Craft & Scrapbooking Challenge: ATG (1/2; ends 6/30/23) Top 3 Favorite 7/1/23



Friday, June 16, 2023

Sea-Themed Triangle Accordion Card

One of my best friends from high school recently treated me to brunch when I was down in my hometown visiting my parents, and I wanted to make her a special thank you card. My favorite cards to make are fun-fold cards, so I was excited when I came across this triangle accordion card on Iced Images' YouTube channel. I've linked her video here: 🔴 5" x 7" Triangle Accordion Pocket Card | Livestream - YouTube if you'd like to listen to her instructions. Her card featured a pocket on the inside, but since I didn't need a pocket for this card, instead I used pattern paper and then a stamped, embossed and die cut sea motif on the inside of the card. 

This is a 5X7 card with enough layers that I'm going to need to add additional postage for weight as well as the non-machinable fee since I used a lot of foam tape for dimension in various places. The clerks at my local post office know me pretty well by now as I stop in frequently 😄. 

Since I wanted to make an ocean-themed card, I decided to use my SU! Seashells 3D hybrid embossing folder and the stamp and die set that coordinates with it (Friends are Like Seashells is the name of the set), and I chose some ocean-themed papers I had purchased on clearance at Hobby Lobby awhile back. The paper pad has a number of really pretty coordinating papers, and some of them have metallic silver accents. I chose 3 different patterns for the different parts of the card and then chose cardstock to match the papers for the card base and matting layers. 

I created a print and cut for the "Sending oceans of thanks" sentiment using my Silhouette Design Studio software and the fonts Fresh Mix and Franklin Gothic. I then used stamps from Simon Hurley's Friendship Florals stamp set: "It's such a blessing to have you in my life," "Thanks for being such a great friend," and "You matter so much to me." I stamped and die cut several seashells and underwater plants from SU!'s Friends are Like Seashells stamp and die bundle to include on the triangles as embellishments. The stamped, embossed and die cut ocean scene on the inside of the card was colored using my Ohuhu Honolulu alcohol ink markers. I then added some silver, blue, and teal sequins throughout the card areas for some added sparkle. 


Card when closed:


It stands up easily:


First set of triangles:







Inside of the card:







Close up of the panel I stamped, embossed, die cut and colored with Ohuhu Honolulu markers:








Challenges I'm entering:

As You Like It Challenge: Favorite non-birthday occasion: I really enjoy making thank you cards and friendship cards because I love to let people know they are loved and appreciated. (1/3; ends 6/28/23)

Anything Goes with a Fun Fold for Creative Creases #59 (secretstamper.com): ATG with a fun fold (unlimited entries; ends 6/23/23)

Creative Fingers Challenge Blog: ATG (1/3; ends 6/30/23)


Double Trouble Paper Crafting (doubletroublechallenge.blogspot.com): Thing 1: create a summer project (the inspiration photo has some sand and a bucket, which makes me think of the beach, and this ocean-themed card goes with the beach theme. Plus I love to go to the beach in the summer!)

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (1/5 for the week; 5/10 for the challenge; ends June 21)


613 Avenue Create (avenue613.blogspot.com): ATG with option of Good Old Summertime (ends at the end of the  month) Top Rocker for June 11-17 entries

A Place To Start (hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com): ATG (ends at the end of the month) Rising Star pick June 12-18

Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog: Fun fold and/or Summer (3/5; ends at the end of the month)


A Perfect Time To Craft Open Challenge:: ATG (unlimited entries, ends at the end of the month)

Can You Handle The Pressure? (cyhtp.blogspot.com): ATG with an embossing folder (I used the SU! Seashells hybrid EF on the inside of this card) (1/3; ends at the end of the month)

Stamping Sensations: Around the World with ATG option (1/3; ends at the end of the month)

We Love Stamping: CAS with ATG option (1/3; ends at the end of the month)


I ♥ ProMarkers Challenge Blog (ilovepromarkers.blogspot.com): ATG with option to add some sparkle (I added sequins and used paper with metallic accents) (1/3; ends 6/26/23)

The Paper Shelter: Get Outside (I hope the ocean counts😀) (1/2; ends 6/21/23)

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: Lots of layers (1/5; ends 6/21/23)

The Paper Funday Challenges: ATG with optional twist: No squares allowed (1/6; ends at the end of the month) (1/6; ends at the end of the month)

fourseasons (thefourseasonschallenge.blogspot.com): ATG Summer (ends at the end of the month)

Paper Dragonfly Creative Challenges: Anything Flies (1/5; ends at the end of the month) Top 3 Pick 7/6/23

Dragonfly Dreams (dragonflydreamschallenges.blogspot.com): Fancy Folds (ends at the end of the month)















 

Tuesday, June 13, 2023

Anniversary Photo Album

I recently attended the Scrapbook Fun Summit online, and one of the presenters gave a tutorial showing how to make a 3 inch by 3 inch mini album with pockets using one 12X12 piece of cardstock and some additional cardstock for the embellishments. I chose purple cardstock as my base for the album and a sheet of coordinating double-sided cardstock to make the inserts and embellishments. The pattern paper is from Graphic 45 and has some darling little elements I cut out to decorate the front and back of the album as well as the pockets. The album has pockets that alternate between top opening and side opening, and it was fun to add little papers/pictures to each pocket. 

I also added some ribbon to tie the album closed, and I followed the tip in the tutorial to adhere the ribbon first using glue tape and then add a piece of cardstock over top of the ribbon on each side of the album to cover where the ribbon is glued down. 

My parents are about to celebrate their 56th anniversary, so when I saw the tutorial for this album, I knew it would be perfect for them! I set about choosing some pictures and sizing them for the album and then decided on placement of all the elements and what to put in all the little pockets. It took most of an afternoon, but I'm really happy with how it turned out, and I can't wait to share it with them this weekend on their anniversary!


Front of the album: 


The first insert (showing the text side first and then the photo on the other side of the insert):



The next set of pictures:


The second insert front and back:



Third insert front and back:




4th insert front and back:



5th insert front and back:





6th insert:


7th insert text side and photo side:









 Challenges I'm entering: 


Word Art Wednesday: ATG (4/5 for the week; 4/10 for the challenge; ends June 21)

Creative Inspiration Challenges: ATG (2/2; ends at the end of the month)


Creative Fingers Challenge Blog: ATG (3/3; ends 6/15/23)


Allsorts challenge blog: ATG (2/3; ends 6/15/23)


613 Avenue Create (avenue613.blogspot.com): ATG with option of Good Old Summertime (ends at the end of the  month)


A Place To Start (hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com): ATG (ends at the end of the month)

Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog: Fun fold and/or Summer (2/5; ends at the end of the month)