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May 18, 2026

SPLIT FLORALS

 Hi friends!

I was inspired by a new-to-me technique blog GROUP OF CARDMAKERS 
This month’s focus is on a Split Card technique. Technically both of these florals should be the same color scheme but I stamped the image onto the middle of two 8.5” x 5.5” white panels of cardstock and then trimmed them into four separate panels before coloring them 😂 Go to their blog and follow the directions better than I did to save yourself some time!
 
Set 1:



 

Playing along with this JUST ADD INK challenge:
(ends 5/20)





Set 2:






Playing along with this BEAUTIFUL BLOSSOMS challenge:
(ends 6/12)


Playing along with this STENCIL FUN challenge
(ends 5/30)


I outlined one of the florals with neutral marker to help camouflage a minor marker outside the lines situation and liked it enough to do a few that way. My coloring wasn’t that fabulous overall so I used some stencils and matching inks to blend patterns around the florals for interest, leaving some space open for a soft halo effect. 
 

SUPPLIES

stamp - JRL Designs #V 126 Paris Floral
Strength sentiment stamp - MFT #CS-156 Deepest Sympathy set
Trust sentiment stamp - Stampendous! #SSC1428 Floral Prayer set
Joy sentiment stamp - unmarked clear set
Blessing sentiment stamp - Stampin’ Up! Blessings of Home set
circles stencil - StampersAnonymous Tim Holtz Collection
squares stencil - StampersAnonymous Tim Holtz Collection
enamel dots and sequins - random




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May 14, 2026

BEACHCOMBER HELLO

 Hi friends!



Playing along with this FRESHLY MADE SKETCHES Challenge
(ends 5/18)


(ends 5/20)


I’ve been waiting all Winter and Spring to dig out some seashell images - nothing says Summer to me like all things beach!! 

As soon as the newest FMS challenge sketch posted I knew I wanted shells, but didn’t decide on blues/greens til I went pawing through my handmade card stock scrap folder and saw this piece. I’ve hoarded it because it just screamed to me that it had to be beach-related. 

*TIP* When I get a sluggish day in the craft room, I dig out some favorite Distress ink pads, smoosh them on to a slick surface, spritz with water and press white card stock into the mess. If you dry between colors you’ll get brighter more distinct patterning. 

I embossed a 3D folder lightly to get a wavy sand feel on the kraft card stock. The shells were stamped in Versamark onto colored card stock, heat embossed with detail white powder and fussy cut.

*TIP* In this instance I didn’t want any adhesive interfering with the vellum effect so I folded each end over the patterned card stock, then trimmed off at the seam line any vellum that would be doubled over the kraft area. This still left a good size tab to fold over and glue onto the back of the patterned paper. 

Starfish points and sentiment were foam mounted. 



SUPPLIES

sand dollar stamp - PSX #C-194 (1983!!)
starfish stamp - Fred B. Mullett #201
nautilus Shell stamp - JRL Design
word dies - Spellbinders Hello Smile die set S1-154
embossing folder - Altenew Ribbon Waves
flat back dots - Pink & Main Marshmellow
white detail embossing powder
vellum




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MISS YOU BIRDIE

 Hi friends!



Playing along with this CAS Colours &Sketches Challenge
(ends 5/25)



Initially I just had the yellow strip down but it was looking too high and too blah so I did add the green to tie in the grass that I had filled in under the mailbox. I was compelled to restamp, color and pop dot the bird because the first try was way too orange.  Hard to see but I colored the placard in with a gold pen to continue the yellow tones.  

Here’s your nudge to send a card out TODAY to that person who’s been on your mind lately 😃 Don’t let their mailbox sit all empty-like of happy mail. 




SUPPLIES

bird on mailbox and sentiment stamps - unmarked, probably Stampin’ Up! For the Birds set
postage dies - Waffle Flower Nesting Postage die set 
cloud die - Tonic Studios Rococo Petite Layered Clouds #1661e
patterned paper - Stampin’ Up! retired
vellum
 alcohol markers




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May 11, 2026

GOOGLY BIRTHDAY

 Hi friends!



Playing along with this PENNY BLACK SATURDAY CHALLENGE
(ends 6/5)
(ends 5/32)



All Penny Black animal images are beyond cute, but I’m really loving this one currently. Although it’s new to me, it was actually part of the 2003 Margaret Sherry line. Per usual I’ve colored it in with alcohol markers in the same basic format as the index sticker. I added my own background by using Waffleflower’s mini blending brushes with a chiseled point, and the stencils listed below.  

These arch dies are also new to me, purchased on the last Spellbinders Warehouse Sale, and they did not disappoint. They cut one of poor birds in half, but I cut another one out and colored it, and foam mounted it as shown. It adds a nice unexpected design detail. And of course, googly eyes, every chance I get 😁

A design element I had ruled out was clouds, but as I was adhering the black frame I got a line of glue in the area, and it left a streak that needed covering. Happy accidents. RIP Bob Ross



SUPPLIES

animal birthday stamp - Penny Black “…to you” #2610K
arched dies - Spellbinders Arch Labels and Tags die set S5-624
cloud stencil - Rosie’s Roadshow Cloud Template
grass stencil - Set the Scene - Grass #TESN66
patterned papers - Recollections
googly eyes




Thanks for stopping in today!


May 08, 2026

TRIO OF SHROOMS

 Hi friends!


Playing along with this SUNDAY STAMPS Challenge
(ends May 15)



These mushroom dies have been on my desk for quite awhile, and I was happy to get them cut and colored up today. 

The spattered background was stenciled with Distress Oxide Citron ink. The distressed circle was die cut and the bottom two thirds shaded with the same brown ink as the sentiment. 
Mushrooms were cut from oatmeal card stock and shaded with Fired Brick Distress Oxide ink. A white gel pen was used to highlight the speckles and fill in some of the stem areas, with a little brown colored pencil used along the stem edges to give them some shadowing. 
Top of largest mushroom is foam mounted and butterflies are glued down the center only and the wings are bent upwards. 
Sentiment strip has antiqued brass brads attached. 




SUPPLIES

sentiment stamp -  Creative Worship Be Encouraged 2 clear set
mushroom dies - Hero Arts Mushroom and Ferns die set
butterfly dies - Sizzix Stampin’ Up! Embosslits Beautiful Wings
circle die - Sizzix Thinlits #665039
splatter stencil - Tim Holtz




I had a little guy left over so I made a little vignette on the inside corner. 



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May 07, 2026

KRAFTY CIRCLE SQUARES

 Hi friends!



Playing along with this FRESHLY MADE SKETCHES Challenge
(ends 5/11)


I wasn’t quite sure exactly what direction I was going to head when I first saw the sketch above, but I LOLed at Kim’s mentioning she was going to do squares since there had been lots of circles previously, because I already knew I was going to fill my squares with circles 😂

After I found the paper collection I wanted to use it was just a matter of semi-precision cutting and pasting. Squares were raised slightly with heavyweight scrap card. White elements on the kraft card stock were heat embossed. This card measures approximately 4.75” square. 




SUPPLIES

Hello sentiment stamp - Gina K. Designs Petite Geranium clear set
Best you sentiment stamp - Fun Stampers Journey cling rubber set #SS-0632
splatter dots stamp - Stampin’ Up! random (1998)
patterned paper - Pebbles Spring Fling #733112
white detail embossing powder

And another card I made using my extras:



Thanks for stopping in today!