Joyful Cardinal Fold-It

Today is the last challenge of 2024 for Team O at Tic Tac Toe Challenge. And I had the fun of creating the board! I was going to make a gift card holder but at the last minute I went with this fun shaped easel card. I used the diagonal Wax Seal, Free and Bird (I really wanted to use a wax seal - they are so popular right now).

I love the Fold-It cards from The Stamps of Life. The cards can be a straight shaped card or made into an easel or attached to a traditional card base. This Bird card is probably me favorite of the Fold-Its. I have made him (or her) into a couple of parrots (here & here), an Uncle Sam eagle and now a Christmas cardinal.

I used a die cut sentiment popped up on foam dots as a sentiment stopper and added some shading for depth. The easel versions of fold-its are very simple to make. You simply score the front of the shaped card underlayer at roughly the half way point and glue your decorated layer to the front under the score line only!

I hope you have enjoyed my card today and will join us in the challenge.

I have listed the products used below. Fold-Its are available from the Stamps of Life individually and also as part of the Fold-It Club. With the monthly club you get a Fold-It and two stencils - one that directly colors the Fold-It and also a background stencil that coordinates but can be used on other cards.

When you join the fold-it club you will receive 15% off all orders (as soon as you sign up and as long as you are a club member) along with other member benefits. AND if you use my link you will receive a bonus of 500 club points AND a free stamp set to new members! Click here to join! (Full disclosure - I do receive small compensation but at no additional cost to you.)

Products used:

• Dies: TSOL Bird Fold-It, moreHollywreath2stamp coordinating dies, Joy die
• Wax Seal: TSOL Wax Seal Set (heart)
  
• Inks: Cherry Cobbler, Crushed Curry
• Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Real Red, Shaded Spruce, Crushed Curry

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Fall Squirrel Easel Card

I have a fun fold card for Team O's challenge at the Tic Tac Toe Challenge. I chose the diagonal Leaves, Twine, Fun Fold although I could also do the top row across or the right column.

I used a shaped Fold-It card from The Stamps of Life and turned it into an easel card. I popped up the sentiment using foam tape in order to make it the stopped for the easel.

This squirrel is so stinkin' cute and was fun to make. I like using die cuts and shading them to add depth. I did that here and of course added some dark red to the leaves to give them fall color. I tied a piece of linen thread around the acorn and added a few sparkly embellishments.

This squirrel was October's Fold-It Club set. The November die will be released tonight and I can't wait to see it! The Fold-it Club is my favorite - every month you get an awesome new die with two stencils, one that goes directly with the die and the other that coordinates.

Products used:

• Die: Sweet Squirrel: October Fold-It Club set
• Papers: Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Cajun Craze, Old Olive, Sunflower, Copper Clay, Blossom, Early Espresso,  Country Sunflower
• Ink: Vintage Photo, Ground Espresso, Cherry Cobbler

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Hello Pumpkin!

Happy fall! I love this time of year and look forward to cooler days. I also love autumn colors and creating with them. This cute card is for this week's Team O board at the Tic Tac Toe Challenge.

 

I played the left column down - Harvest, Plaid and Twine but also used other elements - Orange, Die Cut and Metallic.

I love how this little pumpkin owl turned out and since I'm not sure who I would send it to, I think I will leave it out as a fall decoration. This is a "fold-it" card from The Stamps of Life. They have many different themes of these dies and they do make for adorable decor. There are two different reindeer and a sleigh dies which I plan to make for Christmas.

This owl took a bit longer than anticipated because while trying to unclog my liquid glue it suddenly gave way and I had a huge puddle on my desk! Fortunately I have a glass mat  so it cleaned up fairly easily but not before some of the glue got on the wrong side of the paper. And so I have a metal leaf on the top of the pumpkin - to cover the paper that ripped when I was trying to remove excess glue. As it turns out I think it was a great addition and I'm glad a had that embellishment.

For the sentiment I used my label maker; something I have started to do when I want a custom sentiment. I also used Distress Oxide inks to shade the edges of the die cuts.

Products used:

• Dies: The Stamps of Life Pumpkin Owl Fold-It
• Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Pecan Pie, Delightful Dijon, Echo Park Celebrate Autumn
• Ink: Distress Oxide, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain, Forest Moss 
• Accessories: Stampin' Up! Linen Thread, Copper Clay Ribbon and retired leaf

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Birthday Cupcake

I haven't been card making in quite a while. Lot's of things going on in my life right now. But I did want to join in this week's Team O challenge at the Tic Tac Toe Challenge. And it felt very good to be back creating!

I chose the middle column - birthday, rectangle and die cuts.

My card is fairly simple. It is an A1 size Fold-It card from The Stamps of Life that was part of their April 2024 card kit. I love the shaped cards. They are easy to make and fast if you keep them fairly simple like I did here. But they can also be very elaborate and embellished making them super special. The fun enamel sentiment is also from the kit as is the patterned paper.

Products used:

• Dies: TSOL A1 Cupcake Fold-It
• Paper/Cardstock: TSOL Guave, Candy, You're Special Patterned Paper; Stampin' Up! Very Vanilla
• Ink: Candy, Distress Oxide Scattered Straw
• Embellishments: The Stamps of Life

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Shell-a-brate

I'm the featured designer this week at the Tic Tac Toe Challenge - so if you don't like the board you can blame me!  Haha! I wanted to make a board that was summer oriented and could also be used for a masculine or gender neutral card. Beach to me is about as neutral as it gets.

 

My card uses the middle row across - beach, yellow, fun-fold.

I went for a softer look and shaded the shell using Distress Oxide inks. In my new craft room set-up they are hidden in a drawer and I now often forget about them. They really are my favorite for ink blending and shading on cards! I tried a using a wax seal in the corner but didn't have quite the right color so I decided the wood palm tree medallion would work just as well and maybe even better.

I hope you will join us for the challenge!

Products used:

• Dies: The Stamps of Life Shell Fold-It
• Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Very Vanilla, Marina Mist
• Ink: Distress Oxide - Scattered Straw, Stormy Sky, Vintage Photo
• Embellishments: TSOL Enamel Dots and Wood Palm
  

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Color Challenge Parrot

I've been absent from cardmaking for most of June. Sometimes life just gets in the way. I'm back now for the CAS Colours & Sketches color challenge for July. Suzy gave us some very fresh summer colors. They remind me of sherbet.

I have been itching to use this Spellbinders die since I received it in May as one of my monthly clubs. I have seen so many people use it and I think it is just adorable. So for this challenge what could be better than a sherbet colored parrot?!

It was tempting to use all the flowers and greenery that came with this set but I needed to keep it CAS and I couldn't use green - so......we have this card which I really love. To add some interest I used an embossed panel using the Embossing Folder of the Month for May.

The sentiment is cut from a package of sentiment strips from Simon Says Stamp (I LOVE these they are so easy) and I added some glitter dots in the challenge colors. We have some great colors - we would love to have you join us!

Products used:

• Dies: Spellbinders DOM May24 Tropical Friends
• Embossing Folder: SB EOM May24 Lattice Work
• Cardstock: Summer Splash, Pretty in Pink, Petunia Pop, Black, Gray
• Embellishments: Stampin' Up! In-Color Glitter dots, Simon Says Stamp sentiment strips
  

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Pop of Color Flower Card

These are super easy to make cards. I made these for Mother's Day using this month's Team O Tic Tac Toe Challenge board. (Yes, we know the boards in advance!)

 

These cards fit a few categories but officially I chose the left column down.

I used a Flower fold-it from The Stamps of Life. This is an older one that I've had quite a while.  I think with cards like this, it is best to keep the colors and patterns bold and simple. And by bold color, I mean solid or monochromatic rather than using a pattern with a whole lot of color. Here I am trying to look like a flower not show off a pretty floral paper. I could use a floral paper if it were tonal.

Originally I was going to put the plaid in the background and use the solid colors on top, but then you couldn't really see the plaid. Because it is tone-on-tone it works well as the main color for the flower petals. I love dots with stripes or plaid so I chose those for the leaves,

I picked a fun floral embellishment for the center - one I've had for years, probably as long as I've had this die!

Products used:

• The Stamps of Life Flower with Stem Fold-it and various paper for the plaid and dots
• Stampin' Up! retired flower embellishments

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CAS Sketch Challenge

Today’s card is for the sketch challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches. When I saw Patricia’s sketch I knew I had the perfect image from Spellbinder’s April’s club sets; I just had to decided whether to use the floss dies or stencils.

This didn’t turn out quite how I had envisioned but I’m not quite sure why. I did have to do the stencils twice as the floss was too short the first time. And after stenciling the second I just didn’t want to try for three. This is a five part stencil and what made it a bit complicated was the step down of each floss. If they had been equal in length as they are on the stencil it would have gone much faster.

I got the all club sets last month because I’ve started back up on an old hobby - needlepoint. I’ve joined a few groups and stitch about once a month with some ladies at a local shop. I decided the set may be quite useful!

Needlepoint has come along way since when I learned as a girl. And it is starting to become more popular even with the younger generations. And one advantage is that you don’t need a craft room the size of Montana to hold all your stuff! The cost for hand painted canvases is pretty steep as are the fibers. That coupled with the fact it can take weeks or months (or even years) to complete a project, you tend not to buy as much. Cost probably works out to the same, just a different volume! ;)

I hope you’ve enjoyed my card today. Now it’s time to go outside and take care of the flowers I planted this weekend!

Products used:

• Spellbinders April 2024 Stencil of the Month, Stamp of the Month, Better Press of the Month

 

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Whaley Special

This is a quick card I made for my great-nephew. I posted the card I made for his new sister and parents last week. The inside says "You are whaley special".

He just turned three and I know that little ones can sometimes feel left out when everyone is making over a new baby. So my husband and I bought him a stuffed whale when we were in Hawaii a few months ago. I thought this card and sentiment perfect for the gift.

It was super easy to make. I added about 4 or 5 dark blue layers of cardstock under the fin instead of using foam dots. This gave it some dimension and a bit of a shadow. I finished the card with puffy stickers from The Stamps of Life.

Products used:

• Dies: The Stamps of Life Whale Fold-It
• Stamps: TSOL Patterns4Whales

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Hula Girl at Heart

"In a world that needs more dancing, she's a hula girl at heart" - Jimmy Buffett

For the 1000th color challenge at Splitcoaststampers I was asked to revisit a favorite challenge that I hosted.  I chose challenge 909 with some of my favorite colors, Daffodil Delight, Polished Pink and Orchid Oasis with a favorite dessert - summer! I also chose a challenge where I had an underlying theme of music; all my cards from August of 2022 were in this theme.

This stamp reminds me of my youngest daughter (now 30) whose first dance recital at 3 was "Hula Baby". There is no sight cuter than 3 year olds doing the hula. She kept dancing right up until she went to college. The quote above fits her to a tee - she's still that adorable 3 year old dancing the hula! If you don't know the song "Hula Girl at Heart" it's worth a listen, especially if you have a daughter.

The image is colored with Stampin' Blends and Copic markers to color match. I added some neutrals - browns and Mossy Meadow. I used the Orchid and the Daffodil to get various shades of the green. The markers I used are listed below.

I cut the palm frame once from the white and layered it with two cut from the Orchid Oasis. I also layered the extra leaves with the Orchid. I like the added shadow it gave the white.  The sentiment was made with my label maker and finished with a pink heart.

If you have time please stop by Splitcoaststampers and join in the challenge - we have multiple colors combos this week as each team member chose their favorite. I would especially love to see your summer inspired creations!

Products used:

• Stamps: Stamping Bella Summer Bundle Girl & Puppy Hula Dance
• Markers: Stampin' Blends - Orchid Oasis Light & Dark, Polished Pink Light & Dark, Daffodil Delight Light & Dark, 800, 900, 500  Copic Markers - BV02, Y11, RV00, YG93, YG97, YG99
• Other: The Stamps of Life Tropical Palm Frame die, label maker, SU Embossing Folder

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Layers of Beauty Multi Use Card

Happy Thursday! I'm back for this month's Team O challenge at the TicTacToe Challenge. This board had so many possibilities it was hard to choose. Since Mother's Day is coming up I decided to go with a feminine card that I could give to my mother-in-law. I played the diagonal - plaid, stenciling, twine.

If for some reason I decide to give her a different one (I have four more Mother's Day cards to make) I can use this for a birthday card as I have not stamped the sentiment yet. I have started to leave sentiments off the front of cards unless they are for an obvious reason - for example a birthday cake. This allows me a bit of latitude so I'm ready for a last minute card. And if I leave a bit more white space (and by that I mean uninterrupted area) I can add a sentiment to the front with a sentiment strip or die cut label or word.

I love that this set comes with dies and stencils for coloring. The layered stencil trend is one I really enjoy over layered stamping. For me it is much easier to line up the stencils and the trick to even color is a light hand. It is better to keep adding layers to get depth of color than to try and put pressure on the brush. And always start your brush moving BEFORE you get to the open part of the stencil. You can start it on the stencil itself or on the paper outside the stencil if that is a waste area.

Products used:

• Stamps, dies, stencil: Stampin' Up! Layers of Beauty
• Dies: Stampin' Up! Around the Bend
  
• Accessories: Stampin' Up! Eyelet 3D embossing folder
• Ink: Lemon Lime Twist, Parakeet Party, Polished Pink, Lemon Lolly

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It's All ABout the Texture

Happy Tuesday! I'm back at CAS Colours & Sketches after taking April off. For our color challenge this month Patricia chose Lost Lagoon, Pool Party and Pebbled Path. I will admit up front that these colors (with the exception of Pool Party) are a bit out of my comfort zone. I'm more of a tropical colors person.

So of course I felt this incredible urge to add another color to give these some "punch". This color challenge only allows neutrals (brown, black, grey, white, metallic) as an additional color. (Other challenges will allow the Stampin' Up! Neutrals palette which includes a few blues and greens.) So here I added the brushed pewter metallic to the rim of the basket. In the photo it is hard to see the metallic but it adds some nice subtle sheen.

I decided that adding texture was the best way to give interest to this card so I used a deckled edge die for the panel and the Macrame 3D embossing folder. I also used one of my all-time-favorite stamps in the background - Gorgeous Grunge. After this set was retired I noticed that SU often included a splatter stamp in at least one of their stamp sets for awhile. I just wouldn't have retired this set; but of course I wasn't asked! (wink, wink)

Pretty much everything on this card, except the colors and deckled rectangles, is retired. As a demonstrator I know that I should use current products. But I feel pretty strongly that you should keep and use what you love. There is a lot of pressure to buy new and while I succumb to that pretty easily, I am making a conscious effort to use what I have and buy only what I love (not what I think will sell.)

I hope you like my card today. Right now the card is blank inside. Since it is a very neutral card I may keep it for a guy's birthday or as a sympathy card. Those are hard cards to make and when you need one you need it immediately.

Products used:

• Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Earthen Textures Stamps & Dies, Gorgeous Grunge
  
• Dies: Deckled Rectangles
• Accessories: Macrame 3D Embossing Folder

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Little Inmate Baby Card

My card today is one I made for my niece who just had a baby. While she was pregnant I had the idea for this card but waited to make it until after the baby was born.

It is simple to make using the Onesie Fold-It from The Stamps of Life. I toyed with the idea of using orange for the onesie color (Orange is the New Black) but decided that old-fashioned black and white stripes were the way to go.

I stamped the baby's date of birth on a strip of cardstock to use as her "inmate" number and used a pen to add the stitching.

I printed the inside from my computer and it says it all.

Products used:

• Die: The Stamps of Life Onesie Fold-It
• Stamps: Lawn Fawn Smitty's ABCs

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Otterly Wonderful Father's Day Card

Good evening! It's been over a month since I lasted posted. I took the month of April off from most of my challenge duties. I was gone for ten at the beginning of the month to see the solar eclipse in Mexico. Then I needed to catch up at work and in life!

My card for this evening is for the color challenge at Splitcoaststampers - Pecan Pie, Boho Blue and Calypso Coral. I originally was going to do something else but then I noticed these cute otters while organizing some of my stamping supplies.

This card will do double duty - a challenge card and a Father's Day card for my husband. In organizing my stash I realize that I make far too many cards "just because" for challenges and never give them out. When a birthday or other day comes along I compelled to make something just for THAT person. I'm attempting to change that by planning ahead.

For this card I used Distress ink to shade the otters and shells. The background of the shell really is Boho Blue; the purple happened when I shaded it with coral. I don't know how I didn't see that one coming! LOL!

I hope you enjoyed the card. I will start to post more now that I'm back and settling in.

Products used:

• Dies: The Stamps of Life Otter Class
• Ink: Distress Oxide Vintage Photo, Abandoned Coral
• Cardstock: Pecan Pie, Crumb Cake, Boho Blue, Calypso Coral, Mossy Meadow, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla

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CAS Sketch Challenge

Happy Tuesday! My card today is for the sketch challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches. Joanne gave us a really fun sketch - just think of all the small items that could be used with this!

 

Because I combined it with the color challenge at Splitcoaststampers, my mind went directly to flowers. From there it was pretty easy. As usual with clean and simple cards, it does take some care to make sure everything is lined up and in place - otherwise it just looks "simple" - LOL!

I hope you will be able to join in one or both challenges this week!

Products used:

• Dies: Spellbinders Be Bold Blooms
• Cardstock: Berry Burst, Petal Pink, Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green
• Accessories: Simon Says Stamp Birthday Sentiment Strips

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Vase Fold-It Easel Card

I made this card for a friend's 65th birthday. I wanted something that was special and she could display.

I used the March Club Fold-It from The Stamps of Life. I love their shaped cards and you can easily (most of the time) make them into easel cards.  This one took a bit of thinking and a little snipping here and there but was manageable.

This card was also for this week's Tic Tac Toe Challenge - left column down:

and the color challenge at Splitcoaststampers. I'm the hostess this week and I chose Melon Mambo, Lemon Lolly and Pretty Peacock with Anything Goes for dessert. I used buttons since I have a TON of them in my stash and they make pretty flower centers.

I hope you will find time to join us this week in one or both challenges!

Products used:

• Dies: TSOL Flower Vase Fold-It (March Club die)
• Stamp: TSOL Flower Wreath Words
• Cardstock: Melon Mambo, Lemon Lolly, Pretty Peacock, Basic White
• Accessories: Ribbon, Buttons

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Color Challenge Tuesday

Good morning! My card today is for the Color Challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches. Joanne gave us some "cool" colors to work with this week.

 

I decided to go botanical with my card. I used the Botanical Layers stamp set coupled with the Perennial Postage dies and Fern 3D embossing folder.

Although hard to tell in this photo I promise you the Balmy Blue is there. The back most plant is in Balmy Blue. I used a Misti and re-stamped the image with just the edges in Old Olive. It did darken up the blue quite a bit.

I hope you've enjoyed my card today. It was a busy weekend. I took an online needlepoint class - quite intense but very informative and a lot of fun. I may start posting about my new love!

And the twins are getting "fixed" today. The vet said best to do both at the same time so they both feel lousy and recover together. We'll see how they (and I) do.....

I have links below to the products I used from Stampin' Up! Remember, if you place a minimum $50 order with me I'll send you something (stamps or dies or paper) from my stash! While supplies last ;)

Products used:

• Stamps: Botanical Layers
• Dies: Perennial Postage - dies only (also available as a bundle)
  
• Ink: Balmy Blue, Azure Afternoon, Old Olive
• Cardstock: Basic White, Old Olive
• Accessories: Fern 3D embossing folder, Linen Thread

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