Tuesday, November 11, 2025

JUGS Week #800 -- Anything Goes

 
Just Us Girls (JUGS) Challenge #800 is a special one as it marks their 800th
challenge! What a milestone! I consider myself a "newbie" to their challenges,
and I started playing along thanks to blogging pal Michele.
 

 I wanted to join the celebration and squeezed in a card, just under the wire.

 
I fell in love with that Memory Box bird doing its happy dance, another enabled
purchase from Michele. Doesn't he just evoke joy? After inking him I spattered
a bit of water for texture. I ran an arched piece partially through a snow 
embossed folder then stamped the sentiment.
 
A red card base was embossed and inked around the edges and topped with
the arch piece and bird. 


Here's a better pic of the sentiment which is an old (c.2012) set from
Simon Says Stamp that I wish they would remake. It has some of my
favorite holiday sentiments on it.

Ok, now I's better run and link this up. Thanks, always, for stopping by!
  
* * *
 



Edited to add: I'm honored to receive a SHOUT OUT from JUGS!
Now I'm really doing a happy dance! Thanks so much, ladies!

 

Friday, November 7, 2025

Freshly Made Sketches #711

 
Hey there! It's good to be back, crafting again! I had several ideas for
Kim's Freshly Made Sketches #711 and when Papertrey Ink's order arrived,
it sealed the deal on what to use as the focal point.
 

 I used the new Timeless Ornaments Die Set and topped it with some greenery
also from PTI.
 
 
 I colored the orb with Crimson Cheer Interference ink then ran it through an
embossing folder for added texture. I ran the card base through an old,
discontinued embossing folder (remember Cuttlebug?) and adhered
the ornament. I finished off the card with a Mama Elephant sentiment.

I'm linking this up, then plan to visit blogs and Instagram. I've missed so much! 
Thanks for stopping by!


Thursday, October 23, 2025

Freshly Made Sketches #709

Jen M is the sketch designer for Freshly Made Sketches #709 and here it is.
 
 
I was excited to see a square design, although I'm sure it didn't have to be a square card.
Since my order from Brass and Bliss just arrived, I put them to work for the sketch.
But you might see it differently...
 

I opted for a white pumpkin to make the florals stand out. I tried to do Tina Smith's
"die cut dipping" on all the pieces but ended up ink blending the ginkgo leaves.
I gave the pieces a good spatter with white ink then adhered them to an
embossed panel. I finished off with the Stamp Market sentiment.
 
How did I do? A little far fetched? It's pretty much what I had in mind and I
wanted a white pumpkin because an orange one wouldn't stand out as much.
 
This is when I tell you that this will be my last blog post for a while. We leave
soon for the land of sushi and sumo and I'm so excited!
Thanks, always, for stopping by!
 
* * *

Edited to add: So honored that Narelle "saw" the sketch on my card and
chose to give me a Princess pick! Thanks so much!



Monday, October 20, 2025

Color Throwdown Challenge #843

 
Such pretty colors for Color Throwdown #843 -- lime, pink, and orange.
Flowers came to mind but then I spotted another NBUS and things changed 
in a new direction.



I spent the weekend watching Pete Hughes on the Sizzix YouTube channel and
he is such a delight. I was wondering if he had a video on Holiday Blocks 
and yes, by golly, he did!

Here's my card using the throwdown colors with guidance from Pete.


The set has infinite designs and color combinations. I pretty much watched 
Pete and used one of the designs on the packaging for reference. 
 
To make things easier for myself, I started with a square panel and added 
the pieces as I went along. I adhered the panel to a kraft card base and white 
embossed the holiday sentiment below it. I'm actually thinking of different
color combos and sizes to tackle this again!

I'll link this up although I think have about a week left. Thanks for stopping by!


Saturday, October 18, 2025

Freshly Made Sketches #708

 
Jen T designed Freshly Made Sketches #708, a sketch with many possibilities
for that circular element.
 

Here's how I was inspired. 
 

A Memory Box magnolia wreath almost got turned into poinsettias but I changed the colors
at the last minute for autumn. The wreath was adhered to an embossed card base
and some gemstones were added to the flower centers. A Kristina Werner sentiment
finished off the card.

Thanks so much for stopping by, I'm off to link this up!
 
 

Friday, October 17, 2025

JUGS Mood Board Week #797

 
It's Mood Board Week over at Just Us Girls Challenge #797.  
Here's the graphic with an autumnal theme.


When I saw the icons, I remembered an older SSS set that I haven't used on a card. 
I even had some items already colored, waiting patiently in the packaging.


I love the knitted details on each item. Some small leaves were cut, colored,
 and adhered to an embossed card base. I finished off with the scripty sentiment 
and called it done.
 
I'm a fan of fall season even though here in Hawaii we don't see much change. It's 
much cooler than our summers and we don't have to deal with the rainy season
 that's just around the corner. And we do pull out some sweaters!
 
I'm off to link this up. Thanks for stopping by!
 
 

Sunday, October 12, 2025

Freshly Made Sketches #707

 
Freshly Made Sketches #707 is a sketch by Judy that had me stumped. 
I always panic with grids, and getting the pieces lined up.


 This isn't the first card I made using the sketch, but the one that I'm happiest with.


I used some papers from an old Moda Scrap pad and trimmed the pieces per 
the sketch. I ran the panel through a patchwork embossing folder and you 
probably can't tell but there was shrinkage so the card is smaller than A2 size.


I lightly inked around the circular piece so it would stand out a little. An Altenew
sentiment finished off the card.

Ok, off to link this up! Thanks for stopping by!


Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Color Throwdown Challenge #842

 
The colors for Color Throwdown #842 are GREEN, RED, and ORANGE.
 
 
Perfect colors for fall so I pulled out a new leaf die. I know, as if I needed a new LEAF 
in the family. But the Boho Leaves were so unusual, I grabbed them right away.
 
 

So where's the "boho" part you ask? Well, as much as I loved the doily feature, it just
covered up too much of the colors so it went without. I adhered it to a foliage embossed
card and finished off with the Altenew sentiment. And although it's hard to see in the pic,
I also added some clear drops.

Hopefully, the full boho leaves will make an appearance soon!
Thanks so much for stopping by!



Monday, October 6, 2025

JUGS Die Week #795 -- LEAVES

 

Bobby is the hostess for JUGS Die Week #795 and she's asking us to pull out
our LEAVES.for the challenge.
 
 

 
I had some oddly colored oak leaves in my stash of die cuts and thought "why not?"
 I embossed a card base and adhered the leaves.
 

 I added a gold diecut sentiment from The Stamp Market and no other embellies
were added because it's such a busy card.

And I believe I still have a few days before the deadline. 
Thanks so much for stopping by!

* * *

Edited to add: My card was given an honorable shout out
Thanks so much, Bobby and JUGS!
 
 
 

Sunday, October 5, 2025

Freshly Made Sketches #706

 
Freshly Made Sketches #706 is courtesy of Amy. And it looks like this.
 
 
I had several ideas for the circular element and decided on a wreath. Plus it
was already made and in the packaging with the die.
 

 I cut a strip of striped paper and added strips of gold glitter card stock per the sketch.
I adhered them to a top folding card base and finished off with the script sentiment.

A quick post today and I'm off to link this up. Thanks for stopping by!