Sending love....

 

I wanted to use up some snippets of DSP, so I created this Valentine using four different pieces. I am entering this card into Challenge #497 on the Snippets Playground blog.

After cutting my white cardbase, I also cut a metallic silver shadow for my X's and O's.

I popped my "sending love" sentiment up  on foam tape and then  scattered some tiny hearts across my letters.

I stamped a sentiment on the inside and added one more little heart.

I'm going to try to make a few more of these and use up more of those snippets. It sure feels good to put them to good use and not just throw them out.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl

To ink or not to ink...

 

A friend at my church had given me an envelope filled with card parts left over from a mostly used card kit. Some of the pieces were perfect to use for Valentine cards, so that's what I made with them.

As I was making the cards, I decided to try a little comparison test. I thought I'd do some ink blending on one and absolutely none on the other card. I'd look at them side-by-side to see which one I liked better.

The card parts for this card were the circle, the chameleons and the tiny hearts. I found the dotted DSP in my stash and searched out a small ink cube that was the right color.  I blended some ink along the outside edges of my DSP and glued it directly to a white card base.

After inking around the edges of the circle, I adhered the chameleons and hearts. Then I popped it up with some foam squares onto my card front.

The sentiment was stamped, die-cut, and also popped up with some foam squares.

For my second card, I cut the panel of DSP to 4" X 5 1/2" so that it covered the full length (but not the width) of my card front. Then I added a thin strip of matching cardstock down each side of the DSP. The rest of the card was made the same as the first card, minus the ink blending.

Both cards had the same stamped sentiment on the inside.

When I was done, and looked at them side-by-side, I STILL couldn't decide which one I liked better. Do you have a favorite? 

I will probably make a few more of these as I have more chameleons and more little hearts. There were no more scalloped circles in the envelope, but I can easily cut some of those.

The chameleons reminded me that my daughter had a pet chameleon when she was in college. It was an interesting pet--especially when it changed colors--but not a very cuddly one. These days, she prefers dogs and has four of them.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and rmember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl

Sparkle, it's your birthday...

 

This sentiment is another one from Hannelie Bester (Desert Diva), that I had printed out long ago. I've been trying to use up some of my card parts, so I decided to pop this one onto a card.

This patterned paper has lots of sparkle. All of the white areas are glittery. You can see it if you zoom in.

It actually was a gift bag that I bought at Dollar Tree and cut up to use on cards. The back side had no glitter, so I used it last spring for some Easter  cards (you can see them here) and saved the glittery side until now.

I die-cut the sentiment and then popped it up on foam tape. As a sparkly embellishment, I added a gem in each of the colors found in the background pattern.

I added a stamped sentiment on the inside to finish the card.

I've now started making Valentines--most of them for donating--and I'll be sharing some of them in the near future.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl

Starting my holiday cards for 2025...

 

I had three window frames left from making a number of cards with them. I shared one of those cards with you in this post. I had run out of the images of the lighted tree I had used previously, so I decided to use an AI program to create another tree image with just a single star at the top.

After gluing my tree scene behind the window frame, I popped the whole rectangle up on foam tape.

I die-cut a white cat, blended a little gray ink onto it, and placed it in the bottom window pane. I think it looks like it's staring at that brilliant star.

The sentiment was stamped and also popped up on foam tape.

The inside was stamped with a holiday sentiment to finish the card. 

I used the other two window frames to make two more cards, just like this one. Three done...87 to go!

When I first created the tree scene for this card, I was concerned that it might be too dark an image. After putting together the first card, though, I decided I really liked it. I especially liked the way the tips of the branches were highlighted with light from the star.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl

Let's Craft and Create Challenge #215: Anything Goes or Cheers to You! (use a sentiment)...

 

If you're like me, you're gobsmocked that it is already 2025. It seems like we just entered the 2000's a year or two ago. It also makes me wonder how many cards we all have made in the last 25 years.

The themes for this first challenge of the New Year at Let's Craft and Create are "Anything Goes" or "Cheers to You!' (use a sentiment). I chose to make a card using a sentiment. Almost all my cards have sentiments on the front, so it was an easy decision for me. Here's the card I made:

I have this die that cuts a pretty, delicate floral corner design on a panel. I decided to cut it twice to really dress up my card front.

I wanted colors, other than green, behind the flowers in the cut-out design, so I cut small pieces of cardstock and glued them behind the openings.

To finish my flowers I added tiny Nuvo Drops to the centers and scattered three flat-back gems in each die-cut corner. 

The sentiment was stamped, using my stamp positioner, to get it straight and in the center.

I stamped another sentiment on the inside and my card was done.

I hope you'll play along with us. You can find lots of inspiration from the Design Team on the Let's Craft and Create blogsite.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl

Oh, deer, another year...

 

As I was sorting through my Christmas cardmaking supplies, I came across a white A2 panel that I had embossed with the "Falling Snow" embossing folder. I decided to use it for a wintery birthday card, rather than a holiday card.

Since I have a die that cuts a background of birch trees, and I don't use it nearly enough, I used that to add to my snowy panel. It was perfect for this card. I also hand-cut a layer of snow and embossed it with a folder (I've forgotten the name) that gave it an even texture.

To finish my scene, I added a male and female deer cut from dark brown cardstock.

The sentiment I used came from Hannelie Bester (Desert Diva), a wonderful cardmaker who lives in Abu Dhabi. She created quite a number of sentiments years ago and offered them up for readers to use.

I had used a scrap of brown cardstock for the deer, and there was a very small strip left. Well, waste not, want not! I used that small piece to die-cut a banner to anchor my sentiment, which was popped up with foam squares. I also inked around its edges to help it stand out a little more.

I stamped a couple of sentiments on the inside. I should have cut another deer as an embellishment here. Oh well, next time.

I think this card could be used for a woman or a man, don't you? 

My DH and I are already mostly recovered from our colds. They were very short-lived--only about three days. It sure feels good to feel good again.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl

Feel better soon...

 

I made this card back in November but hadn't shared it with you yet. It's a simple card, but I really like it.

The teal panel in the center with the slits in each corner was die-cut by my sister (Thanks, Michelle!) and given to me a long time ago. I cut a white panel that was just a bit smaller so that the corners would fit snugly in those slits.

I stamped my sentiment and then added a die-cut sprig of skeleton leaves. This die set also includes a single leaf, which I added to my card fronton the bottom right hand corner.

This center panel was popped up with foam tape to add some dimension.

I stamped a sentiment on the inside and added one more of those single leaves to finish the card.

My DH and I are recovering from colds, so we did not venture out anywhere on New Year's Eve. Did you? 

Even though we live in the north where it gets pretty cold in winter, there are still lots of outdoor activities for holidays, including New Year's Eve. Because I really hate being cold (I'm typing this with a blanket on my lap!), those activities hold no enticement for me. I'm happy to stay home and enjoy a fire in the fireplace.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl