Happy Easter -- For All Dressed Up Stamps

 Hello, fellow crafters, and happy March!  That means it's time for another challenge in the Facebook group of All Dressed Up Stamps. The theme this month is ''For the Girls'.  Now, no one does girl images like Wendy Burns, so this is a great one!  Pick out a favorite from the All Dressed Up Stamps Etsy Shop and join us for the ADU FB Challenge.  You have all month! 

I found a girl that also celebrates Easter, or spring!  Perfect for March, I figured!  Here's Happy Easter:

I colored Happy Easter using only Olo markers.  I was determined to try and get to know the colors that I own better.  I was a challenge.  The skin tones went OK.  Her hair was initially a disaster, but after blending a bunch a shades, I achieved something I was satisfied with.  Her dress chose to be another challenge, and I almost gave up at this point, but again, mixed enough shades until I could live with it. The bunny is very light, but those were the only grays I had.  Oh well, It's my Olo colored project.   The beautiful background plate is from Pinkfresh Studio, as is the nesting dies I cut and backed the image with.  The sentiment is meant to be foiled, but I left it as is, and the dewdrops are from my stash.

I hope you can join us this month for our 'For the Girls' Challenge.  I'd love to see what you create! 

Let's Get Cozy -- New Release Day for All Dressed Up Stamps

 Hello, fellow crafters!  Thanks for visiting my blog today.  There are new releases in the All All Dressed Up Stamps Etsy Shop, and I am featuring one of them today.  I had a really fun time with this one!  

This is one of the fun fashionistas from Winter Walks. There are 3 gals in the set.  I wanted to combine one of them with one of the dogs from Winter Pups, an older set that I cherish.  Wendy was kind enough to combine the images for me so I could color them and have fun.  Thank you, Wendy!

I colored Winter Walks and Winter Pup with Copic markers and a few Olo markers.  I really, really need to refill my Copics.  I found a pad of wintery paper from Scrapbook.com and used that to mount my image, and created a mini slim card.  It measures 3.5 x 6.  The sentiment is an old stamp set from Spellbinders.  I finished the card off with 3 acrylic hearts from Concord & 9th. 

There is another new release this month, plus lots of other great images in the All Dressed Up Stamps Etsy Shop.  Check out the shop, the Facebook group, and the blog for more inspiration! 

Rooster Serenade -- for Di's Digistamps

  Greetings, friends!  I hope you had a nice Valentine's Day!  We have had a beautiful stretch of weather, with Spring really teasing us, but more snow is supposed to arrive tomorrow.  It's too early for spring, but it sure was nice while it was here!

I'm posting today for Di's Digistamps.  She has some wonderful new Springtime images in her Etsy Shop. I colored up Rooster Serenade for this card: 

I chose the Black & White version of Rooster Serenade, but you'll also find a pre-colored version in the shop.  I colored Rooster Serenade with Copic and Olo markers. Next, I stamped a very old background stamp from my stash from a company loooong defunct.  The pattern was called 'beehive', but I thought it looked liked chicken wire, especially stamped tone-on-tone. I used square dies from my stash to cut out the image and add a bit off accent color to the design. The sentiment is from a set I bought long ago also and no longer in business. Some blue topaz gems from Altenew finished off the card.

I hope you enjoyed this card and will check out all the wonderful digis at Di's Digistamps Etsy Shop!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenge:

Promarker Challenge - Shop Your Stash (old background stamp, old sentiment stamp, old square dies, and gems from my stash)

Tiny Tulip Mouse -- for Di's Digistamps

 Hello, and happy February!  I don't know about you, but January felt like it had about 486 days this years.  It was so cold!!! I am ready for a little warmth. 

I'm posting a card I made today using a Di's Digistamp image.  It is one of the newest ones in Di's Etsy Shop, and it is so very cute!  It comes in a black & white image, but also a colored image, if you don't like to color, or if you are short on time. 

This little darling image is the black and white version of Tiny Tulip Mouse: 

 I colored  Tiny Tulip Mouse with a combination of Copic and Olo markers.  The pink floral background paper is by  Crafter's Companion.  The scalloped cutting die is from is by Taylored Expressions, as is the stamped sentiment. The die cut flower is by Altenew.  It is my new favorite, as it goes together very easily, and is such a nice size for cards. 

I'm off to look for some challenges to enter this sweet TinyTulip Mouse card in.  Happy crafting everyone! 

Pretty Lashes -- for All Dressed Up Stamps

 Hello. crafty friends, and happy February!  It's the month of love, and after a short break, All Dressed Up Stamps Facebook group is starting their first challenge of the year with the month-long theme of Hearts &/or Flowers.  I think that's a great one for Valentine's or Galentine's Day. The challenge starts today and runs all month.  You'll find a folder in the Facebook group for your entries. 

I used an image a beautiful image with flowers on it, then added a heart to fit this month's Hearts &/or Flowers theme.  This is Pretty Lashes: 

I colored Pretty Lashes with a combination of Copic and Olo markers, then fussy cut her out.  The background paper is digital.  I found it from scouring through long ago design team companies that have long since gone out of business. I thought the colors went well with my image and large die cut heart.  The hearts were cut out withdies from Taylored Expresseions.  The sentiment is also from them.  

I hope you like Pretty Lashes and feel inspired to enter the challenge yourself! I'd love to see your creations!

Winter Fox -- for Di's Digstamps Challenges

 It's Saturday, and it's time for a new challenge at Di's Digistamp Challenges.  For the next 2 weeks, our challenge theme is "Happy Holidays".  In case you're not done with your Christmas cards yet, here's your last chance. 

I found a beautiful pre-colored image in Di's Etsy Shop and decided to use it for a quick and easy Christmas card -- just what we need this late in the season! 

This card uses Winter Fox Print:

I sized it, printed it, trimmed it to size, and mounted it on a card base.  Even the sentiment was included in the print.  What could possibly be easier than this card? If you are looking for easy, but pretty cards, this is for you!

I used card stock by Taylored Expressions to make my card base, along with dies to cut out the image and back it.

I hope you can join us this time for our Happy Holidays challenge. I'd love to see what you create!

Mugsy Winter Mouse - for Di's Digistamp Challenges

 After a couple months away, I'm back to enjoy a challenge at Di's Digistamp Challenges. .  Challenges start on Saturdays and run for 2 weeks.  The theme for this time is 'Anything But a Card'.  Since I primarily make cards, this was a little harder for me, but hey, there's always something we paper crafters can make, right?

I thought it would be nice to make my mother-in-law a desk-type calendar that she can sit by her sewing machine. At 90 years young, she still quilts everyday.  Here's the first page of it:

This calendar page uses a pre-colored image.  Isn't it darling?  It's called Mugsy Winter Mouse. I sized the image to 2.25x2.25 to fit my calendar page, and I can't color that small, so Di's beautifully colored pre-colored images worked so beautifully for this. Mugsy Winter Mouse is also available in a black & white version. 

All the other components for making this calendar (dies, wonky plaid background stamp, 2026 desktop calendar) are all from Taylored Expressions. 

Join us these next 2 weeks for our Anything But a Card Challenge!  You don't need to use a Di's Digistamps image, but we sure do appreciate it when you do! 

Let's Ride! for All Dressed Up Stamps

 It's December, and it's time for a new challenge in the All Dressed Up Stamps Facebook group.  You get a choice of themes this month:  either choose summer or snow.  Since I live in cold, snowy Wisconsin, I choose snow!

One of my favorite All Dressed Up Stamps images is Sledging Pup.  I color it up any chance I get.  This seemed like a great chance to put some ink to it yet again: 

I colored Sledging Pup with Copic markers, then fussy cut the image.  The snowflake background paper is from AMB Illustrations. The sentiment is from Altenew.  I created the snow using glitter paper by Pink & Main and a set of dies by Close To My Heart. That Sledging Pup is zipping right down that slope!  Let's ride, little pup, Let's ride!

I hope you can join our Summer/Snow challenge this month over at the All Dressed Up Stamps Facebook group.  I'd love to see what you create! 

Gingerbread House -- a New Release for All Dressed Up Stamps

 Hello, and welcome to my blog!  It's been awhile since I've had a new post.  Family obligations and health problems and kept me busy.  But, I'm back!  

Today, there are some new All Dressed Up Stamps images being showcased on the All Dressed Up Stamps blog and also in the ADU Facebook group.  I hope you check out what the talent designers have been creating. 

I had the pleasure of creating with 'Gingerbread House' this new release.  I had such fun!

I colored Gingerbread House with Copic markers, then used a set of stacking stitched dies from Pink & Main to cut out the image and back it.  I stenciled some ephemera with a set of stencils and dies from Pinkfresh Studios.  The sentiment, also from Pinkfresh, was heat embossed.  The background paper is from AMB Illustrations. 

I wanted to do something a little eye catching, so went with the rainbow theme.  I hope you like my Gingerbread House. You will find this release and 2 other new ones, along with many, many more in the All Dressed Up Stamps Etsy Shop. 

Charlotte Pixie -- for Di's Digistamps

 It's Saturday, and it's time for a new challenge at Di's Digistamp Challenges.  Although Di has hundreds of beautiful colored images in her Etsy shop, the challenge this week is to hand color an image.  The challenge will last for 2 weeks, and we'd really like to see you use a Di's Digistamp image, but it's not required. 

I used one of the newer images in Di's Digistamps shop for the challenge today. This is Charlotte Pixie: 

I colored Charlotte Pixie with Olo markers.  The thin frame is a new die and a new company for me.  It is by Kristin Warner.  I like the delicate, simple line of it. The sentiment and the die that cuts it out are by Pinkfresh Studios.  Isn't that sentiment perfect for this image?  I was so pleased when I remembered I had it!  

I hope you can join us this next 2 weeks for our 'hand colored image' challenge at Di's Digistamps challenges.  I'd love to see your creations. 

Fall and You are My Favorites -- for Di's Digistamps

 It's Saturday, and it's time for a new challenge at Di's Digistamps' Challenges. The challenge will run for the next 2 weeks.  The theme this time is 'Button Up' (use buttons somewhere on your project).  You don't have to use a Di's Digistamps image, but the prize is greater if you win!

For this Button Up challenge, I used one of Di's new Fall images, Maple Paws.

Maple Paws is available in both a black & white and a pre colored version.  I used the black and white version and colored it with Olo markers.

I used papers from Pink & Main that I thought looked kind of sweater stitched for the card background. The background is also from Pink & Main. 

The buttons are from my stash. 

I hope you can join us these next two weeks for our Button Up Challenge.  I'd love to see your creations! 

First Prize -- for All Dressed Up Stamps

 September 1 -- there are signs of Fall and signs of kids returning to school.  There are also signs that there is a new challenge at All Dressed Up Stamps Facebook Challenge.  It starts today and runs the month of September.  The theme is 'Free for All' (Anything Goes).

I have a young friend that I have been pen pals with for many years.  It all began when I was going through cancer and her grandmother (a friend of mine), thought it would be a good experience for her to send me some encouragement and cute artwork.  Well, 8 years later, we're still writing each other!  She is a very special young woman who should have dumped this old lady long ago!  One of her passions is horses.  She shows themselves, takes riding lessons, spends as much time with them as she can, and probably loves her horses more than most people.  I made this card for her using an old, but very appropriate, All Dressed Up image called, First Prize:

I colored First Prize with Copic markers. I cut the image out and backed it with dies from LDRS Creative. The papers are part of a nautical paper pack from Pink & Main,  The sentiment is from Taylored Expressions.  The star sequins I used to embellish the card are from my stash.

I hope you can join us this month for our Free For All challenge in the All Dressed Up Stamps Facebook Group.  I'd love to see what you make! 

You're Beary Special -- For Di's Digi Challenges

 It's Saturday, and it's time for a new challenge at Di's Digistamps Challenges.  They always run for 2 weeks and hav e an optional theme.  This time, the theme is:" Show some Sparkle". We've all got sparkle in our craft rooms -- glitter, glitter glue, glitter pastes, glitter papers, foils, foil papers, the list goes on & on.  Add that sparkle however you would like! You have 2 weeks.

I used a newer digi called You're Beary Special to create a birthday card.  It's easy to add a little sparkle to a birthday card, right?

You're Beary Special  comes in both a black & white and a pre-colored version.  I used the black & white version, then colored it with Copic markers.  I used some icicle Stickles on the pink frosting layers of the cake to add some sparkle.  I then fussy cut You're Beary Special out. 

There's a piece of bright green glitter paper behind the whole card (it's 5x7).  In real life, the card really sparkles.  The balloons are die cut from gold foil paper.  The word 'happy' is die cut with light blue card stock, then backed with the same gold foil.  The 'hip hip hooray' sub sentiment is white heat embossed and cut with a flag backer die. 

I hope you like sparkle as much as I do, and join in our challenge!  You have 2 weeks to show us your version over at Di's Digistamps challenges. I hope to see your sparkling creations there!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:

Allsorts Challenge -- Birthdays

Passion for Markers -- Special Occasions

Creative Fingers -- ATG

Flamingo Splash -- a New Release at All Dressed Up Stamps

 It's time to feature a little new release inspiration for All Dressed Up Stamps. There are 3 new release each month, and this month, I had the fun of being able to design with the cute, cute Flamingo Splash:

I colored Flamingo Splash with Copic markers, then created some die cut for my card.  I thought she might enjoy a rough wave pool, so a created some stormy seas for her to ride through using a die set from Taylored Expressions and a stitched hill die from Close to My Heart that I used for a wave.  The bikini has been in my stash for many years.  I think it was a freebie in a magazine subscription.  Do they even have those anymore?  The sentiment is from Pink & Main. 

You'll find all the new releases in the All Dressed Up Stamps Etsy Shop.  You'll find more inspiration in the ADU Facebook group and on the blog.  Check it all out! 

Beary Butterfly -- for Di's Digistamps Challenges

 Happy Saturday!  Saturday is a good day because a new challenge starts on the Di's Digistamp Challenge Blog.  The challenges run for 2 weeks.  The theme for the next 2 weeks is 'Use die cuts &/or Punches'. We love to see Di's images being used, but it's not a requirement.

Di has some new bear images in her shop, and I colored up one of those for today's challenge.  Isn't he Beary sweet? 

This is Beary Butterfly, colored with a combination of Copic and Olo markers. There is a pre-colored version of Beary Butterfly available also. 

After I finished coloring Beary Butterfly, I got to work using die cuts on my card.  I don't have many punches anymore.  I used to have a lot of them, but they took up so much room that I got rid of most all of them.  I cut and backed the Beary Butterfly  image with some old Spellbinders scalloped dies.  The 'Sending Cheer' sentiment is from Pink & Main, and so is the flag backer.  The lacy butterfly was one of the first dies I ever bought.  It is by Cheery Lynn and it's still my favorite of all the butterfly dies I own.   To finish the card off, I stamped an all over dot pattern by Taylored Expressions on the base of the card.

That's it for today's 'Use Die cuts or punches' card.  I hope you can join our challenge.  I'd love to see what you create! 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:

Passion for Markers -- for a child

Craft Rocket Challenge -- Animals

Creative Inspirations Challenge -- ATG

Elliebelle's Garden Party -- Anything in or from a garden

Mouse Ahoy! for Di's Digistamps Challenges

 It's Saturday, and it's time for a new challenge at Di's Digistamps Challenges.  The challenge runs for the next 2 weeks.  The theme of the challenge is Summer Fun (include a sun or water or both on your project).  You don't have to use a Di's Digistamps image, but we sure do like to see them when you do. 

I used both a sun and water on my challenge card, and an absolutely darling Di's Digistamps image called Dreamboat Mice.  This is the black & white version.  There is also a pre-colored version. 

I colored Dreamboat Mice with a combination of Copic and Olo markers, then fussy cut the image.  The water was created using 2 dies.  One was part of a rainbow die from Taylored Expressions.  The other was a die from Close To My Heart (retired).  The sun die is from Spellbinders Paper Arts.  The sentiment is from Colorado Stamp Company. 

I hope you can join us these next two weeks for our Summer Fun challenge at Di's Digistamps Challenges. I'd love to see what you create!

Strawberry Season -- for All Dressed Up Stamps

 Hello, fellow crafters, and welcome to August!  A new month means a new challenge in the All Dressed Up Stamps Facebook Group. The challenge starts today and runs all month.  It has the theme of 'Favorite time of the year'.  You must use an All Dressed Up Stamps image to enter. 

I love strawberries and strawberry season!  It's a short season but we make the most of it here in NW WI where I live.  There was numerous places to pick your own berries, various strawberry stands to buy them by the bucket, and a good share of strawberry festivals install towns around here.  We love our berries!  In honoring this special time of year, I colored up and designed with the very cute image, Strawberry Season: 

I colored Strawberry Season with Copic markers, then using nesting oval dies by Hero arts to cut out the image and back her.  The designer strawberry papers are by AMB Illustrations.  Aren't they perfect for this card?  I decided to go 'old school' and add a little ribbon to this.  It's been so long, I forgot where my ribbon was! The 'sweet' sentiment is part of a new set I got from Concord & 9th. 

I hope you can join us this month at All Dressed Up Stamps Facebook Group for our Favorite Time of Year challenge.  I'd love to see your creations! 

Beach Time -- A New Release for All Dressed Up Stamps

 It's the 22nd of the month, and it's my turn to showcase some New Release inspiration for All Dressed Up Stamps.  Every month, Wendy Burns releases 3 new images for our enjoyment.  This month's are all fantastic, of course, but Beach Time is perfect for July and the hot weather we've been having.  It's 90 here today with heat warnings to limit your time outdoors. 

I colored Beach Time with Copic markers.  I found the sentiment in a mermaid set from Newton's Nook.  The seashells and starfish are from a die set by Honey Bee Stamps. The designer background paper is digital and is by AMB Illustrations. 

Check out the All Dressed Up Stamps Facebook group to see the other new release inspiration and the All Dressed Up Stamps blog for even more great makes! 

Prickly Hedgy -- for Di's Digistamps Challenges

 It's Saturday, and it's time for another 2-week challenge at Di's Digistamps Challenges.  For the next 2 weeks, our theme is: Christmas is July.  I should start on my Christmas cards, how about you?  Here's a good excuse to do it!

I colored up the super cute Prickly Hedgy image for today's challenge.  You'll find it available in both a black & white version and a pre-colored version.  I chose the black & white so I could color him with Copic markers. 

After I got Prickly Hedgy colored up, I cut it out and backed it with some torn edge circle dies from my stash. The designer papers are also some really old Christmas papers I've had for many years.  The sentiment is from Taylored expressions.  The leaves and berries dies are from an old set I've had.  (I searched all the old stuff for this card, lol!)

And, there is it, my first Christmas card of 2025. I hope you are inspired to make one of your own and join our challenge this week.  I'd love to see what you create!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenge:

Passion for Markers -- Flowers

Use Stash Items -- a New Challenge at Di's Digistamps Challenges

 It's Saturday, and that means a challenge is underway at Dis Digistamps Challenges. The challenge will run for the next two weeks.  Use a Di's Digistamps image and increase your chances of winning awesome prizes!! She has so many great ones in her Etsy Shop! The theme for the next 2 weeks is 'use stash items'.  Most of us have been crafting long enough we have a serious amount of items in our stash!  This should be an easy challenge!

Di has some new Fairies in her shop, and I decided to use one of those for this challenge.  I chose 'Sleeping Moon Fairy'.  It comes in both black & white and pre-colored, but I chose the black and white version, so I could color it. I also thought it would be fun to make it into a rocking card: 

I colored Sleeping Moon Fairy  with Copic markers, a long-time stash item for me.  Then, I fussy cut her out using my favorite detail scissors from Close To My Heart that I've had for years (so, another stash item).  The circle die she is mounted on is from Hero Arts.  I have many of their nesting dies in my stash and use them all the time. Some of the first dies I ever bought were from Spellbinders.  I thought it only right that I use a Spellbinders die on this project, so the scalloped circle die is from that company.  The sentiment is from one of my favorite companies, Taylored Expressions.  I stamped it, then used the coordinating die to cut it out several times. 

That's my card for the 'Use Stash Items' challenge at Di's Digistamps Challenges. Please join us!  I'd love to see your creations!