Friendly Florals -- for Dies R Us Challenges

Here we are, galloping through the 2022 calendar year.  I can't believe it's April 1 already.  There's still ice on the lakes here, and the temperatures feel very much like winter, but spring is officially here.  I also know that it's time for a new challenge at Dies R Us Challenges!  The challenge will run for 2 weeks, but the theme for the whole month of April is Flowers &/or Spring.  Follow that theme, use a brand of die sold in the Dies R Us Store, and and link up!  It's that easy.

I am anxiously awaiting the first flower of spring where I live, but the growing season hasn't started yet.  There's still too much snow!  But, when I create a springtime card, I can dream, right?

I've jumped into the slimline trend with today's card. The featured die is from Spellbinders. 

The die is called Blossoming Slimline from Spellbinders Paper Arts.   It's a 2-part die.  You can either use it as a panel, like I did here, or cut it into your card front.  I wanted several shades of blue on the card, so opted for the panel option.  The "Hello Friend" sentiment clear stamp is also from Spellbinders. It's part of a stamp set called Essential Sentiments.  I embossed it with white embossing powder from Hero Arts.  It's available in the Dies R Us Store. 

Are you from Canada?  Then check out the Didi Crafts Store.  You'll find a wonderful array of craft products, and reasonable shipping rates. 

I hope you can join us this Dies R Us challenge! Remember, the theme is Flowers &/or Spring.  They'll be a gift certificate given away to one lucky winner and 3 designer choice awards.

Hooray! It's Your Birthday! For Dies R Us Challenges

Hip, hip, hooray!  It's time for a birthday!  AND, it's time for a new challenge at Dies R Us Challenges.  This month, the challenge is Anything Goes, as long as you use a brand of die sold in the Dies R Us Store. 

I have a good friend who celebrated her birthday a couple days ago.  I needed a card for the occasion, and she'd expect something handmade.  Here is what I sent her:

I started out by blending a white panel with Distress Inks.  I blended quite a few colors together to make it colorful and happy.  Then, I placed a Frantic Stamper card panel called, Hip Hip Hooray and cut it out of the Distress Inked panel.  Then, I pulled out some of the colors in the panel, and used papers that matched to die cut some Birthday Icons, also from Frantic Stamper. Then, all I needed was some happy looking background paper (from Crafter's Companion), and my card was ready to send.

The Dies R Us Challenge starts today and runs for 2 weeks.  A gift certificate to the Dies R Us Store will be awarded, plus 3 designer choice awards. I'd love to see your pretty creations!

Sweet Birthday Wishes -- for Dies R Us Challenges

 It's March 1, and although I'm not doing much creating these days, the months are still going too fast!  March 1 -- that means a new challenge is starting today on the Dies R Us Challenge Blog. In March, the theme is "Anything Goes" -- just use a brand of die sold in the Dies R Us Store. 

I have a young friend who is celebrating her 11th birthday in a couple days.  She & I have been pen pals since she was 8, and although we've never met, she is near and dear to me from all the letters and cards we've exchanged over the years.  She loves my homemade cards, so I wanted a special one for her birthday.  Here's what I created for her big day:

I love shaped cards, and hope she does, too!  I made this card using a Crafter's Companion Create-a-Card die set, Sweet Treats.  The stitched heart, with the sentiment on it, is from Lawn Fawn. It is one of the Just Stitching Hearts die set. 

I hope you can join us this next 2 weeks for our Anything Goes (as long as you use a brand of die sold in the Dies R Us Store) challenge at Dies R Us Challenges. One random winner will receive a gift certificate to the Dies R Us Store.  There are also 3 designer choice awards each challenge. 

For our Canadian friends, check out the Didi Crafts Store for a large selection of dies and crafting supplies, with reasonable shipping rates. 

Forever Yours -- for Dies R Us Challenges

 It's the 15th of the month, and I am hoping you had a lovely Valentine's Day.  I had to start the day at the dentist.  Not the most romantic way to get the day going, but it was nice to get my teeth cleaned. 

It's time for a new challenge at Dies R Us Challenges. The theme is Valentines/Love.  Use a die sold in the Dies R Us Store, follow the theme, and you are all set to link up. 

My husband and I recently celebrated our anniversary, and this was the card I made him for the occasion:

I did both some inking and some paper piecing on this Create-a-Card die from Crafter's Companion.  It's called Forever Yours. I inked the trees, fence, flowers, and hearts using Tim Holtz Distress Inks. I paper pieced both outfits. I tied the swing to the tree using some jute twine from May Arts. Although you can't see it in the picture, there is a piece of clear acetate that I used for the card front.  The scene is glued to it to give it stability. 

I hope you join us these next 2 weeks at Dies R Us Challenges for our Valentines/Love challenge.  Valentine's Day may be over, but we can always send some love around. 

Shine with Love -- for All Dressed Up Stamps

 It's February 1, and the month of love is upon us!  A new challenge begins today in the All Dressed Up Stamps Facebook Group. The themes Romance, Red, &/or Hearts. Just use an All Dressed Up Stamps image, have your project fit the theme, and you're ready to enter the challenge! 

I've loved All Dressed Stamps for many years now. The digi that I used on today's card is the first ADU image that I ever acquired.  It was back in January, 2015.  My collection has grown since then, lol!

Here's my lovely Abi Ballerina...

I colored Abi Ballerina with Copic markers, using some shades of red that I don't normally use.  The stitched oval and hearts dies are from Queen & Company. 

The background paper is from We Are 3 Digital Shop. It is one of the Sweetheart papers. 

I computer generated the sentiment and added the flowers from my stash. 

I hope you visit the All Dressed Up Stamps Facebook group and join us for this month's Romance, Red, &/or Hearts challenge. 

Scent with Love -- for Dies R Us Challenges

 It's the first of the month, and it's time for a new challenge at Dies R Us Challenges.  This month, the theme is Valentines/Love. Just use a brand of die sold in the Dies R Us Store, use the theme, and you are good to go! 

I picked up some of the recent new release from Lawn Fawn in the Dies R Us Store and thought I'd have a play. This card is for you, and it's scent with love!

I used elements from both the Scent with Love and Scent with Love Add On. I stamped the images with Memento Tuxedo Black ink.  I colored them with Copic markers, them used the matching Lawn Fawn dies to cut them out.  I cut out the giant XOXO twice.   It is also a new release from Lawn Fawn. I placed all this in front of a nested stitched heart die from Tutti Designs.

The background paper is by AMB Illustrations. I thought it fit the card very well, with it's small hearts and "stitched" appearance. 

I hope you join us this next two week's for our Valentine's/Love challenge.  There will be a gift certificate awarded and 3 designer choice awards.

For our friends in Canada, check our Didi Crafts. They have a great selection of crafting supplies and reasonable shipping rates!

Poppy Love -- for Ching Chou Kuik

 It's Tuesday, and it's my day to post on the Ching-Chou Kuik inspiration and challenge blog. I love my days when I get to color up and share the beautiful Ching-Chou Kuik images! 

The current challenge is just getting underway with the theme of "All You Need is Love." I hope you join us with your Valentine/love creations.

For my inspiration card today, I used the beautiful image, Red Poppies.  It is a black & white image that I colored with Copic markers. 

After I colored Red Poppies, I fussy cut it.  I found the perfect background paper for our "All You Need is Love" challenge in the We Are 3 Digital Shop. It is from the Touch of Teal Collection.

The giant XOXO die is from Lawn Fawn.  The filigree heart is from Cheery Lynn.  They were both purchased in the Dies R Us Store. 

Check out the Ching-Chou Kuik Inspiration and challenge blog often for great inspiration. For more great ideas, and another challenge, visit the CCK Facebook Group.