Build Your Stash Cardmakers ~ Sketch Challenge #44, Project 2

Hi Crafty Friends,
April's BYSH sketch is so easy to interpret!   Here is my second design team project for #44. 

I love gold and white, especially for the holidays.

The Christmas die cut is from LaLa Land Crafts and the gold embossed "MERRY" is part of a Jaded Blossom set.

The challenge is open through the end of April.  You can find inspiration on the BYSH blog and in our Facebook group.  Then you can enter your own project HERE.

Here's the challenge sketch.

There's still time to play along.

BYSH Cardmakers April Spring into Christmas Linky Party

Hi Crafty Friends,
Our Linky Party is active through April 26.  I hope you'll link up your project(s).  The more you share, the best chance you have of winning prizes from our amazing sponsors.
Today in our Facebook Group we're featuring our sponsor, Jaded Blossom.This is one of favorite companies.  I had the pleasure of designing for them for over three years.
Here's a quick card I created using their products.

I used these Jaded Blossom products:

Pinecone Dies, Octagon Dies, and Fuzzy Mittens stamp set.

The papers are from Echo Park.

You have lots of time to play along.

BYSH Cardmakers April Linky Party ~ Spring into Christmas

Hi Crafty Friends,
Our spring Linky party is open at Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers.  We have so many amazing sponsors and some fabulous prizes to be won by those who link up their projects on our blog.
Here's my project using my Glimmer Foiling system and a Betterpress plate (yes, you can foil using your Betterpress plates!!!)  By using an alcohol ink-compatible cardstock, I was able to use Copic markers after foiling the image.

You may enter as many projects as you'd like during the event; more chances for you to win and you'll be putting a dent in your holiday cardmaking - woohoo!!

So, what are you waiting for? 

Cut it Up Challenge #302 ~ Starts with a B

Hi Crafty Friends,
So glad you're visiting.  Today I'm sharing my project for Cut it Up's challenge 302 ~ Starts with a B
Here's my Butterfly project.

I have been participating in the PinkFresh Studio's Create and Connect cardmaking events.  During our last event, we were introduced to their amazing Washi tape designs.  In the Fluttering Butterflies product suite, there is a die that matches both the clear stamp set and the Washi tape!  All of the stems and butterflies are cut at once - LOVE IT!!

I also used the PF Daisy Chain coverplate for the background which I ink blended using PF inks.  The sentiment is from the PF Extra Special sentiments set and I added some PF glitter dots.

I hope you'll play along with us.  Just follow the link above.

Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers ~ Sketch Challenge # 44

Hi Crafty Friends,
Our newest challenge at BYSH has been open since April 1.  Here is my first design team project for #44. 

I finally got my Copic markers out to color this cute little image using a stamp that has been in my stash.

The challenge is open through the end of April.  You can find inspiration on the BYSH blog and in our Facebook group.  Then you can enter your own project HERE.

Here's the challenge sketch.

We hope you'll play along.

Cut it Up Challenge #301 ~ 3-2-1

Hi Crafty Friends,
We have a fun new challenge for you at Cut it Up Challenges.For Challenge #301 we're asking you to use 3 gems, 2 die cuts, and 1 sentiment on your project.
Here's my card.

I used my Betterpress letterpress system for this card.  The plates are from Spellbinders and included the sentiment die cut as well.  I added a frame from Pinkfresh Studio's essential frame dies.I used black Betterpress ink on Betterpress paper.  I love the deep impression made by using this system.  I considered adding water color but decided the 3 red gems added just the right "drama."
I hope you'll play along.  Please upload your project to our challenge blog (link above.)

Outlawz Challenge ~ Festive Friday April Challenge

Hi Crafty Friends,
I'm so excited to announce that I have joined the Outlawz Challenge - Festive Friday design team.It will be fun being a part of another challenge blog and I hope you'll join me by playing along.
This challenge has FOUR themes for you to choose from each month.  April's themes are:Christmas (always a choice)Happy EasterSpring is in the AirClean and Simple (CAS)
I have some new crafty tools that I've been playing with.  My newest is the Glimmer Foil systemso I decided to follow the CAS theme with this card made using the Glimmer and plates from Spellbinders (sentiment) and Pinkfresh Studio (design.)

Please visit the blog (link above) to read the challenge guidelines and upload your project.

We're also on Facebook HERE where you can read about All of the Outlawz challenges.

Thanks for stopping by.

Pearly Sparkles April Challenge ~ For Men or Boys

Hi Crafty Friends,
Happy April!  Here in northern California our March roared in like a lion, but it sure didn't go out like a lamb.  Our weather still can't make up its mind whether it's winter or spring.  I'm truly ready  to wear my flip flops but . . . 
Our Pearly Sparkles April challenge is "For men or Boys."  Sometimes those masculine cards can be a struggle but I think the Betterpress plate I chose to use works well.

The sentiment is also a Betterpress plate.  I love the deep etching these plates produce.  I inked up the background before I pressed and actually cut the mat apart so that more of the design would show after adding the rather large sentiment.  The finished card is 6x5.
I hope you'll play along with us this month.  Just follow the link above to add your card to the challenge.

BYSH Cardmakers ~ March Challenge #43, project 2

Hi Crafty Friends,
 Sketch challenge #43 is open on the Build Your Stash Holiday CardmakersFacebook page.  You'll find the sketch below and you may visit the BLOG and the Facebook page for more inspiration and then upload your challenge project HERE.
Here's my second project for this month's challenge.

The papers and embellishments are from Echo Park.

Here's sketch #43 for your inspiration:

I hope you'll play along and keep building your holiday stash.

Cut it Up Challenge #300 ~ Happy Birthday!

Hi Crafty Friends,
It's time for Cut it Up's 300th challenge!  Wowzers, I remember when we celebrated our 100th and thought it was a really big deal.  So many cards, so many challenges and now I've been the blog owner for a little over a year.  Time flies when you love crafting.
Our 300th challenge theme is Happy Birthday.

For this birthday card I decided to use some new crafty products.The card base and window were cut from Spellbinders Make a Wish Arch Labels.The flowers are from Pinkfresh Studio's Breezy Bloons.  I used the stamp, die, and stencils from this set.  There is also a press plate but I heat embossed the stamp instead.  The gems are also from Pinkfresh Studio.  The sentiment is Jaded Blossom's So many birthdays 4.  I used Pinkfresh Studio ink cubes and design papers from Authentique.
I hope you'll play along with our 300th challenge.

Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers ~ March Challenge, Sketch #43

Hi Crafty Friends,
 Sketch challenge #43 is open on the Build Your Stash Holiday CardmakersFacebook page.  You'll find the sketch below and you may visit the BLOG and the Facebook page for more inspiration and then upload your challenge project HERE.
Here's my first project for this month's challenge.

Here's sketch #43 for your inspiration:

I hope you'll play along and keep building your holiday stash.

Cut it Up Challenge #299 ~ Colors of Spring

Hi Crafty Friends,
It's time for a new challenge at Cut it Up Challenge Blog.
Those of us in the USA are truly ready for spring so to help it along, our theme isCOLORS OF SPRING.
Here's my card:

I recently participated in Pinkfresh Studio's Create and Connect Cardmaking event.This card was inspired by one of the techniques we used - partial die cutting to create the border.If you haven't used Pinkfresh Studio's stamp/stencil/die sets, I encourage you to give them a try.I used the Cosmos Bunch set and Pinkfresh cube inks.  I also used a coverplate for the inside background and inked the stripe to fill in the space.  I've used one of my favorite color combinations for this card, lavender and green.
I hope you'll play along and share your project through the link above.

Pearly Sparkles March Challenge ~ Celebrate

Hi Crafty Friends,
Our new challenge for March is CELEBRATE.  Oh so many ways to interpret this theme!You can join our challenge by uploading your project to the Pearly Sparkles blog HERE.
I'm sharing my project which was made for a very special 18th birthday celebration.

For this card I used Jaded Blossom's Gnome Dies and Build a Booth dies.  I also added dies from Spellbinders.  

I hope you'll play along.  Playing along with blog challenges is such a great way to share you creativity with fellow crafters.

Cut it Up Challenge #298 ~ Dots and/or Stripes

Hi Crafty Friends,
Cut it Up Challenge #298 is up.  The theme is Dots and/or Stripes.Be sure to visit the team blog for some amazing inspiration projects.
Here's mine using Waffle Flower's Postage Stamp  stamp, stencil, and die set.

You may upload your project HERE.

Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers ~ Sketch #42, Project 2

Hi Crafty Friends,
 Sketch challenge #42 is still open on the Build Your Stash Holiday CardmakersFacebook page.  You'll find the sketch below and you may visit the BLOG and the Facebook page for more inspiration and then upload your challenge project HERE.
Here's my second project using a 3D embossing folder from Altenew and a stamp and stencil from The Craft Market.

and here's the inspiration sketch:

I hope you'll play along and keep building your holiday stash.

Cut it Up Challenge #297 ~ Have a Heart

Hi Crafty Friends,
Here's our first challenge for February at Cut it Up Challenge Blog.
Our theme is Have a Heart.  It's open to your interpretation.
Here's my card.

The front of this card is the stacked hearts (Jaded Blossom) on an A2 card base that has been cut in half on the front.  There is a piece of acetate that the lower part of the hearts and the sentiment (Betterpress) are attached to.  The background is a Pinkfresh stencil adhered to the inside of the card base.

It's a fun technique and a little different from attaching the focal image to a background and then the entire thing placed on the card base.

I hope you'll play along with us a Cut it Up.  Be sure to check our Facebook Community page to see which entries won Top Cut for our last challenge.

Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers ~ Sketch 42, February Challenge

Hi Crafty Friends,
We have a new sketch challenge on the Build Your Stash Holiday CardmakersFacebook page.  You'll find the sketch below.  The challenge is open for the entire month.  You may visit the BLOG and the Facebook page for inspiration and then upload your challenge project HERE.
Here's my first design team project.

I used a Betterpress plate for the background, blue ink on white watercolor paper, and then the Glimmer foil system for the sentiment.  So easy with the right tools/systems, yet it looks so elegant.
Here's the challenge sketch for your inspiration.

I hope you'll play along with us this month.

Pearly Sparkles February Challenge ~ Have a Heart/Love

Hi Crafty Friends,
Time for a new Pearly Sparkles challenge.Our February challenge is "Have a Heart/Love".  It's open for your interpretation.
Here's my design team project.

I used a mini stencil that was in the Spellbinders Advent Calendar and added hearts instead of flowers.  All of the hearts were in my die cut stash.  The sentiment with matching die cut is from Jaded Blossom.

I stenciled on Spellbinders card stock using Pinkfresh Studio inks.

I hope you'll play along with us this month.  Just link your project using the link above.

Cut it Up Challenge #296 ~ This Makes Me Happy

Hi Crafty Friends,
I'm sharing my DT project for the second Cut it Up challenge of 2024.
We had so much fun with the "This Makes Me Happy" theme last year so we're doing it again.It's truly an open-ended challenge and allows our blog followers a chance to get to know us a little better.
So what makes me happy???  Duh, cardmaking, of course!  I especially love making special cards for my favorite people when they are celebrating a special occasion.
This is a birthday card for my daughter.  She is a gnome lover and drives a black Infinity.Jaded Blossom's gnome dies and add ons and their newest CAR die set were the perfect products to use for the special card.  It made me very happy to create it.

I hope you'll play along and let us know what makes YOU happy!

Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers ~ Sketch 41, Project 2

Hi Crafty Friends,
There are still a few more days to enter our BYSH January challenge using sketch #41.
Entries should be uploaded to the Sketch 41 album in our Facebook group HERE.If you don't want to enter the sketch challenge, you are invited to simple share your Christmas/winter projects on the main FB page.  We love getting new ideas for our holiday cardmaking.
Here's my second project using sketch 41.

I used Jaded Blossom's Holly Berries stencils for the background and Altenew's Birds of the season layering stamp and die sets, and Altenew inks for the wreath and bird.  

Here's the sketch we're using for the challenge.  It's only a suggestion which you can adapt for your own project.

For more Sketch #41 inspiration please visit the BYSH blog HERE.

Cut it Up Challenge #295 ~ A New Year

Hi Crafty Friends,
Hard to believe that my second year as owner of Cut it Up Challenges has begun.For this challenge we're celebrating A New Year.The challenge is to use a NEW crafty tool, technique, idea, etc.
Hubby gave me money for Christmas so I bought the Glimmer Hot Foil system.
Here's my first attempt at hot foiling.

This foil plate came with the system.  The sentiment was made using the Betterpress system.  I love the gold foil and white combination so I was pleased with how this turned out.  I did the cutting and scoring using my new We R Memory Keepers All - in - One Tool.  I could have also used the tool to make the matching envelope but this is a standard A2 card so I have ready-made ones.
You can add your NEW project to the CIU blog.Something new this year at CIU:  we will be sharing our TOP CUTS (DT's faves from all of the entries) on our Cut it Up Facebook page HERE.
You'll also want to visit the blog to welcome our four new designers.
Happy New Year!

Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers ~ Sketch Challenge #41 January 2024

Hi Crafty Friends,
New month, new sketch challenge at BYSH.
The challenge is open all month.  To be eligible for the prize, you must enter your card in our Facebook album for Sketch 41.
Here's my first project using an adorable image and fun papers from LaLa Land Crafts.

Here's this month's sketch for your inspiration.

I hope you'll play along with us.

Hugs,

Larelyn

A Holiday Thank You

Hi Crafty Friends,
Now that the holidays are over it's time to send thank you cards to the people who made our Christmas special.  I have a set of Rae Dunn cards (my other obsession, a close second to crafting,) but I also wanted to send some handmade cards as well.
Lil Red Wagon's challenge is What's New? so I used some new crafty goodies to create my card.

I used a new stencil set from Jaded Blossom, Holly Berries.  The sentiment is a Jaded Blossom die set.  I cut two outlines and offset them slightly.  I used my new Pinkfresh Studio inks for the stenciling and cut and scored the card base and mats using my new We R Memory Keepers All-in-one tool.
I'm also entering Simon Says: Something NewThe Crafty Addicts: Anything Goes
Having my own challenge blog (Cut it Up Challenge Blog) has kept me busy to the point of not being able to enter other challenges.  My goals for this new year are to use more of my crafty goodies and share my makes in other challenges.  Wish me luck!
Happy New Year

Pearly Sparkles January 2024 Challenge ~ Clean and Simple

Hi Crafty Friends,Happy New Year 2024.
I hope you've had a wonderful holiday season.  Ours was full of family, friends, and so much food!!!I guess I wasn't ready for the new year because I completely forgot to write my post for thePearly Sparkles January Challenge - ugh!  I think I'll blame it on my advanced age or too much food and family over the holiday.  Well, here it is.  Our challenge for January is Clean and Simple.

I stenciled the leaves onto Betterpress paper using inks and a layered stencil from Pinkfresh Studio.

Then I ran the paper through my Platinum 6 using my Betterpress system and a press plate from Spellbinders.  I used Ranger Archival ink for the pressing.  I'm going to make more using different color palettes. 

I hope you'll play along with us.

Hugs,

Larelyn