Pearly Sparkles Challenge ~ January 2025 ~ Something Old, Something New

Hi Crafty Friends,Welcome to a brand new year of challenges at Pearly Sparkles.
Our theme is Something Old, Something New.  You can use older products, ideas, designs and also new ones.  
Here's my card using new crafty goodies and some older favorites.

I've used a brand new Lala Land Crafts Poinsettia stencil for this card along some of my favorite stamp/die sets from Jaded Blossom: Sentiment Strip dies, Happy Hello stamps set, and Thanks stamp and die set.  I've also used some of my favorite Altenew inks and Pinkfresh Studio gems.

I hope you'll play along with us during this new year!

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.)

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

Cut it Up Challenge #288 ~ Favorite Color(s)

Hi Crafty Friends,
We have a new challenge posting on the Cut it Up Challenge Blog.Our theme is Favorite Color(s).
I love purples - all shades.  But, if you add a touch of green, I'm in heaven!!
My bestie gifted me some new dies so I used the florals from the Crafter's Companion Mailbox Flowers die set.  I also used the envelope from a Pinkfresh Studio Connect and Create exclusive set, and the postage stamp dies from LaLa Land Crafts.

I die cut the florals using 110# Neenah Solar Crest and then colored them using Copic Markers.I learned a trick for adding lots of die cuts onto the project.  After I placed the pieces where I wanted them, I used Press and Seal to pick up grouping.  I turned it over to apply adhesive and then placed it back onto my project.  I only had to add a little more adhesive to front flower.  
I hope you'll play along with us and share a project using your favorite color(s).Just follow the link above.
We're always looking for guest designers so if you're interested, just send an email to the address posted on the Cut it Up blog page.

Thank You

 Hi Crafty Friends,

It's my design team day on the Jaded Blossom Blog.

Today I'd like to share a shaker/gift card holder design that was shared by Jennifer McGuire.

It's a unique idea and I thought it would be fun to try it.

The gift card slips right into the shaker pocket.  There is a flap inside the card that allows for easy access to the gift card and still keep the shaker element in place.

I used these Jaded Blossom products:

Vine Stencil

Wheelbarrow Die

Gnome Dies: Garden Add Ons (flowers, instead of the tulips)

Thank You

Thank You Outline Dies

This was such a fun card to create.

Thanks for stopping by.

Cut it Up Challenge #272 ~ CAS (Clean And Simple)

Hi Crafty Friends,
There's a new challenge up at Cut it Up Challenges.
This is one of my favorites, CAS (clean and simple.)
Using lots of color and/or die cuts always produces a wonderful project but sometimes you really want something simple and understated, which can also be quite elegant.
For today's project I used an Altenew 3D embossing folder and one of LaLa Land Crafted newest sentiment dies - that's it.  I think using a quality card stock and gold foil adds just enough elegance.

I hope you'll play along with us.  Just add your card using the link above.
By the way, if you'd like to be considered as a guest designer for one of our upcoming challenges, please contact me at cutitupchallenges.gmail.com.
Thanks for visiting.

Jaded Blossom ~ July Challenge ~ Anything Goes

Hi Crafty Friends,
It's time for a new monthly challenge at Jaded Blossom.This month is an Anything Goes challenge so let's see what you've got :)
My daughter is getting married in September so I've been playing around with shower thank you notes using some of her wedding colors.  Here's my idea.

Jaded Blossom products used:

Rectangle Dies

Flower Dies

Sentiment Strip Dies

Thank You
Thanks

Thanks Outline Dies

Fancy Wedding (ring)

Random Hearts Stencil (matching envelope)

I hope you'll play along.  Be sure to use at least one Jaded Blossom product.

Jaded Blossom Mini SCHOOL Release ~ Friday

Hi Crafty Friends,

Happy Friday and welcome to Day 2 of our SCHOOL mini release at Jaded Blossom.

We have a bunch of fun new items available!! 

Gnome Dies: School Add Ons $19.99

Gnome Dies: Number Add Ons $19.99

Happy Graduation $15.99

Happy Graduation Outline Dies $16.99

School Candies Grid Style $15.99

And we have the Bundle at a Discount! Only $77.99. Regular Price $88.99 

PLUS receive the Calculator set FREE with the Mini School Release Bundle Purchase! 

Calculator is FREE with all Mini School Release Package purchases. 

It can not be purchased separately at this time.

Our entire design team has been hard at work with projects to share with you! Here is what I created.
Sometimes you need a quick thank you that can be mass produced so here's an idea.

Products I used for this treat tag~Calculator (NEW) see above School Candies Grid Style (NEW)Bread Tag diesCandy Grid Die
You can check out the other design team projects by using the links below.

Candace

Jamie

Marcia

Rosemary

Cindy

Nicole

Lee-Ann

Larelyn

Cynthia

CLICK HERE TO SHOP

Thanks for stopping by.

Jaded Blossom April Release ~ Day 3 Sneak Peek

Hi Crafty Friends,
It's Day 3 of Jaded Blossom's April Release andit's the last day to order the Gotta Have it Now package.  Don't miss out on receiving the entire release almost before the reveals are finished!
Here's my project for today.

I am so excited about using our Sentiment Strip Dies and all of our new sentiments that have the outline dies available.   I used these Jaded Blossom products for this tag:Thanks (NEW)Thanks Outline Dies (NEW)Sentiment Strip Dies (NEW)Ticket Book DiesBanner Dies

  We have our Gotta Have it Now Package for $165.99

April 2022 Release will include:

4 - 4 x 6 Stamp Sets3 - New Dies5 - New Outline Dies1- 3 x 4 Stamp Set1 - 3x4 Freebie Set with Outline Die
Ala Carte Items available on Friday 12am PST 
NO PREORDERS! NO BACKORDERS!No waiting WEEKS for your stamps. This Package is only available till Wednesday 11:59pm pst, then will be back up on the store on Friday at 12 am pst during our Stamp Release Blog Hop!*Freebie Stamp- Free While Supplies Last.*

Regular price for the release package is $188.99

Here are today's reveals:

I'll see you tomorrow for one final sneak peek before the Blog Hop.

Passionate Paper Creations & Friends ~ CC Designs Sponsorship

Hi Crafty Friends,
We're showcasing projects from our latest sponsor, C.C. Designs, over on the Passionate Paper Creations & Friends Facebook page.
My project uses the newly released Axolotl Clear Stamp set.
My design was inspired by Irina Blount, owner and creator at LaLa Land Crafts.  Irina lives in Northern California and I have been fortunate to attend her many trunk shows and make and takes at our local craft store in Lodi, CA. My inspiration project was shared at her last make and take at the store.

All of the die cuts are from LaLa Land Crafts along with the stencils I used for the outside and background.  The images were cut out using a Scan NCut 2, the dies with my Gemini Jr.  I colored using Copic markers.
Please visit the PPCF page during the sponsorship and, of course, we'd appreciate your support of C.C. Designs.

A Christmas Thank You

 Hi Crafty Friends,

Today is my day to share on the Jaded Blossom Blog.

I try to start off each new year by sending Thank You cards for our Christmas gifts.  I know it's "old school" but it's something I enjoy doing and something that I have always expected my girls to do (even though they are now adults!)

Here is the card I made with an envelope to go with it.  I chose a simple design since I was making multiples.

I used these Jaded Blossom products:

Rectangle Dies

Scallop Rectangle Dies

Large Snowflake Die

Basic Word Dies

Snowflakes stamp set.

The patterned paper is from my Bo Bunny stash.

Thanks for visiting today.

Cut it Up Challenge #239 ~ CASE a card

Hi Crafty Friends,
We have a fun challenge for you at Cut it Up Challenge Blog.We were asked to CASE (Copy And Share Everything) a card. 
 I love to explore the card groups on Facebook and Pinterest and when I find something I'd like to recreate I pin it or take a screen shot.I think our fellow crafters offer our best inspiration so WHEN CREDIT IS GIVEN, I think it's the greatest compliment.
For this challenge I found a card that I thought was fabulous but sadly it was not watermarked and I can't remember where I saw it so I can't give credit to the original designer.
DRS Designs is our sponsor for this challenge and we were provided a stamp to create our CASE card.  The stamp came to me in digital format so it was a bit tricky to create the background for this card but I think it turned out OK.
Here's my card.

I resized and reoriented the branch multiple times in Word and then printed it out on colored card stock.

After die cutting it to size I did a little ink blending for some added interest.  The wood slice is a die set from Impression Obsession.  The embossed part of the die didn't show well so I used the wood ring stamp in the Wood Slice 1 set from Jaded Blossom and then recut it.  The sentiment is a Jaded Blossom Word die cut out of gold foiled paper and placed on velum.  I attached the velum using twine.

It was a bit of an experiment with the branches since I don't have a lot of editing skills in Word.  Maybe the next time I'll create the background in Silhouette Studio, but I hadn't downloaded the software to my new computer yet.

Here's my inspiration card.  If you recognize it, please let me know so I can give credit.  I guess I can offer this as a lesson in the importance of watermarking our work before posting.

I hope you'll play along with us.

Cut it Up Challenge #238 ~ Thanks/Thanksgiving

Hi Crafty Friends,
Our theme for Cut it Up Challenge #238 is THANKS and/or THANKSGIVING.
I chose to design a Thank You card but used a fall color scheme.Our sponsor for this challenge is STAMPlorations and the French Marigold I used on this card is from their digital stamp collection.

I colored using Copic Markers and embellished the card using Jaded Blossom's Pinecone Die, Basic Word Dies, and Fall Dies.  The background was ink blemded and then splattered.  I also added a few mini sequins.
I hope you will play along with us for this challenge.  Just follow the Cut it Up link above.

Cut it Up Sponsor Recognition and Thank You!

Hi Crafty Friends,
I've been on the Cut it Up Challenge Blog design team for many years.  We are so fortunate each year to have wonderful sponsors who provide prizes for our challenge winners and often times product for the design team to use.
On the Cut it Up blog you'll find cards recognizing and thanking this year's sponsors. I hope you'll visit the blog to see the entire list of sponsors. 
I had the privilege of sending thank you cards to three of our sponsors:

Regina Easter at The Cutting Cafe

Taylored Expressions

Shery Russ at STAMPlorations

We hope you'll visit and support all of our wonderful sponsors.

Cut it Up Challenge #233 ~ use a Favorite Sketch

Hi Crafty Friends,
Here's another Cut it Up Challenge Blog challenge.
We want you to follow a favorite sketch as you create your card or layout.When I first began card making, card sketches helped me expand my design horizons.Even now, when I'm stuck for a design, I refer to my stash of sketches.
Here's my card and the sketch I followed.

I used Whimsy Stamps' Giraffes Peeking and Simple Sentiments.

I colored using Copic Markers.

The sketch is For the Love of Sketches by Sesil used by a Theresa Collins DT member.
You can look online for card sketches or follow one of sketches found on CIU blog for this challenge.Remember to use a die cut somewhere on your project.
Our winner will receive a $20 gift code from our sponsor,STAMPlorations.
I hope you'll play along.

Jaded Blossom April Release Blog Hop

Hi Crafty Friends,

  Welcome to Jaded Blossom's April Stamp Release Blog Hop.  

Now if you're here from Mel's Blog, you're in the right place, if you're just passing through start at the beginning because you don't want to miss a thing.  I also have the complete line up at the bottom.Here is what I made:

Products used:

Square Internal Scallops Dies 1 (NEW)

Knit Stitch Stencil (NEW)

Flower Centers & Leaves Stencil

Flower Dies

World's Greatest Parents

And of course we have to have a deal for you right? This weekend only you can get the entire release package for $95.99

Regular Price for the Release Package is $104.99

 Free Stamp set for customers that spend $40 or more before tax and shipping! FREEBIE is only available until Sunday 4/18 11:59am pst or while supplies last.
Bust My Buttons

Customer Treat

BLOG CANDY

1 Lucky Winner will get to pick a stamp set of their choice!

Just leave a comment on all the blogs along the hop!

The more blogs you comment on the more chances you have to win!

Now on to the HOP....

Next up is CANDACE

Just in case you get lost here is the Entire Line Up:

Michelle

Jamie

Marcia

Rosemary

Cindy

Nicole

Lee-Ann

Mel

Larelyn

Candace