Bird Houses

Hello, friends,

When I saw this bird house die set by Stampin' Up, I felt the need to have it --- deep down in my bones 🦴😂 

It was not hard to cut all the smaller pieces out and then use a jewel pick tool to put this together. This isn't the usual card technique for me but it still isn't as daunting as die cut inlay. Boy, die cut inlay - that tests my personality flaws. 

Here are just a couple bird house cards I made for local friends that show me much love. Hope you like these, too.

Card Ingredients:

• Country Bird House Die Set by Stampin' Up
• Various small flowers and leaves by Spellbinders & Sizzix 
• All coloring done with Copic markers
• Color Cardstock by GKD
• Silver Metallic cardstock by Spellbinders
• Pattern paper from stash
• Ink Versafine Onyx Black
• Sentiment Thanks a Million by GKD
• Stamps of Life (banner, You are Amazing and banner die)
• Infinity Arch Dies by Hero Arts
• Gems from stash
• Butterfly cut out Couture Creations colored with Copics
• Adhesive Foam under many of the little pieces 

Thank you for stopping by.

Rose Watercolor for Pinkfresh Studios Challenge

 Aloha again!

I don't have much time to type because this needs to be linked asap. But it's also for the Pinkfresh Studios Patterns & Colors August Challenge ending in about 5 minutes :( (Update: I had one whole minute to spare after getting this linked up. 😉

I gold heat embossed, then watercolored the roses. I tried to keep this card simple, just adding a few black pearls and splatter with the watercolor. I want to give this to our daughter to thank her for doing so much yard work to help Bruce and me. 

This and the previous card are entered as my first time for Pinkfresh challenges. I've been getting some of their products over the last 3 months or so. I guess that makes me a newbie to their company. I really do enjoy watching their videos and in particular, Carissa Wiley. Some day I would like to try their blending brushes.

Card Ingredients:

• Fancy Rose Bunch by Pinkfresh Studios (the stamp and the sentiment)
• Ranger Gold Embossing Powder
• Versafine Embossing Ink
• Versafine Black Ink
• Arches watercolor paper
• Cardstock by Gina K. Designs
• Adhesive Foam 
• Double sided tape
• Liquid Glue
• Kuratake Watercolors
• Black adhesive backed pearls from stash

Here is a link to see Pinkfresh August Challenges:

Pinkfresh Challenge for August

Patterns & colors, 5 x 7 easel card, Pinkfresh Studios August Challenge

 Aloha, friends,

Pinkfresh Studios has a challenge right now about utilizing patterns as well as several colors they chose. I used lots of patterns: Swiss dot, strips, arches, ombre coloring, rectangles and diagonal scoring. I used 3 of the 5 color choices. The challenge is over tonight at midnight.

I started by blending an ombre aqua to create a teal to aqua color background. I die cut this with strip dies, then die cut the strips with an arch die. Carefully, I adhered the arch cut strips into a spaced arch shape over a peach color layer. The peach color panel was previously embossed with a Swiss dot folder. I put the rectangle outline die cut leftover piece, also ombre blended, around the strips design. All of this went onto a diagonal hand-scored white panel, then onto an aqua panel, and again onto another soft peach color layer. This went onto a 5' x 7" white easel card base. 

I die cut a long leafy branch and adhered it to the right side of the strip panel. After stenciling color onto a floral bouquet with a lemon, I adhered this with foam over the branch and strip cut background. I added the "friend" sentiment on adhesive foam, and used double sided tape to add a gold heat embossed butterfly onto vellum also backed with a butterfly white die cut. I finally added aqua and peach color panels to the bottom of the easel card with another stacked sentiment "just because" to act as the stopper for the top portion of the easel card. For the final step, I added some iridescent sequins in a semi circle along the right side of the design. 

I took this one outside since it was such a pretty day.

Click for Pinkfresh Studios August 2025 Challenge

Card Ingredients

Products by Pinkfresh Studios

• Citrus Bloom Stamps/Dies/Stencils (small bouquet)
• Color Block Strip Dies (strips and mini rectangle frame)
• Phrase Builder Stamps/Dies "Hello" set (main sentiment)
• Curvy Foliage Die (leafy branch in background)
• Happy Blooms Frame (border for stopper sentiment)
• Dahlia Bunch (just because sentiment on bottom)
• Inks (peach colors)

Products also used

• Infinity Arch Dies by Hero Arts
• Color Cardstock by Stampin' Up
• White Cardstock by Hammermill and Neenah Classic Crest 110#
• Sizzix 49th & Market Engraved Wings Stamps & Framlit Dies (butterfly)
• Cuttlebug Swiss Dot Embossing Folder
• Ranger Fine Detailed God Embossing Powder
• Simon Says Stamp Premium Vellum
• Inks VersaFine Black and Stampin' Up Teals to Aquas
• Stampin' Up iridescent sequins

Mahalo for stopping by 🫶

Koko, a friend dog

A dear friend lost her pet dog, so heartbreaking. It really hurts deeply when we lose our fur babies. I found a coloring page online and it looked just like her Koko. I used color pencils and filled the card with our love and hugs. 

And big hugs to each of you, too! ❤️ 

Rosy

A "Z" Fold Anniversay Card

Fun folds are just that, FUN! And this one is fairly simple, especially if you have a see- through ruler to make precision cuts in your cardstock. I finally purchased the Stampin' Up Paper Trimmer. It has a very nice blade, ruled table, clear ruler and double raised edges at the top and bottom of the cutting areas to help keep your cardstock in place as you cut. You can see exactly where you want to cut. 

At first I purchased this trimmer to cut wedge or triangular shapes of pattern paper to roll into beads. Boy, is that ever fun and I'll post that at another time. 

However, I finally gave in and bought this trimmer after I sliced my thumb, deeply, trying to cut thin strips of paper for the beads. With the SU paper trimmer I don't have any more surgical accidents, 😬 yet.

You know who has endless fun fold videos? Lisa Curcio. She's been with Stampin' Up for many years. You will find about a zillion videos over on her YouTube channel,  https://youtube.com/@lisasstampstudio?si=7c6sHtSZc5Rfamqd You won't run out of inspiration there. 

I used pieces from a Stampin' Up card kit for this. Sorry I haven't been keeping track of card details. I'll try to do better at that. I lose all the post it notes I stick on the images as I go. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Lots of love, 

Rosy

The Heavenly Hibiscus

Aloha, 

Using color pencils feels relaxing to me. They can get into the tiniest of cracks and do not bleed out compared to alcohol markers. Markers are faster for big images but I wanted to take my time on this hibiscus. There are lots of little spaces. The friend that I sent this to said that her favorite color is red. Doom. I heard the strings on Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 because red markers are the most likely to bleed. I went the way that took the longest - color pencils. So when I need to fix my mind on something relaxing, coloring pencil projects always helps. 

What is your most restful coloring technique? I would love to know! 

Rosy

Box of fruit

 

Hi dear friends,

This card is a year old. I'm going to try and post the cards I'm making but I will keep it brief. I can't rememberwhich stamp set I used, maybe Stampin' Up? 🤥

I just love interactive cards, don't you? I miss all the fruit that is harvested this time of year. I haven't had concord grapes in about 20 years. Our father had a big vine in our yard, along with deep black purple plums. Sure was fun picking and eating them. Once in a while  we get deep red, sweet bing cherries flown over. You can imagine the price. This week in the local grocers it is $20/pound. I just inhaled the advertisement.

Much love to you all. 

Rosy

Cat Fish

 Aloha dear ones!

When I first saw this stamp set at Simon Says Stamp, it made me laugh! A cat-fish mermaid! What a sense of humor! 

Have you ever heard the Catfish Song by Jonny Boston? It incorporates a lot of song titles by Elvis. It's adorable and goes along "purrr-fectly" with this stamp image!

It's simple using a brushed background, a little stamping, paper piecing (umbrella) and die cutting. We have a sketch by Dirty Dozen gal Lisa using the monthly Jukebox theme at Splitcoaststampers. I used the colors and sketch to create the spliced umbrella. The edge of the sentiment oval is edged with Copic marker.

Thank you for your visit!

Stamp Set: "Cuddly Summer Critters" by SSS

Cardstock: Accent Opaque White 120#

Ink: Distress Oxide - Broken China, Evergreen Bough, Speckled Egg, Vintage Paper; Memento Rich Cocoa

Spellbinders Oval Die

Copic Markers

Adhesive Foam Tape

Stickles Diamond, Wink of Stella, Pearl for accent

Here is a little addition - "I wish I had."

I wish I had used a few brown dots for sand, a darker blue

sky, and some white ripples in the water 🎨 

Jukeboxes and Elvis?

 Aloha friends,

The theme this month at Splitcoaststampers is Jukebox. Jukeboxes remind me of the 50s-70s when we had to pay a nickel (or more) to hear our favorite songs at restaurants or other public establishments. At home we would listen to the radio or play a record that we bought. I was happy when they replaced 8 tracks with cassette tapes. Music CDs came and went. Now people just stream from somewhere out there? That's a song, too.

The number one song ever played on a jukebox was Elvis Presley's Hound Dog. I had no idea. 

When we used to live in central Oregon, we often drove over the Santiam Pass or over Highway 2 next to Mount Hood. It's so breathtaking! The Santiam Highway runs along the river with trees and mountains on both sides of the road. I have a lot of fond memories of the Cascade Mountains. Although we didn't have a diner along the road there, I do remember eating at diners on the east coast. 

After sketching the background, I stamped the dog and used Copic markers to color the scene. His giant bone is popped up with the little red bow. The sentiment is printed and popped up. Thank you for coming by. PS I'm now a Dirty Girl at SCS. 

Stamp: "Doggie Kisses" by Art Impressions (the doggie)

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa (for the doggie)

Cardstock: Accent White Opaque 120#, SMS Black 80#, GKD Cherry Red 80#

Rounded Rectangle die from SMS (sentiment)

Pencil & Copic Markers

Adhesive Foam Tape

Red Twine

Stickles Diamond & Wink of Stella

Thank you for stopping by. I appreciate your visits and comments!

A Quiet Bay

 Aloha!

I made this for my sweet hubby, Bruce, for our anniversary this year. He loves to fish and to be on the ocean. Each year I try and include a poem about the ocean and faith. Nope, not going to share 😂

It's very simple and quiet - I didn't add bling or anything just to let the ship be the focus. I hope each one of you is doing well!

Stamp Set: The Boatyard by Art Impressions

Cardstock: Accent Opaque White Cardstock; Sizzix Opulent - Greys

Ink: Memento Desert Sand

Watercolors: Koi; Tombow markers (dark contrast and sea gulls)

Stitched Rectangle and Oval dies: Gina Marie

ScorTape and Wink of Stella clear

Thank you for visiting! 

Corner Pop Up Card, Happy Anniversary

 Aloha!

I wanted to make something a little different for one of our daughter's wedding anniversary this year. Boy, was this a tough card for me 💪🏽👷🏽‍♀️⚒

When it folds up flat it is only 4 inches square so it fits easily into an A2 envelope. It is going to need an extra ounce or nonmachinable stamp because it's thicker than a regular card. However, I did use the thickest card stock and add more paper layers than required.

If you decide to create one of these designs, definitely use your score board and stylus to create folds, and a bone folder to strengthen these folds. It just takes a single basic shape die cut to create the aperture in front of the card. I also used Scor Tape and a craft glue to make sure the box shape and folds do not come apart. This card bends and folds in/out.

Here is the YouTube link to watch the tutorial. It's super fun to make and see how this works. It was a more advanced level card to create. Corner Pop Up Card

Stamps: Sentiment by SSS, tiny heart and bee inside by W plus 9 

Cardstock: Accent Opaque White 110#; GKD Bubble Gum Pink

Pattern Papers: Couture Creations "Bloom & Wild" - all the paper in this pad is breathtaking!!

Dies: Hero Arts Nesting Circles; cut out circle frame window using a circle die plus a cross stitched circle die (by SMS) on pink that frames the front hole on the card.

Other: Gem bling, Paper flower with gems and glitter glued onto it

Front, opened

Opened, inside

The underside, showing how it folds open/closed

This is when the box is closed, flat to fit into an envelope

Thank you for taking a look! It was very fun to create a box folding card!

Hug a Rawrus Today

 Aloha!

Ok. Isn't he a cutie pie? I wanted him ever since I laid eyes on him 🐱‍🐉 Look at how tiny his arms are!

And I found this coolio tutorial on YouTube by Lisa Curcio using a fun fold called "Curvy Pop Up." It isn't that hard. The front will have a bendy panel and the back is a regular card spine so it stands up. Even better, it lays flat and fits right into an A2 envelope. I'm going to cut out fun letters to spell the little girl's name across the bendy front.

I've been following a family whose two yr old little sweetie, Eliza, is going to lose her battle with a rare cancer. She loves dinosaurs, hence this cute card. I had to make it for her. She is still able to run around and have fun but she is on hospice at home. She also has had the company of a tan & white stuffed owl ever since she was a baby and chews on the little tag it came with. I have a couple of owl cards I would like to make for her, too. You can read about her and how uber sweet she is by googling Eliza Moore or her parents, Chance (he's a nurse) and Kate (a pharmacist). She has at least a gajillion followers on social media.

Stamp Set: T Rex Love by Fun Stampers Journey

Cardstock: Accent Opaque White, Stampin Up Old Olive

Pattern Paper: Gina K. Designs

Colored with Copics

Lime and purple gems

Thank you for stopping by!

Sweet hugs!

15 Minute Thank You Card

 Aloha!

We wanted to thank a neighbor for trapping 3 stray kitties for spay/neuter program. Someone had dropped off a female and, of course, it became pregnant in no time. She had 3 cats and they are now all "fixed," and cared for by our neighbor. It happened so fast, in our parking area, and I wanted to make a quick cat thank you card. Whew! It took less than 15 minutes but close enough. The inside is stamped and colored, too, but they were already here so I couldn't grab a picture of it. We am grateful to have a neighbor who has kindness and concern to control the cat population, as well as trying to socialize them. I hope it works out. Now to try and catch Mama cat before this happens again. She already knows what a trap is though.

Stamp: SU Pretty Kitty

Ink: Memento and Versafine

Crayola Crayons

Accent Cardstock

Enamel dots

I'm going to share with the 30 Day Coloring Challenge. Kathy encourages the coloring world to just jump right in. It is highly inspirational. 

It's CAS, square & fast!

Thank you for taking a look!

Baby In A Basket & What's Up With Google Blogger?

Aloha, friends!

You know what happy means? A new baby! Babies touch me right here, in the smack dab middle of my soul. I just love babies. They are so sweet, chubby, cuddly, and beg for little sweet kisses. That new baby smell is better than flowers, puppies and new cars put together. Ok, I get carried away.

Our friends have a new grandbaby, a baby boy to join his older brother. They live locally and on a coffee farm. Doesn't that sound like fun? Hard work, but fun. They have 3 generations living, working and loving together. It's a simple card, no interactive parts, but it was way easier to make. Some days easier is better 👶🏼 I would like to share this in Kathy's 30 Day (really 10 day) Coloring Challenge! You can read about it HERE.

And what IS up with Blogger? I see they will no longer allow anyone who signs up for email notifications to receive new posts from this platform. The "fix" seems too advanced for this old mare. I have a WordPress blog but oooh, the hassle of trying to export and import, bleh. Me no likey technical changes and challenges. Google Blogger is creating such a headache. Please share your ideas with me. Not sure what to do about this one.

Stamp Set: SU Bundled Baby

Inks: Memento Gray Flannel

Colored with Crayola color pencils

Gina Marie Stitched Scalloped Oval dies

Cardstock: Accent White, SU color

Pattern Paper: Doodlebug

Enamel stars

Foam tape

Thank you for visiting!!!

Copic Markers and Wildflowers

 Aloha,

I took a Copic coloring class from Sandy Allnock, link here: Mini Copic Wildflowers Class 1. It's an inexpensive class that builds confidence using alcohol markers without needing to sketch first. Just start coloring on white cardstock. I was terrified but after tossing a couple tries, it started to get easier. I say jump in and do it - you won't be disappointed. She has since added Copic Wildflowers 2 but I have not taken that class yet.

🔷🔹🔹🔹🔷🔹🔹🔹🔷

Copic markers

Various embossing folders by Anna Griffin, Cuttlebug, Sizzix & Darice

Gems and crystals, Glossy Accents

Cardstock: I tried some new to me cardstock that Jennifer McGuire spoke about in her favorite things 2020. It's from Amazon, called Accent Opaque Digital, 16 pt "Smooth" 120# white, 8-1/2 X 11 inches, 150 sheets. It truly is smooth, super thick and sturdy, feels almost like chipboard and takes alcohol markers and color pencils well so far. I accidentally dropped a bit of water onto it and it swelled right up, so not good for watercolor, even a little. For the price, I am very impressed with this cardstock either for card bases (the sturdiest I have ever used), bright white, I used the metal cut plate more when die cutting but the die cuts look GREAT using this cardstock.

Copic Wildflowers 1

• Color, then die cut

• Swirly Sweet Peas

• Wax Flowers Bunch

• Paintbrush

• Branch of Sweet Peas

• Thistles

I hope you enjoyed seeing what you can freehand with Copic Markers!

Thank you for stopping by!