Double D - BEACH

Dear Ones~

Well, it's beach weather - or almost anyway. And that's the challenge this time over at Double D - BEACH. Here is the Mood Board for some inspiration:

 Here's my card:

I don't know why, but I always have a brain block with beach-y cards. Maybe because I don't identify with the beach - I live in the north woods. This cute little image is a Mo Manning digital stamp from Mo's Digital Pencil. She is called Beach Baby and I fussy cut her out after coloring her with alcohol inks. Oddly enough, I recently saw the same image over at Penny Black as a photopolymer stamp. Same name, you figure it out. The background is made with a stencil by Funky Fossil called Sun and Sea. Unfortunately, it is retired. The "sand" is some embossing powder by Seth Apter's Emerald Creek. It's from the Baked Texture line and it's called Dirty Sand.

 Pretty cool, aye??

  The Ingredients:

Recollections Ivory Card Stock

Funky Fossil Sun and Sea Stencil

Emerald Creek Baked Texture Embossing Powder

Mo Manning Digital Stamp

Various GKD Inks

Alcohol Inks to Color Image 

 

 

 

 

 If you head on over to the  Double D Challenge Blog and play along, you could win this beautiful silhouette stamp set.  Also, don't forget to check out all the beautiful cards the other designers have created.

So, until next time dear readers, ASPIRE to be INSPIRED. 

Here's celebrating your CREATIVE MUSE!!

~judY

Can You Handle the Pressure - BUTTERFLIES

Dear Ones~  

There's a new challenge over at Can You Handle the Pressure.   For this challenge blog you MUST use an EMBOSSING FOLDER on your project.  Heat embossing (with embossing powder) is permitted but only IN ADDITION to your embossing folder design.  Each new challenge will have a 'TWIST' which is optional ... your choice to use or not.

The OPTIONAL TWIST for today's challenge is:

BUTTERFLIES

 

 

 This is my card:

This butterfly comes to you courtesy of a wonderful Spellbinders die set called Peacock Butterfly. It's really fun to make, just a good choice of colors and a little die cutting. The background panel is embossed with one of Gina's embossing folders - Petite Flourish. It's so popular and really packs a punch.

 

 The Ingredients:

GKD White Card Stock 

Park Lane Paperie Pastels Card Stock

GKD Petite Flourish Embossing Folder

Spellbinders Peacock Butterfly Die Set

Honey Bee Mini Messages: Everyday

Trinity Stamps Baubles

 

 

 

 

 So head on over to the Can You Handle the Pressure Blog and play along, and don't forget to check out all the beautiful cards the other designers have created while you are there. I can't wait to see all your wonderful designs!!

 Until next time dear reader, I hope you "can handle the pressure"!

Here's celebrating your CREATIVE MUSE.

judy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Double D - FRAMES

Dear Ones~

The new challenge over at Double D is FRAMES. Here is the Mood Board for our inspiration:

 

And this is what I came up with:

I decided to use this beautiful stencil by SSS and try it on an old hymnal page. It worked beautifully, I love the look. I will be using stencils on patterned paper more, don't know why we think it just needs to be on plain paper. The frame is a fun shadow box technique I learned from Julie DiMatteo over at The Paper Pixie. You can watch it HERE. Her project is a very different size, but I have figured out how to make the shadow box any size.

 

 

 The Ingredients:

 GKD Ivory Card Stock

Stamperia House of Roses Patterned Paper for Frame

Old Hymnal Page

SSS Elegant Rose Stencil Set

Altenew Pink Pearl, Coral Bliss and Heart Beat Ink

GKD Medium Spruce Ink Stampendous Thoughtful Wishes Stamp for Greeting

 

 

 

 

 If you head on over to the  Double D Challenge Blog and play along, you could win this lovely Gemini Stamp and Die set.  Also, don't forget to check out all the beautiful cards the other designers have created.

 

So, until next time dear readers, ASPIRE to be INSPIRED. 

Here's celebrating your CREATIVE MUSE!!

 

~judy  

 

 

 

 

A Cut Above - June

  

 

Dear Ones~

It's a new month, and time for a new challenge over at  A Cut Above Challenge Blog. 

 

Challenges are on a monthly basis and posted on the first Monday of the month at 12:00 AM (Eastern Time) and ending on the 28th of each month 8:00 PM (Eastern Time) with the winner posted on the 30th of that month. The theme is always anything goes with a die cut. However once in awhile we will throw in a theme for you, or just do anything goes. Entirely up to you. This time it's just anything goes.

Limit of 3 entries per challenge with each being a different project.

Any project is welcome but MUST HAVE AT LEAST ONE DIE CUT defined by using a die cut machine, not a purchased pre-fabricated die cut. Winner is chosen by random draw, and will receive a $5 gift card to A Cherry On Top Online Store along with a dated badge to display on their craft site.

 

Here is my card:

I decided to go with a masculine card this time, I seem to struggle with them the most. I have had this die by Memory Box for a really long time, it's a real go-to for guy cards. I inlaid the "moon" in gold metallic card stock, and layered a different cattail die cut on top using gold metallic card stock. Photographing metallic paper is a nightmare, it's really pretty IRL. The fern background was made with a fern embossing folder using SU Soft Sea Foam card stock and highlighting it with SU Always Artichoke Ink. Diamond Stickles on the cattails.

The Ingredients:

Recollections Kraft and Chocolate Card Stock

SU Soft Sea Foam Card Stock 

Tim Holtz Gold Metallic Card Stock

SU Fern Embossing Folder

SU Always Artichoke Ink

Memory Box Graceful Cattails Die

Spellbinders Cattails Die

Spellbinders Our Favorite font Sentiment Set

Stickles on the Cattails

 

 

  I hope you will jump in and MAKE THE CUT, I can't wait to see what you come up with. Head on over to the A CUT ABOVE BLOG to see what it's all about. And if you play along, you could win a $5 gift card to A Cherry On Top.

 

Until next time, dear reader, aspire to be inspired.

Here's celebrating your Creative Muse. 

~judy

Can You Handle the Pressure - ZOO/JUNGLE ANIMALS

 Dear Ones~  

There's a new challenge over at Can You Handle the Pressure.   For this challenge blog you MUST use an EMBOSSING FOLDER on your project.  Heat embossing (with embossing powder) is permitted but only IN ADDITION to your embossing folder design.  Each new challenge will have a 'TWIST' which is optional ... your choice to use or not.

The OPTIONAL TWIST for today's challenge is:

ZOO/JUNGLE ANIMALS

 

 Here is my card:

I dare you not to laugh, or at least smile, when you look at this card. What a HOOT, aye? The stamp by Paper Roses is so much fun to use. Isn't it just too, too funny? The background is embossed with the Darice Giraffe embossing folder, perfect for my design.

 

 

 

  The Ingredients:

GKD White, Honey Mustard and Black Onyx Card Stock

Paper Roses Laughing Animals Stamp Set

Darice Giraffe Embossing Folder

Ohuhu Alcohol Markers

 

 

 

 

So head on over to the Can You Handle the Pressure Blog and play along, and don't forget to check out all the beautiful cards the other designers have created while you are there. I can't wait to see all your wonderful designs!!

 Until next time dear reader, I hope you "can handle the pressure"!

Here's celebrating your CREATIVE MUSE.

judy

Double D - MAY BIRTH FLOWER/STONE

Dear Ones~

The challenge this time over at Double D is to represent either May's birthstone (Emerald) or birth flower (Hawthorne or Lily of the Valley). Here is the Mood Board for our inspiration:

This is my card:

I don't have anything Lily of the Valley or Hawthorne in my collection, so I went with the color of emeralds - green. The circle is a Birch Press set of layering dies called Grace. I love these layering die sets, but they are very pricey, so I only own a few of them. I thought it would be fun to make a 4 1/2" square card for a change.

 

  The Ingredients: 

GKD Lemon Drop, Jellybean Green & White Cardstock

Birch Press Design Grace Layering Die Set

Altenew Zero Waste 3D Floral Cover Plate

Altenew Yellow Inks

Fiscars Corner Punch

Honey Bee Mini Messages: Everyday Stamp for Greeting

Stash Pearls

 

 

 

 

 If you head on over to the  Double D Challenge Blog and play along, you could win this sweet little Creative Expressions Mini Stencil.  Also, don't forget to check out all the beautiful cards the other designers have created.

 

 

So, until next time dear readers, ASPIRE to be INSPIRED. 

Here's celebrating your CREATIVE MUSE!!

~judy

Can You Handle the Pressure - FLORAL TWIST

 

Dear Ones~  

There's a new challenge over at Can You Handle the Pressure.   For this challenge blog you MUST use an EMBOSSING FOLDER on your project.  Heat embossing (with embossing powder) is permitted but only IN ADDITION to your embossing folder design.  Each new challenge will have a 'TWIST' which is optional ... your choice to use or not.

The OPTIONAL TWIST for today's challenge is:

FLORALS

Here is my card:

I absolutely LOVE this iris die set by Spellbinders. It's my new favorite, so delicate and fun to use. Here I have channeled my inner Angie Cimbalo with that plaid background. Angie is the queen of plaid, go check out her blog to see what I mean. I love that gorgeous GKD Master Layouts 12 filigree panel. Isn't it beautiful?

 The Ingredients: 

GKD White Card Stock

SU Soft Sky Card Stock

Memory Box Madras Plaid Violet Patterned Paper

Spellbinders Layered Iris Die Set

GKD Master Layouts 12 Die Set

GKD Let's Get Started Die for Greeting

Stash Gold Metallic Card Stock

Spellbinder Flower Frenzy Embossing Folder

 

 

 

 

 

So head on over to the Can You Handle the Pressure Blog and play along, and don't forget to check out all the beautiful cards the other designers have created while you are there. I can't wait to see all your wonderful designs!!

 Until next time dear reader, I hope you "can handle the pressure"!

Here's celebrating your CREATIVE MUSE.

judy

Double D - DESIGNER PAPER

Dear Ones~

The challenge this time over at Double D is DESIGNER PAPER. I am smiling all over my face with this one. Designer (patterned) paper is my all-time favorite thing to use when creating a card. Here is the Mood Board for our inspiration:

And this is my card:

I love doing the Fractured Card technique. To learn how to do this, click HERE. I used some really old Stampin' Up patterned paper. It's fun to use some things to which I haven't given attention in awhile.

 

 

The Ingredients:

Recollections Purple Card Stock

GKD White Card Stock

Gold Metallic Card Stock

Stampin' Up Hand Penned DSP

Tonic Studio Flora and Fauna Friends Dies

Honey Bee Mini Messages: Everyday Stamp for Greeting

Trinity Stamps Midnight Ball Baubles

 

 

 

 

 If you head on over to the  Double D Challenge Blog and play along, you could win this lovely pack of Waffle Flower Card Stock.  Also, don't forget to check out all the beautiful cards the other designers have created.

So, until next time dear readers, ASPIRE to be INSPIRED. 

Here's celebrating your CREATIVE MUSE!!

 

~judy

A Cut Above - May 2025

 

 

 Dear Ones~

It's a new month, and time for a new challenge over at  A Cut Above Challenge Blog. 

 

Challenges are on a monthly basis and posted on the first Monday of the month at 12:00 AM (Eastern Time) and ending on the 28th of each month 8:00 PM (Eastern Time) with the winner posted on the 30th of that month. The theme is always anything goes with a die cut. However once in awhile we will throw in a theme for you, or just do anything goes. Entirely up to you. This time it's just anything goes.

Limit of 3 entries per challenge with each being a different project.

Any project is welcome but MUST HAVE AT LEAST ONE DIE CUT defined by using a die cut machine, not a purchased pre-fabricated die cut. Winner is chosen by random draw, and will receive a $5 gift card to A Cherry On Top Online Store along with a dated badge to display on their craft site.

 

This is my card:

There's a new Spellbinder embossing folder in town, and it's FABULOUS. It's called Postage Mosaic. Check it out HERE. So many possibilities with this one. I cut out 3 of the little panels and colored the flowers in with alcohol markers. I also combined a couple of different dies for the white frilly background.

  The Ingredients: 

White Bristol Card Stock

SU Mint Macron Card Stock 

Honey Bee Playful Pastels Gingham Patterned Paper

Spellbinders Fancy Labels 2 Die

Spellbinders Decorative Labels 8 Die

Spellbinders Postage Mosaic Embossing Folder

Simon Says Stamp Birthday Basics Stamp for Greeting

Alcohol Markers

 

 

 

 I hope you will jump in and MAKE THE CUT, I can't wait to see what you come up with. Head on over to the A CUT ABOVE BLOG to see what it's all about. And if you play along, you could win a $5 gift card to A Cherry On Top.

 

Until next time, dear reader, aspire to be inspired.

Here's celebrating your Creative Muse. 

~judy

Can You Handle the Pressure - WEATHER

Dear Ones~  

There's a new challenge over at Can You Handle the Pressure.   For this challenge blog you MUST use an EMBOSSING FOLDER on your project.  Heat embossing (with embossing powder) is permitted but only IN ADDITION to your embossing folder design.  Each new challenge will have a 'TWIST' which is optional ... your choice to use or not.

The OPTIONAL TWIST for today's challenge is:

WEATHER

Here's my sample:

 Lots of fun fussy cutting here. I brought out some patterned papers that I thought were kind of weather related, and colored that sweet little ducky from Simon Says Stamp with my alcohol markers. It came together pretty quickly because of the fussy cutting. If you have the right patterned papers, fussy cutting is the way to go, much easier than coloring and it really packs a pop. I embossed that cloud background panel for some dimension.

 

 

The Ingredients:

Recollections Gray & White Card Stock

Honey Bee Spring Lullaby Patterned Paper 

Doodlebug Easter Express Patterned Paper

SSS Showers and Flowers Stamp Set

 SSS Swirly Ridges Embossing Folder

SU Cane Weave Embossing Folder

Hulu Alcohol Markers

SU Epoxy Shapes for Raindrops

Stickles  

 

 

So head on over to the Can You Handle the Pressure Blog and play along, and don't forget to check out all the beautiful cards the other designers have created while you are there. I can't wait to see all your wonderful designs!!

 Until next time dear reader, I hope you "can handle the pressure"!

Here's celebrating your CREATIVE MUSE.

judy

Double D - SPRINGTIME FLOWERS

Dear Ones~

Spring is finally here, and that means flowers. That's the challenge this time over at Double D. Here is the Mood Board for our inspiration:

 Here is my sample:

I really enjoyed making this card with some new Gina K Designs products, including the Master Layouts 19 die set. I'm going to be using this a lot. The floral image is from the Sending Flowers stamp and companion die set. I used some Ranger Enamel Accents to spruce up that sweet watering can. The focal image is colored with Posca Colored Pencils.

 

  The Ingredients: 

GKD White and Black Onyx Card Stock

Memory Box Springtime Bouquet Patterned Paper

GKD Sending Flowers Stamp and Companion Die Set

Posca Colored Pencils

GKD Master Layouts 19 Die Set

Ranger Enamel Accents

 

 

 

 

 

 If you head on over to the  Double D Challenge Blog and play along, you could win this sweet little mini stencil.  Also, don't forget to check out all the beautiful cards the other designers have created.

 

 

So, until next time dear readers, ASPIRE to be INSPIRED. 

Here's celebrating your CREATIVE MUSE!!

~judy

Can You Handle the Pressure - RAINBOWS OR RAINBOW COLORS

Dear Ones~  

There's a new challenge over at Can You Handle the Pressure.   For this challenge blog you MUST use an EMBOSSING FOLDER on your project.  Heat embossing (with embossing powder) is permitted but only IN ADDITION to your embossing folder design.  Each new challenge will have a 'TWIST' which is optional ... your choice to use or not.

The OPTIONAL TWIST for today's challenge is:

RAINBOWS AND/OR RAINBOW COLORS

Here is my card:

 

Oh my GOSH! Just look at that sweet little bird, doesn't he bring a smile to your face? I think he's the cutest thing ever, and I made him a rainbow bird. "Such a beautiful arrangement of atoms." That greeting is computer generated. And then there's that little worm, wondering what's going on. This card was really fun to make using the Simon Says Stamp Ring Frame. I just cut it in all the rainbow colors, ran the circles through an embossing folder, and inlaid them into those rings. I cut the ring die a few times to give some dimension.

 

 

The Ingredients:

GKD White Card Stock

GKD Black Onyx Card Stock

SSS Swirled Ridges Embossing Folder for Background

SU Wrapped in Texture Embossing Folder for Circles

SSS Ring Frame

Unity Stamps Flock Talk Stamp for Bird

colored with Alcohol Markers

Crafter's Closet Primary Card Stock for Circles

 

 

 

 

So head on over to the Can You Handle the Pressure Blog and play along, and don't forget to check out all the beautiful cards the other designers have created while you are there. I can't wait to see all your wonderful designs!!

 Until next time dear reader, I hope you "can handle the pressure"!

Here's celebrating your CREATIVE MUSE.

judy

A Cut Above

 

 Dear Ones~

It's a new month, and time for a new challenge over at  A Cut Above Challenge Blog. 

 

Challenges are on a monthly basis and posted on the first Monday of the month at 12:00 AM (Eastern Time) and ending on the 28th of each month 8:00 PM (Eastern Time) with the winner posted on the 30th of that month. The theme is always anything goes with a die cut. However once in awhile we will throw in a theme for you, or just do anything goes. Entirely up to you. This time it's just anything goes.

Limit of 3 entries per challenge with each being a different project.

Any project is welcome but MUST HAVE AT LEAST ONE DIE CUT defined by using a die cut machine, not a purchased pre-fabricated die cut. Winner is chosen by random draw, and will receive a $5 gift card to A Cherry On Top Online Store along with a dated badge to display on their craft site.

 

This is my card:

I seem to be on a purple kick lately, and I love these colors together. I also love that butterfly die set by Simon Says Stamp. It's so beautiful in its simplicity. That purple background is some textured paper I found on Amazon, and that's all the info I can give to you about that. I recently acquired some Hero Arts Hero Wax in Gold. It is GORGEOUS, very shiny. I used it to edge the butterfly wings, very happy with it, highly recommend. Oh, and I may or may not have gone overboard with the gold baubles.

The Ingredients:

SU Mint Macron Card Stock

GKD White Card Stock

Stash Textured Paper

Spellbinders Kaleidoscope Triangles Die Set

GKD Master Layouts 14 Die for White Spiral

SSS Layered Cosmic Butterfly

Scrapbook.Com Cools Smooth Card Stock

GKD Elegant Thoughts

Hero Arts Gold Hero Wax

Trinity Stamp Gold Baubles 

 

 

 I hope you will jump in and MAKE THE CUT, I can't wait to see what you come up with. Head on over to the A CUT ABOVE BLOG to see what it's all about. And if you play along, you could win a $5 gift card to A Cherry On Top.

 

Until next time, dear reader, aspire to be inspired.

Here's celebrating your Creative Muse. 

~judy

Double D - EASTER

Dear Ones~

Well, spring is finally here, and Easter is upon us. So it's only fitting that this is the topic for this 2-week challenge. Here is the Mood Board for our inspiration:

 

This is my card:

 

I am so enamored of this sweet little bunny. Isn't he just so dear? I got him off Amazon, so there is no company that I can share. I'll just say the company is "Made in China". I have him perched an another die cut of a die from the same company.😄😄😄 The greeting is an old GKD stamp set and was fussy cut.

 

 

The Ingredients:

Recollections Green Card Stock

GKD White Card Stock

Doodle Bug Easter Express Patterned Paper

SU Circle Nesting Dies

PTI Bows Galore Die for Bow

Bunny and Cross Hatch Dies from Amazon

GKD Spring Fling Stamp Set for Greeting

Stash Baubles

 

 

 

 

 If you head on over to the  Double D Challenge Blog and play along, you could win this absolutely ADORABLE die set from Cottage Cutz.  Also, don't forget to check out all the beautiful cards the other designers have created.

 

 

So, until next time dear readers, ASPIRE to be INSPIRED. 

Here's celebrating your CREATIVE MUSE!!

~judy

Can You Handle the Pressure - FAVORITE COLOR

Dear Ones~  There's a new challenge over at Can You Handle the Pressure.   For this challenge blog you MUST use an EMBOSSING FOLDER on your project.  Heat embossing (with embossing powder) is permitted but only IN ADDITION to your embossing folder design.  Each new challenge will have a 'TWIST' which is optional ... your choice to use or not.

The OPTIONAL TWIST for today's challenge is:

FAVORITE COLOR

 

This is my card:

It's purple. My favorite color is PURPLE!! I love purple, can you tell?? And my other passion at the moment is collage. Here I have just used a bunch of different ephemera from my stash, I can't even tell you where that butterfly came from. I found it in a box with a bunch of other stuff. The greeting is fussy cut and is from an old PTI stamp set called Flower Favorites. I embossed the collage panel with the Mandala Blooms embossing folder for texture and dimension.

 

 

 The Ingredients:

Recollections Purple Card Stock

Pink Monarch Digi Prints on Etsy

Stash Ephemera

PTI Flower Favorites Stamp for Greeting

Seven Plaza Boo Boo Tape Digi Print

Spellbinders Mandala Blooms Embossing Folder

 

 

 

 

 

 So head on over to the Can You Handle the Pressure Blog and play along, and don't forget to check out all the beautiful cards the other designers have created while you are there. I can't wait to see all your wonderful designs!!

 Until next time dear reader, I hope you "can handle the pressure"!

Here's celebrating your CREATIVE MUSE.

judy