Hello readers!  If this is your first time here, welcome!  I hope you find creativity and inspiration as you look around.  If you are a regular reader or follower of mine, thank you for your continued support and I'm happy and grateful you return so often to visit.  I do try and blog 5 days a week (and YES, I work full-time outside of this too!), so I hope that you will always find something new here.

Today I am sharing a colorful rainbow themed card using a new digital stamp set from 88 and Clear (formerly Richard Garay Designs and RG Avenue) called  "Be Grateful".  By pairing these bright colors with a black background it offers a stark contrast to make the colors really pop!

*A full list of supplies is located at the end of this post. 

This A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock.  Using a piece of Black Taffy sugar stock, I die cut the background layer from a scalloped rectangle die.  Because the "Be Grateful" stamp set I had is a digital stamp, I printed out the image on Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock and then colored it using Copic markers before fussy cutting the leaves out.  I stamped the sentiment "Be Kind and Grateful" in Black Taffy ink on white cardstock and die cut it using a circle die.  I adhered the circular sentiment to the left side of the card and then adhered the rainbow leaves to the right of the circle using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.  To add a little sparkle, I die cut a few silver glitter leaves and tucked them in among the rainbow leaves.  Lastly, I added a coat of Dazzling Pat for even more sparkle, because you can NEVER have enough sparkle!  : )

 May we all remember this simple message to be kind and grateful today and always. . . 

Hello friends!  If you are new here, welcome!  I hope you find creativity and inspiration while you are here.  Please check out my gallery, for the largest compilation of all my work.  If you are a regular visitor to my website, then I thank you for your continued support.  

Today I am sharing a card that required NO stamping at all!  Today's card was made completely from a variety of dies from Whimsy Stamps.  

*A full list of supplies is located at the end of this post. 

The base of this A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah White Solar Smooth cardstock.  Using the Lattice die, I die cut the first layer from white cardstock.  I adhered the lattice directly to the card base.  Using one of the leaves from the Leaf Foliage 2 die set, I cut the leaf in rainbow colors from pink, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple.  I placed them down the left side of the card in that ROYGBIV pattern.  I then placed a thin strip of black cardstock over the left side of the card where all the leaf stems met, to make it seem more clean.  Using the "thanks" die, I die cut the bottom shadow layer from black glitter cardstock and the top layer from white cardstock.  I adhered both layers together using liquid glue and then adhered the entire sentiment to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. 

I think that adding rainbow colors on a card with a lot of white space really make those colors pop.  I hope you have enjoyed this cheerful design.  Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

Today I'd like to share a simple rainbow themed card that carries a positive message.  Given the current state of the world between a pandemic, political chaos and civil unrest, I think we could all use more love, peace and understanding. I don't know who needs to hear (or see) these words today, but perhaps you could use a reminder that you are enough.  You are unique.  And, you are loved.

*A full list of supplies is located at the end of this post.

The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock.  Using a piece of rainbow paper from the Whimsy Stamps rainbow paper pack, I cut a 5 1/4" x 4" piece for the background.  I die cut the large heart from white cardstock and heat embossed the sentiment "You Are" with black embossing powder.  I adhered the large heart to the center of the card using 3M foam adhesive.  I stamped a variety of words in Versamark ink on red, orange, yellow, green and blue and heat embossed them with white embossing powder.  I die cut the words using the Speech Bubbles dies from Whimsy Stamps.  I adhered each word bubble to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.  Lastly, I added a couple of rhinestones to the card for added sparkle. 

I hope today's card will inspire you to share and speak nothing but kind and positive words.  Always.  
​Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day! 

Happy Fri-Yay!  I hope you are looking forward to the weekend ahead.  My parents are coming down for a visit from Maine and I haven't seen them since February, pre-travel quarantine, so I am beyond excited to hug them!
Today I'm happy to to be sharing this fun rainbow themed slimline card featuring a new stamp set called
"Bizzy Bees" from the July release at Whimsy Stamps.   This month's kit sold out in record time, so this is going to BEEEEeee a popular set!  

*A full list of supplies is located at the end of this post.

This slimline card measures 8 1/2" x 3 1/2".  Slimline cards are designed to fit into a regular #10 business sized envelope and require no additional postage.  The base of this card is made from Basic Black cardstock.  Using the Slimline Card Builder Die, I cut the background from white cardstock (you can see it has a thin stitching line around the edges). Using the Hexagon Builder Dies, I cut small hexagons from pink, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple cardstock and adhered them to the card.  I printed the digital "Bizzy Bees" stamp set onto Neeanah Solar White smooth cardstock and colored the bees using Copic markers.  I used my Brother Scan and Cut 2 Electronic Cutting machine to cut the images out (rather than fussy cutting them).  I adhered the bees over each hexagon using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.  I cut the sentiments into little strips and adhered a sentiment beside each bee.  Lastly, I added a coat of Clear Wink of Stella to the bees for added sparkle.  

Whimsy Stamps has this Bizzy Bees stamp set and so many other cute and fun designs to chose from.
Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

It's another exciting new release day today at Whimsy Stamps and today I am featuring the new "Sweet Succulents" stamp set.   Succulents, like cacti, are my kind of plant because they are low maintenance and practically impossible to kill.  I'll admit to being quite neglectful when it comes to watering things. . .  I'm more of a rock garden kind of girl!  

*A full list of supplies is located at the end of this post.

This slimline card measures 8 1/2" x 3 1/2" inches.  Slimline cards are designed to fit inside a regular #10 business sized envelope and do not require additional postage.  The base of this card is made from kraft cardstock.  I cut a 8" x 3" piece of Lawn Fawn Rainbow paper and adhered it to the kraft background.  Using the Whimsy Stamps Filmstrip die, I cut the frame from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock.  I stamped all of the succulent images in Memento Tuxedo Black ink on white cardstock and colored the images using Copic markers.  I used my Scan and Cut 2 machine to cut the images out in lieu of fussy cutting.  I then stamped the various words, "Hope, Laugh, Love, Dream" etc. in Memento Black ink on the plant pots.  I adhered the succulents to the card in rainbow (ROYGBIV) pattern using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.  Lastly, I added a coat of Clear Wink of Stella to the succulents for added sparkle.  

There are so many other fun new release products available at Whimsy Stamps, so be sure to check them out and start your shopping wish list today!

Thanks for visiting and happy crafting!

Hello and TGIF, friends!  In keeping up with yesterday's coffee themed card, today's slimline card is all about bubble tea!  Also called boba tea or pearl milk tea, bubble tea is a Taiwanese tea-based drink invented in the 1980s, which is shaken with ice to create the "bubbles", a foamy layer on top of the drink and chewy tapioca balls are added that typically fall to the bottom.  I've got to admit, while I've only had one, I think bubble tea looks better than it tastes!  It's a weird texture thing for me.  Have YOU ever tried bubble tea?

A full list of supplies (with clickable links) is located at the end of this post.

This slimline card measures 8 1/2" x 3 1/2".  A slimline card is designed to fit inside a regular #10 business sized mailing envelope with no extra postage needed.  The base of this slimline card is made from Coastal Cabana cardstock.  Using the Whimsy Stamps Slimline Scallop die, I cut the frame from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock.  I lined the back of each oval window with pieces of rainbow paper from the Lawn Fawn Really Rainbow paper pack.  I printed out the "Bubbly Feels" digital stamp set onto Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock and colored in the images with Copic markers.  I added a few highlights using a white gel pen.  I fussy cut the tea cups out and adhered them to the card using 3M foam adhesive.  I printed the sentiment strip also onto Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock.  I notched the left end before adhering it to the card.  Lastly, I added a coat of clear Wink of Stella to the bubble teas for added sparkle.  

Here is the "Bubbly Feels" stamp set by Graciellie Design that I used to create today's card:

Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a wonderfully creative weekend!

To create the first card, I die cut the Butterfly Garden Layer Plate C from white cardstock. I adhered this over a piece of rainbow patterned paper. I stamped one butterfly on each of five different colored cardstocks (red, orange, yellow, green and blue) and heat embossed the butterflies with white embossing powder. I used the coordinating Lovely Butterflies dies to die cut the butterflies out. ​I die cut a circle of vellum cardstock and stamped the sentiment in the middle of the circle in Versamark ink. I heat embossed the sentiment with white embossing powder and adhered it to the center of the card. I adhered the die cut butterflies down the left side of the card in a rainbow ROYGBIV pattern. I adhered the butterflies using small pieces of 3M foam adhesive.

I hope these rainbow cards will bring some sunshine to your day!

Hello readers and happy Saturday!  Today I am sharing a new digital stamp set called "Making It" from the RG  Avenue Monthly Card Club.  I'll be the first to admit that when I saw this geometic shaped stamp set, I was quite hesitant that it wasn't necessarily "my style."  But, part of being a designer and artist, means being unafraid to take chances and experiment with things outside of your comfort zone.  I was very pleasantly surprised with how these cards turned out using a rainbow theme of colors!  

The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White smooth cardstock.  Using the Altenew Watercolor Stripes Cover Die, I cut the background from Black Taffy sugar stock.  I printed the butterflies from the "Making It' stamp set on Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock and colored them with Copic Markers.  I cut the butterflies out using my Brother Scan and Cut 2 machine.  I adhered the butterflies to the card using 3M foam adhesive.  I adhered some black baker's twine under the sentiment.  Lastly, I coated the butterflies with a layer of Dazzling Pat for added sparkle.  

Here is the "Making It' digital stamp set that I used to create today's set of cards:

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*Live class is held every 2nd Wednesday of each month*  Receive your Exclusive Download instantly after checkout and start creating! Exclusive Digital Download included with files in 5 formats; Regular PDF, Digital Die Cut Machine Outlined PDF, Mini PDF, SVG & JPEG. You will also receive an exclusive new stamp set each month to create your projects (Stamp Set available for by mail kits only).

Here’s what you receive in each Monthly Kit!– Create 4 gorgeous projects!
– Exclusive Digital Downloads in 4 formats! (Regular PDF, Digital Die Cut Machine Outlined PDF, SVG File, and JPEG File)
– Exclusive new stamp set 6″ x 8″ (three months ahead of its launched date)
– One on one education! Live virtual education class. The recording will always be available!
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– Tips, Techniques, and methods!
– Design and composition!
Subscription:* In the mail kit Option (U.S. Purchases only) 6-month subscription at – $29.99 + Tax & Shipping each month.

I hope you have enjoyed this colorful array of cards!  Thanks for visiting. 

Hello friends and happy Friday!  Today I am very honored and happy to be participating in another fun blog hop called "Spread Joy Not Germs."  Much like the "Send Uplifting Smiles" blog hop that I posted about just an hour ago sponsored by Newton's Nook Designs, this hop is also designed to inspire you to create and spread joy through sending handmade cards.  There are over 153 bloggers and companies participating in this hop and there are many great prizes available as you will see at the end of this post.  

Today I'm happy to be representing Whimsy Stamps.  I have used their sweet Bunny Balloons stamp set to create my card for this hop. 

​Here is the rainbow themed card I created for this bloghop:

*A full list of supplies is located at the end of this post.

This slimline card measures 8 1/2" x 3 1/2".  Slimline cards are designed to fit inside a regular #10 sized business envelope and do not require additional postage.  The base of this slimline card is made from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock.  Using the Slimline Postage stamp die, I cut the frame from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock.  I lined the back of the frame with rainbow striped paper.  I stamped some of the cute little bunnies and balloons from the Bunny Balloons stamp set and colored them in using Copic markers.  I added the bunnies to the card with 3M foam adhesive for added height.  I stamped the sentiment in Memento Tuxedo black ink, notched the left edge and adhered it to the right side of the card.  Lastly, I added a coat of Clear Wink of Stella to the balloons for added sparkle. 

Sponsor and Prize List:

Catherine Pooler Designs - $20 Gift Certificate on each of the Brand Ambassadors' blogs 
Hedgehog Hollow - one month free sub to the box with free us shipping
Artesprix - Getting Started Kit
Beacon - Product gift bag 
Brutus Monroe - $50 GC
CAS-ual Fridays - Win the new release - over $80 value
Dina Kowal - Two $10 gift codes to Dina Kowal Creative
Dress My Craft - $35 gift certificate
Ellen Hutson - $35 Gift Certificate
Greeting Farm -$25 Gift Certificate
Heffy Doodle - £35 voucher for the store
iCrafter - $20 Gift Certificate 
Ink on 3 - $35 Gift Certificate
Joy Claire - $25 Gift Certificate
Miss Ink Stamps -$25 Gift Certificate
Pear Blossom Press -$25 gift certificate
Paper Sweeties - $50 Gift Certificate
Polka Dot Orchard- $20 Gift Certificate
Pink and Main - $25 Gift Certificate
Rabbit Hole Designs - $10.00 gift code on each DT members blogs
Sassy and Crafty Stamps - $35 Gift Certificate
STAMPlorations - $25 gift code on the STAMPlorations blog + $10 gift code on each designer blogs.
Taylored Expressions - $50 Gift Certificate
Trinity Stamps- $25 Gift Certificate
The Ton - $20 Gift Certificate (stamps, dies, ink or sequins)
Unity - two $25 Gift Certificates 
Whimsy Stamps - $15 GC on each of their Creative Team team blogs
WOW! Embossing Powder - two gift vouchers £30 UK or Europe & $30 for US winner
Xyron - Mega Runner, Refill & 1.5 inch sticker maker, refill
You're Next Stamp - $25 Gift Certificate
​

​For a full list of details and all those participating, you can always refer to:
Hedgehog Hollow
​Catherine Pooler
​

Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

Today the Newton's Nook Designs and Inky Paws Challenge Team members are hopping along to Send Uplifting Smiles!  Our goal today is to help brighten your day with uplifting and encouraging cards that will make you smile!  We know that many of you are under stay-at-home orders to help fight the spread of the Coronavirus and during this time of social distancing it's more important than ever to keep in touch with family and friends!  We encourage you to spend some time creating and sending cards to those who matter to you!  Check out all the stops on this hop to get inspired on ways YOU can send uplifting smiles!  

Please leave kind comments at all the stops on the hop for a chance to win a store credit to our shop (details at the bottom of this post). 

*A full supply list is located at the end of this post.

This slimline card measures 8 1/2" x 3 1/2".  Slimline cards are designed to fit into a regular #10 business sized mailing envelope, so no extra postage is required.  The base of this card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Crest cardstock.  As you will notice, I created a bit of "home" theme here starting with a little town at the bottom using the Snowglobe Scenes stamp set by Newton's Nook.  I stamped the town in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and used the coordinating Snowglobe Scenes dies to cut them out.  The town was colored in a rainbow array of Copic markers.  Then I progressed into the city still using the Snowglobe Scenes stamp set, but also added the Eiffel Tower from Newton Dreams of Paris stamp set and Big Ben from Newton Dreams of London.  I kept the city in a neutral range of various gray tones.  Then at the very top of the card, I incorporated the castle and clouds from the Once Upon a Princess (soon to be retiring!) stamp set.  The whole card was tied together by lots of rainbow colors and layering with 3M foam adhesive.  Lastly, I stamped the sentiment "Home is wherever we are together" at the bottom of the card in Memento Tuxedo Black ink.  This sentiment was from the Newton's Nook Cozy Camper stamp set.  

Inspired?
What will you create? Newton's Nook Designs is having a sale this weekend too so you can stock up on your favorites to make some cards today! Check out their shop at www.newtonsnookdesigns.com for details! 

Send Uplifting Smiles Hop Giveaway!
Would you like to win a $25 store credit to Newton's Nook Designs online shop?
We are giving them out to TWO lucky winners!

Here's how to win:
Comment on the NND blog and Design Team blogs (see list below)! The winner will be chosen at random from the collective reveal posts. Make sure to check out each of their blogs and comment for your chance to win. You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning! You have until Monday, April 20th at 9pm EST to comment -- winners will be announced on the blog post on Tuesday, April 21st.

Check out all the awesome Design Team Blogs below to enter:
Newton's Nook Designs
Ellen Haxelmans
Larissa Heskett
Samantha Mann
Zsofia Molnar
Maria Russell
Andrea Shell
Tatiana Trafimovich
Amanda Wilcox
Debbie Owens
Diane Morales
Becky Noelle
Crystal Komara (You are here!)