handmade cass

I treated myself to a virtual craft retreat for the first time and it was the most creative fun I have had in a long time! I've been following Jenn Shurkus for a while because I love seeing her bright and colorful cards (especially Lawn Fawn and anything with Copic coloring). When she announced a virtual version of her Crop on the Cape retreat, I jumped at the chance to join in because it is usually held in Cape Cod (on the exact opposite side of the country). I was extra excited to participate in a Lawn Fawn card class that included all the details about Copic coloring these cute critters. Jenn had her team stamp and die cut everything in the kits ahead of time so we could focus on coloring and assembling the card fronts (pictured above). One of my favorite demonstrations from a sponsor was all about Deco Foil. I don't own a laminator so I've never tried it before. But in the boxes we received, they included Deco Foil Transfer Gel Duo that works with stencils and the pre...

I've been using my crafty time (which is very hard to come by during a pandemic when you have kids) to work on birthday cards. Watercolor continues to be my favorite coloring method and I love the way it turned out on this subtle patterned paper.  Supplies: Stamps - Stampin' Up Watercolors - Prima Marketing 'Tropicals' Ink - Versafine Paper - Glitz (patterned paper pad), DCWV (glitter paper), Staples (white cardstock) Other - Stickles glitter, Sakura Glaze pen

I was so excited to use this food truck stamp from the last Stampin' Up Sale-A-Bration. Pinterest was very helpful with ideas for coloring the truck, and it gave me some good practice with my Copic markers.

My husband took over all my mom duties tonight and I did some crafting with a Gilmore Girls marathon. Bliss! This lovely Smith-Corona typewriter hasn't seen the light of day in over 4 years. I used it to write a sentiment on a Mother's Day card. I also took inspiration from a card I received recently to try out some freehand gems using a gold paint pen on watercolors. And I used a few Stampin' Up supplies (sentiment stamp and embossing folder) to embellish another Mother's Day card.

I received a set of Inktense pencils for Christmas and was so excited to try them. Why did I wait so long? The bright colors are so beautiful! I was working on a set of cards for my stamp club and started with the floral image top, left. By the time I was done (bottom, right) I was pretty happy with myself. Supplies: stamp - Stampin' Up (Birthday Blooms set) ink - Ranger Distress Ink watercolor pencils - Inktense water brush - Pentel watercolor paper - Canson

I am part of a Stampin' Up club that meets every other month to exchange cards and work on holiday projects together. This month we are exchanging a set of gift tags to use for Christmas presents.  I spent waaaay too long making these wreath tags with a paper bow, watercolor leaves, and Stickles berries. And I was very excited to use my Envelope Punch Board and the Notcher Punch to make a self sealing envelope from vintage music sheets. Inside the envelope I have a mix of gift tags all ready to be used this Christmas. I hope they enjoy! Supplies : stamps - A Muse wreath | Hero Arts doily | Memory Box reindeer | Avery Elle snow globe ribbon - American Crafts glitter - Stickles tools - We R Memory Keepers Envelope Punch Board and Notcher Punch | Stampin' Up bow punch | Marvy circle punches

I have a good friend that also loves paper crafts and I don't get to see her often. So I am sending her a surprise package with some snow globe shaker tags she can gift to her three kids this Christmas. There were a number of new snow globe stamp sets this year, but I liked this one best because of the sweet little deer. Supplies : stamps and dies - Avery Elle Snow Globe ink - Memento markers - Copic glitter - Martha Stewart ribbon - American Crafts cardstock - Memory Box | Neenah Solar White And since I had an extra 20 minutes I made a few quick tags for my own kids this Christmas.  I used my Sakura Glaze pens to make the ice a bit shiny (because these pens dry much faster than Glossy Accents). The walrus cracks me up. Supplies : stamps - Avery Elle Polar Pals ink - Memento markers - Copic | Sakura Glaze cardstock - Memory Box tag punch - Stampin' Up ribbon - crochet thread

I just got the new Hero Arts Sleeping Fox stamp , and I am pretty excited about it. I fell in love with it and had to have it. But then I didn't know what to do with it once I got home. Does that happen to anyone else? After seeing the Hero Arts Holiday Card Challenge I forced myself to make something. Anything. I had seen a series of white monochromatic Christmas cards that I really liked, so I used that as my starting point. One Christmas card done. Check that off the list! Supplies : cardstock - Neenah Solar White, Limba Wood Grain, Stardream stamp - Lia Griffith by Hero Arts ink - Stampin' Up letter stickers - Basic Grey glitter - Stickles, Wink of Stella Brush paper doily vintage dictionary paper

I loved the challenge this week because I could try out a few new products and techniques that I haven't experimented with before. I created a tag that I can't wait to add to a random happy mail package for a friend. After digging through my supplies I found some things that I wanted to try for the first time (like this Any Tangerine stamp set and the translucent embossing paste).  Supplies : stamp set - Amy Tangerine by American Crafts embossing paste - Dreamweaver stencil - Heidi Swapp sequins - Avery Elle ink - Stampin' Up manila tag ribbon

I was inspired to make a colorful ombré gift tag for the Simon Says Monday Challenge this week. I started with a lace background stamp and used a sponge to dab on three ink colors from light to dark. I finished it with a metallic name tag and wide silk ribbon. Ready for gifting! Supplies : stamp and ink - Stampin' Up manila tag metallic Stardream paper silk ribbon

I made two cards this weekend that qualify for Simon Says Monday Challenge this week - Love That Technique . I needed a card for a friend that just found out she is having a baby girl. For that one I used the fussy cutting technique to cut out a dress from another part of that patterned paper. Supplies : patterned paper - Amy Tangerine, Memory Box mini clothespins twine And I also needed a birthday card, but wanted to use this "hola" stamp from an older Studio Calico set. I flipped that clear stamp over and used the back to stamp solid circles on the card - love that technique! Supplies : stamps - Studio Calico ink - Stampin' Up glitter - Wink of Stella vellum patterned card base - Michael's

My husband needed to send a few thank you cards and he requested something a little less cutesy than the last one I made . I have had this starry background stamp from Hero Arts for a long time and was so excited to use it! I did some ombre stamping with Stampin' Up ink and love the results. And I also managed to mess up the embossing on the second card so I had to add another layer. I even tried using the EK powder tool this time. Embossing gets me every time... Supplies : stamps - Basic Grey by Hero Arts, Lawn Fawn, Stampin' Up dies - Lawn Fawn ink - Stampin' Up patterned paper - Memory Box, Webster's Pages embossing powder - Stampendous powder tool - EK Success markers - Copic

I was so inspired to try something new this week, as part of the Simon Says Challenge "No Ordinary Paper" . I have never tried mixed media because of my super duper strong pull towards a clean and simple aesthetic. I wouldn't exactly describe this first attempt as a mixed media collage, but a step in the right direction for trying something new creatively. Supplies : Corrugated cardboard - from my recycling bin Stardream metallic cardstock (green) Chevron punch - Stampin' Up Embroidery floss - Amy Tangerine embroidery kit by American Crafts Paper doily Kraft paper bag - from my recycling bin USA stamp - Hero Arts Archival Ink - Ranger Watercolors Manila tag ABC stickers - Creative Imaginations Ribbon

The XYZ challenge from Simon Says this week made me think of a gift for my daughter's preschool teacher. I knew that I wanted to make something super practical and not knick knacky. A set of thank you cards seemed perfect because I know she uses them throughout the school year.  I made sure there was a yellow one in there just because of the challenge! And I will package them up in a little gift bag with some apple stamps and a bow. Supplies : Embossing folders - Provo Craft Die - Memory Box Stamps - Hero Arts Bow punch - Stampin' Up Cards & cardstock - Michael's  

I've been participating in the weekly challenges from Simon Says Stamp as a way to force me to finish some projects. And it is actually really fun! The challenges don't have stringent requirements and I have all the supplies on hand. No excuses! Instead of a card this week I decided to make a gift tag for the stencil challenge . It turned out too matchy-matchy in the end...but it's finished. I'm hoping this forced creativity will rub off so I can finish some other projects around the house. Supplies : Stencil - Simon Says Stamp Embossing Paste - Viva Mist - Studio Calico Tag Punch - Stampin' Up Crochet Thread - Aunt Lydia's

I have been using this Simon Says Stamp "love you" die so much lately. I especially like it with the thick, sparkly Stardream cardstock. One line of straight stitching on my sewing machine turned this into a matchbook style card - perfect for a gift card. Supplies : Love You Die - Simon Says Stamp Tag Punch, Doily Stamp, Ink - Stampin' Up Cardstock - DCWV Other - doily, ribbon, Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher

This was another card that I spent a crazy amount of time on, because it was for a crafty friend's birthday and I had new stamps to play with. I have had these two step floral stamps for a while but this was my first time trying them. They are red rubber cling stamps and a little bit difficult to line up perfectly. Supplies : Stamps - Stampin' Up | Paper Source Ink - Stampin' Up | Hero Arts Twine - Papertrey Ink Jumbo glitter - Tree House Studio

I hand stitched "celebrate" on this card for my mom. I am out of practice and giddy with new stamps to use, so a few hours of love went into this one. Love you mom! Supplies : Cardstock - Stampin' Up Stamp - Stampin' Up Ink - Stampin' Up | Tim Holtz Distress Ink by Ranger Thickers - American Crafts Embroidery Floss - Amy Tangerine by American Crafts

I have a new love! And it is the metallic gold embossing paste from Wendy Vecchi  (Dreamweaver). I got it as a Christmas present and am just using it for the first time. It was something that Jennifer McGuire started using and I thought that I had to have it. She was right. I made my own chevron stencil by cutting a few layers of card stock with my new Stampin' Up punch. It ended up a little wonky, mainly because my distress stained background paper was warped. But I still in love with the result. I actually have a real chevron stencil , but have not found it since moving last year.  I used a new stamp set and punch from Stampin' Up - "Simply Celebrate" stamp set and Chevron border punch.  And a few older items - Radiant Rain gold shimmer spray (mixed with the Distress Stains) and the Amy Tangerine "Capture" embroidery stencil kit.  Supplies : Tim Holtz Distress Stains - Ranger Simply Celebrate stamp set - Stampin' Up Chevron border punch...

I made this doughnut card for my husband for Valentine's Day this year. This was the conversation that followed... Him: I really like this card. That donut is awesome. And I still like it even if it isn't true. Me: No, it's true. Him: Aww. That's nice. I love you too. Me: I actually like cinnamon rolls more than donuts now. Him: Oh. Makes more sense now. I tried using my Distress Markers with a water brush for the first time on the donut. I'm not so sure about the technique.  Jennifer McGuire makes it look so easy!  Supplies : Stamps - Hero Arts | Stampin' Up Dies - Papertrey Ink Ink - Memento | Ranger Archival Ink Markers - Tim Holtz Distress Markers Glitter - Stickles