This is not a nesting die set, nor is it a die set with separate flowers in varied sizes. This was an actual single die that had the flowers all connected together. How cool, right?!

I made the first card into a shaker card by cutting out two card stock card fronts, layering in a piece of plastic to create a kind of sandwiched window. Then I cut two fun foam layering pieces to adhere to the back of the card front assemblage to add enough depth to create little floral wells for shaker pieces. To make a rainbow of flowers, I filled each flower well with different colored seed beads, confetti pieces, vase fillers, well, you get the idea–little bits and pieces of whatever I had on hand in the right colors. After all the flower wells were filled, I adhered a card stock card base, careful not to disturb all those shaker pieces from their positions. For the sentiment, I used a Lawn Fawn stamp from the “Color My World” mini stamp set, and used the MISTI to make sure that I got good, solid ink coverage.

For the second card, I basically took advantage of the design of the die and cut out a card front and a single layer of fun foam to make floral windows in ascending size order. I thought about backing each flower window with a different colored patterned paper in rainbow order again, but then I came across a scrap of watercolor paper that I had in my scrap box that had some lovely mottled blues and blue-violets splatters. I backed all the flower windows with this one scrap, which just fit to cover all the openings. Then I adhered the whole front to a card base. For the sentiment, I stamped a simple phrase from the Cardz TV “Just Saying” stamp set that reads, “Just saying…” Then for the inside sentiment, I used an Inkadinkado “Kids Quotes” stamp set that reads, “If you’re feeling blue — try painting yourself a different color.”

Easy peasy, clean and simple floral cards and will be nice additions to my handmade card stash — ready to go when I want to send a little uplifting note to someone. 🙂

Diemond Dies SALES: My readers can get 15% off and free worldwide shipping at Diemond Dies through June 19, 2017 by using the coupon code spring15 (no minimum purchase required). Additionally, if you are interested in buying the whole May 2017 Bundled New Release, there is a special bundled sale price of just $59 (which is lowered to $50 if you also use the spring15 code — that’s 44% off the individual die prices!), good through June 25, 2017. After June 19, 2017, you can use my coupon code thankskristina for 10% off and free worldwide shipping on all orders of $35 or more. 

These cards are being entered into the following challenges:
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Anything Goes Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Monday Touchy Feeling Challenge: shaker card
Creatalicious Anything Goes Challenge with Optional Die Cuts or Punches
Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
Cards Galore Encore Anything Goes Challenge
Not Just Cards Anything Goes Challenge
613 Avenue Create Anything Goes Challenge

These cards take advantage of the negative space created by small dies. I used the whole 7 piece set of the Diemond Dies sugarplum flower die set. [DIEMOND DIES COUPON CODE: thankskristina is still active for 10% off your entire Diemond Dies purchase and free shipping on orders of $35 or more!] Then I “back-filled” each cut out with some small scraps of patterned paper (If you recognize some of these, it could be because they are the bits left over from the Steampunk Scarlett tag I made last week), using strips of foam tape to add a little depth and shadow interest.  The papers I used were from My Mind’s Eye “Everyday Tango” and Graphic 45 “Bohemian Bazaar”.

For the sentiments, I used the Lawn Fawn’s “Critters at the Dog Park” and “Love You S’more” stamp sets.  For the “love everyday”, I had to do a little masking, as it was two different stamps, but it was quick and easy (the tutorial video below shows how easy!).

To add a little more interest, I used a Faber-Castell M size PITT artist pen to draw in some faux stitch lines.  On one of the cards I also added some teal and white bakers twine.  Finally, just to make the gift set a little more special, I took some washi in a similar color family to the patterned papers I used and put a little banner all around the envelopes.

The following is a video share of these cards including a step-by-step tutorial:

This card is being entered into the Lawnscaping Patterned Paper Challenge and
The Paper Nest Dolls Anything Goes Challenge

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day. WOOF!

I started with two 3″ x 4″ pieces of brightly patterned Dear Lizzy Lucky Charms paper. I rounded the corners to create the standard PL shape and did the same to two pieces of linen colored cardstock (I think any soft solid paper would work). Then I took the two cardstock pieces and drew a simple heart on one and a heart key on the other. I made sure to keep the designs simple because I next cut the shapes out with an Exacto knife over a cutting board. I used my plain black ink Uniball pen to make faux stitch lines around the shapes on the clean (non-drawn) side of each design, and I used foam adhesive strips to layer each cut cardstock piece over a patterned paper base.  They were looking a little plain so I decided to bling it up with colored rhinestones and enamel dots for extra color and pizzazz!

Here’s the video sharing this project.

I’m also submitting this to Simon Says Stamp challenge: Keep it clean and simple

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day! Please subscribe if you wish. WOOF 

Anyway, I made this simple scene card using a bit of stone wall patterned paper from my scrap box, some dimensional stickers, and, of course, Mimi herself colored with Copic and Chromatix markers. I love how it turned out.

This second card is one that I salvaged (and actually I like even a teeny bit better because no one else will likely have one altered like this one). The cardstock I used to stamp and color my image bled terribly. I thought I was being very careful, but at the end I noticed that Mimi’s cute little dot nose had become like a snowman’s carrot nose!  This would not do. I would not “waste” a colored image. What could I do to save it?  Well, I made Mimi into a clown-in-training! (bwahaha)  My niece always claims that she “studies” better in cafes and other public places. She is currently a freshman in college and is staring down the barrel of finals while trying to secure a job or internship for the summer.  In other words, it is nail biting time.   I drew up a new sign for the front of the card that says “Clown School Cafe” and inside the card says, “Always have a Plan B”   I crack myself up. hee hee hee

I’m going to be sending my niece this card along with some snacks and treats as a little care and good luck package. Hopefully the happy mail will bring her some good luck!

The following is a video sharing the cards:

Thanks for stopping by. Please subscribe if you wish, and have a great day! WOOF

There have been a lot of things up in the air in the CraftyPaws household in the last couple of months. We are trying to decide where to live, how to support ourselves, and what we will do next. Big questions, with no immediate answers. What to do? Make cards for others!

The cards above I made one afternoon for soldiers in the US military through Operation Write Home (OWH). These are cards that the service folks can use to send notes to their family and friends. There are specific criteria for OWH cards (e.g., size, thickness, and no glitter of any kind) so please check out the details from the link.

I made these for a challenge currently being hosted by Regina (YT: Gina Beth), who is celebrating her 1500 subbies with this awesome challenge. I have some more to make for another similar challenge hosted by YT: Rosemarie Bustillos so I’ll be updating this post with more pictures when I get done with my next batch. 🙂  Oh, just thinking about all of these is making me feel better!

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UPDATE: The second batch of cards, which I made for Rosemarie’s challenge is in the photo at right.

Here are the videos sharing the two batches of cards:

Thanks for stopping by! Hugs, Kristina WOOF

To remedy that, I have started to just make random cards from time to time (see top photo). Simple cards with colored stamped images like the Gorjuss Girl stamp (see video share below) or these Creepy Crew ones from the Greeting Farm (left photo) are fantastic and always bring a smile.  Or punch out some cute die cuts, add some dimension using foam adhesive tape, a little bling, wood veneer pieces, washi tape, lace, some acrylic and/or floral embellishment and you’re off to the races!

If I am going to be there when the recipient opens the card I can also make them a secret door card (the recipient has to be a crafter who knows how they work, or you have to be there to show them how it works when they open your card). These are really easy to make (I have attached a YT video that includes a share and a tutorial).

Lucky for me, when a wonderful friend, Jill (YT: luvmy2pugs1) was hosting a challenge to make some Any Hero Cards for service men and women. I had a couple of simple card making ideas and was able to whip them out. I am usually a very slow crafter, but these all took me only a few hours (that’s like lightening fast for me–LOL).  The following is a video sharing some of those cards and how I made them:

I finally have a stash of cards built up. Let’s see how long that lasts! XD

Please subscribe if you wish, and thanks for stopping by!  WOOF