FLUTTERBYS!

I live in senior independent living - it's great way to live - have a large apartment, meals, tons of activities from which to choose - besides I am now living 15 minutes from my daughter - best perk of all.  I teach a card class every month - usually have about 15-20 of the residents in every class - so it's a challenge to think up a card and then do all the prep of the materials for the class. 

I made several sample cards for ideas for the group.  I cut out tons of various colored butterflies from Altenew Fluttering Fantasies - also leaves from Itty Bitty Branches.  Had three trays of a mixture of sizes and colors of butterflies on the tables - other supplies were in their packets - card base, sequins. leaves.  As everyone finished, I spattered their card with gold metallic ink. 

 

 

That's me in the back row on the right!

 

Thanks for stopping by.

 

PINK FLOWERS

I am the designer for #292 TicTacToe Challenge board this go around.  I chose across the middle with floral, free and white - pretty easy and fast choice for me.

My flowers are from Altenew - Fresh Flowers and the greenery is also from Altenew - Itty Bitty Branches.  I embossed a circle in the background for some texture.  The greeting is from an old Memory Box set of sentiments.

Hope you'll find some inspiration from my board and join us in our challenge this time.

Crafty hugs,

 

  

BUTTERFLY

I was rummaging thru my box of half finished cards, embossed card fronts, and other bits and bobs and found this card with only the base and embossed front.  It went perfectly with the butterfly I had just been playing with and here's the finished product.

I embossed the butterfly in gold and then smooshed broken china distress ink on it.  Did the same with the leaves using rainforest ink.  I did the embossed piece so long ago I don't know what colors I used.  Added the little sentiment and done!

Crafty hugs,

CARDS FOR CRAFT BAZAAR

I am going to participate in a small craft bazaar this coming weekend so have been in kind of a crunch to have enough cards to put out on my table for sale.  I don't like to have exact duplicates so try to do a variation of color or design on every card.  I usually have about a third of cards that have a sentiment on them and rest I leave blank.  Then I have a variety of sentiments from which to choose if someone wants to add a sentiment to a blank card.

My first card was inspired by Therese Calvird where she added some butterflies to a black and white background.

I didn't have the butterflies she had so used some from Spellbinders.  Same went for the flower - mine is from when Hero Arts and Altenew did a collaboration ages ago.  I blended some darker pink on the butterflies and gave them a gold body.  Added the leaf sprigs, added some gold spatter and put it all together.  Made another card with yellow butterflies and different colored leaves.

 

My second card was inspired by Carrie Sheridan - she called it a panel bridge card and had five strips across her card.  I simplified my version by only using three strips and I think her card was larger also.  Mine is an A2 and folds flat in A2 envelope.

 

I used Honey Bee's coneflower die and blended on the flowers petals and leaves.  Embossed the center strip with a leafy folder.  Added a simple sentiment and done.  Pretty fast and easy after I figured it out.  I am entering this card in the Creative Creases Challenge.

 

Thanks for stopping by today.

 

 

 

TICTACTOE #290

This week's board is by our DT member, Rosanne and offers many fun ways to design your card.  My card has all the elements if you count that the flower is in the shape of circle.

For the background I used a very old SSS stencil (2013) and used white heat embossing with it.  The magnolia die is also an oldie.  I used Altenew nimbus cs for the background and nimbus ink for the shading in the flowers.  The embellishments are Altenew's tranquility enamel dots.

Our challenge is open for two weeks beginning today so pick a row, any row and join in for an opportunity to be one of our guest designers!

Crafty hugs,  

 

 

 

ALCOHOL INKS REVISITED

How long has it been since you've used your alcohol inks?  For me, I think it's been at least 4 years!  The activity Director where I live is doing alcohol ink on a ceramic tile tomorrow and I'm helping her with the class and then next Saturday we're doing an alcohol ink on Yupo paper and making a card.  Here are the cards I've designed as inspiration.

It's sort of positive and negative - die cut from their piece or use it as a background.  I used an old SSS leaf die and various TH alcohol inks. Then added bits of gold with Deco-foil.  I'd forgotten how much fun it is to play around with these inks.

Thanks for stopping by,

 

 

COREOPSIS

TicTacToeChallenge #288 is up today and I'm here with a monochromatic card.  I chose to go down the right side with spatter, die cuts and embellishments.

I used Altenew's coreopsis dies cut out in white and inked with their nimbus ink.  The base cardstock is also in nimbus.  I spattered the background with some white acrylic paint.  The center of the flower is filled with Altenew's tiny sequins and then I added a few larger ones around the sentiment.

 I am also entering my card at SimonSaysStamp's IG challenge (#SSSIGChallenge) where the theme this month is monochromatic.

Our challenge runs from March 12 - 26 - plenty of time to create with this board!  So please join us!

Crafty hugs,

 

TULIPS

My creativity fairy has been on vacation and so I'm trying to lure her back by entering some challenges.  My card today was inspired by the colors in CAS Colors and Sketches (yellow, navy and apple green) and the theme at Die Cut Divas (spring).

After die cutting all the tulip parts from white cs, I used DO to color them.  I die cut a pocket and embossed it with a brick folder - then swiped navy DO to show off the texture a bit more.  Added a navy background to a white card base and then finally arranged my bouquet.  I didn't have any yellow ribbon so made my own by swiping yellow ink onto some seam binding.

Crafty hugs,

 

TICTACTOE CHALLENGE

Our challenge at TicTacToe is a little slow in starting up for 2026 but we are all set with some new team members, themes and assignments - we're good to go!!  Rosanne has started us off with a Valentine theme and I chose down the left side with hearts, floral and texture.  My card also goes across the middle with floral, ink blending and sentiment strip.

I made a Z fold card and used some old dies (Altenew) and an embossing folder (Spellbinders) - neither available any longer.  I ink blended the flower parts and leaves (DO shabby shutters, picked raspberry and kitsch flamingo) and then arranged them into a sort of bouquet.  Next, I glued my bouquet to the left side of the Z fold card. To add a little pizzazz, I added some sparkle spray and some gold spatter.  Glued on the little sentiment and done!!

Our challenge runs from February 12th to the 26th. That's two weeks of time to create and post on our website (https://tictactoechallenge.com).

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Crafty hugs,

 

 
  

INSPIRATION CHALLENGE

The colors for the February Altenew Inspiration Challenge are sort of a pale gray, green and soft coral.  I recently bought their lilac dies and just HAD to use them!

After die cutting all the flowers, I used some inks to give them a little depth with ink shading. Then arranged them on the branch - Altenew's number system makes it a breeze to arrange.  I gave the arch card base some texture with a 3D die from Altenew.  The card base is a dull gray/silver.  Added a little interest with some enamel dots.  I will add a sentiment when needed - altho it will probably be for a birthday.

 Crafty hugs,

 

2025 FAVES

Here is a collage of my favorites from this past year - although I made many many cards, it seems I didn't post very many on my blog.

 Hope everyone has a fantastic 2026!

 

BLUE CHRISTMAS

My card today is for the TicTacToe Challenge #284.  I used some old and some newer products in my card today.  AND I managed to use all of the board elements.

I began with an old Tim Holtz die set but still available from Sizzix.  Die cut all the flowers in white and then shaded with Altenew "Nimbus" ink.  Arranged these and the leaves on a navy background (Altenew Arctic Mountain).  The card base was cut from the second largest Spellbinders Essential Arches dies.  I spattered all with gold ink and added a enamel dots in the flower centers (Altenew Tranquility).  For the matching envelope, I made a stencil of the flower and used Concord & 9th midnight ink.  Glued the flower outline over it - this may not go thru the mail though.

Our Challenge is open from November 20 - December 4 - plenty of time to make another Christmas card!  Thanks for visiting today.

 

 

 

THANKSGIVING EASEL CARD

I really like the easel card I designed for Christmas with the wreath and the little bird (https://createdbybjk.blogspot.com/2025/08/easel-card.html) so I CASED myself for my TicTacToe Challenge #282 board which I created.  I also think I managed to have all the elements on my card - leaves, sentiment, twine, embellishments, fall colors, fun fold, kraft cardstock and die cuts.

After stamping and cutting out the sentiment, I used black fun foam to give it depth to hold up the card.  The measurements for the card are 8.5" x 5.5" and scored at 5.5" and 2.75".  

Be sure join in our challenge for a chance to be our next guest designer.

ANGEL ORNAMENT

 

The cross stitch pattern I used for my card/ornament is from the 1980"s - but I have always thought it was the cutest ever and had this idea to make her into a card.  So my friend, Greta, kindly sent me a few die cuts of Altenew's pegboard die (have since purchased it!) and I started stitching again.  To begin with I had no idea where I was going with this.  I used all six strands of floss and (altho a little thick) it makes the ornament quite sturdy.

I made her into a card and an ornament. For the ornament. I used an arch die for the frame (3 layers of frame and a backing piece). I added a red and white twine loop for a hanger and covered it with the little holly leaves. It's an easel card. The ornament is attached to the backing of the card with some pretty sticky washi tape - but it will peel off. So the recipient can either display or hang on the tree.  

All for now...

 

 

WREATH EASEL CARD

 I've made quite a few easel cards lately and created this one for Concord & 9th.  They are having an event for World Cardmaking Day which is coming up soon - October 4th.  I was sent an email asking to send a card and made this with their new Joyful Wreath dies.

I cut the dark leaves and sentiment from C & 9th wildberry cs and embossed the edges with the border die included in the set.  The gold sequins are from Altenew.  The other pinks and the gold cs are from scraps I had on hand.  I think there will be many other color combos in my Christmas card stash this year as this is such an easy card to make - I'll probably be spending as much time choosing color combos as I will making the card!!

Thanks for stopping by today.

PLAID AUTUMN

This the last of my hoarded plaid and gingham paper that I bought at Target years ago - I am sad - such wonderful colors!  I have all of the elements for the TicTacToe Challenge #282 except for red and embossing, but went down the left side with die cut, orange and fun fold.

I purposely left off a sentiment as I might use it for Halloween, but also would make a nice Thanksgiving card.  The card measures 9"x5 1/4" with scores at 2.1/4" and 3 1/8 on either side.  Since the base was black I put a white piece on the center back for a note.

Be sure to enter our TicTacToe Challenge this go around for a chance to be our next guest designer.

Crafty hugs, 

 

AUTUMN WREATH

At first, I didn't know whether I could do a card in the colors for Altenew's September Inspiration Challenge as I probably would never have thought of using them together - but that's what it's all about!

I used a method Jennifer McGuire did recently of smudging distress inks on a piece of watercolor paper and generously spritzing with water.  I used some seedless preserves, barn door, forest moss, carved pumpkin and rusty hinge.  I did two pieces with the same colors so I would have a large variety of leaves from which to choose after die cutting with Altenew's zero-waste die.  The card base is kraft cardstock and the brick wall is some purple cs.  I blended mocha ink onto the bricks for a little added interest.  Some enamel dots and a twine bow were the finishing touches.  This may be a fall birthday card or maybe for Thanksgiving - for now it will remain without a sentiment.

 All for now...

 

PLAID HALLOWEEN

 A late entry for Die Cut Divas where the challenge is a Z fold card "anything goes" at the Creative Creases Challenge.  

I made a few cards last Halloween similar to this one from an idea from Katharina Tarta on IG.  Fortunately I had one I saved so I didn't have to hunt around for measurements.  The paper is quite old - I think I was saving it for something special and I guess this is it!  There's another black and white small pumpkin under the fold on the right.  The plaids match when the card is folded up.

Thanks for stopping by...

 

BLUE FLOWERS

Time for another TicTacToe Challenge with a nautical theme - but still managed to do my usual floral card!!  I went down the left side with stencil, blue and stripes.  My design could also go across the top with stencil, birthday and die cut.

I inked the stripes with a very old stripe stencil and Altenew "nimbus" ink. Used nimbus ink to shade the die cut flowers and  also for the added enamel dots.  The flowers were cut from cloudy sky cardstock and the leaves were from my scraps.

Hope you'll join our challenge - it runs until 11 September!  Crafty hugs,

 

AUTUMN LEAVES

I felt like doing a little watercoloring the other day.  Used a piece of bubble wrap to smoosh some yellow, orange and pink  watercolors.  After I finished playing around, I die cut the piece with a Altenew zero waste die.

Then it was a work in progress for several days as I had no set idea where this card was going.  So tried lots of ideas until I settled on this green and gold with the wc piece.  The little dot cut outs were filled in with a gold metallic pen.  I used a "hugs" sentiment to finish my card.

I am entering this at the Altenew Inspiration Challenge as their August colors are pink, green and cream. 

Crafty hugs,