The End of the April Challenge at Die Cut Divas

 April Sponsor for Die Cut Divas is Altenew

Altenew will present a $30 gift card to the winner of this months challenge at Die Cut Divas.

Be sure to enter your project by 9:00 p.m. Pacific time tonight. 

The Challenge is to make an Anniversary or Birthday Card. 

Remember to use a die-cut or dry embossed item in your submission. 

I don't think I've ever used this Altenew stamp and die set.  I picked it up when Altenew had one of their great sales and couldn't resist it.  I know I'm not a flower girl, but I did love this set.  I haven't used the Arches for something like this either, but I love it.

Supplies:
Altenew Paint-A-Flower Magnolia Rustica Rubra stamp & die set (no longer on site)
Arch die - unknown brand bought about 20 years ago - lost brand
Copic markers
Vagabond die cut machine

April With The Creative Crafters

The Creative  Crafters starts a monthly challenge every 15th of the month and I've made a stencil to make a beautiful flower as inspiration for this month. 

This challenge is always "Anything Goes".  
Be sure to join The Creative  Crafters challenge! 

This was a fun card to make.  As a mater of fact, I made myself a cup of hot chocolate right after I finished it.  It's just too bad I didn't have any toppings to put on it.  You might say my smile turned upside down.

Supplies:
Pink & Main Cozy Mug Dies
Pink & Main Mugs and Kisses (sentiment)
Altenew Enamel Dots Aqua Island
Vagabond die cut machine

I'm entering the following challenges:

A Cut Above (3) always a die, (1)

The Beginning of an Altenew Month

April Sponsor for Die Cut Divas is Altenew

Altenew will present a $30 gift card to the winner of this months challenge at Die Cut Divas.

The Challenge is to make an Anniversary or Birthday Card. 

Remember to use a die-cut or dry embossing for your submission. 

Supplies:
Altenew Tangerine Grove stamps and dies
Altenew XOXO and More dies
Copic markers
Vababond die cut machine

I'm entering the following challenges:

Love to Craft Challenge ‘ “Always Anything Goes” (monthly on the 1st)

Mix It Up Challenge Blog Anything Goes” w opt twist (monthly on the 1st)8

Creatalicious Challeges "Anything goes" w opt twist (3)

A Cut Above (3) always a die, different themes starts 1st Monday
NBUS (Never-Before-Used-Schtuff) 

February with Creative Crafters

   The Creative  Crafters starts a monthly challenge every 15th of the month and I've made       as inspiration for this month. 

This challenge is always "Anything Goes".  
Be sure to join The Creative  Crafters challenge! 

After I made this card, I actually almost tore it up, but knowing how I see some creations right after I finish as something that didn't turn out the way I wanted them to and that I was so disappointed in it that I had to hide those projects away for some time.  The same thing happened here.  I put it under some dies I had out and then when I rediscovered it, I actually fell in love with this.  These were actually some leftovers and new products Santa dropped off for me.

Supplies:
Whimsy Comfort and Joy stamps & matching dies (apples)
Waffle Flower Wonderful Christmas Combo stamps and dies (I do not see the dies online) - sentiment
Poppy Stamps Stained Glass Snowflake (no longer at Poppy Stamps)
Paper in stash
Copic markers used on apples
Unknown brand for the Stitched Arches but I think they are Die-namics from years ago.
Altennew enamel dots
Vagabond die cut machine

Last Day to Enter the September Challenge at Die Cut Divas

You have until 9:00 p.m. Pacific time to submit your project at 
Die Cut Divas!
  Anything Goes.

If you've never visited Birch Press Design, you should. I have found some unique designs that you won't find elsewhere.  

The Die Cut Diva's sponsor will be giving away a $20 gift card to the winner of our challenge. 

I absolutely love how this card turned out.  I had some String Art Circles already cut out and first I put them one on top of the other, the green shifted to show the black beneath and liked it, but then I just wanted to see what I was using and would up going with that design.  I already had one bird made and decided I needed two birds, then All I needed was a sentiment.  It just seemed to come together all by itself.  I've never used these birds even though I've had them a couple months.

Gads, I really love how this turned out. 

Supplies:
Birch Press Design String Art Frame
Birch Press Design Block Print Perched Bird
Birch Press Design Block Print Little Bird
Birch Press Design Hello Vintage Sentiment
Birch Press Design String Art Circle
Altenew Enamel Dots - Essential Black & White
Copic markers G40 & Y04 (either individually or G40 colored over Y04 on larger bird & maybe some light lavendar color on the smal. bird)
Vagabond die cut machine

I'm entering the following challenges:
NBUS (Never-Before-Used-Schtuff)

Anything Goes with Birch Press Design in September

You're Going To Love This Challenge at Die Cut Divas!
Yes!  Anything Goes.  I have an extra project to show you!  (TAGS)

If you've never visited Birch Press Design, you should. I have found some unique designs that you won't find elsewhere.  I have used the "String" background often and I thought it would create a beautiful background for this flower.  You know I love my Copic markers, but none were used on this card.  However Distress Oxides were.  I haven't had my Squeezed Lemonade very long, but have used it quite a lot. I don't know why I was drawn to yellow and brown, but I do like the way this turned out.

The Die Cut Divas' sponsor will be giving away a $20 gift card to the winner of the challenge.  Our sponsor will be giving away a $20 gift card to the winner of our challenge.  *Note: Challenge winner must have US address.

 Here is my card-

Supplies

Birch Press String Art Frame On Sale NOW

Birch Press Splendid Cosmos Contour Layers On Sale NOW

Birch Press Hugs Honey Script no longer on site, but there are 3 hugs on the site to catch your fancy

Distess Oxide inks Squeezed Lemonade and Vintage Photo:
Altenew Enamel Dots Fall Harvest

Vagabond die cut machine

These are supposed to be Santa Faces, but I was thinking snowmen when I made them, so now I'm calling them Santa Snowmen.  I think they're fun and I'm keeping these for tagging my family's Xmas gifts.  

Supplies for Tags
Birch Press Santa Face dies
Birch Press Joy Honey Script die
Nuvo Crystal Drops - Ebony Black (for the eyes
Copic marker BG0000
Glitter papers
Xmas carols sheet in my stash
Vagabond die cut machine

I'm entering the following challenges:

NBUS (Never-Before-Used-Schtuff) - Cosmos Contour Layers (flowers)

Alley's Angels "Anything Goes" (3/5)

Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge "Anything Goes" (#604 (3/3)

Love to Craft Challenge ‘ “Always Anything Goes” #88

Mix It Up Challenge Blog Anything Goes” w opt twist (1/8) #79

A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes UNLimited

Crafts Galore Encore - "Anything goes" (1/3) A Cut Above (1/3) always a die, different themes 

Altenew Has A Little Bit of Everything

It's Fun Time with Altenew in August

 The Challenge at Die Cut Divas ends today at 9:00 p.m. Pacific time. The challenge this month is to make a Z Card.  

I again made a "Z" card by simply folding the front of my card in half.  I don't know why I chose this cross-word pattern card to work with.  I was only looking for a card that would have some kind of pattern on it.  I turned the card inside out and said, "that's what I'm going to use".  Why?  It was just whimsy, I guess.

Combining mail with snowmen is again something out of a dream or nightmare.  It's just how you look at it.  I do think its funny to see snowmen on mailboxes.

Card opened up to show the Z fold.

Supplies:
Altenew Dynamic Duo: Snowy Delight Add on die set (includes sentiments)
Altenew Postal Heroes die set (no longer on Altenew web site)

Copic markers

Nuvo Crystal Drops - Gloss - Simply White - on tips of some of the snowmen's caps
Vagabond die cut machine

I'm entering the following challenges:

Alley's Angels "Anything Goes" (1/5)

Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge "Anything Goes" (#604 (1/3)

 

Altenew in August

It's Time for Altenew in August

 The Challenge at Die Cut Divas this month is to make a Z Card.  

I made a "Z" card simply by folding the front of my card in half.  I didn't take measurements so I can't tell you measurements for the embossed half-panels if you wish to add panels.
I did use a die cut for the inside blue panel.  

Here's how my Z card looks like a "Z" card.  You see the "Z"?  A Clean and Simple "Z" for me.

Front of Card - I actually fell in love with this Altenew combo. I used some shiny blue paper which really added to the depth and texture of the background panels. I added Crystal Drops instead of coloring the stamens. 

Inside of Card - I thought cutting the die with no stamping might work and I'm so happy with the results. . I put glue on the un-inked die cut and matched it up with the outside die cut and pressed the whole card down very carefully.  When the card is closed, you don't see the die cut or message.

Supplies:

Altenew Build-A-Garden: Pristine Peonies & Add-on die bundle
Altenew  Angled Mosaic 

Elizabeth Craft Designs Stitched Rectangles - not on ECD website anymore

Nuvo Crystal Drops Gloss - Dandelion Yellow
Copic markers BG0000 & G40 - I picked up the wrong marker, so there is some blue under the green on the left side of the flower. 

vagabond die cut machine

I'm entering the following challenges:

A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes UNLimited

Mix It Up Challenge Blog Anything Goes” not doing opt twist 2/8 )

Love to Craft Challenge (always Anything Goes) (2/8)

Love To Scrap Challenge (always Anything Goes) 2/6

Crafts Galore Encore - "Anything goes" (1/3)

Ally's Angels  "Anything Goes"  (2/5)

Let's See May's Card Chain Challenge Project

 Card Chain Challenge Reveal

Out of all the options available, I chose Ribbons to work with.  I thought that if I could use Washi tape to make a background, I'd try the same with ribbon.  I had bought the frame die set and thought I'd try it out.  I remembered I had a flower that might fit perfectly within the frame and I think perhaps I should have used black for the lettering, but I thought the brown would match the brown disk on the daisy.  I still like it and I hope my mailing buddy likes it too.
I cut the flower & stem out of bright yellow cardstock and colored the flower to enrich the yellow already there and added green to the stem.  

Supplies:
Whimsy Stamps Spring Rectangles die set (Brand new die set  never used before)
Memory Box Happy Daisy Stem
Altenew XOXO & More die set
Ribbons in Stash
Copic markers E37, Y06 & YG03
Vagabond die cut machine

Challenges I'm entering are below the challenge directions.

 Challenge Directions 

Make a card using at least one of the following options. (You can actually use two, three, all the options, but you are only required to use one of them.)  

Colour Palette Option

Sketch Option

(Orient as desired.)

Theme Options: Chickens / Smiles and Laughter / Friendship

Product / Technique Options: Ribbon or Lace / Lacé

I'm entering the following challenges:

DL. ART "Anything Goes - unlimited, (not 2 in 1 day

A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes UNLimited

Mix It Up Challenge Blog Anything Goes” not doing opt twist (5/8 )

Love to Craft Challenge (always Anything Goes) (8/8)

Love To Scrap Challenge (always Anything Goes) 4/6

Crafts Galore Encore - "Anything goes" (3/3)

Ally's Angels  "Anything Goes"  (3/5)

NBUS (Never-Before-Used-Schtuff)

End of May With AI

 Art Impressions has some wonderful products and the challenge
 at Die Cut Divas is live through 9:00 p.m. Pacific time tonight!

Art Impressions, sponsoring Die Cut Divas' challenge  is giving a $25 gift card to the Winner of the May challenge. 

The challenge is to make your creation look like it is water colored.  You can use water colors, distress and distress oxides or whatever you want to get the water color look we want to see.

As I've said before, I find water coloring a challenge, but I do like this card. I know it looks like a tag, but it is an A2 size card. I bought two 8-packs of these cards and envelopes years back and still have a couple cards left. This card turned out to be so much fun!  I actually used it to send a not too late, but late, birthday card.

Supplies:
Art Impressions Got Style stamps (old lady on skate board
Art Impressions  Road trip stamps (stop light)
MFT Watercolor Wash Free Form die-namics no longer on MFT
Riley & Company Funny Bones stamp "This Card is Late" (never used before)

Bo-Bunny's back to basics 12X12 paper cut w/ MFT die
Glossy Accents on the light post lights of green, yellow & red

Altenew Enamel Dots  Red Sunset

Copic markers

Vagabond die cut machine

I'm entering the following challenges:
NBUS (Never-Before-Used-Schtuff)
Mix It Up Challenge Blog Anything Goes” not doing opt twist (3/8 ) Love to Craft Challenge (always Anything Goes) (5/8)

Love To Scrap Challenge (always Anything Goes) 1/6

yes, I played with the Categories at Craft Roulette on May 16, 2025

 The categories were:

Project 4 Bar Card (3 1/2" X 4 7/8" card) This card is about that size
Colors: Craft Store Loads of colors
Element: Sew(s)(ing)/Sewn  Stitched die cut
Random: Stencil - The Artists Collection - stencils used for vase & brushes

This is the first time I've used the Distress Oxides on something like this and I love the way this turned out.  Just select colors that you have.  I used Wild Honey around the edges of the vase, then brushed Squeezed Lemonade all over it and I felt it still needed something else.  I added Fired Brick over the edges, lightly brushed with yellow and liked what I saw. .I've never used the stencils in this set or I think the rest of the set, but I think I will have to try the rest now.

Supplies:

Altenew An Artist's Collection  stamps, dies & stencils (unsure if entire set is available)
My Favorite Things Die namices Stitched Oval STAX for the sentiment
Distress Oxide Inks Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Fossilized Amber, Iced Spruce, Salty Ocean, Squeezed Lemonade, Vintage Photo, Wild Honey &Worn Lipstick
Waffle Flower Shader 1+ double ended brushes
Altenew Enamel Dots - Fall Harvest

Vagabond die cut machine

I'm entering the following challenges:

Mix It Up Challenge Blog Anything Goes” not doing opt twist (2/8 )

A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes (monthly 1st thru 27th) UNLimited

Crafts Galore Encore - "Anything goes" (monthly - (2/3) Love to Craft Challenge (always Anything Goes) (4/8)

NBUS (Never-Before-Used-Schtuff)

Card Chain Challenge for April

I created a mini slimline card for this challenge and used the option of HATS.  Chefs have hats and I just love this cute set anyway, so the chefs have it.  I knew I wanted my two chefs to shine (of course, with their hats) and I also wanted all the little items you might cook with too, but I needed a table.  When I chose my sentiment, I thought it could serves as a table and I think it really does.  My background is a bit off-kilter because I attached the card onto the back of the patterned paper. 
MY BAD.
However, I had the background down so it may be wonky, but I still think it works.  My poor recipient will have to grin and bear it.  I chose the red hearts because I think it needed some more color. I also used Glossy Accents on the chef's buttons.

These are the Challenge Selections for the April Card Chain Challenge.

Make a card using at least one of the following options. (You can actually use two, three, all the options, but you are only required to use one of them. 

Color Palette Option

Exact matching is not required.)

Sketch Option

(Orient as desired.)

Theme Options: Hats / Rabbit / Friendship

Product / Technique Options: Fabric / Vintage

Supplies:
My Favorite things Recipe for Happiness no longer in stock.  (I think they are sooo cute)
Altenew  Enamel Dots Red Sunset
Copic markers
Scrap paper from 10 years ago.

Glossy Accents
Vagabond die cut machine

I'm entering the following challenges:

Gem of a Challenge - "Anything Goes" (3/4)                       

Love To Scrap Challenge (always Anything Goes) #173 (3/8)

The Paper Funday Challenge - ATG/Option (3of 6)
Love to Craft Challenge (always Anything Goes) (1/8)

 

Thank You to Altenew

 

 Altenew is giving a $50 gift certificate to the  
 winner of Die Cut Divas April Challenge

Below is my inspiration card.  I've had to send out 6 Birthday cards in one month so it had to be a birthday card.  This is only one of the freebies that Altenew lets you try.  

Supplies:
Altenew Color Some Blooms printables

Elizabeth Craft Designs Stitched Rectangles
Copic markers
Sentiment in my stash (happy birthday)

Vagabond die cut machine

I'm entering the following challenges

A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes Park Hopping My Happy Place - Hamamatsu Flower park FarmQuestGeneralStoreChallenge   (2/5)farm projects - many farms cultivate flowers Digi Choosday - "Anything Goes"

Card Chain Challenge Reveal for March

Card Chain Challenge Reveal for March
 
It took me awhile to come up with an idea, but it finally hit me.  I could do layers - oh yes, I CAN do layers.  I took out the two Altenew die cuts I wanted to layer, then I took out some AI images I'd stamped and cut on my Scan N Cut a couple days before and colored the gals with Copics.  I went looking for a friend die, FOUND IT and began putting my card together.  I had a leftover postage card die cut to back the gals and lift them off the page.  Poor gals, their legs are dangling.

Here are the challenges we could have picked.  I picked layers.  The supply list is at the bottom of the page.

Challenge Directions 

Make a card using at least one of the following options. (You can actually use two, three, all the options, but you are only required to use one of them.)  

Color Palette Option

 

(Exact matching is not required.)

Sketch Option

(Orient as desired.)

Theme Options: Stripes / Africa / Friendship

Product / Technique Options:  Felt / Layers

Supplies: 
Altenew Layered Plaid Cover Dies A & B Bundle
Waffle Flower Postage Collage Mini Slimline die - only the long narrow rectangle part
Memory Box Friend Daily Script 
Art Impressions Got Style
Altenew enamel dots Green Valley (heart shaped enamel dot)
Scan N Cut

I'm entering the following challenges:

A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes Unlimited

Crafts Galore Encore - "Anything goes" (3/3)

Love to Craft Challenge ‘ “Always Anything Goes” (4/8)

Mix It Up Challenge Blog Anything Goes” w opt layers (4/8)

DL. ART "Anything Goes (not doing option)