TGIF Challenge #575 - Color Challenge

Who doesn’t love a good ol’ color challenge??? This one is so fun!

Check out the blog challenge here - TGIF Challenge Blog if you’d like to play along.

I thought about this card longer than it actually took me to make it!

Ya know what it’s like when you stare at stamps and paper and try to will them into crating themselves??? Yeah … this one took me a minute. 

The background was created using the little heart image from Capturing Smiles. I also created the Crumb Cake strip using just the small camera image.

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I thought the longest/hardest about the actual camera … couldn’t decide how I wanted to use the colors from this challenge. I actually like how it turned out, though!

Stamps: Capturing Smiles

Paper: Basic White, Melon Mambo, Coastal Cabana, Crumb Cake

Ink: Melon Mambo, Coastal Cabana, Crumb Cake, Versamark

Accessories: Capturing Smiles Dies, White Embossing Powder, Black Baker’s Twine, Low Profile Sparkle Dots (retired)

Two posts in one day??? What the heck is happening here??? I guess this is what happens when you actually clean your crafty space and make yourself some room to create!

We’d love to have you play along!! You can check us out our blog HERE and Instagram … lots of great inspiration from the rest of the TGIF Crew!

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Global Design Project #545 - Color Challenge

Spring is HERE! Aren’t these colors just the most fun??? This week the GDP Crew is working with this color challenge - welcome to GDP #545~

Check out the challenge here - Global Design Project if you’d like to play along.

Ohmygosh! I FINALLY got to make some daffodils using the Easter Basket Dies … I want to make them in every color possible!! (To be honest, I have about a dozen more I made just like these that I can use on future creations … I just couldn’t stop!).

The embossed layer was created using the Eyelet 3D Embossing Folder, which I highlighted using a white gel pen.

Stamps: Sweet Words and Labels

Paper: Basic White, Bubble Bath, Strawberry Slush, Granny Apple Green

Ink: Bubble Bath, Versamark; Stampin’ Blends - Melon Mambo, White Gel Pen

Accessories: Sweet Words and Labels Dies, Easter Basket Dies, 3D Eyelet Embossing Folder, Old Olive Baker’s Twine

What do these colors make you think of? What kind of inspiration do you feel from them? I think they are great!

We’d love to have you play along!! You can check us out here on Instagram … you’re gonna LOVE what you see!!

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Monday Montage - Extraordinary Life

I was perusing some of my favorite stampers over the weekend trying to get some inspiration for this week’s Monday Montage creation … I ended up stepping out of my comfort zone for color combos to come up with something!

Welcome to this week’s Monday Montage Hop!

Isn’t it fun how we can discover things we wouldn’t normally think to put together just by perusing the good ol’ internet?? (Thanks especially to Instagram and Pinterest!)

This color combo was really fun to work with - Petal Pink, Calypso Coral, Pretty Peacock, Brilliant Blue and Balmy Blue … I loved using stamps and dies from the new Extraordinary Life Bundle! I’m not sure what’s it is about a giant ampersand that is so cool, but it is, isn’t it??

The Lasting Linen Background Stamp was the perfect base for all of the elements I use on this card. It always packs a punch while remaining subtle.

The dies in this bundle are absolutely fabulous! I used lots of them and there are still many I didn’t even touch! The sentiment was a die from the Bordering On Beauty Dies (which I am also loving to bits!). All items will be available to order on May 1 … woot!!!

Stamps: Extraordinary Life, Lasting Linen

Paper: Petal Pink, Calypso Coral, Pretty Peacock, Brilliant Blue, Balmy Blue, White

Ink: Petal Pink, Calypso Coral, Balmy Blue; Stampin’ Blends - Calypso Coral

Accessories: Extraordinary Life Dies, Bordering on Beauty Dies, White Baker’s Twine

I ran the Salt Lake Half on Saturday with the Huntsman Heroes Running Team. Running with a sling on your arm is the WORST! Here’s hoping I NEVER have to do that again! At least I finished!!

Our Monday Montage Hop has gone exclusively to Instagram! You can check it out by finding me @tinkermom85. From there you will be able to find all of my Monday Montage Friends, too!

TGIF Challenge #574 - Inspiration Challenge

Welcome to this week’s TGIF Challenge! This week we are using the photo on the right as inspiration … I love it!

Check out the blog challenge here - TGIF Challenge Blog if you’d like to play along.

A few weeks ago, I tripped over my own dang feet and broke my right wrist (and I am NOT left handed!!)!! Which means that EVERYthing is sooooo much harder and takes sooooo much longer than usual. Two and a half more weeks and I will be out of the splint (I begged them NOT to put a cast on me!). So putting this together took much too long, but it was fun to make. I was watching/listening to “The Devil Wears Prada”, and it took me until after the film was done before I finished!!

Lots of die cuts from the On Display Dies and a few images from the coordinating stamp set helped me complete this. I used my blending brushes and some sponges to ink the edges of the individual bits and parts to give them more dimension.

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The little Barely Blush border and the sentiment tag are both from the soon-to-be-released Bordered in Beauty Dies … these are going to be used a LOT by me!!

Stamps: On Display

Paper: Basic White, Soft Sea Foam, Pecan Pie, Barely Blush, Hydrangea Hue

Ink: Soft Sea Foam, Old Olive, Pecan Pie, Barely Blush, Hydrangea Hue, White Craft; Old Olive Stampin’ Blend

Accessories: On Display Dies, Bordered in Beauty Dies, 3D Birch Wood Embossing Folder, 2026-2028 In Color Butterflies, Linen Thread

I will be running tomorrow in the Salt Lake Half Marathon with my splint and a sling … should be an adventure! 

We’d love to have you play along!! You can check us out our blog HERE and Instagram … lots of great inspiration from the rest of the TGIF Crew!

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Monday Montage - Silly Old Bear

I couldn’t resist creating with Stampin’ Up!’s new Silly Old Bear suite—this little scene just melts my heart. The soft textures, honeycomb details, and that classic duo remind me that the simplest moments are often the most meaningful.

Welcome to this week’s Monday Montage Hop!

Using the Sweet Old Friends Dies, I cut the image of Pooh and Piglet from the Silly Old Bear DSP (no stamping or coloring needed!).

The honeycomb strip was created using the honeycomb die from the same set of dies … I just repeated the diecut multiple times until I had a strip the size I needed to line up with my card front.

And the 100 Acre Woods 3D Embossing Folder is a-dor-a-ble!!! Paired with some gingham patterned paper (the Silly Old Bear DSP again!) and some roughed up edges added the rustic/antique feeling I was going for.

The 2026-2028 In Color Butterflies are not part of the Suite, but I couldn’t resist using them on this one …

“I will love you until forever. And even after that.” 💛

Isn’t that just the perfect sentiment for someone you treasure?

Stamps: Sweet Words & Labels

Paper: Very Vanilla, Pecan Pie, Golden Glow, Silly Old Bear DSP

Ink: Pecan Pie

Accessories: Sweet Old Friends Dies, Sweet Words & Labels Dies, Hundred Acre Woods 3D Embossing Folder, Petal Pink Braided Trim, 2026-2028 In Color Butterflies

I tripped over my own dang feet (NOT while I was running, either!) and broke my right wrist a couple of weeks ago … I AM NOT LEFT HANDED!! I have a whole new appreciation for lefties in a world created to thwart them at every turn!

Our Monday Montage Hop has gone exclusively to Instagram! You can check it out by finding me @tinkermom85. From there you will be able to find all of my Monday Montage Friends, too!

TGIF Challenge #573 - One-Sheet Wonder!

This week’s TGIF Challenge took me to a place I haven’t been to in a very, VERY long time - the One-Sheet Wonder!!

What is a One-Sheet Wonder??? It’s the cutting up of a (usually) 12”x12” piece of Designer Series Paper into parts and then using all the parts to make as many cards with it that you can! I haven’t done it for years, so it was a definite blast from the past for me!

Check out the blog challenge here - TGIF Challenge Blog if you’d like to play along.

Here’s what I came up with … TA-DA!!

And guess what??? I only used one half of a 12”x12” piece of Beautiful Ordinary Life DSP, which means you could actually make 12 cards from just one piece of patterned paper!!

The other bonus to this is that the DSP I used is two-sided … colored patterns on one side and black and white patterns on the other, which gives you a LOT of options using these cards sketches by simply flipping the DSP over!

All of the Basic Black flowers, hearts and butterflies came from just one sheet of Floral Flights Accents precut diecuts … they saved SO much time!!

I also had the lovely oval that I used on the slimline card on the right already cut out and sitting on my table that were leftover from a recent project I did … and they were in the right color scheme!!

I made a little accordion folded strip of Basic Black cardstock to make one more accent for the card on the upper left card as I felt it needed something and I have NO Basic Black ribbon!

All of these cards came together quite quickly, and I’m genuinely happy with how they turned out!

Stamps: Phrases & Frames, Sending Salutations

Paper: Basic Black, Basic White, Lost Lagoon, Pool Party, Petal Pink, Pretty Peacock, Beautiful Ordinary Life DSP

Ink: Black Memento, Versamark

Accessories: Scalloped Wishes Dies, Stylish Shapes Dies, 3D Hearts of  Love Embossing Folder, So Swirly Embossing Folder, 3D Forever Plaid Embossing Folder, 3D Eyelet Embossing Folder, Floral Flight Accents, Basic Black Baker’s Twine, Three Banner Punch, Black Dot Embellishments (Retired), White Embossing Powder

Have any of you ever made cards using the one-sheet wonder technique?? The nice thing is that if you Google “one-sheet wonder” you will be able to find lots of layouts and patterns that can show you options of how to cut your paper!

We’d love to have you play along!! You can check us out our blog HERE and Instagram … lots of great inspiration from the rest of the TGIF Crew!

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Monday Montage - Notes of Spring

There’s something so joyful about combining soft colors, playful patterns, and a touch of whimsy—and this card brings all of that together in one happy little design!

Welcome to this week’s Monday Montage Hop!

For this project, I started with the beautiful Stampin’ Up! Beautiful Ordinary Life Designer Series Paper, which really sets the tone with its fresh, cheerful color palette. I love how the mix of patterns creates interest without overwhelming the design. The layered look gives the card depth while still feeling light and fun.

The focal point features the adorable images from the Notes of Spring stamp set. The sweet goose and bunny add such a charming, storybook feel. I colored them in soft, warm tones to keep everything cohesive and let them stand out against the layered background.

To frame the focal images, I used the Scalloped Wishes Dies, which add that delicate, lacy detail I’m always drawn to. It’s one of those elements that instantly elevates a card and makes it feel extra special.

Across the center, I added decorative borders using the Bordered in Beauty Dies. These layers help tie all the colors together while adding a bit of texture and movement across the design.

For the finishing touches, I included a few enamel dots for dimension and a bit of baker’s twine for a soft, handmade feel. The sentiment, “Happiest Birthday Wishes,” is stamped in white on a soft tag, keeping everything light and balanced.

This card truly feels like sunshine in paper form—perfect for celebrating someone special!

Stamps: Notes of Spring

Paper: Basic White, Lost Lagoon, Pool Party, Beautiful Ordinary Life DSP

Ink: Early Espresso, Versamark; Stampin’ Blends - Daffodil Delight, Flirty Flamingo; White Gel Pen

Accessories: Bordered in Beauty Dies, Scalloped Wishes Dies, White Embossing Powder, Array of Dots, White Baker’s Twine

By first half marathon of the season is coming up this Saturday - Mt. Charleston, Nevada! Wish me luck!

Our Monday Montage Hop has gone exclusively to Instagram! You can check it out by finding me @tinkermom85. From there you will be able to find all of my Monday Montage Friends, too!

TGIF Challenge #569 - Inspiration

There’s something so satisfying about combining rich textures, delicate die cuts, and a bold focal point—and this card brings all of that together beautifully. Today I’m sharing a card design featuring the Scalloped Wishes Dies and coordinating stamps for this week’s TGIF Inspiration Challenge.

Check out the blog challenge here - TGIF Challenge Blog if you’d like to play along.

I started with a Secret Sea cardstock base to create a strong, dramatic foundation. To add visual interest without overwhelming the design, I used the 3D Beautiful Pattern Embossing Folder, which I lightly sponged with some White Craft Ink.

To frame everything, I added a thin layer of soft yellow cardstock just inside the card base. That little pop of color helps tie in the floral accents later and adds a polished, finished look.

The centerpiece of this card is all about layering. Using the Scalloped Wishes Dies, I created a beautiful stacked focal element.

The star of the show is the dragonfly, cut from Balmy Blue cardstock. Its airy, open design adds movement and lightness against the richer background tones. I love how it draws your eye right to the center of the card.

To complement the dragonfly, I added some flowers and greenery using more of the Scalloped Wishes dies … which are sooo good!

A simple bow using Early Espresso Baker’s Twine adds a touch of texture and keeps the overall look grounded and organic.

The sentiment, “for you,” is stamped and embossed in white on a small, fussy cut piece of Early Espresso cardstock, tying it back to the focal layer. I tucked in a bit of textured ribbon behind the sentiment for added interest and dimension.

Stamps: Scalloped Wishes

Paper: Secret Sea, Pecan Pie, Balmy Blue, Lemon Lolly Early Espresso, Old Olive, Basic White

Ink: Pecan Pie, White Craft; Stampin’ Blends - Dk. Daffodil Delight

Accessories: 3D Beautiful Pattern Embossing Folder, Scalloped Wishes Dies, Early Espresso Baker’s Twine, Old Olive Rickrack Trim

I actually originally made this card to share in an Artisan Design Team Swap at last week’s Stampin’ Up OnStage event in Long Beach. What a talented bunch of humans they are … so honored to be part of the group! It just so happened that this card fit in with the TGIF Challenge this week, so there ya have it!

We’d love to have you play along!! You can check us out our blog HERE and Instagram … lots of great inspiration from the rest of the TGIF Crew!

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Stampin’ Fancy Friday - Shades of Purple Challenge

Not sure why I don’t reach for my purples more than I do … because I actually love purple AND all of the different shades that SU carries.

For this month’s Fancy Friday Challenge we are playing with Shades of Purple. And I think I used them all!

Since I had my sewing machine out for another project I had been working on, I decided to make a little “quilt” out of this card.

I used pieces of Highland Heather, Blackberry Bliss, Gorgeous Grape and Fresh Freesia. Cut into 1/2” strips, first I trimmed and positioned the pieces until I got a pattern I liked. I stamped, embossed and sewed on the strips until I came up with a combo I liked!

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Adding some leaves from the Petals of Beauty Dies and some flowers cut in vellum using the same set, I created the focal point in the corner. Sometimes I have a hard time deciding when to quit!!

Stamps: Petals of Beauty, Words of Beauty

Paper: Basic White, Highland Heather, Gorgeous Grape, Blackberry Bliss, Fresh Freesia, Vellum

Ink: Blackberry Bliss Gorgeous Grape, Fresh Freesia, Highland Heather

Accessories: Petals of Beauty Dies, Words of Beauty Dies, Beautiful Pattern 3D Embossing Folder, Lasting Linen 3D Embossing Folder, Drusy Adhesive-Backed Embellishments, Sewing Machine

How about you??? What is your favorite SU color (and what do you like to put with it to keep it looking kinda monochrome?)

Check out all the fun things created by the Stampin’ Fancy Friday Challenge Team on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/stampinfancyfriday/!!!