Seize the Birthday #337

 

Hello my lovelies!  I hope all is well with everyone.  We got our first taste of North Carolina cold weather this week and are in the middle of a game of thermostat wars.  My poor mama is an icecube and needs heat.  I want the windows open.  And my husband is somewhere in between.  For now we've solved the Mama problem with a little space heater for her room and a bit of heat.  Mind you, I closed all of the vents except the ones in her room and bathroom. *wink* It doesn't keep out all of the heat but it's for now it's tolerable.   I'll keep you aprised on our Floridian blood as the real winter weather sets in. LOL!!

Today we have Nance hosting our Seize the Birthday challenge.  She has a two fold Topping.  She wants to see Geometrics combined with a word die.  I will admit I took a bit of liberty with my geometrics (I can usually find a loophole) but technically it does fit.  See what you think....

The background die is divided into squares and rectangles.  

Geometrics, right?

And for your viewing pleasure I made a two-fer.

On my challenge card the background was stenciled and then die cut with the collage die.  The sentiment is stacked two high.  Some sparkle to the flower centers and white gems finished this one off.

The second card uses kraft cardstock.  I first stenciled in white pigment ink, allowing it to dry thoroughly before adding the dye ink layers, offset just a bit.  The panel was then embossed with a cover plate and popped up on the card base.  The sentiment has a shadow layer in green along with white lettering.  Again, a few white gems were added for a finishing touch.

Supplies:

Waffle Flower Crafts - Postage Stamp Collage die

Spellbinders - Simply Perfect Mix and Match Sentiment dies

Simon Says Stamp - Blooming Beauties layering stencil set

Honey Bee Stamps - white gems

Distress Oxide Inks

Extra Card--

Simon Says Stamp - Blooming Beauties layering stencil set

Simon Says Stamp / CZ Designs - Thankful die and shadow

Hero Arts - Woodgrain cover plate

Honeybee Stamps - white gem

dye inks

white pigment ink

I invite you to play along with us in the gallery!  The Topping is optional but a celebratory birthday greeting is not.  

Thanks for visiting!

Jules

Color Hues #143

 

Welcome back Crafty Friends.  Today I'm sharing a Halloween card I created for my daughter.  She's wanted a Porch Goose since moving into her new home last year but with their newlywed budget she couldn't justify the expense.  Have no fear, Mama's here.  LOL!!!  I figured 15 months was long enough to wait so I recently surprised her with one along with some fun outfits.  I'll share a couple of photos at the end of this blog post.

I used to love to color but over the past several years I've found that I much prefer assembling die cuts for my cards.  For that reason I was easily able to pass up all but one thing from Simon's Stamptember event...the Brutus Monroe Silly Goose set which I used for our new Color Hues challenge....

Tracey chose the perfect October color pairing!

  

These were obviously very easy images to color and I didn't do anything fancy.  What you can't see in the photo however is the embossed spider web background and the Action Wobbler behind the goose.  Together they up the card fun just a bit.  This stamp set did not come with dies but I generally use my Scan and Cut to cut out the images to save some money.  (I've had my machine forever and it's a work horse.)

Supplies:

Brutus Monroe/Simon Says Stamp Exclusive - Silly Goose stamp set

Simon Says Stamp -Spooky Web embossing folder

Honeybee Stamps - tiny gold stars

Art Impressions - Action Wobbler

As promised, here are a couple of Porch Goose photos...

          September Scarecrow Goose      

October FrankenGoose

Thanks to a fabulous friends, I will soon be borrowing the new Spellbinders Porch Goose set that is only available in their huge October crafty bundle so I'll soon be sharing a whole gaggle.  :-)

I invite you to visit our blog for more Orange and Black inspiration and hope to see your card in our gallery!

Thanks for visiting!

Jules

Color Hues #142

 

It's time once again for another Color Hues challenge.  In honor of fall Stef has chosen the color pairing of Burnt Red and Amber.  Here's what I have created.  Yes, I'm still on my bird kick.  :)

The cardinal was die cut in colored cardstocks.  The background is the result of some selective ink blending and embossing for the front panel of this 5x7 card.  The sentiment was stamped, die cut and layered three thick for dimension.  

My supplies today are a mix of Spellbinder (cardinal) and The Greetery products (background and sentiment.)

I invite you to play along with us.  As always the Design Team has provided lots of inspiration.  

Thanks for visiting!

Jules

Color Hues #141

Wow!  That two weeks flew by quickly!!!  I am back today to share my card for our new Color Hues challenge, hosted by Sheri.  She has chosen the duo of Purple and Artichoke for us to work with this fortnight.  I had a total brain block on this one and ended up with florals for the lack of any unique inspiration.  That said, I kinda like this card....purple and all.

The background was created with a layering stencil and four ink colors.  For added interest I stamped a text background over top of the florals using white pigment ink.  This particular stencil has an accompanying die set which I used to create the popped up cluster.  The sentiment is layered four high onto a coordinating shadow.  And of course I had to add a smattering of my favorite clear droplets to finish it off.

Supplies:

Altenew - Layered Orchid stencils and dies

Simon Says Stamp - You Matter to Me background stamp

Spellbinders - Handwritten Sentiments die set

Clear droplets

We have Amanda joining us on the blog today.  Come visit, check out her card as well as those create by our designers, and play along while you're at it.  

Thanks for visiting!

Jules 

 

Color Hues #140

Long time, no "see" my crafty friends.  To say life has remained crazy hectic is an understatement.  We finally got moved (North Carolina from Florida) in mid May and I am just now getting my craft room back up and running.  It's going to be a process because while everything has a place....it's just not the "ideal" place if you know what I mean.  (I won't even begin to tell you how long it took to find the supplies to make my cards.  Yes, cards.  Because I am nothing if not an overachiever with lots of time to make up for.  So today you get a two-fer.)  

My North Carolina debut is for our Color Hues challenge.  Nancy is our host and she's chosen the wonderful combination of Dusty Blue and Brown.  This is my first creation since late January so be kind.  I'm definitely a bit rusty.  

Card 1

Card 2

The lighting on this one is turning my brown leaves a bit more

on the greenish side.  (It's Frayed Burlap Distress Oxide)  My 

photography station also needs a bit of tweaking.  

Card 1 started with blue and brown cardstocks.  The florals and stems were die cut and then shaded with shades of blue and brown Distress Oxides.  The brown panel was embossed, the sentiment die cut and stacked and a few gold pearls were thrown in for embellishments.  

Card 2 began by inking up a layered stencil in the same Distress Oxides as above.  The panel was die cut for a scalloped edge, the sentiment die cut and stacked and a few brown gems were applied to the floral centers.

Supplies:

CARD 1

Honeybee Stamps - Wildflowers Lovely Layers die set

Spellbinders - Vivid Script Sentiment dies

Spellbinders - All Wrapped Up embossing folder

CARD 2

Spellbinders - Heartfelt Thanks & Scallops die set

Spellbinders - Blossoming Flowers layering stencils

I am so happy to be back to creating.  I've missed my teammates as well as all of my crafty Insta friends.  Please bear with my while I get my supplies organized and find my crafty groove.  

I invite you to visit the Color Hues blog for more inspiration and hope you enter your Dusty Blue and Brown creations in our gallery!

Peace out!

Jules

Color Hues # 133

Hello Crafty Friends!  If you visited my blog a few days ago you will know that we are finally in North Carolina.  (Cue the Happy Dance!)  So while the Florida chaos is mostly over (still have to get the house on the market) the North Carolina chaos is just beginning.  There is far less stress on this end though, thank goodness.

Today I'm sharing a card I created for this challenge way back in January.  Tracey is our Color Hues host this time around and she's chosen Lime Green and (cough, cough, cough) Violet.  While this may seem like Christmas in May it was actually Christmas in January when I create it.  LOL!

I die cut the trees in variations of lime, violet and white and then clustered them onto an embossed die cut arch.  The arch and the card base were created with watercolor paper.  I stamped the greeting and added a few matte enamel dots for interest.

Supplies:

The Stamp Market - Merry Little Tree dies

Simon Says Stamp - Gifts of Love stamp set

A Jillian Vance Design - Stitched Dot Oval Backdrop die

Spellbinders - Diamond Plaid embossing folder

I invite you to visit our blog and join in on the gallery fun.  Thanks for visiting!

Jules

Color Hues #132

 

Happy May 1st to all of my Crafty Friends!  As the time this posts we hope to be moved into our new home in North Carolina.  After over forty years in Florida we're ready for a change of scenery however the main incentive for moving is to be closer to our kids.  The past few months have been extremely hectic but hopefully we're on the home stretch now.

Enough of that.  Let's get to my Color Hues challenge card for this fortnight.  Stef is our host and she's chosen Yellow and Blue as her pairing.  Here's my card....

I felt like creating something whimsical this time around so I chose this fun fish as my starting point.  My focal grounding is a circle in a circle with some stamped waves and a few gems.  My fish was die cut in challenge colors and the same blue hue was chosen as my card base.  I thought this cute sentiment was a perfect one for my design.

Supplies:

Simon Says Stamp - Picture Book Fish die

Ellen Hutson - S'Whale stamp set (waves)

MFT - Cooler with You stamp set

I invite you to visit our blog.  We have a variety of blue and yellow examples to show you and hope you're inspired to play along!

Thanks for visiting!

Jules

Color Hues #131

 

Hello Crafty Friends!  I'm here today to share a card created for the newest Color Hues challenge.  Sheri is our host and she's chosen the color pairing of Coral and Green.  It's truly one of my favorite combinations, so much so that I had it slated for my next pick but she beat me to it.  Definitely a win/win!

I began with colored cardstocks in our challenge colors along with a woodgrained kraft cardstock.  The trellis was die cut in triplicate, once in each of the colors.  I then puzzle pieced them for an inlaid die cut appearance.  I die cut the vase in smooth kraft cardstock and the plant leaves in green.  The sentiment was heat embossed in white and the focal then adhered to the card base.  

Supplies:

Hero Arts - Trellis Window die set

Spellbinders - Propagated Plants die set

Spellbinders - Essential Sentiments stamp set

Spellbinders - Ceramic Vases die set

I invite you to visit our blog for more colorful designs.  We hope to inspire you to play along in the gallery.  Please remember that only hues of coral, green and approved neutrals are allowed.  

Thanks for visiting!

Jules

Color Hues #130

Hello Crafty Friends!  I'm here to share my card for the newest Color Hues challenge hosted by our fearless leader, Nancy.  I love her chosen pairing!

I once again chose to use watercolor paper for my base and design.  I'm just really loving the weight and the texture.  I mixed a hanging basket from one company with some leafty stems from another and I think they coordinate perfectly.  Add in a stamped sentiment and a few clear droplets and this baby was done.  

Supplies:

The Greetery - Macramade for You die set

Photoplay - Sorry/Sympathy stamp set

MFT - Pots and Plants die set

I invite you to visit our blog for more inspiration.  We'd love to see your card in the gallery.  Just remember to use only these two colors along with approved neutrals. 

Thanks for visiting!

Jules

Color Hues #129

Hello again, my crafty friends! 

It is time for another color pairing for our Color Hues 

challenge and I am convinced, now more than ever,

 that my teammies have it out for me.

Yep.  PURPLE and Marigold.

(Thanks a lot Marcia.)

You want it.  You get it.  

I'm EMBRACING it.

ROFL!

 

My favorite part of this card is that an entire sheet

 of purple cardstock has left the craft room.

I began by embossing an A2 sized panel to create some background texture.  The florals were then die cut using the same purple cardstock (leaves/stems) and what is an orangey/yellow cardstock (florals).  (Don't believe the photo.)  I adhered the florals to the panel, added a sentiment strip and then adhered the finished panel to a purple card base.  

Supplies:

Honeybee Stamps - Wildflower die set

The Greetery - Tear Strip Tags die set

Photoplay - Sorry/Sympathy stamp set

Spellbinders - EF (sorry, didn't record the name at time)

I invite you to visit our blog for more Purple and Marigold inspiration.  We are delighted to have a "Man in the House" so please give Chris some love while visiting.  As always, we'd love to see your card in our gallery!

Thanks for visiting!

Jules

Color Hues #128

 

The year 2026 keeps marching along, whether we're ready or not.  

Karen is our host for this round of Color Hues and she's 

chosen the perfect combination for St. Patty's Day so, 

of course, I created a Christmas card.  Or two.  

Betsy, the owner and brilliant designer behind The Greetery, included this fabulous tree die as a thank you in one of my orders.  Because I wanted to inlay the tiny diamonds into the design I cut it once in green and once in gold metallic.  Hence, a two-fer!

The beautiful oval dies are also of hers and they make for such a elegant cards.  Card one uses a pre-embossed specialty paper.  I added the green to the bottom for a place to heat emboss my sentiment.  (This cardstock is Pine Feather from Paper Trey Ink...one of my all time favs.)  The second card is a bit less fussy but equally as pretty in real life.

Supplies:

The Greetery -  Tree die (a freebie with purchase)

The Greetery - Capsule die collection

Spellbinders - To You and Yours stamp set

Tonic Studios - embossed designer paper

MFT - metallic gold paper

So whether you choose St. Patty, Christmas or something in between we would love to see your card in our gallery.  We have Darnell and Donna joining us on the blog.  Just remember to NOT add in colors that are not green, gold or an approved neutral.  Hope to see you there!

Thanks for visiting!

Jules

Color Hues #127

It's time for another color pairing over at the Color Hues challenge blog and this time around I have the pleasure of hosting.  I have chosen duo of Peach and Teal and actually have two cards to share with you today.  

Both cards began with peach and teal cardstocks.  On my first card I die cut the daisy background panel in white and added tiny peach flowers to the centers.  The oval frame was cut in both white and peach as was the large focal flower.  The sentiment was heat embossed in white onto teal cardstock.  Card two utilized a BetterPress plate inked in white onto the teal background.  I added a die cut heart stamped with a simple sentiment along with a few black gems.

Supplies:

The Greetery - Capsule Filagree Borders die set

Spellbinders - Fresh Picked Vase Bouquet (tiny flowers)

Spellbinders - Propagation Garder sentiment stamp set

Honeybee Stamps - Delicate Daisy background die

Honeybee Stamps - Wildflower die set

Fun Stampers Journey - Inspire embossing folder

Spellbinders - My Heart Beats for You BetterPress plate

I invite you to check out our blog for some wonderful examples including a beautiful card created by Gundi, a recent winner and our guest this fortnite.  Remember to use only hues of peach and teal along with approved neutrals.  We hope to see your card in our gallery!

Thanks for visiting!

Jules  

Color Hues #126

 

The calendar just turned to a new month which means it's time for another Color Hues challenge.  Julie B is our host this month and she's chosen the perfect Valentine colors of Pink and Red however, you do you.  As you will see, I created a thank you card.

I dug through my cardstock scraps and chose two reds and two pinks and then went to town die cutting using a daisy die set.  Because green stems are not allowed I chose to make my gold, an approved neutral.  I embossed two pieces of cardstock with a 3D frame folder and then pieced them together to create the front panel.  The sentiment was heat embossed in white.

The Stamp Market - Dainty Daisies die set

Spellbinders - Molded Frames embossing folder

MFT Stamps - Bitty Thanks sentiment stamp set

I invite you to visit our blog for more inspiration.  Get those creative juices flowing and enter your card in the gallery for a chance to guest with us in the future.  

Thanks for visiting!

Jules

Color Hues #125

 

Welcome back to another Color Hues challenge!  Carol is our host and she has chosen the wonderful wintery pairing of Blue and White.  Of course you don't have to create a winter design as you will see below in my card.

When I saw the DT samples on the Honeybee site on Black Friday I knew these needed to be mine. I began by die cutting the ginger jars, first in two different patterns of blue designer papers then in both navy and silver cardstocks.  I am truly in love with these and blue isn't even "my" color.  :-)  I mixed and matched the pieces to get coordinating sets of jars which I added to an embossed navy panel trimmed in silver metallic cardstock.  The panel was then adhered to a navy card base with a silver heat embossed sentiment strip.

And because I couldn't make just one I created a similar but different card in greens.

Again, I let a paper pack do most of the work.  I die cut the ginger jar in a peach patterned paper, assembled it with gold accents, slathered it in Wink of Stella and finally added a generous layer of Glossy Accents over top.  The next day I added it to a die cut panel of gorgeous green and peach paper along with a gold embossed sentiment strip.  The entire panel was adhered to a dark green card base.

Supplies:

Honeybee Stamps - Ginger Jar die set

Honeybee Stamps - To the Wise One stamp set

Honeybee Stamps - Cottage Countryside paper pad

Spellbinders - Diamond Plaid embossing folder

Emily Moore Designs - Decorative Sentiment Die set (green panel)

Spellbinders - Essential Sentiments die set

I invite you to visit our blog for much more Blue and White inspiration.  We'd love to see your card in our gallery!

Thanks for visiting!

Jules

Color Hues #124

 

Welcome my dear Crafty Friends to our first Color Hues challenge of 2026.  I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday.  I am currently visiting my family so I've been back and forth between the Carolina's enjoying some winter weather.  Hubby, who hates the cold, is home with the three pups.  (Love my dogs but boy do they hamper our ability to travel.)  Oh well....on to our challenge!

Bonnie had the honor of choosing our color pairing and she's chosen Red and Gray as our duo.  I have so many virgin holiday sets so you will be seeing a few well into the new year.  I'm beginning with this cute gingerbread set from Hero Arts.

It was a bit tricky to use only these two colors but with the addition of white I think I pulled it off.  This was pretty straightforward but I will admit, those peppermint drops were a PIMA to cut and assemble.  It's hard to see but the background was partially embossed with a pine folder, leaving the lower section "naked" to make the heat embossing of the sentiment much easier to do and see.

Supplies:

Hero Arts - Gingerbread House die set

Spellbinders - Christmas Magic sentiment set

Spellbinders - In the Pines embossing folder

I invite you to join us on our blog and in our gallery!  We would love for you to play along!  

Thanks so much for visiting!

Jules

Color Hues #123

Happy December to all of my Crafty Friends!  The Color Hues team is back with a new challenge.  Tracey is our hostess and she's chosen Pink and Green as our pairing.  This makes for a wonderful holiday color scheme (as I did) but don't limit yourself to that.  

 

I haven't create a grid patterned card for awhile and with things always so busy this time of year I took advantage of a simple design.  I die cut two panels (one green, one pink) into quarters and then popped the two colors on opposite ends of a folder white card base using foam tape.  Using the leftovers I die cut two fir trees from each color and popped them up onto the opposing colors.  The sentiment was created on the Better Press before cutting with the matching die and popped up in the center of the panel.  I added some gems for the finishing touch.  Very simple but effective, in my opionion.

Supplies:  All Spellbinders products

We've extended the challenge period this month so you have until Dec. 29th to play along.  I invite you to visit our blog and add your pink and green beauty to our gallery.  We will be back on Jan 1 with a new color pairing. 

Thanks so much for visiting!  Happy Holidays everyone!

Jules

Color Hues #122

 

Our fearless leader Nancy had the honors of choosing our final color pairing of 2025.  She has chosen the colors of Teal and Silver for as her Color Hues duo and I think it's the perfect holiday combination.  I added only white (an approved neutral) to make mine a trio and I think it's my favorite color challenge of the year.  

I used a stitching die to create my background panel but opted not to pull out any thread.  I die cut my sleigh, trees and gifts in the three colors and arranged them to fit onto my card front.  The sentiment was stacked four layers thick for some extra presence and I used a combination of gems and pearls as the finishing accents.  I honestly love the way this turned out, if I may say so myself.

Supplies:

Spellbinders - Stitched Argyle Background die

Hero Arts - Santa's Sleigh die set

Ellen Hutson - Merry and Bright die set

MFT - Mirror Silver cardstock

I do hope you'll visit our blog and join us for this beautful challenge.  Thanks so much for visiting!

Jules

Color Hues #121

 

It's November 1st which means it's time for a new color duo at the Color Hues Challenge blog.  Sheri is our host and she's chosen Orange and Brown as her color pairing.  Let's get right to it!

I created a very simple card using two die sets set against a dark brown background.  The smaller panel is popped up with fun foam.  The die cuts are double stacked with the upper layer popped up with thin foam adhesive squares.  I added a few gold pearls as the finishing touch to this very simple design.

Supplies:

Spellbinders - Sealed Ginkgo die set

Memory Box - Happy Birthday Breezy Script die set

Spellbinders - gold pearl stickers

I invite you to visit our blog where we have lots of inspiration from our team as well as our guest, Valerie.  We would love to see your card in our gallery so consider playing along.

Thanks so much for visiting!

Jules