This Sweet Madness: 2023

Friday, December 15, 2023

ANYTHING GOES New Challenge with The Creative Crafters!!

Happy middle-of-the-month! It's the fifteenth and that means it's time for a new challenge at Creative Crafters! As always our challenge is Anything Goes!!! As it's ten days until Christmas, of course I made a Christmas card!! I just got this paper and it really inspired me to let it be the star and just bling it up, and I'm so happy that I did!

OMG I love love love LOVE this paper!!

I love allll the bling but those tiny AB pearls around the door might be my favorite.

Just a few challenges:

Be sure to visit the blog, play along with us and check out the other DT's projects as well! Thanks so much for looking and happy crafting! Laters!!

Thursday, November 9, 2023

Cozy Layers Mode

It's not that cold, but it's just cold enough that I needed to have tea and cookies today!

Just a few challenges:

Thanks so much for looking and happy caffeinated crafting. Laters!!

Wednesday, November 8, 2023

Best Mugs Are Christmas Mugs!!!

The best mugs are Christmas mugs, am I right? Filled with tea or hot chocolate, yum! I'm craving hot cocoa now. Wonder if I could make it without my nice noticing....(she already had Oreos today, I don't want to cause a sugar rush!)

Just a few challenges:

Thanks so much for looking and happy caffeinated Christmas crafting! Laters!!

Tuesday, November 7, 2023

Lorelai in Blue

You all know how much I love Gilmore Girls. This Unity stamp feels like Lorelai to me. (they have a LOT of stamps that feel like Lorelai to me. I love creating with them.)

Just a few challenges:

Thanks so much for looking and happy caffeinated crafting! Laters!!

Monday, November 6, 2023

Press On (with caffeine!)

Look, I am full on in Christmas card mode BUT. I just got this stamp and dammit I wanted to use it. I could've made her decked out for Christmas, but I was feeling like she needed to be summery and happy.

Just a few challenges:

Thanks so much for looking and happy crafting. Laters!!

Sunday, November 5, 2023

I Heart Coffee (who doesn't?)

I would say good morning, but it's not. There's not enough caffeine on the planet for how exhausted I am today! But I will press on because there are cards to be made, presents to buy and (possibly terribly written and acted) Christmas movies to watch.

Just a few challenges:

Thanks so much for looking and happy caffeinated crafting. Laters!!

Saturday, November 4, 2023

Merry & Caffeinated

I think this should be an official Christmas song, no? I can hear the lyrics now: May your days be merry and caffeinated, so you can survive this season without wine!

Okay so it needs work but it's still a great idea!

Just a few challenges:

Thanks so much for looking and happy Christmas caffeinated crafting!

Friday, November 3, 2023

I HAD To Make This Card

This card has been a journey. I started it last Saturday night, probably around eleven p.m. I had heard the news about Matthew Perry’s passing, right around when everyone else did, like nine pm or so. If you’ve been following me for awhile, you know that Friends is my favorite show of all time and that Chandler is my favorite Friend.

I don’t think it really hit me at first. I felt so……numb, I guess was the best word. I really wanted to make a Batman card, but I just couldn’t find my Superhero box. So I settled for Batman inspired. The colors are obviously Batman inspired, and the gold pearls represent a Batman sweatshirt I saw recently with gold pearls around the outline of the insignia. It also reminds me of the Batman shaped lights in Matthew’s pool. The coffee theme is not only a nod to Friends but to Matthew himself.

I've worked on the card in shifts, a bit a day, until it was finished like an hour ago.

The sentiment is 100% intentional. I couldn't make a sympathy card, it was too soon for that. Those words really fit what I was feeling, and am feeling, and they're still accurate today, almost a week later.

I'm sure I'll make other cards inspired by or related to this in the future. Art is what heals us. It's definitely what heals me.

Just a few challenges:

Thanks so much for looking, and please, those of you that love Friends too, share your favorite episodes with me in the comments. Thank you!! Laters!!

Friday, October 27, 2023

I'll Have a Blue October....

It's the last day of the and so I'm sharing my last card! It's always sad when stuff like this ends, but it's okay because the Winter Coffee Lovers Blog Hop will be coming up soon!

Just a few challenges:

Falling For Christmas BYSHC 2023 Linky Party
DLArt Linky Party

The Most Magical Time of The Year - #13 Anything Halloween or Christmas Goes 5/5

Thanks so much for looking and happy Christmas crafting. Laters!!!

Thursday, October 26, 2023

Wise Men Still Seek Him

I love this Echo Park paper collection, it's so beautiful.

Just a few challenges:

Falling For Christmas BYSHC 2023 Linky Party

Thanks so much for looking and happy Christmas crafting! Laters!!

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

I Still Don’t Like Gnomes, But…..

So a few months ago, I won a prize that was sort of a grab bag of stuff from a fellow crafter’s craft room. Included was a set of gnome dies with a mug. I thought to myself, well, I’ll use the mug at least and forgot about it. Until I saw that the October challenge at the Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge was Gnomes. Then I had to find the die set, lol.

I did in fact find it, and I actually kind of LOVE the card I made!

Just a few challenges:

Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge - #22 Gnomes
BYSHC Sketch Challenge
Falling For Christmas BYSHC 2023 Linky Party
DLArt Linky Party
A Perfect Time To Craft - #10 Anything Goes

The Most Magical Time of The Year - #13 Anything Halloween or Christmas Goes

Thanks so much for looking and happy caffeinated Christmas crafting! (Is there any other kind? 🤣). Laters!!

Tuesday, October 24, 2023

Angels, We Have Heard On High

I love this Christmas song, even though I know hardly any of the lyrics. It's so beautiful, though.

Just a few challenges:

Falling For Christmas BYSHC 2023 Linky Party

Thanks so much for looking and happy Christmas crafting. Laters!!

Monday, October 23, 2023

Joyous Tree

A super simple card made mostly out of scraps. I always love these kinds of projects.

Just a few challenges:

Falling For Christmas BYSHC 2023 Linky Party

Thanks so much for looking and happy Christmas crafting. Laters!!

Sunday, October 22, 2023

Sharing Fall IG Hop - Week Three - Woodland Wonders

Happy fall everyone!! Welcome to the Sharing Fall Cardmaking Challenge 3! Hosted by @thatcraftygolden. We are excited to reveal this week's theme: Woodland Wonders! 🍂

I chose to use this owl die from @crafterscompanion I thought it fit the theme perfectly. I cut the die again out of red cardstock scraps and cut leaves off. Before adhering them to my card, I highlighted the leaves with a marker. The stones brought it all together.

If this theme has ignited your creative spirit, we invite you to join in the autumn fun! Share your creations using the hashtag #sharingfallcards and tag me so I don’t miss it! We can't wait to see your wonderful designs!

Just a few challenges for this card:

Thanks so much for looking and happy fall crafting and stamping! Laters!!

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel

Honestly, I'm not crazy happy with this card. I didn't adhere the background on straight and I couldn't remove it without destroying the background and I didn't have another card with me (the perils of crafting away from home!!) to slice the front off and reattach it to. So, crooked it is. Sigh.

Just a few challenges:

Falling For Christmas BYSHC 2023 Linky Party

Thanks so much for looking and happy Christmas crafting. Laters!!

Saturday, October 21, 2023

Crushing Christmas IG Hop - October - One Layer Cards!

Hi everyone! It's the 20th (well, 21st this time!) of the month, and that means it's time for the Crushing Christmas IG hop! These hops are designed to give you a monthly dose of Christmas cardspiration to help you build your stash all year long! This month's theme is One Layer Cards!

I am NOT gonna lie, I really struggle with one layer cards. I like to die cut all the things and then add more! So it took me a few tries to get something I was happy with. I also couldn’t find my @heroarts Intense Black ink pad anywhere, so I had to use something else and it was clearly inferior. But I do love the images and I like how the Distress Oxide blended in the background. All in all I’m happy with what I made and glad I didn’t add any embellishments!

Just a few challenges:

Come play with us every month! Thanks so much for looking and happy Christmas Crafting! Laters!!

Friday, October 20, 2023

And So This Is Christmas!

I have just been so draggy this month, maybe it's October! I can't wait for November because I hope it will be different!

I've been working on stockpiling Christmas cards, so I've got this one to share today. It features a sentmet taken from the title of my favorite Christmas song!

Just a few challenges:

Thanks so much for looking and happy Christmas crafting. Laters!!

Saturday, October 7, 2023

MAGIC POTIONS/CAULDRONS October Fantasy Inspired IG Hop!!

Good morning, everyone!! Today is the first Saturday of the month, and that means it's time for the Fantasy Inspired Instagram Hop! I'm sharing my card here as well as on my IG, @royalpumpkinart.

Our theme this month is Magic Potions/Cauldrons, and I instantly thought of one of my favorite movies, Practical Magic. I think this is a little more Charmed or Grimm than Owens Sisters, but I tried!!

Just a few challenges:

Be sure to visit Instagram to follow along with the rest of the hop and see how everyone else was inspired. Thanks so much for looking and happy stamping!! Laters!!

Monday, October 2, 2023

ANYTHING GOES New Challenge with A Place To Start!!

Happy October! It's a new challenge at A Place To Start and our theme this month is Anything Goes!! Our lovely sponsor is Conie Fong! You know I love fall, so I saw an opportunity to make two cards again with the mirror image gnomes!

Just a few challenges:

Be sure to visit the blog, play along and check out all the other DT's awesome projects! Thanks so much for looking and happy crafting! Laters!!

Sunday, October 1, 2023

STAMPtember Wrap Up

WHEW!! I made it! I actually didn't create or post as much as I wanted to in STAMPtember, but I still think I did pretty good!!

One more stamp-heavy card before I get back to being die cut focused:

I wanted to share a few stats from my STAMPtember projects:

Total projects made: 97

Total projects posted: (look for more soon!!)

Posted Cards by Shape/Size:

A2 Cards: 6
A6 Cards: 4
A7 Cards: 2
Mini Slimline Cards: 2
Slimline Cards: 4
Square Cards: 2
Tags: 1

Challenges for this card:

Thanks so much for looking and happy crafting! Laters!!

Saturday, September 30, 2023

STAMPtember - Day Thirty - Fabulous Finale!

WOW what a month it's been! STAMPtember is always a little more stressful than National Craft Month is. I'm not honestly sure why.

You can't see all the glitter and shimmer and shine in the photos!

Just a few challenges:

Thanks so much for looking and happy stamping! I need a nap lol. Laters!!

Friday, September 29, 2023

STAMPtember - Day Twenty-Nine - National Coffee Day!!!!

HAPPY NATIONAL COFFEE DAY!!!!!!!!

I'm not going to go through the usual I don't drink coffee but I love all the coffee things stuff. I'm just going to share my awesome card and celebrate this happy day.

Just a few challenges:

Thanks so much for looking and happy caffeinated crafting!! Laters!!

Thursday, September 28, 2023

STAMPtember - Day Twenty-Eight - All The Trimmings

Happy Thursday! I love making Christmas cards, all year long. This one was super fun to make, I love card sketches, they're such a great jumping point.

Just a few challenges:

Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers - Sketch #37
Jingle Belles Rock - A Christmas Story (I watched a favorite Hallmark movie while picking out this stamp, Cranberry Christmas. The boxes of decorations for the town Christmas festival made me select this image from the three in the set!)
DLArt Linky Party
Classic Design Challenge - #9 Anything Goes
My Time To Craft - #517 Two or More Patterned Papers 1/3
Word Art Wednesday - #615 Anything Goes 2/5
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Anything Goes 2/5
Simon Says Stamp Monday - Christmas 3/5

Thanks so much for looking and happy stamping! Laters!!

Wednesday, September 27, 2023

STAMPtember - Day Twenty-Seven - Jolly Christmas Dinosaur

Sometimes you have to make something zany, right? This card is one of those times!

Just a few challenges:

DLArt Linky Party

Classic Design Challenge - #9 Anything Goes

A Perfect Time To Craft - Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday - #615 Anything Goes 1/5

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Anything Goes 1/5

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Christmas 2/5

Thanks so much for looking and happy stamping. Laters!!

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

STAMPtember - Day Twenty-Six - Just BEE You!!

Hey everyone. I have a super fun bee themed card to share with you today. I honestly have no idea where I got this image, I know it's an old digi from a DT assignment but other than that I've got nothing. I found a bag of scraps and made this card from a lot of the bounty I found!

Just a few challenges:

Classic Design Challenge - #9 Anything Goes

A Perfect Time To Craft - Anything Goes

Thanks so much for looking and happy stamping! Laters!!

Monday, September 25, 2023

STAMPtember - Day Twenty-Five - Coffee and Cookies

It's not really fall weather yet here in Michigan but I've really wanted tea and hot cocoa anyway! So I made this card instead because drinking a hot beverage in hot weather makes me sick. Literally.

Just a few challenges:

DLArt Linky Party

Classic Design Challenge - #9 Anything Goes

A Perfect Time To Craft - Anything Goes

Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge - #21 Candy or Cookies **WINNER**

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Christmas 1/5

Crafts Galore - #115 Anything Goes 3/3

Paper Dragonflies Creative Challenge - #21 Anything Flies 5/5

Thanks so much for looking and happy caffeinated Christmas stamping! Heehee. Laters!!

Sunday, September 24, 2023

Sharing Fall Hop Week One - Fall Foliage!!

Happy fall everyone!! Welcome to the Sharing Fall Cardmaking Challenge 1! Hosted by @thatcraftygolden. We are excited to reveal this week's theme: Fall Foliage! 🍂

The changing, rustling leaves outside inspired this slimline card. Inked up this stamp repeatedly and stamped it down on Bazzill Dotted Swiss cardstock and fussy cut them. I actually colored the card base and background paper myself with Faber Castell markers because I was crafting away from home and left some supplies behind! Grrr! Some metallic thread and gems completed the look. For a card made with half of what I intended to use, I think it turned out pretty well!

Just a few challenges for this card:

Thanks so much for looking and happy fall crafting and stamping! Laters!!

Saturday, September 23, 2023

STAMPtember - Day Twenty-Three - Triforce Christmas

Happy Christmas in September! (I make Christmas cards all year long, but still.) Today's card is video game inspired, for my brother, who loves Zelda. Happy Birthday, Nooshie!!

Just a few challenges:

Thanks so much for looking and happy stamping. Laters!!!

Thursday, September 21, 2023

STAMPtember - Day Twenty-One - Watercolor Birthday Tag

Watercolor might be my favorite medium. It's really something I need to do more often.

Just a few challenges:

Thanks so much for looking and happy stamping! Laters!!

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Crushing Christmas IG Hop - September - Christmas Critters

Hi everyone! It's the 20th of the month, and that means it's time for the Crushing Christmas IG hop! These hops are designed to give you a monthly dose of Christmas cardspiration to help you build your stash all year long! This month's theme is Critters! I've had this set from Simon Says Stamp for a couple years but I'd never used it before today.

This stamp set will also be forever special to me because it's the first stamp set my niece ever used 💖

Just a few challenges:

Come play with us every month! Thanks so much for looking and happy Christmas Crafting! Laters!!

Saturday, September 16, 2023

Create It 3 Ways IG Hop - September - Hello/Thinking of You

Hi everyone! I’m participating in an Instagram hop today called Create It 3 Ways! Hosted by the lovely @amritapettus, this fun hop will take place the third Saturday of every month! Super fun. The theme for September is Hello or Thinking of You! I had a hard time narrowing down what I wanted to do. When I was gathering supplies, this stamp literally fell out at me, and I think it was fate!

This one I stamped on colored cardstock.

Here I stamped on patterned paper. All the pumpkins were fussy cut because there's no die for this stamp.

Good old fashioned colorin. You can tell my marker was running out on the tall gourd, I need new markers!!

Just a few challenges:

Be sure to visit the rest of the hop!! Thanks so much for looking and happy hopping! Laters!!

Friday, September 15, 2023

ANYTHING GOES New Challenge with the Creative Crafters!!

Happy middle-of-the-month! It's the fifteenth and that means it's time for a new challenge at Creative Crafters! As always our challenge is Anything Goes!!! I made this card using one of the sketches from this quarter's challenge at Kendra's Card Challenges! So so fun to create outside the group of fifteen cards.

Just a few challenges:

Be sure to visit the blog, play along with us and check out the other DT's projects as well! Thanks so much for looking and happy crafting! Laters!!

Monday, September 11, 2023

STAMPtember - Day Eleven - United We Stand

Happy Patriot Day! I always make a patriotic card for today, but I kind of struggled this year. Things are hard, and they're not like they were. But when I saw this amazing image from Angie Blom, I thought, this is what I want to create with. Twenty-two years ago, this statement, United We Stand, it meant something. I hope it will again soon.

Just a few challenges:

Thanks so much for looking and happy stamping! Laters!!

Saturday, September 9, 2023

STAMPtember - Day Nine - You're Beautiful

You know, this card came together really easily. It was easy to layer all the die cuts, I had a blast.

If you're asking yourself where the STAMPING is in this card, look carefully at the background. I watermark stamped ALL those colors of cardstock!

Just a few challenges:

Thanks so much for looking and happy stamping! Laters!!

Friday, September 8, 2023

STAMPtember - Day Eight - Unknown Blessings

So I used to work at, ahem, Archivers (I have a different name for the tenth circle of hell) and we used to make up and sell these scrap packs out of leftovers from our classes and crops. For $1.99 they were a really good deal and we got our employee discount on them on top of that, so, yeah, I bought a lot of them.

Anyways, I found one in the middle of my stack of Twilight paper pads today (don't judge) and I thought to myself, make a card out of the paper/cardstock in that pack. I let myself use a card base but that was it, everything else came from there.

Do I love it or hate it? I'm not sure. I don't really like the background paper, which is strange because it feels very 80s and I love the 80s, but....anyway.

Just a few challenges:

Thanks so much for looking and happy stamping! Laters!!

Thursday, September 7, 2023

STAMPtember - Day Seven - They Did The Mash!

Happy Thursday! Except that I'm not happy today, I feel like absolute shit and it has ruined my shopping plans. I neeeeeeeeeeeeed that cardstock!!! (seriously I do, I have a project and it's on sale!)

Just a few challenges:

Thanks so much for looking and happy spooky stamping! Laters!!

Wednesday, September 6, 2023

ANYTHING GOES New Challenge with The Crafty Addicts!!

Hi everyone!! It's time for a new challenge at The Crafty Addicts!! I'm so excited because it's STAMPtember!! Our theme is always:

ANYTHING GOES!!!

In celebration of World Book Day today, I've made this card because I love to read. I don't get as much time to do it as I used to, but I do love doing it.

Just a few challenges:

Be sure to check out the blog and see what the rest of the DT created. Thanks so much for looking and happy crafting. Laters!!

Tuesday, September 5, 2023

STAMPtember - Day Five - Coffee: A Liquid Hug

Happy Tuesday! I hope everyone is recovered from their holiday weekend, I myself haven't felt that great the last few days but it did NOT stop me from shopping online this weekend. #supportsmallbusiness

I've got a coffee-themed mini slimline card for you today. This one I used a smaller stamp to let the patterned paper kind of shine. Love how it turned out. Also, I will need massive amounts of caffeine to get me through the rest of this week!!