Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Happy Bird-Day Card and Trio of Sunflowers

 These cards are from the 30 Minute Card Making Stash Dash - two weeks of that challenge. 

The parameters for the first card were as follows: Type of Card: fun fold, Colours: crafter's choice, Embellishment: animal, Technique: painting and Occasion: crafter's choice. 

Painting is not my thing... I used two shimmer brushes, mixed the colours with water and painted across the front panel in two colours. The bird was stamped, coloured and die cut and I added a sentiment underneath. Inside the card, there is a second sentiment and a place for a message. I added some clear gems on the front as well. 



The parameters for the second card were as follows: 
Type of Card: shaped card, Colour: orange, Embellishment: ribbon or twine, Technique: stencilling and Occasion: crafter's choice. 
I die cut three arches and stencilled the top one with grass and clouds. The fence and sunflowers were stamped, coloured and die cut. I arranged them on the front and brushed the centres of the flowers with a gold shimmer brush. I added a stamped sentiment and orange twine to the front. 


Enjoy, 

Alyson

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Vellum Gatefold Card

 This pretty card was inspired by one made by Jennifer McGuire for the Crop and Create card event. 

The base was created from two octagon die cuts that were cut down the centre with a piece of vellum sandwiched between them. The floral image was stamped, stencilled and die cut and the sentiment was placed on top. That piece was adhered to a small flap on one side of the gatefold so it turns over to the front when the card is displayed. 

Inside the card, there is a second panel that was ink blended, stamped in the same colours and I added a small sentiment that is hidden when the card is closed. That inside panel can be lifted to write a message inside. 

Enjoy,

Alyson

Monday, April 20, 2026

AH 678 - Sweet Friend


Welcome to Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge 678!

The sketch is shown below. 

I really liked this sketch so I used it the way it was presented. I embossed a piece of white cardstock and cut it into panels to continue to pattern across the card. The flower and leaves were die cut from white cardstock and inked. I stamped a small sentiment and added it to a blue panel with silver foil paper threaded through it. The flower and a bow were added - I didn't use any embellishments on this card. 

Come and join us at Atlantic Hearts and show us how you interpret this sketch. 

You have until Sunday evening to link up your project. 

We can't wait to see what you create!

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Sunday, April 19, 2026

Dogwood Thinking of You

 I found a card like this on social media and decided to try it out. 

The wood slats were embossed and cut into six pieces. I arranged them on a white card base. The dogwood image was die cut, lightly inked and assembled and the sentiment was added at the bottom. Easy, but so pretty!

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Saturday, April 18, 2026

White Birdie Card

 A couple of days ago, I posted a card with two lovebirds... this is the other bird die set that I love! 

The pieces were die cut from white cardstock except the eye, claws and beak. I inked the images and assembled them. The background was ink blended on turquoise cardstock and embossed. The bird and the flowers were arranged and I added a heat embossed sentiment under the image. Some silver gems were placed around the card. 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Friday, April 17, 2026

Cut It Up 354 - Hello Friend Embossed Flowers

Welcome to Cut It up Challenge 354!

The theme for this challenge is colours of spring.

I pulled out a full set of products that include stamps, stencils, dies and a 3D embossing folder. The floral image was embossed and I used the stencils to colour it. I chose bold pink and green - perfect for spring! The sentiment was stamped in the upper corner and that panel was die cut with a stitched rectangle and I embossed it a second time. A second stitched rectangle was die cut in black (hard to see in the photo) and those pieces were adhered to a green mat and then a white card base. I added clear gems around the card. 

Come and join us at Cut It Up and show us how you interpret this challenge. 

You have until Monday, April 27 to link up your project. 

We can't wait to see what you create!

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Thursday, April 16, 2026

Cheerful Chirps Lovebirds

 I just adore this pair of lovebirds! 

I die cut everything from white cardstock except the claws. The pieces were inked and arranged on a blue cardstock with a black mat. I stamped the sentiment above the hanger and used a white gel pen to add details to some of the flowers. 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

BB April - Paper Hugs

 

Welcome to Beautiful Blossoms and our April challenge!

The inspiration photo is below. It's optional to use this but your project must have a focus on florals. 

I drew my inspiration from the colours in the photo. 
I stencilled a background and fussy cut around the flowers and leaves to create a sort of diagonal image. I placed that on dotted green paper and then on a pink mat. The sentiment was stencilled using the same colours and added at the bottom. Some iridescent gems were placed around the edge of the floral image. 

Come and join us at Beautiful Blossoms and show us how you interpret this challenge. 

You have until May 12 to link up your project. 

We can't wait to see what you create!

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

TSOT 693 - Cherry Blossoms

Welcome to Try a Sketch on Tuesday Challenge 693!

The sketch is shown below. 


I chose a pink and brown colour scheme for my card. 
The cherry blossom image was embossed in black and coloured. I adhered that piece to a black mat. The Kraft background was splattered with white paint and I embossed the dark pink panel. The pieces were arranged as per the sketch and I added a small two-part sentiment at the bottom. 

Come and join us at TSOT and show us how you interpret this challenge.

You have two weeks to link up your project. 

We can't wait to see what you create!

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Monday, April 13, 2026

DT 214 - Flight with Joy

Welcome to Double Trouble Challenge 214!

The small graphic is shown below - please visit the Double Trouble Challenge Blog for detailed information.  

I went to my stash of patterned papers and chose two patterns for the stripes as well as gold glitter paper. I splattered the white background with blue ink before adding the strips on the diagonal. The butterfly outline was die cut from gold foil and I pieced in all the tiny sections with coordinating cardstock. The sentiment was embossed and added at the bottom. 

Come and join us at Double Trouble and show us how you interpret this challenge.

You have two weeks to link up your project. 

We can't wait to see what you create!

Enjoy, 

Alyson