Happy Graduation

Welcome! So happy you are here to share a fun card with you  - it’s graduation season and I love making cards for people who are heading into the new adventure of adulthood!

Today’s card design was inspired by playing along with a couple of challenges 

Atlantic Hearts sketch challenge #AHSC686 I flipped mine to landscape.

Addicted to CAS word challenge of frame - I framed my sentiment with the Everyday Arches die.

Tic Tac Toe challenge #tttc294 for a double row of graduation, gold/black, vellum, patterned paper, gems.

Getting inky with the Artisan Sketched Garden DSP, Everyday Arches dies, Forever Plaid 3D embossing folder, Beautifully Adorned ephemera, Greetings for All Mix & Match ephemera, Barely Blush and Peaceful Pine blends,  Antique Pearls and Gold Acrylic pen.

A pretty little congratulations for the grad card. I love the Gold and Black pops against the soft Barely Blush pink. I used the blender pen for the pearls. Used the gold acrylic pen and blender pens to splatter specks of gold, pink and green.  

Happy Stampin’

Margaret 

Live, Laugh, Love

Be Totallyawake4-life 

Whimsical Wednesday

Welcome to another edition of Whimsical Wednesday - this little deer is just adorable.

Today’s card design was inspired by playing with a couple challenges.

Sunday Stamps sketch #SSC388.

Inspire.Create Stamping challenge #IC218 to use a creature/animal.

Getting inky with the Delicate Dreams DSP, Earthen Toned metallic DSP, Notes of Spring June POM, Greetings for All mix and match ephemera, Floral Spray 3D embossing folder and Streaked Dots adhesive gems.

Such a warm welcome card for a new baby. I love the shimmer of the Earthen Toned metallic DSP and the bronze shimmer in the Delicate Dreams DSP. 

Happy Stampin’

Margaret 

Live, Laugh, Love

Be Totallyawake4-life 

Technique Tuesday - Shadow Blocking

Welcome to another edition of Technique Tuesday - today I am playing with the shadow blocking technique. A quick and easy technique that adds some depth and dimension to your design.

My colour palette was inspired by Hand Stamped Sentiment’s colour challenge #490 - the palette was just the push I needed to play with my Delicate Dreams DSP. So palette is bit different shades of the challenge being Mossy Meadow, Hydrangea Hue and Crumb Cake/Bronze. 

Getting inky with the Delicate Dreams DSP, Earthen Tones Metallic DSP, Greeting for All mix and match ephemera, Floral Spray embossing folder, Streaked Dots and bronze twine.

Technique is simple - cut your DSP in 1 inch squares, choose a dark solid neutral that coordinates best with your DSP - I have chosen the bronze metallic DSP as the Delicate Dreams has bronze accents. Arrange your DSP in a 12 block pattern grid you like and than adhere the solid card stock to the DSP at an offset angle to form your shadow block. Repeat with all 12 squares. Then add to your card front - I popped my squares up on dimensionals for an added pop of shadowing. Complete your card design accents such as sentiment and embellishments. 

Video picks up the shine of the metallic accents best.

This technique is a great way to showcase your pretty paper and let it do all the work. Such a pretty result for a sympathy card. 

Happy Stampin’

Margaret 
Live, Laugh, Love
Be Totallyawake4-life 

Monday Funday

Welcome to Monday Funday on the blog - trying for a minimalist Monday vibe but clean and simple is not my strong suit although this was a quick card to put together.

Todays card design is inspired by playing along with a couple challenges:

Shout out to the Colour INKspirational challenge #CI211 - a gorgeous combo of Bubble Bath, Hydrangea Hue, Peaceful Pine and Misty Moonlight.

Case-ing Tuesday Sketches #CTS568 from page 46 in the May-August 2026 catalog.

I’m getting inky with the Artisan Garden DSP, Greetings for All mix and match ephemera, Beautifully Adorned ephemera pack, Bubble Bath ink, a Blender brush and Stampin’ blends in the Bubble Bath, Hydrangea Hue, Peaceful Pine and Misty Moonlight. Pink sequins gems.

Think the Artisan Garden DSP might be my all time favourite to date - and I am a border of pretty paper! I used Whisper White for my 2 strips and blended with the Bubble Bath for a softer background and added shading at the bottom of the vases using my blends. The two vases are fussy cut from the DSP. The Congratulations is from the Greetings for All ephemera popped up on dimensionals.

Happy Stampin’

Margaret 

Live, Laugh, Love

Be Totallyawake4-life

Slimline Sunday

Welcome to another edition of Slimline Sunday.

Todays card design was inspired by playing along to several card challenges:

Double Troubles Twisted Sisters 1 masculine theme, 2 die cuts - I have chosen to use Scenic Coast and Spot Light on Nature dies, 3 strips of paper or washi tape. 

Try a Sketch on Tuesday sketch challenge #TSOT. I have stretched it to fit a slimline design.

Festive Friday Fathers Day #FFO211 I have chosen Masculine colours, textured metallic ribbon, patterned paper and a Fathers Day sentiment.

Sweet Stampin’ Something For the Boys challenge.

Time Out Challenge #TOC315 I have chosen a summer sunset by the water vacation vibe design.

I’m getting inky with the Scenic Coast stamps, dies, paper and sequins along with the Spotlight on Nature dies and Greeting for All ephemera pack along with Blueberry Bushel, Highland Heather, Pumpkin Pie, Crushed Curry and Strawberry Slush inks and blending brushes. 

Final design results using a blended sunset as my backdrop for my 4 strips of Scenix Coast paper and the focal image of the lighthouse doe and Spotlight on Nature die to form a portal frame. I cut out in Basic White and used the blender brush and a pecan pie blender pen to color the circle and lighthouse features. Add some metallic gold bakers twine and popped up the Fathers Day sentiment after blending it with leftover Blueberry Bushel so the white wasn’t so stark. Added 3 sequins to finish it off.

Happy Stampin’ 

Margaret 

Live, Laugh, Love

Be Totallyawake4-life

Sneak Peek Saturday

Welcome to sneak peek Saturday. Today I am sharing a sneak peek from the upcoming July Online Exclusive from Stampin’ Up! 

Showcasing the DSP, stamp set and dies from the Violet Dreams suite paired with the new 20206-2028 In Colors Hydrangea Hue, Peaceful Pine and Golden Rod and the clear epoxy drops from the Ladybug Garden epoxy shapes.

The flowers are so pretty and I love the I appreciate you sentiment - perfect for sending a paper hug in the mail to someone special in your life 🤩 

Happy Stampin’

Margaret 

Live, Love, Laugh

Be Totallyawake4-life

Feminine and Floral Friday

Welcome to another edition of Feminine and Floral. 

Today’s card design was inspired by playing along with Just Add Ink #JAI787 choose two or more. I have patterned paper and twine.

Getting inky with the Lovely Blossoms DSP, Greetings for All ephemera pack, antique pearls and some gold twine.

This sketch layout is perfect for showing off coordinating DSP. I love this paper - it’s just so pretty! 

Happy Stampin’

Margaret 

Live, Laugh, Love

Be Totallyawake4-life