Best fishes...

 

I was given one 12" x 12" sheet of this fish-patterned DSP. I thought it might make some fun masculine birthday cards. 

I added a 4" X 5 1/4" piece of the fish paper to my A2 card base.

Then, after drawing a line down from the top with a fine point felt-tip pen, I added a die-cut fishing hook and a worm.

The sentiment was printed with my computer, die-cut and popped up with foam squares. 

I also printed the inside sentiment.  It could be interpreted as a tiny bit off-color, but I have used it on cards before, and they sold quickly, so I thought I'd use it again.

I have an idea for a a Valentine for a boy out of this fish paper, too. I'll share it once I get it made.

It is soooo cooooold here right now - and I HATE feeling cold. I am dreaming of Spring and warmer weather already. It can't come soon enough, as far as I'm concerned.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl

Coloring on glitter cardstock...

 

These pretty images of cups filled with flowers were given to me from the thrift store. After studying them, I could see that they were black outline stickers that had been adhered to white glitter cardstock and then colored with alcohol markers.

The images are so pretty and sparkly IRL. After the stickers had been applied to the cardstock, they had been carefully cut out, except for the piece inside the handle. I actually cut that out with a craft knife before applying the image to my card.

This is a photo of the inside of the card when it's opened. 

I stamped a little row of gifts and then colored them with alcohol markers in the same shades that were used on the flowers.

The cup in this image had actually been sky blue, like the previous one, so I used a green marker to color over the blue so it would coordinate with my cardbase and DSP.

The sentiments were popped up with thin foam strips and placed at an angle above the circle cutout.

I think you can see some of the sparkle in this photo!

On the inside of this card, I stamped a single gift along with the sentiment.

There are a ton of video tutorials online for the "circle flip fun fold card." I don't recall exactly which one I followed, but you can view a similar tutorial here.

I know that I have a few gold and silver outline stickers in my stash, but it had never occurred to me to apply them to glitter cardstock and then color the cardstock. I think I'm going to try using them this way soon.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little and a lot--every day.

Cheryl

Valentines for girls...

 I turned to a couple of AI images to make some girl Valentines. I tried to find the images online again in order to offer a link for you here, but after doing an extensive image search, I could not find them. I did, however, find another group of similar Valentine fairies here that are free to use.

I first sized and printed the images, then added each of them to a scalloped and stitched rectangle of red cardstock.

I really didn't do much to the images, other than add some sparkle to their wings with a glitter pen. I'm sorry you can't see it in the photos. All of the sentiments for these cards were printed with my computer.

The sentiment on the front was matted with red and popped up with foam tape.

The sentiment on the inside was printed on a white panel and embellished with a punched heart.

This card was made the same way as the first one. The only difference was that I centered the front sentiment here since there was plenty of room beneath the image.

Once again, I embellished the inside with a punched heart.

These were pretty simple cards to make, once the images and sentiments were printed and ready.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl

Valentines for boys...

It's always harder for me to make Valentines for boys than for girls. Here are a couple that I made recently:

I've used this little monster many times for children's birthday cards, so why not use it for Valentines, too?

The rectangle he sits on has been raised up with foam tape, as has the computer-printed sentiment.

To make this monster extra cool, I cut a pair of glasses out of glossy black cardstock. Leaving the lenses in place, I glued them to his face.

The teeth and claws were added with a white gel pen. Normally, I cut them out of white cardstock and glue them on, but they are so tiny, I thought drawing them on would suffice for this card.

The hearts were actually part of the monster die set. So maybe this set was meant to be used for Valentines after all.

I added some Glossy Accents to the "warts" on his forehead where they had been scored in by the die.

I already had this bat in my card parts, so I just needed to use a circle die to cut out a ball. I used a red pen to add some stitch lines to it.

The computer-printed sentiment was added to a label punch-out (also from my card parts) with some foam tape. The label was then glued directly to the card front and an enamel dot was added to each end of it.

I added a punched heart in the upper right-hand corner to make it look more like a Valentine.

The bat was popped up with thin foam strips and the ball was added with a round pop dot.

I think a little boy will like this card, don't you?.

I printed a sentiment panel for each card and adhered it to the inside.

I need to find a few more ideas for boy Valentines so I'm off to Pinterest to have a look around.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl

Flying by...

 

I had a  piece of DSP that featured mostly a blue sky, scattered with clouds. I immediately thought of my kite dies. It would be the perfect backdrosp for them!

I used a few scraps to cut out kites, strings and bows. I added the kites with foam tape.

I also added a computer-printed sentiment with some adhesive foam strips.

The strings and bows were glued directly to the DSP.

The DSP was matted with yellow paper and the matted piece was glued to my A2 card front.

Easy peasy!

The sentiment for the inside was also printed with my computer.

*****

I'm certain you've all heard of the recent ICE shootings that resulted in the death of a young woman here in Minneapolis and two wounded people in Portland, Oregon, where my daughter lives. I hope you will keep all the residents of both cities in your hearts and prayers. The shootings have caused much anger, distrust and unrest, which is deepening the divisions that already exist. These two beautiful cities could really use some peace right now!

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl

I'm just a bit slow...

 

These two cards were created with AI images that you can find here if you are interested in using them. I thought they were so much fun and would make a couple of great belated birthday cards.

I used a 4" square stitched die to cut out each image and adhered them to a dusty lilac card base.

I dry-embossed a strip of the same cardstock with a dotted embossing folder, matted it with a white piece and added it to my card front.

My only other embellishment was an enamel dot. It wasn't quite the right color to begin with, so I colored it with an alcohol marker.

This was the inside of each card. The sentiment was printed with my computer, and I added the stamped balloons and stars.

I thought these cards were so much fun and just a little different from other cards I've made. If you'd like a pdf of the images and inside sentiments, just email me at paperpanacea(at)gmail(dot)com.

Do you make belated birthday cards? I don't often see examples of them online, but we should probably always have one handy, just in case, don't you agree?

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl

Let's Craft and Create challenge #227: Anything Goes or Something New (new home, new year, new baby, etc.)...

 
It's a new year and a new challenge at Let's Craft and Create. The option for this month's challenge--Something New--is perfectly timed. In fact, my final card for 2025 (see my December 31 post) was a New Year's card and the card I have created for this challenge is a New Home card. Both a New Year and a New Home hold exciting possibilities! I can attest to that--I've seen a LOT of new years and have lived in fourteen different apartments and houses in my lifetime. 

To make this A2-size card, I first cut the dark blue pieces. The strips across the top and down the left hand side are both 1 1/8" X 4". The strip across the bottom is 1 1/8" X 2 3/4". The blue square that holds the focal point is 2 3/4" X 2 3/4".

I cut my DSP just 1/8" shorter and narrower than each of the dark blue strips.

This little mushroom house is one of my favorite dies to use for a new home card. It's so whimsical and fun.

I added some gold metallic marker to the spots on the roof. I also used the marker for the doorknob and to add some spots to the tiny mushroom.

The images have been popped up with foam squares, and the sentiment was stamped with Versamark and heat-embossed with white EP.

Here is a peek at the inside. I stamped the word "Congratulations" and then stamped the second sentiment beneath it. 

A second little mushroom die-cut was added at the top.

I hope you'll take a look at all the other inspiring projects the Design Team has created. You'll find them on display at Let's Craft and Create. You're sure to be inspired to join our first challenge of 2026.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl