Sweet

Blue Ribbon #5     BABY CATEGORY

The layout on this one was greatly inspired by the packaging for the heart and onesie die set . . .

Baby cards don’t always have to be done in pink, blue, or yellow . . . I think Kraft and cream do the job nicely!

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute, Strathmore #100 Bristol Vellum   

Stamps:       Cloud 9 Baby Sweet

Inks:             Distress Brushed Corduroy

Emb Pwdr:   Vippies Transcendence

Dies:            TEMU Baby Love, Top Dog Baby on Board, Arich 

Rounded Corners Stitched Rectangles             

Emb Fldr:     TEMU Dream Grass Pattern

Doo Dads:    May Arts Jute         

Blessings

Blue Ribbon # 4     ANNIVERSARY CATEGORY

Gold was my theme for the day when I did this one . . .

 . . . paired with rust,  burgundy, and some stenciled paste, I was quite happy with the results . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Ember, Hanko Momi Washi         

Inks:             Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist Gold, Distress 

Aged Mahogany

Dies:            Spellbinders Layered Palm Tree            

Stencil:        Tim Holtz Nature

Doo Dads:    Golden Light Embossing Paste    

With Love

Blue Ribbon #3     WEDDING CATEGORY

One of my favorite backgrounds is an allover text image, such as I’ve done here . . .

After stamping and inking with yellow and green, I used stencil paste to add more texture.  No such thing as too much tactile interest, in my book . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Rain Forest, Premiere #140 Watercolor, 

Scrap Yellow

Stamps:       Hero Friend Definition

Inks:             Distress Peeled Paint, Scattered Straw, ColorBox 

Frost White

Emb Pwdr:   Hero White

Dies:            TEMU Exquisite Three Butterflies, Dee’s Distinctively 

“With Love”            

Stencil:        Sweet Stamps Circle Pavers

Doo Dads:    Golden Light Molding Paste         

Thankful

 Blue Ribbon #2   HOLIDAY CATEGORY

While I usually use Autumn colors for Fall themes, I thought I’d buck the tide and try something different . . .

I’m not sure if it worked, but I like how it turned out anyway!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Hershey, Strathmore #100 Bristol Vellum, 

Marcos Jute   

Stamps:       Hero Autumn Set (acorn), Unknown Wood Strip

Inks:             Distress Prize Ribbon, Walnut Stain, ColorBox 

Frost White

Emb Pwdr:   Hero White

Dies:            Mama Elephant Peek a Frame, Unknown Leaf Spray, 

Spellbinders A2 Distressed Edges, YPP Craft Words

Set: “Thankful”             

Emb Fldr:     Spellbinders Blistered

NJ State Fair 2026

The NJ State Fair 2026 took place last month and my nine rubber stamped entries did quite well, thank you very much!  I was even awarded a Best in Show gigantic pink ribbon which really topped off my day . . .

Onward to the first of nine posts featuring my NJ Fair cards!

Blue Ribbon #1 BIRTHDAY CATEGORY

This year, I thought it would be fun to see how many cards I could make using elements I saved in my Scrap Box.  Happily, I succeeded with all but two entries.  This one used a background I rescued from the box . . .

The flowers were made with my favorite material for flora: Foamiran.  Three seconds under the heat gun and the petals lift.  Best of all, they never droop, even after their wild ride through the postal system.

Cardstock:   Stedner Bright White, Strathmore #100 Bristol Smooth

Stamps:       Amuse Script Background

Inks:             Ancient Page Cardinal, Hero Unicorn

Dies:            Papertrey Ink Leaf & Sprig Frames, InFunly Butterflies,

 Impression Obsession Bare Branch, Spellbinders Floral BerryAccents, TEMU Vertical Words: “Happy Birthday”           

Emb Fldr:     Sheena Snowfall

Doo Dads:    Tiny buttons, Foamiran     

Thanks

My friend Barb is in charge of the Home & Hobby building at the NJ Fair where I enter my cards every year.  She does an incredible job of coordinating the multi-craft displays and deserves a thank you for her efforts . . .

In addition to stamping, Barb is a major quilter, so I like to send cards to her that feature quilting-themed designs.  Since I used many different designer papers for this background, I had lots of leftover inserts.  So I put together many of these panels to have at the ready when creating time is scarce. 

Cardstock:   Canson Mixed Media Rough #114, assorted

patterned papers         

Dies:            InLoveArts Diagonal Stripe Background, Frantic

Stamper Modern Thanks

Doo Dads:    Waffle Flower Enamel Dots White

Nature

I really went to town with this one . . .

 . . . multiple layers and tools and embellishments make for a card I’m really happy to send.  I’ll do so with a thin layer of foam packaging so the metal frame won’t gum up the postal works.  I’ve sent numerous cards with these frames and have never had a problem.  Fingers will be crossed nonetheless . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Purple Pizzazz, Scrap from a Fred Mullett class,

Gold  

Stamps:       Stamp Zia “Nature”

Inks:             Distress Mowed Lawn, ColorBox Gold

Colorants:    Various dried die ink powders

Emb Pwdr:   Ranger Gold

Dies:            Papertrey Ink Pierced Feature Frame, Recollections

Mix Bird, Sue Wilson Chantilly Lace Edger              

Emb Fldr:     Stampin’ Up Layered Leaves

Doo Dads:    Making Memories Label Holder