Cheers

Still having fun with shadow box cards . . .

My friend John is a flower grower and seller, so I always enjoy making floral cards for him.  These stand up so nicely on display, so I hope he takes advantage of that . . .

Cardstock:   Neenah #80 Bright White, Bazzill Dark Butter,

Orange Peel Cutie    

Stamps:       Hero Large Flower Pattern, TEMU Dense Text

Inks:             VersaColor Sky Blue, Superior India Ink Black

Colorants:    Derwent Inktense Light Olive, Sienna Gold,

Golden Yellow

Dies:            Concord & 9th Shadow Box Base Dies, Simon Says

Cheers                   

Doo Dads:    Kat Scrappiness Sparkling Droplets       

Best Wishes

Here’s another shadow box example . . .

For some odd reason, I glued the focal point panel off-center.  So I added some text along the left side and bottom to balance things out.  Hope it looks intentional, and doesn’t scream boo boo cover-up . . .

Cardstock:   Neenah #80 Bright White, Marcos Jute  

Stamps:       Impression Obsession Foliage, Wooden Plank, Bark, 

TEMU Text Background

Inks:             Superior India Ink Black, Distress Antique Linen,

 Hero Soft Brown

Colorants:    Zig Clean Color Haze Blue, Derwent Inktense Iris Blue,

Light Olive

Emb Pwdr:   Vippies Transcendence

Dies:            Concord & 9th Shadow Box Base, TEMU Best Wishes, 

Happy Birthday       

Blessings

Jennifer McGuire has done several excellent videos on shadow box cards.  Her most recent one features a new die set by Concord & 9^th which cuts all of the elements needed for this eye-catching, dramatic layout . . .

I’m hooked and have already begin work on a second shadow box card.  Many more are definitely in the works!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Dark Butter, Neenah #80 Bright White, Gmund

Wave Cover Slate Blue     

Stamps:       Impression Obsession Foliage, TEMU Dense Text, 

Serendipity Blessings

Inks:             Hero Pool, Gina K Charcoal Brown, VersaFine 

Majestic Blue

Colorants:    Derwent Inktense Light Olive, Cadmium Orange

Emb Pwdr:   Vippies Transcendence

Dies:            Concord & 9th Shadow Box Base           

Gladness

Generosity is indeed the hallmark of our wonderful hobby of rubber stamping.  When my friend Jamie decided to downsize her collection, she invited me to take any of a large part of her collection that I wanted!  So I also took enough to gift two of my stamping buddies with them.  Here’s the Thank You card I sent to Jaime:  it uses three of the stamps she gifted me with . . .

The text perfectly describes how happy her kindness has made me!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Posy Pink, Strathmore #100 Bristol Smooth     

Stamps:       Alias Smith & Rowe  Splots & Dots, Stampin’ Up 

Glad Heart set

Inks:             Superior India Ink Black, VersaMark, Gelly Roll 

Clear Star

Colorants:    Zig Clean Color: Olive Green, Pale Pink, Sugared

Almond Pink, Peach Pink

Emb Pwdr:   All Night Media Silver

Dies:            Waffle Flower Additional Piercing Layers, TEMU 

Ripple Rectangle Frame, Spellbinders Back to

Basics Tags             

Hummus

Blue Ribbon #9     RECIPE CATEGORY

Even though mushrooms have little to do with hummus, I still thought they made a charming and organic accent to this recipe card . . .

As it is indeed a recipe card, I glued a collapsible cardstock easel to the back.  It folds flat for mailing but quickly assembles to prop up the recipe for easy reading while assembling the ingredients.  Easy peasy!  It also looks great when kept on display.

Cardstock:    Strathmore #184 Mixed Media

Stamps:       Typed recipe

Dies:             Kokorosa Happy Wedding/Anniversary set: rattan frame,

                        TEMU Leaf Spray, Taylored Expressions Layered                                                    Toadstools, DieNamics Grassy Edges

 . . . and that's it for the NJ Fair 2026!  I had a ball putting them together and I hope you enjoyed seeing the fruits of my labors . . .

Japan

Blue Ribbon #8      OTHER CATEGORY

“Other” is a category that allows you to do anything you like.  Asian themes are my favorites, because I seem to have very good luck in turning out something I really like with them . . .

The kimono was made from Washi strips added to cardstock and then die cut.  The metallic gold background was way too garish, so I toned it down by covering it with wispy Japanese rice paper.  This reduced the glare to a glimmer and pleased me very much . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Raven, Metallic Gold, Paper Arts Dragonfly      

Stamps:       Tin Can Mail Asian Symbols, Unknown “Japan”

Inks:             Superior India Ink Black

Emb Pwdr:   Ranger Gold

Dies:            Michael Strong Kimono, Spellbinders Gold Corner

Sets One, Goodculler Stitched Rectangles     

Doo Dads:    Assorted Washi Tapes, American Crafts Gold

Medium Glitter Brad, Toothpick, Black and Gold Fibers  

Get Well Soon

Blue Ribbon #7     GET WELL CATEGORY

Green is such a calming color that I felt it would work well for a Get Well card . . .

I made the shimmering silver dots by stenciling a snowfall background and then dusting with silver leaf while the paste was still wet.  Once dry, I used a soft cosmetic brush to remove the excess.  Easy and fun!

Cardstock:   Canson Aquarelle #90, Bazzill Parakeet 

Stamps:       Stampin Up “Get Well Soon”, KaiserCraft Marble

Inks:             Ancient Page Leaf Green, Pine, Sage, ColorBox 

Frost White

Emb Pwdr:   Ranger Clear, ColorBox Frost White

Dies:            Yalatan Stitched Tags, Impression Obsession Vase

Set, Memory Box Gerber Stems, Cheery Lynn Tiny

Flower Kit                

Stencil:        Honey Bee Scattered Leaves Background, Simon

Says Falling Snow

Doo Dads:    Embossing paste, Gilding Leaf Silver, Nicole jute 

Lime, Wink of Stella Clear

My Treasures

Blue Ribbon #6     ART CARD CATEGORY

The Art Card category gives me free rein to do whatever I want, so I went to town with this one . . .

All of the elements came from a collection compiled over many years.  Putting them on view instead of hiding them in a box kept in a drawer seemed like a good idea . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Raven, Rice Paper, Canson Aquarelle #90       

Inks:             ColorBox Gold

Dies:            DieVersions Noodles font, TEMU “Happy”,

Doo Dads:    Gold Thread, assorted embellishments  

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    

All the Best

With Time still at a premium, here’s another re-vamped card . . .

Tim’s Alcohol Ink Lift has been snoozing in my stash for quite sometime, so I need to wake it up and start using it again.  The effect is subtle but truly effective in real life.  I hope the camera does it some justice . . .

Cardstock:             Bazzill Santillo, Hanko Echizen Gold, Tim Holtz Yupo          

Stamps:                Stampers Anonymous Art Deco Palm Fronds

 Inks:                     Adirondack Alcohol Ink Terra Cotta, Bottle, Pinata Brass,

                               Tim Holtz Alcohol Lift Ink

Dies:                      Impression Obsession All the Best, Spellbinders Flutters                 

Cheers

Here’s another slightly re-vamped card to save time and help me get caught up . . .

My dear friend Susi loves dragonflies, so I’ve added one onto this card . . . it’s sparkly and a lot more noticeable in real life.

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute, Strathmore #100 Bristol Vellum   

Stamps:       Fiskars Mesh Roller, Technique Junkies Travel

Documents

Inks:             Distress Brushed Corduroy, Faded Jeans, Dusty

Concord

Dies:            TEMU Blue Dragonfly, Dandelion Pattern, Cheery

Lynn Cheers                   

Stencil:        TEMU French Letter

Doo Dads:    Nuvo Midas Touch  

Good Idea

I’ve always loved the subtle look of White on Gray, so that’s what I’ve done here . . .

I’ve done the flowers in neutral colors in order to keep the layout very peaceful.  However, the sparkly flower centers certainly perked things up a bit!  I hope they show in the photo . . .

Cardstock:   American Crafts Pastels: Grey, Strathmore Ultimate

White          

Stamps:       Concord & 9th Fine Line Florals text

Inks:            Vivid Sky Blue, Plum, Taupe, Cobblestone,

          ColorBox Frost White

Emb Pwdr:   Ranger White

Dies:            Concord & 9th Fine Line Florals, TopUnder/Amazon

                    “Three Lobed Flower”, Spellbinders Floral Berry

Accents, Studio Calico Nested Rectangles, 

Bottone/Amazon Leafy Border, TEMU Flag Label, 

Carl punch Flower Center                

Emb Folder: Sizzix Happy Texture

Doo Dads:    Kat Scrappiness Sequins Shimmering Platinum