Thursday, October 1, 2026

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 . . .

Monday, September 28, 2026

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  

Thursday, September 24, 2026

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

Monday, September 21, 2026

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  

Thursday, September 17, 2026

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         

Monday, September 14, 2026

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    

Thursday, September 10, 2026

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