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