Monday, May 25, 2026

Floating Balloons Stencil - A Colorful Life Designs

 Hello friends! I've had a busy weekend and I'm looking forward to spending this rainy day in my craft room!

I've got a couple more cards to share today using the new Floating Balloons stencil at:


Don't forget to use code JennFan10 for 10% off your entire order at the shop!

You know the minute I saw "floating balloons" I thought of Pennywise from IT and I just happened to have the perfect stamp set to pair with this stencil! I'd like to enter this card below into the following challenges:

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - Anything Goes

Stencil Fun May - AG/Optional See Through It

Stamping Sensations - Cute Creatures or AG (last challenge)

AllSorts #850 - Anything Goes

I used Candied Apple Distress Oxide Ink blended through the Floating Balloons stencil, then embossed with clear embossing powder (watercolor paper). I die cut the balloon after printing out the sentiment, sponged the edges with red and attached it with a foam dot. The adorable "Pennywise" character is from the The Greeting Farm It's Spooky STAMPtember Exclusive Stamps set from Simon Says Stamp (no longer available), stamped with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder. I colored with Copics and a white gel pen, fussy cut, and attached with foam tape. I sponged the edges with black ink to finish it off.

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And I'd like to enter this one into the following challenges:

Seize the Birthday #326 - Anything Goes (optional feature an animal)


Classic Design Challenge - Anything Goes/Optional Birthday or Anniversary

AAA Birthday #85 - AG Birthday (7th birthday celebration!)

For this one, I used the reverse stencil technique and added the sentiment with Black Soot Distress Oxide Ink blended through the Birthday Gifts stencil, which is also from the new release. I added some red brads in the corners and sponged the edges with some black ink to finish it off. Peace.

Sunday, May 24, 2026

Happy Birthday Hubby & Friend

Happy birthday to my amazing husband today! We have been together for 34 years now and we've been through a lot; we were only 21 when we started dating so I feel like we grew up together. We know that we are very lucky to still love each other and even more lucky that we LIKE each other.  He's the best husband, dad, and grampy and I wouldn't trade him for the world.

I'd like to enter his birthday card into the following challenges:

AllSorts #850 - Anything Goes (Happy 17th Birthday to them!)

Crafty Catz - Anything Goes

Creative Fingers #322 - Anything Goes

I used a piece of Kraft cardstock for the card base & sentiment, then layered some text paper and a piece of torn corrugated cardboard on it. I stamped the images from the Shots! Shots! Shots! set at Unity Stamp Co. with Scorched Timber Distress Oxide Ink and embossed with a clear sparkly embossing powder. Sponged the edges with the same ink and added a rustic looking brad to the sentiment. 

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And it's also the birthday of a friend's daughter who is like a daughter to me - Makayla. This is the card I made for her, which I'd like to enter into the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Tag It

Passion For Markers - Anything Goes

Die Cut Divas - Birthdays or Anniversaries

Make My Monday #278 - Say It With Flowers

Cut it Up #356 - Flowers (must use die cuts)

Background paper is from Doodlebug Design. I used the Line Detail Frames die cut set and the Beach Chickies stamp set from Mama Elephant - stamped with Versafine Black, embossed with clear embossing powder, and colored with Copics (and yes, I use Oxford commas cuz I'm old ROFL). I sponged some Distress Oxide Inks around the cute little mermaid chick and sponged black ink around the edges of the tag. Added some rhinestone stickers, sand dollar & seashell dies, a ribbon & brad. Peace. 

Saturday, May 23, 2026

believe

 Good morning! I have another Mermay card to share today - this one is for the following challenges:

The Greeting Farm FB Challenge - Mermay

Passion for Markers - Anything Goes

AllSorts #850 - Anything Goes

Creative Inspiration #38 - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore Encore May - Anything Goes

I used a digi for this one because I had a 5x7 background created in my stash (a combination of ink smooshing Black Soot Distress Oxide Ink and applying a pretty seafoam green embossing powder) that I wanted to use and I wanted a nice big image for my focal point. She's called Leela Merbean from The Greeting Farm, I colored her with Copics, Stickles, and a white gel pen. I love the way her hair came out, like the sun's rays are shining through it. I fussy cut her and attached her with foam dots. I used a die cut "netting" behind her and a sand dollar as an accent. Sentiment is from a Tim Holtz sticker book. Peace.

Kick Back and Relax with Bamboo Snack Time Panda!

 Good morning! The Polkadoodles DT was tasked with creating a Father's Day card this go-around, and I thought this adorable Bamboo Snack Time Panda was the perfect digi for this!

I colored him with Copics, fussy cut, and attached him with foam dimensional tape. I added some die cut leaves around him which blend in nicely with that Noodle Panda Set 3 paper! Sentiments are from the Noodle Panda Themed Messages set. I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

Die Cut Divas - Celebrations (Father's Day)

Crafty Catz - Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Cute Critters

Wednesday's Creative Inspiration - Anything Goes

Thanks for visiting! Peace.



Friday, May 22, 2026

All Dressed Up New Release - Little Ladybug

I just love the new release this month at

I created my card using the Little Ladybug digi:

I created my background by ink blending Candied Apple Distress Oxide Ink on a piece of watercolor paper and ink smooshing it. Once dry, I applied Black Soot Distress Oxide Ink through a polka dot stencil, heavily on one side and lighter on the other. I misted lightly with water and let that dry before sponging the edges with more black ink. I printed out the image and colored her with Copics, then cut out with a stitched edge nesting rectangle die, sponging the edges with more black ink. I added a Viewmaster die cut from black cardstock, a button, and a sentiment from a Tim Holtz sticker book. Finished it off with some rhinestone stickers. I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

Girlz and the Art of Letters - A is for.... (Awesome!)

Wednesday's Creative Inspiration - Anything Goes

Crafty Catz - Anything Goes

Passion for Markers - Anything Goes

Have a fantastic day! Peace. 

Thursday, May 21, 2026

I Like You More Than Unicorns & Wonderful Life

 Goooood morning! I would like to enter the card below into the following challenges:

Try a Sketch on Tuesday #695

Cut it Up #356 - Flowers

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Cute Critters

Colorful Options May - B&W or Rainbow

Crafter's Cafe - Anything Goes/Optional Something Funny

Double Trouble #216 - Let the Troubles Begin! (3 layers, 2 shapes, 1 image recipe)

Papers are from Doodlebug Designs. I die cut the banners, the scalloped circle, and the scalloped squares. The image is a digi from Stamping Bella's Unicorns Set 1. I colored with Copics, then added some glitter to his horn and wings. I added a rainbow sticker and a paper flower with a button center. 

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I have one more card to share today and it's kind of a cool story how it came about. My friend Kim was over visiting me and on the table was a vase of flowers that were dying. The petals were falling off onto the counter and as we chatted, she took the petals and formed them into a heart. I took a picture of it and the picture came out so cool that I decided to make a card out of it! LOL I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

Make My Monday - Say It With Flowers

Tic Tac Toe #292 (I used Floral, Free, White/Cream)

So I uploaded the photo to Canva and simply used the same background that I use for my cards to layer it on top of. I then printed a larger version of just the background alone and used that for the card base. I layered a piece of Highland Heather cardstock from Stampin' Up! behind the focal point image, then sponged the edges of the card and added a sentiment sticker from a Tim Holtz book. Peace.

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

I Treasure You & Hopeful

Good morning! Got a lot on my mind this week, but it's more stuff for my personal art journal than my public blog so I'll be spending some time journaling today. I don't know about you, but writing and expressing my thoughts through art really does help.

I'd like to enter the card below into the following challenges:

Pink & Main #18 - Nature

Cut it Up #356 - Flowers

I pulled these papers out of my stash, they are from Authentique and I love the color combo - it's one of those "I've been saving it for something special" things and I recently decided to stop doing that. I'm using the stuff now, all of it! Life is too short! Anyway, I stamped the image from the Floral Shells set from Pink & Main with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder. I colored with Copics and used a die cut film strip to cut it out. I added a little die cut seashell, some rhinestone stickers, and sponged the edges of the card. 

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I've also got a tag to enter into the:

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Tag It

I used the Propagation Plants Dies from Spellbinders with a tag die to create this little tag, tied off with a piece of twine, then added a little kraft sticker from a Tim Holtz book. Peace.