A Little Bit o' Paper

Tuesday, June 2

Hearts Full of Love

The new challenge at COLORFUL OPTIONS is "aqua, teal, turquoise, robin’s egg blue, and blue-green tones" or rainbow colors.

For my card, I created a soft and dreamy background filled with layered hearts in beautiful shades of teal, aqua, and green. The watercolor effect and embossing give the design a light and airy feel while adding depth and movement across the card. I paired the heart-filled background with a bold sentiment, “The greatest of these is Love” and added a wooden heart with a bow to make the message the true focal point.

I love how simple shapes and blended colors can come together to create something meaningful and elegant. This card would be perfect for Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, weddings, or simply sending a little love and encouragement to someone special.

Motivational sentiment at White Spruce Studio

Sharing my project with:

~Crealadies-love

~Die Cut Divas-embossing folder and anything goes

~Girlz Rebel-button

~Heart's Quest-anything with a heart on it

~Make My Monday-text and embossing

~Fab N Funky-embossing folder

~Word Art Wednesday-anything uplifting/encouraging

~Can You Handle the Pressure-embossing folder and option (embellishments-button, twine)

~Girlz and the Art of Letters-B is for... button

~Crafting Happiness-anything goes

Happy Crafting,

~DEANNE~

Warm Wishes & Festive Slippers

The June challenge at CHRISTMAS CRAFTS ALL YEAR 'ROUND is "create a Christmas/Holiday project with something that starts with K and/or L".

I made a card with lights on it.

This fun and festive Christmas card was inspired by all the cozy comforts of the holiday season ! I created adorable slipper-shaped elements decorated with colorful Christmas lights to give the card a playful and cheerful look. The patterned papers and woodgrain background add warmth and a cozy cabin feel, while the “Merry and Bright” sentiment ties everything together perfectly.

I love how whimsical and happy this design turned out. It reminds me of relaxing at home in comfy slippers surrounded by twinkling Christmas lights and holiday magic. Handmade holiday cards are such a wonderful way to spread warmth and smiles during the season !

Nothing says Christmas quite like cozy slippers and twinkling lights !

My Merry and Bright lights slipper card can be found at Cricut Design Space.

Sharing my project with:

~Holly & Ivy Christmas-anything Christmas

~12 Months of Christmas-anything goes Christmas card

~Die Cut Divas-dies and anything goes

~Farm Quest Home-home-related project

~Girlz Creative Crafts-dies/punches

~Girlz Creative Fun Art of Scrap-anything with pattern paper

~Merry Little Christmas-anything Christmas

~Moving Along With the Times-fav tool (my Cricut)

~Girlz Creative Christmas-Christmas and anything goes

~Peace On Earth-anything Christmas

*If you want to see my other Slippers cards click HERE.

Happy Crafting,

~DEANNE~

Monday, June 1

Blooming Beautiful Flowers

The new challenge at IF YOU GIVE A CRAFTER A COOKIE... is "in the garden".

My scrapbook page, Beauty in Bloom, celebrates the bright colors and delicate beauty of my garden flowers in full bloom. I layered cheerful yellow and green patterned papers with a collage of floral photos to create a fresh springtime feel. The mix of vibrant pinks, sunny yellows, soft whites, and deep purple blossoms adds contrast and energy, while the framed layout gives the page a garden-inspired look. I wanted this design to capture the joy and inspiration that flowers bring to everyday life.

Materials-cardstock, Echo Park pattern papers, American Crafts Thickers lettering, Prima flower, pearls (dollar store)

Sharing my project with:

~Beautiful Blossoms-florals focal

~Four Seasons Challenge-Summer

~Girlz Creative Fun Art of Scrap-anything with pattern paper

~Papercraft Challenge-botanical beauty

~Ellibelle's Garden Party-anything in or from a garden

~Pammie's Inky Pinkies-anything goes

Happy Crafting,

~DEANNE~

Soft Blues and Greens & Gentle Hope

The new challenge at {PIN}SPIRATIONAL is "blues and greens".

My card was inspired by the calming beauty of blue and green sea colors. The soft shades of blue, aqua, and green create a peaceful coastal feel, while the simple “Hope” sentiment adds an uplifting touch. I added a delicate flower embellishment and ribbon detail to bring extra texture and softness to the design.

I love how this card feels both calming and encouraging, reminding us that even small things can bring beauty and hope into our lives. The sea glass imagery paired with gentle colors creates a serene handmade card perfect for sending comfort or encouragement.

Like sea glass shaped by the waves, hope grows stronger through life’s journey.

Motivational sentiment at White Spruce Studio

Sharing my project with:

~Carlin's Challenge-sea

~Word Art Wednesday-anything uplifting/encouraging

~Creative Crafters-anything goes

~Pammie's Inky Pinkies-anything goes

~Wednesday's Creative Inspirations-anything goes

~Ally's Angels-anything goes

Happy Crafting,

~DEANNE~

Cute as a Gingerbread

The new challenge at ANYTHING BUT A CARD is "let's play" or anything goes.

I played with an ordinary recycled jar and turned it into this adorable gingerbread-inspired Christmas decoration ! Using paint, twine, and a few festive embellishments, I gave the jar a sweet holiday gingerbread complete with rosy cheeks, a bright red nose, and holly detail at the top. I love finding creative ways to recycle everyday items, especially during the holiday season when handmade décor adds such a warm and cheerful touch to the home.

This project was simple, fun, and budget-friendly — proof that even the plainest jar can become something festive and full of character. My afterschool daycare children and I love painting jars for different occasions. This one would make a cute holiday decoration, candy holder, or handmade gift idea !

Materials-jar (recycled), paint, twine, cardstock, Stickles glitter

Sharing my project with:

~Peace On Earth-anything Christmas

~A Place To Start-option (anything but a card)

~CRAFT-Christmas

~Crafter's Cafe-anything goes

~Crafty Catz-anything goes

~Allsorts-anything goes

Happy Crafting,

~DEANNE~

Saturday, May 30

Die Cuts, Butterflies & Friendship

The new challenge at CUT IT UP is "friendship" and, of course, use a die. There's a contest as well for a prize package if you become a follower. (click the CUT IT UP blog for details about the contest)

For this card, I combined elegant die cuts, layered papers, and soft pink tones to create a simple yet stylish friendship card. The bold “hello” diecut becomes the focal point of the design, while the diecut butterfly embellishment and layered patterned strips add texture and dimension. I also added a few pearls for a touch of shine and elegance.

I love how die cuts can instantly make a card feel polished and detailed without overwhelming the design. The mix of stripes, swirls, and soft colors gives this card a pretty feminine feel that’s perfect for sending a cheerful hello to a special friend.

Sharing my project with:

~Creations in Pink-mostly pink

~Girlz Creative Crafts-dies/punches

~Girlz Creative Fun Art of Scrap-anything with pattern paper

~Moving Along With the Times-butterflies

~Pearly Sparkles-butterflies

~Ellibelle's Garden Party-anything in or from a garden

~Sparkles-3 of something (pearl gems)

~I Spy With My Little Eye-something monochrome

~Girlz and the Art of Letters- B is for butterfly

~Crafty Catz-anything goes

Happy Crafting,

~DEANNE~

Thursday, May 28

Mark Your Page with Cherries and Blossoms

The challenge at FARM QUEST is "fruit garden or orchard".

I created this sweet cherry-themed bookmark using layered paper, delicate blossoms, and leafy details. The bright red cherries add a cheerful pop of color, while the soft pink flowers give it a lovely springtime feel.

I finished it with a red and white twine at the top so it can easily peek out from the pages of a book. It’s such a fun way to combine paper crafting with my love of reading, and it would also make a lovely little handmade gift for a book lover.

Materials-cardstock, twine

My Cherry Bookmark can be found at Cricut Design Space.

Sharing my project with:

~Beautiful Blossoms-florals focal

~Papercraft Challenge-botanical beauty

~Make My Monday-flowers

~Ellibelle's Garden Party-anything in or from a garden

~Crafty Catz-anything goes

~Creative Fingers-anything goes

~Allsorts-anything goes

~Crafting From the Art-anything goes

~Pammie's Inky Pinkies-anything goes

~Paper Funday-anything goes

Happy Crafting,

~DEANNE~

Wednesday, May 27

A Slice of Summer

I'm guest designer at FARM QUEST GROCERY GAME CHALLENGES and the challenge is "always anything about food or beverages".

I had fun creating this bright and cheerful fruit basket with my Cricut ! This project was inspired by all the fresh colors and fun shapes of summer fruit. I designed and assembled a miniature basket filled with layered paper citrus slices, strawberries, and a juicy watermelon wedge for a playful seasonal display.

I love how the dimensional layers bring the fruit pieces to life and make the basket look full and vibrant. The Cricut made cutting all the intricate pieces so much easier, allowing me to focus on assembling and adding little details like the seeds, rind accents, and leafy tops.

This project would make a cute summer decoration, party centerpiece, or even a sweet handmade gift. Bright, colorful paper crafts like this always make me smile, and this fruity basket was such a fun way to celebrate summer creativity !

Materials-cardstock, white gel pen

Sharing my project with:

~A Place To Start-option (fancy folds)

~~RISING STAR~~

~Creative Creases Challenge-fun folds

~Ellibelle's Garden Party-anything in or from a garden

~Crafting From the Art-anything goes

~Allsorts-anything goes

~Pammie's Inky Pinkies-anything goes

~Crafty Catz-anything goes

~Creative Fingers-anything goes

Happy Crafting,

~DEANNE~

Monday, May 25

Soccer Smiles & Birthday Wishes

The new challenge at STAR STAMPZ is "anything goes or sports/hobbies".

I created this fun soccer-themed birthday card for anyone who loves the game ! The cute image paired with the grassy background gives the card lots of playful energy, and I love how the large soccer ball embellishment helps tie the whole design together.

The bright colors really pop against the black card base, making the focal image stand out even more.

This card would be perfect for a young soccer fan or athlete celebrating their special day. I think this card captures the excitement and joy of the sport perfectly !

Digi used: Football Soccer Boy
Markets used: Copics

Sharing my project with:

~AAA Birthday-any birthday card

~Creative Moments-option (masculine)

~CRAFT-birthday

~Alphabet-B is for balls

~Creative Friday-for a kid

~Inkspirational-for the guys

~Heart's Quest Celebration of Love-birthday

~Send a Smile 4 Kids-option (anything for a kid)

~Passion for Markers-markers and anything goes

~A Place To Start-anything goes

Happy Crafting,

~DEANNE~

Saturday, May 23

Warm Wishes Through the Window

I enjoyed creating this Christmas fancy fold card ! I wanted it to feel warm and cozy, like peeking into a peaceful holiday home on a snowy winter day. The dimensional window scene gives the card such a special touch, and I love how the fold opens to reveal all the little details inside.

The Christmas tree, comfy chair, snowy window view, and tiny sleeping pup all come together to create a calm and inviting holiday setting. I kept the color palette classic with festive reds, greens, and crisp white layers to frame everything beautifully.

The sentiment, “Wishing you peace, joy and love this Christmas and always” perfectly matches the cozy feel of the card. Fancy fold cards always make such a wonderful surprise for the recipient, and this one was especially fun to design and assemble.

Materials-cardstock, Stickles glitter, all the pictures were "print and cut" patterns on the Cricut.