Watercoloring In Bed Strategies!

Hello!

I hope all is well with you!  I recently had a knee replaced and things are progressing as it should.  I guess I got a little ambitious and was sentenced to bed rest to get the swelling down.  

I wasn’t able to craft along with Tim (Holtz) and Heidi (Simon Says Stamp owner) during their recent workshop.  The replay is available on Simon’s YouTube channel and I was determined to try to at least color something.  There are some spray stains in the accompanying kit that were supposed to be used as watercolors.  

Even I’m smart enough to know that I’d wind up with tie-dyed sheets, so I got out a few Inktense watercolor pencils and a water brush.  Other than constantly sliding down off the pillows and losing stuff in the bedding, I had fun!  There are lots of booboos, but I passed the time more productively than just watching TV.  Most of the booboos can be covered up or embellished;). I love the loose coloring style that Tim teaches as I’m not a great colorer.

I don’t have links because they were limited edition sets,  but I still think the replay is worth the watch and just play with what you already have!

Here are some pictures of my afternoon:

Looking forward to getting down to the craft room soon!

Take care!

Gale

Fun Gliding Ghost Slider Card!

 Hello!

Are you ready to make Halloween cards?  I love to make them, but don't always get around to sending them!  

Most of the supplies I used are linked below (AFIL) thank you!  I used Stampers Anonymous' Tim Holtz Boo Crazy stamp set, lots of Distress Sprays and fun Slide 'n Spin buttons from Pearblossom Press.  Please visit my Youtube tutorial for the details and process linked below.  I also have an interactive surprise card at the end of the video!!!

Here’s an action wobbler card I made for a friend whose birthday is on Halloween!  It features the Spellbinder’s Woof or Treat die set.

Here are the supplies I used:

I'm planning to be back very soon, so stay tuned!

Bye!

Gale

Easy Huge Gerbera Daisy Birthday Card!

Hello!

Hope all is well with you!  I love this die set and knew I had to have it.  The flowers are huge and pretty versatile (with artistic license;).   I just added some shading to color cardstock for a little depth and layer on top of Altenew's Quilted Circles panel, then used an oval die to frame it out.  (Supplies are linked below.  They are AFIL, so I may receive a small commission with items purchased using them;)

I decided not to add any texture to the frame for fear it might get too busy.  I used a little gold glitter cardstock for the centers.  These Altenew dies feature the keyhole design which makes them super easy to line up!

I have other finished projects sitting beside me, so I know I'll be back soon!

Here is the supply list:

Looking forward to being back soon!   I'm also editing a Halloween YouTube video.

Bye for now!

Gale

Use Scraps to Make Fast 'N Fun Prize Ribbons for Home Dec, Classroom Awards & More!

 Hello!

Just wanted to post a quick video showcase/demo of some ribbon ideas for table/party decor, name tags, school/Sunday school awards, etc.  I went a bit wild once I got die-cutting.  (The purple & gold ribbons represent Best of Breed at dog shows;).  I started with the Simon Says Stamp Prize Ribbon dies.   Then added simple circle and star dies you likely already have to make them even more spectacular!

Here is the link to the video:

I posted the supply links for most things below and I appreciate the support as I may get a small commission from items purchased using these links;)

Here they are up-close:

Here are the supplies:

Happy Fourth of July to all who celebrate!  

Gale

Fun Spring Project Showcase!

Hello!

It’s hard to believe that April is next week and Easter will be here before we know it!  I hope you will “hop” on over to my YouTube channel for a little inspiration!  I will be back for a new tutorial soon, but thought I’d share some cards I made on a whim, but didn’t film.  I also share some popular "blasts from the past!"

Here's a fun shaker using an A2 shaker pocket by Pink & Main (supplies are linked below, AFIL thank you!!)

I diecut some eggs from the Simon Says Stamp Floral Eggs embossing folder and made a faux "basket."  I went a little nuts on dimension.  I definitely will hand deliver or put in a padded envelope!

The last new card just uses the Simon Says Stamp Tiny Floral folder on both glossy white cardstock and vellum.  I ink blended several colors (which is really easy on glossy cardstock!) I made sure to conceal the glue under the flower as adhesives typically show under vellum.

Here's the showcase video-  I hope you enjoy it and will like, subscribe, comment and come back to see me soon!  

Wishing you a very Happy Easter!  I'll see you again very soon with a tutorial and then a visit to Simon Says Create!

Here are most of the supplies:

Take care!

Gale

Fun Felt 3D Eggs!

 Hello!

Hope all is well with you! 
We went from below zero to 55 degrees in a week.  I can hear the melting snow and am watching over my sump pump because I saw a pipe broken outside.  I MacGyvered it as best I could until I get the correct parts.  Fingers crossed!   

I spent the weekend stitching these eggs and dreamt of Spring.  These are from Spellbinder's 3D Egg dies by Sandi MacIver that I was sent to try out.  There are two sizes.  The smaller one is in the middle.  They make sweet, un-breakable decorations and are addicting to sew!  I love super-quick projects!  I added decorations with dies in the set as well as pulling from some other sets.  Any die will cut the felt.

I die-cut an "egg-stra" set of pieces so I can make a brief YouTube tutorial very soon.  Please "hop" over to my @Darbycreek channel and set the notification bell so you won't miss it!  (Video scheduled for 6 p.m. EST on March 4th.)

Please note these are made with a wool blend felt you can get from several shops (I'll link them below for you!).  The felt diecuts just like paper!  I use the same setting on my machine with no problem.  It does however, make a bit of a mess with all the little holes in the dies, but the Spellbinder's Tool 'n One works great to get the felt that gets stuck.  You can also bounce the dies off the table to get them out.  I flicked them on the side of my trash can too.

I've got to run and check on the water situation again, but will be back again very soon!  Happy early Valentine's Day!

Here are the supplies I used:

Fun 'N Easy Mr. Rabbit One-ish Layer Easter Card!

 Hello!

There's no better time to think about Spring than when there are mountains of snow piled up!  This project features Mr. Rabbit by Tim Holtz and Stampers Anonymous and a bit of masking to keep the bulk down so you can mail them without taking out a second mortgage.

All the how-tos are in this week's video and many of the products are linked below (AFIL- thank you so much for your support!  I may get a small commission when items are purchased using these links.).  I hope you will enjoy the tutorial and consider subscribing, liking and sharing at no cost to you!

Here are the supplies I used:

I hope you stay safe if you are in this nasty weather!  I'll be back soon!

Gale

Shaggy Dog Shaker Card (Craft Roulette #301 Submission)

Hello!

Happy New Year!  Wishing you all the best in 2026 with tons of time to craft!  My first card this year is a Craft Roulette submission.  If you haven't heard of Craft Roulette, it's a live paper craft challenge on YouTube at 7:10 EST.  It's a great way to stretch your card-making muscles!  We have a lot of fun and laughs along the way!

Mary Gunn Funn spins the wheel to decide our parameters each week.  This week was Project:  Appreciation Card,  Color: Apple Farm,  Element: Silhouette, Random: An Old Product.  There was a bit of an extra challenge this week by Jenn Gross to make it a shaker card and she'll donate .25 cents for each one to the Elderly Dog Rescue in honor of Mary's son Stephen's dog Furgis.

I had no problem with the old stuff!  The corner punch (unknown) is ancient as well as the Thank You window (Creative Creations).  I also used an old Martha Stewart edge punch to make a little stencil for the pawprints and a Simon Says Stamp Dog Die that's discontinued.  Anything else I used is linked below.  

I don't normally do 5 x 7 cards, but was "forced" to because the thank you die was too wide for an A2:(. That's a lot of real estate for me to cover!

I added a shadow to the dog die, but the silhouette wound up being the pawprints.  I was hoping the thank you would be, but it's a drop shadow LOL!

I'm planning some tutorials soon as I have a little time off work this month.  So watch this space!

Take care and I'll be back soon!

Gale