SAS4Kids: Anything Goes Cards 4 Kids

Hi, everyone! It's the first Saturday of a new month, which means it's time for a new challenge at Send a Smile 4 Kids!

The official theme this month is Anything Goes Cards 4 Kids. That's right... ANY kiddie-appropriate card. 

Crafting friend Anna loaned me her entire stash of Elizabeth Craft Dog Days stamps and dies so that I could make a birthday card for hubby. When Anna showed me these dies, I started thinking about making a birthday card that would feature our family's new fur baby. Thanks so much, Anna! Hubby LOVED his card. Friends who have seen our pup have been pretty impressed by the card's likeness to our boy... who is a lot more tan-colored than the photo to the right shows.  :)

cardstock: Distress Ink core paper
dp: Echo Park Winnie the Pooh 6 x 6 pad
metallic paper: Stampin' Up
glittery paper: DCWV
Elizabeth Craft dies
sentiment: MFT stamp set
stash crystal gems
inking: Distress Oxide black soot
white ear accents: Hero Arts ink, Stampin' Up! watercolor pencil
banner: MFT stamp set and fussy cutting
misc. circles: various SU punches

Hope you will hop over to Send a Smile 4 Kids to check out all our DT's cards. (Even though our official theme is Anything Goes, you will notice that the team focused on birthday cards this month.) Then stop back by to link up ANY kiddie-appropriate card of your own. You have until noon on Friday, September 4 to play along.   :)

As always, thanks for stopping! Happy Scrappin'!!!

SAS4Kids: Christmas in July Kids

Hi, everyone! Happy 250th, America!

It's the first Saturday of the month, which means it's time for a new challenge over at Send a Smile 4 Kids. This month, we are continuing our annual tradition of celebrating Christmas in July 4 Kids, making Christmas/holiday cards for our SAS4Kids kids.

My card takes a page out of SAS4Kids DTer Mary. Mary is the queen of decoupage. Well, my card isn't decoupaged, but I did fussy cut out a St. Nicholas from one of the pad's papers to adhere using dimensionals to pop up St. Nicholas on the matching paper. 

Echo Park Christmas Time dp
Lawn Fawn tiny snowflake dies

Stampin' Up dimensional

I hope you'll stop by to check out all our designer's cards. They are really, really cute. Then please stop by to link up a card of your own. Even though we are focusing on Christmas/holiday cards this month, you may link up any kid-appropriate card to play along with us. And, you have until Friday, July 31 to join in the fun!

As always, thanks for stopping. Until next time, happy scrappin'!

SAS4Kids: Summer Fun Cards 4 Cards

Hi, everyone! Can you believe it's already June? How did that happen? Anyhow, school is out for the summer, the neighborhood pool is open... and we finally have some sunshine here! 

Since it's the first Saturday of the month, it's time for a new challenge at Send a Smile 4 Kids. Our theme this month is summer fun cards for kids. 

This GOLF card is going to a nephew for an upcoming birthday. And, I have my friend Suzanne to thank for it. She shared her design and supplied all the materials to make a couple of this great guy card. Thanks so much, Suzanne! Josh is going to love it!

Hope you will stop by this month's SAS4Kids Challenge to check out the other designers' summery cards. And, then please come back and link up a card of your very own. As always, ANY kiddie-appropriate card can be linked up. You have until Friday July 3 to play along.

As always, thanks for stopping by. Happy scrappin'!

SAS4Kids: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles!

Hi everyone! Happy May!

This month at Send a Smile 4 Kids, our theme is Planes, Trains, and Automobiles! Our deadline for Father's Day cards is May 15 and this seemed like a good theme to get some dad cards to our shippers. 

SU cardstock; Carson watercolor paper
MFT watercolor wash stencil
Lawn Fawn Just Plane Awesome stamps and dies
MFT tiny cloud dies
stamping in Versafine black
background: various blue Distress Inks
DI black soot ink spatters
coloring: SU watercolor pencils

Hope you will stop by SAS4Kids to see cards from our design team and then stop back by to share a card of your very own. Even though we are focusing on cars, trains, and planes (or bikes, hot air balloons, ...), any kiddie-appropriate card can be linked up to play along. You have until noon on June 5 to play along. 

As always, thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!

SAS4Kids: Flower Cards 4 Moms

Hello! It's the first Saturday of April, which means it's time for a new challenge over at Send a Smile 4 Kids. 

With the deadline for sending in Mother's Day cards approaching, this month we are focusing on Flower Cards, particularly Flower Cards that our kids can give to their moms. For my card, I went with a more generic sentiment so this card can be given to celebrate a birthday or commemorate another special day.

Stampin' Up! dp and cardstock
SU hexagon and mini flower punches, Paper Smooches leaf dies
flower centers: SU owl punch
sentiment: My Favorite Things stamp

This card's design was inspired by two friends in a weekly card making group. For starters, Irene loaned us her hexagon punch. Then she instructed us to glue down a hexagon in the middle of an 8.5" by 11" sheet of paper and build out our hexagon pattern, resulting in backgrounds for four cards. Finally, Suzanne used the same hexagon shape for her sentiment panel. Isn't card design by committee the best?! 

I hope you will stop by Send a Smile 4 Kids to check out the DT's cards... and then stop back by to link up a card of your own. Even though our SAS4Kids focus this month is Flower Cards 4 Moms, ANY kiddie-appropriate card can be linked up for this month's challenge. You have until Friday, May 1 to play along. While you aren't required to donate your linked-up card to SAS4Kids, one of our hospitalized patients surely would love it if you did. Card submission information can be found by clicking on the tabs at the top of the SAS4Kids Challenge Page. 

As always, thanks for stopping! Happy Scrappin'!

SAS4Kids: Animal Cards 4 Kids

Hello! Happy February! Since today is the first Saturday of the month, it is time for a new challenge over at Send a Smile 4 Kids.

Our challenge for March is Animal Cards 4 Kids. The little bunnies on my card hopped right into the envelope of Easter cards that I sent to my favorite SAS4Kids shipper. And speaking of Easter cards, the deadline for those is March 10ish. So, if you are finishing up Easter cards this weekend, please reach out to your favorite shipper(s) to let them know cards are headed their way. Thank you!

Pretty Pink Posh layered bunny stencils
Simon Says Stamp cheeky and apple inks
Stampin' Up coastal cabana ink
SU cardstock and dp; Canson watercolor paper; Recollection black
Paper Smooches scallop die; tiny black circles: SU owl punch

While we are focusing on Animal Cards 4 Kids this month, any kiddie-appropriate card can be linked up for this month's challenge. You have until Friday, April 3 to share your work of heart. While you aren't required to donate your linked-up card to SAS4Kids, one of our hospitalized patients surely would love it if you did. Card submission information can be found by clicking on the tabs at the top of the SAS4Kids Challenge page.   

Thanks for all you do for SAS4Kids! And, as always, thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!

Hello! Happy February! Since tomorrow is the first Saturday of the month, it will be time for a new challenge over at Send a Smile 4 Kids.

Our challenge for February is Birthday Cards 4 Kids. We thought we'd try to get a stash of birthday cards to our shippers before they start focusing on spring holiday cards. And, speaking of spring holidays, our March 10 deadline for Easter cards is just over a month away.

My Favorite Things Birthday Chicks stamp set and dies
Paper Smooches grass die; ??? baker's b/w twine
Stampin' Up! water color pencils
ink spatters: Distress Ink black soot
SU cardstock

While we are focusing on Birthday Cards 4 Kids this month, any kiddie-appropriate card can be linked up for this month's challenge. You have until Friday, March 6 to share your work of heart. While you aren't required to donate your linked-up card to SAS4Kids, one of our hospitalized patients surely would love it if you did. Card submission information can be found by clicking on the tabs at the top of the SAS4Kids Challenge page.   

Thanks for all you do for SAS4Kids! And, as always, thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!

SAS4Kids: Sports-Themed Cards 4 Kids

Hello and Happy 2026! Hope it's been a wonderful holiday season for you and yours

Our first 2026 Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge is Sports-Themed Cards 4 Kids. For my card, I went with a fun My Favorite Things stamp set that was gifted to me by a card making friend. As you can see, any sport is fair game. You can go with medial darlings like football and basketball... or more obscure choices... like polar bear fishing!

MFT stamp set
background in Distress Inks
coloring with Stampin, Up! watercolor pencils
??? design paper gifted by another card making friend
masking with GinaK masking paper

While we are focusing on Sports-Themed Cards 4 for our kids at SAS4Kids this month, any kiddie-appropriate card can be linked up for this month's challenge. You have until Friday, February 6 to share your work of heart. While you aren't required to donate your linked-up card to SAS4Kids, one of our hospitalized patients surely would love it if you did. Card submission information can be found by clicking on the tabs at the top of the SAS4Kids Challenge page. 

A quick reminder that the SAS4Kids deadline for Valentine's Day cards is January 15. Please reach out to your favorite shipper(s) if you have cards that aren't going to arrive by the 15th.  

Here's to a great year of card making and crafty creativity! Thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!

SAS4Kids: LOVE You SNOW Much

Hi everyone! Happy December! I know I'm not the only one wondering where the year has gone.

But I am also wondering where the last month went. It is the start of a new challenge over at Send a Smile 4 Kids... and I am card-less.  :(

However, my fellow DTers are not! This month's theme is a brand spankin' new one for us over at SAS4Kids: LOVE You SNOW Much! We are featuring cards with snowflakes... or hearts... or snowflakes AND hearts. Whether you are finishing up holiday cards or getting an early start on Valentine's Day, this is a perfect challenge for you.

• The deadline for Christmas/winter cards was actually yesterday. So if you have some last minute holiday cards for SAS4Kids, please reach out to your favorite shipper(s). 
• The Valentine's Day deadline is January 15... and will be here before we know it!

Hop over to SAS4Kid's challenge for some kiddie holiday inspiration... and then stop back by to link up a card of your very own. 

As always, thanks for stoppin'. Happy Crafting and Happy Holidays!

SAS4Kids: Holiday Cards 4 Kids!

Hello, everyone! Happy November! Happy Saturday! Happy weekend!

Since this is the first Saturday of a new month at Send a Smile 4 Kids, it's time for a new challenge. This month, our theme is holiday cards to be given to our hospitalized SAS4Kids. So it's time to ink up those Santas, reindeers, gingerbread people, snowpeople, and holiday sentiments.

When I purchased these Tim Holtz Christmas Cartoon stamps last year, I had already mailed my 2024 SAS4Kids box of cards. Nonetheless, I envisioned a frame of a black-and-white newspaper comic strip that a little one to color in. Gotta say I am pretty happy with the way this one turned out. And, since I wasn't doing any of the coloring myself, it was perfect for making a set of multiple cards. I think there were eight of these in my 2025 box. Ho, Ho, Ho!

BTW  The deadline for getting holiday/Christmas/winter cards to your favorite shipper(s) is December 5. And the January 15 Valentines' deadline will be here before we know it.

We hope you will stop by Send a Smile 4 Kids to check out our DT's wonderful holiday cards... and then stop back by to link up a kiddie card of your very own. While we are featuring holiday/Christmas cards, any kid-appropriate card can be linked up to play along. 

Thanks for stopping... and, as always, happy crafting!

SAS4Kids: Favorite Holiday Color Combo

Hi, everyone! Happy  World Card Making Day!

It's the first Saturday of the month, which means it's time for a new challenge over at Send a Smile 4 Kids. This month, our challenge is to make a card featuring your favorite holiday color combo. I've used my favorite Christmas color combo, but any holiday combo works for the challenge.

Several years ago, Stampin' Up! featured a collection called Santa's Workshop and I fell in love with the color combo in the dp: basic black, coastal cabana, early espresso, crushed curry, garden green, poppy parade, smoky slate, whisper white. Especially the combination of the bold-faced colors. 

This year, I came across the sweetest 6" x 6" paper and ephemera pack from Doodlebug Designs that gave those poppy parade, garden green, and coastal cabana vibes. Here are four cards that I made using those papers and ephemera.

Taylored Expressions easy strips: maps, dies, sticky sheets

You have until noon on October 31 to play along with us this month. And even though our theme this month is favorite holiday color combo, any kiddie-appropriate card can be linked up. Hope you will stop by SAS4Kids to see our design team's cute, cute, cute cards... and then stop back by and link up a card of your very own.

As always, thanks for stopping... and, as always, happy scrappin'!

SAS4Kids: Cute Fall/Halloween Cards 4 Kids

Hi, everyone! It's the first Saturday of the month... which means it's time for a new SAS4Kids challenge. 

This month our theme is cute fall/Halloween cards 4 our kids. And, this month we have two wonderful Guest Designers joining us!

I went the Halloween route for my card, using a Stampin' Up die  and some SU cardstock and really cute designer papers.

Halloween seems to be a perennial favorite for our card makers. Hope you will stop by SAS4Kids to see the fun cards our guests and design team created for this challenge... and then stop back by to link up a card of your very own. Remember that although we are featuring fall and Halloween cards, you can link up any kiddie appropriate card to play along. And, the deadline for getting fall/Halloween cards to your favorite shipper(s) is October 5.

As always, thanks for stopping. Happy scrappin'!

SAS4KIds: Anything Goes 4 Kids

Hi, everyone! It's the first Saturday of the month, which means it's time for a new challenge over at Send a Smile 4 Kids!

This month's theme is Anything Goes. Our design team is featuring Birthday Cards 4 Kids... because our shippers are always in need of birthday cards.  :)

For my card, I went with an all-time favorite stamp set. And, my layout was inspired by a card shared by card-making friend Anna.

Paper: Stampin Up! Tranquil Tide; stash white, black, and watercolor papers
Tim Holtz Crazy Dogs and accessories stamp sets colored with SU watercolor pencils
Sizzix embossing folder; Nestabilities circle dies

sentiment: a combination of three My Favorite Things stamp sets

Hope you'll stop by SAS4Kids and check out our team's super cute birthday cards. Then stop back by and link up an Anything Goes card of your very own. This month's link is open until noon EDT on Friday, September 5.

As always, thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!

SAS4Kids: Christmas in July 4 Kids

Hi, everyone! Happy 4th Weekend!

It's the first Saturday of the month, which means it's time for a new challenge over at Send a Smile 4 Kids. This month, we are continuing our annual tradition of celebrating Christmas in July 4 Kids, making Christmas/holiday cards for our SAS4Kids kids.

My card features some Yvonne Creations 3D Pull Out penguins. I actually made three of these, using supplies gifted to me by fellow SAS4Kids DTer Debi. Debi, I was blown away by how cute these cards turned out. Thank you soooo much! 

first card I made using pull outs from Debi.
Supplies: stash Distress Ink core paper, vellum, silver specialty paper,
Stampin' Up cardstock, Sizzix & Cuttlebug embossing folders, Ranger sander,
Nestabilities circle dies, various snowflake punches,
SU punches for small circles, thin dimensionals. 

the trio of 3D penguin cards

one set of 3D Yvonne Creation pull outs

I hope you'll stop by to check out all our designer's cards. They are really, really cute. Then please stop by to link up a card of your own. Even though we are focusing on Christmas/holiday cards this month, you may link up any kid-appropriate card to play along with us. And, you have until Friday, August 1 to join in the fun!

As always, thanks for stopping. Until next time, happy scrappin'!

SAS4Kids: Summer Fun Cards 4 Kid

 Hi, everyone! I'm not quite sure where the year is going. But the calendar has turned to June, school is out for the summer, and the neighborhood pool is open. There are lot of smiling kids (and teachers) around here! 

Since it's the first Saturday of the month, it's time for a new challenge at Send a Smile 4 Kids. Our theme this month is summer fun cards for kids. 

A while back, I was crafting with a couple of good friends. Suzanne had a new layered watercolor stencil from Pretty Pink Posh that she just had to share with us. And, I am so glad she did. Isn't this card adorable?!

Pretty Pink Posh layered stencil,  PPP coordinating sentiment stamp and dies
Stampin' Up! inks and papers

Hope you will stop by this month's SAS4Kids Challenge to check out the other designers' summery cards. And, then please come back and link up a card of your very own. As always, ANY kiddie-appropriate card can be linked up. You have until Friday July 4 to play along.

As always, thanks for stopping by. Happy scrappin'!

SAS4Kids: Punny Sentiments

Hi, everyone! I'm not quite sure where the month of April went. But May is in full bloom and we are ready for a new challenge over at Send a Smile 4 Kids.

Our theme this month is punny sentiments. And there are a couple of ways to go with this. Kiddie cards with punny sentiments would be great for family, friends, and staff to give to the patients. Or dad/guy cards with punny sentiments would be perfect for our kids to give to those special guys in their lives for Father's Day. The deadline for getting Father's Day cards to our shippers is May 15.

For my cards, I used Lawn Fawn's Dad Jokes stamp set and a Stampin' Up! pocket die to create a punny interactive card. Papers and vellum are from SU. Images and speech bubble text were stamped in Versamark black.

Dad Joke on Exterior of Pocket
Dad: Why did the bicycle fall over?
Child: *CRICKETS*

Answer Found on Paper Inside of Pocket
Dad: It was two tired.
Child: HA HA

Hope you will stop by this month's SAS4Kids Challenge to check out the other designers' cards. And, then please come back and link up a card of your very own. As always, ANY kiddie-appropriate card can be linked up. You have until Friday June 6 to play along.

As always, thanks for stopping by. Happy scrappin'!

SAS4Kids: Sketch-Inspired Cards 4 Kids

Hello, everyone! Hope your weekend is off to a great start.

This is the first Saturday of a new month.... which means it's time for a new challenge over at Send a Smile 4 Kids. This month's challenge is to use a sketch to make a kiddie appropriate card. Sketches can be an oldie-but-goldie -- any former OWHers out there? -- or one from a current challenge. Any sketch at all. 

For my card, I used one of the Taylored Expressions (Easy Strip) Maps. (Gotta say I have fallen in love with these Easy Strips. LOVE them!) And because the SAS4Kids Mother's Day deadline is April 15, I have made a card that an older child can give to his/her mom/special lady. 

TE (Easy Strip) Map and sticky sheet
Stampin' Up! designer paper; miscellaneous cardstock
Lawn Fawn Scripty Sayings sentiment in Versamark ink
tiny black hearts: SU owl punch

Card and Package of TE Maps

Hope you will stop by this month's SAS4Kids Challenge to check out the other designers' cards. (Our focus was on sketch-inspired mom cards.... and all the cards are just so sweet.) And, then please come back and link up a card of your very own. As always, ANY kiddie-appropriate card can be linked up.

As always, thanks for stopping by. Happy scrappin'!

SAS4Kids: Animal Cards 4 Kids

Hello, everyone! Happy March!

It's the first Saturday of a new month. So, it's time for a new challenge over at Send a Smile 4 Kids. This month, our theme is Animal Cards 4 Kids. And, since the SAS4Kids Spring/Easter deadline is March 20, you are going to see lots of baby animals on designers' cards. 

The little bunny on my card couldn't be happier about having two -- TWO -- carrots!!! To allow for versatility, I left off a sentiment. This card could be used for spring or Easter... or even given to a child who loves bunnies to celebrate a birthday or special occasion. 

Stampin' Up! (retired) stamp set and dies
SU watercolor pencils and cardstock
SU and Spellbinders Nestabilities circle dies
Paper Smoochies grass border die
SU owl punch for small circles in top right and lower left corners

Hope you'll stop by the SAS4Kids challenge blog to check out all our designers' cards... and then stop back by to link up a card of your very own.

As always, thanks for stopping! Happy Scrappin'!

SAS4Kids: Fun Fold Cards 4 Kids

Hello, everyone! Welcome back!

Today is the first Saturday of February, which means it's time for a new challenge over at Send a Smile 4 Kids. Our theme for this month is Fun Fold Cards 4 Kids. Fun!!!

My card was inspired by a Thanksgiving card I received from card-making gal pal Irene. I decided to create a sentiment-free card that could be used for a boy/Dad birthday or Father's Day. I loved getting sentiment-free cards when I was a shipper for SAS4Kids because they allow for more flexibility.

Stampin' Up! Trusty Tools dp
Tools fussy cut   :)

Inspiration/CASE card from Irene

Stop by SAS4Kids to check out this month's Design Team cards. Then stop back by again to link up a card of your very own. You have until February 28 to play along with us. Any kiddie-appropriate card will be eligible for Top Three honors.  

As always, thanks for stopping. And, happy scrappin'!

SAS4Kids: "Make New Friends..."

Hello, everyone! Happy 2025! Here's hoping your holidays have been fun-filled and heartwarming. 

It's certainly been a while. Quite a long while in card-making circles. I am so very sorry to have been gone for so long and promise to do better this year.  

It's the first Saturday of a new month, which means it's time for a new card-making challenge at Send a Smile 4 Kids. In the past, SAS4Kids challenges have corresponded to upcoming holidays.  This year, we have decided to change things up a bit. As the months pass, you will see that we are introducing some non-holiday-related challenges. 

To ring in this new year, our January inspiration is the lyric from an old Girl Scout song. (Any other former Girl Scouts out there? Think I still have my badge sash!) 

Girl Scout Song Lyric: Make new friends, but keep the old.

Our SAS4Kids Take: Use new stamps, but remember the old.

That's right, this month's challenge is to make a card with a new stamp you've been looking forward to inking up... or with an old stamp that you haven't used in a while... or with both old and new stamps. Let's call it a stamp-lovers Anything Goes!

For my card, I used a stamp from the very first sentiment stamp set I ever had. I honestly have no idea who made these stamps. nor how long I have had them. But, they were my go-to sentiments for a long, long time. I also decided to use a box of washi tape that I got from Michael's years and years ago. I can't remember how many times I've come across the box and thought that I really should be using these. And, truth be told, I have no idea why I waited so long to use this washi tape. I'm pretty pleased with the way this birthday card turned out. 

If you are interested in playing along with us this month at SAS4Kids, you can link up any kid-friendly card, even if you're not sure it exactly meets this month's challenge. And, it is not required that you donate your linked-up card to SAS4Kids... but a hospitalized child would surely love it if you did. Finally, the deadline to get Valentine's Day cards to our shippers is January 15.

As always, thanks for stopping! (Hope to see you back here in February.) And Happy Crafting!