Please help spread the word ...

THIS POST WILL REMAIN AT THE TOP OF MY BLOG FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS!  Please scroll down for newer posts & shares.

Hello Crafty Friends!

I've been asked to help spread the word that there is a young 7 year old boy suffering from brain cancer that could use a smile.  Here is a LINK to the full story.  Our mission is to 'shower him with Halloween cards' and I know we can do it! His information is here:

Brock Chadwick

11 McKenney Drive

Biddeford, ME 04005

Let's make this the best Halloween he's ever had!!

Thanks!!

Double D - 'LEAVE' it to me!

Hello Friends!

It's time for a new challenge over on the Double D Challenge Blog!

Team Darlene is hosting today and the theme is:

'LEAVE' it to me!

(Use leaves on your card/project.)

Here's the inspiration board I have created to help you get started . . .



 If you happen to live in an area (like me) where the leaves change color,
WOW what a treat each and every year!  I love the bright green of early spring leaves then in the Fall you are treated to such a beautiful array of color ... red, orange, yellow, green, brown ... some trees seem to glow in the dark they are so bright in their fall color.
Mother nature is amazing!

Here's what I came up with today ... hope you like it!

I started out by embossing a panel of watercolor paper using one of my new 6x6 We R Memory Keepers embossing folder for texture,  then used a variety of Tim Holtz oxide distress inks to brush on the background color.

Next came my 'fall' tree of color.
Starting with the Impression Obsession 'Split Tree' then I die cut various colors of leaves using the Impression Obsession 'Small Leaf' set (same set as today's prize offering).

I felt my scene needed a picket fence so reached for my Cheery Lynn Designs 'Victorian Picket Fence', which then required some pumpkins (Cheery Lynn Designs 'Fall Pumpkins').  And of course, you can't have a Fall/Halloween design without a black cat (Impression Obsession Cats).

Now that I look at it closer, I guess my cat would have been more comfortable down on the ground next to the pumpkins.  Oh well LOL ... you know you can find a cat laying around just about anywhere!!  Why not on a picket fence!  LOL
Lastly I needed a sentiment so I went with the Tutti Designs Word Set - Hello.  Which makes this card useful as just a note card or even a Fall Birthday card.

Please be sure to pop over to see the amazing creations the ladies have made to inspire you today!  I'm always so impressed with these ladies!!!  They leave me in awe with each & every challenge theme!

Challenges to share in:
CropStop October Challenge #33 - ATG using product carried at CropStop 
 Alphabet Challenge - P is for Pumpkin
 Brown Sugar Challenge #271 - Orange, Brown & Green
Scrapy Land Challenge #76 - ATG using product carried at their store
 2 Crafty Critter Crazies Challenge #7 - ATG with a critter (cat)
Animal Friends Challenge #55 - Autumn/Halloween must have animal (cat)

I hope you'll come join in our challenge fun!

Here's what I have up for grabs to one lucky random draw winner.

But, you need to play to win!!  LOL

Hope to see you there!
As always . . .

Matching Birthdays

Hello Everyone and Happy Tuesday!

I'll be out and about this afternoon, linking up with a half dozen of my 1st cousins for lunch but before heading out the door, I wanted to share a few more birthday cards with you.  These are truly QUICK and EASY card creations but sometimes that's all that's necessary.

The design paper I have used on all three cards is from this beautiful DoveCraft 'Bohemian' 6x6 paper pack.  Since I'm using A6 size for my cards, I have a narrow strip of paper left over once I've cut for the front background panel.  With those strips of paper, I have die cut the words Happy & Birthday  (both from Tutti Designs) for my 'matching' sentiment.

The white panels I have used on the front were actually in my pile of scrap shapes and worked out beautifully.  Here are close up photos of each card.  I think they will work perfectly for my upcoming show.

So there you have it!

Now I'm off to enjoy the company of these fabulous ladies!

As always, thanks SO MUCH for taking the time to stop by!

Good Friends . . .

Monday Again ... 2017 is ticking away quickly!!

Hope you all had an enjoyable weekend!

Today I have a trio of cards using the same sentiment that I purchased recently at the semi-annual Scrapbook Expo held in Akron.  The images were found online (no copyright rules were broken) and I think they could be used for a variety of occasions ... from a birthday to just a note card.

I'm not a big reader (bad eyes) but if I do decide to read a book, it has to grab me in the first chapter!  Then once it does, I can't put it down ... NOTHING else gets done till I've finished it.   My sister is a big reader and several years ago (before my crafting days) she introduced me to the author Judith McNaught. Well, I couldn't get enough of her stories and I'm serious when I say NOTHING else got done when I started one of her books.  Another reason why I don't read today ... that would be time away from my crafting!  Can't have that!!  LOL

 I was intrigued by some of the titles on the row of books in this image.

 The background paper I used on these cards has a 'leather' textured feel to it and thought it would coordinate perfectly with these leather bound books.

A touch of Nuvo crystal drops was used just as a small accent.  I didn't want to take away from the image or this fabulous sentiment which is from Rubbernecker Stamps.

I hope you've enjoyed today's post and find a touch of inspiration in my designs.

My collection of cards for the upcoming show is finally starting to look closer to what I need to have prepared for November.  Probably after this week I'll have to switch over to other projects ... gift card holders, tissue box covers, Hershey boxes ... you know those 'goodies' everyone is looking for at a craft show.

I'll be sure to share!  LOL

Challenges to share in:
Artistic Inspirations Challenges #188 - ATG
Crafting from the Heart Challenge #179 - ATG
Path of Positivity Challenge #52 - Surround yourself with Literature (10/2 - 11/5)

As always, thanks SO MUCH for taking the time to stop by! 

Thanks . . .

Hello Friends!

Today I'm  sharing another fun creation using dies from the Tutti Designs Store.  Specifically a die from the August Fall/Halloween Release called Acorn Frame (#390).  This card didn't come together exactly the way I had envisioned, but I'm very happy with the end result.

Acorn Frame

Here's how it all began . . .

I spotted this fall variegated paper in my stash and thought it would work perfectly for the leaves around this beautiful frame.

The paper was very light weight so I decided to die cut two more panels out of a heavier, leather look card stock as a base for the fall colored panel.

Then I thought I would die cut just the upper portion of the die from the leather look paper for the acorns so they would stand out.

A bit of fussy cutting and gluing I felt my frame was all set to go ... WRONG!!

Once I chose my background papers I wasn't happy with the fact that my fall colored panel really didn't show the beautiful 'cut lines' in the leaves as much as the brown die cut panel did ... SO ... I decided to use the entire brown upper panel!  Much Better!! 

 The other Tutti Designs dies I used for today's creation are:

Nesting Stitched Rectangles #217

 November 2016 Release

Word Set - Thanks #233

December 2016 Release

 

The sentiment die was cut from both the brown card stock and a scrap of orange card stock then glued together with an offset to create a shadow.  I also decided to pop up the frame a bit more by adding small pieces of dimensional tape behind each of the leaves.  

To create a little more definition, I sponged Tim Holtz 'Antique Linen' distress ink around the edge of my stitched rectangle frame.   LOL ... NOW I'm happy!!

 Please be sure to pop over to the Tutti Designs Store and check out all of the fabulous dies in this latest release.  And, of course, you'll want to browse through the store to see what other dies you need to have on hand.

Need inspiration? 

The team has something new to share on the Tutti Designs Blog EACH and EVERY DAY!   Pop in often and see for yourself ... what a talented group of designers!!

Challenges to share in:
Dare 2B Artsy October Challenge - Fall Colors
4 Crafty Chicks Challenge - Fall
Mod Squad Challenge - Fall Fest
Moving Along With the Times Challenge #56 - Autumn/Fall
 

For your convenience, here are all the Tutti Designs quick links you will need:

Tutti Designs Store

Tutti Designs Pinterest

Tutti Designs Facebook

Tutti Designs Blog

 Thanks for stopping by and as always . . .

Twin Birthday Cards

Happy Weekend Everyone!

I have a couple more birthday cards to share with you today but these were made for a special set of twin girls.  A customer (now friend) of mine has asked me for the past several years to create special cards for her twin granddaughters.  The girls like Faeries so I always try to come up with something a little different (because they are different) but yet the same (because they are identical).  

Here's what I came up with this year ...

Inside

 The background paper is by American Craft and the solid card stock is Recollections from Michaels.  For my sparkle faeries, I've die cut from DCWV Glitter Pack card stock.  I taped the back of the wings that were cut from the glitter paper then die cut again from white card stock and overlaid to give definition.

The die I have used is Poppystamps 'Perched Faerie' and also the Tutti Designs 'Nesting Stitched Rectangles' to create my frame work.  The Happy and Birthday dies are also from Tutti Designs.  A few little touches of Nuvo Crystal Drops for the finishing touch.

The inside sentiment is from Rubbernecker Stamps.  Purchased at last weeks shopping adventure in Akron at the Scrapbook Expo

Challenges to share in:

Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #140 - Happy Birthday

 CropStop October Challege #33 - ATG using product carried at CropStop
Word Art Wednesday Challenge #304-#305 - ATG

Always Fun Challenges #27 - Lots of Layers

The Cutie Pie Challenge #116 - Think Pink

Daisy Chain Challenge #13 - Happy Birthday

As always, thanks SO MUCH for taking the time to stop by!

Sprinkled with Fun!

Happy Friday All!

WOW!  The weather is so confusing here in Ohio right now!

One day it's rainy and very Fall feeling ... the next day it's like summer is back in swing!

Can you say FLU SEASON?  lol

Today (as mentioned in my last post) I have a couple more birthday cards to share.  Once again using older design papers from Kaiser Craft and Basic Grey which are 6x6 paper packs that have not been loved in quite some time!

I've also used the same Technique Tuesday 'Umpteenth Birthday' stamp set for my front focus image but used a sentiment from the Hero Arts 'Many Birthday Messages' stamp set.

The dies I have used are Tutti Designs 'Nesting Stitched Rectangles', 'Nesting Stitched Ovals', and for the corners on the 2nd card, I've used the next to the smallest die in the 'Nesting Stitched Squares' die set and cut them in half.

I grabbed an old McGill flower punch to create the flowers on the 1st card.  Nuvo Yellow Crystal drops were added for embellishment.  The 2nd card is embellished with beautiful pink satin ribbon from the Really Reasonable Ribbon store and the front focus panel is popped up with dimensional tape. 

Challenges to share in:

Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #140 - Happy Birthday

Word Art Wednesday Challenge #304-#305 - ATG

Ooh La La Challenge #238 - Die Cuts

Daisy Chain Challenge #13 - Happy Birthday

Digistamps4Joy Challenge #141 - ATG w/optional Happy Birthday

Sunny Day Crafting Challenge #56 - O is for Oval

As always, thanks SO MUCH for taking the time to stop by!

Birthday Balloons . . .

Happy Thursday Everyone!

Over the next couple of days, I will have more birthday cards to share with you.  I'm still working on having enough for the upcoming Fall craft show at the local high school.  As we all know, the most mailed greeting card is the Birthday Card so I want to be sure and have a variety to share & sell.

Inside 

For the focus image on both cards, I've used the Technique Tuesday 'Umpteenth Birthday' stamp set.  For the inside verse, I've used the My Sentiments Exactly! 'Birthday Innies & Outies' stamp set.

The Tutti Designs 'Nesting Stitched Rectangles' were used for the design.  I actually die cut the rectangle from my background designer paper (old Kaiser Craft & Basic Grey) then adhered my image behind the designer paper.  Using two of the larger dies, I created my 'frame' and popped it up with dimensional tape.

Pretty easy peasy but I think gives a nice effect!

Challenges to share in:

Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #140 - Happy Birthday

Word Art Wednesday Challenge #304-#305 - ATG

Ooh La La Challenge #238 - Die Cuts

Daisy Chain Challenge #13 - Happy Birthday

Digistamps4Joy Challenge #141 - ATG w/optional Happy Birthday

As always, thanks SO MUCH for taking the time to stop by!

Sisterhood of Crafters - PINK

Hello Everyone!

It's time for a new challenge at The Sisterhood of Crafters!

'Sistah' Diane is our hostess today and she has chosen the theme

ANYTHING PINK

Pink October (cancer awareness month) 

you can even have pink pumpkins, pink fall leaves, anything as long as it's PINK

I am in need of a few baby cards so I went with a Baby Girl card today.

And I'm actually able to use up a few scraps along the way ... always a good thing!

I've used a variety of dies to create this card ...

Yvonne Creations 'Shoe Corner' (10093)

Cheery Lynn Designs 'Whimsical Giraffe' (B794)

Sue Wilson 'It's A Girl' (CED10023)

Marianne Creatabiliies 'Baby Text & Safety Pin' (LR0217)
 OLD ... not sure if still available.

When you die cut them from gold or bronze foil paper ... they look SO REAL!  lol

A little ribbon bow and a few Nuvo White Crystal Drop pearls and my card is ready for mailing.

I hope you'll come join in our challenge fun at The Sisterhood of Crafters!
My 'sistahs' have created some fabulous creations to help inspire you ... be sure to pop over and check them out!  You have until October 8th to join in the fun!!

Challenges to share in:
Craftaholics R Us Challenge #40 - Cute
Crafting with Dragonflies Challenge #91 - Pinktober
CropStop October Challenge #33 - ATG using product carried at CropStop
The Cuttie Pie Challenge #116 - Think Pink
ScrapyLand Challenge #75 - ATG using product carried at Scrapyland
Unicorn Challenge #26 - Perfectly Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness

See you there!
As always, thanks SO MUCH for taking the time to stop by!

Recipe:

Papers:  White cs, Pink cs, Recollections DP, Bronze foil paper

Dies:  Listed above

Accessories:  Michaels ribbon, Craft-Dee Bowz bow maker, Spectrum Noir Alcohol Marker  (BP7),  Nuvo White Crystal Drops

Bits & Bobs

Hello All!

Hope you're off to a good start today!

I'm headed to my sister's beauty shop for my monthly cut/color & pedi

but before I go I wanted to share with you a card I created over 

the weekend using up some of the bits & bobs that were laying on my work station.

I've had this cute Sizzix Tim Holtz 'What's Up' bird sitting on my work station for a month of Sundays!  Finally today he chirped out  for me to use him on SOMETHING ... ANYTHING!  LOL    Next to him was laying several hearts that were pop outs from a strip die and the Hello was laying there too.  I simply went to my binder of bird type dies and grabbed this DieNamites 'Fancy Birdhouses' die and die cut from a scrap of green card stock to create a 'perch' for my googlie eyed friend!  .

In order to make room for my computer generated sentiment and removed two of the birdhouses and as you can see, put them on the inside of my card along with a Hero Arts sentiment stamp.

VIOLA!  Another birthday card ready for the sale box!

Well that's it for me ... I'm off to get beautiful!  

(that will take up most of the day!  LOL)

Also joining my mother and daughter for a bite of lunch.  

(that will take up the rest of the day!  LOL)

 Thanks for stopping by and as always . . .