Thinking of You!

Brrr!

Hello Friends!

Yep, we are still in the 'deep freeze' here in Akron, OH so I'm having fun creating cards and playing in some fun challenges.  Today's card is for another sketch challenge.  This time, it's the sketch over on The Paper Players blog and here's the sketch they have offered up.  You have until noon (PST) on Friday, Feb. 1st to join in so I'm getting mine in just under the time wire!  LOL

For my card, I've actually used one of the newly released Tutti Designs dies called 'Tulip Window'.  

I've die cut my focus image twice and glued them together for added dimension.  I've also die cut just the butterfly portion from a dark purple patterned paper and added for a little extra dimension.  The sentiment is from a Simon Says Stamp set called 'Thoughtful Messages' and after stamping I've die cut a banner using one of the Sue Wilson 'Stitched Flags' which I turn to often.  My background paper comes from the Penny Black 'Painted Blooms' 6x6 paper pack.

Challenges to share in:

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes (2/6)

Crafty Gals Corner Challenge #184 - CAS (2/12)

Since I'm in need of many new cards before my Spring Show, I went along with this same sketch (with a little twist this time) for another card ... this time for a birthday.

I've used another newly released dies from Tutti Designs called 'Cat in a Basket'.

Isn't it cute?  I've used the same paper pack ... same sentiment stamp set ... only difference is I've used another die and that was for the circle background for my kitty!  That die is from the Tutti Designs 'Nesting Stitched Circles' die set.  I'll have to look and see if I have a stamp or die of cat prints to add to the sentiment panel ... after looking at my card closer, I think that would be cute.

Challenges to share in:

Crafting by Design Challenge - Animals (2/5)

Have a great day and stay safe out there!

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

Impossible?

Hello Everyone!

It is FRIGID COLD here in Ohio today so I'm playing it safe and hiding in my crafting cave!  I hope if you're in this zone of sub-zero temperatures, you too are being very careful and staying inside if you can!  Frost bite can happen in less than 10 minutes and can happen through your gloves or with your hands in your pockets!

Please be careful out there my friends!

Yesterday I spotted the challenge over on the Krafty Chicks Challenge Blog and thought it would be fun to join in the fun!  In fact, I'm please to say I was one of their winner's last challenge where the theme was tags!  Yippee!!

Here's their sketch ...

and here's what I've come up with . . .

I've used designer paper from the Penny Black 'Printed Blooms' 6x6 paper pack and my sentiment was computer generated. 

 I took the liberty of doing something a little different with the sentiment panel (not sure if I like it or not) and since I had the last bit of ribbon laying on the work table, I once again too the liberty and added it along with an ajoining flower for embellishment.

Another challenge I'd like to share today's card with is the Floral Background challenge over on City Crafters Challenge #447

I'm going to do my best to get ahead on some of my design team 

projects so I'd best get to it!

Have a great day and stay safe out there!

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

Tutti Designs - Love

Hello Dear Friends!

I'm once again dipping into my older Tutti Designs dies to create a card of inspiration for you!

Dies used today are:

Doves In Love

 Nesting Stitched Hearts

 Word Set - Love

I began my card by die cutting the Birds in Love die twice,
once from white card stock and once from hot pink.
Next I did some fussy cutting so I would end up with just
the outside heart shape.
 

Next, I colored in the leaves and branches using Spectrum Noir alcohol markers.

Then glued the hot pink heart over top of the white heart of the die cut.

I found the perfect leafy background designer paper and to mimic

a blue sky, I die cut a stitched heart from light blue card stock.

By reinserting the hot pink hearts that popped out of my pink die cut

and adding the word Love ... my card is ready to bring a smile!

SORRY ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE IN COLORS!

My camera loves to play tricks with me when I'm photographing

inside my light box ... don't know why!!  LOL

It really is PINK ... not this 'orangy' color... ugh!

 

Please be sure to pop over to the Tutti Designs Store

and check out all of the fabulous dies available.

Need more inspiration? 

The team has something new to share on the Tutti Designs Blog  
EVERY DAY MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY!  

Pop in often and see for yourself ... what a talented group of designers!!

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

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

Cheapo Dies - Elephant Love

Hello Dear Friends!

Today I'm sharing a sweet card for your 'Sweetie'

using dies from the Cheapo Dies Store.

 

 

The dies I have used today are:

Elephant Love

 

 

 

Cursive Font

 

 

 

I had some fun creating with this adorable elephant die and as I was creating this card my mind was swirling with other ideas ... i.e.,  a child's birthday card, a baby card (pink elephant or blue) or you could cut off the heart balloons and just use this adorable little guy all by himself.) 

 

 Here's a few steps taken for today's card share . . .

I die cut from three different colors of card stock ... white (entire die), pink (elephant) and red (balloon bouquet).  After adhering the red balloons over the white, I decided to add back in the pink balloons that I had cut from the elephant and tucked them in behind the red ones.  This gave me a BIG bouquet of balloons when completed.

I placed a little square of black card stock on the back of my elephant to give him a more defined eye.

Isn't he just the cutest!  

And the markings on his ears & legs die cut beautifully!!

Fabulous definition!

I've popped him up on a couple stackable hearts created using the Tutti Designs 'Nesting Stitched Hearts'

 

 then added my sentiment off to the side.  

By using these 'font' dies, you can spell out what ever you want ... how cool is that!

 

REMEMBER ... Valentine's Day is right around the corner!!

 

I hope you've enjoyed what I've shared today, and, if you're not familiar with Cheapo Dies, you are missing out!!!

Here's a listing of their store, blog & FB links to help you get familiar:

STORE

BLOG

FACEBOOK

Thanks to all of you for stopping by today!

Here's wishing you a FABULOUS week ahead!

As always ...

 

 

Hugs

Hello friend and Happy Friday!

There are several lovely HEART challenges out in blogland

and I thought I'd play along.

Over the holidays a set of cards came in from one of our 

contribution companies and it had this lovely fabric

heart on it.  Not much more than that so I removed it

and placed it in my stash to use on a card of my own.  

Today's the day I've put it to happy use.

I die cut a background heart using the OLD Spellbinder Scallop Heart dies.

This small die was left over from something else and I thought

it brought better attention to the fabric by placing it in the center.

I created a banner using the Sue Wilson 'Stitched Flags'

and added the Technique Tuesday 'Hugs' for my sentiment.

My background was embossed using an older Provo Craft

'Swirls' embossing folder but you could use just

about any embossing folder for this design.

Challenges to share in are:

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Have a Heart

Moving Along with the Times - Have a Heart

Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge #325 - Photo Inspiration

Digi Choosday Crafting Challenge - ATG / Recycle (recycled the fabric heart)
Cut It Up Challenge #166 - Hearts

Thanks SO MUCH for stopping by today,

 have a great weekend ahead!!

As always ...

Twofer Card Challenge

Hello Friends!

Over on Darnell's blog she offers up a challenge called the Twofer Card Challenge

each time the theme is different but the basis is the same!

This time around, it's BIRDS and even though I haven't had the chance

to play along for awhile now, today I told myself I was doing this one

before it was too late!  (Ends tonight ... yikes!)

Using an older Impression Obsession 'Song Bird Branch' ,

here's what I've come up with . . .

My first card could be used for a variety of occasions!

Valentine's Day, Wedding, Anniversary ... or Just Because!

Product used besides the 'Birds on a Branch' die are:

Tutti Designs 'Nesting Stitched Hearts'

Tutti Designs 'Love Word Set'

Frantic Stamper 'Heart Fall' (the hearts that fall out)

Memory Box 'Classic Alphabet'

Challenges to share in:
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Have a Heart 

Art Impression Challenge #248 - Lots of Hearts
Moving Along with the Times - Have a Heart

Southern Girls Challenge - Love is in the Air

My second card could be used anytime of the year as a note card to a friend.

Product used besides the 'Birds on a Branch' die are:

Tutti Designs 'Friends Word Set'

Impression Obsession 'Clouds'

Poppystamps 'Grassland Border' (#825 ... old)

Tim Holtz 'broken china' ink & large sponge dauber (cloud edges)

White craft ink & small sponge dauber (background sky)

You really should check out Darnell's Twofer Card Challenge Blog!

Her design team is amazing and I love seeing what all

the entries come up with ... some really cool inspiration!!

Thanks SO MUCH for stopping by today and have a great weekend ahead!!

As always ...

Sisterhood of Crafters - Diamonds

Hello dear friends!

Wow!  Can you believe we are drawing to the end of January already!

Spring will be here before you know it!  Well .... maybe not that quick ... lol!

But one can hope!

A new month means it's time for a new challenge over

on the Sisterhood of Crafters Blog!
Our hostess today is Diane and the theme she has chosen is:

Diamonds

(use anything with a diamond shape

i.e. embossing folder, die, diamond print paper, etc)

Here's what I came up with . . .

I dipped into some of my older supplies to create

today's card.  I forget about my embossing folders (does that

tell you I have way too many toys to create with? ... LOL) but I spotted this

Quickutz 'Diamonds & Dots' folder and knew

it would be perfect for the design I had in mind.

Other products used are:

Sue Wilson Frames & Tags - GRACE 

 (7 dies)

Impression Obsession 'Mr & Mrs'

  Elizabeth Craft 'Wedding Charms'

Diamond Stickles

Gold Foil Paper

I wanted to be sure you could see the sparkle on
my diamond ring so here's a close up!  LOL

Challenges to share in:
Crafty Sentiments Designs Challenge  - New Beginnings
Stinkin' Inkers January Challenge  - It's New to Me
Always Fun Challenge #94 - Wedding or Anniversary
 The Paper Girls Challenge #168 - Sparkle & Shine
Double Trouble Paper Crafting Challenge - Love is in the Air

As you can see above, this sentiment die comes with the ampersand
but I thought it would be fun to use the ring charm in it's place.

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! 

 See you there!

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

 

Milestone Celebrations

Hello friends and Happy Saturday!

A week or so ago I shared a couple anniversary cards that celebrated

milestone anniversaries (25th & 50th) ... seen HERE.

That led to a family member contacting me inquiring whether or not I could

make her a special card for a 65th Anniversary!  WOW!  Sixty-five years ... that's awesome!

So, of course, I told her I would get right on it and bring it with me the next

day since I was headed for Pennsylvania to see my mom and she lives

right up the road from my mother's house.

Here's what I created for her . . .

Inside

I made an inquiry on Google as to what colors represent a 65th Anniversary

and would you believe, Sky Blue & Sapphire are what popped up for this question!

So THAT is what I went with . . .

(If you have any questions on the products used, 

just leave me a comment and I'll get you the answer.)

Challenges to share in:
Always Fun Challenge #94 - Wedding or Anniversary 

 The Paper Girls Challenge #168 - Sparkle & Shine
Use Your Stuff Challenge #344 - Numbers
 2 Sisters on the Blog Challenge #23 - Numbers
Double Trouble Paper Crafting Challenge - Love is in the Air 

SHE loved the card so much, she felt it was too beautiful for her to give the celebrated couple and said she should give it to her daughter and son-in-law since it was his parents who was celebrating this wonderful milestone.  I told her if that's what she wanted to do, I would be happy to make her another card but would have to send it in the mail to her since I had no plans on making another trip over (1-1/2 hr drive) before the celebration which is today.

So here's the second card I made for her ...

Inside

It was an honor to be asked to create these cards for this couple and I wish them many more happy years together!

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