Crafty Secrets November Linky Party - DT Challenge

Hello Dear Friends!

Here we are at the start of yet another month which means it's time once again for a new 

LINKY PARTY at the Crafty Secrets/Heartwarming Vintage Blog. 

This month the design team is inspiring you with their Crafty Secrets Christmas/Winter projects.

REMEMBER, your entry qualifies for a prize AS LONG AS YOU USE ANY CRAFTY SECRETS PRODUCTS ... you do not have to follow the theme ... that's for the DT only.  Of course you are more than welcome to if you'd like ... but it's NOT a requirement!

Today I have for you an UPRIGHT Z- FOLD Gift Card Holder.

I actually saw this card first created by Valerie Stangle for www.scor-pal.com.  I've modified it by turning it into a gift card holder.

One of my FAVORITE CD's by Crafty Secrets is the Vintage Christmas CD.  So many beautiful papers, images and ephemera for creating all your holiday cards and projects.  And, that's what I've chosen to create with today.

Before I share the instructions for this fun card, I'd like to welcome our November Linky Party Guest Designer, Birgit Norton 'Crafting While I Wait'.  Birgit has shared some wonderful inspiration through our challenges over the last several months and we're so glad to have her guest designing with us today!  Welcome Birgit!

Upright Z-Fold Gift Card Holder Tutorial

 I wasn't exactly sure which direction I wanted to go so I printed a couple papers from the CD & gathered a few images from the same CD that I had printed from past projects.  This Santa image is my ALL TIME FAVORITE!

 As you see by the above photo, your base card will be 4 1/4" x 11" and scored at the center (5 1/2").  Next you will flip your paper over, sit the left corner at the 1/8" mark on your score board then score it at 3".  Fold as shown to create your upright Z fold.

You will need two decorate panels for your card front.  The back panel is cut at 4 1/8" x 5 1/4".  

The front panel is cut at 4 1/8" x 2 1/2".

Your FOCUS IMAGE (Santa panel) total size will be 4 3/4" x 3 1/4".

My Santa image is 4" tall x 2 1/2" wide.  I left 1/16" white frame around the image when cutting then matted with a 1/8" red card stock before adhering it to my final green card stock mat (4 3/4" x 3 1/4").

You will need a 'LOCKING' mechanism to hold your Focus Panel upright to your Back Panel.

For this I have punched a 1-1/4" circle .. adhered JUST THE TOP PORTION of your circle to the center of my main cards back panel.  Then, I added a SU gromit to the top/center to hold my ribbon.

Now I found this next step to be a VERY CLEVER way to do the ribbon bow.

I cut 14" of red organza ribbon ... put the ends together and fed them through the gromit from the back ... THEN placed a small scrap of card stock through the back portion and pulled snug on the front ribbon ends.  This will keep your ribbon in place without bulk and it allows you to tie a nice bow in the front.  Pretty slick huh!  

 You can then cover that strip of card stock with a matching piece of your decorative paper.

For the GIFT CARD HOLDER portion of my card, I have cut a piece of the red card stock 4 1/4" x 2 1/2".  Using the same hole punch, I have cut a half circle from the top of my holder panel to make it easier to get ahold of the card/money you place inside.  I've adhered my holder panel on 3 sides using 1/8" scor-tape.

The last step is to adhere the LOWER PORTION of your FOCUS PANEL to the front/lower portion of your Z-fold card.  Making sure that it will lock under your 'locking mechanism'  in order to stand up.

Now you are ready to decorate your card as much or as little as you like.

I have chosen to keep it pretty simple so that the focus remains on this awesome Santa image.

I've added a few ephemera tickets to the front and inside gift card holder panel as well as gold Stickles for a touch of sparkle!

I hope you'll give this project a try!

Well there you have it!  Now don't forget to pop over and join in the fun at the Crafty Secrets November Linky Party.  Anytime over the next 2 weeks!   Each person who enters will win a Free Retro Kitchen Kit plus 1 lucky random.org winner gets a $40.00 Gift Card!  

OH! OH! OH!  And, be sure to check out the TWO GIVEAWAYS going on right now where YOU can enter to win either the Retro Kitchen Kit Download and Kitchen Queen Digital Stamps, or our Kitchen Memories Kit and Vintage Kitchen Digital Stamp Set.  Just leave a comment HERE and tell our notorious leader, Sandy, which you like best?  The 2 winners will be announced Friday, Nov 7, 2014.

If you are in need of inspiration, by all means please check out what my team mates have created.  They are a VERY CREATIVE GROUP of ladies!  Their creations & tutorials are sure to WOW you!

• Kathy Clement Team Leader
• Michele Kovack
• Sheila Rumney
• Elizabeth Lincoln
• Gloria Stengel
• Diane Hover
• Melody Clement
• Shantaie Caudill-Fowler

and of course don't forget our Guest Designer Birgit Norton 'Crafting While I Wait'

SEE YOU SOON I HOPE!

As always . . .

I couldn't help myself and made a second card ... here's a peek ... what fun!

Squigglefly Challenge Time

Happy Monday All!

It's time for another fun challenge over at Squigglefly and today I have the pleasure of working with a fun image drawn by Cheryl Grant Alger called 'A Frosty Mug of Cocoa' ... so adorable!!  Our challenge theme today is to use PATTERNED PAPER.

I have SO MANY holiday/winter patterned papers laying on my table right now due to all the projects I'm working on for my past/upcoming craft shows and it wasn't hard to find a scrap to use for today's project that went perfectly with my cute image.

I've colored my snowman with my Spectrum Noir PENCILS and did a little fussy cutting in order to pop him up on the page!  My sentiment is from an older Verve stamp set and the snowflake background die is from Impression Obsession DIE-211 and was purchased through Dies R Us.  I love how quickly this card came together and so darn cute too!!

I hope you'll come join in our challenge fun at Squigglefly ... I KNOW you all have patterned paper in your stash and I can't wait to see what you create with it!!!  And be sure to pop over to see what my team mates have created ... what a fabulously talented group of ladies!!!!

Sharing in the following challenges:
Bearly-Mine Challenge - Christmas
Card and Scrap Challenge - Layers
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - Anything Goes using Patterned Paper
CHNC Monthly Challenge Extra - Anything Goes Christmas
Die Cut Diva's Challenge - Holidays w/die cuts
Sentimental Sunday - Anything Goes
My Perfect Life #48 - Anything Goes Christmas
Sassy Cheryl's Neighborhood FB Challenge - Anything Goes

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you'll also come back a little later when I'll have a second posting to share today.   It's the 1st Monday of the month so that means it's Linky Party time at Crafty Secrets and I have a fun creation/tutorial to share with you! 

As always . . .

Life is heavenly . . .

when you have Angels for Friends!

Hello and Happy Friday my Friends ...

I just love this sentiment and when I saw it on the Crafty Secrets 'Little Blessings' Creative Scraps Sheet, I couldn't wait to use it on a side step fancy fold card creation.  I wanted the verse and image to stand out as much as the fancy fold does so I simply printed out a sheet of Crafty Secrets design paper called DP-212 Blue Paisley Stripes for my background.

I also kept the decorative design to a minimum using Cheery Lynn Designs Fanciful Flourishes (left & right), mulberry flowers and Stampendous diamond dots as my embellishments on the side steps.  A little distressing on the image helped to add a touch of 'age' to this lovely image/sentiment panel and of course another flower, this time a mulberry rose from Wild Orchid Crafts was added as the corner treatment.

If you are not familiar with Crafty Secrets, you are truly missing out on some FABULOUS images, papers and ephemera!  PLEASE pop right over to our STORE and check it out.  There are also some amazing sales going on right now that you'll want to be a part of!

 

Thanks so much for stopping by today!
Have a fabulous weekend!
As always . . .

Craft Show Time of Year!

Hello my friends!

Sorry I've been a bit MIA ... busy, busy creating for the craft shows I'm involved in.  And to think, five years ago I started with ONE craft show so I could share the mountain of cards I had created and now, this year, I'll have done FIVE different shows between September & December.  It's a lot of work but I have so much fun and have met some wonderful ladies along the way!!

I wanted to share with you today a new (to me) project that I'll be selling at this Saturday's craft show at our local high school (over 200 vendors).  It's one that I learned while crafting last month with my Midwest friends out in Indiana.  Judy Studer (Back Porch Crafts by Judy) shared the directions with us and although I had seen it out in blogland, I had never taken the time to figure out how to make one!  THANKS Judy for sharing your creativity with me & the gang!

Aren't they cute!  I just love them and while I'm sure there are other goodies, or something like tea lights that would fit in this extra little box, I found that 5 Hershey nuggets worked quite well so that's what I've filled all 21 card boxes with this time around.  Next year maybe I'll do the candles.

I have several different images for the fronts ... these are just a few and below I've given you a little 'closer' view of this adorable little project.  I hope you like them!

I need to hurry outside and mow over the leaves before the rain/snow flurries begin but just HAD to share these with you first!

Hope you like them and if you live in the Akron, Ohio area ... this Saturday's craft show is at the Green High School on Boettler Road in Green from 9 am to 4 pm.  You'll find me right outside the cafeteria!  Come say Hello!

A few challenges to share in are:

4 Crafty Chicks Challenge - Anything Goes

It's All About the Vintage Challenge - Anything Goes (must be vintage)

Divas By Design - Anything Goes

Inspiration Destination Challenge #5 - Anything Goes
Polkadoodles Challenge - Christmas Fun
Fab 'n' Funky Challenge - Christmas
The Paper Shelter Challenge #180 - Christmas
Paperminutes Challenge - Christmas and Red

Okay ... gotta run!

Thanks for stopping by to take a peek!

I'll be back tomorrow with a new Crafty Secrets project to share!

As always . . .

Dies R Us Inspiration Time

Hello my friends!

It's Tuesday and that means it is time once again to share a card made using dies from the Dies R Us store to hopefully inspire you in your card making efforts.

Anyone who knows me knows I love VINTAGE style and that was the direction I took for today's card.  And since I am a 'grandma' (I know! Can you believe it ... I'm so young!  LOL) this is a card I know I would love to receive in the mail.

Dies used on this creation are:
Creative Expressions Sue Wilson - Spanish Collection - Cordoba #CED1206
Memory Box - Bali Corner #98487 (RETIRED)
Joy Crafts! #6002/0258
Cheery Lynn Designs - Grandma #B286 

If you haven't already done so, please pop over to our STORE and sign up for our newsletter.  That is the only way you can be notified of our POP UP SALES and European Die Sales.  Several times a year, we offer limited time sales on dies that are not routinely carried in our store.   Dies R Us is one of the BEST ONE STOP SHOPPING locations for your die cutting needs.

Remember, if by chance the die you are looking for is out of stock ... simply click on the 'Put Me On The Waiting List' tab, add your information and you'll be notified as soon as it's once again available (which usually isn't very long at all!). 

Have you come to join in the fun at our DIES R US CHALLENGE BLOG?  A new challenge goes live on the 1st and 15th of each month with one lucky winner receiving a gift prize to the Dies R Us Store.  Hope we see you there!

Thanks for stopping by and as always . . .

Recipe:

Papers:  White cs, SU Rose Red cs, the Paper Studio design paper, SU Garden Green cs, Old Olive cs

Stamps/Ink:  Paper Inspiration Rose stamp, Tim Holtz Spun Sugar distress ink, Memento Bamboo Leaves ink, 

Accessories:  Wild Orchid Mulberry Roses,  Cheery Lynn Designs - Grandma #B286 , Creative Expressions Sue Wilson - Spanish Collection - Cordoba #CED1206 , Joy Crafts! #6002/0258, Memory Box - Bali Corner #98487 (RETIRED), Offray pink satin ribbon, Craft-Dee Bowz bow maker, Image from Pinterest, SU dimensionals

Bags, Tags, Boxes and More!!!

Welcome my friends!

Today I have a fun creation to share with you that I created as my DT inspiration for the new challenge at 613 Avenue Create Challenge #95.  

Yes, we are an ANYTHING GOES challenge, but each time we have a TWIST theme.

It's to your advantage to use the twist when you can!

Today's TWIST THEME is:

BAGS, TAGS, BOXES and MORE!

Our sponsors today are:

   

            I have the pleasure of playing with a fun image from Beansie Doodles called 'HOLLY JINGLE BELLS' and decided to make a tag!  Not just any old tag, but a WINE BOTTLE TAG!

The holiday's are coming and there are a few friends on my list that enjoy receiving a bottle of the 'bubbly' for the holidays so this was my opportunity to really 'kick it up a notch' (so to speak! LOL)

Isn't this image adorable???  And SO FESTIVE!
I've enjoyed coloring her using my Spectrum Noir alcohol markers then doing a little fussy cutting so I could pop her up and make her stand out a bit!
 

 I created my wine bottle tag quite simply but cutting a piece of white cardstock  11" x 3 1/4" ... score down on one end at 3 1/2" and punch/die cut a circle 1 1/4" round for the opening to slide down over the neck of your bottle.  Depending on the size of the bottle neck, you may need to adjust the size of the opening.

Of course, this would work great for ANY tall neck bottle ... no matter what the contents.  And try to make your opening centered!  NOT OFF CENTER like mine!  LOL!  (eye's must have been on crooked that day ... geesh!)

Then simply decorate it to your hearts content!  This is a great way to use up that mountain of scraps that we all have laying around and I even used up some of my white cut off scraps by doing a little tearing to create the snow she is standing in.
Though hard to see ... there is diamond Stickles sparkle on the edges of the snow and gold Stickles sparkle on all the 'jingle bells' our little holiday pixie is sporting!

Here are a few challenges I'd like to share in today:
Allsorts Challenge - CHRISTMAS
Hiding in my Craft Room #171 - Any Holiday
Little Claire's Design Monthly Challenge - CHRISTMAS
Brown Sugar Challenge - Anything Goes
Polkadoodles Challenge - Christmas Fun
Christmas Stampin' All Year Long #34 - Photo Inspiration

Sweet Stampin' Christmas Challenge - Snowflakes
Crafting By Design Challenge - Get Ready for Christmas
Inspiration Destination - Anything Goes

Please come join in our challenge fun at 613 Avenue Create!
And, if you need inspiration, by all means pop over and see what my team mates have created for you ... they are AMAZING!!!  Hope to see you there!

As always ...

Recipe:

Papers:  White cs, the Paper Studio dp

Accessories:  Spectrum Noir alcohol markers, Diamond Stickles, Gold Stickles, Martha Stewart snowflake punch, holiday lights from my stash (sorry don't know the mfg), pop dots, Stampin' Up 1 1/4" hole punch

Wine Bottle provided by Arbor Mist (Holiday Merlot) ... LOL!

Sending you a little prayer . . .

Hello and Happy Friday Everyone!

Today I have a new Crafty Secrets card to share with you and as my title suggests, there is always someone out there that could use our prayers.  That was the thought behind this little card ...

At my age I'm always hearing of someone close or from my past that is dealing with illness.  It really doesn't take much to help make them feel just a little better, all I (we) need to do is let them know we are thinking of them in a card.

I've once again used an image from the Crafty Secrets 'Little Blessings' Creative Scraps.  Isn't it just the sweetest little image!  I didn't do a lot of layering or embellishments on this card ... I wanted to be sure the image/sentiment were the FOCUS!

A few challenges to share in today are:
Crafty Sentiments Designs Challenge - Use a Sentiment

Creative Card Crew #73 - Bows

Crafty Cardmakers and more - It's Only Words
Brown Sugar Challenge - Anything Goes
Daring Cardmakers Challenge - Sentimental

If you've never checked out Crafty Secrets, NOW is the TIME!  Sandy is clearing out the warehouse and has some FABULOUS SALES going on that you do not want to miss out on.  And remember, we have a monthly linky party (1st Monday of the month) and EVERYONE is a winner!!

Thanks for stopping by today!
Hope you have a FABULOUS WEEKEND AHEAD!!

As always . . .

Sisterhood - Fall

Hello Friends ... thanks for stopping by today!

It's time once again for a new challenge at The Sisterhood of Crafters and this time around we are celebrating FALL.  Yep, it's certainly that time of the year and the leaves here in my neighborhood are gorgeous.  Check out the tree in my next door neighbors front yard ... isn't it GORGEOUS!?!

Diane is our hostess today so please pop over to the Sisterhood and show your love.  And of course we'd LOVE to have you join in our challenge fun!

For my card today, I've actually used this opportunity to make a birthday card for a dear friend of mine who will be actually celebrating her birthday at the beach this year (lucky girl!!).  She doesn't do much 'computering' so I'm not worried about her seeing her card before it gets to her in the mail.

A while back, I cut several base cards in this tri-shutter style and the orange base was just perfect for my Fall card.  I've actually been able to use up some scraps that were laying around on this card too!  LOVE THAT!!!

My front panel is from a Crafty Secrets booklet ... the journaling portion and I thought it made a nice background for my sentiment.  (I will add a white panel on the brown and include a personal message.)  

My leaves were die cut from a crap of the 2-sided plaid paper ... perfect!!  When I cut my Cheery Lynn Designs border, I notice the piece left over actually looked like a banner.  So, I did a straight cut and used it for my banner and added Creative Memories letter stickers for her name.

Fall is such a beautiful time of the year in my area!  When I was taking the picture of the neighbors tree, I noticed the one single purple bloom in my big pot of mums on the front porch ... it just called out for me to take a picture of it ...  lol ... so I did!

How cute is that!!!  Do you think it knew my favorite color was purple??  LOL

Here are a few other challenges to share in today:

Crafty Sentiments Designs Challenge - Use a Sentiment

Cuttlebug Mania Challenge - Only when you 'leaf'

Everybody-Art-Challenge - Little Flag/Banner
Just Inspirational October Challenge - Fall
{Pin}spirational Challenge - Inspiration Image

The Cheerful Stamp Pad Challenge - Fall Leaves
Crafty Boots Challenge - Falling Leaves or Halloween
Crafty Cardmakers and More Challenge - It's Only Words
Love to Create Challenge - Anything Goes/Fall Colors

Thanks again for stopping by and I hope to see you at the Sisterhood!

As always ...

Recipe:
Papers:  Orange cs, Olive Drab cs, Reminisce 'Fall Harvest' design paper, scraps
Accessories:   Cheery Lynn Designs 'B133' Lace Deco Border, Elizabeth Craft #716 Cupcake w/candle & bow, Impression Obsession #DIE095-D leaves, Copper Stickles, Cheery Lynn Designs Happy B226 and Birthday B231

Blue Christmas . . .

Dies R Us Style!

Hello friends ... thanks for stopping by today!

Tuesday means another inspiration design for Dies R Us and today I have a beauty for you! 

Isn't this card just SO PRETTY!!??!!

I actually saw a card done similarly by KittieKraft and just knew I had to get my hands on that beautiful Impression Obsession die to create THIS YEARS holiday cards.

The dies used are:

Impression Obsession 'Snowflake Background'  #DIE211

Impression Obsession 'Icicle Edge'  #DIE216

Die-Namites 'Cardinals & Holly'  #DN-1073

Where I chose to use the Die-Namites 'Cardinals & Holly', Kittie used the beautiful Impression Obsession 'Reindeer' DIE228 on the front of her card.  That die is also available at our Dies R Us Store.  You could decorate a lot or a little when you have such a beautiful background starting point!

 Please be sure to pop on over to our Dies R Us Store for all your die cutting needs.  The list of die companies is growing and growing ... I have no doubt you'll find exactly what you've been looking for to create YOUR holiday cards!  The prices are FABULOUS and SHIPPING is more than reasonable!

 

 I would love to share this creation with the following challenges:

Party Time Tuesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Retarte 21 Challenge - Christmas and/or Vintage
Through the Class Room Door Challenge - Anything Goes

The Craft Bloggers October Challenge - Christmas
House of Cards October Challenge - Punches and/or Dies
My Craft Creations - Anything Goes
Not Just Cards Challenge - Always Anything Goes
The Paper Girls Challenge - Anything Goes

Don't forget about the Dies R Us Challenge going on ... theme this time around is:  HALLOWEEN and you have until the 28th to play along!  Who knows ... you could be the lucky DRU Prize Code Winner!!  Hope to see you there!

Thanks again for stopping by and I hope you're having an awesome week!

As always . . .

Squigglefly - SFC4214 - Halloween or Fall

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL???

Hello Bloggers!

It's time once again for another FUN challenge over at Squigglefly!

Our theme for today is

HALLOWEEN or FALL

Although we get 100+ Trick or Treaters every year and it's fun to see them all in their costumes, Halloween isn't one of my favorite times of the year.  However, FALL IS so I'm going with Fall for today's card! 

I'm a big Pittsburgh Steeler fan (I'm from Pittsburgh so it's okay!) and Fall means Fall Football Time!!!  

GO STEELERS!!

 

Isn't this little football player awesome?  It's an image by Cheryl Grant Alger called 'Touchdown'!  I just love all of Cheryl's images and this guys was fun to color up like a Pittsburgh Steeler in this black & gold!  I was also having some fun playing around with Fall colors on my Heartfelt Creations leaves and my 'scrabble styled' sentiment.

Challenges to share in:
So Artful Challenge - Leaves
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenge - For the Boys
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything Goes

I hope you'll come check out the awesome inspirational samples the team has created this week and then join in our challenge fun!

Have a great week and thanks for stopping by!

Whenever I count my blessings . . .

Hello dear friends!

It's time once again to share a creation with you created with the fabulous images/papers from Crafty Secrets.  Today I've created a card using a beautiful image from the 'Little Blessings' Creative Scraps Sheet.  Remember, Crafty Secrets is in the process of switching to all digital so be sure to check out the fabulous sales going on at our store.  And, be sure to come join in our Monthly Linky Party held at our BLOG the 1st Monday of each month.  EVERYONE is a winner!

I have two more craft shows coming up in November and I'm really low on birthday cards, so Crafty Secrets is really helping me out with all their FABULOUS images.  

I'm also trying to use some of the scraps I have cut from past projects (the mountain is ever growing!) and I had this background paper laying on the table.  It wasn't wide enough for my card so I simply cut it, spliced it and added the pretty pink ribbon on the seam ... viola!

A few challenges to share in today are:
4 Crafty Chicks Challenge - Birthday
Aud Sentiments Challenge - Anything Goes
Crafty Little Fairies October Challenge - Only One Design Paper
(requires hand colored image ... sorry!)
Seize the Birthday Challenge - Anything Goes Birthday
Miriam's Crafting Blog 17th Challenge - Shades of Pink
Scrapper's Delights Challenge - Anything Goes/Monochromatic
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you've found inspiration in my work and come back again real soon!  Happy Crafting and as always . . .

Recipe:
Papers: white cs, garden green cs, the 'Paper' Studio dp
Image:   'Little Blessings' Creative Scraps Sheet
Ink/Stamps:  Versafine Onyx, Inkadinkado, Paper Inspirations
Accessories:  Cheery Lynn Designs 'Mom' die, Cheery Lynn Designs 'Fanciful Flourish' die, TH spun sugar distress ink, Martha Stewart 'branch' punch, Offray pink ribbon, Wild Orchid Crafts pink mulberry rose, large sponge daubers