Double D's Celebrating a Birthday!

Hello Friends!

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

AND, it's time to CELEBRATE!!

Diane & I are proud to announce it's the
2nd Birthday of Double D!

We will be celebrating all month (both challenges) with extra prizes being offered and even some of our fabulous DT ladies are going to be offering prizes on their blogs!  SO,  you'll want to be sure and pop over to everyone's blogs during January ... YOU just might be a lucky winner!!

To get us started, Team Diane is hosting and the theme is:

 

Anything Birthday/Anniversary Goes
 using Mood board

Let It INSPIRE You

I must say I am so excited and truly inspired by our amazing design team ladies!  I chose the cute image in the upper left corner of Diane's mood board as my inspiration ...
Let The Party Begin!!!

I had several pieces of glitter & foil paper left over from Christmas cards and thought they would make beautiful balloons and I was right!  I love how this card came together!

The main die I've used is:

Impression Obsession Balloons

 I also used the bow from an Elizabeth Craft Balloon die (#726),
the Happy Birthday comes from an older Spellbinder D-Lites set called Happy Birthday Garland (5 die set - S2-187)
and the little birds are from the Joy! Craft 'Bird Cage' die set (#6003/0034).

 I've used scraps of paper from the DCWV Glitter Pack and the DCWV Foils pack.
A few little white Nuvo Crystal Drops added dimension to the background.

I hope you'll come join in our challenge fun
and help us celebrate our BIRTHDAY!

Here are the AMAZING PRIZES Diane has up for grabs to one TWO lucky random draw winners.



AND

 But, you need to play to win!!  LOL

  Remember ... some of the DT ladies are also offering prizes ... be sure to stop by their blogs and share some love!

Team Diane

Diane Hover
Amelia Breytenbach
Rebecca Deeprose
Donna Phalen

Judy Woodland

Team Darlene

Darlene Pavlick
Leslie Miller
Kathy Krug
Vicki Robertson
Aussie Annie

 Hope to see you there!
As always . . .

Challenges to share in:

Craftaholics R Us Challenge #1 - Celebration 

Scrapy Land Challenge #81 - ATG  using product carried in their store

Crop Stop January Party #36 - ATG using product carried in their store

Pause, Dream, Enjoy Challenge #1 - Die Cuts

The Crafty Addicts Challenge - ATG

Repurposing . . .

Hello Dear Friends!

Since it was pretty quiet around here during the New Years weekend, I decided to play around in my cave, just doing what ever came to mind.  We receive so many card sets from companies we make contributions to and even though I do give a lot away to my Mom, her church and a few friends, I still end up with a lot I just feel I need to do something with so I've begun using a lot of the card fronts and repurposing them into my own card designs.

Here's one I made the other day ... (should have photographed the original card ... oops ... next time).

The original card was 'Get Well Soon' ...

After cutting the card front away from the whole card, I die cut the portion of the image that had the Gold Finch & a few of the Dogwood Blossoms, using the Poppystamps #1268 'Stitched Main Street Tag' (the two largest ones).  I didn't like how much space there was between the two panels so I die cut a panel using the largest die again in white and fussy cut a narrow mat around the image before adhering it to the black mat.

I thought using this Penny Black 'Just for You' die sentiment would give this card more flexibility.  I die cut it twice in white, once in black and once in the green.  Then stacked them together for height & dimension.

A Cuttlebug embossing folder was used to add texture to my Stampin' Up 'Pear Pizazz' background.  A little yellow bow at the top of my tag and a few Nuvo white crystal drops and my card is ready to go.

The original card came with a pretty matching envelope so I'll of course be using it.

Challenges to share in:
Love to Craft January Challenge - ATG
 Lemon Shortbread Challenge - ATG
Retarte Challenge #112 - ATG

I hope you've enjoyed what I'm sharing today and have found inspiration in repurposing something you've received in the mail that you just know you don't want to throw away.

Thanks for stopping by ...

A SPECIAL EDITION of Creative Inspiration Magazine

Hello Friends and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

WhooHoo!
The Creative Inspiration Magazine has created a SPECIAL EDITION to get our New Year off to a fun & creative start.  This issue is all about SKETCHES & INSPIRATION!
And, I'm thrilled to say I'm a part of it!!

The January 2018, SPECIAL EDITION, Issue 21 is now available for viewing.

I LOVE working with sketches and even though I stopped at four cards, I could have gone on & on!
Here's a little sneak peek and what I've created ... you'll have to check out the magazine for the full picture!  LOL

 Card 1

 Card 2

 Card 3

Card 4

Please pop over and check out the FULL VIEW of my cards and all the other amazing creations shared in this fabulous Special Edition!  If you are a scrapbooker,  you won't want to miss out viewing this issue also.  There were many layout sketches used by various crafters that I'm sure you will draw inspiration from!

 Hope to see you there! 
 Please pop back and let me know what you think of this magazine and my work!
 I'd love to hear your thoughts!

 As always . . .

 

Dies R Us Challenge

HAPPY NEW YEARS EVERYONE!

I can't believe we are into another New Year ... where is the time going?

I decided to join the fabulous team of designers over on the Dies R Us Challenge Blog today.  Being the DT coordinator for Dies R Us, I don't always have the opportunity to play along.  But I've decided to 'switch it up a bit' and join in today!

The new challenge is an easy one for everyone after all the hustle & bustle of the holidays!

ANYTHING GOES

(using dies by companies carried in the Dies R Us Store)

Here's what I've come up with ... hope you like it!

Here are the dies I've used on today's card:

Memory Box - Enchanted Deer Collage

Precious Marieke - Wood Fence

Penny Black - Your Day

Poppystamps - Tender Deer

I started out by die cutting the Enchanted Deer Collage twice (2 paper panels together and cut at the same time).  Then I used one of the cuts as a 'stencil' in order to add some color to the background.

After sponging on a little color, I adhered the 'clean' die cut to the top of my stenciled panel to create the focus for my card front.  I've had this fence panel laying on my work station for WEEKS!  I created it for another card but it didn't work out so it's just been laying around waiting to be used!  Today's the day!

When my card was finished, I thought it looked like Mommy & Daddy deer watching their young one venturing off into the world on his own ... or maybe he's going back to school after the holiday break!  LOL

Well that's it for me today!
Here's wishing you a FABULOUS 2018!!
Thanks for stopping by ...
As always ...

On the treshold of a new year . . .

Hello Friends!

Today I'm sharing my final Christmas card created for the 2017 holiday season.

I can't believe we are on the doorstep of another new year!

Where does the time go???

Anyways ... back to my card created using various dies from the Dies R Us Store and was created to share over on the Dies R Us Inspiration Blog.  If you're not familiar with this blog and team of amazing designers, you really need to treat yourself and pop over right away!!!

I must admit I was scrambling around at the last minute (a week before Christmas), trying to create a few more cards to send to family & friends.  I must have miscounted because I actually came up SEVEN short!  YIKES!!

How lucky am I to have these fabulous dies from the Dies R Us Store that helped me create QUICK yet adorable cards to get mailed just in the nick of time!!   (And a great way to use up scraps too.)

The dies I have used today are:

Impression Obsession 'Carolers'

Impression Obsession 'Fir Trees'

and Technique Tuesday 'Nesting Stars' 

(not currently in the store but if you SEARCH on the word STAR you will find a wonderful variety of stars available for your crafting needs.)

If you happen to be looking for this Sizzix Tim Holtz 'snowfall' embossing folder, you can find it HERE.


TIP:  Anytime you are doing an outside winter 'scene', it's always fun to create mounds of snow by simply tearing scraps of white card stock and layering them.  (ssshhh!  Don't tell anyone ... but my embossed snow panel was a little 'short' so I simply moved the tree up a bit and added a couple layers of torn snow!  PERFECT!!)

Of course I couldn't add just any star to the top of my tree ... it had to SPARKLE!!

And, did you notice the sparkle of the blue glitter paper background?

Well here's another TIP for you . . .

When using foil or glitter paper as a MAT ... you don't want to waste all that beautiful paper that is hidden behind your focus panel ... so before layering, use a rectangle die cut (for instance the Tutti Designs Nesting Stitched Rectangles) using the largest you can and still have the edge you desire for your current matting project, die cut a panel from the center of your special paper.  Now you have another gorgeous panel to use on a future creation.

Challenges to share in:
Impression Obsession Challenge - ATG
A Gem of a Challenge #209 - ATG Christmas
Winter Wonderland Challenge - ATG Christmas

 I hope you've enjoyed what I've shared today!  And, don't forget to come join in the fun at the Dies R Us Challenge Blog.  There's a new challenge theme offered on the 1st and 15th of each month and one lucky randomly drawn winner will receive a gift voucher prize to the Dies R Us Store.

 For your convenience, all the important Dies R Us links are provided below.

click below for:

STORE 
 CHALLENGE BLOG
  FACEBOOK
  INSPIRATION BLOG

FRIENDS OF DIES R US PINTEREST PAGE

Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Brrrr! I could use a cup of Hot Chocolate!

Hello my friends!

BRRR!  It sure is cold outside and more snow

is on it's way so I've decided to stay in where it is warm

and 'get crafty'!

I spotted a 'sketch' challenge and I thought I'd play along.

This is a very easy sketch to follow and I think it made for a fun card.

The challenge blog is called Inspire,Create Challenges.  I love doing

sketches so I'm sure I'll be visiting this blog again & again!

NOW ... here's where it pays to check out the RULES first before you begin!

Here is my original card (before reading the rules) ...

Cute card yes ... but then I read the rules and saw this rule:

• We ask that all submissions include some stamping, no digital images please

SO ... back to the drawing board since I only used paper & dies.  

Luckily,  I was able to fix my original card by using the cute 

Verve Stamp set called 'Winter Mittens' 

Whew!!!

Here are a few other challenges to share in:

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Watercooler Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes Masculine

This beautiful design paper is from American Crafts and

the die I have used for my banner is Sue Wilson ' Stitched Flags'.

 Thanks so much for stopping by!
As always . . .

A wintry birthday card . . .

Hello Friends!

Today I was able to get into my 'cave' and do a little creating.

I checked out the available challenges and came up with a few that I

used as a basis for today's card.

The design is based on the sketch offered at Freshly Made Sketches.

The Birthday theme is for the Craftaholics R Us Challenge and the Watercoloring

with Snow Technique is for the Mod Squad Challenge.  The Mod Squad

challenge is 'add snow' and their technique challenge (for an extra entry) is

to 'watercolor' ... so I combined the two.

I used the Tim Holtz Oxide distress inks (Broken China &  Faded Jeans)

to create my background panel.  Once I got the colors where I wanted them,

I spritzed with water and blotted dry quickly to create my snow.

The dies I have used are the new Tutti Designs 'Scalloped Stitched Rectangle' dies

and the Die-Mensions 'Birthday Balloons'.
For the inside of my card, I had a couple of extra Impressions Obsession

die cut balloons laying on my work table so added them to the bottom corner.

I hope you are all enjoying your holiday time!
We have had a wonderful time so far!
The weather has been cooperative and we were
able to get to my Mom's in PA the Saturday before Christmas
for a family gather and then to our daughters (1 hr drive) on
Christmas morning for another wonderful get together!

There's a 'CLIPPER SYSTEM' coming tonight so
we will be indoors staying safe & warm for New Years! 

Thanks for stopping by and as always . . .

Double D - Baby It's Cold Outside

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:

 

Baby It's Cold Outside  (WINTER)

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

 So many fun winter elements to be inspired by, but the sled & mittens caught my eye so that is the direction I took for today's creation ... what do you think??

I'm blessed with some fabulous winter type dies so of course I just had to rummage through and see what I could come up with!  I've had this sled die since last winter and hadn't used it yet so that was my first pick.  Plus, I knew I wanted to use the 'Brrr' sentiment.  Next I had to decide did I want to use mittens or a cup of hot chocolate in my design.  After choosing my background paper from a new Carta Bella paper pack called 'Cabin Fever', I decided on the mittens.

The dies I've used are Elizabeth Craft  'Sled'  #1243, Elizabeth Craft 'Brrr' #1228 and Memory Box 'Precious Mittens' #98663.  

The sentiment has been 'stacked' using THREE cuts ... 2 blue & 1 white.  Crystal Stickles has been added to the snowflakes for sparkle and the snowflakes were stamped on the red mittens with a touch of Crystal Stickles in the middle also.  

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:
Craftaholics R Us Challenge #50 - ATG
Scrapy Land Challenge #80 - ATG using product carried in the store
Crafty Sentiments Challenge - Snowflakes
Die Cuttin' Divas Challenge #348 - Holidays
{PIN}spirational Challenge #206 - Photo Inspiration (inspired by the red/green & sled)
 

613 Avenue Creates Challenge #204 - ATG - Christmas/Winter
Crop Stop December Linky Party - ATG using product carried at their store
The Paper Girls Challenge - Holiday Fun (Sled Riding)
Memory Box Challenge #31 - Holiday Greetings

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 . . .

OH NO! Where is my mind??

Hello All and Happy Tuesday!

Last evening while watch a little TV with hubby, he says to me . . .

 "Are all the Christmas cards mailed?"

(Me) "Yes"

(Hubby)  "And did you include the $$$ for the kids" (referring to his niece & nephews children)

(Me) "Oh Crap!  No!  I forgot"  "Dang!"

(Hubby) "Do you have more Christmas Cards?"

(Me) "Nope but I'll get into the cave and whip up something right now so they can be mailed tomorrow"

AND, here's what I came up with ... 

Simple but it says it all!

I've used the Tutti Designs 'Merry Christmas' die and cut from various glitter papers.  PERFECT!  A quick personal message inside along with their Christmas Cash and I popped them into the mail box this morning!   WHEW!

Thank Goodness for Die Cuts ... they sure saved the day in this case!!

Challenges to share in:

Come & Get It Challenge - Christmas

613 Avenue Create Challenge - ATG Christmas/Winter

AAA Cards CAS Challenge #105 - Sparkle

 Dream Valley Challenge #169 - Christmas

Card Mania Challenge - Christmas

Time is flying by ... hope you're ready for Santa's visit!  

I'm about as ready as I'm going to be I think!  LOL

Thanks for stopping by ... 

As always ...