It's Fussy and Fancy Time . . .

Hello Everyone!

It's time once again for a new challenge over at the 

Fussy and Fancy Challenge Blog!

Today's theme was chosen by our very talented Annie, and our theme is . . .

DIFFERENT SHAPED or FOLDED CARD

Here's my creation . . .

I decided to create a Double Z-Fold card and turn it into a

birthday card for my brother-in-law.

The design paper I've used is actually from a fun kids paper pack by Doodlebug Design called 'At the Zoo'.

 and the dies I've used are:

Tutti Designs 'Autumn Window'

 Tutti Designs Happy and Birthday

 

 Tutti Designs Dotted Nesting Ovals

 I die cut TWO ovals ... one from White card stock and one from the same Rust card stock I used for my base card.  Then, I die cut my window from the white panel, did a little coloring on the ivy & pumpkins then attached it to the rust colored panel.  A little oxide ink around the edges softened the look.

Happy and Birthday were also cut twice.  Then overlaid to create a shadow effect.

Challenges to share in:
Cut It Up Challenge #156 - Birthday
QKR Stampede Challenge #312 - ATG
Always Happy Birthday September Challenge - ATG Birthday
Daisy Chain Challenge #23 - Birthdays (9/29)
Fabrika Fantasy Challenge #24 - Autumn (9/28)
House of Cards September Challenge - Birthday (and/or color)

 Scrap from your Heart Challenge #25 - Autumn

 I hope you've enjoy today's share and will come join in our challenge fun!  See you there!

 Thanks so much for stopping by and as always . . .

Christmas Goodies . . .

Hello Friends ...

Yep, busy time of year for me ... preparing all sorts of goodies for upcoming Fall shows.  Last week I shared a little box of kisses HERE (can also be used for tealights) and today I've create the same box but this time decorated for Christmas and filled with mini Ghiradelli chocolates.

I'm also working on holiday tissue box covers.

I must admit, these are GREAT sellers ... I've made & sold a ton of them over the years!

Here are a few more in the works . . .

If you're interested in a tutorial on making these cuties, you can find all the dimensions on a post I did way back in 2013 HERE.  You can get elaborate with the decorations or just add a little ... choice is yours.   For the holiday covers I usually just add a bit of Stickles or Nuvo drops around the scallop opening panel ... seems to be fine for most folks.  For those covers staying out all year long, I try to add a few flowers, butterflies, etc to the lid.

Challenges to share in:

Christmas Crafts All Year Round September Challenge - Anything BUT a card!

My Time To Craft Challenge #378 - Christmas in August

CraftyHazelNut's Patterned Paper September Challenge - ATG using patterned paper
The Holly & Ivy Christmas Challenge #35 - ATG Christmas

Well that's my share for today ... hope you've enjoyed your visit.

It's back to work for my ... busy, busy!!

Happy week my friends and as always . . .

Double D - Let's POP a Wheelie ...

Today over on the Double D Challenge Blog,

Diane is our hostess and her theme today is ...

Let's POP a 'Wheel'ie

(anything that has wheels)

Check out this amazing mood board she has created for your inspiration!

 

 OMG what fun!  I could have gone in so many directions but one peek at my card and you will know what my eyes were drawn to ... lol!

Yep, it was that old yellow truck with the red rails.

I have used the Impression Obsession 'Truck' die for today's focus.  

 

Die cut from bright yellow card stock multiple times and glued together for dimension.

The wheels are actually 3 layers of white and the top layer of black.

It just so happened that I had that old Flourishes 'Country Road' stamp set still laying on my work table from a previous project and thought the farm scene would work perfectly for the background.  So, I die cut a white panel using my Tutti Designs Cross Stitched dies (largest one), sponged on a little green ink for the grass and blue for the sky (actually just used what was left on the sponge daubers)  then stamped the scene and sentiment.  The birds in the sky are a stamp by Stampscapes.

Nothing says 'country' more than red gingham and there just happened to be a few sheets of it in my new Mintay 'Farm Life' paper pack (purchased through Frantic Stampers).    And the finishing touch was my Poppystamps 'Picket Fence' which was cut from brown leather look card stock.

I do hope you'll come join in our challenge ... this is going to be a FUN ONE!

Check out what Diane has up for grabs to one lucky random draw winner.

Don't forget to check out what the DT ladies have created ... 

OMG they are SO TALENTED!!!

Challenges to share in:
Lemon Shortbread Challenge - ATG
Through the Craft Room Door - ATG
{PIN}spiration Challenge  #223 - Photo Inspiration

 Artistic Inspirations Challenge #206 - ATG

Thanks so much for stopping by and as always . . .

Here's a Quickie!

Hello Sweet Friends!

I'm out the door early this morning, headed to my mother's in Pennsylvania to pick up her and my aunt then headed to the Pittsburgh Airport for Aunt Mary Jane's return flight to her home in Texas.  She has been visiting for the past 2 weeks, staying with my mom, in order to attend our family reunion.  Mom has truly enjoyed her visit and companionship these past weeks since they are the last 2 from a family of 12 children.   Mom's really going to miss her!  When you are 88 and 84 years of age, you truly treasure every moment together you have.

BUT, before heading out I just had to share this really quick & easy card with you that I created over the past weekend.  It's always so easy to create a quick card when you have beautiful designer paper to start with.  And that was the basis for this card.

 This paper I believe is from a very old Stampin' Up holiday package (I have way too much paper but that's not going to stop me from buying more! lol).    And, as you can see, all it really needed was a sentiment up in the upper corner and I chose a recently purchase Sue Wilson 'Mini Expression' die called 'Let It Snow'.  I must confess ... I had a couple other sentiment dies that I was considering using on this card but I really like the 'scrolly' (is that even a word?) font on this one so that was my deciding factor

 

Now of course, I just couldn't leave well enough alone, and besides the poinsettia flower centers were just BEGGING to be given some color.  We all know that poinettia centers are yellow in color (right? I think! lol) so to the Nuvo box I went and grabbed the bottle of Nuvo Gloss Dandelion Crystal Drops and carefully covered each of the white spots with yellow Nuvo.  Now that's better!!

 

The holidays will be upon us before we know it so any help in getting my holiday cards completed is a plus!

That's it for today ... I'd better scoot ... don't want her to miss her flight!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

As always . . .

Tutti Designs - Grumpy Frankie

Happy Monday Everyone!

Today I'm sharing a card created with some of the newly released dies at the Tutti Designs store. Have you seen this latest release?  It is filled with fun dies for the upcoming holiday season ... and not just Christmas!  Check it out for yourself.

For instance, how about a few for Halloween . . .

 I've created a card using GRUMPY FRANKIE (probably grumpy because he doesn't like his new suit, lol)

and I think he's being heckled by the SCROLLY BAT.   That's not very nice!!  LOL

Anyways ... here's how my card came together . . .

The scrolly bat was die cut  twice ... once from ivory card stock and once from black card stock.  I carefully kept all the 'pop out pieces' attached in the die cut and used small pieces of scotch tape to hold them in place.  Then I simply glued the black scrolly bat die cut on top.  I've added red Stickles for the eyes and popped him up through the body section for added dimension.


As far as Grumpy Frankie, he took a little more time but was created using the same technique.

Cut from a couple different papers ... solid lime green as well as a striped scrap piece of designer paper.

For his shoes, I used the green pop out pieces and colored them using a marker before reinserting them into the die cut panel.   All pieces were put into one panel then the two full size die cut panels were glued together and popped up on the card front.  Using markers, I've given him 'rolling' eyes and a red mouth.  I used a scrap of card stock and recut just the pumpkin portion of the die and glued to the top, finished die cut panel.  Ivory card stock scraps were taped behind his face and the hands were recut from ivory also.

I was thinking of making his suit from a scrap piece of TROPICAL design paper but then thought better of it!  LOL

OH!  And here's a peek at the inside of my card using the new 'Happy Halloween' die. This die can be used for a quick inside sentiment or you can jazz it up to use on the front of your card ... choice is yours!

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 here 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

Thanks for stopping in ... have a great week!

As always . . .

Cheapo Die Guest Designer - U R Special

Hello Everyone ... Happy Sunday!

I am so excited to once again been asked to guest design for the Cheapo Die Blog.  

Their dies are so much fun to create with and very reasonably priced too! 

That's always a PLUS.

Today I had a little fun with their 'Ballerina' die.  

Why TWO dancers you ask ...

Well, I created the first one to use on my card creation ... then decided to show you how I put it together!  So, I had to make another one in order to do that!  LOL  

Here's the 'how-to' ...

I die cut TWO ballerinas from white card stock and a PARTIAL

ballerina from a panel of watercolor paper I created

using Tim Holtz distress oxide inks.

On the PARTIAL panel, I added a touch of white

glue to the BACK SIDE of my die cut to keep all the knock out

pieces in place.

Once the glue was dry, I added more glue to the

entire die cut panel and glued it to one of the White Ballerina panels.

Then glued the other White Ballerina panel on top. 

If your 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 Cheapo Dies for having me as your Guest Designer!

And thanks to all of you for stopping by today!  

Here's wishing you a FABULOUS week ahead!

As always ...

Other products used:

Papers - Mintay by Karola 'Lovely Day'

Dies -  Memory Box 'Classic Uppercase Alphabet', Tutti Designs 'Dotted Nesting Ovals', Tutti Designs 'Special' Word Set

Accessories - Nuvo White Crystal Drops

Technique - Faux Stitching using Teal ZIP fine tip marker

Dies R Us Challenge - Red, White & Blue

Hello Everyone ... 

Happy September and Happy Labor Day Weekend to my USA friends/family!

Can you believe it!?  WOW!  Time sure is flying!

Today I have a card to share for the current challenge over on the Dies R Us Challenge Blog. 

The theme is:

RED, WHITE & BLUE

You will want to be sure to pop over to the challenge blog and check out what the design team has created ... they are fabulous!!!   I actually drew inspiration from their creations (brain wasn't coming up with anything on it's own!  lol)

I've used three different die sets and unfortunately two of the three are either no longer being carried at the Dies R Us Store or they are currently out of stock.  But not to fear ... there are several other very similar dies that could be used for this design.  If in doubt, use the SEARCH function ... it can be VERY HELPFUL!!

The dies used are:

Memory Box 'Fairyland Butterflies'

Memory Box 'Wrapped Stitched Frames' #30117

Sue Wilson - Canadian Collection - Toronto #CED6204

I die cut the frame three times and glued them together for dimension before inserting the inside panels.  The butterflies have been die cut four times.  The top panel was colored with Spectrum Noir alcohol markers and the bottom panel was off set just a bit for a shadow.  Though, I don't think you can see that very well in the photo so here's a close up.

I hope you've enjoyed seeing what I've created today 

and will come join in the challenge at DRU. 

 Hope to see you there!

Challenges to share in:
SumMore Fun Challenge #36 - Mood Board

 Cards 4 Galz Challenge #79 - Beautiful Backgrounds (embossing folder/dies)
Scrapy Land Challenge #96 - ATG using dies they carry.

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

Merry Little Christmas Challenge

Hello Friends!

The start of a new month means the start of a new challenge

over on the Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog.

Remember, this is a month long challenge (Anything Christmas),

you can enter up to FIVE times and share in as many other challenges as you wish!

Here's what I have to share with you today.

I did not take step-by-step photos but as you can see,

it's a pretty easy peasy creation using a few dies and pretty paper.

Even though the sentiment and stars look BLACK in the photo, they are actually cut from winter green card stock.

Product used are from the Dies R Us Store and include:

Sue Wilson 'Festive Frames' - Overlay and Ornament 

 Poppystamps - Cute Fawn

Sticles Glitter Glue - Diamond

Memory Box - Fancy Believe (#1280)

Carta Bella  'A Very Merry Christmas' 6x6 paper pad

It's difficult to see the sparkle on the

snowflakes as well as the top/bottom open portions

so here's a close up for you ...

I hope you've enjoyed today's Christmas card and I can't wait to see what

you create and share over at the Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog.

Challenges to share in:
Kitty Bee Designs Challenge #126 (9/14) - ATG - twist/Animal (Deer)
Winter Wonderland Challenge - Christmas Joy (9/13)
Christmas at Sweet Stampin' August Challenge - ATG Christmas

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you are having a fabulous week!

As always ...