Flowers for you!!

Hello Friends!  

Today I have a card to share for the Dies R Us Inspiration Blog

and decided to create using some of my newest Sue Wilson dies and my favorite color!

The dies I have used on today's creation are:

Sue Wilson Cathedral Background

Sue Wilson Finishing Touches - Hobnail Vase

Sue Wilson Finishing Touches - Queen Anne's Lace

From time to time I go through my scraps of designer paper and start cutting strips to create background panels for cards vs throwing them away.  I have used one of those panels today for my background.

I've used the smaller of the two oval dies for the opening in my Sue Wilson background panel.  Then, I used the larger oval die to cut my decorative panel and adhered it to the back of my cathedral background panel.

I then cut the same size panel as my Cathedral Background from shimmery purple card stock and adhered to the back to 'pull the colors together'.

Once that was completed I decided to add some sparkle to the outside edge.   To do that I simply used Scor-tape around the outside edge and sprinkled Glamour Dust on each side.  Being sure to burnish it with my finger to remove all the excess glitter.  You can use the glitter of your choice for this step of course!

Now it's time to assemble my vase of flowers . . .

After die cutting the Vase and two sets of flowers, I decided to add some sparkle using touches of white glue and the same Glamour Dust glitter I used around the outside decorative panel of my background.

Though a bit difficult to see in the photos, it is really pretty in real life!

Next came arranging the flowers in the vase.  I added dimensional tape to the back of the vase then simply laid each stem into the vase as my arrangement came together.

Adding a little piece of dimensional tape to the back of each flower, my overall design was popped up and beautiful!  I'm sure this card will bring a smile!  LOL ... I know I'm smiling!

Challenges to share in:
Dragonfly Dreams Challenge - Add Sparkle
Allsorts Challenge #419 - Use 2 or more Dies
Pause Dream Enjoy Challenge #176 - Cards (optional - one layer)
Create and Inspire Challenge #63 - ATG (optional - tag you're it)
Daisy Chain Challenge #9 - Monochromatic
Eclectic Ellapu June Challenge - Touch of Pink and/or Purple
The Flower Challenge #9 - ATG

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

New shade project . . .

Hello friends . . .

As if I don't have enough to do (lol) I decided to clear part of the

wooded section behind our house where the bird feeders

are and do some plantings and mulch.

I forgot to take a photo of the entire section but this is the

left side that I'm going to clean out a bit (dead wood, etc) but leave

it as green space.  However, the part I am doing looked like

this when I started.

I split out a few of the Bleeding Heart plants and put them

across the front.  They look bad right now but come next

spring they will come back and a nice touch of color along this spot.

I picked up 4 different varieties of Hosta at the local

Lowes home improvement store and placed them here and

there.  They will fill in nicely over the next few years.

I'm looking for a birdbath for down on this end and I think I might

add a little 'walkway' and a few colorful planted pots.

I don't want to get carried away but just wanting to dress it up a bit

to match in with the other end of the property which we've established

a nice picnic area including a burn pit for roasting hot dogs, a

large picnic table and plantings around the various groves of trees.
(Here's a little peek at a portion of that location.)

OKAY IT'S DONE (for now anyways! lol)

Since hubby decided to sleep in this morning and I was up early,
I decided to make a run to Lowe's and get the other 12x12 pavers I wanted
to create the stepping stone path way and a bird feeder.

Actually got them put in place, snapped a few photos then jumped on the mower to do
our yard and the neighbors before the temps climb to 90 as they are calling for.

It's not perfect but I'm okay with that and happy (again ... for now anyways lol) with the outcome.

When the temperature cools off, I think I will go back out and set the pavers
down into the mulch a bit vs them just sitting on top but
other than that I think I'm going to leave it alone and 'ponder' it for awhile
before making any additional changes.

It didn't take long for the birds to discover the new bird bath and once it
cools off I'm sure my pesky squirrels will be out to check out the new 'play zone'!  LOL

Time to hide in my crafting cave and get some cards made.
Hope you all have a FABULOUS Day!
Thanks for stopping by . . .

As Always . . .

Live Well ... Laugh Often ... Love Much

Happy Monday All!

Anyone who knows me, knows I enjoy working up a card using a sketch ...

Today, I've done just that and just in the nick of time because there's not much time left on this fun challenge.  I'm referring to the challenge over at Paper Play Sketches.  Here's the current sketch they are creating from . . .

And, here's what I've created using scraps from the scrap bin ...

What do you think?

What a QUICK and EASY card to make today

and this sketch could be used for ANY occasion ... possibilities are endless!

I hope you'll come check out this fun challenge blog and 'Give It A Go!'

Challenges to share in:

Crafting with Friends Challenge #45 - ATG

Crafty Catz Challenge #374 - ATG w/twist - dies & punches

Creative Fingers Challenge #132 - ATG

Word Art Wednesday Challenge - ATG

Have a great week everyone!

Thanks for stopping by ...

As always . . .

Recipe:
Papers:  White cs, Hunter green cs, Various Scraps of Designer Paper, Gold Foil Paper
Dies:  Tutti Designs 'Nesting Stitched Rectangles', Sue Wilson Finishing Touches 'Queen Anne's Lace'
Stamp/Ink:  Hampton Art / Versafine Onyx
Accessories:  Nuvo purple crystal drops, dimensional tape

The Well Groomed Man (of yesteryear!)

Happy Sunday All!

For the next three Sundays I will be sharing 'Masculine' cards here on my blog

as my design team creation for the Tutti Designs Blog

Today I'm using two of the new dies from the  

Tutti Designs May Release of masculine themed dies.

 Fancy Top Hat

and

Fancy Shoes

Needless to say, this attire would really stand out in a crowd today but in years gone by every man of quality owned a top hat and fancy shoes!  My how times have changed!  LOL

Anyways ... here's a few tips on how I created today's card.

I wanted to create a 'backing' for my dies to make them really POP so I simply die cut from black linen card stock then attached to a scrap piece of white card stock and did some fussy cutting.  I was surprised at the difference it actually made and it was exactly what I was looking for.  Although, I must admit, now I wish I had put a 'hatband' on the hat ... oh well ... next time!

A few scraps of vintage design paper and this perfect panel from an older Graphic45 paper pad set the tone for what I was wanting to achieve with my dies!

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:

Shopping Our Stash - Dude

Unicorn Challenge - For The Guys (m)

Simon Says Wednesday challenge - Masculine

Allsorts Challenge - Use at least 2 dies

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!
As always . . .

Graduation Time of Year!

Happy Weekend Friends!

As you are all aware, it is GRADUATION time of year

and I have THREE graduation parties to attend this year ... 2 for neighborhood kids

and one for a family member.  The first party is this tomorrow so 

I finally got this card made yesterday and thought I'd quickly share it with you.

(The others are started but really need to make the time to get them finished!   Next party is on the 17th, YIKES!  LOL)

This years grads are all masculine in gender so I'm trying not to get 'too carried away'!

The background paper is from a 6x6 the Paper Studio paper pack

called Harper's Boutique.  The dies I've used are Impression Obsession 'Grads Tossing'

and Tutti Designs 'Nesting Stitched Tags'.

The sentiment comes from an OLD Flourishes, LLC stamp set

and Michael's Gold Satin and Black organza ribbons were used to accent.

Oh yea ... all a few dots of Gold Stickles as a finishing touch.

Challenges to share in:

Kitty Bee Designs Challenge #96 - Congratulations

Craftaholics R Us June Challenge - Graduation
Jo's Scrap Shack Challenge - ATG

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Going to be a VERY HOT weekend here in Ohio ... 90s!

Ugh ... too hot for me ... but hey, maybe I'll stay inside and get some

cards made after all!  LOL

As always . . .

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 hostess is our very talented Diane and her chosen theme is:

Pamper Your Pets

Well, being raised on a small farm, my pets were a bit shall I say, out of the ordinary

as you see by my card below ... LOL!

Not your typical pets ... right!  LOL
But it was always fun around the farm and oh yes, we each had our favorites!!

The first thing I needed to do for today's card was created a 'backdrop' for my PETS.  To do this, I used ink, sponges and a few Stampscapes stamps (all product listed below).  Next came my adorable pets!  Elizabeth Craft has an array of animal dies and these are three that brought me joy 'down on the farm' (links listed below).

I hope you've enjoyed my card today and are inspired to come join in our challenge.
For more awesome inspiration be sure to pop over and see what my team mates have created ... OMG, so much talent on this team!!

Challenges to share in:
2 Crafty Critter Crazies Challenge #3 - ATG w/critter
Crafty Animals Challenge #3 - ATG w/animals
Happy Little Stamper Challenge - ATG with Dies

 Scrap N' May Challenge - Create your own background
 Sparkles Monthly Challenge #92 - Four or More Legs
 Through the Purple Haze Challenge #126 - Animals
Crop Stop May Challenge - ATG with store carried product
Scrapy Land Challenge #67 - ATG with store carried product

Hope to see you there!

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

Recipe:

Papers:  White cs, Black cs, Pink cs, Ivory cs, Brown cs, Med blue cs, Red cs

Ink:  Tim Holtz distress inks: Broken China, Spun Sugar, Amber, Peeled Paint  ... Memento Bamboo Leaves, Versafine Onyx, 

Stamps:  Stampscapes 'Sedge Filler #251C', 'Fence #289D', 'Reeds Lg. #068D', Magenta Birds

Dies:  Elizabeth Craft:   'Brownie the Cow' #1022,  'Buster the Dog' #984, 'Virgil the Pig' #1024, Impression Obsession 'Split Tree' #DIE454

Accessories:  Bakers Twine, large sponge daubers

Fun with a Crafting Buddy!

Hello Dear Friends!

WOW!  What a fun whirl-wind week I have had!

As a lot of you know, my crafting friend Bette from Illinois came to Ohio to visit me for a few days and I'll tell you, we packed in a lot of shopping, eating, crafting and technique sharing in those couple of days! 

Today I'm meeting a few of my 1st cousins for lunch an hour & a half away from here but before I need to get on the road I wanted to show at least one project Bette shared that I really enjoyed!
Update:  Here's the group I met with today ... FIVE are 1st cousins and 2 are friends.

Bette knows I make a TON of tissue box covers that I sell at the few shows I do each year (one of my best sellers) and she thought this would be a good idea for the guys!  They use tissues too ya know ... lol ... but don't like those 'flowery - girly' boxes sitting on their desk or work space!

What do you think of this?  

Cool huh!!!

The decorative panels were created using bronze shiny paper, Tim Holtz Adirondack alcohol inks and a Darice Gears embossing folder!  Even though I have had alcohol inks in my stash for years, I haven't used them in quite awhile so it was nice to blow the dust off them and get dirty!  The bronze shiny paper I had on hand is from Hollo's Paper Company and is already cut to 4x6 size.  Which was fine for the side panels because they are 4 x 4 1/4 but the lid which I usually cut to 4 1/2 square had to be 4" square which left more room around the outside edge than I like so I simply decorated it a bit with bronze Stickles.

The colors Bette sponged onto the bronze paper was Butterscotch, Cranberry and a touch of Lettuce.  I really love the overall look!  She also brought along her Elizabeth Craft #962 Hardware Hinges that we die cut from the same bronze paper and placed on all corners ... what a great idea ... PERFECT finishing touch!

Thanks Bette for this fabulous idea ... I will be doing more like this for my Fall show.

Challenges to share in today:

Crafty Gals Corner Challenge #126 - Emboss It

CropStop May Challenge - ATG using product carried in their store (Elizabeth Craft)

Fab 'n' Funky Challenge #354 - Marvelous Men

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Make it Masculine

Shopping Our Stash Challenge #306 - Dude (Masculine)

Dream Valley Challenge #157 - More than one fold

Pile It On Challenge #131 - Fancy Folds

Open Minded May Challenge - Masculine
Elizabeth Craft Design Team June Challenge  - Anything but a Card
Love To Craft June Challenge - ATG

Other things Bette & I did . . .

FOOD:

• Introduced Bette to Mediterranean food (hummus, grape leaves, chicken schwarma)  ... she loved it!!
• Enjoyed homemade tuna salad on muffins out on the deck for lunch (made with my homemade piccalilli)
• Strawberry Shortcake for dessert (not once but TWICE ... yummmm)

SHOPPING:

• Hollo's Paper Company, Brunswich, Ohio  (her car was LOADED with paper product! ... excellent prices)
• Hobby Lobby, Pat Catan's, Michael's, JoAnns

CRAFTING:

• LOTS OF DIE CUTTING & EMBOSSING!
• Alcohol inks
• Tim Holtz new Oxide inks
• Nuvo Crystal Drops
• Shaker Cards
• Tissue Box Covers

I am so blessed to have so many crafting friend far and near to share my hobby with!  It's always a fun experience learning from each other and sharing!  Okay I've kept you long enough this morning ... time to get a couple things done before headed out for lunch!  

Thanks for stopping by!

As always . . .