Saturday, September 30, 2017

OH MY GOODNESS ...

Happy Saturday Friends!

I'm off to help a neighbor at her church this morning but wanted to share a quick card that I made primarily for Darnell's NBUS Challenge.  


I've had this challenge on my todo list since she posted it 
(6 days ago!) and finally got around to creating something 
now that the time is half gone.  Geesh!  
Hope you like it.


Most everything used on this card
has never been used before!  That tells me
I have way too much 'schtuff' ... but I'm okay with that!  LOL

This sweet little one looks sad about something!
I'm assuming she's missed someone's birthday ... hence
the opportunity to use the 'My Sentiments Exactly! 
'Birthdays innies & outies' stamp set.

The background paper is from a set I bought a year or so ago
while out visiting BFF Diane (Nellie's Nest) and FINALLY
put it to use.  Also the Nuvo Navy Blue Crystal Drops
was an enablement of Diane lol!

I used the Sue Wilson 'Pierced Flags' for my sentiment
and since it was shorter than the stamped sentiment,
I simply die cut half way then turned it around and
die cut half way again ... giving me a longer flag.

Other challenges to share in:


Gotta go! 
Thanks for stopping by ... have a great weekend!
As always . . .

Friday, September 29, 2017

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 chosen by our very talented Jules is:
SHABBY CHIC
 Here is what I've come up with.  
Now, I must admit, I'm never really sure what is considered Shabby Chic so I went to Pinterest and did a search on the topic ... found some beautiful creations & ideas there and also found this sweet sentiment panel which I thought would tie in perfectly with the pieces I had already pulled together in hopes I was on the right path.  LOL

Another wonderful thing that came about while putting this card together was the fact that I could use some of the many bits & bobs that are laying around on my work tables.   i.e.  The corner die cut, the butterflies, and the Heartfelt flower petals that I've had for a couple of years now.  Just needed to add some ink to tie in with my design, do a little shaping and viola!


 Did you notice the embossing in the background?
I have had this beautiful Cuttlebug Anna Griffin EF called ROSA for quite awhile now and thought it looked like it would fit the theme so that was my starting point!  I hated to cover it up with the sentiment panel but I was afraid it was too 'bare' if I didn't use the sentiment.

Challenges to share in:
Seize the Birthday Challenge - ATG Birthday w/topping  (sorry no topping this time around)
 Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge #261 - ATG
 Day Dreamer Challenge #3 - ATG
Crafty Creations Challenge #351 - ATG
QKR Stampede Challenge #263 - Cut It Up or ATG
Simply Papercraft Challenge #51 - ATG
I do hope you will come join in our challenge fun!
See you there!

Thanks so much for stopping by and as always . . .
Recipe:
Papers:  White cs, Teal cs, Pink cs
Accessories:  Cuttlebug Anna Griffin ROSA embossing folder, Nuvo White & Yellow Crystal Drops, Joann's Decorative Pearl Trim, Tim Holtz distress inks, sponge daubers, Heartfelt Creations 'Flower Making Tool Kit'

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

HUGS

Hello Everyone!
It's time for a new challenge at The Sisterhood of Crafters!

Today Anna is our hostess and she's asked us to create 

ANYTHING USING DIES


Now this challenge theme is right up my alley!  
I must admit I have quite a die collection so the biggest challenge to me was 'where to begin'!  LOL

As I was in the process of creating this card I got word that a friend  was in need of cards for her sister who was loosing her battle with cancer.  So so sad ... but hopefully she will be showered with cards to let her know she is thought of and loved.


I had this watercolor panel (playing with my TH oxide inks again lol) so that is where my card began.  Since it was done in fallish colors, I chose a rusty pumpkin colored card stock for my backing panel.  The main die set I chose to use today is the Sue Wilson 'Australian Background' (CED8101)
Sue Wilson Designs - Australian Collection - Background Die

After die cutting the decorative die from my watercolor panel, I laid it atop my background panel and die cut again.  But, only poking out the decorative pieces on the sides.


The leaves were die cut from red card stock using the Elizabeth Craft 'Garden Notes Ivy Vine' (#1297).
Elizabeth Craft Designs - Dies - Ivy Vine

To soften the color I sponged a bit of Tim Holtz Oxide inks on the leaves then sprayed with water and dried with my heat tool.  The colors I used were Amber and Peeled Paint.


I felt that sending along HUGS was required for this special lady at this time so that was my choice of sentiment.  It's a Technique Tuesday die (DIY098).
 Technique Tuesday - DIY Dies - Say It - Hugs
I really like that it's a 2 piece die set so you can back your hugs sentiment in a coordinating color and make it pop.  A few touches of Copper Stickles and White Nuvo Crystal Drops were added for a touch of additional dimension and sparkle.

Challenges to share in:
Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #196 - Autumn
Make My Monday Challenge #55 - Autumn Colors
Ooh La La Challenge #238 - Harvest Time
The Paper Girls Challenge #136 - Harvest
 Come & Get It Challenge - ATG Fun

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!  You have until October 8th to join in the fun!!

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

Sunday, September 24, 2017

Celebrate the Fall Season . . .

Hello All!

Pumpkin season is upon us and today I'm sharing a card that celebrates the Fall Harvest!  There's nothing I love more this time of year then going to the Farmer's Market and seeing all the beautiful vegetables on display along with pumpkins, gourds, bales of hay and corn stalks!


I've used three dies for today's card.  
Two you can see right away but the other die I used to 'EMBOSS' my background panel.  Have you ever done that?  I've seen it done by others but never think to do it myself ... that is until today!!

 By using one of those tan spongy mats under your paper, you are able to EMBOSS with your dies vs cutting. 

Here I've used the new Tutti 'Vines' #395 to emboss my background panel.  Keep in mind, after you do your first emboss run through, if you run it through completely again for your second embossing ... your first one will be flattened.  So be careful to run it through just until it embosses that portion, then back it up so you don't run over parts that are already embossed.   (Ask me how I know ... lol)

Here's my finished panel.
Pretty cool!!

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I also had some fun with the Tutti Pumpkin Cart #397.

After die cutting from 110# white card stock, I carefully popped out the cut outs from the wagon but left the pieces in tact for the pumpkins.  

To keep them from falling out, I flipped it over and added narrow Scor Tape leaving the protective cover ON.  

The I colored my Pumpkin Cart using Spectrum Noir alcohol markers.

To take it one step further, I had a sheet of 'burlap' designer paper, from which I cut a small piece, outlined my wagon with a pencil then did a little fussy cutting to give my wagon some texture.


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I used a few scrap strips of paper to create my background accent panel then popped up my wagon using 3M dimensional tape.  Now all I need is a sentiment.  For that I selected the Tutti 'Celebrate' #243 from our December 2016 Release.  But die cutting it twice ... once in pumpkin & once in black ... I was able to achieve a 'shadow effect'.  So easy and so eye catching.

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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.

Challenges to share in:
Come and Get It Challenge - ATG
Pile it on Challenge #134 - No Patterned Paper

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!!

For your convenience, here are all the Tutti Designs quick links you will need:

 Thanks for stopping by!
As Always . . .

Saturday, September 23, 2017

It's SHOW TIME!

Happy Saturday All!

Whew!  What a whirlwind week it was!
For those who don't follow me on Facebook, I wanted to share a couple
photos from this past week's Country Club Show.


I've brought myself down to only doing 3 shows a year now.
This is my hobby and it was getting too close to being a business ... and being retired, I didn't want another business so I've cut myself back to a Spring & Fall private show at the local Country Club and a public craft show at the local High School in November.  That keeps me plenty busy I assure you!  LOL



Anyways, since I share with you some of the 'treats / projects' I have created for these shows, I thought you might like to see my 'set up'.  I always have requests for cards of course, but also the tea cups & tissue box covers that I make so those are a 'staple' ... but each show I try to create a few different little gift type things so here's this years offerings.


The Hershey Chocolate Boxes and the Notecard/Chocolate box sets SOLD OUT!!
I made both everyday patterns and Christmas patterns and both were a bit hit I'm happy to say!

Last show I sold out of the tea cups so I made twice as many this time around and only sold half of them!  You just never know what the ladies will be looking for!!

The Tea Bag Booklets (a booklet w/ one tea bag & a msg + envelope) were actually left over from the Spring show (basically the same group of ladies) and all but a couple sold!  Like I said . . . you just never know!  LOL

Well that's my share for today!
Time to get busy creating for the November 4th show!
You know how fast time can fly by!  LOL

Thanks for stopping by today and here's wishing you a FABULOUS weekend!!
As always . . .

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Sentiments or Quotes

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:

QUOTES OR SENTIMENTS

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


I've gone with a very simple design but I think
the sentiment speaks volumes!
And, it's one of my daughter's favorites!!



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!

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

Challenges to share in:
Word Art Wednesday Challenge #300-#301 - ATG
 Moving Along With The Times Challenge #54 - Sentiment as the Focal Point

Hope to see you there!
As always . . .
Recipe:
Papers:  White cs, Black cs, DCWV 'The Basics' dp, Recollections 'water' dp
Stamp:  Inkadinkado
Ink:  Versafine Onyx
Dies:  Lawn Fawn 'Large Cross Stitched Rectangles' (LF1178), Lawn Fawn 'Small Cross Stitched Rectangles' (LF1179)
Accessories:  3M dimensional tape, Platinum Stickles

Monday, September 18, 2017

It's A Girl!!

Happy Monday Everyone!!

I'm very close to being ready for my country club show on Wednesday so thought I'd take a few minutes and create something to share here on my blog this morning!

I recently purchased a set of We R Memory Keepers 6x6 embossing folders called 'Next Level' and the dimension achieved is awesome!  The set is called WAVE but the one looks like a quilted blanket so that's the one I chose to create with today.  


An online friend is expecting her FIRST grandchild in November and it's a girl (how exciting) ... so that was the direction I went with for this soft quilted looking background.

The color on this card is actually PINK but for some reason my camera doesn't see pink ... it sees more of a peachy color ... ugh!  I know it's a setting of some sort but I just don't have time to read that instruction manual right now so just know it is REALLY pink ... not peach!  It's actually Stampin' Up 'Pink Pirouette' card stock  (and the ribbon is bright pink ... not coral).    LOL

Here's a peek at the inside:


The chair, the bows and the ribbon strip were all 'left overs' from other projects (love using up 'scraps' like this),  I simply went through my book of Baby/Children dies and this is what I came up with.  Yes, I have a separate book just for Baby/Children dies ... also a book for Leaves, one for Flowers, one for Hearts/Wedding, one for Squares/Rectangles, one for Circles/Ovals ... etc. etc.  Some day maybe I'll share how I 'house' my dies and yes, I do have A LOT of dies!  What a Lucky girl I am!!!  

Challenges to share in:
International Art & Soul Challenge #17 -  Special Day (Birth of a Baby)
Let's Craft and Create Challenge #129 - ATG option Child's Play
Scribbles Design Challenge #57 - Embossing (Wet or Dry)

Well, that's it for me today.  I must get things wrapped up here and I actually think I might get out of my cave this afternoon and make a run to the local mall for a little ME shopping!

Thanks for stopping by and as always . . .



 
Recipe:
Papers:  White cs, SU Pink Pirouette cs
Stamp: Fiskars 'Precious Baby Quotes'
Accessories: Really Reasonable Ribbon Hot Pink satin ribbon, JoAnn's googlie eyes, 3M dimensional tape, Versafine Onyx ink, We R Memory Keepers Embossing Folder



Sunday, September 17, 2017

A Fall Birthday . . .

Happy Fall Ya'll

For my posting over on the Tutti Designs Blog today,  I'm  sharing a Fall birthday card I created for my niece using one of the beautiful Fall dies in the latest August release found in the Tutti Designs Store as well as the Happy Birthday dies from our December 2016 collection.


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We all love those quick & easy cards and this certainly falls into that category.  The most time spent was creating the background panel of fall colors which I made using Tim Holtz oxide distress inks.  Then I simply die cut the corner die twice and the sentiment dies with the remaining piece of the background panel.


I'm not one for a 'plain solid' background so I grabbed my Nuvo 'Copper Penny' crystal drops and added a bit of texture!  THERE ... that's better!  LOL

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:
Allsorts Challenge #433 - Feels like Autumn
Crafting with Dragonflies Challenge #89 - Special Occasion
Crafty Friends Challenge #66 - Dies and/or Punches
Hiding in my Craftroom Challenge #318 - It's Fall Ya'll
Scrap and Craft Inspiration Challenge #7 - Autumnal Colors

For your convenience, here are all the Tutti Designs quick links you will need:

 Thanks for stopping by!
As always . . .

Friday, September 15, 2017

Make a Wish . . .

Happy Friday Everyone!
And, what a beautiful Friday it is here in NE Ohio!
We are having new doors put on our home so I'm hiding in the cave today! 
 (photos coming soon)
I need to get back to making show projects but just wanted to take a break and create something for fun.  When I spotted THIS CARD while looking through my blog feed,  I knew immediately I wanted to create something similar that I could then add to my sale box of Birthday cards for next weeks show.  What do you think?


Really an easy & quick card but I think it packs a lot of ooohhs & aaawww's too!
Once again I got to play with my TH Oxide inks to create the background panel, but I really love how the Tutti Designs Layered Stitched Square dies made such a quick and pretty frame to show it off!

Clean & Simple design is NOT my forte but I'm trying!  LOL

Challenges I've found to share in are:

 The Crafter's Cafe Challenge #181 - Stitching (faux or real)
 

Thanks so much for stopping by today!
I hope you have a FABULOUS weekend ahead!
As always . . .



Recipe:
Papers:  White cs, the Paper Studio GLITTER 6x6 card stock
Dies:  Tutti Designs Nesting Stitched SquaresImpression Obsession 'Balloons', Penny Black 'Celebrations'
Inks: Tim Holtz Oxide Distress Inks Fired Brick, Spiced Marmalade, Amber
Accessories:  3M dimensional tape, TH spray bottle