CUTplorations December

image source: Print and Pattern

There's a new bear in town! Meet our inspiration photo for the December CUTplorations challenge. I did make a card with a bear which you'll see shortly, but today I'm sharing another use-up-some-of-that-PP-stash kinda card.

Easy peasy. Found some old October Afternoon PP with these ice skaters on it and thought Warm Winter Wishes phrase die in glossy red CS would look good smack dab in the midst of them. Added a few snowflakes for more interest and a strip of contrasting PP along the bottom!

Sure hope you'll find time to take a break at this busy time of year and join us for some die cutting fun! Any chance this winter will find you in ice skates?!?!?

I'm joining the Warm oder Kalt challenge over at Danipeuss. Got both on my card ;)

And at Dies R Us #62 where it's all about Christmas. This is going out as one of my Christmas cards this year. And at Simon Says Stamp Work it Wednesday for November - Use Dies.

christmas tags

Doubt that there is much traffic in blogland today, but I'm sharing a couple tags I finally got around to after being totally inspired by Tracey M.'s series 25 Tags of Christmas. Which is ending today. There is a Flickr group if you want an inspiration overload :)

There were multiple shaker tags. What a cool idea. Loved the idea of letting a pretty PP shine as the shaker backing. Used a PTI tag and Waltzingmouse sentiment. I'm joining the Anything Goes fun at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge.

On this one I was inspired by some tags which were heat embossed and watercolored with shimmery paints. I didn't achieve nearly the same shimmer, but oh well.  Thought the floating vellum circle with the embossed circular Penny Black sentiment worked well with the rest of the tag.

I did heat emboss a couple of the snowflakes (PTI) with holographic embossing powder which adds some interest and a bit more sparkle. And added a big ole sparkly Marianne Creatables snowflake. Can ya see it? (tee hee hee)

It's actually a tag card. Did some simple stamping of the images on the inside and softened them a bit with my water brush. I'm playing at Cards and More #120 Simply Blue and Inkspirational #70 No Red or Green and Time Out #19 Embossing with Sparkle.

This was the result of my post-perusing (Tracey's blog) crafting session. The ornament tag is blogged here. These were such fun to make and will adorn the bags of cookies we are making for neighbors this year. Yippie! More to come soon. Thanks for visiting.

14 to go (SSS, paper players, TCEC)

OK, so a bit ago I told Shirley B. that I loved this card of hers, especially that luscious panel in the back. Love the color combo red, pink and purple. It started when I was a kid using up the magenta crayon out of the Crayola box of 64 first. Continued to my choice of sweats in college. And then my bridesmaids' dresses - which were actually inspired by their earrings I saw while descending an escalator at Hudson's, but I digress. At which point Shirley said maybe I need to post a photo of those dresses. Ta daaa!

We're not done yet, folks. I decided to continue invitation production with those colors too. Heck some of the people invited to our party were actually at our wedding way back when! Maybe they remember those colors...

Well I was gonna go the Distress Ink route (think Barn Door/Ripe Persimmon mix, Pick(l)ed Raspberry and Seedless Preserves). But I got lazy. And used up some PP from my stash! And that is a really good thing.

Meet #1.

Eh. Took a couple detours. Die cut the sentiment from the front panel and backed it with purple. But notice the print on the panel is off-center. Bugged me. Rounded a corner. Bugged me even more. Added tabs to the corners (which I now only had three of since I'd punched one off!). Bugged. Added a few... drumroll please... epic-failure-DIY-enamel-dots-now-to-be-called-enamel-donuts. Eh. Added a few hearts from a die cut border and stopped. They're just invitations for Pete's sake!

Cuz it turned out so crazy, I'm parking at Simon Says Stamp Monday - Anything Goes.

Meet #2.

Needed some white space. Minimal, but there. With a scalloped border (remember those?) and some scattered, may I call them "twinkles" for lack of a better word. They were a byproduct of a different border I cut to play with. That was a happy surprise.

I loosely followed this sketch from Paper Players. In honor of their 200th challenge, the DT chose their favorite past challenge and you can choose one of the DT's faves. I chose Sandy's.

#3 needed to have some white space, but I opted to tone it down a bit by stamping with a great stamp, Konnichiwa Floral Blossoms by Hero Arts/Basic Gray. Then I layered on some PPs.

So, now nearly back to my comfort zone, #4 lets the stamp play a bigger role and I just packed a color punch with the die cut and some additional die cut circles.

Modeled (die cuts lower left, stamping upper right) on the lower left card from the graphic of a new challenge in town - The Cutting Edge. Gotta use die cuts. Um, yep.

Hope you're happy, Shirley. I am. 30 down and only 10 to go.

Supplies :

Paper:  cardbase The Paper Studio, PP Marianne Creatables

Stamps: Hero ARts

Ink : Adirondack

Tools: die Dieversions, scalloped die Amuse, heart die PTI, circle die MFT

Other: perler beads turned enamel donuts

tag a la sharon h. (Ellen Hutson, Color Q, Craft Room, Catered Crop)

If you love new techniques and have a bit of time you really should check out the 12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist over at Ellen Hutson's Classroom.  Ellen does a take on Tim Holtz's 12 Tags.  But there's lotsa pink!

My tag is inspired by Sharon H.'s tag on Day 1.  Hers is elegant and shiny and really girly.  Mine is... well mine.

I must thank this challenge for getting me to ink up my brayer (bought one awhile back - everyone has to have a brayer, right? - hadn't used it til now).  TIP:   Distress Inks are marvelous for lots of things.  Brayering is not one of them apparently.  Notice the spottiness to my BG.

I used the colors from Color Q #167:

Sorta.  Used DI Evergreen Bough cuz it's kinda green/gray for my BG.  Brayered it onto a Sizzix embossing plate and dry embossed the white CS.  See why I wouldn't recommend using DI for this???  Spritzed with copper Perfect Pearls mist to give it a little sheen.  Cut the top of the tag with a Spellbinders die for interest. TIP:  Don't do this if you plan to stitch around the edges.  Note the word "plan"...

Well the stitching happened cuz I decided to make this a gift-card-holder-tag (Ellen did this on her tag for Day 12 - Duh!  What a super idea!)  I had dry embossed a piece of red CS for the poinsettia petal strips and used the rest of it for interest on the front and a pocket on the back of the tag.

Got the idea for the poinsettia here at Basic Grey.  Obviously not mailable, but this is a tag.  It works.

Used two colors of green for the die cut snowflakes for the center of the bloom (and on the back pocket) and a cool brad too.  Mounted it on a die cut PTI green bloom for a bit more interest and "hold".  TIP:  Always have a bottle of Glossy Accents on hand.  It dries shiny (guess that's the point of "glossy" accents, eh?) but holds better than any other glue I know.

Whew, long post.  I'm joining the fun at:
Craft Room Challenge - Make a Tag
Catered Crop - Tag, You're It

Appreciate your visit.

Supplies for Merry Christmas:

Paper: CS TPC Studio, American Crafts

Stamps: sentiment 7 Gypsies

Ink : Distress Ink, Jenny Bowlin

Tools: brayer, dies - snowflakes Marianne Creatables, border Amuse, tag top Spellbinders, sewing machine, embossing plate Sizzix

Other:  pearl, sheer ribbon, glue dots, brad 

tag a la Jennifer M. (Ellen Hutson, CUYL, SSS, SS)

Give me Peacock Feathers and Broken China Distress Ink and an ink applicator and I'm a happy camper. That's what first came to mind when I saw Simon Says Stamp's challenge to use one of your Favorite Things (tool, product, stamp).  Add a couple of challenges to the mix and I'm a really happy camper.

On Day 4 Jennifer M. created a work of art over at Ellen Hutson's Classroom for the Feminine Twist on 12 Tags.  You should check out those mirrored pieces she used - now there's one thing I don't have in my stash.  I had to go with what I have.

So I took inspiration from Challenge Up Your Life's #84 colors

and Stamping Sensations "Treemendous" challenge and this is what I came up with.

You'll probably never see a reed bird perched on an evergreen bough anywhere but here!  Or lilac snowflakes!  But I've got the distress inked BG under a StazOn stamped piece of acetate (cool effect BTW, Jennifer), a bird, a branch and snowflakes.  Even used a "Joy" sentiment.  And if you look closely you might catch the Stickles on the flakes and birdie's head and the glitter CS for the bough.

And purple, lilac, teal and light blue?  Check.

And a tree?  How 'bout a branch - will that do?

Happy Friday, friends.

Supplies for JOY:

Paper: CS Neenah, glitter CS DCWV, recycled acetate, purple CS Papermania

Stamps: dots BG CHF, text (on bird and fllakes) 7 Gypsies, sentiment Hero Arts

Ink : Distress Inks, Versacolor, StazOn

Tools: dies - bough Marianne Creatables, bird Memory Box, snowflakes Sizzix

Other: pearls, ribbon

crazy weekend part 2 (Caring Hearts, JayGees)

At least (except for the modern maruschkas) when I, procrastinator, was cardmaking like a maniac,  I had the sense to make two of each - one for my neighbor and one for Vera Y.'s card drive.

Here are three models using the same design... card front covered with a piece of Doodlebug PP, pierced around the edges with my Cutter Bee piercer and embellished lightly!

Love this PP with the foil holly berries.  Embellished with washi tape and die cuts.

And this embossed PP embellished with felt and buttons.

With felt and die cuts.

Want to give a shout out to Judith at Jay Gee's Nookhttp://jgsnook.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/jay-gees-nook-challenge-25.html.  Won a Hero Arts stamp set in her challenge and used it for the sentiment on card #2.  And I got some inspiration from the current challenge board:

 And the sentiment on card #1 was from a Penny Black prize pack I won from Simon Says Stamp.  Thanks for looking.

Supplies for peace and joy:

Paper: cardbase Buttinette, PP Doodlebug

Stamps:   sentiment Penny Black

Ink : Versafine

Tools: ornaments die MFT,  branch die Marianne Creatables, punch Martha Stewart

Other: washi Rayher

Supplies for merry Christmas:

Paper:   cardbase Buttinette, PP Doodlebug

Stamps: sentiment Hero Arts

Ink :  Distress Ink, Versafine

Tools: label Spellbinders, ric rac Cottage Cutz

Other:  buttons and felt Sew Sweet

Supplies for frohes fest:

Paper: cardbase Buttinette, PP Doodlebug, glitter CS DCWV

Stamps: sentiment Inkystamp

Ink :Versamark

Tools: branch die Marianne Creatables, ric rac Cottage Cutz

Other: embossing powder, felt Sew Sweet

so torn plum chaos (CFC, PDCC)

This one flowed.  Like Welch's grape juice.  Mixed with raspberry Kool-Aid.

Must admit I've been a bit stumped by the jeweled tone color choices over at The Play Date Cafe lately.  But put together with the CASual Fridays "so torn" challenge and this washi tape card by Christine, not to mention this PP pack which basically made my life easy (don't ya love it when that happens?), I was able to put my own twist on the jeweled tones.  Elegant, nay.  But me.

Thanks for looking.

Supplies for hb2u:

Paper: cardbase Papermania, PP Marianne Creatables

Stamps: BG CHF

Ink :Versamagic

Tools: die Memory Box

Other: sticker

you are special (PDCC, CFC)

When, to my chagrin I realized that I was too late for the last Play Date Cafe challenge, I was at least thrilled to see a new color combo that really spoke to me.  Look at this beauty.

This definitely has feminine elements, but it's not too girly for me.  What did I pick up on (easier to ask what not!)?  Feathers, textures, stormy gray, twine, flowers, tiny gray polka dots.  Oh yeah.  Meet "you are special".

Began by grabbing a tag (used to be a Basic Grey stamp package ), one of the chipboard pieces I've been creating (less to have to put away).  It's painted white, dry embossed with woodgrain and stamped with zebra print.  Added a looped flower made out of DD old jeans.  And a feather (thank you birds nesting under our eaves).  And some buttons (one of felt for more texture) and twine.  And a "you" cut from cereal box and colored with Jenny Bowlin inkpad.  And a heart border, cut, embossed and painted.  And a scrunchy ribbon in pale peach. And a gray card base that I stamped with tiny polka dots with "r special" on the inside.  Oh, and the specks of dust on the card (thank you bright sunshine) are extra just for you!

Also entering the CASual Friday embossing challenge.

Hope you likey.  Be warned...  I've another idea brewing...

Supplies you are special:

Paper: CS Ursus, recycled chipboard

Stamps: Rubbernecker

Ink: Distress Ink, Jenny Bowlin

Tools:  embossing folder Craft Concepts, "you" die Sizzix,  border die PTI, button die Marianne Creatables

Other:  buttons, twine, seam binding, jeans, feather

have another wine... label

Made an anniversary card for my neighbor's parents who are celebrating 50 years. Always so happy when that happens. 50 years, I mean. My folks are already at 62. WOW! Anyhoo,

All I knew was I wanted to use a wine label.  Found this card, loved the quartrefoil and woodgrain and went from there.  I stamped "Happy 50" inside with the 50 gold embossed.

Young Crafters Unite challenges you to use layers.  I've got eight.

1. cardbase

2. PP

3. mat

4. wine label

5. embossing

6. shimmery gold strip

7. medallion

8. heart

And because I originally thought about using a folklorica die cut on the lower half, I had some leftover pieces so I put two more cards together.

Used another gold embossed wine label here, with a strip of merlot underneath it and a strip of shimmery gold for the sentiment.  Fun thing about the die cuts (I used to think "Who needs dies?  I can cut everything out by hand."  Ha.) if you cut the same image from different colors, you can mix and match.  Thus the touches of red in the black image came from the image I die cut from red.  This card uses the red negative.  So efficient, eh?

Thanks for visiting!  Chances are I'm sipping on a glass of riesling as you read this...

Supplies 50th:

Paper:cardbase Buttinette, PP Ursus, CS Coredinations

Stamps: Clear and Simple Stamps

Ink: Versamark

Tools: die Sizzix, heart punch Make Me, butterfly punch Martha Stewart

Other: embossing powder

 

Supplies Happy Anniversary:

Paper:cardbase Buttinette, PP Ursus, CS Coredinations

Stamps: Clear and Simple Stamps, sentiment Hero Arts

Ink: Versamark, Versafine

Tools: die Marianne Creatables, corner rounder EKS

Other:

 

Supplies  happy birthday!:

Paper:cardbase Buttinette, PP Ursus, CS DCWV

Stamps: TPC Studio

Ink:  Versafine

Tools: die Marianne Creatables, circle punch EKS

Other: bling, twine

Bob Evans down on the farm

If you're not from the Midwest you're probably wondering about the post title.  If you're from the Midwest you've probably got the jingle going through your head now :)

Saw the down home colors over at The Play Date Cafe challenge #127 and knew I wanted to ink up my new Waltzingmouse stamps.  I finally own a rooster stamp, kikiriki.  (That's what roosters say in German!)  Check out the other gorgeous stamps in this set.

Stamped two roosters, masked them and stamped the chicken wire BG.  Stamped and fussy cut two more roosters.  Distress inked the edges and attached two roosters with foam dots.  Gave 'em some Stickles chicken feed a la Kelly S.

For the banner I glued button die cuts to the little banner shape die cuts.  What a fun way to hang them on the "laundry line" - have you ever seen a farm without laundry drying on the line? - by threading the twine through the button holes!  Finished with letter stickers on the banner and stamped the inside.

Have yourself some down-on-the-farm goodness today.

Supplies Hey:
Paper:  card Buttinette, PP KI Memories, recycled kraft
Stamps:  WMS, sentiment TPC
Ink:  Versamagic, Cat's Eye, Distress
Tools:  banner die Spellbinders, button die Marianne Creatables
Other: letter stickers KI Memories, twine, felt Sew Sweet, Stickles Ranger

eggstra for you

Here I go again nearly missing a challenge deadline, although I've been intending to play along.  Ugh.

Maybe it's a good thing I was tardy, because just today it dawned on me that my girlfriend's bday is actually on Easter Sunday.  I pulled this card together quickly last night to join the Play Date Cafe challenge.  Same thing happened today.  But I'm happy with the result - although not my photography.  The card is really white ;)

The inspiration photo was all about green and white to me. Not my normal colors. But it's so cute because of the pops of colors in the bunnies' ears.

 
I needed a bigger element for my image than the PS stamps I own.  Checked out the free digi stamps here and chose the feather figuring it would be good in white.  Was going to go with eggs along the bottom and the "eggstra" sentiment (love Kim H's humor) for the Easter bday idea to bring in the color from the bunnies' ears...

Enter my buttons.  I remembered that I now own a button die which I had never used.  Shame on me.  I think the buttons pop better than stamped eggs would.  Not sure what the feather has to do with buttons, but oh well.

Dry embossed the feather.  Layered it on some corrugated cardboard and added a strip of chartreuse too.  Opted for a white heat embossed sentiment rather than black.  Rounded a corner and voila.

Oh, notice how I fuzzed up the ends of my twine.  Like the bunnies' tails ;)

Am also hooking this up to Coredinations color challenge although it was March.  Gorgeous photo.



Happy day.

Supplies for you:

Paper: CS American Crafts, Coredinations, corregated cardboard stash
Stamps: digi feather and sentiment Paper Smooches

Ink: Versamark

Tools:  die Marianne Designs, embossing folder Cuttlebug, corner rounder EKS

Other: white twine, white embossing powder, foam dots

folklorica (crepe paper-the new fabric)

Time to play along with the Runway Inspired Challenge again.  This is the amazingly vibrant fall fashion for 2012.  Pure happiness if you ask me.




I immediately thought "matruschka".  Actually have Hero Arts stamps that would work for this theme, but then decided to go with the gathered trim on the front and cuffs.  Enter orange crepe paper.

More inspiration from the photo:
colors - red, pink, orange, and light blue of the letters
folklorica die cut
white scalloped circle like the clock
mod embossing folder like the cool mod necklace

Thanks much for looking!

 

 

Supplies :
Paper: CS Coredinations and American Crafts

Stamps: none - WOW

Ink: Distress Ink

Tools: circle scissor EKS, die Marianne, scalloped circle die Spellbinders, embossing folder Cart-Us

Other:  crepe paper, sewing machine