Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Cute as a Bug

Isn't she just cute as a bug? She is Itty Bitty Betty in her Ladybug Costume .She is a brand new digi stamp from Pink Cat Studio. I think she is adorable! I made the little ladybug with my Creative Memories circle cutter and a small hole punch.
Materials: Archiver's and Coredinations CS, Paper Patch and DCWV DP, Studio 18 rhinestones, pop dots, and Hobby Lobby ribbon. Sentiment is my own. Cuttlebug "Swirls"  embossing folder

My card fits these challenges:
1. Mojo Monday- sketch
2. Cupcake Craft-"Cute as a Bug"
3. Paper Play- "Spot This"
4. Paper Make Up- color recipe: olive, ruby, chocolate
5. Secret Crafter- "Animal Antics"
6. ABC- embossing

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Gingerbread House Party IV

(Double click any pictures for a closer view.)
My gingerbread house is finished! I feel like an architect! The centerpiece was the project for this week's Cuttlebug Birthday Palooza celebration. I went in search of a house, and I found one at Hobby Lobby. It was  brown papier mache, and when I saw it, I had a vision! LOL! I decided to make a quilt pattern to match the mini-book that I made last week.

 
 
 

I paper pieced and embossed each triangle, window and roof section of the entire house and cut a whole in the back so I could add lights to the inside. The above picture shows a closeup of what the house looks like when it is lit.

I found some papier mache gingerbread ornaments, so I decorated them to match the invitation that I made the first week. Does the table runner look familiar? It is the mini-book opened up! After the party, just add pictures, and it becomes a scrapbook.
I wanted something special for a table setting, and I got the idea to place a gingerbread boy (that also matches the invitation) inside of a red circle, and then place that on top of a gold charger. Then I placed a clear plate on top of that. Now I have an inexpensive table setting that matches all
of my decorations.

Next I made a napkin ring with a small gingerbread man and then added mini cookie cutter ornaments from "Dress It Up."


I found some clear glass ornaments at Hobby Lobby, and I thought they would make cute favors. I again used the same gingerbread man stamp, layered two together, cut, colored, and embossed them. Then I attached them to the ornament with Mod Podge. I filled the ornament with MS glitter, added berries, embossed leaves and ribbon. Because the gingerbread man is layered, you can see his image on both sides of the ornament.


When you decorate a gingerbread house, you always need extra candy. I found some glass jars, decorated them and filled them with candy.


To get the full effect, I wanted to show everything that was made for the party. Grouped together are the invitation, gift box, card, and mini book, along with the decorated candy jars.
 

I couldn't resist making some gingerbread cookies to add to the tablescape.My house now smells like Christmas! The pointsettias that I used for a backdrop were packed with cinnamon pinecones, and the house is filled with the aroma of fresh baked gingerbread! I also broke my record of most pictures in a post, but I wanted to show all the details in my project.

Sneak Peek!

Yes, I'm still here! I have been very busy working on my centerpiece for the Cuttlebug Birthday Palooza celebration. I still need to add some finishing touches and pose my little "Darlings" for their photo shoot. With luck and good lighting I should have them posted by early evening. Please stop by later and check them out.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Secret Lives


This is little Michu and his friend from Soft Pencil. They are digi stamps. I colored Michu as a calico cat. Doesn't his little friend look festive? She is all dressed up for a night on the town, or is she?

When you open the card you can see what she is really up to! Obviously, Michu is magical because he can change colors! I used the sketch from Caardvarks Sketch Saturday. I cut a hole in the front of the card revealingpart of the image inside. I framed the circle with a Nestie cutout. The strip across the front helps to hide their "secret lives."


Here is a side view of the card partially open. I used pop dots to add dimension to my little Calico. This card also fits Crafty Creations-window, and Creative Card Crew- decorate the inside of your card.
CS is Bazzill and Coredinations. DP is DCWV and The Paper Studio, Rhinestones are Studio g, and ribbon is Hobby Lobby. Sentiment is an Archiver's exclusive stamp.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Paper Roses


This is my first attempt at making paper roses. I used my Cricut to cut the flowers. Then I ink distressed them front and back, curled the edges, and stacked them on top of each other. I added Hero Arts pearls to the centers.
The sketch is from Caardvarks Sketchfest Friday. DP is DCWV, Indian Summer Stack." I embossed the bottom panel with a Dotted Swiss folder in my Cuttlebug. Ribbon is from Hobby Lobby, and sentiment is Studio g. This card also fits Cute Daisy May- texture and Cupcake Craft- distressing.

Witch Way?

"Stamps and Smiles, "The Fresh Batch" has the cutest sketch this week! As soon as I saw it I got the idea for this medallion. I just bought this new digi image, "Little Witch" from Soft Pencil, and I was just waiting for the perfect sketch to use it on. I used a MS Spider Web corner punch around the edges of the circles. CS is Bazzill and ribbon is Hobby Lobby.
Sunflowers and Dragons is also asking for shaped projects this week.
C.R.A.F.T. 's challenge is no "backing paper" (DP)

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Home is....

Here is my card for Caardvarks Sketchfest Thursday. I wanted a Vintage look, so I stitched the top layer and tore and distressed the edges. I stamped a sentiment on some vellum paper and then ran it through my Cuttlebug in the Swirl embossing folder. Then I attached it to DP.

I cut butterflies with a MS punch and sprayed them with Tattered Angels Pearl Glimmer Mist. Then Hero Arts rhinestones were added to the centers.
DP is DCWV and My Mind's Eye. Sentiment is Studio g from the dollar bin at Michael's. This card also fits Cute Daisy May- texture and Cupcake Craft-distressing, and Creative Card Crew- decorate the inside.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

This card is for Caardvark's Wednesday Sketchfest. Image is a digi from Shirley's 2 girls. DP is Basic Grey's "Lemonade." I embossed one panel with a Swirls folder and then highlighted the swirls by inking over them. Flowers are "Got Flowers?," and rhinestones are Studio 18. Ribbon is from Hobby Lobby.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Come Fly With Me



"Come fly with me!" the little witch said.
"Um, let me check my insurance first, and maybe I'll
check yours too."
Trivia question: Who sang the song? The answer will
be at the bottom of this post.
Pink Cat has gone digital as of yesterday! I couldn't resist
and just had to order this cute little stamp! It is "Itty
Bitty Betty Broom Ride." I colored the image with
watercolor pencils and then used pop dots for dimension.
The sketch is from Stamps and Smiles, "The Fresh Batch."
This challenge also fits the Scrappy Frog Challenge to use
a frog. CS is Bazzill. DP is Basic Grey "Haunted Forest."
Love, love, love that paper! I used a MS Spider Web Punch
and a circle punch to make the medallion. The button is from
Masterpiece Studios, and ribbon is Hobby Lobby. The
sentiment is my own.
Trivia answer: The singer's name is Frank Sinatra.

Pick Me! Pick Me!

My pumpkins each want to be picked! I want to be picked too! Caardvarks is having a Sketchfest to choose a new DT member! This card is for Sketchfest Tuesday. The Jack-O-Lantern stamp is by Northwoods Rubber Stamp Co. I embossed the image with Zing and then painted it with Pumpkin Smooch. Then I shaded it with watercolor pencils. Ribbon is Hobby Lobby and rhinestones are Kaiser Craft. CS is Bazzill, and DP is The Paper Studio. I also used a Nesties and a Creative Memories Circle cutter. This card also fits the Macabre Monday Challenge at Haunted Design House, "Perplexing Pigment Play."

Gingerbread House III

The Cuttlebug Challenge this week was to create a mini-book to go with your chosen party theme. My theme is a Gingerbread House Party. All I have to do is take my photos, and they are ready to be cropped and placed in my explosion book. I made the front of the book to match the gift box that I made last week. The deets are the same. When you open the book up, it looks like this. All of the paper is from Hobby Lobby, and it was embossed using Provo Craft Dotted Swiss folder or the Swirl folder. Here is a closeup of the left side. You can see the embossing a little more clearly in this photo. Ribbons are from Hobby Lobby. Here is a closer view of the middle and right side. There are many wonderful party ideas on the Cuttlebug site. Go check it out and start planning your next get-together!

Monday, September 21, 2009

Haunted Forest

Feeling brave? Only the brave dare to enter the Haunted Forest! Mwahahahaha! I fell in love with both of these DPs as soon as I saw them! The orange is "Halloween Whimsy" from K and Co., and the other is Basic Grey's "Haunted Forest." My stamp is Inkadinkado's "Gemstone Halloween." I stamped it on "Jewel Metallic Amethyst" from the Paper Co., and then embossed it with "Zing"embossing powder. Then I cut it out and matted it on orange CS. I used my new MS Spider Web punches to make the spiderweb "flower" and borders. I sprayed the flower with Tattered Angels Pearl Glimmer Mist. CS is Bazzill and ribbon is Hobby Lobby. Rhinestones are by Studio 18. I found them at Michael's in the dollar bin! The card is for these challenges: 1. Caardvarks Sketchfest Monday- sketch 2. Pile It On- punches 3. Paper MakeUp- Getting Punchy 4. Creative Belli- Fall Or Halloween 5. Basic Grey- heat embossing

Pumpkin for Sale

Who wouldn't buy a pumpkin from sweet little Emma? She is a digi image from CC Designs. She was colored with watercolor pencils. CS is Bazzill. DP is DCWV "Indian Summer Stack." I ruffled organza ribbon before attaching it. Flowers are "Got Flowers?" Rhinestones are Kaiser Craft.
This card is for:
1. Sketch Saturday- sketch
2. My Time to Create Color Challenge- Inspiration photo
3. Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge- "One for the Girls"
4. Stamp Something- favorite paper (mine is DCWV)
5. Forever Friends- fancy folds

What's for Dinner?

Isn't this little frog the cutest? He is a digi image from Doodle Palace. I colored him with watercolor pencils and popped him up with pop dots. The sketch is from Caardvarks. I turned it sideways. Then I cut additional cattails and added them to the side and bottom of the oval frame.I embossed Bazzill CS in my Cuttlebug. DP is DCWV "Indian Summer Stack." Ribbon is Hobby Lobby and pearls are Glitter Dome by Mark Richards. This card is for two challenges: 1. Caardvarks Sketchfest Sunday -sketch 2. Scrappy Frogs- something with a frog

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Pink and Yellow Basket

I made this basket and matching card to go with a birthday gift. I used Lauren Meader's template, "Pretty Petal Pocket." DP is DCWV and CS is The Paper Studio. Flowers are Spare parts, buttons are Archiver's, and ribbon is Hobby Lobby. This project fits Scrappy Frogs Challenge: Anything 3 D.

Flip Flop Girls 4 Ever!

The Filp Flop Girls met last night to celebrate September Birthdays! Donna, "Chef Extraordinaire", baked the birthday cakes. Dinner was potluck. A wonderful time was had by all! We laughed and laughed! I am so lucky to have a such a great group of friends!

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Black, White, and Pink

Wow! I found three challenges that asked for black and white plus another color! I chose pink. The image is CC Designs, and I colored it with watercolor pencils. I used Bazzill black and watermelon CS. DP is Making Memories and The Paper Company. I used Nesties to cut frames for my image which I embossed and punched around the edges. Ribbon is from Hobby Lobby, of course. The card was submitted for these challenges:
1. Crazy 4 Challenges- sketch
2. Pile It On- black, white, and (pink)
3. Pollycraft- black, white and (pink)
4. Forever Friends- black, white, and (pink)

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Boo!

I really like cute Halloween images! The "Boo" is Dustin Pike. The little vampire is CC Designs, and the mummy was in the dollar bin at Michael's. I colored all of the images with watercolor pencils and then gave them dimension with pop dots. I embossed Hobby Lobby CS with a Fiskar's spiderweb folder DP is DCWV "Indian Summer" stack. It originally had little red flowers, but I colored them purple with a gel pen. The sentiment is my own and ribbon is Hobby Lobby. The sketch is Stamps and Smiles "The Fresh Batch." I turned it upside-down. It also fits Creative Belli- Fall or Halloween and Stamp Something- favorite embellishment,(ribbon). Tuesday Morning Sketches- ribbon.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Gingerbread House Party II

The Cuttlebug Challenge this week is to create a box or bag and a
card to go with your chosen party theme. I was waiting for this
template to become available. It was finally released at midnight,
and I knew it would make a perfect gingerbread house. I feel lucky
to have finished this project as everyone in the house is sick right
now, including me. But projects are waiting, so I must carry on! The
box is Lauren Meader's Timeless Template "On the House." I actually
made two and glued them together to make a house.

I then covered the house with DP and made CS shingles using a
Fiskar's Threading Water punch. I used a Cropadile to punch holes
in the roof handle and threaded grosgrain ribbon through the holes.
I made a CS fence using a MS Picket Fence punch. I embossed CS
using the Cuttlebug Dotted Swiss folder.
I stamped the Gingerbread people and colored them with gel pens. Then I embossed CS using the Cuttlebug Forest Branches, stamped trees, and colored them with gel pens too. I cut windows using Creative Memories punches. I added a wreath that was purchased at Big Lots to the door. I used the same papers to make a coordinating gift card. Pop dots were used to add dimension to the gingerbread people and trees.
This project also fits "Scrappy Frogs", anything in 3D Challenge.
Gingerbread stamp is Imaginese. DP is Paper Pizazz "Red Holly." CS, tree stamp, and ribbon are Hobby Lobby.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Just for You

Sometimes you need a card "just because" and I think this one would work. I used DCWV "Indian Summer Stack" DP. I am in LOVE with it! Blue is actually my favorite color, but I find myself using a lot of pink on my cards. This DP has a Fall look, and I really like the combination of apple green and chocolate with the blue. The sketch is from Sketch Saturday, and it is for their DT call. I used a Swiss Pixie stamp from CC Designs, Little Leisel. I colored her with watercolor pencils and filled her little wheelbarrow with flowers and leaves that I cut out of DP. I also used the same DP to cut a little branch of flowers that I added to the top left corner of the card. My borders were cut with MS punches: Picket Fence and Checkerboard. The sentiment is from Fiskar's Cameo Ovations. CS and ribbon are Hobby
Lobby, and rhinestones are Queen and Co. This card also fits these challenges:
1. Creative Card Crew- Have a Fairy Nice Day
2. ABC- Die cuts or punches
3. All That Scraps- Watercolors
4. Stamp Something- Favorite embellishment (ribbon)

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Frog or Prince?

This is Enchanted Lily from Pink Cat Studio. The frog is also a Pink Cat stamp. He was originally sitting on top of Billy's head, but I removed him. OK, I have a question for you. Is Lily turning the frog into a prince, or did she just turn the prince into a frog? Either way, she seems happy with the result! lol! This card uses the sketch at Stamps and Smiles, "The Fresh Batch." CS and DP are DCWV. I embossed the lower portion with a Fiskar's folder and my Cuttlebug. I colored the stamps with watercolor pencils, markers, and gel pens. I cut stars from Archiver's glitter CS using a Creative Memories punch. I added pop dots to the stamps and stars. Organza ribbon is from Hobby Lobby. This project also fits: 2. Stamp Something- Favorite stamp and punches (I LOVE Pink Cat! See my blinkies!) 3. ABC- D is for diecuts 4. Crafty Creations- embossing 5. Cute Daisy May- Pink + your choice 6. Creative Card Crew- "Have a Fairy Nice Day" 7. All That Scraps- watercolors

Gingerbread House Party

I have another party coming up in December, so I thought I would try to do two party entries for the Cuttlebug Challenge. This will be the third year I have hosted a Gingerbread House Party. I have a group of friends, "The Flip Flop Girls" and we meet at my house and decorate gingerbread houses in early December. It is a lot of fun! One of the "girls" has a December birthday, so we also celebrate her special day. I thought I would make a gingerbread "cookie" for the invitation. I found a chipboard shape book in the $1 bin at Michael's. I took it apart, traced around the shape on CS and ran it through my Cuttlebug using the Swiss Dots folder. I then glued the CS to the chipboard. I cut "icing" out of cardstock, and added rhinestones and a bow. CS and ribbon are Hobby Lobby. Chipboard and rhinestones are Michael's.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

A Pirate Birthday Party

This card is an invitation for the Cuttlebug Challenge. The challenge this week is to decide on a theme and invite the guests to the party. My grandson has a birthday coming up in November, and I thought a pirate themed birthday would be cute. I used Archiver's CS for the base. I embossed DCWV "Safari Chic" paper with a "Birthday" Provo Craft folder. Then I rubbed over the embossing with brown ink. I used Pink Cat's Billy stamp for the pirate. He was colored with watercolor pencils, markers, gel pens, and Coal Shimmerz paint. I cut him out and glued him to the front of the card. This card also fits: 2. Sunflowers and Dragons-shaped card

Happy Birthday, Joe!

This card is for my brother, Joe. His birthday is today. When he was a teenager he bought a Corvette and worked hard to restore it. I found this digi image at Doodle Palace and bought it with Joe in mind. I colored the image with markers and shaded it with watercolor pencils. CS is Archiver's. Blue DP is Frances Meyer. Red DP is The Paper Patch. I cut stars with a Creative Memories punch. I popped the car and paper star up with dimensional dots. The red and blue star buttons are from Archiver's.The sentiment is my own, typed on my computer. It refers to the car and also to my brother! The card fits these challenges: 1. Pile It On- Birthday 2. All Sorts- Something for the Boys 3. Mojo Monday- Sketch 4. Our Creative Corner- Stars and Stripes 5. Cupcake Craft Challenge- Red, White, and Blue

Monday, September 7, 2009

Help! I'm Trapped in a Gumball Machine!

I already made one card for the My Grafico Challenge, but I got this idea and I just had to make another! I used the same digi gumball machine stamp from My Grafico. Jeanette Waters designed this image. You can check out her blog: h2O Creations. I paper pieced the stamp and shaded it with watercolor pencils. I embossed CS with a Fiskars spider web plate that I ran through my Cuttlebug. A MS Checkerboard punch was used for the borders. DP is from The Paper Studio. I punched out the circles with a Creative Memories circle punch. I thought the cute little characters looked like gumballs, so I popped them up with pop dots and placed them in the gumball machine. The sentiment is by me. I typed, printed, cut it out, and then popped it up. The ribbon is from Hobby Lobby.

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Moos Flash!

Ever heard of a moo? No, it has nothing to do with a cow! Lol! It is a small card that is 2.7 cm x 7cm. Don't feel bad; I just recently heard about them. I made two for the challenge at Something Completely Different. I was inspired by the beautiful samples on the blog. The colors for the challenge are gold and black. I searched on the web and found some vintage downloads here. I chose two. First I changed the color to a golden sepia. Then I stamped over the images in black ink with a"Birds and Flower Burst" stamp from Dimensions Crafts. I matted the images with Bazzill CS. I inked over a piece of floral ribbon with gold ink and added a yellow rhinestone from Studio 18 to one, and black rhinestones from Hero Arts to the other. In keeping with the vintage look, I photographed the two against a crocheted doily that I found at an antique shop. I think they look quite elegant, and they were quick and easy to make.