Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Fabulous - A Gift Card Set

Hi ya everyone!
  Tiddly Inks is having a two week challenge - so I didn't make a Tiddly Card for Tuesday but be sure to check out some new images here and don't forget to check out the awesome challenge here

My mother-in-law wanted me to make her some oh so chic note cards.  I wanted them to match her personality which is fabulous and upbeat and so trendy!!  So, I knew Forever Young was the cartridge for me.  I asked her to pick out a woman image she liked. 

I looked through all the phrases and found Fabulous - which well is perfect for her! 

She also says fabulous almost every time you ask her how she is!!  I also used a large flower from Paisley.  I used my DCWV stack Black Currant which I just had to have after checking out a card by Nana Donna here and here

I will also make a gift box for this little set using Sheila's tutorial found here on She's A Sassy Lady.  Her Gypsy Made Simple Saturday's are amazing - if you haven't checked them out make sure to tune in on Saturdays because she does them for FREE!! I've learned a number of techniques and here I thought I was a Gypsy pro (he he).


 Anyhow, these are the typical A2 sized cards (4.25 x 5.5)  I cut the black background piece at 4x5.25 and then just layered all the cuts in an arrangement I liked.  Also, the Forever Young cart cuts just perfect.  You know how sometimes you get a bunch of jagged edges and pieces that just don't cut right - not with this cart!  I love it!!!  Thanks for looking and check back later and I'll try and show off the box I make!!
Enjoy!

Monday, November 29, 2010

Tiddly Inks Sale - You have to check this out!!

Hi ya everyone!
  Christy is feeling the holiday spirit and celebrating by giving everyone 40% off their entire order when you purchase $15 or more from Tiddly Inks!!!  Now, that's a HUGE sale - so head over and check it out right here!  You only have until Nov. 30th!

Friday, November 26, 2010

Giving Thanks - Paper Cutz Challenge

Hi everyone,
  Anything goes at Paper Cutz this week - which was a blessing because I really wanted to make this for my house and my husband and I liked the idea of a new Thanksgiving Day tradition.  I made a banner using my Gypsy, MiniMonograms and Cindy Loo font, an Acorn from Create A Critters and a maple leaf from Gypsy Wanderings.

  I chose the scalloped square and plain rounded square from MiniMonograms and used the font from Cindy Loo. 

This was inspired by Donna Mundingers Halloween banner found here.  Once I had the blocks and letters cut out I popped the top layer off the bottom.  I then used my ATG tape roller and taped all blocks to a maroon ribbon.  I then tied bows with buttons looped with hemp twine and used a glue dot to stick them to the edge ribbons. 

Finally, I found some recipe cards at Michaels for one dollar a set (20 cards).  I wrote at the top - I'm thankful for:  and each guest wrote what they were thankful for and hung it to the wall. 

We will keep these and each year hang them up on the wall and ask our new guests to write what they are thankful for.  This will allow us to remember our Thanksgivings and when hubby and I are old and gray we will have a number of cards to read and reminisce. 
Hope your bellies have recovered!!! Mine is starting too!  Don't forget to link your project over at Paper Cutz - there's no reason not too - it's anything goes!!!
Enjoy!

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Warm Cocoa - Meljen's Challenge

Hi everyone - short post as Thanksgiving is today!! WOO HOO - enjoy your turkey and don't forget to give thanks!  Hope your holiday is blessed with wonderful friends and family, lots of good healthy food, and lots and lots of love.  Melissa from Meljen's is still working hard and thus has a new release today at Whimsys!!! Can you believe it - while we are stuffing ourselves it's business as usual!  Here is the beautifully gorgeous release:

I love these images - they are so fun to color and I truly had a hard time picking just one! 

The theme is buttons and bows - though it doesn't look like I have buttons I do - the snowman attached to the bow is a button!!  Anyhow, head over and join the fun at Meljen's Design!
Enjoy!!!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Jingle All The Way - Crafty Creations Challenge

Hi ya everyone!
  Before I get started I wanted to apologize to everyone for not visiting your blogs very much this week.  My father is visiting and it's the first time in about 3years that I've seen him.  Needless to say I've been so very busy!  However, I promise that after this week I will be back at it!  Now, on to my card.
  I made this card for our challenge this week at Crafty Creations set by Amy.  Our sponsor is BlackLeaf Studio this week and they have some adorable digi's.  They allowed the DT to use a number of them - so head over and check out all the DT creations and join in on the challenge!  You could win something from Blackleaf.

  This card was pretty simple, I paper pieced the reindeer body onto some white cardstock and I colored the antlers with my Copics.  I adhered the reindeer to a dark blue embossed piece of cardstock.  The embossing folder is from Sizzix.  I then added both to this paper from DCWV (it's also a Christmas stack - blue and lots of snowmen stuff).  I added a navy blue bow and a snowflake embellishment.  Finally, I had a g studio dollar stamp that I used for my sentiment "Jingle All The Way".  Thanks for stopping by - head over and join the fun at Crafty Creations!
Enjoy!

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

A Tiddly Christmas/Holiday Challenge!

Hi ya everyone!
  This week Christy set a perfect challenge for everyone at the Tiddly Ink Challenge Blog - Christmas/Holidays!  She has some of the cutest Christmas and holiday images right here in the shop: Winter/Holiday Images.  They are beautiful, sweet and so fun to color! 
First I colored my sweet image called "Whatchya Given?" with my Copics - I loved all these presents and decided to keep with a green and red theme.  Once I finished coloring I cut her out with my nestables and stickled her and her presents.

I used my Country Christmas stack from DCWV for all my background papers.  I also had these beads that came off of a candle wick and strung them on some crinkle ribbon. 

I stamped the sentiment with a studio g dollar stamp, cut it out with a nestable and then strung more green ribbon through the whole I punched.  Head over to Tiddly Inks and check out the challenge!
Enjoy!

Saturday, November 20, 2010

A New Challenge Blog

Hey everyone - just wanted to let you know that there is a new challenge blog called Card Makin Mamas

Jess a design team member at Meljen's Design has started up her own challenge blog.  Go check it out if you can get a chance.  The challenge this  is Holiday and you have two weeks- make anything for any holiday be it Christmas, Thanksgiving, or the Fourth of July!  It doesn't matter and you could win 4 free images from Meljen's Design!!!
Woo Hoo!!!  Have fun and why you're at it make it a twofer - Meljen's is having a bling it up challenge.

Friday, November 19, 2010

A Blingy Little Christmas - Paper Cutz Challenge

Hi Ya Everyone,
  This week at Paper Cutz Mary asked us to design a card for you that was Christmasy and blingy!!!  I used a Tiddly Ink image this called bah-hugg-a-bug.  I colored them with my Copics.

I also followed the Card Patterns sketch.

I added some sparkly paper from the DCWV Christmas stack I picked up and also used some sparkly Christmas tree buttons.  I then added more sparkle by using Stardust Sparkles. 

Thanks for checking out my card and head over to Paper Cutz and enjoy the fun!  I also need to add that though you can't see a ton of bling it really does sparkle!
Enjoy!

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Sweet Little Monkey Toes! - Meljen's Design Challenge and Release

Hi ya everyone,
  This week at Meljen's Designs we are asking everyone to bling it up (rhinestones, glitter and stickles - OH MY!)  I needed to make a card for an upcoming birth and I decided to use an oldy but goody image from Meljen's called Monkey Toes.  However, here is the awesome Christmasy release!!!

I used my Gypsy and Cricut for the round cut on this card.  I then used some of my blue Christmas stack from DCWV and my circle nestable and cut out a simple circle.  I did the same with the monkey and attached them to the center of my card.  I colored the monkey with my Copics.

Next, I added some blingy rhinestones around the edge and stickled the monkey's belly!  Added a shear ribbon and was done!! 

Please join in on our fun at Meljen's!  The new images found at Whimsy's would be perfect for you to get started with your Christmas cards and projects and also for the BLING IT UP Challenge!! 
Enjoy!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Whimsical Wednesday Guest Designer

Hi ya everyone!
  Stephanie at Always Crafting has a weekly challenge called Whimsical Wednesday.  Stephanie hosts with good friend and amazing crafter Jess over at My Scrap Diary.  This week they asked me to participate in their new challenge - use a stamp and any coloring technique you would like.  I am very honored that they would ask me to share my favorite coloring technique with you!  I chose this cute Mo Manning stamp called Step Sisters.  It reminds me of my two girls so I decided to use this for my coloring technique - Copic markers.  I just started using Copics in May and love them so much.  I am not Copic Certified however and it might be something I will eventually want to do.  However, I'll go into a few tricks I use to color my images. 

I typically start with three markers - sometimes they are in the same range for instance the pink dress on the older sister is colored using RV21, RV23, and RV25.  I always start with the lightest color RV21 and cover the whole image, then I take the next one RV23 and color the shadow region, then I go over this area with my RV25 then again with RV 23 blending into the lighter areas, then lastly with my light color again.  Often times I will return to the image with an even darker shade - R29 and do some extra shadowing to really make the color pop. 
I used my nestable and cut out the image and place the girl on this little tag envelope I made using my Gypsy and Tags, Bags, Boxes and More - layering them on some cute paper from American Crafts.  I cut out letters from the word sister from the cartridge Nursery Rhymes and layered those on the tag part of the card.  I then threaded a cute crinkle ribbon through both and tied them together. 

You have to check out Stephanie and Jess's projects.  Each used a different technique to color their stamps and they are just amazing.  They are so very adorable and just to temp you a bit - here are some sneak peaks!



Now, head on over to Always Crafting and join in on the fun!  Use any technique for coloring that you would like - just remember to use a stamp and enter!!!
Thanks for checking out my blog!
Enjoy!

Life Is Beautiful - Crafty Creations Beautiful Insides

Hi ya everyone!
  This week at Crafty Creations we are asking everyone to create a card with beautiful insides.  I decided to make a gate-fold card. 

I first cut out pieces in green to go on the gate part and embossed them and layered that on top of a soft purple paper.  I wrapped a white shear ribbon and little bow around the outside.  I used my nestables and cut out a scalloped circle and regular circle and stuck them together on the outside right on the fold.  On the inside I used all the same papers but also this cute image from Meljen's Designs called Fru Fru Fairy Joy

I colored her with my Copics and added a lot of Stardust Stickles (if someone asked me to pick one blingy thing from rhinestones to glitter this is what I would choose - I love it!) to her wings flowers and a number of the other $1 Studio G stamps that I placed around the inside. 

I also added these metal butterfly embellishments.  Thanks everyone for stopping by and head on over to Crafty Creations and join in on the fun - Beautiful Insides.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Fishing Memories - Meljen's Special Release

Hi ya everyone!
  Today, Melissa Jenkins the creator of the Meljen's Designs digital and rubber stamps is having a special release today.  The release is one to honor her amazing father that passed a year ago today.  He loved to fish.  This is a picture that Melissa has shared with us:


Because he loved to fish Melissa created these ever so cute stamps and asked that the design team if possible make a card to honor her father!  Here is the special release:



I colored up the moose and bucket of worms with my Copics.  Found some matching papers from my Christmas DCWV stack and simply set to work.  I used my circle nestables and cut a window in the card.  I used the cutout of the circle and cut again with a smaller nestable and made an outline for the window.  I then covered the window in acetate.  Next, I popped the bucket of worms off the page and also added a tag the  Loving Memory tag also a Meljen's Design to the card. 

I used my crinkle ribbon to wrap around the card.  I dug into the tackle box and used some fishing equipment too.  This lure matched perfectly so I nipped off the hooks with wire cutters (don't want the card receiver to get poked!!) Also added the line and snap to the ribbon. 

Finally, I placed the moose on the inside and came up with a sentiment that I cut out with my nestables!

 Thanks for looking and please stop by Meljen's Design to show Melissa your love and support with some kind words!  If you like the images - which I know you do - head on over to Whimys and pick them up!

Monday, November 15, 2010

Life Got You In A Spin? - She's a Sassy Lady Tutorial


Hi Ya Everyone -  I'm so excited to be doing another tutorial at She's A Sassy Lady on how to make a Spinner Card.  Please head over to She's A Sassy Lady to see all the wonderful projects and tutorials she has daily!  I had heard of spinner cards.  I've even seen pictures, but I didn't know how cool they were until I saw a video that Christy from Tiddly Inks shared with me on how they actually worked.  Here is the one I will be making with you today:


Materials Needed:
-Card Stock
-Foam Pop Dots
-Paper Cutter, Gypsy or Cricut
-Two Pennies
-Glue Dots

You can do this with any number of card sizes.  However, I like to do 5 x 7 cards because you have more room to spin!  I started with a number of papers that I had printed from my Imagine from the Best Friends cartridge and also a few sheets of thicker card stock (not shown) and some bright pink from my Bazzil card stock. 



 On my Gypsy I made a rectangle at 6 3/4 inch long and about 2 1/2 inches high.  I then copied and pasted that rectangle and shrank it to be 0.55 inches high and 6 3/4 inch long and placed in the middle of the larger rectangle.  This middle rectangle will hold the spinning contraption. Again, this slot can be modified depending on your materials.  If you don't have a Gypsy you can use a paper cutter.  I will cut this out twice in order to make the part that holds the spinner very sturdy.   I also chose a round object (Smiley from the new Smiley Cards) for the image that will spin.  This is very important if you want a well functioning spinner card.  Having said this you can use other objects that are irregular - but they don't seem to rotate as well.  I also chose a plain flower image that was equal on all sides and will cut this out twice to mount the smiley face to - again thicker will make the card function better.  Once I had my pieces cut I adhered the double pieces together. 



I pieced together the Smiley face and added pop dots on the smiley.      


Next, I took two pennies and a large .5 inch FOAM pop dot and sandwiched the pop dot between the two pennies.  Don't use the sticky pop dots that are clear.  the foam will glide around the track - the sticky ones will not. 


I then stuck the smiley onto the flower and stuck both to the sandwich with glue dots. 


The penny was then slipped into the rectangle slot.  I then added foam pop dots all around the outside edge of the spinning contraption.  This is really important because this has to be popped off the page otherwise your spinner will get stuck. 


After adhering my papers to my card base and adding the word "Ahhhhh" I stuck on the spinner part. 



I then worked up the sentiment for the inside and had my finished card! 

Thanks for checking out my tutorial!  I hope you will make your own!  For more fun projects head on over to She's A Sassy Lady.
Enjoy!