Adorable Little Sophie

I'm back to share with you the cutest little stamp/die set "eva"!!

A few weeks back at my win at "The Shabby Tea Room" 

my wonderful "gift" was a $20 certificate to the "Paper Sweeties" store

I sure had a hard time deciding what to purchase as there were some adorable choices!!

Until I saw this little "Sophie" stamp and die....

I have a granddaughter named Sophie, so the choice was made!!

By the seat of pants my you might say, I am entering her in the challenge at

 "Paper Sweeties"

using the photo shown below for the inspiration piece.

I went with the colors, red, black, white and of course the "snow".

I did a lot of fussy cutting and paper piecing on this one.

Look at her adorable coat with the teeny, tiny hearts on it....

The "buttons" on her coat are little button brads I have had in my stash for quite awhile!!

I gave her some swirls (using DS paper) on her "leggin's" and added Stickles for her boots!

The hat...is cut from some of that red velvet ribbon you see all over at Christmas time.

The snowflakes were made with CLD dies and I glittered the heck out of them!

I punched some little red hearts from glitter paper...

and hand cut her little hearts on her coat.

Soph's kitty was a new CLD die, it comes with a bunch of kitties, but I just cut this one

off and added red Stickles for her collar.  Oh, and my Sophie was colored with my Copics

but her cheeks, well, it is "real" blush, added with a Q-tip.

Isn't she cute???  Another granddaughter "Kendall" has a birthday next month and I think

with the hearts and all, it would be a perfect birthday card for her...what do you think???
and
I am entering this into the "new" "Work It Wednesday at "Simon Says"
where you add something new...which of course is my Sophie die/stamps and kitty die!

Where to get these goodies??

Sophie stamp set, clothes and die can be found HERE

Cheery Lynn Designs cat and snowflake dies can be found HERE

and a hint.... right now all CLD dies are 23% off!!!!

"Tickled Pink"

Good Frosty Morning All!!

Brrr...I am still waiting for some warmer weather

if there is such a thing.

We have so much snow, we are running out of places to pile it!!

However, the warmest room in my house is my creative room

so that is where you find me...and loving every minute of it!

I was working on some DT things with flowers, and this little one was leftover

and decided so as not to leave him "forlorn" I cut 4 more

and the idea just kept growing, until I had added a basket and bow.

The flowers were made with the CLD Gardenia die..and only using the top 2 petals...

love that, it gives me another entire flower!!

I "painted" them with PanPastels Permanent Red..giving them a nice soft "pink" color

All the leaves were water colored with TH Distress Peeled Paint Markers

I wanted a white basket, but I aso wanted to use white card stock, so the old

light bulb moment kicked in and I cut the basket from glossy card stock,

making it stand out on the white card stock!!

Look at that bow....I LOVE it.....

I watched the video of the new releases at CLD and they said, the bows

were addicting and you wouldn't be able to stop making them....

well, boy howdy, were they right...I have about a dozen sitting here already...

and they take minutes to make...you can whip those puppies out in no time!!!

Some of my items maybe purchased at Classy Cards 'n Such...and hey if use the code

DIANE-10...you can 10% off...I will put CCNS after the items so you know which ones.

Products used"

Cheery Lynn Designs:  Gardenia Strip (CCNS)

Cheery Lynn Designs Spring Baskets 2 (CCNS)

Cheery Lynn Designs Olive Branches (CCNS)

Cheery Lynn Designs Judy's Blooms (CCNS)

Cheery Lynn Designs Pretty Pretty Bows

PanPastels Susan's Flower Color Kit (CCNS)

Paper for the bow Wild Rose Studio Annabelle's Garden

I am entering this in the challenges at:

Cheery Lynn Designs "Tickled Pink"
and
Great Impressions "Use Something New" (my bow die)

Let's "Get In Shape"

Hello,
I wanted to share my post with you this week at
"Classy Cards 'n Such" blog for challenge #17.
We would "love" to have you join us!
Don't forget, you can always save 10% at the Classy Cards 'n Such
shop by using my code DIANE-10

This week at Classy Cards 'n Such, the challenge is to "Get In Shape".

Make a shaped card other then a circle, square, reg A2 card, etc.

I don't know about you, but I LOVE shaped cards!!  They can be so fun and unique!

So, lets get right to it!!  I made my cute "dresser" card starting with the base paper from

Classy Cards 'n Such.  This is a wonderful 111# weight paper called 

"Nude Curious Metallic" , a beige paper with a hint of pink in it!  I cut 4 panels, one

larger for the "drawers" to sit on and 3 drawers.  I inked around the edge with TH

Distress Ink "Old Paper". Brads were added to each for the "knobs".

For the bottom of my dresser, I used Spellbinders Vintage Labels & Banner dies,

using the smallest label die, and just using the top part!! I love how this looks like a "real" dresser

and the embossing detail from the Vintage Labels & Banner die really adds to it!!

Sticking out of the dresser drawers are two "doilies", these were made using a

Cheery Lynn Designs Snowflower Set 1 die and for the second doily a  cut off

piece from Cheery Lynn Designs Border die "Carnivale".  For fun, I added four

"playful" little kitties using the NEW, just released die from PoppyStamps "Baby Kittens".

Thank you for joining me today.

I hope my card has inspired you to join us this week in our "Get In Shape" challenge!

Entered into challenges:
Craftin Desert Diva's Craft It UP & Link It Up Shaped Card Linky Party

More Stenciling

If you are looking for my "Grow Your Blog Party" go

HERE

I wanted to share with you some of the cards I made during Day 1 and 2

of the "stenciled" class I am taking

It has been so much fun and I only had to throw a couple away...LOL

 The first card is one I made with a Mr Huey stencil and Perfect Pearls Mist

see, that what is so good about this, I am using my NBUS....

I was a little mad at myself as I have my black card stock line a little "off"...

but once it's on, it's on that's for sure!!

The next card is using the same stencil as above, but turning it and stenciling on top

of what I had already stenciled....and masking off the white space for the sentiment

(we won't talk about that...lol)

like I said, it has been a learning experience

Take Time

If you are looking for my "Grow Your Blog Party Post"..go HERE !!!

Some days I love all the clutter on my cards...

some days I love the clean and simple...

Today is a "clean and simple" day!

I have been taking the stenciling class at "Stenciled"

I love to stencil and thought maybe I could pick up a few tips...

and I have lots of tips

....like this CAS card for Valentines Day

I cut my own stencil for this, simply by punching a heart and using the negative...

The tiny little hearts are a MS stencil picked up last year.

I have to admit, most of my stencils were purchased with 'mixed media" in mind..

So this class, has been a tremendous help in me using them for cards as well,

and a tremendous push for me to even open them up and put them to use!!

I sponged TH distress Worn lipstick on my big heart and Spun Sugar on the little hearts.

I love these two colors together, so soft.

The sentiment I love, it is from Flourishes set "Orchards"....so pretty

"Take Time To Think, Dream, and Wonder"...so true!!

The sentiment was embossed with white EB powder first, then the stenciling was done

on top of that....

I will be back later with the other cards I have done so far in my "stenciled" class.

You can see the first one HERE

I am entering my card in this challenge:

CAS on Sunday "Lovely Dovey"

AND

Addicted to CAS "NEW" (new to me is stenciling on a card) 

Stenciled Part 2

If you are visiting for "The Grow Your Blog Party" 
go HERE

Here are a couple of the cards from my stencil class I am taking

a learning experience for sure!

But a FUN learning experience!

The butterfly card was embossed first, then inked over that...

droplets of water were addedto the TH Distress inks for the "water effect:

And last (for today) is a stenciled card that was water colored through the stencil

I had a hard time getting the stencil off, well, really it is a Heidi Swapp mask

and it has sticky stuff on the back, 

and pulled off some of the paper when I tried to remove it.

Okay, a "brief" post on these cards, but I need to get them uploaded

to the "stenciled" gallery.

Grow Your Blog Party

I have joined with over 600 other wonderful bloggers to

have a "Grow Your Own Blog Party!!!

Let the party begin.....All the links can be found HERE at

2 Bags Full! 

thank you Vicki  for hosting this wonderful event!!

Welcome to my blog!!!

Diane here with you today on my blog "Nellies Nest"....

My blog name came from my love of my Goldendoodle "Nellie"

She is my right hand "girl" never leaving my side and always glad to be close by!!

The other 3 characters that share my space with me are my 3 kitties

Chloe, Tessie and Soot...all 3 are rescue kitties!!

I live in the beautiful, but extremely  cold (right now) state of Michigan.

I hope you will grab a cup of coffee and browse through my blog.....

I have many, many interests, way too many to share.....

But my main 3 are paper crafting, gardening and sewing!

I want to share a bit of my world with you !

I am on a Design Team for my paper crafts with a wonderful group of girls

at Classy Cards 'n Such

you can see my

 work there weekly if you would like to visit.

I spend most of my days this time of the year creating a few things, such as shown below!

When the weather permits, you will find me with my other "love"

in my flower gardens.....take a walk through them if you would like.

Once in awhile, I will have visitors to my gardens,

like Gardens Fairies and such.

I also love to "craft"...my favorite making things from "vintage" linens.

I hope you will "visit" often...thanks for stopping by!!

Stencil Class Day 1

I am back today with my card I made for the "Stencil" class I am taking...

It is an online class, and very affordable and even more then that...FUN!!

I used a Mr, Huey hexagon stencil with TH Distress inks Spun Sugar and Worn Lipstick.

The tag was cut from Vellum and then stamped with VersaMark and white EB powder.

I added a few little sequins and some twine.

I will have more of my "stenciling" to share later.

Vintage Blue Valentine

Hi All.....

I had this sitting on my desk the last few days buried in all kinds of "stuff"....

You ever get an idea...and then while working on it, it just sort of "fizzles" out??

That is kind of what happened here, but all at once it fell into place.

I "gotta tell ya"...I LOVE vintage....all the pretty vintage fabrics, lace, doilies

and such...my sister and I used to do craft shows and we were well known for

our"vintage flair"!!

When Graphic 45 came out with the Sweet Sentiments I just loved how it reminded

me of all the vintage postcards my Mom had for Valentines and Easter....

which was the base of how I built my card.

So anywho, this is how this card came about.....

I saw the challenge at Sugar Creek Hollow

 (and by the way the girls there chose my card as last weeks winner...thanks so much)

was to use texture...not just the usual lace, ribbon, but fabric, fibers etc.

I dug in my craft stash and came up with this fabric flower, took it apart

and added the cute little center piece from Graphic 45....

The pink flowers I cut from an old vintage hat....

I hate to admit to my hoarding issues, but I have an entire bin of vintage hats....

all with some type of flowers to use in my creativity!!

The blue bow was made with the Zutter Bow It All....

and don't tell anybody, but I had to watch the video a zillion times and still am

not doing it quite right...hopefully it will be a light bulb moment with it at some point!

Then I came across the challenge at "The Kraft Journal" "Winter Blues"

to use "blue's and "kraft" paper or an item sold at their store...

I LOVE how kraft and blue work so well together.....

I even finished the inside of my card.

So, these are the challenges I am entering in"

The Kraft Journal "winter Blues"

and 

Sugar Creek Hollow "texture / fibers"

and

Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge "Vintage"

and

Really Reasonable Ribbon "Valentine/Love  Ribbon"

and

Craft-Dee BowZ Monthly challenge anything goes & a handmade bow

A Bit More Wall Art

I am still adding "art" to my wall in my new (to me) creative room.

Woowho...I love how the wall is turning out...when complete I will post it!!

I saw the magazine Monday weekly challenge at

Paper Crafters Corner using this cover

and as soon as I looked it at it, it reminded me of paint samples I had picked up at Lowes!!

Our front door, has on either side stained glass of sunflowers, so I have been wanting to

paint the doors some sort of a "sunflower yellow/gold" color.....

I still haven't made my mind up, so now it will be a "Spring" project...

so I cut two of them up and used a a background for my "Create" word.

I also remember I had purchased some of those $1 WOOD picture frames from Michaels

and this idea just immediately clicked into place.....

I even "fired up" my Cricut for the letters......

I want to add a ribbon for hanging, but I just didn't have the

strength to get the "screw eyes" in the back.

Hopefully, hubby can do it tonight without "squashing" my flower!!!

I am entering this in these challenges:

Paper Crafter's  Corner

and

Mod Squad Challenge  to use "wood"

Supplies used:

SU:  DS paper and black card stock

TH Spring Greens

Cord-in-nations paper

Cricut George cartridge

Lowes Valspar paint samples

TH Distress Ink Peacock

Th Alterations Tattered Floral Bigz die

Kiss Me Vintage Valentine

Okay, I have to say I LOVE Valentines Day (pun intended..lol)...

Just something about it being the "Sweetest Day".....

I never know what to expect from the hubby...

sometimes it's something really nice, sometimes something silly, and sometimes

"nothing at all"....

He knows I love Brighton Jewelry ~ it's almost all I wear 

(well besides my clothes I mean)...

one year he bought me an entire set, necklace, earrings, bracelet...

all red ruby hearts and silver...

love...sigh!

Then there was the year he bought me a heart shaped Dairy Queen cake...

he loves them, I don't...ugh!!

That's the kind of guy he is...always full of surprises...

One year for my birthday he got me new tires for my car, 

a John Deer Gator for Mother's Day

and a Marquis Diamond for our anniversary...

what can I say, but I am always, always surprised!

So anywho,  I love vintage Valentines, the more vintage the better, maybe because

I am a bit "vintage" myself..lol...(just a bit mind you)!!!

Sooooooooooo, I made this Valentine for the challenge at 

Cheery Lynn Designs which is Sweethearts....

I decided NOT to load it up, but let the gorgeous lace frame "speak" for itself,

let alone the Scroll-ie Heart!!

I added my Kiss Me heart...and it is popped up, as is my tiny glitter cupid...

I wish that showed how popped he is, cuz he really stands out.

Just before Christmas (those stinkers, right when money is the tightest..lol) Cottage Cutz

had a 50% off sale of all their dies...so I was able to "sneak" in a few 

(those grandkids didn't need all those Christmas presents anyhow)...

and this was one of them..isn't he the cutest???

I used to list all my supplies used at the end of my post...

and I decided to start doing that again...

that way, "IF" you do read through my blog, you won't have to read that part unless you want to!!

Here we go...supplies used:

Cheery Lynn Designs dies Lattice Heart & Vines AND Dutch Scallop Square Frame

MS Kiss Me punch

Cottage Cutz Cupid

DS paper Crate Paper Fourteen

Baby It's Cold Outside At The Shabby Tea Room

Whew...does my title ring true or what???

Baby IT IS cold outside...and inside, too...

I have been freezing all day!!!

I have been on a creative roll, I think

 (with all I have been gorging on, I probably look like a roll...lol)

I saw this cute inspiration piece at The Shabby Tea Room this week

and we are to use white/cream, green, silver, red and a bow!

Well, to get my thinking cap going I remember seeing a cute card

at my friend "Dar's" blog and she had used skates......

reminding me that I had a cute skate die myself....

Remember those cute little QuicKutz hand held die cutters???

Well, since I hoard everything, I still have mine, and it just so happens it

has this cutest little skate die!!

Do you know how many times I have said "CUTE" in the last 5 minutes??

You don't...good me neither and who's counting anyways!!

Supplies I used are:

SU...my last piece of shimmery white card stock...boohoo!!

Cheery Lynn Designs window die

Impression Obsession Pine Branch Die

QuicKutz (cute...haha) Skates die.

A Whole Lot of Stenciling Going On

This is my post on the Classy Cards 'n Such blog today.
The challenge there this week is stencils....and you just need to use a product
that is carried in the Classy Cards 'n Such store, it doesn't have to be purchased
there, just in stock...but why not head over and see all the NEW items she carries
and all the SALE items...there are some good sales going on.
Get a 10% discount by using the code DIANE-10....
while there check out her paper collection, I am telling you she has
some gorgeous Metallic papers !!

Hi All, Diane here with you today sharing with you in detail how I made my

"stencil" card for Challenge #16 "Stencils"...I hope you will join the challenge

with a creation of your own!!

 For my card, I used the very gorgeous "Dreamweaver" stencil  "Quilt Block". 

To begin, you need to cut a piece of Double Sided Adhesive Sheet

slightly larger then your stencil, leaving a border all around.  Cut a piece

of white card stock the same size and apply one side of the Adhesive Sheet to it.

Remove the backing from the card stock front.

Using Handmade Hawaiian Coconut Soap , apply it liberally to the backside

of your stencil.   Lay your stencil on top of your Adhesive Sheet with a border all

around.  Using a very thin craft foil, lay it on top of your stencil, and with a small stylus,

start tapping it on to your stencil in an up and down motion,

 pick it up now and then to make sure it is covering each design

 (don't worry if it isn't all completely filled in, that will happen later).

 Also, with your fingers, rub some of the foil along the border you have around the outside

edge of the  stencil, it doesn't have to be completely covered either.

Once you are satisfied you have the  foil on where you want it, cover the entire piece

with Ultra Fine Black Flower Soft.....lightly press/rub it on with you fingers.

Lay a scrap piece of paper down and shake and tap off all the excess.  Try to get all the loose

pieces off, you don't want to get it mixed up with your glitter (ask me how I know?).

Now here is the fun part.  VERY carefully peel your stencil off the adhesive. 

You don't want to bend your stencil!  It sticks down pretty good, so take your time. This is also the reason you have to apply the Handmade Hawaiian Coconut Soap first!

Grab your Sparkle 'n Sprinkle Ultra Fine "Crystal Ice" glitter and cover the entire piece

with it,  Using a scrap piece of paper underneath will allow you to pour it back into

it's container.  Finish "your" card however you want.

A few hints if you want to give this a try.  The adhesive sheets are very "sticky".  I would

try and take a bit of "stickiness" off first by  pressing a Ziploc bag on it first or something

like that,  before applying the stencil, making it easier to remove the stencil when ready.

I also would suggest trying a more "full" stencil piece, for your first one.  Beverly has numerous

ones in her shop under "Stencils" to choose from.  I have not tried this with a plastic stencil, just

the metal ones.

 I hope you enjoyed my "stencil" post today...see you back here soon!!

New Challenge is up At Classy Cards 'n Such

Hi Everyone!!!

The challenge for this week is up on the blog at Classy Cards 'n Such!!

This week it is "STENCILS".

Rules are listed on the challenge site, but you need to use a stencil

and

a product that is carried in the Classy Cards 'n Such Store

and speaking of the store.

Do you know if you sign up for the newsletter you can get a one time discount of

20% off...now that is a wonderful savings.

and

you can always get a 10% discount by using the code DIANE-10

So what are you waiting for...do the challenge...there is a fabulous prize

once again this week!!!

Here is a "sneak peek" of my project

I used adhesive sheets, foil, a stylus and glitter for mine

wait until you see the other DT projects...wonderful!!