Hollyhocks and Butterflies

This is my post for the "Garden Party" Challenge

on the "Classy Cards 'n Such" blog today.

Hope you will take a peek.....

take a peek at the store, too...all kinds of "NEW"

items have been stocked.....

and you can always use my discount DIANE-10!!

Hello Classy Friends, Diane here with you today.

I have a very cheerful Spring card to share with you I made for our

challenge "Garden Party".

I love the colors of this card..I call them "happy colors"!!

I started with the gorgeous Stardream Serpentine Pearlized Metallic 

105# cardstock.

What can I say about this paper except..."you will love it"!!!  A beautiful light green,

Metallic paper that has become a favorite!!

I next used Impression Obsession Large Fence die....

if you could see this card "up close",

you would notice a nice "wood grain" embossing on the boards.  

After cutting your fence,

run it through your machine again (in proper stacking order for your machine) 

and you get all the wonderful wood grain effect!

I popped up my fence slightly using Joy! Foam Pads Small, I was then able to tuck my

Impression Obsession Birdhouses behind my fence.

Next I cut 2 sets of Impression Obsession Hollyhocks die.

An interesting part of this die is, it comes with 4 little separate flower dies

you can cut to layer for a "3D" look!

I colored my flowers with Copic markers in a coral color.

The Butterflies (yes I know I use these a lot) are Joy! Crafts....

They come in a set of 3, the one I used being the smaller...

I do love this die, the butterflies are a perfect size and shape!!

I hope you will join in our weekly challenge and "WOW" us with your creations this week!!

Entering the following challenges:
Through The Craft Room Door .... Anything Goes
and
Creative Colors ....use inspiration photo below and 3 colors

and

Sweet Stamps .... photo inspiration below

Welcome April "Blog Candy" and winner of March Blog Candy

Please scroll down for my regular posts

Winner of the March blog candy is RHONDA

Please send me your name/address (my email is on the right sidebar)

and I will ship your die right out to you!!

APRIL Blog Candy is the gorgeous JustRite background stamp "Wings Of Love"

I just purchased this stamp for myself and thought I would also give one away!!

How to win?   Just follow my blog and leave a comment on THIS post telling me you did.

Already follow?  Just leave me a comment!!

That's it, it's that simple.  Didn't win this month...not to worry, there will be more in May!!

This post will remain at the top until April 30th when the winner is drawn!

Grow A Dream

Hey All.....I have been out of town for about 4 days and

yikes do I have the DT work to get caught up on, let alone housework!!

I have commenting to do, so if I haven't been to your blog yet, I will I promise!

I also want to mention my heart and prayers go out to all the parts of the country

that have been hit with the major storms...I just can't imagine the heartbreak!

Today the storms have 16  states in a risk "zone" and we are one of them ...

NOT having a basement is always a concern of mine.....

Well, on to other things.

This week at Papertrey Ink the "Make It Monday" is all about scraps!!

I bet I haven't joined in a Make It Monday challenge in over 2 years!!!

Not because I haven't wanted to, but just a "time thing"!!

Since it was about scrap and since one of my favorite people is hosting it,

I decided to make time to join in...which was pretty easy since I had

most of what I needed sitting on my desk just waiting to be used!!

The only requirements are/were to use a product from Papertrey Ink

and a scrap paper pie chart.

I had this sunshine "pie" scrap piece already put together...perfect!!

I mounted it on a piece of very neglected SU Crushed Curry card stock.

To cover up the seam, I used Papertrey Ink "Simply Chartreuse Luxe Satin Ribbon.

I added a few flowers I had already made for another project and didn't need

and the leaves are a TH die that was a "test" cut 

(I always cut a die as soon as I get it to see what is looks like)

The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink "Garden Variety"...an older set that I LOVE!!

So, I hate to admit it, but all in all this card took less then 10 minutes!!!!

Don't forget, I have blog candy that ends very soon....
AND
a NEW one starting May 1st...all you have to do is sign up to follow me!!

TicTacToe at The Shabby Tea Room #216

Happy Monday All!!

Can you believe that April is almost behind us??

Wow...where "does" the time go??

This week at "The Shabby Tea Room" Sharon is our host and she has

given us the inspiration photo below with a "Tic-Tac-Toe" format!

I did a straight across line and used pearls, ribbon and polka dots!

Our Sponsor this week is Janet with her lovely Etsy digital images!!

 

I used "Bunny Labels" for my card...so gorgeous!!

 

My card is loaded to the hilt so to speak....

I think I used everything but the kitchen sink...lol...

Not really, but I had a few new things and I wanted to use them..

My card was started with SU Pink Pirouette card stock.

I received a new Spellbinders EB folder 

which I inked with 3 different TH Distress inks...

Wow...look at that gorgeous embossing...love it!!
I then distressed the edges using the Zutter Distresser.

I really layered it up starting with Cheery Lynn Sophia's Heart die,

a tag I had on my desk (which is stamped with flowers)....

then Memory Box Quin Flourish die....

and a new to me die Memory Box Tall Chole Stem (I cut 2 of those)

then added the beautiful bunny, some pearls, ribbons, a vintage button

and my Joy! Crafts butterfly.  I have provided the links to where you

can purchase some of the items if interested!!

Head on over to "The Shabby Tea Room" and get ready to be "wowed"

with what my teammates have created!!!

Entering in the following challenges:

Sugar Creek Hollow .....which just happens to be a "Tic Tac Toe" challenge
as well, using the following....I chose Embossing~Ribbon~Distressed

 and

Chocolate, Coffee, and Cards .... Spring

and

Polkadoodles Challenge .... Springtime

Things With Wings at The Sisterhood

Today at "The Sisterhood of Crafters" Darlene is hostess and she has chosen

"Things With Wings" for our challenge.

For my DT sample I decided to get the "old" Cricut cranked up and do a

totally Cricut card.

I used "A Child's Year" cartridge and cut my little fairy 3 times to get the layered

look I was after...

Her Tulip planter is from the cartridge "Fresh Picked".

That is the cartridge that made me realize I had forgotten much of what 

I new about using the Cricut.....lol....

it was a "picky" little thing to work with!!!

A different but simple card for the most part.

I think it will make a cute card for one of the younger kiddos for a birthday!!!

Head on over to "The Sisterhood" and see what my creative "sistah's" have in store

for you...and better yet...why not join in!!!!!!!

Entering the following challenges:

Always Something Creative .... Fairy Tale
and
Feeling Crafty .... Anything For A Child April Challenge
and
Kreativeinkauf .... Winged Messengers of Spring
and 
Card Mania Challenge .... Fairies

Musical Motifs ~ Sing

Here is my post that is on the Classy Cards 'n Such Blog today
for our challenge "Music Motifs".
Beverly has a wonderful Music Notes die she is giving
to the winner!!!


Hello, Diane with you today!!

I have a somewhat "vintage look" card I created for the challenge this week

"Music Motifs"

I started my card with the gorgeous "Stardream Rose Quartz" Metallic paper.

I love the quality, 105# weight, and price of this paper.....

I wish you could see the pretty Metallic sheen on this..so beautiful.

I cut Spellbinders Decorative Labels Eight and 

layered Cheery Lynn Designs French Pastry Doily on top.

The next layer is Memory Box Bamboo Shoots, 

this happens to be another favorite die of mine!!

I fussy cut my Impression Obsession bird image and popped him up

using Joy! Foam Pads Large 

A few scrabble tiles were added....

butterflies were punched from Bo Bunny Soft Shades Double Dot Designs Paper

I added a ribbon and bow...

Pretty Resin Heart "green" was added to the bow...

love these delicate little hearts,  so detailed!!

I hope you will join in our challenge this week...we would "love" to see "your" creation!!

Entering the following challenges:

Stamping Sensations .... Dies and/or Punches and a stamped image
and
All Sorts .... Birds and Feathers
and
Crafty Calender Challenge .... Things With Wings
and
My Time To Craft .... Up Up and Away
and
Sweet Stampin .... Lots of Layers

"Pastel Goodness" at "The Shabby Tea Room"

Happy Bright Sunshiny Morning To You All!!!

This week at "The Shabby Tea Room" the challenge is "Pastel Goodness"

I am hosting the challenge this week and I chose the lovely inspiration photo below

and to use pastel colors, polka dots and flowers!!

Our sponsor this week is "Creations by AR".  I am using their beautiful cut file

"Lovely Cart".  It went together so easy and I used the PDF file as I don't have

a Silhouette for the SVG file..  I bet you can't even tell it was "hand cut" can you??

I used SU Lavender Lace Card stock and Graphic 45 Sweet Sentiments for my cart.

The daffodils were handmade using a Cottage Cutz die and colored with PanPastels

that can be purchased from Classy Cards 'n Such.

My sweet little girl is "Sophie" from Paper Sweeties.

I paper pieced her clothes using the "Mahola" boutique set.
I used a bit of pompom ribbon trim on both side of the cart top,
made a yellow ribbon flower 
and added ribbon trim around the base of the cart!!

All the other "bits and baubles" were from my "stash" of "stuff"!!

So head on over to "The Shabby Tea Room" and see what my Shabby Tea Room

teammates have created....lots of gorgeous projects to peek at!!

While there, why not join in with us this week...we would love to have you!!

Entering in the following challenges:
The Ribbon Girl .... lemon/yellow and ribbon
and
Hiding In My Craft Room .... Flowers
and
Open Minded Crafting .... Easter/Pastel
and
Craftitude .... Anything Goes or Spring/Easter
and
Craft My Life .... Anything Goes except a card
and
Anything But A Card .... Anything Goes

"Soar" and some Exciting News!!!

This week at "City Crafters" the challenge is "Up, Up and Away 

using the inspiration photo

and a hot air balloon or balloons.

I love the City Crafter challenges and used to play every week, 

but lately haven't had time to join in.

I was super excited that "this week" I had a few "free" days so I could participate!

I had so much fun with this colorful and cheerful card.

I had a couple of my hot air balloon stamps in mind to use

but had a few errands to run and stopped in at Michael's to see what was "new".

While walking through the aisles I noticed a clearance section, and in it

were these adorable Pebbles felt hot air balloons!!

I think it was meant to be as it was the only package left!!

My background paper is from SU I have had for a few years and it's the

first time I have used it...loved how it had the clouds and little houses on it.

I added some rick rack top and bottom and thought it still needed "something"

so added the twine bow. It still "lacked", so I decided to stamp a sentiment on

a cloud die (Impression Obsession) and while looking through my stamps I found

a set from Prima with the word "Soar".

I think this would make a fun grad card!!

Now for "my" exciting news!!!

I am a  new Design Team member for the Dies R Us challenge blog

that begins on May 1st!

There will be two challenges per month, with two teams.

Team A starts May 1st and Team B starts May 15th.

Each challenge runs for two weeks and always begin on the 1st and 15th of each month!

I am on Team B and am looking forward to working with all the other DT members!!

 

If you are not familiar with Dies R Us, check them out HERE.

The entire site is nothing but dies at a discounted price!

Well, that's it for me today....hopefully see YOU tomorrow!

Don't forget to sign up for this month's blog candy...and I already have May's purchased...

you will LOVE it!!!  All you have to do is follow my blog to enter!!!

Teach A Dog New Tricks

Guess what I woke up to this morning??
SNOW!!!!!
Ugh, how can that be, it's April...and my poor, poor Spring flowers!!!
Before I "cry" I wanted to share with you my card that is at/on
the Classy Cards 'n Such blog today for our "die cuts" challenge.
This is a really easy challenge...and a great prize is being offered....
dang it, I wish I could enter...lol!!!

Hello, Diane here with you today on the Classy Cards 'n Such blog.

I have a fun project to share with you I made for this weeks challenge

 "Die Cuts Only".

Speaking of challenges, why don't you join in, we would love to have you.

You can always see our list of weekly challenges listed to the right!!

Now onto today's project!!

Who said "You can't teach an old dog new tricks?"

Well, that's what I did....

I taught this dog just  how much fun it is to fly a kite...

and his little "fluffy" buddy is waiting for his turn!!

The card base is 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" square, the background is 5" x 5".

I cut a bit of whimsical polka dot grass using Impression Obsession die "grass"

The clouds were cut with Memory Box "Puffy Clouds "

The kite is a fun die also from Impression Obsession "Kite die cut set "...

it comes with with a smaller kite die as well as  few other cutting options.

I added some "flocking" for a bit of a fur look to the little white dog

The larger dog and the smaller dog  are from Impression Obsession "Dog Die Set" 

I sponged TH inks on for a bit of golden color.

Additional items used in the making of this card are:

Scor-tape 1/2

Quickie Glue Pen by Sakura

Joy! Foam Pads Large 

Joy Foam Pads Small

Entering In The Following Challenges:

The Crafty Bloggers Network .... Die Cuts and/or Embossing
and
Challenges 4 Everybody ....Anything Goes
and
The Squirrel  and The Fox .... All Creatures Great and Small
and
Crafty Catz .... Animals
and
Catered Crop .... Think Green Recipe Swap

Easter Sweetness At "The Shabby Tea Room"

Happy Monday to you all...I hope you are having a great day!!

This week at "The Shabby Tea Room" Lenet is our host and she has chosen the

gorgeous inspiration photo below and we were to use "polka dots & stripes".

Our sponsor for the week is "The Cutting Cafe"....

and I chose this adorable cut file bunny card!!!

I cut out my base card and then cut the bunny again from Bo Bunny Pastel Dots paper.

I added a newly purchased fence (well the die is new..lol) and a couple of birdies

singing their hearts out for their bunny friend!! 

"My" stripes are in my ribbon...it is so pretty and came from Michael's Easter section!

I added a bit of "Easter" grass at the bottom and some "tuti fruiti sequins" I purchased

from Paper Sweeties....they are so cute in the shape of tiny flowers!

I hope you will join in our challenge this week at "The Shabby Tea Room"...

The Cutting Cafe is offering a great prize for one lucky winner.

While there, check out my "teamies" projects...they are awesome as always!!!

Don't forget you still have a couple of weeks to sign up for my blog candy above!!

Entering the following challenges:
Craft-Dee Bowz Monthly Challenge .... Anything Goes With A Handmade Bow
and
Craft Your Passion .... Bunnies, Chicks, Eggs..use any
and 
Melonheadz Friends .... Easter
and
The Pink Elephant .... Easter

Easter Spring Bird Trinket Box

Happy Sunday to you ALL!!

Not sure f you remember but a few posts back I said I was making Sunday

my "ME" day...

meaning I can do whatever I want and not what needs/or should be done..!!

So far I have stuck to it...and today was very nice out, so worked out all day....

and these old bones are feeling every second of it!!

Being my "ME" day I also choose to join in a challenge I love to do each month.

That is the Crafty Secrets "Linky Party"....oh my goodness, Sandy sent me her

new Spring line of digital papers and they are gorgeous!!

I built my entire box with these papers in mind!!

And guess what...promise NOT to tell??  Good...I have NEVER used digital papers before!!

I just couldn't resit these...the vintage little seed packet on top of my box....

well it is an entire page of them...all different...love!!

The pretty lavender paper I used is also from her digital line!

I started my box with a small round paper mache box left over from previous

crafting years...I think I found about a dozen of them!!  

The birdie...well he is a leftover, too!!

I used flowers (the Rose and the purple flowers) that had already been cut

and were hiding in my stash!! I colored them with PanPastels....the leaves

also came out of my stash....the ribbons...well, see the little bit of gingham 

underneath??  It is all I had left, so I tied it on for a bit more contrast!!

I cut my little butterfly with a SU Sizzix die from the same CS digital paper!!

I think it turned out pretty darn cute!!
I also used a few Cheery Lynn Designs dies....
The sweet little doily comes in the center of the Polynesian Sails die....
the little flowers are from The Miniature Rose
and the Leaf the birdie is sitting on s from the Flourish Leaf  Strip

Make sure to stop by tomorrow and see my Shabby Tea Room DT project....

it is sooooooooo cute!!

Also don't forget to enter my blog candy above...and if you didn't win last month

or don't win this month...not to worry, I will be offering blog candy each month

all year long!!!!

I am also entering this in the following challenges:

Cheery Lynn Designs .... Pretty In Purple
and

Open Minded Crafting Fun Challenges .... Easter of Pastel Colors

and

Sugar Creek Hollow .... Easter
and
All Crafts Challenge .... Anything But A Card
and
Let's Get Shabby Challenge .... Easter/Spring

Cute Little Easter Chick

Hi All, this is my post today on the "Classy Cards 'n Such"  blog.
By entering the challenge, you could win the Impression Obsession
stamp like the one I have used here.

Hello Classy Friends, Diane here today with my "cute little Easter chick" card

I created for this weeks challenge  "Easter Inspirational Sentiment". 

To start my card I used the gorgeous "Stardream Serpentine Pearlized Metallic" paper.

I can't say enough about these papers, except once you try them, 

you will want them in all the colors available!!

I used Darice Doily Lace Embossing Folder and next layered my stamped image

Impression Obsession "Chick" on top, popped up with Joy! Foam pads Large.

The image was stamped on Spellbinders Classic Scalloped Small.

I used Copics to color the image, except I paper pieced the chick using

Bo Bunny Soft Shades Double-Dot Designs paper. Once the image was colored,

I added Clear Glitter Pen "Wink of Stella" here and there.  If you tilt the card slightly it has

a nice shimmer on the flowers, stem  and  chick.

The sentiment was stamped on Spellbinders "Radiant Rectangles"....

I added a bit of bling using "Amber Rhinestones".

I hope I have inspired "you" to join us with "your" project for this weeks challenge!!

Entering in the following challenges:
Word Art Wednesday .... Anything Goes
and
Simon Says .... Happy Easter or Sweet Treats
and
Animal Friendship Challenge .... Spring/Easter, must have an animal
and
Shopping Our Stash .... Paper Piecing

CAS White On White

Hello Friends,

This week at "The Sisterhood of Crafters" the challenge is "White on White"!!

I really thought outside the box with this one....lol.

Awhile back I had a post of a watercolor wisteria stencil I had used.

When I embossed that one on watercolor paper, I also embossed a second one in case I messed up my first one (you all know how that can happen!)...

Well, the first one worked out fine and this second one has just been sitting here.

 in all my mess on my desk, 

it got turned upside down and the more I looked at it, the more it 

reminded me of white bleeding hearts, which I have in my own  gardens...

I decided why not leave it flipped and add some butterflies and have a CAS

white on white card.  

It is really pretty and the embossing shows up much better IRL, it is so difficult to

capture the beauty on camera of a white on white card!!

Head on over to "The Sisterhood" and see what other beautiful white on white cards

the DT has for you, and while there why not leave a comment and join in our challenge with us, I would love to see "your" project!!!

Entered In the following challenges:
Just Inspirational Challenges .... Embossing
and
The Crafty Bloggers Network .... Embossing
and
Totally Gorjuss .... White on White

Easter Inspiration

Hi All.....here is my post that is on the
Classy Cards 'n Such blog today.  I hope you will take a peek
over there and even better, join in our challenge this week, 
there is a lovely prize up for grabs!!
Don't forget to sign up for "my" blog candy above!!


Hello Classy Friends Diane here with you today

to show you my project I did for our new challenge this week 

"Easter Inspirational Sentiment".....

Make an Easter sentiment your "focal" point.

I hope you will join in with the DT for our challenge this week!

It's hard to believe that we are already into April and Easter is just a few weeks away.

As I write this, it is still rather dreary and cool here, but I can overcome that

by using a few of my new "Spring" items I have purchased from

Classy Cards'n Such online store.

I started off with a basic white card stock 

and embossed it with  Crafts-Too "Dots" embossing folder....

I used Spellbinders Decorative Labels Eight, 

layered to stamp my Easter sentiment on...

The sentiment  I used is from Flourishes ...

though this exact one is not stocked in the store,

there are plenty of other ones from Flourishes you can find HERE  

and many more lovely Easter stamp sets 

including JustRite "Easter Blessing Oval Medallions"  and 

Our Daily Bread "Easter Blessings" to name a few!!

The purple background paper on my Spellbinders die is the

Bo Bunny Soft Shades Double Dot Designs...love this paper!!

I next cut 3 sets of Memory Box "Dancing Tulips" colored with a few Copics.

Lastly I added a bow and my card was complete!!

A few other items used in the making of my card are:

Scor-tape 1/2 to mount my die cuts with

Art Institute Dries Clear Adhesive to glue my bow on.

Thanks for stopping by!!

I hope to see YOU at our challenge this week....

Next week (April 14th) our challenge will be Die Cuts Only!!!

Entering in the following challenges:
Crafty Sentiment Designs .... Easter
and
Cuttin and Stampin .... Easter or Rainbow
and
Die Cuttin' Divas .... Color Challenge..Pastels
and 
Card Mania .... Easter