My GOOD News!!

Just taking a quick moment to tell you my wonderful news!!

I have been invited to become on the very, very talented team at

"Fussy and Fancy"!!

Woowho...I feel so honored and a tiny bit intimidated as these girls are good!!

MY first project will be "debuting" on November 14th

and wait until you see it....I absolutely love it!!

Check back on Monday the 3rd, as I have my

The Shabby Tea Room and Crafty Secrets posts going live.

They both are awesome projects and you won't want to miss them I am sure!!!

Happy Halloween!!!!

Can you believe it is already Halloween and October is OVER!!!

Actually I am kind of glad as I am done making Halloween for this year..lol.

But, before I go on to other great things I wanted to finish up the month

with another Halloween project from my Crafty Secrets supplies....

after all, after today, I will have to  put it all away for another year!!

I decided to use up some of the Crafty Secrets pieces of papers I had

left over from my other projects that I printed from the Vintage Halloween CD#4..

and an image from Creative Scraps Halloween Greetings!

I think this image is so adorable with all those little black kitties running helter skeltor!!

I wonder if this little witch is a "cat hoarder"...lol!!

 I used a metallic paper, that speaking of hoarding, I am hoarding this as it has

been discontinued and I love the color!!!  I embossed it with a  "timmie" Eb folder

topped with a doily cut from the beautiful Crafty Secrets digital papers...

added some little black kitties of my own, from an Impression Obsession die
a couple of banners and a bow!!

I hope you have a safe and fun Halloween and don't eat too much candy!!

I will see you here next Monday on the 3rd with our new 

Crafty Secrets November linky party!

That is where you can enter our challenge and see all the wonderful tutorials

and creativeness the Design Team has for you!!

Be sure to stop by the Crafty Secrets blog and take a Peek-a-boo, as it is outstanding!!

Oh and don't forget to check out the incredible SALE packets !!!

There are 2 new packets that have been added, so now EIGHT to choose from!!!

Entering in the following challenges:

DL Art October linky party .... Halloween/anything goes
and 
If You Gave A Crafter A Cookie .... Halloween

 and

Crafting by Designs .... Halloween

and

Scrapyland .... Halloween

Winter Centerpiece

Here is my post that is on the Classy Cards 'n Such blog today.

Remember, you can use my code DIANE-10 at any time

to receive 10% off at the store.

Hello Classy Friends,

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

This week our challenge is Candy Cane Christmas

using red, white, and a touch of green.

I have to say I have had this idea for this card for quite some time,

so it was fun when I finally got to pull it all together!

I started with a Memory Box Winter Large Snowflakes stencil.

If you haven't tried stenciling yet, give it a go as it is a

beautiful way to make backgrounds!

Using Dreamweaver Embossing paste, 

I applied it to my stencil with a Palette knife.

I quickly removed the stencil and immediately covered my

stenciled image with Crystal Ice glitter.

A tip when stenciling is to have a small pan of water nearby to

drop your knife and stencil in.

The embossing paste dries very quickly, and this way it protects

your tools and stencils until you can clean them up!

For the centerpiece I cut Memory Box Vintage Apothecary Jar

and filling it with Impression Obsession Fir Sprig Set which I coated with 

a chunky, snow-like glitter.

The candy canes are from Impression Obsession Christmas Icons.

The white twigs I cut a tree die, then cut it apart to give me twigs.

The holly was a die I had on hand.

I finished with Christmas Red Pearls and White Pearls.

Are you inspired to join in our challenge?

We would love to see your creation!

Entering the following challenges:

Crafty Cardmakers .... Cut It Out
and
Christmas Card Challenges .... Anything Goes
and
Allsorts .... Christmas
and
Festive Friday .... Inspiration Photo

and

Fab 'n Funky .... Christmas

and

The Paper Shelter .... Is it too early for Christmas?

and

Simon Says .... Anything Goes

and 

Word Art Wednesday .... Anything Goes

Spooky Pumpkins

Hello Monday!!!

I just had to do a few more Halloween creations...

I bought this  Stampendous stamp a few years ago

and can you believe this is the first time it has seen ink???

Of course you can, as I would imagine YOU have several

that has never seen ink, too..lol

I stamped  the image on water color paper and used

TH Distress markers to color it a bit.....

Black Stickles was added to the pumpkin faces.....

I used a MS punch for my black cat....

doesn't it look like the jack-o-lanterns are laughing at scaring him?

All the rest of the items I used were from my very BIG

stash of Halloween!!

Over the years I rarely have the time for Halloween cards/projects,

but this year, I was able to squeeze a few things in.....

and I hope to have a few more done before the "big day" ends!!

On another note...come back on Friday...as I have some

wonderful and exciting news to share!!

I am entering this in the following challenges:

Stampendous .... Halloween Haunt

Just Us Girls .... photo challenge

and
Crafty Cardmakers ... Cut It Out..die cut/punch
and
Dream Valley ....Halloween

Cute Friends

This is my post on the Classy Cards 'n Such blog today!!

Hello Classy Friends

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

Is the weather getting cooler in your neck of the woods?

It is here in Michigan (known as the winter wonderland).....

but before winter sets in, we have Fall...

my favorite time of the year, and what better way to celebrate

then to have a Fall Kitty Picnic!!!

Using our newest challenge inspiration photo below,
I came up with the following card!

When I purchase my products from Beverly, I try to look

at each item in many ways, getting lots of use out of them for each season.

 The Wild Rose Studio Kitty Picnic stamp was no exception.

By using fall colors, I was able to turn a summer stamp into fall!!

Using Graphic 45 Botanical Tea 6 x 6 paper, 

I paper pieced both the picnic basket and dress.

This cute stamp has both lady bugs and a butterfly on it.....

being fall I covered them up by first using

Twinkling H2O's Autumn Brilliance painted on card stock

then cut out with Impression Obsession Small Leaf Set.

I love the shimmer the H2O's give the leaves...just like real ones!!

I placed the small leaves over the butterfly and ladybugs and

viola' I have a fall card!!

For my background, I cut strips of paper from "Kaisercraft" Lady Rose paper pad.

For a bit of interest I used Stickles on the flowers and hat!!

Adding a satin bow, a button (and a few more of those shimmery leaves)

and my card is complete!!

Did you know we have a weekly challenge??

It is always a fun inspiration photo and you could be our weekly winner!!!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Entering the following challenges:
Color Throwdown .... #315
and
Red Rubber Inspirationals .... Anything Goes, Focus on Stamping
and
Cards and More ....Leaves
and
Just Inspirational Challenge .... Fall

Autumn Days

Hello All, it is my turn to "host" the new challenge this week

at "The Sisterhood of Crafters" and our theme is "Fall Colors"

My first thought went right away to fall leaves, but I have been having this "urge"

lately to use some of my very neglected stamps.....

Nothing speaks fall like a "Ring Necked Pheasant"....

We used to see lots of them, I think I have seen one here in maybe 10 years...

we think the fox are the cause of that...so sad!!

I used a Stampin Up set "Autumn Days" for my wheat and pheasant

The pheasant was colored with SU markers Early Expresso, Soft Suede and Cajun Craze

The wheat was stamped in SU Crushed Curry and So Saffron

I have lots of scraps as I am sure you all do

and my first instinct was to grab a pad of paper instead of "digging" through my scraps....

but I grabbed my "brown" bag of scraps and this piece of paper is the first I pulled out...

perfect!!  But, I still have a scrap of the scrap left...lol!!

The little leaves were just "floating" around on my desk, so I added them

along with some sequins and the ribbon, which is also from SU!!

Well, I have to tell you, it felt "GOOD" to get some of those old stamps, pens and inks

out and put to use, so good I just might have to do it again!!

So my sweet friends, why not head on over to "The Sisterhood" and see what my

"Sistahs" have created to inspire you!!

We also have two visiting guest design "step-sisters" which have some awesome

projects as well!!!

Entering the following challenges:

Just Inspirational .... Fall
and
Craft-Dee BowZ .... Anything Goes With A Handmade Bow
and
Love To Create .... Anything Goes With Fall Colors
and
Simon Says Monday Challenge .... Anything Goes
and
The Crazy Challenge .... Autumn Gatherings

Spooky Treats for Crafty Secrets

I have been having a ball making my Halloween projects this year

and using the digitals provided by Crafty Secrets has made it even more fun!!

I love vintage Halloween the most and am loving this owl on his pumpkins

it is the cutest image and came from the 

Crafty Secrets "Halloween Images & Journal Notes"  booklets.

All of the background papers are from  Vintage Halloween CD #4.

I printed my Halloween papers for the bag on regular printer paper

so as the bag would be more flexible, the bag is a white lunch bag.

I cut a Top Note die from another piece of the printed paper, but this one on card stock.

I had a label I had on my desk I cut with a Spellbinders die, then added the

image to that, but first gluing some old black hairnet stuff I had in my stash...

bet you are wondering why on earth I had a black hairnet around, aren't you..lol!!

Well, my sister and I used to do craft shows and made lots of Halloween and I am sure

it is left from one of those spooky dolls we used to make (I rarely throw anything out)

"cuz, ya just never know" when you might need it!!

I added  a bit of black lace at the top of the bag, and a few other do-dads to finish it off.

Now all it needs is some treats to go in the bag and I think it is going to be "gifted"

to my Mom for Halloween!!

There is still time to get the Halloween/Fall sale packet at Crafty Secrets.

They are going all digital and cleaning the warehouse out of all of these goodies

there are 8 different kits to choose from...Around a $72 value for $19.95 plus $4.95 to ship!

Here is a link to the blog and here is a link to the store

Entering the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge .... Anything Goes
and
Clear It Out .... Theme Halloween Stash Black and Orange (my old black hairnet)
and
PDE linky party .... Halloween Decorations
and
Shopping Our Stash .... Halloween (my old black hairnet)
and 
Tuesday Throwdown ....Halloween Colors

Tricks and Treats and Spooky Wishes To You!

Good Monday Morning friends.....

Being the 3rd Monday of the month, it brings us to a new challenge

at "The Shabby Tea Room".

Our theme for this challenge is "Spooky Wishes"

using the inspiration photo and to add a "bow"!

Our sponsors this week are:

Creations by AR

and

Digital Papers  by Janet

I chose the cutest Pun'kin Card and Party Set from Creations by AR

This set comes with a Card, Favor Box and a Place card

I chose to make the adorable card.....

I printed my card stock and embossed it with a swirl EB folder for the base..

I printed the decorative paper, cut it out and added it to the front and back...

One fun and unique thing about this card, is it stands up on it's own....

the stem pops through a slit on the front, giving it a 3D effect.

The paper I chose is a spider web design, the web is embossed with a velvet pattern..

so soft and fun to "touch"..

To decorate my card, I used Halloween Ticket Digital Papers by Janet on Etsy

I added Stickles here and there on  the ticket, as I think the glitter adds to the vintage look!!

Now, head on over to "The Shabby Tea Room" and see what my "shabby sisters"

have created just to inspire "you"....you won't be disappointed...

and while there, why not join in, our sponsors are offering awesome prizes!!!

Entering in the following challenges:

Glitter n Sparkle .... Use Some Orange
and
AAA Cards .... Halloween Inspired
and
Open Minded challenges ....Pumpkins/Jack o' Lanterns
and 
Pumpkin Spice .... Harvest or Halloween

Halloween Dance

Hello Friends,

I am so caught up (for me) in my DT work

I decided to take a bit of time  for "me"!

I have a bunch of Halloween papers, stamps, do-dads,

that seem to get neglected year after year....

Plus the fact I just bought a new Stampendous stamp called

"WitchyDance" that I needed to use before Halloween is gone again!

 This is a fun, fun scene I created and when I saw this stamp it not only

made me laugh, the first thing I thought of was

"Dance as if no one were watching"...LOL!!

I had the background (polka dots) that I made last year with a stencil and

molding paste I added a bit or orange ink to..

so, I am thrilled to actually use it!!

The haunted house paper is from Websters Pages "Once upon a Halloween"

I added a corner spider web I had already cut and a moon tucked behind.

The tree is one  from Cheery Lynn Designs that 
I cut the other day for my other Halloween scene card

you might of seen HERE...I didn't like the look of it on that card,

but it fits in good here, I think!!
The bats were punched with a SU punch on corrugated paper
giving them a bit of dimension!

The sentiment I printed in "word" in the "chiller" format!

My cute little dancers were stamped in Versamark and embossed in black EB powder.

So there you have it....I am having so much fun, I might create another one for tomorrow!!

Entering in the following challenges:

Stampendous .... Halloween Haunt

and

Fussy and Fancy .... Orange and Black
and
Simply Create Too .... Halloween/Orange
and 
Scrappy Land .... Halloween (Cheery Lynn Designs Birch Tree with Critters)
and
Dream Factory Blog Hop .... Hocus Pocus
and
Vintage Stamping Challenges .... colors black and orange

What's Cookin' ??

Hello my friends.

It has been raining the last several days here

and I have been hunkered down in my craft room just creating away!!

What better way to spend a cool, rainy day, then creating, right??

This month at "Crafty Secrets" for our "October linky party",

Sandy is giving everyone that enters the challenge her "new"

Retro Kitchen collection.

OMGoodness, it is full of wonderful papers and images

that had "my name" written all over it....

It was love at first "print"...LOL!

It will make it's debut in the store October 20th...

so this is a bit of a "sneak peek" you might say...

I made a 6 x 6 potholder card...

After printing out my gorgeous papers,

I put the blue gingham one back in my printer and printed

the digital apron stamp on it ...pretty cool...hmmm?

ALL of the papers you see are from the Retro Kitchen collection.

Look at the red with the scallop trim...love it...I hand cut it for the trim!!

I took a little time and machine stitched my "potholder" to look like the real thing!!

Stickles was added to the apron for the cherries, a bit of bling to the flower trim.

I even added a ribbon "tab" for the potholder to hang..

You still have a bit of time to enter our Crafty Secrets October linky party

and get ALL the Retro Kitchen collection for free...just for entering...

you also have a chance to win a $40 gift certificate to the store!!

Don't forget there are some awesome packet deals going on at Crafty Secrets

right now...you need to scoop them up before they are gone!!

Entering the following challenges:
Fan-Tastic Tuesdays .... Anything Goes with a Twist (yellow)
and
Sister Act .... Anything Goes

Haunted House at Dies R Us

BOO!!!

Did I scare you...lol!!

This week at the "Dies R Us" challenge blog

the theme is "HALLOWEEN"

I made a 6 x 6 card, just perfect for the detail that went into this card!

I started my base with a textured card stock.

I "tore" 2 different designer papers to fit, from my stash

Using a Spellbinders Circle die 

(I think this was my very first ever, Spellbinders I purchased)

I sponged a moon using TH Distress Inks...

I cut my "spooky" tree from a shiny black "recycled" piece of packaging.

The tree is a Cheery Lynn Designs Birch Tree With Cute Critters die..

Speaking of recycling, using Spellbinders Halloween Fence Scenes and Shapes,

I used another recycled packaging piece that came with the TH Distress Stencils

and cut my "haunted house" from that!!

The fence with the crow and black cats were cut on a glitter paper

and are part of the Spellbinders Halloween Fence Scenes and Shapes die!!

I added a witch and a bat, both cut using punches!!

Now, head on over to the "Dies R Us" challenge blog 

and see what beautiful inspiration my teammates have for you!!

Join in with us and you "could" win a fabulous gift certificate to the DRU store!!!!!

Entering the following challenges:
Scrappyland .... Halloween
and
PDE Linky Party .... Halloween
and
Try It On Tuesday ....Spooky
and
Cheery Lynn Designs ....Black and Orange
and
Pile It On ....Use 2 or More Die Cuts
and
Corrosive Challenges ....Halloween
and
A Little Bit Crafty .... BOO

Christmas Fun

Happy Birthday to "Me"
Happy Birthday to "Me".....LOL
Yes, today is  my birthday...
and I am doing whatever I want....
which is "nothing"...hah!!

Here is my post on the Classy Cards 'n Such blog today....
thanks for the nice comments!!

Hello Classy Friends,

It is time again for our fun weekly challenge....

This week our challenge theme is "Polka Dot Christmas"

Make a Christmas card with the colors shown in our inspiration photo and dots!!

I went with a rather clean and simple choice for my card....

I really wanted to show off my "stenciled" polka dot tree!!!

Beverly has lots and lots of stencils to choose from in the store

and I used Memory Box Texture Mini Dots 

I inked up my craft mat with Tim Holtz Barn Red Distress ink

then added a small scoop of Dreamweaver embossing paste and mixed 

it together with my Palette Knife.

You don't want to use too much, as once you have "inked" it, 

it cannot go back in the jar!!

I used a Paste Spreader to apply my paste on Banana Split Pop Tone paper...

I set it aside to dry, (which it dries pretty fast)

I added my background paper from BoBunny Candy Cane Lane 6 x 6 paper pad.

I cut my window from PoppyStamps Small Madison Window.....

There is a tiny "snippet" of lace added for a valance.

Once my stencil was dry I cut Impression Obsession Fir Trees from my paper.

It resembles designer paper, however, what is unique about stenciling it,

is gives a raised dot background, giving it dimension!!

If you were looking through this window into my home,

you would see a few pets, 

so I added a small kitty from Impression Obsession Baby Kittens

and a puppy from Impression Obsession Puppy Set

I added two smaller trees to the inside of the card it finish it off!

We are inviting YOU to join in our weekly challenges, 

and would love to see YOUR creations....

Won't you join us?

Entering the following challenges:
Pile It On .... 2 or more Die Cuts
and
A Gem of A Challenge ....Create A Scene
and
Send a Smile 4 Kids ....Early Holiday Wishes  4 Kids
and
We Do Doobadoo .... Christmas

Colors of Fall

Happy Sunday Fall Morning!!!

I have been up since the crack of dawn and decided not to waste any time

so came up with this fall card for the challenge at "City Crafter"

which is to use the inspiration photo and the theme is "Leaves"

I went with a more simple design, and I think a bit of elegance!

Last fall my friend "Dar" gave me a bunch of packets of  5x7 AC cardstocks.

I used a piece of the brown textured from the "neutrals" pack....

My little strip of patterned paper is Bo Bunny Trail Mix

I purchased some new Prima leaf dies, and I am the kind of person

that when I get my new dies, I have to cut "samples" right away

and that is where these two leaves came from!! 

A bow from a scrap and a couple of stick pins were added...

I finished off with a few sequins that I found at Tuesday Mornings!!

I had the best day yesterday!!

Six of us went to an Amish home where the owner (Lydia) cooked us

an Amish tea...OMGoodness, what a wonderful time we all had!!

I wanted to share with you the picture of the menu she made (and served)

I think I put 20#'s on!!!!

She let us tour her home and even take all the photos we wanted....

She is true Amish and explained the ways of the Amish life to us...

it was the best learning experience.....

and after several questions were asked she reminded us 

"remember, we are just people, too"

that kind of stuck with me!!!

I was a fun, fun day spent not ony in her company, but with good friends...

One of the cutest things she had outside was an old corn crib

turned into a gazebo...she said her brother thought she was nuts

when she had him move it there, but I have to say "I WANT ONE"!!!

It was so unique and she had a grill and patio table and chairs inside and it was screened!

I hope you enjoyed this post as much as I enjoyed my day yesterday!!!

Entering the following challenges:
AAA Cards .... Autumn Colors 

and

Great Impressions .... Autumnal Elegance

All Sorts .... Cream and Brown