Winter Blues

I have this post today at the
Classy Cards 'n Such blog
and this is my card for our current challenge
using the inspiration photo below...
we would love to have you join in with us!

Hello Classy Friends, Diane here with you today.

This week our challenge theme is Winter Birds.

I have to admit, my card today is far from winter,

but I just could not resist using this awesome stencil by

Dreamweavers called Birds and Blossoms.

I had a technique I wanted to try and this bird just kept calling to me,

or should I say chirping!

 But, before I get to my project, I wanted to share a real winter bird.

I have had about 12 Cardinals at my feeders all at one time.

I love seeing their bright red feathers against the white snow!

Okay, back to the project.

I used a gorgeous Metallic Silver embossing paste by Dreamweavers,

applying it with my Palette Knife to black card stock.

 Here is a photo of the image drying,  it is pretty enough,

you could stop right there!

After the embossing paste was totally dry, I placed my stencil back over

(after cleaning it of course) the embossed image, applied Perfect Medium

by Ranger, then applied Perfect Pearls with a small brush using the colors

Mandarin, Jubilee Blue, and Sour Apple.

This same technique can be done using VersaMark and Dreamweavers Mica Powders.

There are a few more steps after applying your powders,

that I haven't gone into here.

The design papers I used are from Glitz Felicity.

I added a baby blue bow and a beautiful Ribbon Slide.

The finishing touches, were adding LaCreme Pearls to some of the flower centers!

Wouldn't this be a perfect card for a "birthday"
to chase away those "winter blues"!!

We have the current challenge tab on the right,

take a peek at what the DT have created to inspire you,

we would love for you to join in!!

Entering the following challenges:
Dreamweavers January Challenge....Birthday
Craft-Dee Bowz .... Anything goes With a Handmade Bow
Crafting From The Heart .... Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion .... Anything Goes
The Corrosive Challenge .... Winter Blues
All Sorts .... Spring Flowers
Design Team Showcase  .... DT's only
Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday
Using new stencil coloring technique

Shabby Chic Meets Primitive

Hello Shabby Friends.

Are you staying warm and cozy this winter??

I am trying, but there have been very "BRRR" days here.

Speaking of "cold", 

that brings me to this weeks challenge theme

at The Shabby Tea Room which is "Forecast? Freez'in"

and using the photo below for inspiration.

Normally my cards for "The Shabby Tea Room" are a bit more "shabby".

But, this week I went with "Shabby Chic Meets Primitive"!

Our sponsor is "Paper Sweeties" and as soon as I saw the inspiration photo,

I knew I was going to use this adorable 

"Bundle" from Paper Sweeties

called "Holly Days Bundle"   isn't it just the cutest??

I "built" my little snowman 

using a piece of homespun for his scarf 

with a rusty jingle bell.

The cheeks were made rosy with real blush and a q-tip.  I like to do this for

"blushing" my figures as I just seem to have much more control on getting

that "soft" look I am after.

His little hat, I used Marvy Snow Marker

to give a little more 3D look!

I started my card out by stamping a background on very vanilla card stock.

The little birdhouse and bird are cutouts I have had forever, and I mean forever!

I bought these before the dies were even thought of..lol!! 

The ribbon has also been in my stash for a long time.

I added a few greens from my all ready "cut pile"

and a few berry and a flower embellishment.

Now "pop" on over to The Shabby Tea Room blog and see what the other

'Shabby Girls" have to inspire you.

Join in our challenge with us, and don't forget to take a peek at the adorable

stamps~dies~embellishments at Paper Sweeties!!

Entering the following challenges:
Paper Sweeties....Winter Wishes

Crafty Cardmakers ....Something Old (cutouts)/Something New (Berries Cluster)

Lawnscaping .... Stamp A Background

Love To Create .... #150 Color Inspired

Shabby Chic Quilt Blocks

It is time again for a NEW challenge at the Dies R Us challenge blog

and this week the theme is "Embossing Folders".

So get those folders out and join in...the only other requirement is to use

a die (after all, that is what Dies R Us is all about..right?)!!

  I went a "Shabby Chic" route this time,

which happens to be a favorite design of mine.

Nothing like pretty soft colors, lace and pink to cheer up a day!!

I started with a wonderful new embossing folder that has all these gorgeous

little embossed quilt squares on it.

 I will have a list of the dies and links to them I used below, at the post bottom.

I took several pictures so you can see some of the blocks.

(The ones I haven't covered up that is)...LOL!

The background paper that I embossed is Graphic 45 Little Darlings.

The jar is one I purchased from an Etsy sight, isn't it gorgeous?

And, here I have used those little Heart Stems once again,

I told you, you would be seeing them a lot on my blog!!  I just love these things!

I made the Roses and Rose leaves, and funny thing is, 

all 3 Roses were constructed of the same paper, but I only inked the edges of

two, using TH Distress Worn Lipstick ink.  I added Frosted Lace Stickles to each Rose.

The sentiment is from Flourishes Always Blooming set.

Goodness how I miss that stamp company, good thing I have LOTS of their stamps!

I tucked a little "crochet" die cut under the jar for a doily.

Make sure to stop over at the "Dies R Us" challenge blog.

Just by entering, you could be our "random draw" winner

AND

you can see all the other beautiful creativeness by my challenge teammates!!

Darice Embossing Folder Quilt Blocks

Cheery Lynn /Designs Tea Rose Medium

Impression Obsession Heart Stems

PoppyStamps Crochet Corner

Entering the following challenges:
Design Team Showcase .... DT only
As You Like It .... Favorite EB Folder and Why
It is my newest Quilt Blocks EB folder, and I just LOVE all the different little details in 
each beautiful embossed square!
In The Pink .... Anything goes With PINK!
Moving Along With The Times .... Dies/Punches
Word Art Wednesday .... Anything Goes
Craft Dee Bowz .... Anything Goes With A Bow

Violet Crush Cards

Hello my friends!

After a much needed break, the "Sistahs" are back 

with our first challenge of the year at "The Sisterhood"!

Just to make it easy on "ya all"  Lisa has chosen "Anything Goes" as our theme!

There is an added twist to add "Something New"!

Funny thing for me is, I have a hard time with anything goes as I can never decide...lol!

Last year (I can say that now..lol) I purchased a beautiful group of "cut-outs"

from KaiserCraft called "Violet Crush!

This little packet was/is full of the most beautiful little pieces of ephemera

and are so fun to put together to make cards with!!

My "new" is during black Friday weekend" I shopped for "me" and bought numerous

clearance EB folders, which I used for this project.

I got so carried away with my pretty little pieces that I made not one, but 2 cards.

all the images are popped up on both cards, and the second card I added some stickles

for a bit of sparkle!! 

Well, this was a quick post with quick cards and I invite you to join in

our fun challenge at The Sisterhood!!

Entering in the following challenges 
Tip Top Tuesday .... Keep It Simple (first card for entry)
Crafty Card Makers .... Something Old (ephemera) Something New (EB folder) 
Word Art Wednesday ....Anything Goes (2nd Card for entry)

In The Pink

This is my post live today at the

Classy Cards 'n Such blog 

for our challenge this week using the inspiration photo below.

Hello Classy Friends!

Diane here with you today.  I am thinking a bit ahead for Valentine's Day

and created this adorable snowman for this weeks challenge

Pink and Polka Dots!

I love it when you can use a seasonal die for a non-seasonal project, don't you?

Being February is still a cold month, what can be better then a cute little

pink and polka dot snow girl, all ready for Valentines Day.

My adorable little snow girl was cut using the Cottage Cutz die Woodland Snowman.

I eliminated a few of the Christmas pieces, and added a little heart between my love birds.

I added the smallest size of Christmas Red Pearls down the front of her.

Cottage Cutz dies are very detailed and take a little longer then other dies, 

but are well worth the effort when done!  Beverly has a very nice selection of

Cottage Cutz dies in the shop, be sure to take a peek at them.

A  Large Picket Fence die from Impression Obsession was popped up behind her .

To finish I added a few Fluffy pink Clouds by Memory Box 
(clouds can be pink if I want ..lol)...and don't they look like they are "floating?"!

A few other products I always use are Scor-tape 1/2" ...Scor-tape, other then glue

is the only thing I use to secure my pieces down with.  It holds forever it seems, and I go 

through it like water...love that stuff!  I also use lots of  Joy! Foam pop ups, both in the

small and large sizes. I know it costs more to mail the thicker the card,

but I just love the 3D look, I can't help myself!

Entering the following challenges:
Crafty Catz ....Polka Dots
Glitter n Sparkle .... Include some Pink
Brown Sugar .... Pink and Red
Cupcake Inspirations .... Snow Friends

Design Team Showcase ... DT Only

Cute Little Vellum Crafty Secrets Treat Envelopes

Hello "Crafty Friends"

Can you believe a "NEW" holiday ...Valentine's Day is only a month away.....

and we "just" celebrated the New Year it seems.

Is it me, or does it seem the older you get, the faster time goes by?

Oh well, nothing we can do about it, except maybe make the most out of our days!

I had intended to have this post up and running at midnight last night,

but I have been having a few computer issues and it just didn't happen...sigh!!

 

I do however, have something fun to show you.

These cute little vellum envelope treat pouches made using

Crafty Secrets Digital Vintage Valentine Kit D-117

This kit is full of crafty goodness, it is hard to decide which one to use.

So, that being said, you will see more of these images/papers on my blog

during the next 3 weeks or so!!

These were pretty easy to make, I just cut my vellum the size I wanted,

scored them, used a Spellbinders Scallop Circle die to cut the flaps,

sewed up the sides, added little velcro dots under the bows

to close them, and decorated with 2 of the images from the kit!

On this particular page, there are 9 images.

I chose 2 and "fussy cut" them out.

Aren't they cute?

They can be filled with candy hearts, kisses, a big marshmallow heart

or whatever I want!

I had hoped to have them filled, but I have not been out of the house

since the weather has gotten so bad...we have 23" of snow and counting!

Well that's it for today...oh wait....

did you know there is a Crafty Secrets January Linky Party (challenge)

going on right now??

Go HERE and check it out and all the DT has samples there with tutorials

on their blogs.

Each entry gets a free Crafty Secrets Digital Bedtime Kids image

and one winner will win the entire set!

Entering in the following challenges:  
Design Team Showcase ....DT"S only
Anything But A Card .... New Beginnings 
Crafting When We Can ....Anything But A Card
Creative Corner .... Love Is In The Air
Jo's Scrap Shack .... Bling It On

Quilt Scraps

This is my post going live today at

Classy Cards 'n Such!

Pop on over and check out our challenge we have going on,

you can find it HERE!

Hello Classy Friends!

If you are like me you probably have lots of "scrap" pieces of paper

laying around from previous projects and are thinking of ways to use them!

I have been very Pinterest inspired lately and saw the details for this card

there.  I had created one of these several years ago and it appealed to me

so much, I decided to re-create another one.  Plus the fact it is a wonderful

way to use up some of those scraps!!.

I have heard this design called Faux Pinwheel and Quilt Card.

I guess either name would work, your choice!

First, I embossed a piece of creamy card stock using Craft Too Mini Fans embossing folder.

Then using a 1 1/4" square punch,

I punched eight squares using some of my left over scraps pieces from

Authentique 6 x 6 paper pad Believe.

Each square was adhered to the other using Scor-Tape 1/4"

and then the entire piece was popped up using JOY! Foam Pads Small.

I added a brad to the center of the piece,

and a sentiment from a Flourishes set I had on hand.

I encourage you to give this card a try and use up some of those scrap pieces

YOU have on hand.  I hope you get Pinterest inspired and visit the

Classy Cards 'n Such Pinterest board.  We have lots of beautiful ideas for you there!

Entering In The Following challenges:
DL.Art January Monthly linky party .... Anything Goes
and
Hiding In My Craft Room .... Super Scraps Saturday (use scraps)
and
Polkadoodles .... Tic Tac Toe (left column down)