Hey Chickadee!

The weather has been pretty mild here in Iowa.  We have had one snow fall, which melted off the sidewalks and roads as soon as it fell.  We even had temps in the 70's a couple weeks ago. I am sure we will be getting our share of cold and snow, but if it could hold off a bit I won't complain.

This little chickadee does not seen to mind the cold. He has that nice little scarf to warm him and a bright star to shine on him (or her).

I use this Stamps Happen image every Christmas season.  You may recognize the artist, Carolyn Shores Wright.
The image was colored with Copics and the snow drops are Liquid Pearls. The red frame and card base were cut with Spellbinder's Reflective Moment.  And Spellbinder's Majestic Labels Twenty-Five was used to cut and frame the image.

I hope everyone is enjoying all holiday fun decorating, shopping and gatherings of family and friends.  We must also remember "Jesus is the reason for the season."

Let's Write a Letter

I am so excited to share with you this wonderful project from The Cutting Cafe.

Please excuse my photography.  I haven't figured out how to take a photo of something laying flat without all kinds of shadows.  take a look at what comes with this cutting file.

WOW!  The possabilites are endless.  This set comes formatted as MTC, PDF, SVG or WPC and is priced at only $4.25.

Watch Regina's video for more inspiration.

Click on the link to get your own "Let's Write a Letter" cutting file. 

Other Products used:
Power Poppy's digital stamp - flowering branches (stationery) 
Die-Versions Spring Pond die (cover die)
s-e-i Bright Blossom 12 x 12 paper pad
Orange organza ribbon
Score tape

Autumn Greetings

I think Autumn has some of the most spectacular colors that nature has to offer. I love the all the pretty colors of leaves turning, mums of every color and pumpkins of every size.  The Cutting Cafe has quite a few cutting and digital files for you to celebrate this wonderful season.  Here are a couple that I have used on this card.

The Autumn Greetings frame  was printed on my laser printer.  I laid some gold foil over the printed image, placed a sheet of copy paper over the foil and ran it through my laminate machine.  I just love the results.  The Huge Pumpkin is printable from The Cutting Cafe also.  I loaded my image into the Silhouette Cameo and cut it with some glitter cardstock and added some jewels.  Look at what you get for a fabulous price.

Only $1.99 

and

Huge Pumpkin for $.99

Check out The Cutting Cafe for more ideas.  Now go forth and create something wonderful!

Back to School

School starts here next Tuesday.  Regina, The Cutting Cafe owner, gave her design team some fabulous cutting files to work with that are perfect for the start of a new school year. I chose the Apple Treat Card.

I was a little intimidated when I first saw her sample card.  Watch her tutorial video below and see, it's easy peasy!

 

As with all my Cutting Cafe post, I am reminding you that you do not have to own a cutting machine. The Cutting Cafe files come in various formats, so you can print and hand cut to make any of her designs. And wow are they ever affordable. This one is just $2.25.  

Check out the other back to school projects at The Cutting Cafe.

Christmas in August

Regina, the owner of The Cutting Cafe, asked her team members to do a Christmas in August project. And I'm thinking "why not?".  And should we not just do Christmas all year?

I chose to do this awesome Noel shaped card. It is so easy with The Cutting Cafe Noel-Word-Shaped-Card-Template-Cuttng-File.  

This file comes in various file formats, so even if you don't have a cutting machine such as the Silhouette, you can still print and cut by hand. And you can either print in color or use some pretty pattern paper. If you are printing on patterned paper, you will want to print on the back side and reverse the image. As you can see it even comes with additional images which I have not used in this project. And this entire set is only $.99!!

If you want a tutorial on how to convert files for the Silhouette Cameo, here is a really good one: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTYWfOmo8r8

Products:

Noel-Word-Shaped-Card-Template

White & Black Card Stock 

Gold Wrapping Paper

Cheery Lynn Holly Corner (B-184)

Paper Studio Gems

Silhouette Cameo 

QKR Stampede Challenge - #202 - Down on the Farm

This will be my last post as a QKR Stampede designer.  I was really more of a Summer fill in, and it has been a fun couple of months.  As I've mentioned before, I a especially fond of the QKR's rag doll digis.  And even if you aren't into rag dolls they have dozens of digital and rubber categories to choose from.

Here we have digi12201 Planting a Garden which I've colored with Copics and cut with the Silhouette Cameo.

Stamps - QKR Stampede & Verve (Sentiment)
Paper - White & yellow card stock - Graphic 45
Dies - Our Daily Bread Stitched Rectangles, Lawn Fawn, Stitched Circle, Paper Smooches (hills)
Accessories - Wink of Stella, Paper Studio flower
Silhouette Cameo - QKR image cut, plant border cutting file.

Come join in the fun for this QKR Stampede Challenge #202-Down on Farm.

QKR Stampede Challenge #201 Up and Away

This little Pigtail Angel is so sweet. You have probably noticed that I have a thing for QKR Stampede's rag dolls.  Every time I color one up I remember making a rag doll for my daughter for her first birthday. She would be very unhappy with me if I were to tell you how many years ago that was. I recently found her doll packed away in the attic. She needed a little scrubbing, but she is just as sweet and now the grandchildren play with her when they visit.

I picked QKR Stampede #13103 Pigtail Angel for this challenge.  Then I ran across this pretty flocked kraft paper from DCWV and cut a piece with my new Wonky Stitch die from Die-namics.
(For some reason this paper warps when used with dies.)  Next I printed (2) digis on plain kraft paper and cut (2) with the Silhouette Cameo.  I started to use a bleach technique to lighten the face and hands. Apparently I did not give it time and moved on to the second one with my pencils. I finished coloring her and looked over at the bleached image and it had lightened up perfectly. Lesson learned.

Stop over at the QKR Stampede blog and check out the rest of the design teams fabulous cards.

Products:  #13103 Pigtail Angel
                Paper Trey Ink (Sentiment)
                Die-namics exclusive from MFT Wonky Stitch Rectangles
                DCWV Playtime Stack designer paper
                Prisma Color pencils
                Pearls
                Raspberry Stickles (halo, wand & wings)

Happy Friday!

Super Size

Regina Easter, owner of The Cutting Cafe asked her design team to super size any file. This Dragonfly File comes as a 5-1/4 folded size. I was able to resize it to 5-5/8.  I wanted it to still fit into a 6" square envelope.  Just look at that beautiful super big dragonfly!  And I would also note that this file could easily be downsized to say a 4" square. 

This DRAGONFLY CARD SET - templates and cutting files features the following:2 dragonfly window cards - these are also good for making shaker dragonfly cards  these will fit inside of a A2 sized envelope.1 dragonfly card - approx. 5.25 by 5.25 inches1 card base - for A2 sized envelopes9 sentimentsMisc dragonfly cutting images

The cutting files come in PDF, SVG, MTC and WPC formats.The sentiments come in PDF and JPEG formats.

Other products used for this project:

Cuttle Bug Embossing Folder

Dies: Spellbinder Gold Majestic Circles, Our Daily Bread Double Stitched Rectangles, Cheery Lynn Mini Flourish Band.

Paper - DCWV

Pearls & Acetate 

Check out The Cutting Cafe Blog for more cutting file ideas.  

QKR Challenge #200-By the Sea

Friday already?  Before I retired I would say "Monday already".  But since it is Friday, QKR Stampede has another challenge - #200 By the Sea!

I chose digi #21705 Ship.  Really all I did was add just a little pencil to give the ship color and some Stickles for the waves.  The striped paper came from Hobby Lobby and the frame which includes the anchor was cut with the Silhouette Cameo.  I used Impression Obsession shell dies and popped them for the easel stop. The sentiment is from a first generation Cornish Heritage stamp set. The die framing the shells and sentiment is from Joy Crafts. The card shape was made using Spellbinder Grand Caliber die Labels One.

Come join us at QKR Stampede for this weeks challenge.

QKR Challenge 199 Transportation

Okay, maybe my "transportation" card is a bit of a stretch.  But she is sooo darn cute!

I am ashamed to admit it, but I usually don't finish the inside of a card until, I have a place to send it. Maybe this is the new me. (Nah, I'm lazy).

Not only did I finish the inside, I made an envelope too.  I ran out of  the cardstock that I used for the card, but I found some Bazzill that was a perfect color match. Every time I thought I had that envelope glued it came right back up.  I used a tape runner, double sided tape and score tape.  I finally used some Aleene's clear gel tacky glue and let it set overnight between two embossing plates. I picked at it and I think it's going to hold.

Stamp - QKR Stampede digital 9211 lil' Cowgirl
Paper - Authentique
Dies - Memory Box Stitched Scalloped Circles, Paper Trey Ink Rick-Rack, Paper Smooches "Hi"
Color Medium - Copics
Accessories - Gems, Twine, Dimensional dots, Silhouette Cameo

Stop by The QKR Challenge Blog and join us for this weeks QKR Stampede Challenge #199 Transportation.

Cutting Cafe's You Color My World

This is my first official post as one of The Cutting Cafe's designers.  The owner, Regina Easter, gave her design team this fabulous file for our first assignment. Wow!

Included in this download are the colored panels which I've used on my card

The triple accordion card was cut with my Silhouette Cameo.  Don't the colored panels and sentiment look pretty with this design? I finished it with some ribbon, gems and Martha Stewart punches. So easy!

Stop over to The Cutting Cafe and check out more of her fabulous files.  

Don't forget to check out the VIDEOS, many of them have a few tips in working with the cutting files...Also remember if you don't have a cutting machine, all of the cutting files also come in pdf for handing cutting...See tips down below for tips on handcutting the PDF CUTTING FILES.

The Cutting Cafe

I am so pumped!  I have joined The Cutting Cafe's design team.  The owner Regina Easter let us choose a file to make the announcement and I chose this USA file.

Please check out The Cutting Cafe's Store.  They have so much more than just cutting files, she also has a line of clear stamps and crafting supplies.  And her cutting files also come as PDF's, so you don't have to have a cutting machine, you can print and cut by hand. Awesome right?

Check out this very affordable file here.  Celebrate the 4th, download your own file and make your own.

Enjoy your weekend and be safe!

QKR Christmas in July

   Yeah! Christmas in July. I love to make Christmas cards and I love Snowmen!  I chose 23801 Snowman Christmas Tree.  I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut the snowman and didn't use the tree. Maybe next time.

The hat, mittens and scarf were cut separately, colored with Copics and embossed with a Stampin Up embossing folder.  I am little disappointed with how the green photoed.  For his body I did just a little shading with Copic C3.  I used an old paint bush to stippled Copic White Opaque for some added texture. The black and white paper is from The Paper Studio and the die is Memory Box. I used some gold wrapping paper to frame it all out.

Stop over at QKR Stampede blog and check out the other designer cards. You'll be inspired to join in on the #198 Christmas in July Challenge!

QKR Stampede Challenge #197 Paper Piecing

Has anyone else done this.  Spend an hour or more on a card. It's perfectly centered and glued to the card base. You go to stamp a sentiment on the inside and..... you discover you've used a piece of card stock with something already printed on it.  The only good part is that I took the picture before I tried to pull it off.  I'm embarrassed to say this is not my first time doing this.

She still makes me smile.

I used QKR digital image #13713-This Much.  I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut her pretty little dress and pinafore. The fence and the sun were also cut with the Silhouette. The floral die is from Spellbinders and the sentiment is Stampendous.  

Come join us over at QKR Stampede for this weeks challenge.  While your there, check out what fabulous cards the other designers have made. 

QKR Stampede Challenge #196 -Quilting/Stitching - Real or Faux

Now isn't that the truth?  You should see the mess these gals made.

Time again for another fun QKR Stampede Challenge.  This week 's theme is quilting and or stitching.  Look at me.. I did both.  I used QKR's Girl Talk and aren't they sweet?  I was thinking they were patriotic sisters and used various red, white and blue Copics to color them up. 

You can get all this weeks QKR Stampede challenge details here.

Products:

Stamps - QKR Stampede #8804 Girl Talk & Verve (Sentiments)

Color medium - Copics

Dies - Memory Box Stitched Scalloped Circles & Paper Smooches Stitched 

Accessories - Brads 

QKR Challenge #195 - For The Guys

Tell me I have to make a "guy" card and I go into panic mode!  Fear no more. QKR Stampede has a ton of images that can be made into a masculine card.  I picked #13209 Going Fishing  for the QKR's latest challenge.

I've lost the company name for this sentiment. I think it may be Technique Tuesday.

I've colored this image with my Prisma pencils and framed it with Memory Box die Sylvan Frame.

Pretty easy right?  Come join us in QKR Stampede's #195 - One For The Guys Challenge. 

Snaughling

I always have a hard time starting a post.  I can never think of something clever or interesting to say. All I sometimes come up with is "here's my card".  So today I'm starting with a Minion.

Snort! Love those guys. Here's my card. 

I started by cutting a wreath with my Silhouette Cameo, but I've pretty much covered it up with the strawberries and flowers.  I also cut the digital strawberries with my Silhouette Cameo.  I can cut an entire page at one time. 

This digital stamp set is from Doodle Pantry is one of my first digital stamps. I colored it up with Copics and added some pretty little flowers from Paper Studio.  The card was cut with a Spellbinder's label die. The gingham paper was my big find at Walmart. The 12 X 12 pack was $5! There were only three and I snatched them up. One for me and the other two go to my Saturday stamping buddies. 

I will be entering this in:

AIMPDC18  ANTS IN MY PANTRY DIGITAL CHALLENGE 18 

QKR Stampede Challenge #194 Here Comes the Bride

Hello friends!
Welcome to my debut as QKR newest Design Team member.  How awesome is that they picked me?
Carrying on with the theme of new beginnings, This weeks QKR's challenge is "Here Comes the Bride."

I used QKR Stampede digi #17504 Rose Label. Isn't it just divine? And really the rose frame could be used for just about any occasion.

I printed the image in MS Word and formatted to +30 brightness which made the frame grey.  I touched it up with Wink of Stella and wallah.. I have a silver frame.

The text is PC generated and the wedding rings are clip art.  I also added Wink of Stella to the rings.

The image was colored using Copic C3, RV000, B00, B32, G00,G24 & YG11.  The dies I used are
Memory Box Stitched Squares (I've learned to fudge and make rectangles with them) and Spellbiner's Exquisite Labels 11. I finished it off with white ribbon and pearls.

Hope to see your card in the QKR challenge gallery!

May Flowers

This one really tried my patience! If you do any pencil work, you know it's a slower process than with markers.  This I don't mind as I find it rather relaxing.

So I completed my pencil work, cut and embossed the image using Life Style Crafts dies. Then I used some cheep glue to mount it on the card base and it warped a little. Next boo boo was a border die that didn't quite work and I had remove it, leaving bits of paper debris.  I covered the boo boo with this pretty die and ribbon.  (The die and the package got separated and I don't know the name of the company).

This is Power Poppy's Garden Fireworks digital stamp set.  I am entering my card in their latest challenge Power-Spark-challenge-may-flowers.

Birds of a Feather

I made this card for the Splitcoast Inspiration Challenge 541.  The host always gives us something really special for us to get inspired.  This time she gave us a Pinterest board with the most beautiful birds.  This is the one that inspired me.



And this is what I came up with.

At first I thought I would have to go shopping for a new digi.  (As if I needed an excuse). Then I remembered that I already have this precious digi from Buddly Crafts.

I colored these sweeties with Prisma Pencils.
Would you believe the Silhouette Cameo cut this image?

I used Spellbinders dies Enchanged Labels 28 & Gold Majestic Circles to display the image. I used dimensional foam to an extra pop.

The "Happy Birthday" stamp is from Paper Trey Ink.

I hope everyone is enjoying their Monday. I am retired, but at times I wish I were still working. But then, when I was working I wished I were retired. Guess there's no pleasing some people.

I must remember to make every day count. Each one is a gift. 

Finally!

Spring is here!
         No it's not!
               Spring is here!

It has been the most unusual spring.  Yesterday it was 80 last week was 40's and 50's.   Mid March, we had 70 deg. on Tuesday and on Thursday we got 14 inches of snow.

I feel fairly confident in saying spring has sprung.  (knock on wood).

I'm getting in under the wire with this QKR stampede challenge-186-spring-has-Sprung!

Stamps - QKR Rag Doll with Hoe & "Thank You" Stampin-Up sentiment

Dies - Spellbinder's Marvelous Squares & Floral Border

Coloring Medium - Copic Markers & Stickles on the heart

Heart of Gold

I made this card for a Splitcoast CAS challenge, then I realized it would fit the Dies R Us Challenge to use scallops.

I've always wanted to suspend something in the middle of a card.  I used fishing line and it was rather hard to work with. Next time I think I will just use thread.

The Splitcoast challenge was to use chipboard or if you didn't have any you could use layers.
The heart has (6) card stock layers and (2) layers of gold wrapping paper.

I used Spellbinders Divine Floral die to display the card on.

Dies Used:
Cheery Lynn Dutch Scallop Square
Penny Black Flower Heart
Life Style Crafts Square

Dies R Us challenge-46-use-scallops

Hello again!

Did you think I left for good?  You would think a person that hasn't posted for a few months would have a clean craft room.  Not so much.  I can't tell you how many times I started to create and just couldn't bring it to the finish line.  I'm hoping this post will start the creative juices flowing again.

Power Poppy inspired me with their three marker challenge .  This dose not mean that I didn't make a huge mess. 

Stamp:  Power Poppy - sunflower-power

Dies: Memory Box, Marianne Designs, Cheery Lynn, Sue Wilson

Paper:  Craft Smith Wedding Neutrals, White Cardstock & Stripes from my stash 

Hello Color!

Yup!  I did it and I might do it again.  I got all crazy and used some pretty wild paper. 

The Stamp is Penny Black's Centerpiece.  I can't say this was a fast card to make.  I can color forever on a piece and I  find it so relaxing.  Then there's the other thing with the paper.  You would never believe how many times I start a project and I pull out my modest stash and end up not using one small piece.  For this card, I even had my "safe" gingham out.  I just threw caution to the wind.

What's next?  Pink hair?

Stamp:  Penny Black Centerpiece

Spellbinder die, Majestic Squares

Memory Box die. Hello

Paper:  Cosmo Cricket, Salt Air

Sending Love

This is a card and envelope that I made for the Inspiration Challenge at Splitcoast Stampers.  Check out my inspiration piece HERE.

This envelope is one of the very first designs that I purchased, but this is my first time using it.
After I had cut the envelope, I cropped one of the corners to duplicate the design on the card.
The "Love" is a Silhouette design also.  The large white heart is a Penny Black die.  I finished the card with some score lines.

I've never made very many Valentine cards, but this may be a little nudge to get my mojo going.

Precious!

Poppy Power has a new challenge "Stretch Yourself" which is to make a tall card. This was a real challenge for a gal whose cards are 99% square. This is a double challenge to try a new technique using a new product.  I may have "stretched" a little on this part.  My new product is the border die. I saw Leslie Miller turn one at an angle on a card and I borrowed the idea.

One of the benefits of having a Silhouette machine  is I can dismantle a sentiment and arrange everything on the card then print it.  For this card I only used the Silhouette to design and print.

I used my Prisma pencils and odorless mineral spirits to color the pretty bouquet.  

Power Poppy - Winter Pick-Me-Up

Power Poppy - Gerbera Daisies (Sentiment) 

Spellbinder - A2 Scalloped Borders Three

Cheery Lynn - Exotic Butterfly small #2

Pearls