Friday, September 30, 2011

Giving Back...

SHARING IS CARING
I think we should all share, we should all give back in some way. I love sharing my paper arts and sewing adventures with good causes. In the past I have made handmade journals for the Oncology Unit of a hospital, totes and journals for Open Arms orphanage in So. Africa. I love to make dog and cat cards for fund raising at the shelters, ... in this instance I have made so many fun things that will be donated to a craft show and some of the proceeds will go to 3 very good causes. I used to do craft shows.... for about 20 years but I just became weary of the process of it all so now I participate but in not so direct ways. I had more fun bouncing around from one design to another, this idea, that idea, some of this, some of that... and in the end result, I now have a few little tubs packed with fun stuff. I used a lot of Cutting Cafe printables in my fun adventure.
There are cards, some tags, door hangers and bookmarks. A fun array of things to offer. The hanging signs are fun...but my most favorite is the little birthday cakes....these are made with Nestie shapes, the center or middle of each layer is a cover scotch tape plastic roll. I've added some die cuts and jewels and Stickles. Calorie free too.... I made a few see through boxes that the little cake can be presented in.


Cutting Cafe Valentine Cards....



Some tags, die cuts, and a hanging sign





Bookmarks: These are oodles of fun to make and are simply wonderful to use up all those small scraps of papers. I have a tutorial further on in the blog on how to make these darling bookmarks.
Maybe these little phrases can be used to slip into a card.
Cutting Cafe birthday sentiments.... I used Nesties to make the 2 layers. Everything is embossed.
Here is a picture of the little birthday cakes...and some of the see through boxes.

Door hangers.... and some packages of die cuts.
Thanks for walking through my Giving Back Adventure.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Cutting Cafe/Spooky Sentiments

I love making Halloween cards and once I get started, I create until my stash of cards overflows. This set is from Regina's Cutting Cafe in the Spooky Square Sentiments set. You can see that set right here. I've embossed most of the card, added decorative edge punching, Nestie mounts, some ribbons and jewels for some Halloween bling. That cute broom and witch's hat were cut from Paper Dolls Dress Up, Page 36. The cute bat is from a Sizzix die. I love these cards.... Be sure to take a peek at the set...and heck, look at ALL of Regina's wonderful offerings. There is something for every occasion.


Sunday, September 25, 2011

Cutting Cafe/Welcome Fall

Our Cutting Cafe inspiration post this week will be created from the Welcome Fall set. I love this set...and you can create so many different designs using all of the printables and images. My card has been made up of many layers.... the base card is brown cardstock, the first layer to that is a rust colored cardstock that has a Martha Stewart giant doily punch design which is in the center of the outside edge. On that layer I applied a most beautiful dark rust ribbon that had gold threads running through it ..unfortunately it has become mostly hidden. Then I started to apply the layers of sentiments which are mounted and embossed. The colors are from my Copic stash. The last bit of bling is the big rusty gold ribbon. You can review the printable set right here. The Inspiration Posts will appear Wednesday right here.


Please check The Cutting Cafe Blog on Wednesday and be prepared to be inspired. Thanks for stopping by....

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Cutting Cafe/Christmas Bingo

When you really think about it, Christmas isn't all that far away. In the blink of a reindeer's eye, it will be upon us. I am doing some door hangers for a craft show. I will be donating some die cuts, cards, and creations...and in the mix I used some of Regina's sets from The Christmas Bingo. There are so many to select in this printable set. Here are three.
I cut chipboard and pattern papers with a Nestie square scallop, and after I added the cute Bingo card, I fussy cut a tree, a Santa Face, and I used a wee punch for the holly leaves. I added an eyelet and strung some ribbon through for hanging. You can see this cute set right here.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Cutting Cafe/Love Door Hanger

The Cutting Cafe has a wonderful background printable that can be used on cards, banners and yes, even a little door hanger like this one. Not only can this printable be used to create at Valentine's Day but all year long just to say "I love you". I simply used a square scalloped Nestie to cut some chipboard, I covered the front and back with the printable, added some punch hearts that are embossed and to those I added some sweet little red jewels. The fancy corner is from a Sizzix die cut. The eyelets are heart shaped and a red ribbon has been added for the hanging factor. You can see the Cafe's printable right here.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Cutting Cafe/Dad Stuff

This is a door hanger any Dad/Father/Papa would be proud to hang. It is created from a background print of Cutting Cafe called Different Ways To Say Dad. I am doing some volunteer projects for a good cause...and this is one of the quick and easy creations. You can see the set here.


Sunday, September 18, 2011

Cutting Cafe/Fall Time Bingo Set

I delighted in making these cards with The Cutting Cafe's Fall Time Bingo Set printables. They fell together with such ease and all I really had to do was add a small die cut to enhance the theme of the specific bingo card. You can see the Cafe set right here.
Here are the 5 cards I created.

I used background papers that were given to me by my dear friend Margie. She gifted me with several paper packs but I grabbed up this particular pack because the color themes went so well with the bingo sets. And as always, emboss emboss emboss is my motto.

The coffee cup and the leaf came from Stamping Solutions. The pumpkin was cut from Happy Hauntings. That cute tree was laying in a box lid and I can't seem to track down the cartridge source.

Here are two of the cards. I love how the edge punches enhanced the over all look.
I love the FALL bingo card and the punched leaves just look perfect on the card.
Please take a look at The Cutting Cafe for all things wonderful...Regina's printables offer something for every kind of card or sentiment you would need.
Thanks for visiting.... I hope you each have a wonderful week.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Cutting Cafe/Thoughts of You

LittleN has won the sticker packages.... please email me so I can make arrangements to mail them to you. Congrats.
Regina at The Cutting Cafe has an absolutely wonderful printable set for sympathy and related thoughts. Here is the set. In my recent reorganization of the craft room, I ran across a sheet of dimensional white daisies. I bought these years ago and I just knew I was going to rush right home and create something wonderful. As so often happens, the sheet was covered up with other projects and then eventually it made its way into a drawer full of other goodies. Here are 4 cards I made using the daisies and some of the thoughtful sentiments from The Cutting Cafe. One card has the sentiment outside while the other 3 have inside sentiments.



In sorting through drawers, stacks, closets to reorganize the collection of delights, I ran across some stickers. I actually had plans for these, but like many other things, they were put in a drawer. Now I would like to offer these up for blog candy. Just leave a note on this post if you want to be in the draw on September 20th. There are two sheets of hearts and one sheet contains beautiful red and gold guilded vellum hearts. There are 3 sheets of flowers and finally there is a package of vellum sentiments. Thanks for visiting...


Sunday, September 11, 2011

Cutting Cafe/With Gratitude

I get so much inspiration working with anything from Cutting Cafe. Regina offers printables for literally everything you would need to use for cards, scrapbooking and other creations. This printable is called With Gratitude. You can see that set right here.

My card is a myriad of sentiments all piled on one card front. I love the array of blocks applauding someone being thoughtful. There is a lot going on with this card but I think when it comes to saying "thank you", this is right on!....


Thanks for your visit and if you have left a comment, I appreciate it.....

Cutting Cafe/Baby Girl

When I see something precious to use in creating a baby card, I hop right to it. This is one of Regina's new background printable. You can see the set right here.
The cards were created with such ease and yet I think they display so beautifully. I cut the mounts with a Nestie, all layers have been embossed. I threaded a pretty pink ribbon through the top printable, tied a bow and added some ribbon roses. I love my baby girl cards. Now I just have to find someone to send them to.



Saturday, September 10, 2011

All Above Love/Cutting Cafe

Oh how I LOVE anything Regina offers in The Cutting Cafe. Here are just 4 cards I put together so easily using the It's All About Love set. You can see this darling set right here.
These cards are A2 size, the front of the card has been embossed and I used a EK Success round scallop punch to allow for an inside punch die cut of lips and I've added a small heart punch to overlap the opening. The round sentiment on the front are from the Cutting Cafe set, a heart has been set in the center of the sentiment, and the mounts are all embossed.

This is a close up of just one of the cards.
TFL, hope you will take a peek at this darling set from Cutting Cafe.

Friday, September 09, 2011

More Cards

More slam-dunk card creations. These were created at the same time as the previously uploaded group. It's just mega fun to pull up leftovers and create something.









Wednesday, September 07, 2011

Card Frenzies


I have stacks and piles of paper leftovers and I am always amazed how quicky I have a finished stack of cards just using the this n' that things.
I love these two cards....so girly girl.... I used a lot of embossing, a lot of edge punches and the pink rosettes are perfect for that girly girl touch.

This is a gate fold card. I embossed each side, and I added a Cutting Cafe circle sentiment and a heart punch...both embossed as well. You can see the Cutting Cafe set right here.
Another gate fold style, this one in red, white and blue colors to celebrate a birthday. A large punched flower is placed on the left outside fold and it extends over the other fold. I used a rubber stamp for the inside sentiment.
This is a Easel style card.... done in lavendar and purple and just right for a Mother's Day Card.
The sentiment is a rubber stamp from Michaels. Lots of embossing, some edge punching and a lovely lavendar ribbon with a small ribbon rose.
Thanks for stopping by. I have a lot more Slam Dunk cards to show you too.

Monday, September 05, 2011

BBTB2/Rock Princess/Dripping Heart

I have a wee bit of news to tell you this Monday morning. This will be my last post as a designer for Bitten By The Bug2. I have been on the design team for BBTB/BBTB2 since October 2007 and I have loved every single challenge over the years. I loved creating with the selected design, I loved the month end blog hops. I have met so many wonderful visitors and bloggers who came to see my cards...and I truly cherished every single comment left by each visitor. As you can imagine, as a designer we thrive on the sweet visits and comments. But now it is time for me to take a break from the design team so I can pay attention to a few other things in my life.

With that said, Heather is the hostess this week on BBTB2 and she asked the designers to use the Rock Princess cartridge and to design with the Dripping Heart design. If we didn't have that cartridge, we could select something that has a similar design. I used Home Accents and I snapped up that wonderful butterfly cut on that cartridge. I love this cut....it is delightfully artsy. Be sure and join in on the challenge. Remember you don't have to have Rock Princess and you can make a new card using a cut that is similar to the Dripping Heart.

Here is sort of a side view of the layers involved in the butterfly. I cut the larger butterfly at about 4-1/2 inches, and then the next 3 layers were cut 1/2 or 1/4 smaller. Each layer has been embossed with Swiss Dots which gave a better final result. I added some jewels for bling cuz every butterfly has gotta have some bling. The butterfly sits on 3 Nestie layers, and the rubber stamped sentiment "Cherish" is a layer beneath an open slot.



A full view of the Butterfly.


TFL, I hope you will come back and see me just for my cards. I will still be on the design team for Regina's The Cutting Cafe for the current term, and I will add cards that I make along the way. I just finished another round of "Card Frenzy" so I will upload those a little later this week.


Sunday, September 04, 2011

Cutting Cafe/Think Pink

This week at The Cutting Cafe, we designers can pick a printable that we would like to work with. I love everything that Regina gives us to design with and I love bringing something back up to the top from previous designs on our Cutting Cafe menu of choice. The two cards I am featuring here are from the Think Pink series. I have made many cards using the printables shown because I think they are beautiful and just perfect for when we need a card with such an impact. You can see the set right here.
I fussy cut the beautiful pink ribbon that is dotted with precious little flowers. To enhance those I added some tiny pink jewels... and of course my trademark embossing is on many layers. Along the one ribbon you can see the word HOPE and so I brought out one of my most favorite rubber stamps for my sentiment. A Martha Stewart fancy edge punch details the side of the card, and the sentiment sits on an oval scalloped Nestie.


Thanks for looking. I hope you like my pretty Think Pink cards.