Cutting Cafe/Gift Bag

Regina has done it again (and again and again and...) Every time she releases one of her wonderful printables, I want to sit down and create with each one until there simply is not one piece of paper left ... and in my case that would be nearly impossible. This set is from the 6x3 Inch bag set.... I had some double sided cardstock which has awesome butterflies to cut out.

The bag and the card are made from that paper...and I cut out some of the butterflies and put them here and there seemingly flitting about on paper and paper edges.

Here is a photo of the card and the bag. I love it...

This is the bag with the butterflies. I have used my Sizzix butterfly body die to sit on top of the whole butterfly cut out, and I've added some gold and green jewels as well. The round Cutting Cafe printable has been cut out with my round scalloped Nestie.
This is the card. The card front has been cut shorter. I added a black strip with a MS punch open weave. I added 3 butterflies on the edge. The Happy Birthday sentiment is cut from Beyond Birthdays cartridge.
Sort of a sideline view.
And this is the inside with another Cutting Cafe printable sentiment.
I hope you like my creation.... And do visit Cutting Cafe here to see the printable set.

BBTB/Sweethearts/Stamp

Our host for BBTB2 challenge this week is that fantastically talented designer, Marina. She has chosen the Sweethearts cart, and asked us to design with the stamp die cut. There were so many ways to go with this cut, and I sat staring at the sample layouts for a long time and couldn't decide what to do. And then suddenly I just snapped up one design and went with it. There is, I have to admit, a lot of red and black and white goin' on here... The stamp die is on the right and a bit caught up in the overall colors. I just sort of ignored the word "love" which is cut out on the stamp die, but I added the word onto a punched white embossed heart. That word is cut from the Calligraphy cart. I love the style of this cut. So delicate and yet it says it all.

Please stop by the BBTB2 site and take a peek at the lovely designs the DT created.

Unc's 84th

My Uncle Jack has just celebrated his 84th birthday. For those who know me, you know that I call him "Unc"... I used my Design Studio on this card because I wanted that number 84 to be the front of the card... I used a second pattern paper overlay in those bright colors he loves. He loved the card....and so did I.

Cutting Cafe/Baby Cards

Regina released the most wonderful sentiments for baby cards. I generally leave my cards blank unless someone who wants a card will ask me to add an inside sentiment. I couldn't pass up making some cards with these new printables from Cutting Cafe. I think I made about 40 cards, but here are a few with designs from various carts. The word "baby" is from Don Juan, the baby die cuts are from New Arrival, and there is one card showing an inside sentiment. Of course every card was treated to my Cuttlebug Embossing folders....It's overcast here in AZ today and so my photos have sort of an artificial color to them when I had to hit the "enhance" option... they really are soft delicate pastel papers... thanks for looking and take a peep here at the darling sentiments for your baby card creations.

BBTB2/Doodlecharms/Snowman

It's time for another BBTB2 challenge and this week the sweet and talented Krista Norman is hostess. She selected the Doodlecharms cartridge and asked that we use the snowman cut.

I love Doodlecharms...it has so many cute cute cuts on it, and it is so appropriately named.

I felt like I did a few thousand snowmen during the Christmas card creativity phase so for this challenge I decided to create a Snowgirl. I cut three, pop dotted the top layer. And to that I added 3 blue buttons, and a blue ribbon on her snow-head. For her feet, I used the popsickle cut on the same cartridge...and I added two bows. I pop dotted Snowgirl on a circle of snowflakes. The little sign says:

Sweet little Snowgirl,

With Her Buttons and Bows,.

Sweet little Snowgirl

With her Popsickle Toes

and I should have added..."don't forget her little carrot nose".

Cutting Cafe Giveaway!

A Winner A Winner: Congratulations to Crafteezee for winning the draw on Regina's background design. Please email me and we will get that prize to you. Thanks to all for playing along with the Give-A-Way.

Regina is doing another wonderful Give-A-Way at the Cutting Cafe, and each of us could chose which fantastic printable we wanted to offer. I love all of the Regina's printables and it isn't easy to select just one. But for today, with Valentine's Day close at hand, I decided I just love this background design. Here is my card.

I love that background full of x's and o's signifying a lot of kissies... and to that I've added some more in red and black with a beautiful cut of the word LOVE...all of these are from my STAMPED cartridge. Thanks for taking a peek, be sure to check out the Cutting Cafe for all of the designer's cards AND don't forget to leave a comment here on my blog to put you in the draw for this printable. Check back on Monday and I will show the winner.

BBTB2/ACY/Vinyl

Happy Monday....it's BBTB2 day and there are some really cute projects to see at the BBTB2 design site. Jen Wuthrich was the hostess and she asked that we design from A Child's Year, and to use the sweet image of a boy and girl both holding flowers behind their backs. I love this cartridge. Not only does it have some precious silhouette images, but each design has a plethora of extra cuts and phrases. I can see I am going to use this cartridge often. Our sponsor for this challenge is Expressions Vinyl. There is a wonderful video on how to use Vinyl.....I have added some nice numbers to my mailbox, I have put a witty saying over a photo on my wall... I love this Vinyl...

so....here is my take on the challenge. I picked up a purchased notebook and I even kept the original red and white striped paper theme. What a quick gift this made...I applied the die of the children, cut out the welded word Friends, added a sweet kitty cat watching two friends with gifts. I put some red ribbons on the wire spine and considered it completed. TFL, and do pop over to BBTB2 and admire....

BBTB2

Regina has stepped down from Bitten By The Bug so she can devote her time to Cutting Cafe and her other numerous endeavors. There aren't enough words to say how much I enjoyed being on Regina's design team for BBTB, she is so so talented, the most awesome designer, a giving sharing gal who was always right there to help us. (I still get to work with Regina since i am on the Cutting Cafe design team, lucky lucky me)....When Regina asked if anyone would like to take the post, Heather Binnie accepted the role. Needless to say this delighted us because we all love the design team and it was heartbreaking to think it would end. Thank you, Heather, for continuing on with the new Bitten By The Bug 2.

Heather Binnie is the host for our 2010 first challenge. She selected "IN STYLE" cut from Graphically Speaking cartridge. I do not have that cartridge but sweet design team sister Jeri Thomas shared some with me. Here is my card. ... I hand drew the image of a young hip chickie who shows off her new Christmas outfit. I used my Copic markers to color in this blonde cutie... A short mini skirt in lavendar, trimmed with red and a lovely red jacket. See those lavendar boots? I used a black and red theme, and of course my wonderful Nestabilities Labels 8 played a role in the mounts for the image. I added a little black and white checkered bow on the die cut. TFL, and if you are here, thank you for following our new BBTB2 challenges.

Twenty Ten

My Uncle informed me tonight that it is not the year Two Thousand and Ten, but it is being called Twenty Ten. Whatever we are to call it, I am astounded that we are 10 years away from the fretting that went on for Y2K. Could that have actually been ten years ago?

To each of you who visit me on my humble little blog, I thank you. I wish each of you a blessed New Year, may you have all that you desire for a fullfiling year with health, happiness, love and a good life. Thank you for visiting me, and for leaving sweet comments. I appreciate each and every single one of you...

Gifties...

I love getting Gifties...those little gifts that someone hands you that you can use and always remember who gave you the gift. I love GIVING gifties too. My grade school/high school friend is coming to visit tomorrow and she is bringing her friend. Here are their gifties.

This is a folded card pack and I give a hearty shout out to my talented and cherished friend, Sandi Kelly, who inspired this set. She sent me a lovely set of cards and although these are not exact, the inspiration came from Sandi. These are the folded card packs. I ran the front of the folded pack through my Cuttlebug Embossing folder...and I've added initials from the Calligraphy Cricut cart, and I've also added some MS punches for the sweet little flowers and leaves. Oh, and some jewels. There is a 4 inch tab that folds to the back and slips under a wide tab, just to keep the pack closed.

When the folded card pack opens, there are two flaps to hold the cards in place. One is a square flap on the bottom, and the side flap is cut into a cute little boomerang shape and although the flap doesn't show in this photo, it has the Swiss Dots embossing.... The cards were punched on the center edge with MS loop punch, the embossing comes from the small strips of Cuttlebug embossing folders and the really neat long initials are from Cricuts STAMPED cart.
I've slipped a folded white linen paper inside for personalized notes. I really like how these turned out and I hope my friends will as well. TFL...

Cutting Cafe/Valentine Long Phrases

Regina has done it again... her Valentine printables are just so......well......so Valentine-ish wonderful. Here are some quickie cards I did using her long phrases. They print off all on one sheet and you can use the whole page for background, or cut them into strips like I have done here. The cards are cut from my Cricut Sweethearts cartridge... By using the "card feature" I selected 5-1/2 for the size, selected the cut and here are the results. The heart and the word "LOVE" are actually cut right out on the front of the card, and I've slipped a white cardstock beneath to get that depth. I put the card fronts through my Cuttlebug embossing folders, added the Valentine long phrase strips, added a few punch hearts that were embossed, and tied a ribbon on the side.

I had some folded red cardstock...it had been shoved in my scrapbin of solid cardstock pieces. I am really pleased how this quick little card created itself. I used MS loop punch just above the Valentine long phrase from Cutting Cafe... I've added a wonderful ribbon that I received from Sandi Kelly. And a punch heart. That cute little "tab" holds the pockets inside closed. Please take a peek at the printables here.
Here is the inside. There are two pockets and I've done some inserts. MS punch captures the rubber stamp sentiment, and the "Hugs & Kisses" are from Sweethearts cart.

Cutting Cafe/Flowers

I've been a busy girl trying to clean up some stacks of unfinished projects. And then comes something wonderful from Regina so I have to drop everything and try it out. These flowers are from Cutting Cafe's Flower printables.... I love cutting the layers out and stacking them, using pop dots for full dimension results. I am going to try another paper, only this time using pattern papers. Take a peek here for the set.

Published RSC Layout

This is the cover of the Dec 09/Jan 10 Ready Set Create Ezine.... My layout is shown below this cover page.

I was pleased to have my scrapbook layout published in the December 09/January 10 Ready Set Create mag. This photo is one of my faves of my son and daughter in law and their sweet dog Daisy. Please notice that darling tag with the gold star. This was done by my talented friend Sandi (Celtic Woman)..and she's got some for sale on her Etsy shop. I've got some cards coming up in the RSC mag for Feb/March and I'll be back at the end of January to show you those. TFL.... and oh...Have a safe and happy New Year and may 2010 be a blessed healthy year for you and yours.

Cutting Cafe/ValentineSet

FEBRUARY IS NOT THAT FAR AWAY...

Regina's release in Cutting Cafe of the big Valentine set is just awesome. Giant sentiments that pack a whallop on a card, or even on a scrapbook page. I selected just 4 of the many sentiments and I made a card set. And I think I will offer this up on my Etsy shop. These first photos show the envelope that was created to hold the 4 lovelies. And the photo of the group captures some inserts that could be slipped inside the card. I've left the inside blank for personal sentiments. TFL, and I hope you like my Valentine cards...

Altered Coasters

I found these colorful coasters in the dollar bin at Michaels and they yelled out for me to grab them up and making a little something. This "birthday card" is unique, donchathink? I simply used my Crop A Dial to make some holes, added some lavendar flower shaped eyelets, strung the 3 coasters on a metal ring and added a load of colorful ribbons. On the coasters I made three punched leaves and flowers with a button center, and I've added sentiment strips for a friendly birthday greeting. Two strips are rubber stamp sentiments and the Blessing sentiment is from Regina's Cutting Cafe. TFL.... and stop by that dollar bin. There were some really cute coasters to alter.

Tutorial/Sweet little gift

I just love it when I can make a lot of cute little do-dahs for many of my friends, just as a little added giftie. Everyone I know uses Post It Notes, especially the gals at the offices I visit. This is a little Post It Note Cover, so cute, so easy to make. When the Post It Note pack is finished, you can glue another in. Here are the quick instructions:

I use chipboard for the sturdiness of the cover.

Chipboard: Cut two 3x3 squares. Cut one 3x1/2 strip which will be your "spine".

Pattern Papers: Cut one 5 x 8, cut one 3 x 6-1/2.

On inside of the pattern paper, lay out your chipboard pieces as shown. There is just a wee space between the front and back cover and the spine.
Glue down the chipboard pieces. Fold in the excess on all four edges. Trim the inside lining to about 3 x 6-1/2. I fold the cover so that the spine folds are set. I then glue the lining pattern paper to the spine strip. Then I glue to top, and fold it down and smooth so there are no wrinkles. Then I glue the bottom half, fold it up and smooth out any wrinkles.
Here is the finished cover, and a Post It Note pack that I will glue on the inside bottom portion.
For the top of the cover, I have cut out the word NOTES from the Stamped Cricut cartridge, and I've added a MS punched leaf and flower stack. I added some cute little gems as well. In this next photo you will notice a green box with one Post It Note Cover to match. This is made to fit 4 Post It Note Covers inside.

A lovely gift, doncha think?

cutting Cafe Stuff

I love the Merry Christmas set from Cutting Cafe. Here are two cards featuring some of the sentiments. The Happy New Year Card for 2010 is shaped from my Labels 8 Nestabilities which I ran through a Cuttlebug Embossing Folder. Two shapes are joined together with a folded label on the inside. The lettering and flowers are cut from my gold cardstock, and then I slightly shaded it with ink and poured some gold embossing powder on the numbers before using my embossing gun. The little flower has microbeads on it. The numbers are from Don Juan cart. TFL...and check out Cutting Cafe for some wonderful ideas and images.

This card uses the circle sentiment from Christmas Set at Cutting Cafe. I love that big round space to fill up with pretty Christmas images. I ran the circle sentiment through my Cuttlebug for embossing. The trees are from Don Juan cart as well, and I cut them in 3 sizes. The tree is cut with dark green cardstock and I loved the dark blue shadow cut. I've added a red ribbon and a blue jewel at the top of the biggest tree.

BBTB/JOTS/RbnFrm

I've drawn a name for the blog candy tote...and it is KRISTA... Thanks to all for leaving your comments. Krista, email me your addie ...

Enfys is the host of BBTB this week... she is an absolutely awesome designer and I always visit her wonderful blog to see her creations. She chose for us designers to work with Joys Of The Season cartridge, and to use the Ribbon Frame. I had never even noticed this cut. It's fun to imagine the many ways this die can be used...On cards or scrapbooking, to just frame a special photograph. I elected to use it as a hanging do-dah...and since the pear is part of the die options, I hung a cute little pear in the open framework. The pear hangs from some ribbon strings and I've even added another red and green ribbon. Please visit BBTB and see the wonderful creations by the designers.... TFL....and oh...I have some little totes laying around so I thought I'd toss in a blog candy tote. It's sort of fushia pink, and has a cute little flower embroidery. Might make a cute little gift bag. So... leave a comment and I will put you in the draw on December 10th. If you see your name as winner, please email me right away with your addie and I will mail the little tote right to you.

Cutting Cafe/Calendar Set...

More calendars from Regina's Cutting Cafe. The calendar sheets are a bit larger and I mounted them on a layer of pattern papers and then on a layers of scallop squares. Those are from Plantin Schoolbook. I used bits n' pieces of some beachy type papers left over from a project I just finished for a friend. I've added some die cuts to a few of the months, and all were threaded onto a metal ring and loads of bright ribbons added.

TFL...

Cutting Cafe/Calendar Set...

OMG, Regina released the cutest calendar set. I am going to do all three sizes but for now here is the first one I made and I am very happy with the end results. Please visit here and take a gander at this really cute printable from Cutting Cafe. The 4 layers are from my Round Scalloped Nesties, the sweet little leaf and precious pink flowers are from Martha Stewart punch, and the ribbons were in my stash...I gathered up all 12 rounds and thread them onto a round metal ring. TFL...

BBTB/FMK/Telephone

A winner is drawn (early). I couldn't wait so I did the draw and VELTA, you are the winner. Congratulations... email me with your addie, put your name in the subject line and I will get this blog candy mailed out to you poste haste... Thanks to all who left sweet comments, I appreciated your visits.

It's Monday It's Monday...and not only that, it's month end and it is blog hop time. (Can you believe this is the last day of November?)You perhaps are arriving here from Michele K's wonderful blog ... and I am happy you are here to visit. As you know we designers are taking turns at being the host of the BBTB site, however Regina will do the blog hops at the end of each month. This month she asked us to design from From My Kitchen and to use the die cut for the telephone. I love my little card...it just sort of fell together and I was happy with the end result. Big thanks and shout out to Sandi K. (Celtic Woman) for sending me the tele cuts. At the moment, I don't own the FMK...and I think that will have to change soon.

I am offering up a wee bit of blog candy. This is a gift bag tote adorned with a pretty embroidery of a blue rose. I did this on my trusty sewing machines...
Now.... leave a comment and I will put your name in the draw for the blog candy. Please check back on December 4 after 4:00PM Az time, and if your name appears as the winner of the draw, please email me with your addie so I can mail the gift bag to you. To complete this blog hop, please visit Regina's blog to say hello and see her wonders!!!

Cards for darlings...!

My wonderful son and darling daughter in law were here for Thanksgiving and as is the tradition I made their Christmas cards. I designed all of these using Regina's Cutting Cafe printables. The "kids" were thrilled, and I loved each card as well. TFL...and I hope your Thanksgiving holiday was all that you wanted it to be.

BBTB/PPDU/Cornucopia

The winner for the Christmas Stocking is: Carol, ScrapMomof2... Congrats, Carol, I have your addie and I will mail this today. Thanks to all who played along.... I appreciated each of you stopping by to play and say hello.

It is time for another wonderful project from my design team sisters. This week, that oh so talented Donna is the hostess and she selected Paper Dolls Dress Up for the cartridge. We were to design with the Cornucopia die cut. Hmmm, well.... ! Luckily the cut has the neat little veggies and fruits as part of the Cornucopia cut so I was able to put together a little card featuring this vessel of plenty. Please visit the BBTB blog and see the wonderful projects everyone presented. Here is my Give Thanks card.

Also, just cuz.....I have a little bit of blog candy for you. It's one of my quick-sew-it-up Christmas stockings. It is about 12 inches long and 8 inches wide at the foot. It is unlined and two red ribbons here n' there.....

If you'd like to be in the draw, please leave a comment on my blog...and I would love it if you signed up to be one of my followers. I will draw the winner on November 27 so check back late in the afternoon. If your name appears as the winner, please email me with your addie and I will mail the stocking.

Thanks for stopping by to take a peek at the challenge, ... and have a splendid Thanksgiving week. My son and daughter in law will be here and I am soooooo excited.