It's all about the eyes

  Happy Friday!!!  It's time for a new challenge from the Cut It Up Challenge Blog.  This week, the challenge is: Halloween

And our fabulous sponsor is:

DRS Designs

Here is my card for your inspiration (actually, I have 2 cards!):

My family doesn't celebrate Halloween, so I don't make Halloween cards, usually.  I had planned to make something with this sentiment that could be a Halloween card but wouldn't be limited to it.  But when I saw this inspiration photo from Cupcake Inspirations Challenge, I knew I HAD to try to recreate that little zombie cupcake on a card;

It was super fun and quite easy to make!  I started by cut 1/2 in strips of white card stock from scraps I had lying around.  Then I inked up the edges with the bit of Black Soot Distress Oxide Ink that was left on my blending brush after creating a different project.  I die cut the circle out of a panel of white cardstock and adhered a scrap of green card stock underneath.  Then I randomly glued the strips of white onto the card making sure to overlap the circle but not cover too much of it.  Then I die cut the whole panel with a stitched rectangle die.  I created the eyes with two black circles that were in my bits and pieces stash (left over from a project long, long ago) and die cut two slightly larger white circles (which were cut from scraps).  I used that same circle die to cut partial circles for the eyelids.  I adhered the sentiment with foam squares and adhered the whole panel to a black mat and then onto a purple card base.

The second card was actually one I had in mind when I chose this sentiment from DRS Designs to work with.  I die cut black card stock with a stitched rectangle die and then die cut two circles from it.  Then I ink blended the edges with Dusty Concord Distress Oxide.  I was hoping it would add a little bit of night sky look to the panel.  Instead it ends up looking a little foggy and spooky, but that works, so I went with it.  I popped in onto a black card base using foam squares and then adhered the googly eyes in place and added the sentiment.  Then I sat there for a long time trying to decide if I should just leave it as it was or add some kind of embellishments.  I really wanted to give the idea of small glowing eyes (from an unknown creature), but none of my enamel dots or gemstones, or anything gave the look I was going for.  I finally decided it was too play without any additions, so I used nuvo dots in a Christmasy green to add the glowing "eyes".  I would have preferred something a little more yellow, but didn't have it so went with what I did have.  So, now that you know the intent, if you squinty and look at it just the right way, maybe you can see the look I was going for.  

I will most definitely be using this sentiment again, for something other than a Halloween card.  I'm envisioning a love themed card (perhaps Valentine's Day) with a monster with a lot of eyes.  It will be so fun!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you will hop over to the Cut It Up blog for the full details of the challenge and to see what the rest of the Design Team has created. 

Card #1:

Supplies:

Stamps: DRS Designs "Eyes For You Greeting" (mine is digital, but they have rubber in the shop!)

Dies: MFT "Blueprints 13" stitched rectangle; Spellbinders "Classic Circles, large"; the black pupils were left over pieces from PTI's "Hands of Time" clock face die

Challenges:

Cupcake Inspirations #555--Halloween Fun

Snippets Playground #439--anything goes with snippets (lots of snippets used here)

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #495--sketch

Double Trouble Challenge #123--Let's get around to it (Thing #1: at least one circle [I have 5 and two half circles]; Thing #3: fall/halloween; Thing #2: play along with Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge)

Unicorn Challenge #81--spooky AND/OR cute

Craft Rocket #97--autumn or Halloween

Crafty Friends #160--more than one die

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie #173--inspiration photo (I was inspired by the mummy)

Simon Says Stamp Monday--halloween/spooky

Use Your Stuff #469--die cuts

Card #2:

Supplies: 

Stamps: DRS Designs "Eyes For You Greeting" (mine is digital, but they have rubber in the shop!)

Dies: MFT "Blueprints 13" stitched rectangle; Spellbinders "Classic Circles, large"

Challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--spooky

Through the Purple Haze #197--Halloween AND/OR color palette

Crafty Calendar--Halloween

Creative Inspirations--autumn or Halloween

Aud Sentiments #298--Halloween/fall

Sweet Stampers #78--autumn or Halloween

Shopping Our Stash #481--frightfully delightful

Creative Knockouts #475--Halloween

Addicted to CAS #231--layered

Try Stampin' on Tuesday #579--monster mash AND/OR sketch

Thanks to our sponsors!

   Happy Friday!!!  Today is a special event over on the Cut It Up Challenge Blog.  This week, we are taking time to celebrate and thank our fabulous sponsors.  They've been so generous with prizes for all of our challenges.

The two sponsors I am highlighting today are:

Lawn Fawn

and

CAS-ual Fridays

Here are my cards for your inspiration:

First up is Lawn Fawn

I created this adorable "Thanks a Latte" themed card for them using the "Thanks a Latte" stamp set and a fun background frame.  I die cut the frame out of craft card stock and then cut scraps of fall themed patterned paper to sit behind the openings.  I stamped, colored, and fussy cut the mug images and stamped their little scarves on coordinating patterned paper before cutting them out and adhering them to the mugs.  I added whipped cream to the top of the female mug--I think she is a pumpkin spice latte, and a little bit of steam stamped on vellum to the male mug--he's definitely a no-nonsense plain latte kind of guy.  I added the sentiment to a die cut banner and adhered it across the center of the card.  Then I stamp a bunch of leaves (that also come with the stamp set), colored them and fussy cut them out before adhering them to the card is if they were falling into a pile at the bottom.

Second, CAS-ual Fridays:

Unfortunately, they have had to close down the store, but we still want to give them a great big "Thank You" for their past sponsorship.  I actually started this card on a white card base, but when I was trying to add the band of patterned paper, it was just too stark white and I didn't like it.  So, I started over on a piece of kraft card stock cut with a stitched rectangle die and like it sooooo much better now.  I stamped the sentiment and then masked over it so I could stamp the tree trunks on top of it, but not overlapping.  Then I used the "leaves" image two times each with red and orange inks to give it a fall feel.  I added the strip of patterned paper with a scalloped border mat and finished everything off with a die cut paper "button" and twine.  Then I adhered the panel to the original white card base and nothing was wasted!!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you will hop over to the Cut It Up blog for the full details of this event and to see what the rest of the Design Team has created. 

Card #1:

Supplies:

Stamps: Lawn Fawn "Thanks a Latte"

Dies: Lawn Fawn "Peek-a-boo backdrop" die and "Double Slider Surprise" banner

Challenges:

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #191--anything goes

Snippets Playground #438--anything goes with snippets (all of the patterned papers were snippets and all the stamped images were stamped on and cut from little scraps of white card stock)

Use Your Stuff #468--autumn or fall

Double Trouble #122--Fall Colors; Leafin it up to you (Thing #1: 3+ fall colors)

Double D--Octoberfest (things associated with October--scarves, falling leaves and hot drinks!)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--fall colors

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes with patterned paper

Sheepski Designs #67--autumn things

Creative Inspirations--autumn or halloween

We Love Stamping--autumn colors

Craft Rocket #97--autumn/halloween

Card #2:

Supplies:

Stamps: CAS-ual Fridays "Calm And Gentle"

Dies: MFT "Blueprints 25" stitched rectangle; PaperTrey Ink "Bitty Button Stacks"; Spellbinders scalloped border

Challenges:

Alphabet Challenge--N is for nature

Love To Craft Challenge Blog #70--anything goes

Crafty Friends #160--more than one dies

{Pin}spirational #294--inspirational photo (I was inspired by the color of the leaves)

Incy Wincy Designs--autumn harvest and/or houses (I have apples on my patterned paper)

Sketch Saturday #711--sketch

Sweet Stampers #73--autumn or Halloween

Simon Says Stamp Monday--fall mood board

Word Art Wednesday #565--anything goes with uplifting sentiment

Penny's Challenges #532--anything goes

Cards Galore #104--anything goes

A long, long time ago

  Happy Friday!!!  It's time for a new challenge from the Cut It Up Challenge Blog.  This week, the challenge is: BIG (use a big image or a big sentiment, or maybe even a big card.

And our fabulous sponsor is:

Oddball Art

Here is my card for your inspiration:

I chose this image from Oddball Art quite a while ago.  I chose it in honor of my twins as they have become Star Wars fans over the last two years.  When COVID hit, my brother-in-law moved back home from New York City, because it was better to be locked down in the country with family than alone in the city.  Since there wasn't much else to do at the beginning, we started a family event of watching the Stars Wars movies together and then transitioned into watching some of the different TV series.  Most of us trickled out after a while, but the twins still get together almost every Friday night to watch Star Wars with their Uncle.  It's been a really great chance for them to get to know him and spend time with him.  So, I decided I would print out Princess Leia really large and let her be the dominating element on my card.  I started by creating a nighttime, galaxy inspired background using Old Paper, Worn Lipstick, Dusty Concord, Blueprint Sketch and Black Soot Distress Oxides and blending brushes.  I die cut the panel with a stitched rectangle die and after letting it dry for a bit, I stamped the "Time Warp" image with white pigment ink to give the feeling of movement.  Then I heat embossed the sentiment with silver embossing powder.  In retrospect, I probably should have used a different color as it doesn't stand out very much.  To continue the silver theme, I die cut several tiny silver stars and scattered them across the background.  I added Leia with some foam tape and, done!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you will hop over to the Cut It Up blog for the full details of the challenge and to see what the rest of the Design Team has created. 

Supplies:

Stamps: Oddball Art "Image 301" (it may be retired because I don't see it in the Etsy Shop) image; Neat And Tangled "Time Warp" and "A Long Time Ago"

Dies: MFT "Blueprints 25" stitched rectangle; Stamps of Life stars

Challenges:

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #191--anything goes

Fab n' Funky #558--embossing

Simon Says Stamp Monday--Stitch It (I used a stitching die)

Penny's Challenge #531--anything goes

Krafty Chicks #632--stamp act

Cards Galore #104--anything goes

Love To Craft Challenge Blog #70--anything goes

Pattie's Creations #199--anything goes

Crafty Friends #160--more than one die

Love To Scrap Challenge Blog #157--anything goes

Hello Sunshine

  Happy Friday!!!  It's time for a new challenge from the Cut It Up Challenge Blog.  This week, the challenge is: Rainbow

And our fabulous sponsors are:

Pink And Main

And

Our very own Designer, Leslie, who is offering a lovely lot of crafty goodies.

Here is my card for your inspiration:

Pink and Main sent me this fabulous die set to work with!!  It includes this rainbow/sun piece and a sentiment: "friend" with a layering element.  At first I wasn't too excited about using this die, but once I actually cut with it and saw how fun it really is, I think I fell in love!  Here's what I did: the die cuts out everything all at once like a puzzle.  I ran it through my die cutting machine with white cardstock and had the idea that I would do it again with card stock each color of the rainbow so I could piece it together.  But I quickly realized that would waste a good amount of card stock and decided to color the white pieces with markers to get the colors I wanted.  So, I did that with the rainbow and sun pieces and sponged a bit of light blue ink around the edges of the clouds to make them stand out a little bit and to give them a rainy feel.  I also ran the die through my cutting machine with black glitter paper to get that black ring.  It really helps everything pop and the glitter adds a bit more fun.  I wanted to make this a shaker card, so I die cut a circle from the plaid layer, adhered some acetate behind it and then, starting with the outside cloud border, glued the pieces into place,  Since I wanted to be able to see "inside" the image, I left out the sky pieces, allowing the shaker elements to be seen.  After the die cuts were in place, I stamped my sentiment and then created the well for my shaker bits and added dimension to the rest of the back of the card, filled it with seed beads in rainy colors, adhered acetate to the back of the shaker element, placed the left over circle from the plaid piece onto the back of the card to show through the window as well, and finally adhered the whole panel to my white card base.  Partly for fun and partly to cover up a little tear where some washi tape stuck to the main panel, I added some clear droplets to mimic more raindrops.  You can see the shaker in action below.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you will hop over to the Cut It Up blog for the full details of the challenge and to see what the rest of the Design Team has created. 

Supplies:

Stamps: Verve "Celebrating you"

Dies: Pink and Main "Rainbow Friend"; Spellbinders "Classic Circles, large"; MFT "Blueprints 13" stitched rectangle

Challenges:

Cards Galore Challenge #103--anything goes

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes with patterned paper

Love To Craft Challenge Blog #70--anything goes

Crafty Calendar--anything goes

Paper Funday Challenge #45--anything goes with optional twist: thinking of you

Love To Scrap Challenge Blog #157--anything goes

NBUS #42--never before used schtuff (first time I have pulled this die set out of the package.  And the first time I have used paper from this paper pad even though I have had it for at least a year if not two!)

Sweet Stampers #72--add a sentiment

As You Like it--which is your favorite: metallic or glitter card? (while I do love a good metallic card, I LOVE glitter!!  And if I can use it without all the mess than that is even better!  Glitter card stock still leaves glitter around, but not as much as the loose stuff, so it's glitter card for me.)

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #190--anything goes

Simon Says Stamp Monday--sparkle & shine

Double Trouble #121--punch it out (Thing #1: use a punched or die cut element)

Penny's Challenge #530--anything goes

Stay Craft (with Hero Arts)--die-lightful

Congrats

  Happy Friday!!!  It's time for a new challenge from the Cut It Up Challenge Blog.  This week, the challenge is: So Proud

And our fabulous sponsor is:

The Cutting Cafe

Here is my card for your inspiration:

We were given these fabulous cut-files to use.  I chose to use the foldable base and the layers.  Since I don't have an electronic cutting device, I had to hand-cut ALL of these pieces.  About half way through the card base (which I did first), I was really starting to rethink my life choices!  But I powered through and I am glad I did, because it really did turn out fabulous!  I cut the card base and the top layer out of black card stock.  I cut the middle layer with a gold glitter cardstock.  I used the base layer and then trimmed just inside the lines to make it slightly smaller than the base.  I stamped the graduation cap and diploma, colored them and fussy cut them out.  Soooooo much fussy cutting on this one!  I stamped the sentiment and die cut it with a banner.  I also added some black glitter die cut stars which you can see much better in real life.  You can see them better in the photo below:

I had to use the stars to cover up some adhesive mishaps, but no one will ever know, except you!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you will hop over to the Cut It Up blog for the full details of the challenge and to see what the rest of the Design Team has created. 

Supplies:

Stamps: Verve "Take Note" sentiment; Repeat Impressions  cap and diploma

Dies: Lawn Fawn "Double Slider Surprise" banner die

The Cutting Cafe "Congrats Shaped Card" cutting file

Challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday--stamp it

Crafting Happiness #181--add a sentiment

Word Art Wednesday #560--anything goes with uplifting sentiment

Penny's Challenge #529--anything goes

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--stamp it

Cards Galore #103--anything goes

Love To Craft Challenge Blog #70--anything goes

Unicorn Challenge #80--go for gold

Crafty Calendar--anything goes

Paper Funday #45--anything goes with the optional twist: thinking of you

Grandpa

  Happy Friday!!!  It's time for a new challenge from the Cut It Up Challenge Blog.  This week, the challenge is: Grandparents' Day (this is a good time to create something to celebrate a favorite Grandma or Grandpa)

And our fabulous sponsor is:

Lawn Fawn

Here is my card for your inspiration:

I got this adorable stamp set from Lawn Fawn a while ago (read: a couple years) and had yet to pull it out and ink it up.  So, this was the perfect opportunity to give it some love.  I started out by die cutting my frame out of a light gray card stock and then figuring out how I wanted to orient it to best create a scene.  I kind of made it backwards and created from the top most layer back to the base layer, but, hey, it worked.  I created my "cliff" with a Lawn Fawn stitched hillside die and a dark gray card stock and added the lighthouse on top of the cliff.  (Side note, I live in Rhode Island so we have a lot of lighthouses along the coastline).  I created my "sandy beach" layer with some kraft card stock , then stamped the "GRANDPA" part of the sentiment and added a few stamped hearts with a kraft colored ink and added some grains of "sand" with two different markers.  I created my "ocean" with some Aqua Mist card stock die cut with a wave die.  I used some matching ink to define the edges a little and stamped some waves with the same ink and some white ink.  For the sky, I used a cloud stencil to add some interest and stamped my birds directly onto the background before adding the puffy clouds.  I finished it all off by stamping the rest of the sentiment on navy card stock (to go with the nautical theme) and heat embossed it with white embossing powder.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you will hop over to the Cut It Up blog for the full details of the challenge and to see what the rest of the Design Team has created. 

Supplies:

Stamps: Lawn Fawn "Smooth Sailing"; Papertrey Ink "World's Greatest" the word grandpa

Dies: Lawn Fawn "Peekaboo Backdrop" frame, "Stitched Hillside Borders"; MFT "Ocean Motion"

Taylored Expressions "Set the Scene: Clouds" stencil

Challenges:

Cards Galore #102--anything goes

Dies R Us #199--summer

Pattie's Creations #197--anything goes

Unicorn #79--summer time

Crafty Calendar--anything goes

Sheepski Designs #65--anything goes

Creative Inspirations--anything goes

Moving Along with the Times #145--anything goes

613 Avenue Create--anything goes

NBUS--never before used stuff (never used the stamp set before)

Penny's Challenge #528--anything goes

Creative Fingers #237--anything goes

Cupcake Inspiration #551--hobbies (for some people, sailing is a hobby)

Cardz 4 Guyz #303--use a stencil

The Paper Shelter #502--frame it

Little Red Wagon #688--a day at the beach

All about me!

  Happy Friday!!!  It's time for a new challenge from the Cut It Up Challenge Blog.  This week, the challenge is: All About Me (create something for you, or something that represents you, or both!)

And our fabulous sponsor is:

STAMPlorations

Here is my project for your inspiration:

I LOVE to read!!  After a bit of a hiatus because I have three children, and lots of other interests, I've kind of gotten sucked back in.  It has mostly been fueled by my middle daughter who keeps feeding me the next book in a series she loves.  I just HAVE to keep reading them, you know?!  Anyway, I used a STAMPlorations tag die to create my bookmark base.  The tag wasn't as long as I wanted it to be, so I die cut the top only (hanging the bottom part outside the edge of the cutting plates so it wouldn't cut the bottom.  Then I slid the tag die down and did the same, but this time hanging the top off the edge of the cutting plate.  (I die cut a second piece to go underneath to strengthen the base)  I used a stencil to create a background.  I stamped my images (they are separate: head, shoulders with arms, dress, legs) on scrap card stock, colored them and cut them out.  Then I stamped the dress on a patterned paper and placed all the pieces together on the bookmark.  I actually have a blue dress with white polka dots (just wore it this past Sunday to church).  I added red shoes, for a pop of color and fun.  I also have red shoes but wouldn't be able to wear them with the dress because mine have polka dots and that would be a little too much with the dots on the dress!  I stamped a stack of books and a sentiment, added an eyelet and some fabric twine for the tassel.  Oh, and did I mention my favorite color is blue?  Yep, so this book mark is all about me!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you will hop over to the Cut It Up blog for the full details of the challenge and to see what the rest of the Design Team has created. 

Supplies:

Stamps: STAMPlorations "Party Girl"; MFT "Our Story" stack of books and sentiment

Dies: STAMPlorations "Coffee Tags"

Stencil: STAMPlorations "Floral Burst Mini"

Challenges:

Penny's Challenge #527--anything goes

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #187--anything goes

Snippets Playground #434--anything goes with snippets (all the pieces of my woman image were stamped on scraps--paper piecing is a great way to use up patterned paper scraps!)

Love To Craft Challenge Blog #195--anything goes

Crafty Calendar--anything goes

Sheepski Designs #65--anything goes

NBUS--never before used shtuff (this is the first time I have used the woman stamp set)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--summertime blues

613 Avenue Create--anything goes