Pugs and Kisses Card [for The Paper Players Challenge PP263]

Hey, folks!

Here to share this card I made...


I love that little pug! :o)  Here he is jumping out of a pile of leaves, some of which were die-cut from corrugated paper and the rest from various cardstock colours.  I drew on the cardstock ones with Stampin' Write Markers just to add some detail!

I'm entering my card in the current challenge over at The Paper Players [PP263]:



The adorable pug and sentiment are from this stamp set:


Hot Diggity Dog Clear-Mount Stamp Set from Stampin' Up!
Hot Diggity Dog Wood-Mount Stamp Set from Stampin' Up!

Some of the other fun things I used:



For the embossed panel, I used the Argyle folder [the debossed side].  The sentiment was punched out with the Washi Label Punch.  The little leaves were die-cut with one of the dies from the Square Pillow Box Thinlits set -- the die cuts three leaves at once, so the leaf pile was created pretty quickly! :o)  I used Crushed Curry cardstock for my card base, and the speech bubble die-cut is from the Watercolor Wishes Card Kit.

Hope you got a smile here today, and thanks for stopping by! :o)

'Tis the Season Snowman Card [for Mojo Monday Challenge MOJO416]

Hey, folks!

Hope you had a great weekend!  I made a bunch of things over the past several days, so I'll have cards to share throughout the week. :o)  Today I'm sharing something I made earlier today for a challenge...


I'm really happy with how this card turned out! :o)  I used this sketch from the current Mojo Monday challenge [MOJO416]:


I've gotta say that no ideas came to mind at first...until I looked at the sketch sideways!  Then I thought, "SNOWMAN!" :D

I had to play around with the placement of his googly eyes and carrot nose a little because he looked a little creepy at one point, but I think he looks rather friendly now! :o)

Here are some of the things I used to make my card:



To build the snowman, I used three of the Circles Collection Framelits.  For the background, I used the Softly Falling folder [the debossed side].  I used Lost Lagoon 5/8" Striped Cotton Ribbon for the snowman's scarf and Silver 1/8" Ribbon along the left side of the debossed panel.

I drew on the snowman's smile. :o)  I stamped and die-cut the little holly using the Snow Place Photopolymer Bundle.  The stamped sentiment is from Peaceful Pines, and it was die-cut with a die from Square Pillow Box Thinlits.

Hope you got a smile here today, and thanks for visiting! :o)

Thank You Floral Card [for Global Design Project Challenge GDP002]

Hey, folks!

I hope you've been having a good week so far!  I'm here to share this card I made...


So I fussy cut one of the printed pieces from the Cottage Greetings Card Kit.  BECAUSE I'M CRAZY.  Seriously, I wouldn't recommend fussy cutting that design unless:

a) you have a lot of patience
b) you have really sharp scissors

You'll drive yourself nuts otherwise. :D

I started off with a Lost Lagoon card base.  For texture, I used some corrugated paper, adhesive-backed cork from my stash [old stuff from QuicKutz], and linen thread.  That great 'thank you' stamp is from A Whole Lot Of Lovely, which is a stamp set you can only get with Stampin' Rewards.  Once I spent enough to earn Stampin' Rewards, that was the first thing I chose because I love that 'thank you'.  I inked it with Stampin' Write Markers in Lost Lagoon, Mint Macaron and Tangerine Tango.

I'm entering my card in the current Global Design Project challenge [GDP002]:


Thanks for stopping by -- until next time! :o)

Just For You Baker's Box [for The Paper Players Challenge PP262]

Hey, folks!

Hope you had a great weekend!  I meant to get this posted yesterday, but I was feeling kind of wiped out.  I've been sleeping odd hours lately, and it's starting to get to me!  Here's the gift box I made to share...


I'm kind of in love with the Baker's Box Thinlits Dies [I got myself the bundle]!  Even if the gift you're giving is not very exciting, just packaging it up in a handmade box or bag can make it look special, I think. :o)

I'm entering my baker's box in the current colour challenge over at The Paper Players [PP262]:


I want to thank Sandy for choosing my card for the last challenge at The Paper Players -- her kind words and punny comment made me smile! :o)

Here's how I made my baker's box...

I started by die-cutting Lost Lagoon patterned paper from Sweet Dreams with the main Baker's Box Thinlit die -- you'll need to die-cut two pieces to make a box.  I used Tear & Tape Adhesive to stick the pieces together.

I die-cut two leaves using a die from Leaflets Framelits, one in Tangelo Twist and one in So Saffron.  I debossed the So Saffron leaf with the Elegant Dots folder, then used just a bit of glue down the center to stick the leaves together.  I offset them a little, which kind of creates a shadow effect!

I inked the stamp from Homemade For You with Tangelo Twist and Lost Lagoon markers, then trimmed around the circle by hand.  I layered it with a So Saffron pinking-edged circle, a banner I cut from corrugated paper, and a Tangelo Twist label.  The pinking-edged circle and label dies are from the Baker's Box Thinlits set.  I added a couple of So Saffron Candy Dots just for fun.

You know that trend of putting a little 'nest' of thread on projects?  This is the first time I've ever done that.  I just wanted to add a little something extra behind the label, but I didn't know what to add!  I thought, why not add a bit of linen thread.

Here's a look at the bundle I used to make my box:


Homemade For You Clear-Mount Bundle from Stampin' Up!

Before I go, I wanted to say hi to those who subscribed to get my blog posts in their e.mail -- I appreciate that! :o)

Stampin' Up! Give Thanks Card [for Pals Paper Arts Challenge PPA266]

Hey, folks!

Here to share this card I made...


I used my favourite stamp set from the holiday catalogue, Thankful Forest Friends!  I inked the stamp with Stampin' Write Markers.  I just want to mention that I did NOT come up with the two-tone sentiment idea myself [didn't want to take credit for someone else's idea!].  I was inspired by the awesome treat boxes shown on page 42 of the holiday catalogue!

I'm having fun with challenges lately.  I've shied away in the past because I'm not a very confident person, but it's fun to enter challenges and see what creative things others come up with!  For my card, I used the colour scheme from the current Pals Paper Arts challenge [PPA266]:


A very fall-friendly colour scheme.  I used Old Olive and Cajun Craze cardstock, as well as Delightful Dijon patterned paper from the 2015-2017 In Color Designer Series Paper Stack.

Here's a closer look at the stamp set I used...


Thankful Forest Friends Clear-Mount Stamp Set from Stampin' Up!
Thankful Forest Friends Wood-Mount Stamp Set from Stampin' Up!

The beautiful leaf design was die-cut with one of these dies:


Leaflets Framelits Dies from Stampin' Up!

Thanks for stopping by -- I'll be back tomorrow with an entry for The Paper Players challenge! :o)

I'm Always Here For You Card

Hey, folks!

Here to share this card I made...
 

A lot of times, I'll buy stamp sets if they remind me of Humble. :o)  The sentiments from Friendly Wishes remind me of him, so I had to get it!  It's one of my favourite items in the annual catalogue because of the sweet sentiments, the charming look of the stamp designs, and also because they're so great for inking with Stampin' Write Markers!

I mentioned before how much I love these markers -- they're so fun to use!  I find myself wanting to buy stamps that look like they'd be fun to colour with them.  The stamped impressions remind me of the kind of look I would get when I used to hand-carve my own stamps!  You may not be able to get a super-solid impression every time, but I think the look you get is very charming and has a lot of character.

Here's a closer look at the sentiment...
 

Here's a look at the stamp set I used:
 

Friendly Wishes Clear-Mount Stamp Set from Stampin' Up!
Friendly Wishes Wood-Mount Stamp Set from Stampin' Up!

Some of the other fun things I used:
 




2014-2016 In Color Stampin' Write Markers
Moonlight Designer Series Paper Stack
Chalk Talk Framelits Dies
Banners Framelits Die
On Point Textured Impressions Embossing Folder
Argyle Textured Impressions Embossing Folder


Crafting Tips & Notes:

• Don't forget the old stuff!  As fun as all the new holiday supplies are, I have to say that my favourite page in the store is the Clearance Rack. :D  There are lots of amazing deals -- great if you're crafting on a budget.  The patterned paper and both of the embossing folders I used are things I got from the Clearance Rack!
• Try using the debossed side from your embossing folders to get different looks from your folders!  After I embossed the Tangelo Twist banner with the Argyle folder, I ended up liking the debossed side more than the embossed side!

Thanks for stopping by -- hope you have a great weekend! :o)

Thankful Treat Bag Featuring Acorny Thank You from Stampin' Up!

Hey, folks!

I'm back to share this treat bag I made...
 

:o)  I really enjoyed making this!  Here's a closer look...
 

This might sound a little crazy, but...

I actually like inking stamps with Stampin' Write Markers more than using Classic Stampin' Pads.  

It's true!

You might not always be able to get as solid of an impression with the markers, but I *love* the look you get -- it kind of adds to the handmade, hand-stamped look, I think.  I find the look very charming. :o)  Here I used my Early Espresso, Tangelo Twist and Rich Razzleberry markers.

The treat bag itself was made using the Mini Treat Bag Thinlits Dies, and I die-cut the banners using Banners Framelits.  Some of the new holiday items I used are:

• Acorny Thank You Photopolymer Stamp Set
• Acorn Builder Punch
• Into the Woods Designer Series Paper
• Happy Haunting Designer Series Paper
• Into the Woods 3/8" Cotton Ribbon

Here's a closer look at the stamp set and coordinating punch:
 

Acorny Thank You Photopolymer Stamp Set from Stampin' Up! [available Sept. 1st]

Acorn Builder Punch from Stampin' Up! [available Sept. 1st]
This stamp set and punch will also be offered in a bundle for 15% savings.  The funny thing is, when I placed my first holiday pre-order, I wasn't drawn to this stamp set and punch very much at all.  I'm glad I decided to get them the next time around because I really loved making this project [which made me add these to my favourites from the holiday catalogue]!  And those acorns turn out super-cute. :o)

What I did with the ribbon there was a happy accident -- I had my project lying on my desk, and the ends of the ribbon were tucked underneath the treat bag.  I really liked the way it looked, so I used glue dots to secure the ribbon ends on the back of the treat bag. :D

Hope you got a smile here today, and thanks for stopping by! :o)

Hot Diggity Dog Pillow Box and a New Crafting Chapter

Hey, folks!

Hope you've been having a nice summer!  I've been up to something new recently -- I signed up to be an independent Stampin' Up! demonstrator.  I thought about joining several months ago but didn't go through with it because I was a bit scared and didn't think I could do it.  I'm not the most confident person!  But trying is better than not, so I decided to just go for it and see what happens. :o)  

One of the challenges I have is that I'm only able to sell to folks within Canada, but most of the blog visitors I have here are from the US and overseas.  I think it'll take some time before I gain a customer, but in the meantime, I'll be having me some crafty good times because I really do enjoy a lot of Stampin' Up! products -- I started ordering their stuff about 6 years ago [very early on in my card making!].

I've been so excited to get some new supplies over the past couple of weeks -- I'm talking *jazz hands* excited!  This is how I've been feeling lately...
 

:D  I wanted to make something fun and festive because it's been such a blast playing with these supplies!  I used a few things that I've had for quite a while and mixed in some new things I got and some really new things that I was able to pre-order from the upcoming holiday catalogue.

The star of the show is definitely that adorable dog, who is included in a stamp set I bought last year:
 

Hot Diggity Dog Clear-Mount Stamp Set from Stampin' Up!
Hot Diggity Dog Wood-Mount Stamp Set from Stampin' Up!

The pillow box was made using this awesome die set from the upcoming holiday catalogue [I could not wait to get this die set!]:
 

Square Pillow Box Thinlits Dies from Stampin' Up! [available Sept. 1st]

That super-fun Real Red Pompom Trim is also from the holiday catalogue, and so is the Softly Falling Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  That's a 6" x 6" folder that looks like falling snow, but I've used it to give the pillow box a festive 'confetti' look! :o)  The patterned paper that the dog is sitting on is actually a journaling card from the Hello December 2015 Project Life Card Collection [available Sept. 1st] that I die-cut with one of the Banners Framelits.

Crafting Tips & Notes:

• You'll need to die-cut two of the pillow box pieces to create one box.  Use an extra-strong adhesive to attach the two pillow box pieces together so that your box holds together well.  Here I've tried the new Tear & Tape Adhesive, which has a very good hold.
• A nice and sharp pair of scissors will make fussy cutting the dog easier [I used Paper Snips].
• Stampin' Write Markers are so fun to use!  Here I've used them to colour in the dog's ear and to selectively ink the sentiment stamp and the dog's collar. 
• Something I really like about Stampin' Up! products is that they make colour coordination really simple.  You can get cardstock, ink, markers, ribbon, embellishments and patterned paper that all match.  Makes crafting easier because you don't have to search for things that go well together!

Supplies I Used:

1. Hot Diggity Dog Clear-Mount Stamp Set [also in Wood-Mount]
2. Square Pillow Box Thinlits Dies [available Sept. 1st]
3. Banners Framelits Die [also in Amazing Birthday Bundle]
4. Chocolate Chip Classic Stampin' Pad
5. Real Red Stampin' Write Marker [also in Brights set and Many Marvelous Markers]
6. Bermuda Bay Stampin' Write Marker [in Brights set and Many Marvelous Markers]
7. Crumb Cake Stampin' Write Marker [in Neutrals set and Many Marvelous Markers]
8. Bermuda Bay 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
9. Pool Party 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
10. Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
11. Sweet Li'l Things Designer Series Paper
12. Hello December 2015 Project Life Card Collection [available Sept. 1st]
13. Softly Falling Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [available Sept. 1st]
14. Real Red Pompom Trim [available Sept. 1st]
15. Bermuda Bay Sequin Trim
16. Brights Candy Dots
17. Clothespins
18. Paper Snips
19. Tear & Tape Adhesive and Stampin' Dimensionals
20. Grid Paper

Hope you got a smile here today, and thanks for visiting! :o)