One For The Boys

Hello Friends,

I hope you can join us at "The Sisterhood of The Crafters"

for this weeks new challenge "One For The Boys"....

create a project that is "masculine".

This was a great "challenge" for me as I always seem to struggle making

masculine cards.....

It is so hard NOT to put a bow and all that girlie stuff on....

But I remembered I had purchased many years ago a stamp

 from Coronado Island Stamps of wolves.....

A BIG A2 size stamp that pretty much took the show and didn't need much else!

I couldn't resist adding a ribbon (no bow though..lol)...

so my card came together pretty easily!

so why not head on over to "The Sisterhood" and join in with my "sistah's" and me

and check out what the DT has created...

then show us your "manly" creation!!

See "you" there...

Vintage Hues

This is my post today at the Classy Cards 'n Such blog...
I hope you can join in the challenge with us this week.
Head on over and see what the DT has for you this week

Hello My Classy Cards 'n Such friends.....

We have a fun  (and pretty, too) challenge for you this week

using the gorgeous Inspiration Photo below.

I designed my card with two of my newest dies in mind.

As soon as I saw these dies I asked Beverly to order them for me.

She has both "in stock" right now, so don't miss out!!

Oh wait, I bet you want to know what I am talking about right??

The first die is what I used for my "base" to build on.

It's called "Billies Circle" by Joy Crafts...

I have a love for lattice dies, so intricate and detailed, and this one

has both...beautiful!!

The second "new" die is also a Joy Crafts called "Ribbons and Bows".

This in an interesting die, as you could weave ribbon through it if you wanted to,

or do as I did, and just lay a piece under the die for a contrast!

I added a flower I made with a Cheery Lynn Designs die "Judy's Blooms".

(Did you know that right now ALL Cheery Lynn Designs dies are on sale?)

I colored my flower with Susans Gardens "PanPastels Flowering Coloring Kit"

 using the colors Magenta and Permanent Red

Using "Art Institute Dries Clear Adhesive",

 I sprinkled a tiny bit of Sparkle & Sprinkle "Crystal Ice" glitter on for some added "texture"!

A few foliage "embellishments" were added to the flower using

 Marianne Die "Anja Leaves 2"

and Cheery Lynn Designs "Olive Branches".

That's it for today, I hope you enjoyed today's post and will join us in our challenge for this week.

Don't forget, next week our challenge will be a handmade flower from the Susan's Garden

collection...need one...you may purchase one here, there is still time!

I can't wait to see "your" creations!!

Hoppy Easter

You can tell by this card I am more then ready for SPRING (yes I am yelling..lol)

I refuse to even look at the weather reports anymore....

but on the good side Spring is only about a month away....

which brings me to this card.....

I needed to make something Spring~like and saw the challenge at

CAS(E) this sketch

I LOVED this sketch...it makes me want to use it over and over

I pulled out this maybe never used before (I think) bunny stamp from SU

it has a date on it of 2000...that's 14 years old...yikes.....

I stamped these little guys on polka dot scrap papers...

I have been really into trying to use scraps up....

however these sure didn't use much..lol

The "hoppy easter" stamp has been in stamp drawer a very long time...

it is from Savvy Stamps

My banner was cut on vellum with a SB die

and it's hard to tell, but it has slightly got a wave going if ya know what I mean!

The cute little clouds  are an IO die

and the DS paper is some new 

(I know, I just said I was trying to use up old, 

but who could resist this cute paper from Wild Rose?)

and the little flower sequins, are from Paper Sweeties!!

I also wanted to share a photo I took a few minutes ago of Nellie making herself comfy

while I was out of the room...sorry Nell needs a haircut!!

second photo is Soot also "comfy"

Baby Joy Buds

We are having the craziest weather here today...

we have had below zero, teens, 20's, 30's 40's, snow, ice all this week

and today, gloomy doomy rain on top of our mountains of snow

to cause flooding and a messy day!!  Oh, and it's to get in the 50's today....

tomorrow...back to the 20's and snow!!!

All I can say is "Mr Spring" had better show up soon!!

I wanted to get a few things  done today as I think I will be gone

from my computer the next 4 days or so....

We need to go "North" and check on our house there to make sure all is well.

We were unable to get a full load of propane and has us concerned ....

So, all that being said, I really wanted to join in "The Shabby Tea Rooms" challenge

using the cute inspiration photo below......

and also in the challenge going on at

Craft Hoarders Anonymous using the color inspiration photo below!!

I normally make a project for just one challenge in mind, but it just so happens

that these two challenges fell into place together  for me...

I used a darling little image from Crafty Secrets and built my entire card around it.

I just love vintage baby cards, and these sweet little "joy buds" stole my heart!!

The background paper I have had a few years....my sister gave it me for a Xmas present

it is from DCWV...and has a quilt pattern on it...so cute for a baby card, soft and pretty!!

I made my little banner from snippets of ribbon (I can never throw anything away)...

and the cute little baby beads...well, I hate to admit it, but have been in my stash for about 15 years...

The little blue bird...he has lived here at least 2 years.....what can I say, I am a "HOARDER"!!

The christening dress is a cottage cutz die...it is so sweet and vintage looking!!

Challenges entered:

The Shabby Tea Room Baby Shower Party

and

Craft Hoarders Anonymous Color Challenge with a twist

..use things you hoard the most in blues.."PAPER" for me
and 
The Crafter's Cafe Challenge...vintage or shabby chic
and
Word Art Wednesday...anything goes

Water Coloring With H2os

I have this post on the Classy Cards 'n Such blog today.
this week our challenge is Twinkling H2Os.
MY post there today is about "water coloring" with them.
I hope "YOU" can join us in the challenge there.

Hello Classy Friends, Diane here with you today on the Classy Cards 'n Such blog.

This week  our challenge is using Twinkling H2os...

I have a love for these little pots of "Twinkle"...

They add a perfect bit of sparkle or you can use them as I did to "water color"..

I used a Dreamweaver Wisteria stencil which was embossed onto water color paper.

To emboss a stencil, use the same stacking order you would to emboss a regular die...

I taped my stencil on first with removable tape to hold it in place to color.

For this technique I used the "Spritzer" and spritzed not only my H2os,

 but my mat as well.

you don't want your brush too wet, but you also don't want you H2os to go on too thick,

after all, this  is "water coloring"!

By dipping your brush in the H2os and then in the water on your mat, you get a mix

that is easier to move around on your image....

Just be careful not to let the color seep under the stencil...

The Twinkling H2os used for this project are:

Think Pink using the colors Courageous and Lucky Apple

Holiday Sparkle using the colors Sugar Plum and Emerald

Springtime using the colors Plum Blossom and Spanish Moss

I matted my finished water color on So Silk Fabulous Purple, this is a gorgeous paper

that I hesitated to even cover up, but it was so pretty with the Wisteria!!

The sentiment is from the Flourishes set "Always Blooming"

Thank you for visiting with me today.

I hope you will join us in our challenge this week using your H2os!!

I

Flower Box Love Birds

I know, I know Valentines Day is over...

but I put lots of work into this and intend to leave it out all month!!
And the fact is I finished it "after" Valentines Day!!!

Plus, don't you think "love" should be "never ending"..lol!!

A few weeks ago I orderd a line of "Fancy Pants" called "Be Loved".

I loved the colors included, teal, gray, pink...favorites!!

I wanted a bit of Valentine decor without spending an arm and a leg

and was "Pinterest" inspired with all the paper flowers I keep seeing.

I cut all my flowers on my trusty neglected Cricut Expression....

it took a while, as I ordered the 6 x 6 pad, so had to keep reloading my papers.

But it was well worth the effort I think.  Everything you see is from the "Be Loved"

collection, including the flower centers and those cute little chipboard "love birds".

The red ribbon is SU Real Red

 and the tin I covered has been in my stash for over 7 years!!

This is a short post as I have way too much (as usual) to do today...see ya later!!

challenges entered:

Shopping My Stash .... "embellishments"

and 

Twisted Tuesdays .... Anything but a card and twist is "chipboard"

and

Crafty Cardmakers and More .... Come Fly With Me "Birds/bird cages"
and 
Decorate to Celebrate .... Flowers or Birthday

Be Always Blooming

This is my card for the post at "Classy Cards 'n Such" challenge
I would LOVE for you to join in the challenge this week...
there is a wonderful prize of a set of H2Os....

Hello "Classy" friends, Diane here with you today on the Classy Cards 'n Such blog.

This week our challenge is "Twinkling H2os".....

I have a gorgeous card to share with you using the Twinkling H2os....

If you are not familiar with H2os, they come completely dry....

in fact when I purchased my first set, I thought "oh no, these are all dried up" LOL..

but, they are supposed to be dry, you simply "spritz" them with water and

they "come alive"!!  When you are done using them, just leave the lids off

and let them dry up before putting the lids back on.

For my card I used two pieces of scrap white card stock and simply started

"painting" the colors on, just in a back and forth motion, starting with the lightest color

and adding the darker colors on top, giving a contrast of color..

The colors I used came from the sets

 Think Pink, Holiday Sparkle, Springtime, and Autumn Brilliance

After I let the papers dry, I used Impression Obsession Hydrangea die to cut 

my flowers and leaves.  I cut 9 sets of flowers, the die cuts 8 flowers at a time..

I then conditioned them using the Paper Blossom tool kit 

and Paper Blossoms Craft  Molding Mat.

 Using Art Institute Dries Clear Adhesive, I first glued all the larger flowers,

 then filled in with the smaller flowers.

The background die cut is a Spellbinders "Exquisite Circles"

The colors from the Twinkling H2o sets are as follows.

Think Pink:   Luv-u-pink, Lucky Apple

Springtime:  Chiffon Pink, Plum Blossom

Holiday Sparkle:  Emerald

Autumn Brilliance:  Spanish Moss

Thank you for joining me today...I hope you will join us in the challenge this week!!!

Entering the following challenges:

Impression Obsession "Happy Birthday"
and 
Craft-Dee BowZ....anything goes with a handmade bow
and
Crafting From The Heart....anything goes use flowers
and 
Scribble and Scrap....anything goes

My Valentine Mini Album

So, what are you all working on today??

I am spending the day in my creative room.

We are to get another 6" of snow, sleet and rain today...oh goody, I can hardly wait!!

I am working on my guest design project for Paper Sweeties...

my projects for Classy Cards 'n Such.....

and a few challenges I want to enter!!

But, I wanted to share (I know Valentines is over) my mini heart album I made...

I don't have any of the photos added yet, I need to order some in a smaller size,

and I will add  "more" embellishments once the photos are added....

A few weeks ago I ordered some Fancy Pants "Be Loved" ephemera and papers

to work with...I chose this set as it has pink~red~turquoise~gray colors..LOVE!!

I covered a $1 Michael's heart chipboard album....

all the edges were sanded and inked with SU  "Going Gray" ink.

It is rather picture heavy, ten pages and all...

I love the last page..it just fits, don't you think??

I will be back with another Fancy Pants project I made that was Pinterest inspired later this week!

I am entering this in the following challenges:

Eclectic Ellapu anything goes~anything but a card

and

Scribble and Scrap anything goes

and

The Squirrel and the Fox "Love"

Wishin and Hopin

Remember that song "wishin and hopin"....

well that is what I am, Wishing and Hoping for SPRING!!

Which brings me to my card....a bit of Springtime!!

This week the challenge at "Shopping Our Stash" is "shiney.....

I love this challenge as it makes me dig into  my monster "pile"  "stash"

 and use some things up!!

I pulled out this long ago stamped image, maybe 3 or 4 years ago....

so simple, but so pretty!

I added  a "vellum" overlay   which I think has been in my stash for at least a year!!

The pine branch is an IO die, one I cut for Christmas but didn't use..

The bow is made with ribbon I just won from Craft-Dee BowZ

it is one of my "shiney" items along with the gems on my branch!!

It came together rather quickly with all the supplies right at my finger tips!!

Entering this into the following challenges:

Shopping Our Stash "shiney"

and

Feeling Crafty Challenge "dies/punches"

and

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge "add a gem, glitter or bling"

Birthday "Pocket"

It's a "sunshiney" day here today...yah...I LOVE the sun..

it makes me happy, (well except it shows me all the dusting I need to do)

How do you pick a challenge to do??

do you make a project, then find a place to enter?

Or, do you pick a challenge, then make a project for that challenge??

Me, I find a challenge that right away grabs my attention...

then, I might find a few more places to enter it after it is done!!

So this morning I found this fun challenge at "a little red wagon" for "pockets"!

It just so happens, when I was pulling things out of my stash, that one was an

already stamped and cut pocket!

As I mentioned in a few posts back, I have these clear bags with things I cut,

stamped, colored, etc...just bits and pieces of things that I have sorted by

color in the bags....the pocket and flower came from the "blue" bag.....

I am making myself use some of these up here and there.

The pocket was stamped on watercolor paper for a white denim look...

It is a Unity stamp...the flower is an SU, stamped and punched.

I made my cute birthday tag with a bit of embossing at the top and

stamped with another SU stamp...

The background designer paper, I picked up an entire 4 12/ x 6 1/2 pad at a

garage sale last Spring.  There is this girl that has a sale every Spring and

I have not missed it for years.  She sells lots of paper, stamps, Sizzix dies for

so cheap that I buy lots...this little pad of Die Cuts With A View has 72 sheets

and it was only $1.25!!!!!

Well, that's it for me today...I have to head out while the weather is good!!!

Challenges entered:

Little Red Wagon "pockets"

Debut With The Sisterhood of Crafters

I have wonderful, exciting news to share!!!

I was asked to join "The Sisterhood of Crafters" challenge blog as part of the DT !!!

I am so looking forward to working with the other wonderful sisters

Darlene ~ Lisa ~ Miki ~ and Terri

and I  know I will have tons of fun with the "sisters"

Today's fun challenge is "Love You"

What does "love" mean to you?

will you create a wedding card, an anniversary card,
a card to show a friend you love her, or maybe a

Valentine card...whatever you decide, I can't wait to see it!!

Here is my card for the challenge, put together with bits and pieces

of goodies I had on hand

Now head on over to "The Sisterhood" and take a peek

at what the DT has created.....

hope to see you there!!

Diane

Sketch by Jenn Challenge At Classy Cards 'n Such

Here is the card I have featured today at Classy Cards 'n Such
promoting the sketch challenge below!
I hope you can find the time to join us,
there is a lovely prize awarded to the winner!!




It's time for another fun challenge at "Classy Cards 'n Such.....

I hope you can join us this week for challenge #19

"A sketch by our own DT member Jenn"

For my project today I  took one look at the sketch

and knew right away I wanted to use the Spellbinders "Heart Circles" die

for my focal point to add my flowers to.

I used Cheery Lynn Designs "Gardenia Strip" to make my flowers.

The color was added using "Permanent Red" from the 

Susan's Garden PanPastels Flower Coloring Kit.

The PanPastels go on so smoothly, and depending on the pressure you use,

you can get the light to dark tones on your flower..

To apply the color I used PanPastels Sofft Covers with a quick, soft sweep

on the petals.  

All the petals were "conditioned" with a Stylus from Paper Blossoms Tool Kit

The leaves underneath were cut with Cheery Lynn Designs "Judy's Blooms"

and water colored with TH Distress Marker Peeled Paint.

The panel on the side is Cheery Lynn Designs "Mesh Border" cut from 

KaiserCrafts 12 x 12 paper "Key To My Heart".

The sentiment  "Adore" is from JustRite stamp set 

"Just The Right Words"...

I finished my card by rounding off the 2 right corners, for a softer look.

This was a fun sketch and I can't wait to see what "YOU" create.

Entering in the following challenges:
Love To Create "use red and/or pink"
and
Craft-Dee BowZ "anything goes"

Guest Designing At The Shabby Tea Room

I am excited to once again be a "guest designer" at The Shabby Tea Room"!!!!

This weeks challenge is a sketch designed by Lesley Croghan.

I decided to do a combination Spring/Valentine card using the 

gorgeous new Graphic 45 Sweet Sentiments papers

I just love how these sweet papers fit into the Marianne book die...

like a real book page!  

As soon as I looked at the sketch the book die came to mind...

as did the papers...I am just impressed I remembered I had both...lol

When I was a little girl, my bedroom used to be lilac and pink....

it was my favorite color, and for some reason this card reminds me of those

"long ago" childhood days...

I remember I had a pink ruffled bedspread with roses on it, right out of the

Speigals  catalog!! 

Now that sure ages me....but it was our big mail order at that time!!!!

Products used on my card are:

Marianne Designs:  book die

Cheery Lynn Designs:  Carnivale Border die, Pretty Pretty Bow die, Tiny Flower kit

Memory Box:  Woven basket die

Papers :  Graphic 45 Sweet Sentiments

Card Stock"  SU Very Vanilla, Orchard Opulence

SU:  Heart Punch

I am entering this in the following challenges:
Simon Says Blog "work it Wednesday" to use something new
my new is the gorgeous Graphic 45 Sweet Sentiments papers

Layers of Creamy Goodness!!

Here is my blog post on the Classy Cards 'n Such blog today!!
Don't forget to join in our weekly challenges,
we would love to see you there!!

Hello Friends,

Diane here with you today on the Classy Cards 'n Such blog.

Today I have a gorgeous card showing you how well all the dies from various companies

work together.

I started my card base by cutting a frame from
Marianne Creatable Die Anja's Large Oval

I scored my cardstock, folded it in half, and overlapped the die, so as not to cut

entirely through the fold side, allowing the card to be "one piece".  I cut a second "single

Large Oval and covered the card front with it, giving me a complete die cut.....

a wonderful and easy way to create a "shaped card"!

Using another die from the same set of Marianne Creatable Die Anja's Large Oval,
 I made the next, intricate, beautiful layer, 
which has been slightly "popped" up using Joy Foam pads.

The next layer was created using the Cheery Lynn Designs Lattice Hearts & Vines die.

It, too was "popped" up by cutting the small Joy Foam pads in half

.  On top of the heart, I placed the word"Love", also a Cheery Lynn Designs die.

To finish my card, I added 3 rolled roses using a Memory Box Pinwheel Posie die.

I added a bit of "Mercury Glass" stickles to my flower "petals".

I think this would be a beautiful card for an anniversary, wedding, or Valentines Day!!

Challenges entered:

Feeling Crafty Challenge Blog Use Dies and/or Punches