Treats for Fall -- and The Cutting Cafe

It's Fall!  I'm thinking pumpkins, turning leaves, and cooler days.  I'm also thinking it's time for some design team inspiration at The Cutting Cafe.  This week, you'll see Halloween and Fall-themed projects from the team.

 I used the Halloween-Fall Milk Carton Cutting file/Template to create this:

 I used paper from Carta Bella, and clear card stock from The Cutting Cafe Shop.

The glitter pumpkin is a die cut from Echo Park.  A little Timeless Twine finished off this festive Fall treat box. 

Visit The Cutting Cafe Blog on October 7 to see the rest of the creations from the very talented design team.  Leave a comment on the post for a chance to win any 3 sets!  Woohoo!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:

D.L. Art Thankful Thursday -- Fall

IDCB -- ATG

Outlawz Paper ala Mode -- Fall or Halloween

Sunny Day Challenge -- ATG

Not Just Cards -- ATG

With Sympathy - for Great Impressions Stamps

Today is my day to post on the Great Impressions Stamps blog -- always a great pleasure for me!  I LOVE their stamps!

I needed a sympathy card awhile back, and I wanted it to be beautiful.  I naturally reached for my Great Impressions Stamps to create it...

The Butterfly Frame (H226) and the With Sympathy (B206) seemed like a perfect combination.  I stamped the H226- Butterfly Frame onto Carta Bella Kraft card stock, then colored it with Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor pencils.  I then fussy cut the frame. 

6x6 papers are by My Mind's Eye - Hello, Gorgeous.  Lace/gem trim is from Prima Marketing.

Did you join in the Great Impressions Stamps Anything Goes challenge this month?  There's another one starting very soon! 

Don't forget to shop in the Great Impressions Stamps store to find more elegant stamps like those used in today's card. 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
AUD Sentiments -- ATG with a Sentiment
Word Art Wednesday -- ATG
Crafting with an Attitude -- ATG
Craft Rocket Challenges -- Spots &/or Stripes (has spots)
D.L. Art - July Linky Party
IDCB -- ATG
The Pencil Case -- ATG
Not Just Cards -- color challenge
TTCRD -- ATG
CRAFT Challenge -- Summer
Outlawz Twisted Thursday -- ATG

A Flamingo Summer -- for Great Impressions Stamps

Happy weekend, fellow stamp lovers!  I have a fun summertime card to share with you today, and I'm also sharing on the Great Impressions Stamps blog.

I broke out the watercolors to create today's card because I wanted a 'watery' look to it all.

This card uses H287 - Floating Flamingo, and C366 - Hello Summer.  I stamped both H287 - Floating Flamingo and C366 - Hello Summer onto watercolor paper.  Then, I broke out my new Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pen and a water brush and got busy.

I created the rocking base using my Silhouette Cameo with a file I found in the Silhouette Design Store.  The sun is also a cut file from the Silhouette Design Store. The stitched dies are from Craftin' Desert Divas. Designer Papers are from Carta Bella.

We have a new challenge starting tomorrow at Great Impressions Stamps Challenge blog, so join the fun!

Check out all the wonderful stamps in the Great Impressions Online Store.

Great Impressions Stamps is sponsoring House of Cards Challenge Blog.  They are having an End of Term blog hop, and a challenge.  I made this card to support their challenge, using this picture for inspiration:

I'll be entering this in the following challenges:

House of Cards -- photo inspiration
Let's Color Linky Party -- ATG
IDCB -- ATG
Not Just Cards -- ATG
D.L. Art -- June Linky Party -- ATG
TTCRD -- ATG
Outlawz Twisted Thursday -- Animals 

Happy Summer -- for Coloring Without Boundaries

Hello, fellow crafters.  This weekend is Memorial Day weekend here in the U.S., and the unofficial start of summer.  What could be more perfect than featuring this happy summertime image from Lacy Sunshine artist, Heather Valentin? 

Today, I'm featuring Eleanor & Pickles Digging Clams....

I'll talk you through the process of how I colored this, starting with skin:

I used the lightest skin tones behind the glasses, so it would look different there -- E000 & E00.  

The rest of the skin tones are: E00, E21, E34 Lips - R21, R22 blush - R12

Eyes - BV000, BV02, BV04

Hair - YR24, Y21, E50

Glasses - B32, B34, B37, C00

Frog - G00, G20, G21, G24
Tummy - YG00, YG11, YG13, YG17
Eyes - W1, W3, W5, W7

Snorkel & Fins - BG000, B00, B02, B05
Water - BG000, BG11, C01
Sand - E30, E31, E34, E35, E37

Sundress, Hat, and Hair Ribbons -- BG000, BG01, BG05, V000, V01, V04

Pail - YR12, YR14, YR18.  The pail wasn't bright enough, so I added YR02
Clams - YG91, YG97, YR20, YR24
Pearl - C01, C00

Here are Eleanor & Pickles Digging Clams, made into a card  -

I cut the card base out on my Silhouette Cameo, with a file I found in the Silhouette Design Store.  The puffy sentiment and sun are from October Afternoon.  The designer paper is from Carta Bella.  The Kraft paper is from Close To My Heart.

You'll find this tutorial and other wonderful tutorials on the Coloring Without Boundaries blog.  There's  opportunities to improve your coloring with Heather Valentin's online coloring classes.  They are available for purchase in the Lacy Sunshine Store.  Check out the Lacy Sunshine Color N Craft Community on Facebook and the Coloring Without Boundaries Facebook Group for inspiration and information.

Happy Birthday -- for Julia Spiri

It's time for a new challenge at the Julia Spiri Challenge Blog.  As always, our challenges are Anything Goes with an optional twist.  This time, the twist is  -- For a Child.  I took advantage of the twist to make an always needed birthday card.

I used 'The Bunny and Cake' on this card, colored with Copic markers.

After I got done coloring 'The Bunny & Cake', I constructed the card using papers from Photo Play - Birthday Boy Collection.  The dies used to cut out the image are from Lawn Fawn.  The Kraft paper is by Carta Bella.  The card stock, sentiment, and shimmer trim are by Close To My Heart.  The enamel dots are from my stash. 

I hope you can join in the next 2 weeks at Julia Spiri Challenge blog, where challenges are always Anything Goes.  This time, the optional twist is - For a Child.  You have a chance to win some great Julia Spiri images of your own, and I'd love to see what you make! Join the Stamps by Julia Spiri Facebook group, too, for more fun, inspiration, and news. 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Critters & Creatures Linky Party -- ATG with a Critter
IDCB -- ATG
D.L. Art -- April linky party
Not Just Cards -- ATG
PDE Linky Party -- ATG

Another Birthday? -- for Great Impressions Stamps

It's Saturday, and I'm posting today for Great Impressions Stamps.  I have a good friend who will be turning 94 in a week or so.  I try to make and send him a card each week.  He's one of my biggest fans. So, of course, when his birthday rolls around, I try to make him something really special.

Here's his card for his 94th birthday --
Front side of the card:

I used F611 Surprised Mouse and colored him with Copic markers.

Here's the other side of the flip card, using D503 Another Birthday? --

Somehow I think my friend will think that sentiment perfect for his age.  He has a great sense of humor, and I can hear his chuckle all the way across the state!

I cut this card design out on my Silhouette Cameo with a file I found in the Silhouette Design Store.  Designer papers are from Crate Paper.  Kraft paper is from Carta Bella. 

I'll be back next week.  In the meantime, please enter our Bunny Hop challenge.  We want to see your Easter/Spring projects. You'll find many wonderful rubber stamps in the Great Impressions Store. 

Snowball Fight! for Oddball Art Co.

It's time for a bit of mid-challenge inspiration over on the Oddball Art challenge blog.  And, if you missed the blog hop in honor of team mate Angie's birthday, you might want to hop along with that, and try to win the awesome prize!  It started yesterday.  You'll find the start of it on the Oddball Art blog here.

The current challenge theme is 'Layer it Up'.  We want to see lots of layers - paper, ribbon, die cuts -- how ever you interpret it.

I used image #263 on this card - Tia, the Ice Queen.  I colored Tia with Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor pencils on  Carta Bella Kraft paper.

I layered up the designer papers.  They are Echo Park -- Winter Park, 12x12 papers.  The snowflake die cut has been in my collection for quite some time, and I no longer remember who made it.

I hope you can join us at Oddball Art Challenge blog for our 'Layer it UP' challenge.  You have until Dec. 14 to enter.  LOTS of time! 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
My Time to craft -- Let It Snow
Snarky Stampers -- Naughty Christmas
PDE Linky Party -- ATG
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge -- Use die cuts or punches (die cut snowflake border)

Santa Hunk -- for 12 Months of Christmas Link Up

It's the 15th of the month, which means it's time for some mid-month inspiration at the 12 Months of Christmas Link Up Blog.  Our sponsor this month is "Ike's Art".  Here's my card using a super fun image!

I gotta tell you, I gat a lot of practice with SKIN coloring on this image!  This is "Santa Hunk".  I colored him with Copic markers.

The papers are digital, and are the collection created by Lisa DeCosse for this month's theme.  They are "Hugs and Kisses" 

The sentiment for this card was computer generated.  The card base is Kraft paper from Carta Bella.  The washi tape is from my stash.

I hope you join us at The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up.  If you link up 2 Christmas cards each month, you qualify for one of these beautiful "Hugs and Kisses" papers from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles.  Follow this month's theme, and you can win even more great prizes!

No Peeking!

Each month since I joined the DigiStamps4Joy design team, I've been entering the progressive Christmas challenge.  It has definitely helped my stash of Christmas cards grow!  This month's free image is a set of tags.  Here's what I created:

I printed both tags on Kraft card stock (from Carta Bella).  I highlighted the snowflakes with a gel pen.  On the other tag, I used Close To My Heart inks and a water brush for a distressed look. The sentiments are stamps from Close To My Heart, as are the fibers. 

And, just like that, I have a couple tags ready for gifts!  Yeehaw!

Give Thanks for Autumn

It's Monday, and time for a new challenge at Eureka Stamps. This week's theme, in keeping with the season, is "Give Thanks".  I'm thankful for many things, including the awesome Fall we had here in NW WI.  I say HAD, as we are now into full-blown winter -- a foot of snow on the ground and below zero temperatures already.  Still, today's card speaks of Fall:

I used Eureka Stamps digi "Pumpkin Square" digi26703(530).  I colored it with Copic markers, fussy cut it, then mounted it on a piece of DCWV cork.  The DP is also DCWV.  This is some paper I won earlier this fall, and I've enjoyed it very much!

The leaves are from a Tim Holtz die.  I cut out a bunch of them, then used various Tim Holtz distress inks and water on them.  The sentiment is a die cut from Carta Bella.  I mounted it on burlap ribbon from Close To My Heart. Lots of texture on this card!

Give thanks this week (and every week) with your creations, and link them up with us at Eureka Stamps. 

Frogs, Vellum, and Birthdays -- for Fitztown

Hello, crafty friends, and happy Monday! It's time for a new challenge at Fitztown.  For the next 2 weeks, we want you to use some vellum. 

My husband's birthday was a couple days ago, and he loves tree frogs, so I used a wonderful Fitztown image to make him a birthday card:

The tree frog digi is one of a set of 4, found in the Etsy Shop, Morgan's Fae World.  I colored the frog with Copic markers, fussy & cut it.  I stamped a pocket on designer paper and fussy cut that.  The pocket stamp is part of a Unity Stamp Company Stamp of the Month kit.  I placed the frog on top of the pocket, stamped my sentiment on vellum, and placed it on top of the pocket. The sentiment is a stamp by CTMH. 

The designer papers are by Bella Blvd.  The Kraft card stock base is by Carta Bella. That fun new chevron punch along the bottom is from Close To My Heart.

Do you like to use vellum?  Do you find it a challenge?  Either way, find your stash and join us for the next 2 weeks at Fitztown!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:

Addicted to CAS -- Vellum
A-musing Challenges -- Pocket cards
Sister Act Card Challenge -- ATG
D.L. Art -- Oct Linky Challenge

It's a New Release and an Anything Goes Challenge at Delightful Challenges

This isn't just any Thursday, it's the first Thursday of the month.  That means it's "New Release Thursday" at Digital Delights by Louby Loo and Delightful Challenges. Our challenge theme this week is a fun one -- "Anything Goes".  The new release this month is equally fun.  It's all about Peter Pan.

I had the adorable digi, "Wendy Love" to work with, and the new Dreamy Sentiment set.  Here's what I created:

Doesn't she take you back to childhood?  I loved Peter Pan when I was a child!

Here's a colored image of the Wendy Love stamp:

and the Dreamy Sentiment set:

The image was colored with Copic Markers. I used Carta Bella True Friends 6x6 papers on this card. The bench that Wendy Love is sitting on is a Spellbinders Die. The ribbon and bling are from my stash.

Sponsoring Delightful Challenges this week is Scrapyland:

The prize is a $10 gift certificate to the store!  Come and join the challenge.  It's Anything Goes!

I'm Steppin' Out for Fitztown!

Today is my last guest designer post for Fitztown Challenge blog.  I've loved the opportunity to work with the fantastic images given me! And the Creative Team has been wonderful to me!  

The newest Fitztown challenge is a step card.  I had great fun with this one!

I love butterflies and this image was wonderful to color!  I have 2 Spectrum Noir markers.  I used both of them on this butterfly.  The butterfly is from "Garden 16", and is one of 6 butterflies that comes in the set.

I intentionally left this center step card very simple, because I wanted the butterfly to be the focus.  The sentiment is from Unity Stamp Company.

I used my Silhouette to make the step card, using a design I found here, in the Silhouette Online Store.  The papers are from Carta Bella.  

Don't forget to check the Fitztown Challenge blog for tons of wonderful inspiration, and the Fitztown Store is a wonderful place to explore!

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Crafty Sentiments Designs -- ATG

Try it on Tuesday -- Things With Wings

2 Cute Ink challenges -- ATG

Crafting from the Heart -- Always ATG

Make My Monday -- Butterflies

Melonheadz Friends -- Things with Wings or Tails

My Craft Creations -- ATG

Sister Act Card Challenge -- ATG

D.L. Art Thankful Thursday -- July Linky Party

Pelicans and Summer -- for 3 Girl JAM

It's Thursday! And I love Thursdays, because it means I get to post for 3 Girl JAM. Many things in life make me happy, but 3 Girl JAM ribbon, lace, and jute rate right up there at the top of my list!

Our Summertime challenge is winding down, but summer is just getting started, so I made a summer themed card for today.

A pelican in a straw hat -- definitely summer, right?  I used 3 Girl JAM  crinkle ribbon from the Red, White, and Blue Bundle for this card.  I LOVE the red in this bundle.  It's such a true, vibrant red.

The image and sentiment are both from Great Impressions Stamps, and colored with Copic markers.  There's a teeny bit of Timeless Twine there in Firecracker, and designer papers are from Carta Bella -- Summer Lovin' 6x6 pad.  I used 2 Spellbinder label dies, and a tag die, and Close To My Heart Kraft cardstock.
Need some of the gorgeous red ribbon for yourself?  Use discount code JO10 for 10% off anything in the 3 Girl JAM store! 
I have a giveaway going on, celebrating several events: I wrote my 500th blog post this week, I just reached 400 followers on my blog, and I have over 100 "likes" on my Facebook page, Muddy Paws & Inky Fingers.  To celebrate all those things,  I'm having a giveaway:  I have some Timeless Twine, some 3 Girl JAM ribbon, a Unity stamp set, a Close To My Heart stamp set, some Pinque Peacock embellishments, a 6x6 paper pad, and various embellishments that I need a home for. I also have two generous sponsors:  DigiStamps4Joy is giving a $10 gift certificate to the store, and The Cutting Cafe is offering any 3 sets.  WOW! If you'd like to be eligible to win, please leave a comment on any of my blog posts between now and July 6.  I'll draw a winner on my birthday.  It's my day, and you get the present!  I'd also love it if you "like" my Facebook page and follow my blog, if you don't already. 

Have fun!

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Ditzie Digi Designs -- ATG

Fairies Challenges -- Summertime

Just For Fun Challenge Blog -- Anything Summer

Lia Stampz -- Summer Fun

Paper Crafting Challenges -- In Summer

The Doodle Garden -- Summer Lovin'

Jo's Scrap Shack -- Summer Fun
Addicted to Stamps -- ATG
Crafty Creations Challenge -- Things With Wings
Hambo Hoedown -- Here Comes Summer
Hobbybrook Designer Challenge -- Here Comes Summer

I Hold You Close To My Heart

There's a new challenge that starts today at Eureka Stamps.  Friendship is a favorite theme for me, so I thoroughly enjoyed creating a card for this challenge! I have 2 friends that I send cards to each week.  They both live across the state from me.  One is my BFF and the other is a 94 year old gentleman that used to be a volunteer in the nursing home where I work.  I stay in touch with him with my cards.  They are two of my biggest fans and appreciate my cards very much.

Here's a card I made for my BFF, and for today's challenge at Eureka Stamps:

Aren't they just the sweetest, walking hand in hand to that park bench?  I used Eureka Stamps digi47501 (Best Friends) for the image.  It is colored with Copic markers.

Here's a close up of the image and the sentiment:

The sentiment is digi10101 (I Hold You).

Designer Papers are from Carta Bella True Friends, 6x6 pad. The lace trim is from Webster's Pages.  The park bench is a Spellbinders die.  The bling is from my stash. 

Join us this week with your own 'friendship' project! You have all week!

Good Day Sunshine!

Good Day, Sunshine!  We need some sun, and some wind, here in my small town.  As I write this post, my house is in danger of being flooded.  I live across from a lake.  The water keeps rising from a very rainy spring.  Today's 2 inches  was more than the lake could hold and it has spilled it's banks.  Two homes have water running through them like a river today, heading straight for our driveway.  Fortunately, a culvert lies in between, and a drain is keeping up so far.  Oh, how we are praying for some dry weather!

And, speaking of sunshine, I have a sunny card to share with you today that's also on the 3 Girl JAM blog. And, it fits our "Summer Fun with Ribbon" theme on the 3 Girl JAM Challenge blog.

The image and sentiment are from Unity Stamp Company. It's an Itty Bitty Stamp, co-branded with Authentique, called, appropriately, "Good Day Sunshine".  I've been challenging myself to use more striped papers, and I pushed myself to do it again on this card, using papers from the Carta Bella Traditions 12x12 Collection.  The ribbon? 3 Girl JAM, of course!  It's the elegant Navy crinkle ribbon from the Navy Bundle. And that cute button on top of the double bow is a Vintage Button, found in the 3 Girl JAM store. 

The card base, ink, and waxy flax laced in the button are all from Close To My Heart.

Do you need some of the luscious 3 Girl JAM products for yourself?  Use promo code JO10 to get 10% off of AnYtHiNg in the store! 

Julie's Second Blogoversary Blog Hop! It's HERE!

I've been blogging now for 2 years, and oh, how my life has changed.  Online friends, Facebook, design teams, challenges -- I had none of this before my blog.  Now it's all a part of my daily life.  To celebrate it all, I've gathered some of the friends I've made, and we're celebrating.  The theme?  Friendship! Of course!

Here's the hop order, in case you get lost along the way.

Julie - http://muddypawsinkyfingers.blogspot.com/2014/03/julies-second-blogoversary-blog-hop-its.html

Rebecca - http://www.bloomingpink.blogspot.com/

Brenda - http://centralnyscrapper.blogspot.com/2014/03/julies-blogoversary-celebrating.html

Paula - http://scrapaddictsattic.blogspot.com/2014/03/happy-happy-blogoversary-julie.html

Kary - http://karyg.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/julies-blogoversary-blog-hop.html

Erin & Ruth - http://celticcrafters.blogspot.com/

Miwa - http://miwannascrap.blogspot.com/2014/03/julies-blogoversary-celebration-of.html

Angeline Choo - http://scrappyscrappy.blogspot.com/2014/03/julies-blogoversary-blog-hop-friendship.html

Chris- http://thriftysisters-chris.blogspot.com/

Regina   http://reginaeaster.blogspot.com/2014/03/so-lucky-to-have-friend-like.html

Kathy - http://www.upinthenightwithkat.blogspot.com/

Donna  http://createdbydonnak.blogspot.com/2014/03/julies-blogoversary-friendship-hop.html

Gwen -  http://windchimesandlilacs.blogspot.com/2014/03/fwf-julies-blogoversary-hop.html

Rachel -  http://kitchentablescrapper.blogspot.com/

Polly - http://pazasproductions.blogspot.com/2014/03/julies-blogoversary-blog-hop.html

Lucy http://littlescrapsoflucy.blogspot.com/2014/03/julies-blogoversaryfriendship-hop.html

Corrie - http://corriescrafts.blogspot.com/

Mary - http://www.mkbugs.blogspot.com/

Maria - http://riacreations.blogspot.com/

Karen - http://karey2005.blogspot.com/2014/03/friendship-blog-hop.html

And, here's the prizes you can win:

2 $10 gift certificates from Unity Stamp Company (donated by Unity!)

3 sets of winner's choosing from The Cutting Cafe (donated by Regina Easter)

A ribbon bundle from 3 Girl JAM

Timeless Twine -- Rainbow Party Pack (donated by Timeless Twine)

Close To My Heart Stamp Set

Close To My Heart Stamp Set

$15 Gift Certificate from Pinque Peacock (donated by Jessica Shelton-Buffa)

Embossing folders (2)

 2 $25 Gift certificates for My Scrap Chick store (donated by My Scrap Chick)
Websters' Pages 6x6 Sweet Notes pad, an embellishment set and a Websters Pages Stamp set, plus a Unity Cloud background stamp -- donated by Lucy Evans
A background stamp from Flourishes and 3 Aqua markers -- donated by Ruth & Erin Carnes

Now, for my projects:

The first one, I'm also posting on The Pinque Peacock blog today.  I have 2 friends that I try to get together with several times a year for some quality "girl time."  We've got a few days planned next month.  We gather ourselves and our 4 legged friends, find somewhere that lets us have all of us, and just enjoy each other's company.  I made this card to honor that friendship.

I used a Unity stamp set, "Vicki, Catherine, and Leica Girls", coloring the image with Copic markers, using hair color and clothing choices that match our styles.  Papers are from Authentique.  I love the Blue Jeans papers.  And that 3/4 inch fabric covered button from Pinque Peacock is the perfect match!

The ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon.

Project # 2 --

This may look familiar.  I made a card very similar to this.  My BFF saw it on my blog and commissioned me to make her a 5x7 framed art piece just like the card.

Again, I used a Unity Stamp Company stamp set, "Choose Joy with a Heart", heat embossed with white embossing powder. There's some Umwow Studio Chipboard on it, Tuxedo Black Timeless Twine, and Carta Bella Wildflowers 12x12 papers.  The frame is one that my BFF got at a thrift shop for me.  She knows I use them for projects, so she collects them for me.  Now, she gets one of them back! 

And, the final project is another card, with a sentiment I really like. It seemed perfect for today's hop, and the friendship theme...

The sentiment is from a Unity Stamp Company sentiment kit, "Here's My Thought".  I love the Unity sentiment kits, they are so versatile! This card uses Carta Bella Alphabet Junction paper, UmWow Studio chipboard that's been heat embossed, and a flower that was crocheted for me by an online friend, Sharon.  She made a whole bunch of these little lovelies for me and gave them to me when I met her in person this summer!

And now, for how to win the prizes, please follow this blog, "like" my Facebook page (it's NEW!), visit every stop on the hop, and leave comments there.  The prizes are hidden along the way.  You never know which blog will have a prize.  If I can get to 100 "likes" on my Facebook page, I will pick another winner - this will be for a giant box of 12x12 scrapbook paper, ribbon, twine, embellishments, a Unity Stamp Co grab bag, and whatever else I can fit in the shipping box.
I want to thank each and every one of you, my friends, for hopping with us, and a special thanks for my friends who went to the work of making a project to hop with me.  Where would I be without my friends? I treasure each of you!

Thanks for hopping with us, have fun, off you go to the uber talented Rebecca's blog.

It's Time for Another Challenge at Sunday Sketch & Stamp

I'm playing hostess the next 2 weeks at Sunday Sketch & Stamp. Stop on over, check out the sketch I made (my first), and play along.  Here's the card I designed using my sketch.

I used the Unity Stamp Company Sentiment Kit, "Here's My Thought" on this card.  Papers are Carta Bella "Homemade Love" 12x12. The card base is Close To My Heart Pacifica.  I'd love it if you linked up to Sunday Sketch and Stamp! We've got great prizes!

I want to let you know about an exciting event (for me anyway!) coming up Mar 7-9. My blog will be 2 years old and I'm celebrating all the friendships I've made with a blog hop.  I've got many great sponsors.  It all starts here  at my blog.

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Craftitude Challenges -- ATG

Sister Act Card Challenge --ATG

Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge -- ATG

Docerela Creations -- ATG

Card Makin' Mamas -- Stack It Up (add layers)

Daring Cardmakers -- Sentimental

Pattie's Creations Design Challenge -- Spots or Dots

I'm Allergic to Flowers!

Hello, my friends.  Thanks for stopping by today.  I am allergic to flowers -- especially those with strong scents.  Maybe that's why I struggled with today's projects!

I have two things to show you today.  The Cutting Cafe design team is featuring flowers this week -- either the Layered Flower cutting files or the Paper Flower template and cutting files.

First, I'll show you a Mardi Gras mask I made for a challenge on The Pinque Peacock Challenge Blog. This was totally out of my comfort zone, but it's good for me to stretch and I had fun on this! 

I found the mask in the Silhouette Online Store. I offset the original mask to get a little more contrast, then I started embellishing. 

Papers for both the projects today are Carta Bella Traditions 12x12.

Here's a close up of the embellishments:

The paper flowers were made from the Paper Flower cutting file from The Cutting Cafe. I worked and worked on these flowers, and finally got 3 that looked good.  Phew!  There's a video with the flowers on The Cutting Cafe, and Tmika Miller does a great job of showing 5 different ways to use these flowers.  She makes it look EASY! 

There's other great embellishments on here too, from Pinque Peacock.  I used a small "Farm Fresh" Splendid Swirl, and All Purpose Feathers -- Natural, found at The Discount Hut@Pinque Peacock. There's also a Sparkles Clear Flourish  and a large rhinestone from Close To My Heart. And that's my mask!

Now, on to the card:

I used the same Cutting Cafe Paper Flower cutting file on this flower.  I cut out various sizes of flowers, using double sided paper.  I varied the size of the flower and alternated the color to get this look. The card base is also from The Cutting Cafe. It's the Set of 7 Shaped Cards set.  I love this set! There's Coral Crush ribbon (part of the Caribbean Splash) from 3 Girl JAM on the card, and a Sparkle Flourish from Close To My Heart. The sentiment is part of a stamp set from Unity Stamp Company called "On Vintage Wings".

And that's it for the flowers.  Hope you enjoyed today's floral arrangements.  I'll be back tomorrow with even MORE flowers!

I'd like to enter these projects in the following challenges:

Craft my life: All Crafts Challenge -- Anything but a Card (mask)

Bunny Zoe's Crafts Challenge -- Love/Hearts

Card Mania Challenge -- use a sentiment

Craft-Dee BowZ -- must have a homemade bow

Crafting From The Heart -- use flowers

Kaboodle Doodles Challenge blog -- use ribbon

Love To Create Challenge -- anything Goes

Make it Monday -- Anything Goes

Make My Monday -- a Grown Up Card

Scrapbook Stamp Society -- Anything Goes (make your own flower )

D.L. Art Thankful Thursday -- February Linky Party

Just Be Creative Crazy -- February Linky Party

S-N-O-W blocks for The Cutting Cafe, and a blog candy WINNER!

Hello, and happy Tuesday, everyone. Did you have a long weekend? No government holiday for me yesterday, so it's a typical 5-day work week for me this week.

It has been a very cold, snowy winter here in NW Wisconsin.  Last year, we had 9 days where we dipped below zero.  This year? We're at 45.  And snow?  We can hardly see out our front window, the drifts are so high. So, when the task this week at The Cutting Cafe was to use the Fun With Blocks cutting file, I knew I wanted it to have a winter theme.  So, I went with it.

Side 1 of the blocks...

OK, let's turn each block 45 degrees...

and, another 45 degrees...

then, once more:

Each block measures about 2.5 inches, so these blocks make a great home decor piece.  They are displayed on a 1/2 wall between our kitchen and living room and they look so CUTE!

Here's a close up of the deer and the raccoon.  They are retired stamps from Close To My Heart, colored with Copic markers. The papers are from Carta Bella, 'Winter Fun'.

If you commented on my blog during the art journal blog hop over the weekend, you many be wondering who won the blog candy.  I used Random.org to choose the winner for me.  There were 34 comments when I wrote this post.  Comment # 16, Lisa, was chosen.  Congratulations, Lisa!  Please email me at julieodil at charter dot net and I'll get your goodies mailed out to you!

Don't forget to visit the Cutting Cafe blog on Thursday to see more incredible inspiration and talent from the design team.  Don't forget to leave a comment for your chance to win 3 sets of your choice. 

I'd like to enter these blocks in the following challenges:

Eclectic Ellapu -- Anything but a Card

D.L.Art Thankful Thursday -- February Linky Party

JustBCreativeCrazy -- February Linky Party
Hobby Cutz Challenges -- Color Challenge (Blue and Brown are main colors on the blocks)
Scribble and Scrap -- Anything Goes
That Craft Place -- Make or Alter a Box (blocks are two boxes, put together)