It's FRIDAY! It's FRIENDS with FLAIR! and, its a NEW Design Team for ME!

Hurray, hurray, for Friday!

It's my favorite day of the week.

I like Saturdays and Sundays and sometimes another day,

bur Fridays, they really speak!

(and that was a really lame poem!)

I have a card to share with you today that I'm entering in the Unity {Be Inspired} Challenge.  I used the colors from the challenge, and I tried my best to use the sketch, but couldn't help myself.  I modified it a bit.

Here's what I came up with:

I used a Stamp of the Week, "Some Bunny Thinking of You" and colored the image with Copic markers.  Papers are My Mind's Eye Indie Chic Nutmeg 6x6 pad. Rhinestones are from my stash. I used a couple Spellbinders Label dies and some rhinestones from my stash.

Today is the day that I can let the cat out of the bag! I am on the design team for My Scrap Chick! They have some of the cutest cutting files EVER! Here's several projects I've made using their files -- you may have seen them on my blog in the past:

Stay tuned for more fun with My Scrap Chick!

I also want to let you know about a blog hop coming up next weekend, starting with next Friday's Friends With Flair.  I'll be celebrating my second year of blogging with a hop! I've gathered together friends I've made through blogland and we're hopping together, celebrating friendship.  They'll be LOTS of prizes, including 2 $10 Unity Stamp Company gift certificates, donated by Unity, and 2 $25 gift certificates donated by My Scrap Chick! Come hop with us! March 7-9

I'd like to enter my first (new) card in the following challenges:

The Cutie Pie Challenge -- Spots and Dots

Sister Act Card Challenge -- ATG

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

Card Makin' Mamas -- Stack It Up (3 or more layers)

Challenges and Candies -- Spring around the Corner

Craftitude -- ATG

Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge -- ATG

Docerela Stamps -- ATG

Pattie's Creations Challenge -- Spots or Dots

It's a "Dies &/or Punches" Challenge for DigiStamps4Joy

It's the middle of challenge #86 at DigiStamps4Joy.  Get out those dies &/or punches and join us!  I used this digi from the DigiStamps4Joy store:

For the first time, I digitally merged the stamp, using it like a mask. I re-sized, rotated, and hid flowers until I got the look I wanted. Here's what I created:

I colored the cosmos flowers with Copic markers, used a variety of Spellbinders dies, and a Cheery Lynn butterfly die, added a few pearls from my stash, a little yellow Stickles in the center of the flowers, and stamped a sentiment from Unity Stamp Company. The papers are a My Mind's Eye 6x6 pad, "Ooh, La, La". Voila!  My first digital merge!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Card Mania Challenge -- Use a Sentiment
Crafting From the Heart --Use flowers
Craftin' Desert Divas -- use glitter (Stickles glitter glue)
Eureka Stamps weekly challenge -- use a butterfly
Love To Create Challenge -- Anything Goes
Love to Scrap Challenge Blog -- Anything Goes
Make it Monday -- Anything Goes
Make My Monday -- A Grown Up Card
Marker Pop -- Anything Goes (colored with Copics)
Scrapbook Stamp Society -- Anything Goes
The Pink Elephant -- use the color pink
Sister Act Card Challenge  -- Anything Goes
D.L. Art Thankful Thursday -- February Linky Party
Just Be Creative Crazy -- February Linky Party

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

You Melt My Heart -- for Timeless Twine

Happy Monday, everyone.  Here we are, the last week in February already! But, it is still very much winter here in NW Wisconsin.  We recently got 15 inches of fresh snow, and now we're back to below zero temperatures every night.  With weather like this, I'm still thinking winter, and snowmen!

I created this snowman treat box to hold some chocolates or other goodies.  

Here's another view where you can see into the box better:

I used Aqua Blue Timeless Twine throughout this project.

Here's a look of the gift bag:

I used several Bella Creationz products on this:

                                            heart stickers

                                           mini clothespins

clear mini favor bags

The snowman treat box is a cutting file from The Cutting Cafe.

The white glitter card stock on the front of the snowman is from American Crafts. All other card stock is from Close To My Heart, as is the stamped sentiment and buttons.  Designer papers are from Echo Park -- Winter Wishes.

I'll leave you with one last view of my snowman treat box:

It's true! You, my blog friend, melt my heart! Thanks for stopping by for a visit today!

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

Craft my Life: All That Crafts Challenge -- Anything but a Card

Bunny Zoe's Crafts Challenge -- Love/Hearts

Imagination Crafts Challenge -- Love is in the Air

Make it Monday -- Anything Goes

Squigglefly -- Recipe (pattern paper, twine, button)

Stamp and Create -- Love is in the Air

D.L. Art Thankful Thursday -- February Linky Party
Just Be Creative Crazy -- February Linky Party
Get Inky! Challenge -- Buttons

It's "New Release Sunday" for DigiStamps4Joy

Hello, and happy Sunday my crafty friends.  Each Sunday, Margy, the owner of DigiStamps4Joy, has some new releases.  Those of us on the design team are fortunate enough to get a sneak peek and a chance to work with a couple of the images before the release. This particular image greatly appealed to me.  It's title is "Springtime", and it's a very happy thought when we are in the middle of a major winter snow storm.  By tomorrow morning, the forecast is for 15-18 inches of new snow on the ground.  That's on top of the 50 inches already there. Ugh!

But this card, it makes me happy!

Warmer days are coming, right?

I used the fabulous DigiStamps4Joy "Springtime" image, found in the store, Copic markers, Spellbinder dies, My Mind's Eye "Collectible" 12x12 papers, a retired Close To My Heart stamp for the sentiment, and rhinestones from my stash.

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

Sister Act Card Challenge -- anything goes

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

JustBCreativeCrazy -- February Linky Party

4CraftyGirlzChallenges -- anything goes

AUD Sentiments Bingo Challenge (2 word sentiment, 3D item {rhinestones, main image is foam taped}, use                                                      something shiny)

MilkCoffeeChallenge -- Girly

Tuesday Morning Sketches -- Sketch #212

A Love Story -- for Pinque Peacock and Friends With Flair

Woohoo, it's Friday! and it's my day to post on the Pinque Peacock  blog.  I love Fridays!  I love it when I can post for Pinque Peacock AND combine it with my Friends With Flair post -- they're a GREAT match!

I used several Pinque Peacock products on a card I made today, and 2 different Unity stamp sets.  First, let me show you what I created....

This card uses the Unity Stamp set "Handmade Valentines" .  I used it to make the background.  The Kraft mini bag is from The Discount Hut @ Pinque Peacock.  I used the bag as a pocket, and decorated it up with a small Layered Garden Beauty from Pinque Peacock.  The hearts washi tape is from my stash.

When you pull out the tag, I used another Unity Stamp Company stamp:

The sentiment is from a Unity Stamp of the Week, "A True Love Story".

Valentine's Day may be over, but it's never too late to let someone know how much you love them.  I know just who this card is going to!

You are foxy! For 3 Girl JAM

Happy Thursday, my sweet friends.  It's my day to post on the 3 Girl JAM blog.  I love to make 3D projects.  So, when planning my DT assignment for today, I decided on a 3D bag for a co-worker who's birthday is coming up next week.  

I found this pattern in the Silhouette Online Store.  It will fit a gift certificate and a few chocolates just perfectly.

Isn't that Foxy Flair button the cutest?  Here's a close up of it:

You can find this Flair button, and other equally fun ones, in the 3 Girl JAM Store.  You'll also find this London Blue crinkle ribbon, from the Wine & Jewels Bundle, along with many other beautiful colors in the 3 Girl JAM Store.

Ready to do some shopping of your own? Use discount code JO10 to save 10% off ANYTHING in the store!

And, don't forget about the "Things I Love" Challenge going on all month on the 3 Girl JAM Challenge blog.

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)



A Flip Card -- for DigiStamps4Joy

Every Sunday, there are new releases at DigiStamps4Joy.  This Sunday, along with a very fun wise man on a runaway camel, there are 3 beautiful quotes.  I chose one of them to make this flip card:

I love tucking little treasures on the flip side of the card -- gift cards, love notes, embellishments to crafty friends.  With this particular quote, I thought it would be fun to tuck a little something that would make the recipient feel especially blessed.  What do you think?

Chocolate always brightens MY day!

Along with the beautiful DS4J quote, released today in the DigiStamps4Joy store, I used My Mind's Eye paper, and 3 Girl JAM ribbon and lace.  The flip card cutting file can be found at The Cutting Cafe.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Sister Act Card Challenge -- anything goes

JustBCreativeCrazy -- February Linky Party
A Creative Romance -- Let's Get Sentimental
Craftitude Challenges -- Anything Goes, Valentine's Day or Love
QKR Stampede -- Sentiment Only
StuckOnUSketch -- something sweet (chocolate added to the card)
Sweet Stamps Monthly Challenge -- Fun Folds (flip fold)
D.L. Art Thankful Thursday Linky Party -- February
Scribble and Scrap -- Always Anything Goes

Frosty Winter Friends -- for Sunday Sketch And Stamp

Hello, I hope you are enjoying the weekend.  It's time for another challenge at Sunday Sketch & Stamp.  This week's sketch looks like this:

I had a lot of fun with this one!  It seemed to have unlimited possibilities for me.  Here's what I did with it:

Besides the fantastic sketch, I used a Kraftin' Kimmie Stamp, "Frosty Winter Friends" -- I think it's 'snow' cute!  I colored the image with Tim Holtz Distress markers and a water pen. The designer papers are a 6x6 pad by My Mind's Eye -- 'Tis the Season.  I also embossed some of my favorite chipboard snowflakes by UmWow Studio.  LOVE that stuff!

It's been a long, cold, snowy winter here in NW WI.  Somehow it doesn't seem so tough with these guys close by!  Have a great week.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Kraftin' Kimmie Wonderful Wednesday -- anything goes

Sister Act Card Challenge -- anything goes

JustBCreativeCrazy -- February Linky Party

Bloggers Challenge -- 2 or more patterned papers
Craftitude Challenges -- Anything Goes
A Creative Romance -- Let's Get Sentimental
D.L. Art, Thankful Thursday - February Linky Party
 

Mixed Media Art Journal Girlz Blog Hop and FWF --plus blog candy! Woohoo!!

Hello, all you artsy types, and welcome to my blog! I'm participating today in an art journal blog hop! And I'm in way over my head -- as you'll soon see! You should have arrived from the beautiful and talented Rebecca's blog.

My friend, Maria, has organized several of these hops.  And they always seem like so much fun, and such a good idea.  I OWN an art journal after all, and she gives us plenty of notice, BUT>>>

Well, here's the thing.  Art journals intimidate me.  I see that big, blank piece of paper, and I have no idea what to do with it.  So, here's what I did:

I got out the gesso.  Gesso's good, right? Artists use gesso, this is an art journal.  Then, I got out some Faber Castell Gelatos, and a Unity/Christy Tomlinson stamp, a squirt bottle of water, and here's what happened...

I tried to make the Gelatos look rather like a rainbow.  The stamp is called, "Through the Changes", and I really like the message of it. I got this far on it, and thought about what else to add.  Some stenciling? Hearts? After all, it's Valentine's Day.  But, I liked it just the way it was.  Anything else seemed like it might detract from the rainbow, the moth, and the sentiment.  So, I stopped.  Art is knowing when to sign your name, right?  Here's a close up for you.

I'm a much better card maker than I am an art journalist, so I made a card to share with you today.  It's my husband's Valentines Day card.  We've had one of the coldest, snowiest winters on record, and that is what I was thinking about while designing this card:

The image and sentiment are a Unity Stamp Company Itty Bitty, "My Heart Melts {snowpeeps Frosty and Misty}". There's some Cherry Red Timeless Twine wrapped here and there on this card, too.

The papers used are Close To My Heart in Outdoor Denim for the card base, Neenah Classic Solar White to stamp the image on, and My Mind's Eye 'Tis The Season' 6x6 papers.  I colored the snow peeps with Copic markers. Spellbinders label dies were also used.

Did I mention I have blog candy?  You need a reward for sticking through all this!  I have a bunch of goodies to give away -- stamps, twine, ribbon, rub-ons, embellishments, a 6x6 paper pad.  Please follow my blog and leave a comment on this post.  I'll announce the winner early next week. 

There's one more stop on today's hop. You are in for a treat, visiting Tameko's blog.  She does the greatest art journals! Hop on and have fun!

 

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

 

Stamp N Doodle -- Love/Valentine's Day

Hearts -- DigiStamps4Joy Challenge #85

Hello, and happy Wednesday, blog friends.  We finally started a morning with above zero temperatures, so perhaps the worst of winter is behind us! I can only hope!
DigiStamps4Joy is in the middle of a Hearts challenge, hosted by Karin.  You can see the details on the DigiStamps4Joy blog, and more of Karin's beautiful work on her blog.  It's almost Valentine's Day, so it's the perfect time to make something with hearts, and link it up to our challenge!
I used the beautiful "Vase of Hearts" image for my card.

And with it, I created this:

I colored the DigiStamps4Joy image with Copic markers, then cut it out with a circle die by Lifestyle Crafts.  The heart shaped card cutting file can be found at The Cutting Cafe.  The sentiment is from a Unity Stamp Company kit, "Handmade Valentines".  The crinkle ribbon is 3 Girl JAM Ice Blue ribbon from the Hot & Cold Bundle.  The stick pin, bling flourish, and bling button are from Close To My Heart. Designer papers are a Carta Bella Devoted 6x6 pad.
Now it's your turn.  We'd love it if you used a digi from the Digistamps4Joy store, then link up for the challenge.  See you there!

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

A Random Fan challenge blog -- Hugs & Kisses -- Valentine Theme 

Crafty Sentiments -- Buttons & bows (I have both on this card

Paper Take Weekly -- With a Heart

Tuesday Throwdown -- Roses are Red, Violets are Blue challenge

LEJ Designs Challenge Blog -- Hearts

Sister Act Card Challenge -- ATG

My Little Red Wagon -- for Timeless Twine and GIU winner, and a Card Make Over

Hello, and happy Monday.  It's my day to post on the Timeless Twine blog today and our theme this month is 3D.  Since it's so close to Valentine's Day, I went with a Valentine theme for today's project.  

This cute little wagon, with it's special delivery, is tied up with two colors of Timeless Twine.  I used Tuxedo Black and Cherry Red.

This wagon is an SVG cutting file from The Cutting Cafe. The boxes are part of the file, as are the delivery labels.

How about a little different angle of this cutie?

There it is, my 3D Valentine project.  I'm off to make a special delivery, packaged with care -- and Timeless Twine, of course!

And, for those of you who visited my blog each day last week for Growing In Unity, you may remember day 1, when I had this card:

I thought it was a little 'blah', and asked for advice on how to liven it up a bit.  The general consensus seemed to be, "bling it up, Baby," so I did.  I added some sequins, some rhinestones, and a stick pin.  Here's the end results.

The sequins on this card can be purchased in the Bella Creationz Etsy Shop.

So there you have, the finished product.

And, FInAlLy, the winner of the 2 Itty Bitty stamps from Unity Stamp Company.

I used Random.org and first picked 1-5 for the 5 days if GIU.  It chose Day 3.  Then, I entered the # of comments for day 3 (43), and comment #18 was chosen.  

CG Handley -- Carla from Utah, you're the winner!

Congratulations! Please email me at julieodil at charter.net

Thanks everyone for a wonderful GIU week and for reading my really long post today!

My First Card for DigiStamps4Joy

I'm getting my feet wet today, so to speak, and posting my first card for DigiStamps4Joy.  I've learned a lot from this experience already! I don't often use digi stamps, so this will be a wonderful growing experience for me.  I'm so pleased Margy had faith in me, and was willing to give me this wonderful opportunity!

There are 3 new digi stamps being released in the DigiStamps4Joy store today. I used the one called "Treasure Hunt" as the focal point of this card:

I colored the basket, bow, and eggs with Copic markers.  The "trail" is highlighted with  Aqua Delight Timeless Twine.  There's more twine 'intertwined' with the crinkle ribbon from 3 Girl JAM -- in Ice Blue from the Hot & Cold Bundle.  The designer paper is by Pebbles (Family Ties), and there's some UmWow Studio arrow chipboard that I embossed using Ranger Gold Pearl embossing powder.  The sentiment is a stamp by Jillibean Soup.
I'll be back on Wednesday with another DS4J card.  I'm having so much fun!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Allsorts Challenge Blog --  colors beginning with 'B' (there's plenty of blue in my card)

Sister Act Card Challenge -- Anything Goes

JustBCreative Crazy -- February Linky Party -- Anything Goes

D.L. Art Thankful Thursday Linky Party -- Anything Goes

Hiding In My Craftroom -- use your scraps (papers were left from another project)

How About This Box? for Silhouette Challenges

It's the time for another challenge over at

Ch# 10 Box Any Type

Begins: Saturday, February 1

Ends: Friday, February 28

A blog dedicated to the Silhouette Cutting Machines.

You MUST use a Silhouette somehow in your project.

Sponsor this month is:

My Crafting Channel

Cute Critters Stamp Set by My Craft Spot

Boxes! Boxes! Boxes!  I love making anything 3D.  The hardest part of this month's challenge was choosing which one to make.  I tried something new for me.  What do you think?

This is a file from SVG Attic, and the box is BIG! It used 2 12x12 pieces of paper, connected to an octagon base.  It'll hold a lot of Valentine chocolates for my special someone, let me tell you!
The cranberry cardstock is Close To My Heart.  The designer paper is American Crafts, "XOXO".
Here's a better view at the top of the box, how it makes a heart, and the hearts make a flower:

Hop on over and link up your project today.

CLICK HERE