A Blizzard of Kisses -- for Dies R Us Inspiration Blog

I'm posting today on the Dies R Us Inspiration Blog, where I always have such fun playing with the wonderful stamps and dies found in the Dies R Us Store. 

I very much enjoy the pre-orders and special events that the Dies R Us Store has to offer.  I have gotten to try out some brands of dies and stamps that I don't find in my local (limited) craft shop. I, for one, look forward to seeing what the weekend will have to offer.  To find out about the pre-orders and special sales, sign up for the Dies R Us newsletter.

One of the last several weekends,  the Dies R Us Store offered stamps and dies from Picket Fence Studio.   I had seen this particular stamp and die set, but jumped at the chance to purchase and work with it.

This card uses 'Have a Wonderful Wintery Day':

Here's a picture of all the supplies used for this card:

I don't often get out my watercolor supplies, but this little snowman seemed to need it.  I used Spectrum Noir Aquablend pencils on him. 

Here he is, all colored up:

I don't always purchase the matching dies for stamp sets, but in this case, I'm really glad I did.  The stamps are small, and I would not want to try to fuzzy cut around those stick arms!!

My camera got switched to manual, so I apologize for this blurry photo. I wanted you to see, though, how the die is positioned over the colored stamp, and held in place with washi tape.

Hopefully, you can see all that!

Here's everything die cut.  I used snowflake dies from Lawn Fawn, and a stitched circle die, also from Lawn Fawn.  The sentiment is included in the 'Have a Wonderful Wintery Day' Stamp Set.

The designer papers on this card are from We Are 3 Digital Shop.  They are 2 of the papers offered in the Snowmen Paper Collection.

I'll leave you with one more photo of the wonderful wintery card!

I hope you check the Dies R Us Inspiration blog every day for wonderful inspiration!  The design team is so creative, you don't want to miss anything.  Then, join in the challenges at the Dies R Us Challenge Blog.  Here's one last link to the Dies R Us Store for you, too! 

click below for:

STORE
CHALLENGE BLOG
FACEBOOK
INSPIRATION BLOG

FRIENDS OF DIES R US PINTEREST PAGE

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

Cupcake challenge-- show us your snowmen 

Dragonfly Dreams --Christmas/Winter

Festive Fridays --- Christmas

Miss You -- a new challenge at Catch the Bug

It's Saturday, and a new challenge is starting today at Catch the Bug Challenges.  This Week, we are starting a color challenge.  I'll show you my card first, then the photo for this week's challenge.

I used Bugaboo Stamp's Starry Moon to create this:

Starry Moon is colored with Copic markers, using this color 
palette:

I created the card by making a 5x5 card base and folding one side on the diagonal.  I stamped the sentiment, and foam taped it up to make a base for it.  A few stars cut out with a die, and it was complete.

This is the first card I've made since having a slight stroke a few days ago. Everything is harder for now, but I got a card made.   For that, I am happy.  The card was much easier than writing the blog posts.  They are torture!

I hope you can join us this at week at Catch the Bug

!

Sending Woof's of Christmas Wishes -- New Releases from All Dressed Up Stamps

It's the 22nd of the month, and new releases are being showcased for this month's All Dressed Up Stamps in the Facebook Group Today.  there are 4 new releases, and I managed to color up 2 of them to showcase today.  This is a milestone event for me!  I had a mild stroke several weeks ago, and this is the first coloring I've shared since it happened.  The stroke effected the right side of my body more than my left side, and I'm left handed, so coloring doesn't go too badly, but card construction is a struggle, and writing blog posts makes my brain HURT!!  I literally take a nap after I get it done. It is such a struggle for me!

But, on to the 2 new releases I have to share with you. All the new releases can be found in the All Dressed Up Etsy Shop.

The first is Woof Christmas-- perfect for my dog-loving friends!

I colored Woof Christmas with Copic markers.  The paw print border is a die from Frantic Stampers.  The bone die came in a set from Cheery Lynn.  Both sets were purchased from Dies R Us.  The  paw print paper is a digital paper form Echo Park. The sentiment is part of the Woof Christmas digi. 

Card #2 uses new release, Christmas Skater.  I think this will be a favorite of this release.  I love her elegant lines!

I colored Christmas Skater with Copic markers, then found that perfect sentiment in a Christmas stamp set I've had for a long time. The edger dies are from Spellbinders.  The Snowflake dies are from Lawn Fawn.  The Background looking glitter paper is from We Are 3 Digital Shop.  It is one of the papers in the Christmas Magic Set.

Either of these images would work well for this month's All Dressed Up Facebook challenge -- Christmas is Coming.  Why not grab them (you know you want them!), color them up, and join us in the All Dressed Up Facebook Group!

Three Peaceful Pines -- for Lavinia World Challenges

It's Thursday, and it's time for a new challenge on the Lavinia World Challenge Blog.  Challenges are always Anything Goes, as long as you use an acrylic or a rubber stamp -- no digital images.  Of course, we'd like to see your Lavinia Stamps getting some love!

I've gotten so I really like to ink up backgrounds.  I was intimidated by this process for a long time.  Now, I just play, and ink, and add color, and see what I can create.  That's how I came up with today's card base.   Once I got the base done,  I did a bit of stamping, die cut a sentiment, and Voila!  I had a Christmas card to add to the stash:

Are any of you mystery readers?  I love reading books by author, Louise Penny.  The Chief Inspector Gamache series centers around the small town of Three Pines.  This card is my tribute to Three Pines.  May it always be peaceful there!

The pines were stamped using the Small Fairy Fir Tree 2 stamp.  I stamped it once, as is (the tall one), once using a shorter version of the trunk, then once using 2nd generation stamping to make it look like it was behind the other 2 trees. Flying into the cold winter sky is the stamp, Ducks.  I used Memento Ink in Tuxedo Black for all the stamped images. 

The inked background was created with a variety of Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Inks.  I used Seedless Preserves, Milled Lavender, Shaded Lilac, Victorian Velvet, Faded Jeans, and Chipped Sapphire.  I sprinkled a bit of water on the inks to make it look a bit snowy. 

The 'Peace' die is from Elizabeth Craft. 

There is also a new, exciting FaceBook group to check out!  This is the first challenge now that Anything Lavinia Group also gives you an opportunity to post your projects there.  So, if you don't blog, you can still enter our challenges.  Projects posted on the Anything Lavinia Group must include a Lavinia Stamp or paper. Wherever you decode to enter, challenges run for 2 weeks!  Have fun!

I hope you find time to join us this next 2 weeks at Lavinia World Challenges!  You might be the lucky winner of the $15 gift certificate to the Lavinia World Store, or one of the Designer Choice recipients.  I'd love to see your creations! 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Outlawz Festive Fridays -- Christmas
We Love to Create -- ATG
TTCRD -- ATG
Outlawz Monday Greeting -- Winter Wonderland

Hip Hip Hooray! For Scrapy Land Challenges

Today is the 3rd Wednesday of November, and that means there is a new challenge starting today at the Scrapy Land Challenge Blog.  Challenges are always Anything Goes, as long as you use a brand of die that is sold in the Scrapy Land Store.  Scrapy Land sells dozens and dozens of brands of dies, so this is very easy to do!  Shop the Scrapy Land Store here, and see for yourself!

I like to have a stash of birthday cards.  It seems like I often need one, and you never know when hubby will come home from work with a request like, "I need a birthday card for tomorrow."  So, when I saw this Hip Hip Hooray Card Panel from Frantic Stamper, I knew what I wanted to make with it:

The balloon is also from Frantic Stamper.  It is one icon in a set of Birthday Icons. 

I think this Hip Hip Hooray Card Panel could have many uses.  I can see it as a graduation card, a retirement card, baby card -- any occasion worth celebrating!

I hope you can join us the next 2 weeks at the Scrapy Land Challenge Blog.  One winner gets a $15 gift certificate to the Scrapy Land Store!

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

Outlawz Twisted Thursday -- ATG

Outlawz Festive Friday -- Birthday

Seize the birthday -- ATG

Thank You For Your Kindness -- for the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog

It's Monday, and it's time for some mid-challenge inspiration on the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog.  Our theme this month is Thankfulness.  Our sponsor is A Day For Daisies.

I thought these Sunflowers is a Mason Jar would make a lovely Thank You card:

I colored them with Copic Markers, then used some Spellbinders Edger dies to create the card.  The papers on the card are from We Are 3 Digital Shop.  These are 2 of the Sunflower papers.  The sentiment was hand stamped from my stash.

Join us for our Thankfulness challenge at the Path of Positivity. 

Happy Holidays -- For Jan's Digi Stamps

Here we go!  Challenge #2 at Jan's Digi Stamps Challenges, or, as those of us that have followed her work affectionately refer to it as, JDS Designs Challenge Blog.  The challenges will be on the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month, so what a great way to start out your week! The will run until noon (Eastern) the Sunday before the new challenge.  You'll find all the rules on a tab at the JDS Designs Challenge Blog.  Her beautiful digis can be found in her shop here.

Starting to feel the need to make Christmas cards? Maybe you need to mass produce a few? Jan's Digi Stamps are perfect for this.  Each set comes with both a black & white version, and a pre-colored version.  Today, I'm showcasing a pre-colored image to show how easily they make up into a card, and how pretty they are!

This card uses 2 different sets from Jan's store:  Tree Scene and Reindeer There are several options of trees in the Tree Scene set, but this is the one I chose to work with that awesome reindeer.  What a rack on that guy!  The sentiment is also from the Tree Scene set.

I used edger dies from Queen & Company to cut out the image and back it.  Papers on this card are from Lemoncraft, out of Poland. The ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon. 

You have 2 weeks to join in the Anything Goes Challenge at JDS Challenge blog.  You can truly link up anything -- cards, mini albums, sewing projects, knitting -- Anything Goes!  You have until noon Eastern of the Sunday before the next challenge begins.  You might win a $9 gift certificate to the store!

Thank you, Vets -- for Bugaboo Stamps

It's Wednesday, and this is usually Humor Me Wednesday on the Catch the Bug Blog.  However, since Veteran's Day was just a couple days ago, I'm taking the opportunity to thank a vet with the card, using USA Cupcake:

I colored USA Cupcake with Copic markers.  Papers on this card are from We Are 3 Digital Shop.  They are part of the Nautical Love Collection.

You'll find other great inspiration from the Bugaboo Stamps designers on the Catch the Bug Blog.  Most, I'm guessing, will even be humorous!  Please check it out.

3 Kings Noel -- for Lavinia World Challenges

It's Thursday, and it's been 2 weeks, so it's time for another challenge at Lavinia World Challenges.  It seems like this all just got started, and here we are at challenge #13 already.  The challenges are always anything goes, as long as you use an acrylic or rubber stamp -- no digital images allowed. Of course, we'd love to see your Lavinia Stamps being used!  One $15 gift certificate will be awarded each challenge.

I'm thinking Christmas cards this time of years I used the beautiful Three Kings stamp to create this: 

I used 2 different shades of VersaFine Clair inks to obtain the color of green that I wanted.  I have this "thing" about green.  There seem to be many shades of it, but rarely is it the shade I want!  So, I first stamped with Green Oasis, then Rain Forest, repeating back and forth until I got the shade I wanted.  You'll find many shades of VersaFine Clair ink in the Lavinia World Store. 

Designer papers on this card are from the We Are 3 Digital Shop.  The dies are all from Queen & Company, except for the sentiment die.  That is from Diamond Press. 

Three Kings-- perfect for Christmas cards!  Come shop the Lavinia World Store, then join us at Lavinia World Challenges.  I'd love to see what you create, and you could be the lucky winner of the $15 gift certificate, or one of the designer choice awards! 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Word Art Wednesday -- ATG
D.L. Art -- November Linky Party
AUD Sentiment -- ATG with a sentiment
Outlawz Festive Fridays -- Christmas

A Truck Full of Thanks -- for Scrapy Land Challenges

Today is the first Wednesday of November (how did that happen, anyway?), and that means there is a new challenge starting today at the Scrapy Land Challenge Blog.  Challenges are always Anything Goes, as long as you use a brand of die that is sold in the Scrapy Land Store.  Scrapy Land sells dozens and dozens of brands of dies, so this is very easy to do!  Shop the Scrapy Land Store here, and see for yourself!

Since it is November, and Thanksgiving is celebrated this month here in the USA, I wanted to make a Fall/Thanksgiving card for today's challenge.  Here's my creation:

The truck is a die from Cheapo Dies called Loads of Love.  It is no longer available, but search for 'trucks' in the search engine, and we will find several very cute ones, including this one from Impression Obsession and Bob's Old Truck in 2 sizes from Frantic Stamper. 

I made the truck look a bit "rusty" using some metallic wax from Spectrum Noir.  

That big pumpkin in the back of truck is on its way to a pumpkin weighing contest.  It might just win!!  It is a die from Yvonne Creations.  It is called Fabulous Fall Collection - Autumn Leaves.  Of all the die collections I've purchased from the Scrapy Land Store, this is my go-to set, especially this time of year!  It makes beautiful fall leaves, acorns, toadstools, and yes, pumpkins!

The stitched oval die is from Spellbinders.  Many companies have similar dies, including these from Lawn Fawn, these from Tutti Design, and these from Elizabeth Craft. 

The paisley print background paper is from We Are 3 Digital Shop.  It is from the Howdy Autumn Collection. The sentiment, also from the We Are 3 Digital Shop, is one of the Itty Bitty Collection.

The burlap ribbon behind the stitched oval die is from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  I thought it added just the right amount of texture to a fall card.

I hope you can join us the next 2 weeks at the Scrapy Land Challenge Blog.  One winner gets a $15 gift certificate to the Scrapy Land Store!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
D.L. Art -- November Linky Party
Lemon Shortbread Challenge -- ATG
TTCRD -- ATG
Outlawz Saturday Paper ala Mode -- Autumn Colors

Surprise! for Dies R Us Inspiration Blog

I'm posting today on the Dies R Us Inspiration Blog.  I always enjoy having a chance to play with fun dies!  It's such a treat for me.  There are dozens and dozens of brands of dies for sale in the Dies R Us Store. Today, I'm focusing on dies from Elizabeth Craft Designs. 

Can one ever have too many birthday cards?  I volunteer in a nursing home, and bring cards to the residents there when I know it's their birthday, so I always need a stash of cards.  So, when I saw this fun balloon die from Elizabeth Craft Designs in the Dies R Us Store, I knew I had to have it in my collection:

The balloon is called Big Balloon, and it has 2 dies -- the balloon and the string.  The 'surprise' sentiment is also from Elizabeth Craft, and of course fits on the Big Balloon perfectly. 

Here's a photo of the supplies used.  They will be linked at the bottom of this post.

In this next photo, all the pieces have been die cut.  They just need to be assembled.  I used both Stick  It Adhesive Sheets (for the sentiment and the string) and the Best Glue Ever for the rest of the card assembly. 

The card went together so quickly that it was just about as easy to make 2 as it was to make one.  Here's a second one, but a slightly different color scheme:

Dies used on these cards, found in the Dies R Us Store:

Big Balloon

Surprise!

The background paper on the first card is from We Are 3 Digital Shop.  It is one of the Celebrate papers.  The designer paper on the second paper is actually a foil paper from a Spellbinders card kit.  The foil doesn't show up in the picture, but is very pretty IRL. 

Check out the Dies R Us Inspiration Blog often for wonderful ways to use incredible dies found in the Dies R Us Store!  You won't be disappointed!  Then, join in on the Dies R Us Challenges, too!

click below for:

STORE
CHALLENGE BLOG
FACEBOOK
INSPIRATION BLOG

FRIENDS OF DIES R US PINTEREST PAGE

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

Seize the Birthday -- ATG

D.L.Art --November Linky Party 

Outlawz Festive Fridays-- birthday 

Many Thanks --for the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog

It's the first Monday of the month, and that means a new challenge is starting on the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog.  For the month of November, our optional theme is, Thankfulness.

Our sponsor this month is A Day for Daisies.  My card uses the darling Mouse Daisy image:

I colored Mouse Daisy with Copic Markers.  The background panel is a Spellbinders panel, and I added rhinestones to the flowers.  the Many Thanks, was hand stamped on the card.

The Path of Positivity Challenge runs from today until Dec 2, so I hope you have time to join us with you option Thankful projects (or any positive themed projects).

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Outlawz Twisted Thursday -- cute
2 Crafty Critter Crazies -- ATG with a Critter
Craft Animals -- ATG
D.L. Art -- November Linky Party

Oh Deer, Christmas is Here! For Jan's Digi Stamps

Here we go!  The first ever challenge at Jan's Digi Stamps Challenges, or, as those of us that have followed her work affectionately refer to it as, JDS Designs Challenge Blog.  The challenges will be on the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month, so what a great way to start out your week! The will run until noon (Eastern) the Sunday before the new challenge.  You'll find all the rules on a tab at the JDS Designs Challenge Blog.  Her beautiful digis can be found in her shop here.

For the first challenge, I wanted to showcase one of Jan's beautiful Christmas images.  I decided on a silhouette so I could play with inks.  This is 722J Reindeer:

Each of Jan's Digi Stamp's sets comes with a black and white version (what I used here), a pre-colored image, and several sentiments.  This set also has each of the deer separated, so you can also use them in whatever configuration you wish.  Lots of flexibility here!

I placed the Reindeer family to my liking on white card stock, then placed the sentiment (included in the Reindeer set) where it appealed to my eye. Then, it was time to ink it up.  I used Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks to achieve the look I wanted, and lightly spritzed some water on it to give the look of snow. 

The snowbanks were cut out with dies from Lawn Fawn.  The snowflake background was created using a Gemini Hot Foil Press machine and a foil stamp.   The blue snowflakes are dies from Cheery Lynn.

That's it!  My first card for the first challenge at JDS Designs Challenge Blog.  It's Anything Goes! You might win a $9 gift certificate to the store!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Outlawz Festive Fridays --Christmas
D.L. Art -- November Linky Party
Dragonfly Dreams Challenge -- Christmas/Winter
The Paper Players Challenge -- Into the Woods 

Thank You Flower -- for Bugaboo Stamps

It's Saturday, and that means there's a new challenge starting on the Catch the Bug Challenge Blog. This week the theme is a favorite -- Anything Goes!

I am often in need of thank you cards, so I took advantage of the anything goes theme and made one for today's challenge.  This card uses Thank You Flower:

I colored Thank You Flower with Copic markers.  It's a very quick color and you're on to creating the card.

Papers on the card are from We Are 3 Digital Shop.  They are part of the Miss Daisy Collection. 

I used dies from Queen & Company to cut out the Thank You Flower, back it, cut out the scalloped base, and the scalloped border piece.  The 1/2 back pearls are from Crafter's Companion.

I hope you join us this week at Catch the Bug Challenges.  Jodie offers the most generous prizes, and with the Anything Goes Theme, it's easy to link up!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
D.L. Art -- November Linky Party
A Gem of  a challenge -- ATG 
Just  Us Girls -- Thanks

Fall Greetings -- for Di's Digi Designs Challenges

It's Saturday, and it's time for a new challenge at Di's Digi Designs Challenges.  For the next 2 weeks the theme is, The Colors of Autumn.

Di Carubia has some of the most darling images available for this and any theme is new shoppe, Di's Digi Stamps.

For today's  DT inspiration card, I used Henry's Windfall. It is available in both a black & white and a colored version.   This  is the black and white version.

I colored Henry's Windfall with Copic markers.  I cut it out with a die.  leaving the die in place, I inked around the edges with distress ink.

 The "Fall Greetings"sentiment is from We Are 3 Digital Shop, as are the Autumn Woodland papers.

The ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon.

I hope you can join us this next 2 weeks at Di's Digi Designs Challenges for our Colors of Autumn Challenge!

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

Crafty Animals Challenges -- ATG with an animal

2 Crafty Critter Crazies -- ATG with a critter

Crafty Creations Challenges -- ATG

Not Just Cards -- ATG

Outlawz Twisted Thursday -- Cute

Outlawz Satursday Paper ala Mode -- Autumn Colors  

Dasching all the way -- for the 12 Months of Christmas

It's the start of a new month, so it's the start of a new challenge at the 12 Months of Christmas Link Up. The theme this month is red and green  Now, that's an easy theme for Christmas!

Our sponsor this month is Imagine That Digistamp.  I used her Daschshund Christmas set to create this:

I used the pre-colored image that comes in the set.  Papers on this card are from on our ongoing sponsor, Decosse's Dynamite Doodles.  These Papers are from her 12 days of Papers collections. The sentiment is part of the  Daschshund Christmas Set.

I hope you link up your Christmas cards this month at the 12 Months of Christmas Link Up!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Outlawz Festive Fridays -- Christmas
Cute Card Thursday --Christmas
Imagine That DigiStamp -- ATG

Peace -- for Sheepski Designs

It's November  1,  and there's a new challenge starting at the SheepSki Designs Challenge Blog.  Our theme this month is  Christmas is coming (and it is!).

I loved this relatively new image to the SheepSki Design Etsy Shop. and used it  on my card, winter deer:

I created the card by using various distress oxide inks on the background.  Then, I mounted it with a piece of black cardstock.  The snowflake background  is foiled with my  crafters companion foiling machine.

You'll find Winter Deer and other beautiful SheepSki Designs Images in the Etsy Shop.

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Outlawz Festive Fridays -- Christmas
AUD Sentiments -- ATG with a sentiment
Word Art Wednesday -- ATG
CRAFT Challenge -- Winter

Jingle All The Way -- for All Dressed Up Stamps

It's November 1, and we've starting a new challenge in the All Dressed Up Facebook Group.  This month, the theme is, "Christmas is coming".  You will find many wonderful image that fit this theme in the All Dressed Up Etsy Shop.

For my inspiration card, I used the adorable "Christmas Hair do" 

I colored up Christmas Hair Do with Copic markers, and used a variety of foil papers and dies in my collection to decorate it up.

I hope you are able to join us this month for our "Christmas is Coming" challenge is the All Dressed Up Facebook Group!

I'd like enter this in the following challenges:

D.L.Art -- November Linky Party

Polkadoodles -- ATG

Outlawz Festive Friday -- Christmas