Taking Time Off Till the New Year!

Source: letsdrinkcoffeeinteacups.tumblr.com

I'll be back right after the New Year!

 

I'm taking a little break for a couple of months. Thank you all for your well wishes, emails, and beautiful cards that I have received in the mail.

 

Things are going great and I'm having loads of fun relaxing and enjoying my family.

 

Keep Creating and enjoy the upcoming holidays!

Samantha Walker Blog Hop - Fall Into Fabric

Welcome to the Samantha Walker Designs Creative Team Blog Hop!
 

If this is your first stop, you will want to click {HERE} to the spot where the hop begins!

 

This month's focus is on fabric. I have a fun project today that incorporates Samantha's beautiful Decadence fabric.

I'm getting an early start on making Christmas gifts this year. I purchased this glass container from Hobby Lobby. {It came with the cute little scoop too}. I filled the inside with muffin mix.

I tied some SW fabric around the middle of the jar and added a flower. It's a super duper easy project and so fun for gift giving too.

Here is the fabulous prize up for grabs. Samantha is giving away this beautiful bundle of fabric. Comment on all the blogs by Sunday, September 16th, to be eligible to win. The hop winner will be announced on Monday, August 17th on the SW Facebook page.

Also, be sure to subscribe to Samantha's blog to receive this FREE SVG cutting file. You can download this file to your personal electronic cutter. The link will be emailed to you early next week. Please visit the SW Blog for more details!

Click on the picture below to go to the next stop:

{hint - Your next stop is the Samantha Walker Facebook Page}

Clear Scraps - Paris Style

 

 Today is an exciting day!!!

 

I'm presenting my very first Clear Scraps project. I can't wait to show you the fun CS product that I got to work with today. You will love this one!

 

I love making gifts for my teacher buddies. This one is for Pam. She got the chance to visit Paris this summer for the first time. Lucky girl!!!!

 

Clear Scraps has some fun bookstands that are perfect for altered projects. I "dressed up" this 6" x 6" bookstand with some of the beautiful Carta Bella - Paris Girl goodies.

 

 

 

These acrylic bookstands are very versatile. You can cover the entire piece or just some of it. Let your creativity out and have fun with it!

 

And check out the bling and pearls that I added at the bottom. Stickers and other embellishments hold up very well against the sturdy acrylic.

 

 

 

Be sure to check me out on the Clear Scraps Blog today!

 

http://clearscraps.typepad.com

 

 

For fun crafty shopping - be sure to check out the Clear Scraps Store!

 

http://www.clearscraps.com/default.asp

Fickle Design Friday!

Happy weekend everyone!

 

I've got some fun new projects to show ya today. The talented Karla Dudley contacted me recently and asked if I would make some hybrid projects using her products. I was sooo honored to have her notice my work and ask me! The answer was a quick...YES!!!

 

Have you seen her lovely designs? They are just my style. Keep reading this post and let me show ya what I'm talking about.

I also looove playing along in The Moxie Fab World, so I'm also linking this up to their "Focal Point" Challenge. The beautiful oversized butterfly on my card & gift bag are the main focal point of each design.

 

By the way, all of my projects were made using the Fickle Collection.

 

 



Did ya see the Hybrid Kraft Gift Bag above? This was so easy to make. After printing out the elements that I wanted, I just adhered them to the bag. I used a large pop dot on the butterfly to make it stand out more. So fun and easy to make for gift giving.

 

 

Next up is a Hybrid Card...

I looove the graphic elements of the butterfly. Again, I adhered the elements that I wanted and popped up the butterfly. I even placed a small pink pearl gem on it too.

Next up is a simple Note Tag. And yep, it's all made with digital paper. I love the lined paper and the yellow "note" words. I used my die-cutter to make the circle, added some baker's twine, and a small button as well.

Don't be afraid of hybrid. Using digital papers in a traditional way is so much fun.

 

Here's how I make my hybrid projects:

1.)  I downloaded & unzipped the digital file. I saved it in "My Pictures".

2.)  I selected each digital paper that I wanted & printed it out with my trusty printer.

3.)  I then went through each digital embellishment & printed out each one that I wanted to use.

4.)  Once everything is printed then start crafting as usual. You can add buttons, twine, ribbon, or even mix the printed digital elements with traditional paper.

Here are some Handy Dandy Tips:

Tip #1 - You don't need Photoshop to use these. I have PS, but did not open the files there. I simply opened the files I wanted and printed it right out.

 

Tip #2 - When you select print, your computer should allow you to pick the size of each image. I used a variety of sizes for this project. Experiment and print the size that will work with your project.

 

I hope you find these tips and tricks to be useful. And I hope you enjoyed my projects today. My motto when trying something new is - Just have fun with it!

To find out more about Karla Dudley Designs be sure to visit....

Her Website: http://karladudley.com

 

Her Blog: http://karladudley.com/blog

 

Her Store at Design House Digital: https://www.designhousedigital.com/karla-dudley

 

Her Silhouette Store: http://www.silhouetteonlinestore.com/v2/viewPortfolio.aspx?artistId=27205

Play Date Cafe - You're Special to Me!

It's a fun card making day for me!

Today starts the new Play Date Cafe challenge. This week's color story includes: Navy blue, Stone, and Peach. What an elegant color combo!

I usually create something other than a card for my PDCC project, but the colors really motivated me to make a card this week.

I used some pretty Teresa Collins paper and a fab SRM sticker for the sentiment.

Our sponsor this week is Tami Mayberry Stamps. Be sure to check out the details on the PDCC blog.

 

And remember, your project can be anything crafty just as long as

it follows this week's color story. Can't wait to see what ya make!

 

Supplies:
Paper: Teresa Collins - Everyday Moments
Sticker Sentiment - SRM - Thinking of You
Flower & Pearl Gem - Martha Stewart Crafts
Ribbon - Really Reasonable Ribbon

The Twinery - Halloween Treat & Mini Card

Happy middle of the week!

Don'tcha just love short work weeks? I sure do. It gets me closer to the weekend! :)

I'm happy to share my Twinery project with you all today. This one involves my fave fall treat - candy corn.

Here's a candy corn paper bucket made with the Twinery's "marigold" baker's twine. The bucket was made with the Lifestyle Crafts Bag die. I also used some Samantha Walker Designs paper & SRM Halloween stickers for extra added fun.



Here's the mini card that goes with the set. I used the Twinery's charcoal twine. The metal framed witch sticker is from Creative Charms & the "spooky scary" sticker is from SRM.

I wrapped a lollipop stick with Twinery Twine as well and added another Creative Charms metal framed sticker.

Here's the set all together. It's super fun for Halloween gift giving.

Be sure to shop at The Twinery Store!

http://www.thetwinery.com/

And for inspiration check out the Twinery Blog!

http://www.thetwineryblog.com/

Have a Happy Week!

Other Supplies:
Bag Die: Lifestyle Crafts (Use code COKIE for 20% off)
Twinery Twine - Marigold and Charcoal
Striped Paper: Samantha Walker - Creative Imaginations: Sea Stripes
SRM Stickers: We've Got Your Border - Halloween
Purple Paper: My Little Shoebox
Metal Frame Halloween stickers: Creative Charms

SEI & Butterflies

Happy Labor Day ya'll!

Please enjoy this card that I made with SEI's - Chocolat Collection. {You've gotta throw in your version of a french accent when saying the name of this collection} :)

And I'm playing along in the Moxie Fab World's - Repetition Challenge!

Repeating visual elements on a card is so much fun. I love how the three butterflies give this card some elegance and unifies the design.

Hope you all enjoyed my take on this fun challenge. Stay tuned to the blog this week. I made a heck-of-a-bunch of brand new projects this weekend. I can't wait to show ya what I made!

Supplies:
Paper: SEI - Chocolat
Sentiment: Carta Bella - Samantha Walker - Paris Girl
Butterfly Punch: Stampin' Up
Ribbon: American Crafts
Pearl Brads: Martha Stewart Crafts

Play Date Cafe - I'm Nutty '4' Cookies

Are you hungry yet?

Today, I'm mixing baking and crafting all in one post for this week's Play Date Cafe Challenge. This week's color story includes - Evergreen, Olive, Smoke, and Cherry Blossom.

I made these items to add to a birthday gift box for a friend. I even used a shredder to make some paper shavings to add to the box as well.

The doily tag was made using the fun "I'm Nutty 4 U" Gel-a-tins  stamp.  

I also made some homemade walnut chocolate chip cookies. The stamp fits in perfectly with the cookie treats. I placed each one in a small cellophane bag & dressed it up with a colorful flower.

This project is easy peasy and so great for gift giving.

 

Gel-a-tins is our wonderful sponsor this week.

 

 

Be sure to link up on the PDCC blog. And remember, your project can be anything crafty just as long as it follows this week's color story! 

Have fun & Happy Crafting!

Come Back Summer...Come Back!!!

 

For some reason it was hard for me to go back to school this year. I really, really, really did not want summer to end. I wish it would come back. It went by waaaaaaay too fast....sigh....{insert sad face}.

 

At least I can live out the fond memories of summer with the new dies from Lifestyle Crafts!

 

Here they are ... Introducing the "Pool Party" Dies!

 

 

 

 

This brand new collection is a limited edition release and only available while supplies last, so get yours before they're gone!

 

I really love the bright & colorful shapes. They will look great on all of your summertime projects.

 

Let me show you these adorable dies in action...

 

Here's a tag that I made using the yummy Frozen Treat die.

 

 

Don'tch just love these new goodies? Be sure to get yours in the Lifestyle Crafts store! Their dies work in all leading die cutters. And as always - {Save 20%} using code - COKIE

 

I really heart this collection!



Birdie in Print

 

Happy Monday everyone! I've got a new card for ya today!

Hero Arts recently sent me some publication incentive goodies in the mail. I really, really, really love their Newsprint Bird stamp.

As soon as I opened the package, I whipped up this card. I'm linking this up to the Moxie Fab World's - Movement Challenge.

Let me explain how "movement" is included in the design of my card.  First, the birdie is the focal point. The newsprint on the body of the bird draws your eye their first. Then your eye is drawn upward to the crisp white border design on top of the card.

Then if you look right, you will notice the colorful pattern background. Going down to the right, there is a pretty bloom. As your eye keeps going left, you then notice the sentiment.

Well, that's it for me today! It's the first day of school and I'm off to fix Rachel some yummy pancakes before she heads out the door to start her junior year of high school. Sigh...they grow up so fast.

And be sure to stay tuned to the blog this week. I received some WONDERFUL HAPPY MAIL. {I can't share the news until Saturday though}. I'm bursting with excitement and really want to share, but I've been sworn to secrecy until then.

Have a Happy Week!

Card Supplies:
Paper & Sentiment: MME - Follow Your Heart: Be Amazing
Stamp: Hero Arts - Newsprint Bird
Flower: Prima
Ink: Stampin' Up

Play Date Cafe - Playful Paper Pockets

It's back to school time and I've got some fun projects for ya today that I made for my students and fellow teachers.

I have named this one  - "Playful Paper Pockets"

And be sure to play along with us at The Play Date Cafe. We've got a beautiful color story for you today. The colors are - Black, White, and a splash of Lime Green.

 We got to play with some wonderful SRM Stickers this week too!

I made this pocket to give to one of my students this school year. I love to make gifts for them when they show respect, good manners, help out a fellow classmate, or work extra hard on a project. I used SRM's - Year of Memories - 2013 Sticker. I added a small wooden pencil on the inside. I will also add a granola bar or some other treat as well.

And this one is for a fellow teacher. I love to give my co-workers something crafty for their birthday. I will add a gift card to this pocket. I used SRM's - Stickers by the Dozen - Birthday.

Be sure to play along and link up on the PDCC blog. And remember, your project can be anything crafty just as long as it follows this week's color story!



I Spy My Creations & Some News!

Hey there everyone! I wanted to pop in today to share some fun news with you all.

Be sure to read all the way to the end so that you don't miss out on all of the excitment.

Before I get to that, I first want to share some of my summer publications. It will never get old seeing my creations in print. I'm so excited to have projects in both the CARDS Magazine and Create Idea Book.

This is the project that is in the Create Idea Book - Stamping Magazine. This one may have came out before July, but I'm just now getting my hands on it. This project is in the - "My Favorite Stamp" section of the mag. I used my Stampin' Up stamp for these mini bags.

I also have several of my creations in the Cards Magazine - July issue.

I used a coffee filter to make the flower for this one.

This mini card set features yummy Twinery twine & Amy Tangerine products.

This one features the bicycle stamp from Hero Arts.

(Sweet Virginia Lu introduced me to their stamps & I'm hooked)

Thank you Cards & Create Magazine for featuring my projects!

And now for some FUN NEWS!!!!

I have been invited to be on the Clear Scraps design team. I will get to design with their fabulous acrylic mini albums, shapes, chipboard, and so much more. I can't wait to show you all of the fun projects that I have planned. 

And  I'm so super excited to work with an awesome group of designers that are lined up for the new term. You can meet them on the Clear Scraps blog - {Here}

Rachie Girl

By the time you read this, I will be in my car heading back to work. I have sooo enjoyed having the summer off. Now I've gotta get it in gear this week and get my classroom ready, lesson plans prepared, and attend dozens of meetings. Pray for me.....(smile)!

In the meantime, here's my latest page of my daughter Rachel. I used the gorgeous new Carta Bella - "Paris Girl" collection. The entire collection was designed by the fabulous Samantha Walker.

I added pink pearls, a doily, and a flower to the design. This collection also comes with pretty stickers too. I think they add just the right about of sweetness to the page.

And here's a closer look at the paper. I love the beautiful script writing on the black paper. This is quickly becoming one of my fave collections.

Be sure to grab this collection. You will love creating with it!