Stinker

I'm addicted to SVG cutting files, especially Pretty Papers, Pretty Ribbon because they are so easy to use. I love that they upload in one file all bundled. That means all I have to do is size and cut. I'm thrilled once again to be a guest designer for Pretty Papers Pretty Ribbons.

I immediately fell in love with the cutting file, Rainy Day Critters, especially the skunk, and I knew that in my stash I had a stamp related to a skunk and paper to match the rainy weather of the April scene. I loved sizing the puddle to be big enough for the skunk to really stand in it. The rain clouds on the patterned paper are very different shades of gray, and to lighten the mood, I added a fun yellow butterfly to the corner. The sentiment is from CardzTV the Critter Captions set. 

Challenges Entered

The Crafter's Cafe: Animal Antics

Fab 'n Funky Challenges: Masculine

The Sisterhood of Crafters: April Showers

Make My Monday: April Showers

Easter Basket

It's time for another card challenge with Cardz TV stamps.Our challenge this week is Easter!  Are you planning for your egg hunt or your baskets? Check out our design team inspirations. 

For my project today, I used the Pretty Paper, Pretty Ribbon SVG cut file for card bases. I love the look of the scalloped border. I used pink as my base color with a pretty light green on top embossed with a flower folder. Next I cut the Easter basket from Cricut's Easter 2010 release. I added a pop of bing to the center of the bow. Finally, I used the CardzTV stamp set, Going in Circles for the Happy Easter sentiment.   

Challenges Entered:
Brown Sugar Challenge - Easter
Jo's Scrap Shack Challenge - Easter
Kitty Bee Designs - Easter

Doctor Who

I am an über fan of the television show, Doctor Who. 
I search high and low for all things related to the show. 
Those of us who are crafty have a knack for finding what we need.

I found this stamp* of The Doctor from Seasons 5- 7*, and colored him as closely to his actor counterpart as possible. (This stamp is one of my most prized possessions because it was a rare find.) He is mounted on a Spellbinders die cut. The blue vinyl cut out in the background is called a TARDIS, and it is The Doctor's mode of transportation through all of time and space. The Doctor is known for wearing a bow-tie and loves a good fez (the fez is from an SVG file at Pretty Papers, Pretty Ribbons). 

*I love both rubber stamps (particularly clear acrylic) and digital stamps. This particular stamp is a rubber stamp. For coloring people, I prefer digital stamps. To color flowers and such, I prefer rubber stamps. 

*We are now in Season 9, and this stamp is about three years (or more) old.

Bow ties are cool!

Challenges Entered
As You Like It Challenge: Rubber or Digital - WHY?
Crafting With an Attitude: AG
Creating in Faith, Hope, Love: Retired or "Old" stamp
Addicted to Stamps: AG
Through the Craft Room Door: AG

Coffee Time

I horde SVG files. I can't get enough, especially the fun and creative ones. I'm using and SVG file from the Pretty Papers, Pretty Ribbons set called Java Great Day. I happen to have a stamp from CardzTV called Brew Ha Ha. These punnies are my favorite for making cards. 

This card is pretty straightforward because I wanted the coffee pot to be the central focus. I added the wooden sign (Coffee Time) and the clock in the opposite corners as my embellishments. I have some good friends that would appreciate this card because of their morning coffee routine. 

Challenges Entered

Pretty Papers, Pretty Ribbons: Cooking or Food

Catching a Buzz

It's time for another card challenge with Cardz TV stamps. I'm thrilled that the challenge is to make a card for spring. I'm ready for winter to be over, and I have had enough of snow and ice. I could us a little spring in my life. 

For my project today, I used the Pretty Paper, Pretty Ribbon SVG cut file called Honey Bees. I have been waiting to use that bee sticker for a long time (bottom left). The appliqué owl finished the scene. I used the CardzTV set Birds and Bees for the sentiment. All of the layers of the beehive are popped up with pop dots.  

Challenges Entered

Creative Moments: Spring

Card Mania: Spring

Die Cut Divas: Spring & Children

My Creative Moments: Spring

Hot Like Wasabi

I horde SVG files. I can't get enough, especially the fun and creative ones.

Pretty Papers, Pretty Ribbons has this great set right now called Silly Sushi, and their sister company Pretty Cute Stamps has a set called Sushi Sentiments. Of course, I had to have these. 

For this card, I used the bowl of rice (it is popped up twice for the different layers), and the cute "wasabi" sentiment. I added photo corners from Cricut's Cartridge, Picturesque. 

I just love the way this turned out, and it was super easy to put together. 

Challenges Entered
Pretty Papers, Pretty Ribbon: Anything Goes
Crimbo Crackers: Make Me Laugh
Cute Card Thursday: Die Cuts

You are Fintastic!

This crafting-year is all about coloring! I'm destined for coloring certification from both Spectrum Noir and Copics. How can you do that too? Just go to Kit and Clowder and sign up for your first class. I started with skin and hair. After weeks of practicing my "flicking" and cast shadows, I'm super proud of my latest project. This is a digital mermaid stamp from Simply Betty Stamps. There is a phenomenal collection of stamps at Simply Betty. 

I always start with the skin and hair on every image. Her hair is a combination of Spectrum Noir markers: BT1, BT3, BT4, BT5, BT7. I decided to go with pink skin and it is a combination of Spectrum Noir markers: PP3, PP4, PP5, PP6. Then, I blended some purples together for the tail and fin: PL1, PL2, PL3, PL4, PL5.

To put the card together, I lined the bottom of the square card with coral in various colors. The main coral is from Pretty Papers, Pretty Ribbons Sea Life cutting file. To add dimension I added white paint dots around the coral. The sentiment is from Pretty Cute Stamps, the Sea Life Sentiments set. 

Lastly, I added the wooden sun swirl. I was looking to add some wood to this project to fulfill the challenge at 50 Craft Challenges. 

A Cow and An Octopus Enter a Craft Room

I'm addicted to SVG cutting files. I'm thrilled once again to be a guest designer for Pretty Papers Pretty Ribbons. I am excited because Pretty Papers, Pretty Ribbons have so many different files to choose from. That's why I made two projects. And don't forget there is always the Freebie Fridays! I'm using two different cutting files that I just downloaded.

For my first project, I used this super adorable cow from the Farm Critters cutting files. This file is a must, it has 8 fun farm critters to choose from. I paired it with a sentiment from Cardz TV, More Critter Captions. 

The cow has three "base" layers, so I popped them all up! Here's a better look:

For my second project, I switched to the Sea Life cutting file. Again, this is a great cutting file. There are 7 adorable fish in this file. I decided to go with the Octopus. I wanted to make an ocean scene, and I just thought he would pop off the blue background. I also used the cutting file Borders 5 for the small wave at the top to separate the "water" from the "sunshine." The sentiment is from Cardz TV, More Critter Captions. I also added some details like inking the sand and the octopus, and I added glitter to the seaweed. 

Challenges Entered

Shopping Our Stash: Use something new (both of the svg files)

The Crafter's Challenge: Use something new (both of the svg files)

Aud Sentiments Challenge: Use something new (both of the svg files)

Snow Globe

It is December 24th, and, yes, I am still making Christmas cards. This card is one of my favorites and was inspired by this fabulous snow globe svg file from Pretty Papers, Pretty Ribbons and the challenge (photo inspiration) from The Alley Way Stamps. 

For the challenge, I wanted to create a winter scene in the snow globe. I embossed the snow hill with a snowflake embossing folder, and used a very soft blue at the base. I used three stamps sets from TAWS: "Celebrate" comes from the More Than Words set, the snowflakes comes from the Winter Butterflies set, and the winter bird and sentiment "peace on earth" comes from the All Wrapped Up set. 

I added white liquid pearls to help create the feeling of snow falling inside the snow globe. 

Challenges Entered

TAWS - Be Inspired: Photo Inspiration
PPPR: Christmas

Christmas Wreath

Today is the day! Another great challenge at DoubleClick Skittles. The inspiration for this week is Holidays! And it is the perfect time of year to make Holiday cards. Come join us in our challenge.

I decided to make another Christmas card since I haven't finished them yet. My inspiration came from this wreath SVG file from Pretty Patterns, Pretty Ribbons. I took the picture on a little bit of an angle hoping that the Wink of Stella would show up on the bow. You can just barely make it out. Since I didn't want to use a stamped sentiment, I chose to use paper with  the sentiment, merry and bright. Both patterns papers are from my stash from last year. I added a touch of silver ribbon and three Skittles in the color Bottle. 

Challenges Entered
Come and Get it Challenge: Christmas
Pile it On: Holiday/Christmas
The Craft Place: Christmas
Change Up Your Life: Christmas without Stamps
A Crafty Mess: Traditional Christmas Colors
Brown Sugar: Red, Green, and White

Kind Heart

Not too long ago, I had no idea what an SVG was, and now, SVG files are my inspiration for any project. It's official. I'm addicted to SVG cutting files. I'm thrilled once again to be a guest designer for Pretty Papers Pretty Ribbons. I was thrilled and excited because Pretty Papers, Pretty Ribbons have so many different files to choose from. That's why my guest designer project uses three different cutting files. And don't forget there is always the Freebie Fridays!

I started by using a cutting file for the base of the card. It is called A2 Card Bases. The shape of the card was so interesting to me that I wanted to find a flourish that could nestle in the grooves. I found this flourish in the cutting file Flourishes 1. Next, I used the Heart Lock cutting files for the accent and stamped my sentiment on coordinating paper. The sentiment is from the Cardz TV stamp set, Many Thanks. 

Challenges Entered

Love to Create: Shaped Card

Open-Minded Crafting Fun: Grateful

Scrapbooking-Cardmaking: Shaped Card

Loves Rubber Stamps: Anything Goes

Fight Like a Girl

Boy do I have some fabulous news for my crafting friends. Lisa Norris the founder of Pretty Papers, Pretty Ribbons (a fabulous place to shop for SVG files) has now opened Pretty Cute Stamps!! I purchased the Fight Like a Girl stamp set in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Today, I want to share with you the card that I made using the Fight Like a Girl stamp set. 

The chevron shiny paper is from Recollections.
The pink patterned paper is from The Blossom Song Stack by DCWV.
I used my Sizzix circle dies to create the circle layers. 

I chose not to color the images this time because I thought the pink of the background would stand out more. 

Why should you check out these great new stamps?

• First of all, many of the sets come with coordinating SVG files. Yes! The end to fussy cutting!!

• Second, the stamps ink fabulously. The set that I used had beautiful fine lines, and the inking was perfect. 

• Third, the stamps are well-priced, and Lisa ships them out almost immediately. 

Challenges Entered
Die Cuttin Divas: Think Pink
Die-Versions: Think Pink Blog Hop
Lauralcraft: Mostly Pink
The Crafting Cafe: Think Pink
In the Pink: Stripes
If You Give a Crafter a Cookie: Photo Challenge

Hocus Pocus

Not too long ago, I had no idea what an SVG was, and now, SVG files are my inspiration for any project. It's official. I'm addicted to SVG cutting files. Imagine my thrill when Pretty Papers Pretty Ribbons invited me to be a guest designer for October 17th. I was thrilled, excited, and then shock hit. Could I live up to the challenge? 

For my project, I used the cutting file Halloween Critters Cutting File. There are so many wonderful cuts in this folder, but I fell in love with this super cute spider (and his spider web)!

If you follow my blog, you know I'm always making cards for my young nephews and niece. For Halloween, I have to be careful that the cards aren't too scary. But how can this goofy spider be scary. He even needs glasses! I cut the spiderweb to serve as I photo corner, and then cut the spider to fit in the middle of the card. I wrapped black string around the card and underneath the spider to look like his web. I added the circle moon and clouds from the Circut cartridge, Create a Critter 2. The stamps are from Cardz TV, the More Spooky Sayings set. 

Challenges Entered
The Male Room: masculine (this is for my young nephew)
Little Red Wagon: Spooky
ColourQ: color scheme
Cutie Pie: Purple and Cute
Creative Cutting Challenge: SVG (PPPR) and Halloween
Robyn's Fetish: Halloween
Pile it On: 2 or more die cuts
Lia Stampz: spooky cute

Holiday Time

Today is the day! Challenge #4 for DoubleClick Skittles. Anything Goes this time! The sky is the limit. Get out your stash and use it. 

Not sure what Skittles are? Check out this video! 

I don't know about you, but holidays are on my mind... Halloween, Thanksgiving, and then (for me) Hanukkah and Christmas. But the hardest cards for me to make are the Jewish High Holidays which are right around the corner. High Holidays start with the Jewish New Year and is called Rosh Hashanah. On Rosh Hashanah, we talk about opening a new chapter in our book of life. Symbols of Rosh Hashanah are apples and honey for a sweet new year. Usually, I go minimalistic or CAS for these cards. Not this year! I'm going BOLD!

I decided to move away my usual style, and chose this bold pattern from my stash to start. Then I went to work on my honey jar (from Pretty Papers, Pretty Ribbons) and apple (Cricut Serenade cartridge). I added the dove brad and the apple embellishment to the top. Next I added Skittles to the honey jar and apple to give it some texture. I'll be giving this card to one of my nephews who is learning about the holiday in Hebrew school. 

I only have five more to make, and I'm determined to make them all different. Stay tuned...

Challenges Entered

Bitten by the Bug2: Use a Cricut die cut. 

Creative Cutting Challenge: Anything Goes

The Corrosive Challenge Blog: Fall

Brown Sugar Challenge Blog: Celebrations

Daring Cardmakers: Food

Cardz TV Blog Hop

Take the journey with the DT from Cardz TV and hop along the blog looking for inspiration. This is an anything goes blog hop. I'm offering blog candy for anyone who:

1. Follows my blog.
2. Leaves a note in my blog that you are a new follower. 
3. Random winner receives: a small Spellbinder die cut template!!!
4. Closes when the blog hop closes. 

For my project, I thought about the HOT August we are having and the brutally hot weather we just had on vacation. You do not want to go to Universal Studios in 95 degree weather with no shade. Yikes. On the other hand, it was perfect weather for the water park.

I started with a fold card, which I learned from Mary at Cardz TV. Check out her blog for tutorials on new and interesting folded cards. Here is a view from the top:

The folds of the card make the card stand and pop the middle section out. Some details about this card, I wanted to use this fun whale because I want to send this card to my nephews. I think they will get a kick out of a purple whale. The sun is made of chipboard and is from my stash - it is seriously about 2 years old. All of the die cuts are from Pretty Papers, Pretty Ribbons. The stamp is from Cardz TV's NEW stamp set: Summer Fun. 

Challenges

4 Crafty Chicks: Something Old/Something New
Aud Sentiments: Something Other Than Birthday
C.R.A.F.T Challenge: Animal
Fab 'n' Funky: For Kids
The Sisterhood of Crafters: Fancy Folds

One Hip Chick

It's time for my inspiration post at Exploring Cricut and More. 

Let's see: By a show of hands (kidding), who is stock piling SVG files? Especially when so many companies are offering FREE files daily or weekly or even crazy $1 sales. My file folders are overloaded with files. Goodness how do we remember them all? 

For me, all of a sudden, I'll remember a file that I just have to use. In this project, I am using Pretty Papers, Pretty Ribbons  cute chick file. There are three chicks in the file, and I wanted this one because she looks kind of hip. It certainly make sense since I have this perfect stamp from Cardz TV, Critter Captions set. I buy Cardz TV stamps the most of any other stamp company. They take ink very well, are easy to clean, and there is incredible variety. Of course, a card of mine isn't the same without Skittles, a favorite embellishment. I used watermelon skittle here. I had a chance to use these great metal photo corners by Miriam's Crafting Supplies.

Challenges Entered

Crafty Little Fairies: Cute and Cuddly

Creative Moments: Animals

Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge: Critters

Desconstructing Jen: Sketch

Scrap Creations: Animal

Roar!!!

Last Sunday, my husband and I took two of our nephews to this fantastic dinosaur exhibit where the dinosaurs were fully animated, so they moved and roared. The boys absolutely enjoyed this adventure, and we learned quite a bit. My older nephew (6 years old) learned how to determine if a dinosaur is a meat eater or a leaf eater. It was such a fantastic learning experience. I created this card to send to the boys to remind them of our grand adventure and to think about what we should do next. 

All of the die cuts are from Pretty Papers, Pretty Ribbon in their Dino-Mite cutting file. I loved the idea of hiding the trees behind the dinosaur. Lucky me! I found this fabulous dinosaur patterned paper in my Boyhood Stack by DCWV. The sun is actually a brad that I picked up somewhere. I think it is super cute, and it goes with the fun theme here. The boys love glitter, so I smeared orange and green glitter ob the dinosaur and the trees. There is a hint of brown glitter on the bark of the trees. 

Challenges Entered. 

Crafting for all Seasons: Creature Feature

Creative Moments: Animals

ColourQ: Colors
Send a Smile for Kids: Kids
Stampin' Royalty: Glitter

The Sound of Summer (SPLASH)

It's August now, and so many of us are trying to cling to the beautiful summer with our crafting projects. But I can see August moving too quickly into September and fall colors creeping into my canvas. So I wanted to capture all of the feelings of summer on this card. I used three patterned papers layered on cardstock - the yellow pattern feels like sunshine, and the blue is perfect for water (and came from a pirate themed stash), and then the side bar screams rainbow to me.  Then, I cut this great angler fish from Pretty Papers Pretty Ribbon. He is splashing into the water (sounds of summer). I smeared glitter all over his fins and along is mouth and popped him up on an angle facing the water. I used denim blue Doubleclick Skittles for the splashes of cold droplets. Finally, I added this sentiment from Docerela Stamps. The sentiment is exactly what I was going for in the scene. 

Challenges
A Creative Romance: Fun in the Sun
Docerela Creations: Summer Colors
Polkadoodles: Fun in the Sun
613 Avenue Create: Summer
Craft Your Passion: Yellow

Welcome to First Grade.

Today is the day! It's time for Challenge #2 at DoubleClick Skittles, and the challenge theme is back to school. This is the perfect theme for me because on of my four nephews is going into first grade. He just loves school, and I hope that never changes. 

This is the perfect theme for me because on of my four nephews is going into first grade. He just loves school, and I hope that never changes. 

I have been just waiting to be able to use my notepaper embossing folder, and it was perfect here. Since I was using bright, primary colors, I added the three Skittles to pick up more color. I used watermelon, denim, and frog legs. You simply MUST try DoubleClick Skittles as embellishments on your own paper projects. The title is from PPPR cutting SVG file. 

Challenges Entered on Behalf of  DoubleClick Skittles 

Crafting When We Can: Bright Colors
Come and Get it: Dies
Artistic Impressions: Back to School
Party Time Tuesdays: Back to School

Do you SVG?

Not too long ago, I had no idea what an SVG was, and now, SVG files are my inspiration for any project. It's official. I'm addicted to SVG cutting files. Imagine my thrill when Pretty Papers Pretty Ribbons invited me to be a guest designer for August 1. I was thrilled, excited, and then shock hit. Could I live up to the challenge? 

I have two projects for my guest spot. The first project is a card that I made using the Honey Bees cutting files. Instead of using one of the Bees, I decided to use the Honey Pot. I layered blue cardstock and a simple blue pattern (I have this paper stack going on a year or more). The blue scalloped circle is a die cut by Spellbinders. To add some texture, I add the metallic corner embellishment and the two Skittles in sailboat blue. The sentiment is from Cardz TV from the Birds and Bees set. This is a birthday card for a girlfriend of mine, Lori.

Challenges for Honey Card
Bitten By the Bug 2: BEE-utiful Summer
Clear it Out: Yellow

My second project is a card that I made using the Potions cutting files. Right before I started this card, I bought the Boyhood stack of patterned paper by DCWV, and found this creepy orange pattern. I knew it was perfect for a dangerous potions bottle. I was not going for Halloween, more like Professor Snape's classroom in the Harry Potter books. I added a vintage looking border (also a die cut by Spellbinders) and some creepy spiders around the corner. The purple and black worked fantastic against that strange orange.I just love the skull in the center of the potion's bottle. What type of poison could be in there? I don't know, but it definitely will have eye of newt in there. The stamp is from Spooky Sayings from Cardz TV.