Pearls & Swirls..for a challenge

Decided to do the Dutch Dare Card Challenge ( http://dutchdare-cardchallenges.blogspot.com/).  There theme this week was "pearls & swirls"...right up my alley :)

I started with a scrap of black & white, flocked, handmade paper for the background.  I then made the lattice element with white and shiny black card stock, adding grey pearls for the trim.  I added a white scallop border to the top and bottom.

Then I made the flower using a Spellbinder's die.  After cutting the card stock I coated each piece with diamond glitter.  Once dry I layered them and attached with a rhinestone brad.  I inked the leaves and added a swirls flourished.  I cut the flourishes on my Cricut with Accent Essentials.

Not quite the look I sketched out, but still pretty.

Cricut Cards

This month for our Cricut Cut Swap for card sized cuts the theme was Winter Fun. ....I do not have many Winter or Christmas cartridges so this is what I came up with....



The deer is from Cindy Lou...I added a google eye and pretty bow.  For the card I layered Bo Bunny Cafe with white and scraps of brown from cutting the deer.  The white was cut with a Martha Stewart Snowflake border punch.  Simple, but cute.

On this card I cute the snowman from Winter Woodland.  I used scraps of Bo Bunny Coral for the hat and scarf.  I accented the snowman with a Christmas red Stickles heart and Diamond Stickles on the hat and scarf.  I free handed the eyes.  The background papers are scraps of Bo Bunny papers...I again used a border punch.  The sentiment was stamped on white, double matted on teal and black; then outlined with Christmas red Stickles.  Finally, a piece of black grosgrain ribbon was added.  Seems like a lot, but actually came together quickly.

SWARM Saturday

Yesterday was our monthly SWARM...cropping with Cricuts. Even though I was a little under the weather, I had a great time. We did a pot luck for Breast Cancer Awareness this month. Everyone brought stuff, donated stuff, etc. I made several things...SIN (my yummy breakfast pastry), green bean casserole, cookies (chocolate with pink M&M's) and a pink champagne cake. some of the other treats....corn casserole, yummy cupcakes, 7 layer salad, roast, mac'n'cheese, crudites,....we were definitely not lacking in the food department;) I did manage to get a few things done...swaps for next month, a couple of layouts and some planning for paper Crafting Divas for 2012. It was a nice day catching up with the other ladies.

Color Challenge

Had a little time today so I decided to do a challenge. Checked out a few and when I came the Pixie Dust Challenge (http://pixieduststudiopixiechallenge.blogspot.com/) I knew I had to do this challenge. The color palette reminded of some paper I had in my scrap box, so...to the craft room!

This is what I came up with...I really wanted to do something different so...here's is what I did.

I used a Pixie Dust image (Muddy Buddy: Playpen Pals). I colored it with Stampin' Up pencils, and used Gamsol to blend. I colored two images. I then cut out the head and feet from one image and pop dotted it onto the other image. I added Crystal Effects to the hooves and snout. I also added a white dot on the eye with my gel pen. I then matted the image onto Co-ordination Cappuccino. For the Card I used Co-ordiantions Cappuccino layered with a plaid by The Girls' Paperie (Jubilee line). I then created the border using a brown and white stripe punched and threaded with a gold ribbon. I adhered everything with glue dots, except the matted image I used pop dots. Final touch, I added two flowers also by The Girls' Paperie and embellished with rhinestones.

I think it turned out really cute...and I know just the person I am going to give it to :)

Kit Frenzy!

I have been on a major cleaning streak with my craft room...going through all my material, patterns, paper, embellishments, cards, etc. As I have been cleaning I have been gathering all kits into one spot. I always seem to buy these kits, especially when I was working at the scrap store, but never get them done. So, today decided I would only work on things from my kit box. Here is what I got done...


This set of cards was made using one BoBunny sticker sheet and papers from the birthday line. Cute & Quick....they were designed by Kelly Skidmore.









I bought this set of cards from a local store after the holidays...thought they were pretty. They are all Cricut cuts...lots of layers. I did add some stickles just for accents. I believe this was a kit by Kim Hildebrand...but I am not positive.









This is another kit I purchased from a local store. The black & white color scheme with the black rub-ons and purple gems is very pretty. I also used lavender stickles. I know this kit is by Kim Hildebrand.

She sells her kits at: http://www.kimscardkits.com/





I have been packaging them up to use for hostess' gifts over the holidays...I have a few more to do so I will be well stocked ;)

Halloween Happenings

Fall is finally hear...leaves are rustling, there's a chill in the air, and pumpkins are everywhere! So I decided to do some Halloween crafting to help get in the mood.

I created all the cards above using Twinichies from a recent swap. In the swap you received a set of 3 - twinichies from each person. Some of the sets had to be kept together, like the "BOO"; while others could be made into a set of cards. I still have several sets left to use.

These are treat bags I made for my parents' group. Each bag is made from one sheet of 8 1/2 x 11 paper using a rather simple fold technique. I then added the Mrs. Grossman's sticker, punched a hole & tied closed with some ribbon. I just have to fill them now.

Now I am off to decorate the house...must climb into the attic to get all the stuff down. Pretty windy here, so not sure how much will actually get put out...I can get it organize though.

Quick card....then cleaning:(

What a busy day today...lots of cleaning out, tidying up & laundry...but I have been trying to spend at least an hour a day in my craft room and i did. I knew I would have to do a "quickie" and when I was going through my papers and found this one I knew what I wanted to do. this is a simple card, but I really like it. Ofcourse all the bling is wonderful, but sometimes you don't have to do a lot when you have pretty pieces to work with. So, I used gold pearl paper for the bottom layer, some pretty handmade paper with gold embossing for the background, gold trimmed cream ribbon and leaf gem stones. Just a note...I got those leaf gem stones at Michael's in the dollar bins...30 for a dollar & the came with their own pop dots!

Ok, break is over on to the rest of the to do list...

ATC: Fright NIght

This month's swap theme was "Fright Night"...sooooo many ideas came to mind. It took me the most time to narrow it down to two ideas! Thank goodness I signed up for both groups!

So, my first idea was to do a whole scene...moon, creepy tree, bat, tombstones....but that really wasn't pushing me, so....I surfed around the net looking at a lot of ATC sites and then I decided I wanted to do a mixed media type of card. Initially I was going to use printed images of old horror movie posters...House on Haunted Hill, Dracula, Werewolf, etc...and then embellish them. Well, I didn't like the look so, back to the computer. I cam across an image of Jack Skully from "Nightmare...". Perfect! I printed the image on photo card stock. I then embellished the image with Smooch inks, Perfect Pearls on the moon and covered the entire image with Crystal Effects. I printed a second set of images and cut out the pumpkin and his hand. I popdotted this on the first image and then covered with a thick coat of Crystal Effects. I really like how it turned out.

Now on to my second card. I have always wanted to do the mummy card, so...I decided to use it here. First I made my mummies with tea stained gauze, google eyes and a piece of chipboard. Then I created my door...I used brown handmade paper for the door to give it the wood texture. I added the "iron" trim and doorknob. I layered everything up and added a magnet so the door will stay closed. Finally, a glittery, black spider. Love it!

On to my next swap creations...fall cards:)