The Craft's Meow Guest Designer Preview Day One

Welcome to the first day of previews for the Craft's Meow Stamp Release!  I am thrilled to be guest designing for them this month, and have lots of goodies to show you this week! I can't  

share with you the entire stamp sets until Saturday...so if you want to see more, you may want to check out the projects on the design team's blogs!  Also, if you want a chance to win one of these sets, be sure to leave a comment on the Craft's Meow Store blog by 9:00pm PST each night of the preview.

  The first stamp set that is being previewed today is Nature's Beauty.

   I bet I've got your attention now,  huh?  This is a gorgeous set that just makes me smile!   

Craft's Meow Nature's Beauty Stamp Set

Cheery Lynn Designs Dies

DCWV Coral Couture Paper

The Twinery Baker's Twine

Wow Embossing Powder

Next up, is a glimpse from the Travel Time Set.  This is such an adorable set, that I'm sure I will use over and over again!

Craft's Meow Travel Time Stamp Set

Simple Stories Patterned Paper

Wow Embossing Powder

This party is going on all week long! We will have previews through Friday, and then Saturday, we will show off all of the new sets in their entirety with a blog hop, where you could win every stamp in this release!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Birthday with Scrap-Mart

I've got a really fun card to share with you today. I have a huge stack of October Afternoon paper, and I just started grabbing up the pieces that struck my fancy. That is something that I really love how OA papers look great together, even mixing collections. So if you want to try your hand at a collage type card, head over to Scrap-Mart. You will find tons of goodies there!

Patterned Papers, stickers, Journaling Card: October Afternoon
JustRite Stamps Always and Forever Medallion Labels
Justrite Nested Oval Medallion Label Dies
Spellbinders Classic Decorative Inserts ThreeSpellbinders Classic Edges One
Spellbinders Standard Circles Large
Spellbinders Lacey Circles
Ranger Distress Ink
The Twinery Twine
Epiphany Crafts Bubble Cap


Challenges:
Mojo Monday: sketch
JustRite: Happy Birthday

Best Buds!

Hi Scrappy Friends! I have a layout to share today that celebrates the friendship my sister Lori has had with her best friend Rachel for the past 30 years. It's hard to find true friends and I would say that they have both been blessed !

I thought it would be fun to use the title "Best Buds" as a play on words for all of the lovely flowers I made using one of the newest dies from CottageCutz - Sweetheart Flowers Layered. This is a wonderful flower die, that you can combine in so many different ways for so many different looks. Mine are a little on the distressed side, with lots of crumpling and shaping, and and heat embossing. But here's the package, to give you an idea of another way to make these flowers.


If you would like a chance to win a $25 gift certificate for CottageCutz, then be sure to check out our monthly challenge. This month, all you have to do is make a scrapbook page using any CottageCutz die. Easy Peasy!

I used the Wow! Embossing Powder in Regular Peach, not only to emboss my flowers, but also the stamped scalloped circle using the Brocade stamp (also from Wow), and the chippie letters.

Challenges:
A2Z Scraplets: Sketch

Inspired By Stamping - January Release Day Two Preview

It's the second day of previews for this month's stamp release from Inspired by Stamping! We are releasing 4 sets this month, and this is my second card using the Be My Valentine stamp set. Remember, all of these gorgeous stamps will be available for purchase on Saturday - along with the full reveal of the sets!



Don't you just love these heart-shaped balloons? The heart frame is also from this set. Are you getting curious to see the whole release? Well then come back tomorrow - you won't be disappointed!

Now, here's the rest of the team - go check out what lovelies they have to share with you!

Amber Goble
Deb Hickman
Debbie Marcinkiewicz
Gini Cagle (me)
Irit Shalom
Jennie Garcia
Joanna Munster
Kassi Hulet
Kendra Sand
Kim Score
Susie Moore

Challenges:
Card Patterns: sketch

Inspired By Stamping - January Release Day One Preview

It's the first day of previews for this months stamp release from Inspired by Stamping! We are releasing 4 sets this month, and this is the one that I will be sharing with you - Be My Valentine.





We'll be showing you the entire sets on Saturday, but be sure to check out what the rest of the team created over the next two days!

Amber Goble
Deb Hickman
Debbie Marcinkiewicz
Gini Cagle (me)
Irit Shalom
Jennie Garcia
Joanna Munster
Kassi Hulet
Kendra Sand
Kim Score
Susie Moore

Love You to the Moon and Back

Do you have a hard time making masculine cards? Especially for Valentine's Day? Try picking up a very boyish paper, like Rocket Age from October Afternoon. I paired it up with a sentiment that made it perfect (from My Favorite Things). Adding the Heart Circles die from Spellbinders also gave another hint towards the big day, without being at all girlish. You can pick up all the goodies that you need for your Valentine's projects at Scrap-Mart.

WOW! Gratitude Card

Have you seen the new Wow! Embossing Powders blog? If not, what are you waiting for?!! Let me just tell you, you are going to fall in love with these embossing powders! and the stamps? Pure wonderful!

For this card today, inked one side of an embossing folder with Versamark ink, and ran the paper through a Cuttlebug machine. When it came out, I sprinkled it with the Suzy West Earthtone Pepper embossing powder and heat set it. It filled in the recessed areas with wonderful pepper-colored texture that I just adore.

The leaves and the sentiment are from the new Gratitude stamp set (a must have!) They were embossed as well. Notice how great the sentiment embossed. It's very clear and super easy to read. The true sign of a great embossing powder.

Supplies

Wow! Embossing Powders: Suzy West Tea Garden Green,
Suzy West Earthtone Pepper
Wow! Gratitude Stamp Set
Crate Paper
Worldwin Papers Cardstock
Sizzix embossing folder
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge
Epiphany Crafts Round 14 bubble cap, vintage setting
Memory Box die
The Twinery Baker's twine
Want2Scrap Pearls
Versamark Ink
Heat GunCuttlebug

Challenges:
Simon Says: Something New (Brand new Embossing Powders and Stamp - to be released at CHA)
Stamp and Show: Something Old, Something New (New - embossing powders, Old - felt flower)
Papertake Weekly: Anything Goes

Epiphany Crafts and Crate Paper

It's always fun to use Epiphany Crafts products in new ways. Try using twine instead of paper to make a festive peppermint candy button.

Remove the paper backing from a Button Round 20 Epoxy. Use a pin to "open" the button holes and thread twine through the two holes. Use this green twine as a handle to hold the button, as you start wrapping red twine from the outside in. Clip the red twine when you reach the center. The adhesive on the back of the epoxy makes this technique so easy - with no mess!

Tie a small bow with the remaining green twine.



Use 3D Foam Squares to attach the candy to your project.

The MyStik adhesive dispenser by Scrapbook Adhesives is the perfect take-along for crops. Not only can you use it with various refills, but you can customize it, so it doesn't get mixed up with anyone else.

Epiphany Crafts Button Studio Accessories Buttons Round 20
Scrapbook Adhesives 3D Foam Squares
Scrapbook Adhesives MyStik Repositionable
Crate Paper Peppermint Collection Superior Quality Trims
Crate Paper Peppermint Collection Border Stickers
Crate Paper Peppermint Collection Alpha Labels
Crate Paper Peppermint Collection Superior Quality Chipboard
Crate Paper Peppermint Collection Paper Collection
The Twinery Baker's Twine

Challenges:
Mojo Monday: Sketch

Friends With Flair Friday Hop

It's Friday, and that means it's time for another Friends With Flair Friday Hop with Unity Stamps. I love Samantha Walker's Blossom Stackers set - there are tons of ways to use these stamps. Today, it was perfect for a birthday card for my sweet husband (whose birthday is tomorrow!)

Thanks for looking!

Challenges:
Basic Grey: Go Bold With Color

Less than a Week!

Pin It
This is the last weekend before Thanksgiving, and yes...I should be working on getting ready for the big day, but instead, I decided to play along with the Unity Friends With Flair hop. Seriously, who needs to clean house?!!

I have to tell you that the Samantha Walker Designs for Unity Stamps are my very favorites! I have almost all of them. And the Spellbinders that she designed...be still my heart! For today's card, I used Fall Splendor. This stamp set is so pretty, it makes me drool! I also used her Twisted Metal Tags and Accents Die to highlight my stamped embellishment. I punched the tiny scallops using my most used punch from EK Success.

I hope you will have time to hop along today, and see some of the wonderful inspiration!

Challenges:
Basic Grey: Use a Punch
Simon Says: Thanksgiving
Stampin Sisters In Christ - Thankful

CottageCutz and My Little Shoebox!

Did you know that CottageCutz has a wonderful line of dies that coordinate with some of My Little Shoebox's wonderful collections?!!! These are some truly versatile dies, that you will use over and over again.

Products Used:
Pink Peony Die - Cottage Cutz
Enchanted Garden Collection - My Little Shoebox
Glitter Alphabet Stickers - My Little Shoebox

Challenges:
Card Patterns: sketch

Our Beary Best - Week 3

It's time for another installment of the Beary's Scraps' Beary Best! I really enjoy making all kinds of cards - some the focus is coloring, others it may be all about the die-cuts - but for this one it's all about collage. This is a petite card - just barely over 4 inches, but it packs a powerful impact.

My papers are from Authentique's Splendid collection. It's really a fun and eclectic mix of patterns. After layering my papers, I added a Vintage Setting from Epiphany Crafts - with my custom epoxy. And I added a little touch of Twinery Baker's Twine.

I think this turned out really fun!

Challenges:
Authentique: sketch

In the Limelight with Flourishes

I have been a huge fan of Flourishes stamps for a long time! So when I was asked to share a project that combined gorgeous Flourishes stamps and my Scor-Pal, I jumped at the chance.



I love making fancy fold cards, but today came back to my all-time favorite fold, an easel card. I wanted to use the Birthday Pennants stamp set, and thought that the easel card was a great choice. This set is so cool, because it coordinates with the Spellbinder's Nested Pennants and the Nested Lacey Pennants.

Another technique that I love to use with my Scor-pal is making a pleated embellishment. For this card, I cut a strip of paper an inch wide, and scored it every half an inch. I put Scor-tape down and used it to attach it to the card. This is a great way to add dimension to your projects.

Thanks for letting me share some Flourishes love with you today!

Inspired by Stamping

Do you ever see a stamp set that just makes your heart skip a beat, because it's so beautiful? That's how I felt when I saw Inspired By Stamping's Delicate Doilies. I was immediately in love! And I also used a couple of stamps from the French Boutique set - they look so wonderful together! I stamped my main medallion and the arch on vellum and embossed them with dark brown powder. I was really pleased with the effect I achieved with this technique. Inspired by Stamping had a new release this past week - and I promise you, there are more gorgeous stamps waiting to be discovered. So head over and check it out. In December, the Design Team will start previewing new sets, so be sure to keep stopping by!

Challenges:
Mojo Monday: sketch
Mark's Finest Papers: Your Favorite Technique
Simon Says Stamp and Show: Recycle (a very old button from my button box)

Birthday Tag

Tags are so fun to make! And tonight, I wanted to share one with you that I made to go on a birthday present.




My papers are all from Kanban Crafts. They are so luxurious and fun to work with. I love the way the glittered transparency looked after I die-cut it.


Thank you for looking!

Challenges:

Party Time Tuesdays: Bling it On

Winter Wishes

During November, the DT for Sakura Hobby Craft has had the opportunity to play with stamps from Viva Las VegaStamps! There are tons of stamps to choose from, but when I saw Lady with a Snowglobe, I knew this image would be the perfect companion for my Sakura goodies!

Any time a stamp has something that is supposed to be glass on it - I want to cover it in Crystal Lacquer! So the snow globe really caught my attention. I sprinkled some fine, transparent glitter around the edges, while it was still wet to make it look like the glittery snow inside. The other cool embellishment that I added were some of the Gem Particles to the confetti background. Weren't they perfect there?



I hope you will take a look at the tons of stamps that Viva Las VegaStamps has to offer, and remember how cool they are with you Sakura Hobby Craft products!

Tis The Season

Can you believe, it's really time for Tis the Season? The whole Christmas season is one of my favorite times of the year - so I hope you enjoy this card!

I have really enjoyed using the 12 Days of Christmas papers from My Mind's Eye, this year. It's bright and fun with a fun retro twist to it. To make my dimensional wreath, I used the Boxwood Vine Wreath die from Cottage Cutz. (I also used the Holiday Doily die from them as well).

I cut my dies using white cardstock, but then colored them using Creative Inspirations Paints, before a punched them away from the paper. For the bottom layer of the wreath, I used Emerald, for my shadows, and for the top layers, I used the lighter Evergreen. For my reds, I used used Garnet and Rustic Red.

Don't forget, you have all month to play along with the Beary Scrap's Beary Best Challenge (and you can enter as many times as you like!)

Challenges:
DYSU: teal
VLV week 1: sketch

Santa Claus Is Coming to Town

Are you still seeing double at the Beary Scrap? That's because our Double or Nothing Challenge is still going on! I've got a whimsical Christmas Card to share with you today. Don't you think the 12 Days of Christmas papers from My Mind's Eye need to be used for this kind of holiday fun? My adorable Santa 's Truck with Tree die is from the very newest release from Cottage Cutz Dies. It was so fun to add some of the patterned papers to my truck's piecing. And with a little ingenuity, I used the Holiday Doily die to add a border to my circle. Finally, a "borrowed" the sentiment stamp from the Boxwood Vine Wreath set, so I could wish you Merry Christmas!



Challenges:
Card Patterns: Sketch

Epiphany Crafts has a new Blog in Town!

Have you seen that Epiphany Crafts has a new blog? It's awesome - and there is going to be tons of inspiration posted throughout the month. My card today is one that was just shown on it! I love Pink Paislee's Halloween papers - and I used a combination of Phantom and Hocus Pocus. I think they look great together. I lined the diamond epoxies (made with the Shape Studio Tool Square 25), up with the zig-zag pattern of the canvas sticker. Isn't that a cool look? I also added the Button Studio Tool Round 20 for a button to finish off my bow. I combined seam binding and baker's twine for a festive look.