Cut it Up Challenge #216 ~ Winter Scene

Hello Crafty Friends!  Happy New Year!
Let's start the New Year off with a challenge from Cut it Up Challenge Blog.Our first challenge of the New Year is to create a winter scene.
I've used some fabulous dies and a stamp from LaLa Land Crafts' Winter Release on my card.

Isn't this Polar Bear too cute?  Poor guy, the chalet is snowed in so he'll have to drink his cocoa outside.Everything was cut using the Gemini Jr.  The bear was stamped and then cut with Scan n Cut2.  I used paint splatters for the snowy background, Copic Markers to color and some Frosted Lace Stickles on the chalet roof and ski tips.
I hope you'll play along with our first challenge of 2021.Our prize sponsor is CAS-ual Fridays.

Pearly Sparkles November Challenge ~ Christmas

Hi Crafty Friends,
Wow, welcome to November and time to really start thinking about Christmas. A Christmas theme at Pearly Sparkles Challenge Blog is appropriate, don't you think?
I attended a retreat last year where we spent 3 days making an assortment of cards, albums, and gift boxes.  It was a busy, busy 3 days and I came home with a lot of ideas and a lot of unfinished projects. One of the projects was a holiday box album.  I had assembled all of the interactive inside pages but never got to the actual decorating.  I decided my project for this month would be a perfect reason to get it completed.  I'm sharing the the cover and a picture of the album-in-the-box so you can get an idea of the total project.  I'm thinking that the way I designed to exterior would also be a good template for some Christmas cards only on a smaller scale.

The box album is 6 x 6.  The die cuts are from La-La Land Crafts (sponsor of the retreat.) All of the patterned papers are from Authentique's Alpine set.  The box album is 1 inch deep .

Here you can see how the pages are built into the box which opens like a book.  Most of the pages have pockets or flaps so lots of room for pictures, journaling, or fun embellishments.
Please join us at Pearly Sparkles.  We can't wait to see one of your Christmas projects.

Die Cuttin Divas challenge 429 ~ Embossing

Hi Crafty Friends,
Our challenge for Die Cuttin' Divas is EMBOSSING.
There are many different embossing techniques -dry using an embossing folder, using a metal stencil with a stylus, heat embossing and, my new favorite, dry embossing using a stencil.  For today's project I've used  the harlequin stencil from La-La Land Crafts Hearts and Harlequins set to create my embossed background.

To create this effect, I ran the stencil through my Gemini Jr. but added the embossing mat to the stack.  Most of the die cuts and poodle image are from the Club La-La Land April 2019 kit.  I've used papers from an older My Mind's Eye 6x6 stack.  

If you have stencils on hand, you might want to try embossing with them.  It's one more way to extend the possibilities of your crafting supplies.

Come on over and join our challenge.  Just follow the link above. 

July Challenge at Pearly Sparkles ~ Anything Goes

Hi Crafty Friends,
How can it be July already?  Whew time goes way too quickly when you're my age!
We have an ANYTHING GOES challenge at Pearly Sparkles this month.
I love AG challenges because they give me a chance to catch up with cards that need to be sent while completing my design team projects at the same time.
We have a dear friend who took a tumble and is in the process of recovering from shoulder surgery as well as healing numerous bumps and bruises.  This card is for her.

I belong to the La-La Land Crafts Kit Club and this amazing heartbeat die is part of the June Club kit.  So are the sentiments and cute little piggy.  I also used LLLC's stitched flags and some stitched hearts from Jaded Blosson's Banner die set.  the piggy is colored using Copic Markers. I hope this card brings a smile to her face.
Be sure to join us at Pearly Sparkles (link above.)  We can't wait to see your designs!

Die Cuttin' Divas #417 ~ Anything Goes

Hi Crafty Friends,
Woohoo!  It's ANYTHING GOES at Die Cuttin' Divas.
I made this sweet card for my friend's daughter's baby shower. The theme was Mermaids.

I loved designing this shaker card using La-La Land's sweet mermaid Marci. I colored her using Copic markers.  La-La Land Crafts also has some wonderful under-the-sea dies so I used quite a few from different sets to create the scene.  The sentiment was one of the Crafter's Companion Advent Calendar dies.  I added a gift card inside the card using the Jaded Blossom gift card die.
We can't wait to see one of your projects for this AG challenge.  Just follow the link above.

Die Cuttin' Divas ~ Challenge #413 Sketch

Hi Crafty Friends, It's the first challenge of the month at Die Cuttin' Divas so that means it's a  SKETCH challenge. Here's my project:

This yummy cake die is from the March 2019 La-La Land Club Kit.  The sentiment is also in the set.  The rest of the sentiment," a piece of cake," is inside the card.  I used dies from both La-La Land Crafts and Jaded Blossom and some of my favorite patterned papers from Doodlebug Designs. I hope you'll join in our sketch challenge this week. Don't forget your die cut!

You are My Fairy-tale

Hi Crafty Friends,
In celebration of St. David's Day, the theme at Sweet Stampin  is Dragons. La La Land Crafts has some adorable dragons in their Dream Come True clear stamp set so I got a chance to color up this adorable little guy.  The dies are from LLLC as well.

I colored using Copic markers and then added gold accents using a Spectrum Noir gold metallic pen.
Thanks for taking a look.  

Pearly Sparkles ~ first project as a New Design Team Member

Hi Crafty Friends,
This is my first project as a design team member for Pearly Sparkles.
The challenge for March is "Make it Girly."
You know how much I love La La Land Crafts stamps and dies and the February 2018 Club Kit has  the perfect stamp and dies for this challenge.

I colored Spa Marci using Copic Markers and added some pearls to the flower centers.

I hope you'll join me at Pearly Sparkles and let us see your Girly project.

The challenge is open for the entire month.

Die Cuttin' Diva's Challenge #408 ~ Polar Bear

Hi Crafty Friends,
Tomorrow is International Polar Bear Day so the Divas are celebrating with a Polar Bear theme for this week's Die Cuttin' Diva's Challenge.
I've used La La Land Crafts Winter Blessings digital stamp set for my card.

It's such a sweet little set that comes with sentiments as well.  I also used LLLC stitched cloud dies and the star wreath die.  The images were colored using Copic Markers.
Just click on the link above to join this week's challenge.

Hello Lovely

Good Morning Crafty Friends,
Today's card is for the K is for Kitties challenge at Snarky Stampers.
I just love The Rabbit Hole Design's Caffeinated Kitty and I thought she'd be perfect for this challenge.  I also thought the sentiment from La La Land Crafts Hello Lovely Background stamp set would put a snarky smile on your face!

I colored using Copic Markers and cut the image out with the Scan n Cut2.  The tag is from the La La Land Crafts tag set.  I stamped the mat using LLLC  Hello Lovely Background set and stenciled the large mat with LLLC So Many Dots stencil.

There's still time to follow the Cut it Up Challenge Sponsor Thank You Blog Hop.

One lucky commenter from my blog will win THIS stamp!!!

You can join in the hop HERE

My Time to Craft #388 ~ Winter Birthday

Hi Crafty Friends, Our theme for this next challenge at My Time to Craft is Winter Birthday. I made this card using some of my favorite dies and the La La Land digital stamp, Long Sweater Marci. Here it is:

I love using the white pearl linen cardstock.  I cut several of the dies out of both the linen cardstock and chip board to add some dimension.  I colored Marci using Copic markers with a touch of Signo white gel pen.  All of the dies were cut on the Gemini Jr. Follow the link above to join in our challenge.

Cut it Up Challenge #165 ~ How's the Weather?

Hi Crafty Friends, Our Cut it Up Challenge theme is How's the Weather? You can interpret it anyway you wish, weather icons, seasons, clothing, activities, etc. Here's my card:

I used all La La Land Crafts stamps and dies on this one.  I colored Winter Molli using Copic markers.  For the scene I used Double stitched hills and Stitched clouds.  For the background I embossed one of the layering stencils from the It's Snowing set.  Yes, I said EMBOSSED!  It's a technique I've learned from Irina's make and takes - so much fun and I love the effect. I hope you'll join in our challenge for a chance to win a $20 gift certificate from our sponsor, AveryElle. Just follow the Cut it Up link above.
I'm entering this card in the Pearly Sparkles Challenge - Anything Goes.

My Time to Craft #385

Hi Crafty Friends,
Don't you love cards with unique folds?  Our theme for this My Time to Craft Challenge is "more than one fold." (no easel cards)
I only used one fold but I used it in a slightly different way by extending the image beyond the panel (I hope that counts!)

I stamped this La La Land Crafts Winter Bear image onto watercolor paper and then cut it out using a Jaded Blossom stitched circle die.  I used Spectrum Noir color tint pencils and a water pen brush to color the image and then mounted it on a Jaded Blossom scalloped circle die.

I added the snowflake border and sentiment, both from La La Land Crafts.

I hope you'll join in our challenge.  Just follow the link above.

The Merry Christmas Challenge ~ November Project

Hi Crafty Friends, How are doing with your holiday cards?  I'm hoping to have mine ready to mail by December 1!!! Here's my project for our November challenge at The Merry Christmas Challenge.

I've used stamps from LaLa Land Crafts (love the new CLEAR stamps.)

I also used the Wine Tag and Stitched Circle dies from Jaded Blossom.  The snowflakes are from several different set.

This challenge is open from November 15 - December 14.

Just follow the link above to share your Christmas project.

I hope you've enjoyed getting ahead on your Christmas cards.  It's been so much fun seeing all of your amazing projects and getting early inspiration.

Sadly, this is the final post for The Merry Christmas Challenge blog.

All of the design team members will miss you.

Always Fun Challenge #77 ~ Anything Goes

Hi Crafty Friends,
Today's Always Fun Challenge is Anything Goes.
As many of you know (through my blog posts) this month was wedding month for our daughter.  She was married on September 9.  Two of her favorite people were unable to attend because of illness so I wanted to make them "Thinking of You" cards.  I am fortunate enough to live close to a scrapbook store that has monthly trunk shows for La La Land Crafts.  Along with her fabulous products, Irina also offers a make and take.  This card was inspired by one of those.  All of the dies and stamp are from La La Land Crafts.

Sadly, this will be my final project for the Always Fun Challenge Blog.  I've really enjoyed sharing my weekly designs and appreciate Amy and how well she organizes and supports her design teams.  I hope you'll continue to join the weekly challenges.   I'm cutting back on some of my teams - there are so many techniques I want to try and ideas floating in my head.  I plan on taking some time to just PLAY in my craft room!

My Time to Craft challenge 379 ~ Under the Sea

Hi Crafty Friends, Time for another challenge on my newest team My Time to Craft.
Our theme is Under the Sea. For my project I've used several stamp sets.

I used a monthly club kit from Simon Says Stamp called SAILING which included the sailboat die and several stamps from LaLa Land Crafts' background stamp set, MY ANCHOR.
Just follow the link above to join in this new challenge. 

Die Cuttin Divas ~ Guest Designer

Hi Crafty Friends,
Today I have the privilege of Guest Designing for the Die Cuttin Divas. The theme for this week is (my favorite!) LOTS of LAYERS!!

I had so much fun designing this card using the LaLa Land Crafts May Club kit along with other LLLC dies.  Isn't Gnome Marci a sweetie?  She's colored with Copic markers but her dress was paper pieced first using one of the patterned papers from the Authentique set, Cheerful.  

I selected a lot of dies and started cutting then, after playing around with the patterned papers, I started layering.  I love the way it turned out.  I cut the mushroom house out of Copic friendly card stock and colored it just like I added Copic marker to Marci's dress after paper piecing.

Thank you so much, Georgiana, for allowing me to be a guest designer for this fun challenge.

You can join in the fun by following the link above and also checking out the Die Cuttin' Divas on Facebook.

Always Fun Challenge #61 ~ Summer Fun

Hi Crafty Friends,
Ahhh, summer is here and it's really letting northern California of its arrival = it's HOT!
The Always Fun Challenge this week is SUMMER FUN. Who doesn't love a carnival, right?

I used one of the images and several dies from LaLa Land Crafts May 2017 Club Kit.  I also added the stitched clouds and stitched tab border.  The patterned papers are from Authentique and I colored using Copic Markers.
Follow the link above to join in the fun!

Always Fun Challenges #47 ~ Travel

Hi Crafty Friends,
This week's Always Fun Challenge is TRAVEL. I knew I had the perfect LaLa Land Crafts dies and digi to create a card for this theme.

The patterned papers are from Bo Bunny's Weekend Market 6x6 pad. I used LaLa Land's Winter Marci digi stamps for my image which I colored using Copic markers.  I used dies from both LaLa Land and Jaded Blossom cutting them all out using my Gemini Jr.

Always Fun Challenges - Summer Fun

Hi Crafty Friends,
I hope you've started your Summer Fun activities! That's what were doing at Always Fun Challenge Blog - creating projects with the Summer Fun theme.  I belong to the Club La-La Land Crafts Club and the kit for May was perfect for this challenge.  Take a look and you'll see why.

Who doesn't love going to a carnival or faire, especially when a carousel is involved? All of the stamps and dies are from La-La Land Crafts.  The yummy papers are a new theme from Authentique.  I colored Marci using Copic Markers.  This card is 6x6.
Come on over to Always Fun Challenge blog and show us your summer fun project.