Die Cuttin' Divas Challenge 452 ~ Bring in the New Year

Hi Crafty Friends,
Merry Christmas tomorrow!  I hope you have a beautiful day surrounded by love, joy, and good cheer.
The Die Cuttin' Divas are getting ready to bring in the New Year with this challenge.
What better way to celebrate than with a bottle of bubbly and a cute little bottle tag to decorate it,

I used the Wine tag die set from Jaded Blossom along with the Scallop slider die.  The image is from Digital Delights by Louby Loo.  The image mats are Nestabilities.  I colored using Copic Markers.
Just follow the link above to join in our challenge.

Die Cuttin Divas Challenge 430 ~ 3-D

Hi Crafty Friends,
It's time to share your 3-D ideas at Die Cuttin Divas.
When I think of 3-D I usually think a box or treat holder of some sort but this time I decided that I would just add extra dimension to my card.  Along with popping up the mat layers using foam tape and craft foam, I added the most dimension to my flowers by burnishing and then rolling them.  I also adhered them using Collall glue which adds dimension in and of itself.
Here's my project:

I used a Crafter's Companion stamp and die set for the flower and leaves.  I stamped on colored  card stock using Archival Inks and added Stickles to the petals before burnishing and rolling.  The sentiment mats are Spellbinders Nestabilities.  The papers and ribbon are also from Crafter's Companion.

I hope you'll follow the link and join us in our 3-D challenge.

Fun-day Friday Challenge #278 at Jo's Scrap Shack

Hi Crafty Friends,
Team A is up again for Fun-day Friday Challenge at Jo's Scrap Shack.
Our sponsor for this week's challenge is Imagine That Digi Stamp.
I used their Wishing Well image and sentiment.

I colored using Copic markers.  The card layers were made using the Nestabilities Fancy Ribbon Threader Card Creator dies with Authentique paper. Then I added AC dotted organza ribbon.
Just follow the link to our challenge blog for a chance to win a $12 gift voucher.

Sweet!

Here's another project I created for my Copic class gals.  They were thinking summer projects for class so I used one of Melin's adorable digital images - bear with watermelon.  You can find this image at Paper Crafting World.com.  After I finished coloring the image and assembling the card I knew that a sentiment from K Andrew Designs would be perfect.  I cut a little banner and added the word "sweet" from Kristal's Sweet July set.

The patterned paper is "Backyard Chomp" by American Crafts.  The circles are Nestabilities and then I added twine.  I think it finishes the card but keeps the casual look and feel.

Thanks for stopping by. 

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn



Spellbinders Shape Card

I've told you before how much I admire Lisa's (A Mermaid's Crafts) designs.  She does the most amazing things with Spellbinders dies.  I've been adding to my collection and finally decided to try a shape card using Labels 17.  This is a card I will be sending out for a Card Fairy mission.  I'm happy with the way it turned out.  Lisa, thank you for sharing your amazing talent and always being such a creative inspiration.

To create the shape card, I folded the cardstock to create a 4.25x5.5 card base.  Then, I lined up the Labels 17 die so that the folded edge would not be cut when I ran it through the Cuttlebug.  I cut the full Labels 17 shape (one size smaller) out of the floral paper - K&Co - then used dies from Blossom Tags and Accents and Fleur De Lis rectangles for the remaining shapes.  Each layer is popped up slightly with foam dimensionals and the edges are inked with VersaMagic Purple Hydrangea.  The sentiment is stamped and then heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  The sentiment is from the  K Andrew Designs Splashtastic Summer set. 

Don't forget the Copic Marker Scrapbooking Design Team Call.  You have until July 23 to get your applications in.  Just scroll down for all the information you need in order to apply.

Also, Cooking wth Cricut is having a very special Blog Hop next weekend (July 21 and 22) supporting the Crops of Luv organization.  The designers will be sharing double page layouts that will be sent to Crops of Luv to support their efforts in creating scrapbooks for

Make-A-Wish kiddos.  You can join in the fun by sending your own layouts, supplies, or donations to Crops of Luv as well.  We'll provide you with all the information during the blog hop so

SAVE THE DATES!

Have a wonderful weekend.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn



Anything Goes

This week's challenge at Delightful Challenges should be easy-peasy since it's an Anything Goes challenge!  Woohoo - whatever is on your crafting table will work for this one.

I've made a birthday card using the adorable Cupcake Timmy from Digital Delights by Louby Loo.

The mats were cut using Spellbinders scalloped squares.  The paper is by Sassafrass.

So come on over and join the fun.  Just link your project HERE.

And don't forget that there is a Design Team Call for Delightful Challenges.  All the information can be found HERE.  If you love coloring and want to work with fabulous digis, this is the team for you.

This week's prize sponsor is

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn



Happy Anniversary

My nephew was married on our 33rd anniversary so I always try to make him and his wife a special anniversary card to remember "our" special day.  I'm also always inspired by the amazing work of Lisa  at A Mermaid's Crafts.  She creates the most gorgeous cards often using layers of Spellbinders diecuts.  I've been adding to my Spellbinders collection (I'll blame Lisa!) so I figured I'd better start using them.   Here is my Lisa-inspired  anniversary card. 

Card Recipe:

DCWV - Chateau Lavendar paper stack

K Andrew Designs stamps - Winged Things and All in the Family

Spellbinders - Blossom Tags and Accents,  Grand Calibur Creative Book Pages

Crop-a-dile Corner Chomper

America Crafts Knockouts border punch

VersaMagic Chalk Ink - Spring Pansy, Hint of Pesto

Satin ribbon and pearls

Hope your weekend is off to a great start.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

O Canada! New Copic Marker Scrapbooking Images

Copic Marker Scrapbooking is revealing its newest digital stamps - O Canada.  These delightful images were all drawn by our talented Kathie Zaban.  You can see more of the design team's images HERE and pick up a freebie so be sure to click the link.  You can also visit the Copic Marker Scrapbooking page on Facebook to see all of the CMS digital releases.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

Thanks for Noticing Me

If you're looking for my Cooking with Cricut Blogaversary post for Day 3 click HERE.

It's a Disney theme for the Simply Sunday challenge at Getting Cricky.  Amy (Luv to Crop) made the most adorable mini cards using some stickers she had in her stash.  I've been stockpiling Disney stickers as well so I decided to turn loose of at least one. 

I think this sentiment from the K Andrew Designs Of Mice and Lil Men set is just perfect for Eeyore. And, I'm trying to use my Nestabilities more especially since seeing the fantastic creations by Lisa (A Mermaid's Crafts).  I didn't do anything fancy, but at least I got some out of their binder LOL!

Here is the entire stamp set, which can be purchased HERE.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn



Happy Birthday to my BFF

This card and altered composition book are for my BFF's birthday.  We've been friends for over 35 years.  We worked together, retired within a year of each other, and we discovered crafting with the Cricut together.  Happy Birthday my dear friend,  you're the best!!!!

The bughead and comp book sentiment were cut from Cricut Everyday (a Circle exclusive).  The sentiment on the pedestal is from a Cuttlebug die.  The ovals were cut using Nestabilities.  I added white Signo pen dots to the black oval after I took the pictures - thought it was a little too plain.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

Coloring on Acetate

My friend, Caprice, showed me how to use markers to color images that have been stamped on acetate (we used transparencies for the photocopier).  Staz-On ink works best and we colored on the non-stamped side to prevent smearing.  It's a lot different than blending on cardstock because the colors lift rather than blend so it takes a little practice to figure out how to make the colors work.  I used Bic markers for the image on this card.  I cut out the marquee using Nestabilities Labels and then embossed with Divine Swirls and inked with VersaMagic chalk ink.  I adhered the acetate with my ATG and then added a mat to the back.   For the second image (and my first effort), I used Copics.  One thing about coloring on acetate, if you're unhappy with the results, you can lift off the colors and start again.  Thanks, Caprice, for a great tutorial :)  I plan on adding colored acetate images to my stash for those last minute cards.

I hope you'll visit tomorrow.  It will be my first post as a Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog design team member.  I can't wait to show you my card.  Then you can hop over to FCCB and join in the fun.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

Card for a Special Person

When I saw this sketch on Raq's Card Challenge, this card just fell into place.  My sister-in-law has been battling ovarian cancer since 2008.  She is on her 4th chemo protocol and it's been a struggle.  I take her to all of her chemo appointments.  It's a strange way to have a girls' day out, but looking at it that way makes it easier to handle (for both of us).  Anyway, she is the one who introduced me to cardmaking and the Cricut.  Since she isn't able to do too much crafting anymore, she crafts vicariously through me.  I made this card for her - purple is the ribbon color for ovarian cancer, hence the color choices.

The ovals were cut with Nestabilities and I used the Swiss Dots and Seeing Spots embossing folders.  I didn't have the right color flowers so I sprayed off-white ones with Shimmerz Spritz and added Stickles to the centers. I have not been a fan of the all sprays and spritzes.  I always seemed to get splotches.  Elizabeth (Make up Girl 217) suggested putting b-b's in the bottle and swirling to mix.  Wow!  that really worked and I didn't get any blotches.  I may use my sprays more often now.

I would love it if you'd keep my dear sister-in-law in your thoughts. 

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

Notecard Set

Here's the next project I completed this past weekend.  My daughter wanted some more personalized notecards (I had made her several sets in the past) so I thought it would be fun to send them to her in their own "bag".  The cards are A2 size. The "a" is from Don Juan using the Under Pressure feature and cut at 2".  Since there isn't a shadow feature for this cut, I created one using my Gypsy.  I used Tags, Bags, Boxes, and More for the bag.  I used a 12 x 24 mat and enlarged the cut all the way to the borders on my Gypsy so I could make it as large as possible.  The tag was made using Nestabilities and then I welded the name using the Songbird cartridge on my Gypsy.  I just added some paper layers to the bag and a few gems here and there.  20 cards fit inside.  Although they overlapped somewhat, there was still room without the bag falling over.

Tomorrow I'll share another weekend project.  Until then,

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

First Card of the New Year

Happy New Year, blogging friends!  I'm entering this card in the Sketches in Thyme Tuesday Takes #6 challenge.  I hope you get a chance to visit this blog.  There are weekly card and layout sketch challenges with some great samples provided by the "Mavens" and guest designers.  It's always fun to find a new challenge to enter :).  I might even try a layout or two since I have several albums to complete.

I used Nestabilities for all the scallop cuts.  The bow is Scrapper's Spools floss - what fun it is to use.  I think it will be super for bows tied in button holes (you probably already knew that!).  The paper is Sweet Love by Best Creations, Inc.  I really didn't have to do much because the paper itself did the work ( I LOVE when that's the case).  I just added Stickles to the heart,  popped the round scalloped circles and, of course, lots of paper layering.

Time to watch a few more Bowl games.  Have a wonderful day.  I hope you'll visit Sketches in Thyme for my debut as a guest designer on Tuesday, January 4.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

Tuesday Takes Challenge #4

I found a few minutes to create this card for the Tuesday Takes Challenge.  I love this BoBunny double-sided paper.  I also love the pink, black, white combination (you'll see more on my January 4th designer spot - hint, hint).  The large flower is from the coordinating BoBunny rub-ons set, and the small flowers are punches with Stickles centers.  The label is from one of the Nestabilities Labels sets.

My daughter has been making glitter ornaments.  She's having fun mixing the different glitters to come up with unique colors.  All we have to do is add bows and then I'll post her efforts.  We even went back to JoAnn's to pick up more glass ornaments - with the 70% off sale, not too many were left, but we bought what we could to save for next year.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

Notecards in a Purse

The wonderful Glenda at Glenda's Cards created an adorable Red Hat Snowlady Purse.  I have a dear friend who is a Red Hatter and I thought the idea would be perfect for her.  She is a Santa collector (an entire room is devoted year-round to every kind of Santa you can imagine - rugs, blankets, candles, dolls, figurines, dishes, etc. ), but since she recently lost her husband, I felt something more personal would be nice.

I used purse2 from Tags, Bags, Boxes and More and cut it at 11.5 on a 24 inch mat. The snowlady was created from circle Nesties and her hat came from a package of embellishments I found at JoAnn.  The snowflakes were punched and then I added lots of bling.  I made notecards to go inside the purse.  They measure 5.25 x 3.75.  I used Beyond Birthdays for the "Hello Friend" cut.

Thank you again, Glenda for the darling idea.  I hope my friend will be pleased with her gift.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

A New Card Challenge

Sketches in Thyme debuted its new card challenge spot called Tuesday Take.  Along with the newly selected Card Mavens, Kim will feature a guest designer each week (I'll be featured on January 4 and February 15).  I love this blog because it has both card and layout sketches with lots of wonderful examples from the Design Mavens.  I hope you'll visit soon.
I designed this card for the first Tuesday Take sketch challenge.  The paper is DCWV Christmas Combo.  I used Nesties to cut the two scalloped circles and a MS punch for the snowflakes.  The flourish is from a set I picked up at the Expo manufactured under the name Forever in Time.  The sentiment design is heat embossed and the ribbon is dotted organza from JoAnn's.

And now, a big thank you to Rachel, from Back Porch Creations for the Blog Award.  I'll be paying it forward soon.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

A Wedding Card and Some Exciting News

First, I have exciting news to share.  I have been asked to be a Guest Designer at Sketches in Thyme!  Woohoo!  This is my first guest designer spot and I am excited, honored, and a little nervous.  Beginning November 23, Kim, at Sketches in Thyme, is adding card designs to her challenges.  How fun will that be?  Her Design Mavens do wonderful work on their page layouts.  Drop over and take a peak.  I'll be designing for the January 4 and February 15 card challenges.

Now for today's card. My daughter's former roommate is getting married after Thanksgiving and my daughter asked me to create a simple wedding card.  This design is lifted from SusieB on the Cricut mb.  She is the master of simple elegance.  I used my MS Scoreboard and Punch Around the Page, the Victoria and Swiss Dots embossing folders, and Nestabilities.  The sentiments are computer generated.  A few pearls, a little ink, some organdy ribbon and the card is done.  I hope she likes it.

Oooooohhh, I've been trying to take pictures indoors, but obviously they are a little dark.  Guess I need to improve on my picture taking skills - lol.  Well, I'll head back outdoors next time.

Hope your week is off to a great start.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn