Cut It Up Challenge #125 ~ Patriotic

Hi Crafty Friends,
It's time to share our patriotic creations at Cut it Up Challenges.   I love decorating for Flag Day and 4th of July and I love using patriotic colors for my card designs. I was exploring the Silhouette Design Store and found this simple design which I loved.

The patterned papers are from Authentique.  I heat embossed a sentiment from Jaded Blossom's Celebrate America set.  The lines are clean and simple and I was really happy with the way it turned out.
This Cut It Up Challenge is being sponsored by
Heartfelt Creations

Always Fun Challenge #12 ~ At the Beach

Hi Crafty Friends,
After the heat wave we've had here in northern California, I'm sure we're all ready to head for the beach!  
For my "At The Beach" themed project I designed this birthday card for my brother-in-law using lots of La-La Land Crafts dies.  I love the way Irina and her designers use lots of dies tucking them here and there to really add dimension and interest to the card.  This design is based on one that Irina shared at a Make and Take that I attended.

The papers are from an older DCWV Rustic stack.  All of the dies were cut on my Cuttlebug (which has just been replaced by a brand new Gemini - woot, woot!).
Dies used: La-La Land - Postage stamps, Shell border, Lighthouse, Build a Frame, Birds Jaded Blossom - Stitched circles, Border dies 2

Come on over to Always Fun Challenges and share your beach-themed project.

We're a Great Pair

Hi Crafty Friends,
I'm sharing this card over on the Paper Crafting World blog.
Today is our 48th Anniversary so I made this simple card for the hubby using a retired file from Paper Crafting World.

Besides cutting the file on my Silhouette, I also designed the sentiment and then sent it to my printer. The base for the sentiment is from Jaded Blossom's newest die set, Label Shape Dies.
Happy Anniversary to us and Happy Summer to you!!

Always Fun Challenge #11 ~ Follow a Sketch

Hi Crafty Friends,
When I first began card making I used sketches as inspiration until I found my own preferred style for card layouts.  Sketches can be lifesavers when the creative mojo takes a vacation.
Our Always Fun Challenge for this is to follow a sketch and this one was fun.

I just bought this Echo Park paper that I thought it was so cute.  I also had this flamingo die (one of those "no name" ones from China) so this is what I came up with following the sketch below.

So, come on over to Always Fun and show us how you used this sketch for inspiration.

Cut it Up Challenge #124

Hi Crafty Friends,
Are you ready for summer picnics?  It's that time and the weather is finally cooperating. Our Cut It Up Challenge theme for this challenge is PICNIC - and be sure to include a die cut.
Here's my card.

I found this adorable ant at Miss Kate's Cuttables.  I think he's adorable! The patterned papers are from PhotoPlay Summer Dreams.  I've had this sentiment set since I designed for Getting Cricky, but it's no longer available.  I used dies for the sentiment flags and my Silhouette for the ant.
This challenge is being sponsored by Newton's Nook

My Besties International Challenge Blog REMINDER

Hi Crafty Friends,
Today's post is to REMIND you that there is still time to join our My Besties International Challenge.
You can use ANY image by ANY artist and the theme (Steampunk) is optional.   Anyone may enter enter our challenge.  There will be two prizes awarded:  one for Besties DT members and the other for non-DT members, so everyone has a chance of winning some amazing Sherry Baldy images!!
Here's my project using one of Sherry's Besties Boys.

The image may be found HERE. I found these fabulous Steampunk papers in a Graphic 45 6x6 stack I had in my stash.  The image was colored with Copic markers with a little added distress inking on the edges.  The flower is also from my stash and the "leaves" were punched using the Martha Stewart Branch punch.
Follow the link above to join in our challenge.

Always Fun Challenge #10

Hi Crafty Friends,
The Always Fun Challenge for this week is Father's Day or something for a Man.
Here's my card.

I was organizing my dies and I came across a set from Sizzix with the banner, shield, and deer head.  I think this made a great Father's Day card!  I used Jaded Blossom Border dies to create the frame and their Father's Day stamp set for the sentiment.  

We've had such wonderful response to our Always Fun Challenges.  I hope you'll play along.

Digital Delights June Release

Hi Crafty Friends,
It's new release time on the Digital Delights by Louby Loo blog.
The new image I was given is Whale Riding Mickey.

I colored the image using Copic Markers.  I also used several Jaded Blossom die set: Tropical Dies, Stitched Circles and Scalloped Circles.  Then I added some sequins, that's it!
Here's the entire release.

To see all of them, just follow the blog link above.

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.

Cut it Up Challenge #123

Welcome Back, Crafty Friends!
Today I'm sharing a project for Cut It Up Challenge #123. Our theme is "Summer School" and your challenge is to follow a tutorial -  be sure to include a DIE cut!!
I LOVE all the wonderful tutorials shared by Jennifer McGuire.  She is so amazingly talented and creative and her tutorials are so easy to follow.  She shared this tutorial for Stacked Die Cutting not too long ago and I love the way this card turned out.

I used the Sizzix nesting hearts for the stacked hearts.  The sentiment is a die from China which I cut out using chipboard and then La-La Land's adhesive foil.  The cute heart banner is from Jaded Blossom - Banner Dies.  I love this technique.  Oh, I used the cut out hearts to embellish this inside.  The great thing about this technique is that you wind up with cuts to create two cards (or the inside, in my case.)
Come on over to Cut it Up Challenge Blog and share a project you've made following a tutorial.  You can follow the link above.
This challenge is being sponsored by

My Besties International NEW Challenge ♥

Hi Crafty Friends,
It's June 1st so that means there's a new My Besties International Challenge ready for you. This month's optional theme is STEAMPUNK!  LOL, the very first time I was given this theme (several years ago) I had to look up what it meant.  I think it's such a fun theme so I hope you like the Bestie image I selected and the way I designed the card.

I've had these papers in my stash along with the Tim Holtz gears.  The die cut is an old Sizzix die - the fat type - I've had for several years.  The image is colored using Copic Markers then I added some Glossy Accents to his glasses and clock face.
Our challenge is open for a month.  You can share your project using the link above.
You'll find this fun image HERE.