What's in the Background?

Create Your Own Background is the inspiration for our Challenge over at Cut It Up! I have created the paper pattern for this gift box.  All of the stamps and stencil are listed below.  

So, how are you inspired by this challenge?  Come share your ideas with us at Cut It Up!

*   *   *   

Material List:  

Heart Note Dies from CAS-ual Fridays

Tag Buddies Fri-Dies (retired) from CAS-ual Fridays

Candy Box with Flat End from My Scrap Chick

CTMH Inks

Ranger Vintage Photo Ink

Stencil TCW Mini Sheet Music

CTMH Stamps (retired): Background, Paper Garden, Key Moments, Love So Sweet 

String and Jewelry ring

Lace colored with ink

Cricut Standard Mat

Cricut Blade
Cricut Maker

Adhesives

Cricut Maker

Cricut Standard Mat
Cricut Blade

 

When you visit the Cut It Up blog, have fun viewing the DT projects and check out the rules and prize info.  Then be sure to share your project with us ~ don't forget the die cut to have a chance to win a prize from our amazing sponsors.

This project is off to the following challenges: 

Creative Moments:  AG

Sweet Stampin':  Create Your Own Background

Crafting Happiness:  AG

TTCRD:  AG

Addicted to Stamps and More:  Die Cuts and/or Stencils ~ Both!

Simon Says Stamp:  AG

Crafty Creations:  AG

Thanks for stopping by!  Make yourself at home and feel free to peruse other posts/pages, leave a comment, and/or check out my Pinterest and YouTube Channel. 

Die Cuts or punches at TT

 It's time for a new challenge over at The Outlawz Twisted Thursday and the optional twist is:  Dies and/or Punches!

I'm still into Christmas in July mode, so here's another card for you!  I've joined up Ultimate Christmas Collage Sheet from Oddball Art with festive Cricut Cuts and backed it all with some candy striped paper from Holiday Hoopla collection Decosse's Dynamite Doodles.  

    Material List 

Digital papers from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles Holiday Hoopla

Gel Pens

Cricut Access:  Lights #M3C9D2 from Create a Critter; Santa's Hat #M8488955 from Season to Sparkle

Cricut Standard Mat

Cricut Blade
Cricut Maker

This card is off to these challenges:  

12 Months of Christmas:  AG Christmas Card

Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday:  Christmas in July

Simply Create Too:  Sentiment as Main Focus

A Place to Start:  Craft Your Favorite Holiday/Celebration

Be sure to visit

 The Outlawz Twisted Thursday for all the details about the challenge and to check out all fun inspiration from the DT and participants!

Thanks for stopping by!  Make yourself at home and feel free to peruse other posts/pages, leave a comment, and/or check out my Pinterest and YouTube Channel.

Summer Photo Fun!

   So excited to be a Guest Designer over at C.R.A.F.T Challenge all month!  

The challenge is Summer!  

I encourage you to visit C.R.A.F.T Challenge, check out the inspiration from their talented team and prize info, and then share your take on this fun challenge!

This challenge is generously sponsored by The Cutting Cafe and Crafty Sentiments.  

Come on over to C.R.A.F.T Challenge for challenges full of fun, inspiration and the opportunity to win prizes from wonderful sponsors!  

 Material List

SVG Cut:  Camera Shaped Photo Holder Set from The Cutting Cafe

 Cardstocks and papers:  Stash...old stash...dug out DCWV Blossoms and Butterflies

DCWV Glitter Cardstock

iDeco foil for camera lens and flash (also been in the stash for awhile!)

The Cinch Book Binding Machine 

 Sharing with these challenges:  

Crafting Happiness:  AG

Everybody Art:  Summer

TTCRD:  AG

Shopping Our Stash:  Quit Bugging Me

Always Fun:  Anything but a Card

Creative Knockouts:  Die Cuts/Punches ~ My book is a Die Cut!

Thanks for stopping by!  Make yourself at home and feel free to peruse other posts/pages, leave a comment, and/or check out my Pinterest and YouTube Channel.

Some Peppermint Christmas!

I'm enjoying some Christmas in July this month!  Great way to mentally cool down and get ahead for the holidays!    

 Conie Fong has so many adorable digi bundles for Christmas/holiday projects and Molly's Winter Friends is just perfect for some winter/holiday crafting:  Christmas, anniversaries, birthdays, or just saying hello!  

I've teamed up this lovely duo with a background from Conie Fong called Fairytale Cottage Background Scene.  I enlarged the scene and then cropped to fit my card.  This made it perfect for a winter scene turning the stones into clumps of snow and such.  I made the bushes/brush into holly bushes and added white gel snow.  I also used a white gel pen to cover the black lines, so the snow was consistent.

Be sure to visit the the Conie Fong FB Page for challenges and images:  Conie Fong FaceBook Challenge.  There are different challenges: one for coloring and one for completed projects! 

 Material List:  

Digi: Molly's Winter Friends from Conie Fong

Fairytale Cottage Background Scene

 Paper from stash

Copic Markers

White Gel Pen

 

I'm sending this off to the following challenges:

12 Months of Christmas:  AG Christmas card

Crafty Gals Corner:  Christmas in July

Water Cooler:  Occasions

Crafty Creations:  AG

Colour Crazy:  AG Hand Coloured

Jingle Belles:  Inspired by a Christmas Story ~ Frosty the Snowman!  I watched it every year as a kid!  Now the hilarious part is, my sister and I always talk about the Norelco razor commercial that sponsored the show!  Now, if you remember this too and want to relive that commercial, here it is on YouTube!  Norelco Ad!

CD Sunday Plus:  AG using a CD, USB or Digi download

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends:  Christmas in July

Christmas Craft Creations:  AG 

Thanks for stopping by!  Make yourself at home and feel free to peruse other posts/pages, leave a comment, and/or check out my Pinterest and YouTube Channel.

Seen Any Good Movies?

 

 Seen Any Good Movies? is the inspiration for our Challenge over at Cut It Up!  I thought it would be fun to make a gift card holder for movie gift cards!  This would be a great gift anytime of year...of course, if it's safe to go out where you are.  If not, maybe a gift card for a movie online or the like!  

I used Print and Cut on my Cricut and added the Polkadoodles 3-D Reel Die cut and the die of the clapboard on the inside to hold the card in place!  

So, how are you inspired by this challenge?  Come share your ideas with us at Cut It Up!

*   *   *   

Material List:  

 Polkadoodles Winnie Fruit Punch Bundle:  Movie Clapboard, Film Reel, and Movie Lights

Movie Night sentiment from Cricut Access: When I Was a Kid #M7EF8FF8

Film Border from Cricut Access: CTMH Artistry #M418CDA

3-D Adhesive Tape for Reel

Adhesives

Cricut Maker

Cricut Standard Mat
Cricut Blade

 

Inside view with a Gift Card tucked in!

When you visit the Cut It Up blog, have fun viewing the DT projects and check out the rules and prize info.  Then be sure to share your project with us ~ don't forget the die cut to have a chance to win a prize from our amazing sponsors.

This project is off to the following challenges: 

Digi Choosday:  AG

CD Sunday Plus:  AG using a CD, USB or Digital Download

World Wide Open DT:  AG

Creative Fingers:  AG

Creative Moments:  AG

Polkadoodles Craft:  AG

Thanks for stopping by!  Make yourself at home and feel free to peruse other posts/pages, leave a comment, and/or check out my Pinterest and YouTube Channel. 

Sassy, I'd Say!

  So excited to be a Guest Designer over at C.R.A.F.T Challenge all month!  

The challenge is Humorous Christmas!  

I encourage you to visit C.R.A.F.T Challenge, check out the inspiration from their talented team and prize info, and then share your take on this fun challenge!

My focal image was chosen for me from one of our sponsors this challenge, Bugaboo.  Bugaboo has a wide variety of digital stamps!  This stamp is Sassy JJ Christmas Box...and sassy she is!  I chose to color her up in a snazzy red suit with furry cuffs.  Those furry cuffs were made with Pearl Paint.  Her boots have bows and bells and I've highlighted the package ribbon with some silver, red, and green gel pens.  

This challenge is generously sponsored by Bugaboo and Star Stampz.  

Come on over to C.R.A.F.T Challenge for four challenges this month full of fun, inspiration and the opportunity to win prizes from wonderful sponsors!  

 Material List

Digital Image and Sentiment:  Sassy JJ Christmas Box from Bugaboo

Copic Markers

 Cardstocks and papers:  Stash...old stash...dug deep for candy cane paper!  hahaha

Gel Pens

Pearl Paint from Blick Arts

Sequins from Stash

Ribbon from CTMH (long retired) Stash

Embossing Folder CTMH (long Retired) Stash

 Sharing with these challenges:  

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers:  Xposed

12 Months of Christmas:  AG Christmas

Shopping Our Stash:  Christmas in July

TTCRD:  AG

Catch the Bug Challenge:  AG

Thanks for stopping by!  Make yourself at home and feel free to peruse other posts/pages, leave a comment, and/or check out my Pinterest and YouTube Channel.

More Christmas in July at Twisted Thursday!

 It's time for a new challenge over at The Outlawz Twisted Thursday and the optional twist is:  Christmas in July!

I love making bags for the holidays!  What a great opportunity to highlight all the fun paper designs...both physical and digital in our stash!  This bag is so easy to make and with 3 12x12 sheets you can make the large bag foundation.  Then you can add coordinating papers for your top.  

This bag is not small; I made it at approximately 11.5 inches wide X 8.75 inches tall X 4 inches deep.  This is large enough for a variety of gifts!  Yes, this is definitely one of my favorite bag cuts; I use it every year!  

Now as for the paper, this collection is just so festive and is also one of my holiday 'go tos' for cards and bags!  

    Material List 

Digital papers from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles Holiday Hoopla

Bag Cut is SVG Happy Large Bag

Bo Bunny Double Dot Gems Rd

Ribbon, Jingle Bells, Tulle, and cord from stash

Cricut Access:  Tag: CTMH Artistry #M418137 and Christmas Tree Swirl #M110FB7E0:

Cricut Standard Mat

Cricut Blade
Cricut Maker

This bag is off to these challenges:  

Through the Purple Haze:  AG opt Christmas in July (for fun)

A Perfect Time to Craft:  AG

Crafts Galore:  AG

Creative Craft Cottage:  Christmas in July

Happy Little Stampers Christmas:  AG opt Jingle Bells

The Male Room:  Christmas in July

Be sure to visit

 The Outlawz Twisted Thursday for all the details about the challenge and to check out all fun inspiration from the DT and participants!

Thanks for stopping by!  Make yourself at home and feel free to peruse other posts/pages, leave a comment, and/or check out my Pinterest and YouTube Channel.

A Little Snowy for Christmas in July!

I'm enjoying some Christmas in July this month!  So if you live in the warm weather zones right now, crank that AC and grab some hot coffee/cocoa/tea and fantasize penguins/snow/Santa along with me!  

 Conie Fong has adorable digi bundles for Christmas/holiday projects and Snowy Delivering Presents is just perfect for some winter/holiday crafting:  Christmas, anniversaries, birthdays, or just saying hello!  

I've teamed up this sweet fellow with a sentiment from Hello Little Friend and some blue variegated digi paper from my stash.  

Be sure to visit the the Conie Fong FB Page for challenges and images:  Conie Fong FaceBook Challenge.  There are different challenges: one for coloring and one for completed projects! 

 Material List:  

Digi: Snowy Delivering Presents from Conie Fong

Repeated sentiment for background from Hello Little Friend from Conie Fong

Digital Paper from stash

Copic Markers

Silver and White Gel Pens

 Digital paper from my stash (retired)

Sequins

Cricut Standard Mat

Cricut Blade
Cricut Access
Cricut Maker

I'm sending this off to the following challenges:

Holly and Ivy:  AG Christmas

12 Months of Christmas:  AG Christmas

Christmas with the Cuties:  Must be Cute Christmas

Incy Wincy Designs:  Enchanted Garden and /or Christmas in July

Dare t B Artzy:  Christmas in July

Dragonfly Dreams:  Christmas in July

Bastel-traum:  Animals

Christmas Cards all Year Round:  Something that starts with M and/or N ~ M for mail

Krafty Chicks:  Christmas

Little Red Wagon:  AG Christmas

Everybody Art Challenge:  AG

Colour Crazy:  AG Hand coloured 

Thanks for stopping by!  Make yourself at home and feel free to peruse other posts/pages, leave a comment, and/or check out my Pinterest and YouTube Channel.

Celebrate that Shining Grad!

 So excited to be a Guest Designer over at C.R.A.F.T Challenge all month!  

The challenge is Graduation!  I encourage you to visit C.R.A.F.T Challenge, check out the inspiration from their talented team and prize info, and then share your take on this fun challenge!

This challenge is generously sponsored by SheepSki Designs and QKR Stampede.

My focal image is from one of our sponsors, SheepSki Designs.  Camouflage - image no 152 makes a perfect little image for that standout grad who doesn't blend in with the class!  And I've added some serious shine to this fellow!

I decided to Copic color with some bright colors and then go over the stripes with some Zig 2 Way Glue and then rub him over i-Deco foil for that serious shine!  

Come on over to C.R.A.F.T Challenge for four challenges this month full of fun, inspiration and the opportunity to win prizes from wonderful sponsors!  

 Material List

Digital Image:  Camouflage - image no 152 from SheepSki Designs

Copic Markers

i-Deco Foil Shattered Gold

Zig 2-Way Glue Pen

 Cardstock:  Shimmer stack DCWV

CTMH Shimmer Trim Bright Blue 

Cricut Access:  Print and Cut

Cricut Font for Sentiments:  Cricut Sans and Congrats (#M359F5) from Spring Holiday

Cricut Cuts:  Graduation Cap (#M458A2) from Recess 

Cricut Standard Mat

Cricut Blade
Cricut Maker

 Sharing with these challenges:  

2 Crafty Critter Crazies:  AG with a Critter

TTCRD:  AG

Sheepski:  Celebration

Paperminutes:  Small Animals

A Bit More Time to Craft:  AG

Classic Design Challenge:  AG

Thanks for stopping by!  Make yourself at home and feel free to peruse other posts/pages, leave a comment, and/or check out my Pinterest and YouTube Channel.

Water

Water is our new theme over at our Challenge over at Cut It Up!  I was inspired to go with something a little different for my piece this time.  I wanted to write a Haiku inspired by this wonderful stamp from DRS Designs! 

Now, in case it's been a couple of years since you thought about this form of poetry, let me refresh your memory a bit.  

 Haiku poems often feature juxtaposition of two images.

1. Nature and the seasons. Describing the season was the original purpose of haiku, and to this day poets often focus on the natural world and how it changes throughout the year.
2. On. A Japanese haiku contains 17 on, or sounds. On are counted differently than syllables in English, which leads to translators’ lack of consensus on whether 17 English syllables truly captures the spirit of haiku.
3. Kigo. Traditional haiku contains a kigo, a word or phrase that places it in a particular season. Signaling a season with only one word lends haiku its economy of expression. Some of the most classic kigo are sakura (cherry blossoms) for spring; fuji (Wisteria) for summer; tsuki (moon) for fall; and samushi (cold) for winter.
4. Kireji. Known in English as the “cutting word,” kireji creates a pause or a break in the rhythm of the poem. The kireji is often deployed to juxtapose two images. Contemporary haiku may not always use a kireji, but juxtaposition remains a common feature of haiku.

Staying with the water theme, I watercolored my focal image using watercolor pencils and watercolors since July is Watercolor Month!  

So, how are you inspired by this challenge?  Come share your ideas with us at Cut It Up!

*   *   *   

Material List:  

Broken Flower Fence Stamp from DRS Designs

Digital Paper Birthday Bouquet from We Are 3 Digital

Arches Cold Press Watercolor Paper

Inktense Watercolor Pencils

Prima Watercolor Pencils

Watercolors CTMH

Black and Brown Gel Pens

Sequin Mix (retired) from CAS-ual Fridays

Cardstock

Adhesives

Cricut Cut:  CTMH Art Philosophy #M3F3BE Removed the trees with contour feature  

Cricut Maker:  Print and Cut

Cricut Standard Mat
Cricut Blade

 

When you visit the Cut It Up blog, have fun viewing the DT projects and check out the rules and prize info.  Then be sure to share your project with us ~ don't forget the die cut to have a chance to win a prize from our amazing sponsors.

This project is off to the following challenges: 

Happy Little Stampers:  Watercolour

Moving Along with the Times:  Cool It Down

Wednesday's Creative Inspirations:  The Season of Spring!

Crafty Creations:  AG

Creative Moments:  AG

Thanks for stopping by!  Make yourself at home and feel free to peruse other posts/pages, leave a comment, and/or check out my Pinterest and YouTube Channel. 

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge Guest

So excited to be a Guest Designer over at C.R.A.F.T Challenge all month!  

The first challenge is Anything Goes ...now that's easy enough!  I encourage you to visit C.R.A.F.T Challenge, check out the inspiration from their talented team and prize info, and then share your take on this fun challenge!

My focal image is from our sponsor, Jan's Digi Stamps.  Titled Up-UP-Away, it is the perfect image for a card to just simply say hello, thinking of you, missing you, etc!

Come on over to C.R.A.F.T Challenge for four challenges this month full of fun, inspiration and the opportunity to win prizes from our wonderful sponsors!  

 Material List

Digital Image:  Up-UP-Away from Jan's Digi Stamps

Copic Markers

Embossing ink and powder

 Cardstock:  ITDS Steampunk Papers 2 (retired)

Stamping on inside from CTMH Stamp Set (retired)

Cricut Access:  Print and Cut

Cricut Font for inside Sentiment:  Everyday Fonts -Big Day

Cricut Cuts:  CTMH You Are Here #M2761A88; CTMH Artbooking with Offset feature #M3FD15

Cricut Standard Mat

Cricut Blade
Cricut Maker

 Sharing with these challenges:  

Beyond the Blue:  Embossing

World Wide Open DT:  AG

Dragonfly Dreams:  For the Boys

A Bit More Time to Craft:  AG

Creative Craft Cottage:  AG

Bitten By The Bug 2:  For the Guys

Thanks for stopping by!  Make yourself at home and feel free to peruse other posts/pages, leave a comment, and/or check out my Pinterest and YouTube Channel.

Vintage Christmas

How fun to work on a Christmas Card today using this lovely vintage image from Lemon Shortbread!  This digi stamp is Winter Package Gift and I thought it would make the perfect Christmas Card.  I have included lots of die cuts, heat embossing, stamping, gems, layering, etc.  

*   *   * 

Material List

Digi: Winter Package Gift from Lemon Shortbread

Copic Markers

Kraft Cardstock

Embossing Ink and Powders Clear, Gold, Bronze

CTMH Inks

Bo Bunny Double Dot Gems

Polkadoodles Winnie Winterland paper and Love and Kisses Bow

Several Retired CTMH Stamp Sets

Cricut Access:  Print and Cut

Cricut Cuts:  Little tags hanging from bow #M359AF and #M37CD5 from Heritage; Border #M40ECB and Oval #M4052F from CTMHArt Philosophy; Holly Berry from Winter Woodland #M42F75; 

Cricut Standard Mat

Cricut Blade
Cricut Maker

 Sharing with these challenges:  

Merry Litte Christmas:  AG

12 Months of Christmas:  AG Christmas Card

Christmas Crafts All Year:  K/L I used Kraft paper; Lemon Shortbread digi

Holly and Ivy Christmas:  AG Christmas

CRAFT:  Shabby Chic

Krafty Chicks:  Occasions

Lemon Shortbread:  AG

Aud Sentiments:  AG with a Sentiment

Crafting Challenge:  Add embellishments

Christmas Craft Creations:  Heat embossing

TTCRD:  AG

Colour Crazy:  AG Hand coloured

CD Sunday Plus:  AG using CD, USB or digital Download

International Art & Soul:  Holidays, here or abroad

Thanks for stopping by!  Make yourself at home and feel free to peruse other posts/pages, leave a comment, and/or check out my Pinterest and YouTube Channel.

Bloom and Record those New Experiences!

 As we meander a Path of Positivity, we are challenging you to "Have a New Experience" in your life!  This can be anywhere in your life from the craft room to changing up daily routines!  

I decided to make an art/flower journal book for Cass to 'document' her new gardening experience!  Now, Cass is 5 1/2 and getting ready to start Kindergarten in the fall.  So, I thought this would be a fun project for her.  The idea is to put photos of her flowers in here as well as photos of her planting, watering, and such.  There are also pages of mixed media paper for her to draw, paint, collage, etc.  The little flip cards have elementary school style lines for her to write some words if she chooses.

Gardening is a new experience for Cass and me!  I've never been much to keep plants alive, but I'm willing to give it a go for her to learn about the beauty of the earth and caring for it!  

*   *   *  

 

So, are you inspired to try something a little different ... set off on a new adventure of some kind?  Let us know what you are doing!

   We'd like to hear your ideas at Path of Positivity!  Come share them with us!  

Remember, you may share any sort of artistic medium over at PoP:  writing, cards, journals, scrapbooking, painting, sewing, baking, needle crafts, etc as long as it is positive!  The theme is always optional.  

*   *   * 

Material List

Digi:   Three Birdhouses from PattiesCreations

Copics, Gel Pens

Cloud Paper from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles Taste of Summer

Art Quote from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles

Cricut Access:  Title Font:  Cuttin' Up

Bo Bunny Double Dot Gems

Versa Mark Embossing Ink and Embossing Powders for layering pieces

Cricut Standard Mat

Cricut Blade

Cricut Maker

 Sharing with these challenges:  

A Place to Start:  Create Your Own Challenge

Colouring in Scrapland:  Free Time (Gardening and Art Journaling with my GrandGirl!)

Unicorn:  For a Baby/Child

A Bit More Time to Craft:  AG

Sognando:  Free Time (Gardening and Art Journaling with my GrandGirl!)

Dream Valley:  Summer Fun

Inspiration Station:  Be Kind ~ I'm inspired by the words.  I want to be kind and model kindness through teaching care for the earth, animals, and each other.  Watching this little 5 1/2 year old slow down and care about her flowers and document their growth is so wonderful!  It's so fun to watch her experience life outside of herself!

Be sure to come on 

over to 

Path of Positivity 

and see 

what the team 

thinks about our optional twist!  

You can also find 

more information 

about entering 

the challenge!  

Thanks to our 

wonderful sponsors this month:

and

 Thanks for stopping by!  Make yourself at home and feel free to peruse other posts/pages, leave a comment, and/or check out my Pinterest and YouTube Channel.