A Cut Above - FEBRUARY

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Ones~

It's a new month, and time for a new challenge over at  A Cut Above Challenge Blog. 

 

Challenges are on a monthly basis and posted on the first Monday of the month at 12:00 AM (Eastern Time) and ending on the 28th of each month 8:00 PM (Eastern Time) with the winner posted on the 30th of that month. The theme is always anything goes with a die cut. However once in awhile we will throw in a theme for you, or just do anything goes. Entirely up to you. This time it's just anything goes.

Limit of 3 entries per challenge with each being a different project.

Any project is welcome but MUST HAVE AT LEAST ONE DIE CUT defined by using a die cut machine, not a purchased pre-fabricated die cut. Winner is chosen by random draw, and will receive a $5 gift card to A Cherry On Top Online Store along with a dated badge to display on their craft site.

 

Here's my card:

 

 How about THIS dude? He's the Tennessee Volunteer's mascot, Smokey. This is a birthday card for our SIL, he's a HUGE Volunteer fan - GO VOLS!!! Most of the images on this card are digi papers I purchased on Etsy. Sorry, I can't tell you the name of the artist, but it wouldn't be hard to find it if you search. I love this circle happy birthday die, I use it often. For some reason my A Cut Above watermark had decided to flip itself and I can't fix it. I apologize for the hiccup, the gremlins are at work.

 

 

 

 

 The Ingredients: 

Recollections Stormy Skies Card Stock

GKD White and Sweet Mango Card Stock

Etsy Digi Papers

MFT Die-Namics Happy Birthday Circle Frame Die

Stash Baubles

 

 

 

 

 

 I hope you will jump in and MAKE THE CUT, I can't wait to see what you come up with. Head on over to the A CUT ABOVE BLOG to see what it's all about. And if you play along, you could win a $5 gift card to A Cherry On Top.

 

Until next time, dear reader, aspire to be inspired.

Here's celebrating your Creative Muse. 

~judy 

Double D - FRIENDS

 Dear Ones~

This time the challenge over at Double D is FRIENDS. I LOVE this one, who doesn't like to get a card from a friend, or send one? Here's the Mood Board for our inspiration, what a hoot! All those images make me smile all over my face!!!

 

 

 And this is my card:

This image is from a very old stamp set from Hot Off the Press (Paper Wishes) called Janie's Friends. I just adore it, all the stamps are just so sweet, and perfect to reflect friendship. I did some simple coloring with my Ohuhu alcohol markers, that's all that's needed.

 

 

 The Ingredients:

GKD Fresh Asparagus Card Stock

Recollections Ivory Card Stock 

Panalisa Craft Pandora Patterned Paper 

HOTP Janie's Friends Stamp Set

Ohuhu Alcohol Markers

Stash Circle Punches and Baubles

 

 

 

 

 

 If you head on over to the  Double D Challenge Blog and play along, you could win these fabulous prizes.  Also, don't forget to check out all the beautiful cards the other designers have created.

 

 

So, until next time dear readers, ASPIRE to be INSPIRED. 

Here's celebrating your CREATIVE MUSE!!

 

~judy    

WINNER! WINNER! WINNER!!!

 Dear Ones~

 

The 10th Birthday Double D Challenge has ended, and as promised, I have randomly chosen a winner for a HUGE goodie box. The lucky winner is:

 

 

 VERNA ANGERHOFER

 

 

CONGRATULATIONS, Verna. So happy you won! I have your address and will be

getting your prize out to you soon!

 

Many thanks to all of you who have been faithfully commenting on my blog, I love you all to pieces. Stay tuned for more posts from me, I am so honored to be on the Double D Design Team.

 

Until next time, aspire to be inspired, and here's celebrating your creative MUSE!!! 

 

 ~judy     

 

Double D - HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY!!!!!

Dear Ones~

There is a new challenge over at Double D, and it's a very special one. This is our 10th BIRTHDAY, can you believe it??? So please join in on the fun and celebrate with us!! Here is the Mood Board for inspiration:

 

Here is my celebration card:

I just LOVE this cute little mouse from Sweet and Sassy Stamps. Unfortunately, they are no longer in business, but I bet you could find this image on ebay. I colored him in with my alcohol markers. The background uses a happy birthday embossing folder from Sizzix. I think it might be a Tim Holtz one.

 

 The Ingredients:

 MFT Spearmint Card Stock

MFT Peach Bellini Card Stock 

GKD White Card Stock

Sweet and Sassy Stamps A Cocoa Kind of BD 

Sizzix Birthday Embossing Folder

Hello Hobby 26 Letters Die for 10

SSS Birthday Basics Greeting

Tim Holtz Silver Metallic Card Stock 

 

 

 

 

If you head on over to the  Double D Challenge Blog and play along, you could win this FABULOUS cache of goodies in honor of our 10th birthday.  Also, don't forget to check out all the beautiful cards the other designers have created.

 

***GIVEAWAY ALERT*** 

 Because we are celebrating a milestone birthday this year, I will also be giving away a box of goodies. All you have to do is subscribe to my blog and leave a comment.  BUT you MUST also leave your EMAIL ADDRESS so I will be able to get in touch with you if you are the winner. The drawing will be random, but I will only be able to ship to an address in the US. Sorry, I cannot ship overseas. I hope you will participate, I am going to be very generous.

 

So, until next time dear readers, ASPIRE to be INSPIRED. 

Here's celebrating your CREATIVE MUSE!!

 

~judy    

 

A Cut Above - January 2026

 

 

Dear Ones~

Well, we are starting a new year - 2026 - can you believe it?? Doesn't seem possible!!! And it's time for a new challenge over at  A Cut Above Challenge Blog. 

 

Challenges are on a monthly basis and posted on the first Monday of the month at 12:00 AM (Eastern Time) and ending on the 28th of each month 8:00 PM (Eastern Time) with the winner posted on the 30th of that month. The theme is always anything goes with a die cut. However once in awhile we will throw in a theme for you, or just do anything goes. Entirely up to you. This time it's just anything goes.

Limit of 3 entries per challenge with each being a different project.

Any project is welcome but MUST HAVE AT LEAST ONE DIE CUT defined by using a die cut machine, not a purchased pre-fabricated die cut. Winner is chosen by random draw, and will receive a $5 gift card to A Cherry On Top Online Store along with a dated badge to display on their craft site.

 

Here's my card:

I am obsessed lately with doing collage style cards, I just find them so satisfying! I was poking around my patterned paper and came across this fun collection by Graphic 45. I forgot I had it and I think it's so whimsical and fun. I used the Honey Bee Hoosier Cabinet Holiday Add-On dies for that little figgy pudding image on my sign. Isn't it cute? This card has no special occasion attached to it, so it can be used for most anything.

 

 The Ingredients: 

 Recollections Ivory Card Stock

G 45 Life's a Bowl of Cherries Patterned Paper

Pink Fresh Studios Framed Art Die Set

Honey Bee Hoosier Cabinet Holiday Add-On Die Set

Martha Stewart Pine Bough Punch

Studio Katia Gold Baubles

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you will jump in and MAKE THE CUT, I can't wait to see what you come up with. Head on over to the A CUT ABOVE BLOG to see what it's all about. And if you play along, you could win a $5 gift card to A Cherry On Top.

 

Until next time, dear reader, aspire to be inspired.

Here's celebrating your Creative Muse. 

~judy

Can You Handle the Pressure - WINTER BLUES

Dear Ones~  

There's a new challenge over at Can You Handle the Pressure.   For this challenge blog you MUST use an EMBOSSING FOLDER on your project.  Heat embossing (with embossing powder) is permitted but only IN ADDITION to your embossing folder design.  Each new challenge will have a 'TWIST' which is optional ... your choice to use or not.

The OPTIONAL TWIST for today's challenge is:

WINTER BLUES

 

Here is my sample: 

I love all the elements on this one. The patterned paper is from Paper Studio, the tree is Gina K, the background embossing is Tim Holtz. And the baubles are Trinity Stamps, but I don't know the name. I love the blue card stock from Stampin' Up. It's so pretty and soft.

 

 The Ingredients: 

GKD Charcoal Brown Card Stock

SU Blue Sky Card Stock

Tim Holtz Silver metallic Card Stock 

Paper Studio Snow Pine Patterned Paper

Tim Holtz Tree Rings Embossing Folder

Tim Holtz Holiday Greens Die

GKD Graphic Trees Die

Trinity Stamps Baubles

 

 

 

 

 Head on over to the Can You Handle the Pressure Blog and play along, and don't forget to check out all the beautiful cards the other designers have created while you are there. I can't wait to see all your wonderful designs!!

 

With this post, I am announcing that I will be retiring from the Can You Handle the Pressure Design Team. It has been an honor and privilege to have served with all the wonderful makers who share their creativity with us, but I have decided I need to cut back and take a breather. Dar and Diane are such gracious people, and I so appreciate them inviting me to be on the design team. Life gets complicated sometimes, and although there is nothing major going on in my life right now, I would like to relax a little. 

 

So for the last time, dear readers,  I hope you "can handle the pressure"!

Here's celebrating your CREATIVE MUSE.

judy 

 

 

Double D - SANTA and/or SNOWMAN

Dear Ones~

The new challenge over at Double D is SANTA and/or SNOWMAN. Ho, Ho, Ho, lets see what you come up with, lots of possibilities.Will it be Frosty or Santa, or both??? Here is the Mood Board for our inspiration:

This is my card:

I pulled out one of my favorite background dies again. I LOVE the look of this, so much fun. The die is by a company called Kokorosa, but I cannot find the name. I'm thinking it might be retired, which is a shame. This is a good one. The Santa is a Tim Holtz freebie from last year. I scribbled my alcohol inks on white paper and then die cut the pieces. So easy, no shuffling through all my colored card stock to find just the right color.

The Ingredients:

 GKD Black Card Stock

Tim Holtz Gold Metallic Card Stock

SU 'Tis the Season Patterned Paper

Kokorosa Background Die

Tim Holtz Be of Good Cheer Santa Die Set

GKD Christmas Cheer Stamp for Greeting

 

 

 

 

 

 If you head on over to the  Double D Challenge Blog and play along, you could win this Creative Expressions Flourish Mini Stencil.  Also, don't forget to check out all the beautiful cards the other designers have created.

 

So, until next time dear readers, ASPIRE to be INSPIRED. 

Here's celebrating your CREATIVE MUSE!!

 

~judy