A Cut Above - October

 

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:

Isn't this just so cute? I love this die set by Spellbinders called Boo! Cocktails. It a companion add-on to the Olive Martini die set. I had a lot of fun making this card!!

 

 The Ingredients:

 Black, White and Purple Card Stock from Recollections

Various Tim Holtz Distress Card Stock Colors

Stash Patterned Paper

Spellbinders Olive Martini Die Set

Spellbinders Boo! Cocktails Die Set 

SSS/Brutus Monroe Tricks & Treats Stamp for Greeting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 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 - SEE BELOW!!!

Dear Ones~

This time over at Double D we have a fun one. Here's what Diane wrote:

 

 Theme:  Trick or Treat
Smell My Feet
Give Me Something Good To Eat
( let the words inspire you, Example: trick or treaters,
something that smells (even animals sniff and smell or so does an apple pie), something with feet,  something good to eat (Ice cream, candy, fruit)
Just let your imagine run with it!  

 

Here's what I came up with:

I got this adorable die set from Spellbinders last year after Halloween, so I never used it. I had so much fun cutting out all the elements, and it came together easily.

 

 

 

 The Ingredients: 

Recollection Green, Purple, and White Card Stock

SSS Dot Spiral Embossing Folder 

Stash Patterned Paper

Spellbinders Boo-Licious Fall Cupcake Die Set

SSS Spooky Sweets Stamp for Greeting 

 

  

 

 

 

 If you head on over to the  Double D Challenge Blog and play along, you could win this adorable stamp set by Art Impressions.  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   

Can You Handle the Pressure - TREES/LEAVES

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:

TREES/LEAVES

 

Here is my card:

I have had this embossing folder forever, and don't think I have ever used it. And I don't even know the company it's from. My guess it's from a magazine subscription I had long ago. I thought it would be fun to cut the center of the greeting out to show through to the inside. The tree die set is from Globeland on Amazon.

 

 

The Ingredients: 

GKD Ivory Card Stock

SU Cajun Craze Card Stock

Globeland from Amazon for Tree Die Set

Stash Birthday Embossing Folder

TH Craft Core Nostalgic Card Stock

SU Nested Circles Die

Crafty Secrets Stamp for Greeting

 

 

 

 

So 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!!

 Until next time dear reader, I hope you "can handle the pressure"!

Here's celebrating your CREATIVE MUSE.

judy 

Double D - MAKE YOUR OWN BACKGROUND

Dear Ones~

The new challenge over at Double D is "MAKE YOUR OWN BACKGROUND". What a fun one this will be, I can't wait to see what you come up with, lots of possibilities. Here is the Mood Board for our inspiration:

 

 This is my card:

The name of this technique is Kintsugi. It's a Japanese art form which means "golden journey" - finding beauty in the broken. The Japanese take a broken piece of ceramic or pottery and mend it with gold, thus creating something beautiful out of something broken.  Here I tore my background patterned paper, applied Versamark and then gold embossing powder to the torn pieces. I did 4-5 layers to really make the gold dimensional.

 

  The Ingredients: 

Recollections Rose Card Stock

TH Gold Foil Card Stock

Crafters Companion Floral Elegance Patterned Paper

SU Dragonfly Dreams Die

SU Layered Circles Die

Just Rite Handwritten Sympathy Sentiments Stamp

GKD Gold Embossing Powder

Stickles

 

 

 

 If you head on over to the  Double D Challenge Blog and play along, you could win this sweet Creative Expressions 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  

 

Can You Handle the Pressure - LAYERS

 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:

LAYERS

 

 Here's my card:

Isn't this die cut image just so stinkin' sweet? I love her so much. The background is done with a Darice embossing folder called Quilt. I bought the tiny flower digi papers from Etsy and embossed several different patterns with the Darice embossing folder. Then I fussy cut the various squares out to form a "quilt".  I love the way it came out.

 

 

 The Ingredients: 

GKD Ivory Card Stock

Recollections Pink Card Stock

GKD Powder Blue Card Stock 

Darice Quilt Embossing Folder

Kokorosa Die Set - retired

Tiny Blooms Digi Papers from Etsy

SSS Birthday Basics Stamp for Greeting

PTI Bows Galore Die

 

 

 

 

 So 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!!

 Until next time dear reader, I hope you "can handle the pressure"!

Here's celebrating your CREATIVE MUSE.

judy 

 

 

Double D - MUSIC

Dear Ones~

The new challenge over at Double D is "MUSIC". Lots of possibilities with this one, I can't wait to see what you come up with. Here is the Mood Board for our inspiration:

This is my card:

I love this guitar die set by Tonic Studios, haven't used it for awhile.  It is cut out of wood vernier that I got on Amazon.The background is done with Distress Oxides in various neutral colors and the background die is one that I have had forever. Have no idea the company. It's hard to read the greeting, heat embossed in gold, but it says, "Music Soothes the Soul".

 

The Ingredients:

 Recollections Gray Card Stock

Various Distress Oxides in Neutral Colors

Wood Vernier from Amazon 

Stash Background Die

Lifestyle Crafts Woven Embossing Folder

Tonic Studio Electric Guitar Die

Visible Image Stamp for Greeting 

 

 

 

 

  If you head on over to the  Double D Challenge Blog and play along, you could win this beautiful embossing folder by Spellbinders.  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  

A Cut Above - SEPTEMBER

 

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:

Isn't she just the sweetest?? I couldn't resist getting this die set by Alex Siberia from Spellbinders. The background is one that I have really enjoyed doing lately. Gold heat embossing on dark paper with GKD Elegant Script Background Die. It really packs a punch. The patterned papers are from Stamperia called Oriental Garden.

 

 

 The Ingredients: 

GKD Black Onyx, Cherry Red & Kraft Card Stock

GKD Gold Embossing Powder

GKD Elegant Script Background Stamp

Stamperia Oriental Garden Patterned Paper

Spellbinders Kokesha Dolls Die Set

 

 

 

 

 

 

 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 - BALLOONS TWIST

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:

BALLOONS

 Here's my card:

For this card I pulled out my Neenah Astrobrights card stock. The dies are from an old Stampin' Up set called Balloon Adventures. A really fun set. I have a Happy Birthday embossing folder, so making a quick birthday card is easy. I LOVE bright, neon colors.

 

 

 

 

The Ingredients:

 GKD Black Onyx Card Stock

Recollections Ivory Heavy Weight Card Stock

 Neenah Astrobrights Neon Card Stock 

Sizzix Happy Birthday Embossing Folder 

SU Balloon Adventures Die Set

 

 

 

 

 

So 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!!

 Until next time dear reader, I hope you "can handle the pressure"!

Here's celebrating your CREATIVE MUSE.

judy

 

 

 

Double D - BUTTERFLIES

Dear Ones~

The challenge this time over at Double D BUTTERFLIES. Here is the Mood Board for our inspiration. Just look at all that luscious color!!!

 

Here is my card:

I love this patterned paper by Recollections called Guilded Ink. It looks like alcohol inks with gold foiling. Gorgeous!! I also love the butterfly die set by The Greetery. It's part of the Curiosity Collection. The whole collection is right up my alley. The butterfly die set has a companion stencil set which is fabulous!!

 

The Ingredients:

 GKD White and Black Onyx Card Stock

Recollections Guilded Ink Patterned Paper

The Greetery Jumbo Curiosity Butterfly Die and

Companion Stencil

GKD Royal Frame Die

GKD Elegant Thoughts Stamp and Companion Die

Altenew Midnight, Violet & Rouge Ink

 

 

 

 

  

If you head on over to the  Double D Challenge Blog and play along, you could win this sweet little Creative Expressions 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

Can You Handle the Pressure - SUMMER FUN TWIST

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:

SUMMER FUN

 

 Here is what I came up with:

What's more fun than summer camping in a cute little retro hippy travel trailer. I learned from Dina Kowal how to make her. You can watch the video HERE. I used the SU Corrugated Embossing Folder to make the texture for the siding on the trailer. I think it looks pretty good. 

PEACE OUT my friends!!!!

 

 

 The Ingredients:

 GKD Apple Mint and White Card Stock

Memory Box Madras Plaid Blue/Violet Patterned Paper

SU Corrugated Embossing Folder

MFT Stitched Flowers Die

Elizabeth Crafts Hole Reinforcer Die

Paper Studio Nature Stick-a-Bilities

Trinity Stamps Gold Baubles

HOTP Gold Dazzle Strips

 

 

 

 

So 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!!

 Until next time dear reader, I hope you "can handle the pressure"!

Here's celebrating your CREATIVE MUSE.

judy

Double D - BEES

 

 Dear Ones~

Welcome to summer, it's a HOT one here in Northern Michigan right now. There's a new challenge up over at Double D, and this time it's BEES. Don't you just love bees? I do!!! This is the Mood Board provided for our inspiration:

 

Here is my card:

This cover die is from a company called Kokorosa. I purchased it a long time ago and I can't tell you the name of the die. I cut it out with gold metallic card stock and paper pieced the patterned paper. So much fun!! I used some lovely paper from Panalisa Craft and the sweet little bumbles are from Hero Arts.

 

 

 

  The Ingredients:

GKD White Card Stock

Tim Holtz Gold Metallic Card Stock

Panalisa Craft Honey flower Patterned Paper 

Kokorosa Background Die 

Hero Arts Beelieve Stamp and Die Bundle

SU Crushed Curry and Black Ink 

Black Ranger Enamel Accents 

 

 

 

 

 If you head on over to the  Double D Challenge Blog and play along, you could win this adorable Sizzix Thinlets die set.  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  

A Cut Above - AUGUST

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 is my card:

A lovely lady of a certain age will be celebrating a birthday soon. Can you guess how old she will be? Yup - the big 100. It was such a pleasure creating this card for her. The background was really fun. I took a piece of pink cardstock and gold embossed it with the Gina K Elegant Script Background Stamp. I love how it looks and will be doing this kind of thing more. I used acrylic markers to color the blooms, I am really ejoying these lately.

The Ingredients:

 GKD White, Gold, Innocent Pink Card Stock

GKD Elegant Script Background Stamp

GKD Gold Embossing Powder

GKD Master Layouts 12

SU Wrapped in Text Embossing Folder

Spellbinders Be Bold Blooms Die 

Memmory Box Gentle Peony Die Set

Stash Letter and Number Die Set

Acrylic Markers 

 

  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 - Birthday/Anniversary

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:

BIRTHDAY/ANNIVERSARY

Here's my card:

I needed a masculine birthday card, and I had an idea to emboss a piece of dark card stock with a background stamp in gold. I absolutely LOVE the way this turned out and will be doing it more. The cattail die is so useful for masculine cards, I use it often. Here I embossed a navy panel with a fern embossing folder and placed it behind the cattail die cut to make it stand out. The embossing hardly shows in the photo, but the texture is amazing IRL. I used some ultra shiny metallic gold card stock for the "moon" to make it more interesting.

 

The Ingredients:

 GKD In the Navy Card Stock

GKD Gold Card Stock 

Stash Gold Mirror Card Stock 

Memory Box Graceful Cattails Die

SU Fern Embossing Folder 

SSS Big Greetings 1 Stamp for Greeting 

Trinity Stamps Mat Gold Baubles 

 

 

 

 

 So 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!!

 Until next time dear reader, I hope you "can handle the pressure"!

Here's celebrating your CREATIVE MUSE.

judy 

Double D - FOR THE KIDDOS

Dear Ones~

The new challenge over at Double D is "FOR THE KIDDOS". What a fun one this will be, I can't wait to see what you come up with. Here is the Mood Board for our inspiration:

 

 

Here's my card: 

Isn't this just the cutest? I used one of my all-time favorite GKD background stamps - Inspiration Mosaic, by Melanie Muenchinger. It's the perfect stamp for paper piecing, which I did here with various patterned papers. The silly monsters are from a retired stamp set by Stampin' Up. I love all the bright colors, and bright dots too.

 

The Ingredients: 

GKD White and Black Card Stock

GKD Inspiration Mosaic Background Stamp

SU Monster Maniacs Stamp Set

Alcohol Markers

Sunny Studio Preppy Prints Patterned Paper

Scrapbook.Com Pops of Color Liquid Dots

 

 

 

 

 

 

 If you head on over to the  Double D Challenge Blog and play along, you could win this sweet Creative Expressions Music 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  

Can You Handle the Pressure - IN THE SKY

 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:

IN THE SKY

This is my card:

I have to confess that I don't know the name of this balloon set or the background embossing folder. I found them both in my stash from back in the day when I didn't know enough to keep the packaging. That was before I was on design teams. Who knew I would need to know stuff like the name of the company? The balloons are a stamp and die set. I stamped them with Simon Hurley inks and I think they came out pretty good. The addition of the silver baubles is a nice final touch. I embossed the light blue card stock with the cloud embossing folder and then ran white pigment ink over it to make the image pop.

 

The Ingredients:

Recollections Blue Card Stock

SU Soft Sky Card Stock

Recollections Holographic Card Stock

Stash Balloon Stamp and Die Set

Stash Cloud Embossing Folder 

Simon Hurley High Tide & Clear Skies Ink

 

 

 

 

So 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!!

 Until next time dear reader, I hope you "can handle the pressure"!

Here's celebrating your CREATIVE MUSE.

judy