Frosty Friends -- Coffee Loving Cardmakers

It's that time again: the Autumn/Winter Blog Hop with the Coffee Loving Cardmakers! I always enjoy playing along.

The sentiment is from a Stamps of Life set. The adorable paper is from Doodlebug Designs. The digi stamp is "Snowman Cocoa" from Bugaboo Stamps (although I'm not sure that it's available anymore.) The coffee bean die cuts are from an Elizabeth Crafts set; the shapes are from a Sizzix set.

Am I the only one who like iced coffee drinks even in cold weather‽ The original digi stamp has the snowman holding a stack of marshmallows, but I fussy-cut the frosty beverage from the Doodlebug paper for a little personalization!
 

Inspiration/challenges:
Coffee Loving Cardmakers: (Nov 1-8) Coffee/Tea + Autumn/Winter
Stella Says Sketch: (Sun 2W) Sketch #718


Thank you for visiting! 

Pilin' On the Boozy Snacks

The themes this month at Pile It On are Beverage and/or Food. You can choose one or both themes, and you may enter the challenge as many times you like, as long as you are inspired by at least one other Challenge theme. We're sponsored by Bugaboo Stamps, and I used their Frame It - Red Wine digi stamp to make this shaker card.

I used two of my favorite food related papers to make the background. I added some pretty washi tape to the bottom, along with a scrap of gold ribbon and a swizzle stick from Southwest Airlines. For the shaker, I printed the Bugaboo image on regular cardstock and colored it with Copic markers. For the background, I used rubbing alcohol and a towel to create texture after coloring it with a Copic marker. I printed the sentiment from TLC Creations onto a transparency. I filled the shaker with microbeads and glass beads and tiny fruits from Queen and Company. I used black fun foam to pop the frame. The base card and frame are a double-sided paper. The tiny glasses in the top left corner are from a Memory Box die set.

Inspiration/Challenges:

1. Crafter's Cafe #219: (P1/15) Shaker Card or Tag
2. Stinkin' Inkers: (1st Tues) All Tied Up/Use Ribbon, Twine, Fiber (piece of leaf ribbon)
3. Pile It On: (1st Sun) Beverage and/or Food
4. Three Amigos Blog Hop Challenge #26: (1st Fri) Food/Drink
5. Tuesday Throwdown #431: Frame It

Thank you for visiting! Hope you'll join us at Pile It On,

Happy Birthday to Ewe - Pilin' On the Circles

The theme this month at Pile It On is Circles. The only really rule is to be inspired by more than one papercrafting challenge. We're sponsored by Bugaboo Stamps, and I used their Birthday Ewe Circle Sentiment and Birthday Ewe Trio digital stamps.

I used neon papers with a black & white scallop-patterned designer paper (Hall Pass/American Crafts). I colored the images with Copic markers & added white Flowersoft.

Inspiration/Challenges:
Bugaboo Crafty Challenge: Anything using Bugaboo image
Cardz 4 Guyz #189: Sketch
Fairy Tale #188: Black/White & Rainbow Colors
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Update: This was chosen as a Top 3 for Cardz 4 Guyz #189!
 

Thank you for visiting! Hope you'll join us at Pile It On,

Spots & Stripes at Crafting with Dragonflies

Our theme this fortnight at Crafting with Dragonflies, chosen by teammate Helen, is Spots & Stripes.

I recently won a gift certificate Bugaboo Stamps for participating in the "A Stitch in Time" challenge at Crafting by Designs, and I could hardly wait to use their cute Birthday Ewe Circle Sentiment. I printed it twice on white & on orange & green papers. I fussy-cut the pieces to create a layered look. I decorated the Ewe with flocking & Flowersoft. I colored the image with Copic markers & covered the balloons with Glossy Accents.

The card is made from orange & green linen papers. I created the edge with fringe scissors. I decorated the front with heat-activated puff paint to create a sheep-like dotted background.

The balloon was made with Fuse paper, a piece of page protector plastic, and my Fuse tool. I filled it with plastic confetti.

Inspiration/Challenges:
Digistamps 4 Joy: Create your own Background
Simon Says Stamp: Anything Goes

Thank you for visiting, 

Pilin' On your favorite Color(s)

The theme this fortnight at Pile It On is Your favorite Color(s). I had some crafting fun with my favorite color, purple, and "Girlz get your craft on" by our sponsor, Bugaboo Stamps.

I colored the image with Copic markers (of course!) and used a Wink of Stella brush pen for part of her ribbon. I added 2 sizes of pearls to the marker. The die cut background papers are from my stash. I've had the pre-embossed violet paper for ages. I finished the card with Liquid Pearls & grape Stickles.

Inspiration/Challenges:
AuroraWings Challenge: Your Favorite Color + hand-colored image
Brown Sugar: Monochrome
Card Mania #82: Lace and/or Pearls
The Crazy Challenge: Lace
The Ribbon Girls: Anything Goes + Card + Ribbon
Stamping Sensations: Anything Goes with a stamp and ribbons
Stella Says Sketch Challenge: Sketch #411

Thank you for visiting & inspiring my crafting! Hope you'll join us at Pile It On,

Pilin' on the Places We'll Go

The theme this fortnight at Pile It On is "It Moves Me" (Cars, Trucks, Planes, etc.) We're sponsored by Bugaboo and I used their wonderful Cat in Hat - Youer than You digi stamp along with this Dr Seuss quote art from TLC Creations.

The vehicles are cut from wood tape using a Taylored Expressions die set, and colored with fluorescent Copic markers. I heat-embossed the sentiment onto the truck with neon green powder. I colored the image with my Copics, but the main sentiment & road background were printed. I created the road myself in InDesign & cut it with circle dies. I used a bright, double-sided paper for the background. The yellow ribbon is from my stash...I had just the right amount left!

Inspiration/Challenges:
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper: Patterned Paper (2nd entry)
Crafty Sentiment Designs: Kids
Deep Ocean Challenge: Metal or Wood (wood tape)
Die Cut Divas: Anything Goes
Ike's World #66: Be Independent
Stella Says Sketch Challenge: Sketch #410

Update: This made the Top 3 for ke's World Challenge #66!

Thank you for visiting & inspiring my crafting! Hope you'll join us at Pile It On,

Feminine at Crafter's Cafe

Happy May! Today begins a new challenge at The Crafter's Cafe. Our theme is Feminine. We're sponsored by Bugaboo Stamps and My Stitch Back in Twine. I used "Stella Birthday/Over the Hill" from Bugaboo to make this birthday card for a lady with a good sense of humor!

I inked the black & white and gray & black patterned papers with shimmery inks, and die-cut them with my BigShot. The sentiment was die-cut with an IO die. The banner is a ShrinkyDink that I made with an AI stamp. The wooden birds were heat embossed with a light blue. The seam binding is from Paper Sweeties. I added a border & dots with Grape Stickles.

Inspiration/Challenges:
Fussy and Fancy: Female Birthdays

MarkerPop! Challenge #93: Anything Goes
Sasayaki Glitter Challenge: Shaped Cards

Update: This was the April prize winner at the Sasayaki Glitter Challenge!

Thank you for visiting & hope you'll join us at The Crafter's Cafe,

Pilin' On the Green...plus 2

The theme this fortnight at Pile It On is Green + 2 other colors. I used this Butterfly Flowers Silhouette by our sponsor, Bugaboo Stamps.

I used a Jillibean shaker card kit for this; I really like how the paper inks up. I used a light pink for the top prtion, and black ink & black glitter paint for the bottom. The black stripes are a black glitter tape. The green stripe is a different kind of glitter tape; I've been hoarding both for some time! The circles are cut out with the "Fun Filled Rings" die from Spellbinders Celebra’tions collection.

Inspiration/Challenges:
Allsorts: Feminine
Craft for the Craic: The Luck of the Irish
Crafting for all Seasons: Add Some Sparkle
The Crafty Addicts: Anything Goes/ Spots or Stripes
Creative Moments: Anything Goes/ optional twist use a sentiment on front of project
Shopping Our Stash: White OUT (no white paper allowed) + Stash (paper, glitter tape)

Thank you for visiting & inspiring my crafting! Hope you'll join us at Pile It On,

Dies/Punches with the Crafter's Cafe

The Crafter's Cafe Challenge theme is Dies/Punches. We're sponsored by Bugaboo Stamps, My Stitch, and Art by Miran. I used "Snowglobe Winter Bird" by Bugaboo.

I popped up the front with a foam sheet, using a circle die to create a hole in the foam. After I hand-cut the snowglobe section on the image piece, I embossed it in my BigShot and inked the raised snowflakes with a shiny blue chalk ink. The shaker portion is covered with acetate & filled with Diamond Dust and punched-out stars. The border was punched from the same shiny blue cardstock that I used for the stars; I also used it for the background.

The sentiment is made of two stamps from a Ladybug Crafts Ink set that I got with an Australian Simply Cards magazine. I added some foam snowflakes for good measure!

Inspiration/Challenges:
Not Just Cards: Always Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp: Anything Goes (2nd entry)
Stampavie and More: Snowflakes

Thank you for visiting & hope you'll join us at The Crafter's Cafe,

Pilin' on the Caffeine

The theme this week at Pile It On is Coffee or Wine (or any adult beverage). We're sponsored by Bugaboo Stamps, and they have lots of fun coffee- and wine-themed images. I used the Frame it - Stella - drink coffee digi stamp to make this gatefold card:

To keep the front closed, I added a coffee cup brad that I heat-embossed in bronze.

For the base card, I used a shiny brown cardstock, and the bean-patterned paper is by Graphic45. I printed the Bugaboo image are 3 papers: a shiny bronze, a manila, a shiny white for the coffee cups, and plain white for Stella. I colored the images with Copics and glitter pens. I also added some gold coffee-bean stickers.

I used a Heartfelt Creations die set to make the cup for the inside, and heat-embossed a sentiment from a SU! rubber stamp set. The glittery steam lines over the cup are from the same SU! set.

Challenges/Inspiration:
Crafting By Designs: Sentiments
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper: Anything goes with Patterned Paper (2nd entry)
Creative Craft Cottage Digi Creations #25: Monochrome
Creative Knockouts #90: Sentimentally yours (Include A Sentiment)
Lia Stampz Challenge #88: Embossing (heat or dry)

Thank you for visiting & inspiring my crafting! Hope you'll join us at Pile It On,

Your Inner Child at Crafter's Cafe

The Crafter's Cafe Challenge this week is Your Inner Child, and we have two great sponsors: Bugaboo Stamps and Deedee's Digis. I used Gus Birthday - Optional by Bugaboo Stamps.

Crafting for all Seasons #101

Inspiration/Challenges:
Card and Scrap #96: Male Cards
Catch the Bug: Anything Goes
Crafting for all Seasons: Sketch
Crafty Cardmakers: Make your own Background (no designer papers)
Word Art Wednesday Challenge #182: Anything Goes/Family Friendly

Thank you for visiting & hope you'll join us at The Crafter's Cafe,

Make your Own Tissue Box at Crafting with Dragonflies

This fortnight at Crafting with Dragonflies we're challenging you to make your own Tissue Box cover (any size). This might seem daunting, but there are lots of easy tutorials out there, plus my fellow Design Team members have some gorgeous inspiration for you.

We're sponsored by Bugaboo and I used their wonderful Cat in Hat - Youer than You digi stamp as the inspiration for this design. The Dr Seuss-themed papers are from my stash, and I also included this colorful quote from TLC Creations.

I modified the Tissue Box Cover tutorial at Splitcoast Stampers. I used scalloped ovals dies for the top opening (Spellbinders, I think).

The only coloring I did was on the cute cat from Bugaboo. I also added some detail with a Blue gel pen on the top.

I liked the box without any embellishments, but I couldn't resist make a little bow for the top. I cut it from a blue rubber tourniquet (my poor husband has been having a lot of blood drawn & he always gives me these rubber strips to craft with!) and added a bit of white pom-pom ribbon.

Even if you don't usually make 3D projects, I hope you'll join us at Crafting with Dragonflies and make your own tissue box cover. I haven't had a box of tissues in the house for a long time, and I know that this have given me plenty of smiles as I grab a tissue running out of the house!


I'm entering this project into the following Challenges:
All Crafts Challenge: Anything but a Card
Crafty Catz #244: Recycle It (rubber for bow)
My Craft Spot: Bags & Boxes

Thank you for visiting, and hope you'll join us at Crafting with Dragonflies,

School Time! - Pilin' On the Primary Colors

This week at the Pile It On Challenge our theme is Primary Colors (as the main colors) and we're sponsored by Bugaboo Stamps. They have some of my favorite school-themed images, so I made this Joy Fold Card for two of our nieces:

I used two of my favorite DPs (can't remember who they are by... Jillibean? October Afternoon?).
The small card was cut with a Spellbinders/PageMaps die. One of the notebook-edge borders is cut with a Die-namics die and the other is from an actual notebook! The bottom border was cut from DP with decorative scissors, and I punched the holes with my Crop-O-Dile.

The sentiment is a rubber stamp from Hero Arts, and the stars were heat-embossed in gold using a handmade wood-and-cork stamp. The flowers were cut/embossed from a SU! paper on my BigShot. I colored the adorable Bugaboo digi stamps with Copic markers. The sun paperclip is from my stash, and I added a scrap of red raffia to it. The gold spiral in the flower is also a paperclip. I used an actual mini-notebook sheet for the message section on the back.

Inspiration/Challenges:
As You Like it Challenge: Favorite Papers and Why (I adore Design Papers featuring regular-paper patterns; guess I could just use the real thing, but the DPs are so fun!)
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper: Anything goes with Patterned Paper
Hobbybook Designer Challenge: All about Kids
MilkCoffee Challenge: Use 2 or more die cuts
Party Time Tuesdays #184: Back to School
QKR Stampede #100: Back to School
STAMPlorations August Challenge: Stamps and Die Cuts
Whimsy Inspiration #73: Back to School

Update: This card placed in the Top 5 for QKR Stampede #100!

Thank you for visiting, and hope you'll join us this week at Pile It On,

Eastertime at Crafting with Dragonflies

We're celebrating Easter/Springtime at Crafting with Dragonflies, and we're looking forward to seeing lots of cheerful cards. The blossoms & bulbs are just springing up here in Baltimore, the perfect backdrop for making some Eastertime cards for our family. This Crafting with Dragonflies challenge has two sponsors, Squigglefly and Bugaboo Digi Stamps.

The card base and removable eggs were made with the Easter Basket Builder digi stamp set from Squigglefly. I also incorporated the EB Tulips digi stamp from Bugaboo (I used this image for a card back in 2011, and really enjoyed playing with it again):

Inspiration/Challenges:
Brown Sugar #87: Easter (2nd entry)
Crafty Boots: Easter
Kreativeinkauf Challenge: Easter Bunny (2nd entry)
Lexi's Creations: Easter
The Paper Nest Dolls Norway: Easter or Spring Colors
Polkadoodles #13: Spring Is In The Air (2nd entry)
Simply Create Too #58: Easter or Use Bunnies (2nd entry)
Sparkles Forum Challenges #54: Easter Parade (2nd entry)

Thank you for visiting,and hope you'll join us at Crafting with Dragonflies,