Halloween BOO

Wow it has been warm here, finally we are having a cool down.  Really I should not complain since most of the time it is cloudy and raining.

A big hello to my latest follower and of course everyone who stops by for a visit.

I am not sure but I am guessing this design would fall under the clean and simple area.  Very quick to produce just die cut everything and glue letters to each ghost, add the hat and pumpkin and layer the card with the orange, black and white framing.

Materials:
Memory Box Ghost Trio
Cheery Lynn Witch's Laundry (hat)
Impression Obsession Pumpkin
Poppy Stamps Scary Background (BOO letters)

Halloween Witches To You

Greetings everyone, hope you are all fine and in good health.  I know what is it with the Halloween cards.  I just keep finding fun things to design.  I die cut twice the skirt and then attached them together and added so stars.  I thought it would be fun to have a dangling spider and of course a witches means of transportation. Very easy and quick to design.

Thank you for all the comments and taking the time to stop for a visit,  hope I have gotten to all your blogs.

Materials:
Spellbinders Nestabilities Classic Scalloped Circles Large (for skirt)
Taylored Expressions The Witch Is In
Memory Box Dangling Spider
Poppy Stamps Sitting Cat
Cottage Cutz Broom Mini
Martha Stewart Dripping Goo Punch
Red Rhinestones

Get Well Soon

Greetings Everyone:

I designed this card today for a lady who is having some health issues, even though I don't know her I hope receiving this card will brighten her day.  I am sure Edith will enjoy receiving cards of encouragement and support.

Materials:
Cuttlebug Tiffany Embossing folder
Poppy Stamps - Samirah , Murana , Delaney & Cheviot Butterfly
Memory Box - Petal Party & Adorable Posies
Pink Rhinestones & Half Pearls

Haunted Fireplace

Greetings Everyone,

I am totally blaming the new dies from Poppy Stamps for my obsession with the Halloween theme.

To create this design I die cut the fireplace and then stamped a bronze ink color directly over the metal die which really raised the brick pattern.  I then added the rest of my Halloween characters to create the scene. On the yellow fire pieces I edged them with a red ink.

Materials:
Poppy Stamps Classic Brick Fireplace, Warm & Cozy Fire, Spider Web Border
Memory Box Ghastly Ghost, Dangling Spider
Impression Obsession Pumpkin
Cheery Lynn Witches Laundry & Scare Me Cat
Spellbinder brick embossing folder for bottom of card.

Spider Web Delight

Greetings fellow crafter's, a big thanks to my new followers.  Also, hello to everyone who stops by for a visit and those that have time to leave comments.

Today's card would of been a lot easier if I would have had a web die but I don't so I used the Memory Box Creepy Web ( which is a corner die) and die cut it 4 times then glued the pieces together.  The Spellbinders Nestabilities Small Classic Inverted Scalloped Circles was used for the center circle and I just trimmed the web once I attached it behind the circle.  I then added the Dangling Spider and the Happy Halloween words to complete the design.

Memory Box Creepy Web, Happy Halloween & Dangling Spider
Spellbinders Nestabilities Small Classic Inverted Scalloped Circles (I used the largest one)

Ghastly Cottage

Greetings Everyone,

Today Memory Box and Poppy Stamps new dies came out I really like the Cute Cottage die.  I can already see lots of different ways to use it. (It has a Halloween Roof & Porch and Frosted Roof & Ledges that fit the cottage die)  If you want to try to win some of the new products stop on over at the Poppy Stamps or Memory Box websites to leave your comment on the dies you are interested in. (For every post on the blog between July 1-15 we'll be giving away a die to one random commenter.   Comment on any of the posts that you'd like to enter by Midnight US EST July 18.  Winners will be posted here on July 20.)

A big thanks to my new followers and everyone who takes the time to stop by for a visit.  Thank you for leaving comments, I try really hard to visit everyone's blog and see what fun and creative ideas you are working on.

Materials

Poppy Stamps - Cute Cottage, Halloween Roof & Porch, Fresh Cut Grass, Curious Cat
Memory Box - Small Alder Tree, Weathered Fence, Village Lamp Post, Ghastly Ghost, Tiny Bubbles
Martha Stewart - RIP, drippy goo punch
Spellbinders large circles (moon)
Spellbinder - Brick Embossing Folder (for cottage)

Purple & Silver Bouquet

Materials:
Martha Stewart Doily & small butterfly Punch
Marianne Design Embossing Folder DS0913
Poppy Stamps Massa Leaf Background
Memory Box Chloe Stem, Adorable Posies & Petal Party
Half Pearls

Royal Chariot

Greetings Everyone,

Hello to my new followers and everyone that stops by.  Today's card design is for those that might have a little princess they know and need to create a card.

To create the carriage I started with die cutting some blue card stock and the Spellbinders Standard Circle Large (3¾″).  For the door opening I die the Classic Oval (3 x 2¼″).  To create the yellow oval frame I used the (3 x 2¼″) and placed the ( 2¼ x 1¾″) inside of it and you get a nice oval outline.  I just added a half trimmed oval white card stock (3 x 2¼″) for the door and trimmed part of the Impression Obsession Brick House roof trim for the yellow door trim. I added a lamp which I cut off from the Lamp Post die and part of a lamp to the top of carriage. I added some fun pink Plush Curtains inside the carriage. For the wheels I cut apart the Brand New Bicycle and added the wheels to the front, and layered two Vintage Bicycle wheels in the back.

On the corners I added the Cheery Lynn Designs Lace Corner Deco F dies in blue.  The horse I punched a pink Martha Stewart heart and folded it in half for the saddle. I die cut a second tail and used scissors to create a movement effect. Then I added a few pink rhinestones. The mane is a Tender leaf that I snipped with scissors.  The reigns are the Valencia Border cut in half.

Materials:
Spellbinders Nestabilities Standard Circle Large & Classic Ovals Large
Memory Box Vintage Bicycle, Lamp Post, Valencia Border, Tender Leaves & Brand New Bicycle
Poppy Stamps Trotting Pony & Plush Curtains
Impression Obsession Brick House & Happy Birthday die
Cheery Lynn Designs Lace Corner Deco F
Martha Stewart Heart Punch

Butterfly Trails

Greeting Fellow Crafters

My post today uses the wonderful Texture Tessatina stencil and some pan pastel caulk.  After coloring the stencil with some orange and yellow caulk I added two climbing Vines, some orange Small Blooming Poinsettias, the Delaney Butterfly and some fun yellow rhinestones to the flower centers and a red trailing rhinestone behind the butterfly.

PS I posted this over on the Poppy stamps typepad today for my feature project but the week I added it to typepad the software was having some issues and the picture looks sort of strange.

Materials:

Memory Box Tessatina stencil

Poppy Stamps Small Blooming Poinsettias, Climbing Vines, Delaney Butterfly & Cheviot Butterfly

Yellow & Red rhinsetones
Krylon Workable Fixative (to set the caulk so it does not smear)

Monochrome Butterfly Design

Greeting Everyone,

Wow this is such a simple design only 5 dies and a couple black rhinestones.  I just want to say a big hello to my new followers and as always a big thanks to everyone who stops by and those who are kind enough to leave a comment.  I try really hard to visit everyone's blog and see all the fun designs and the talent is just amazing.

Materials:
Poppy Stamps Samirah Butterfly, Murana Butterfly, Massa Leaf Outline, Trailing Vine & Climbing Vine
Black Rhinestones

Do I smell Cake

Greetings Everyone, today's card could be used as a birthday design or just an all occasion card.  For those of us that have had dogs you know as soon as they smell food they hurry over to investigate.  I embossed the background and then added the window, shutters and doily curtains.  I created the cake and attached it to the cake stand then attached it and the dog behind the window.  To complete the design I added the flower box, grass and little daisies.

Materials:
Memory Box - Petite Cake & Scalloped Cake Stand
Poppy Stamps - Grand Madison Window, Grand Madison Window Shutter, Grand Flower Box & Dachshund
Cuttlebug Polka Dot Embossing Folder
Martha Stewart Grass &Doily Punch
EK Success Small Daisy punch
Colored Sequins

Garden Butterflies

Greetings Everyone, Gosh I like the Big Splash Border but I believe it has been discontinued. It really adds a fun dimensional to cards, I die cut the Poppy three times to make it more sturdy, then added some Sakura 3D crystal lacquer and Art Glitter in yellow to the flower tops.  I wove the Holly Vine inside the flowers and finished with the two butterflies.

Materials:Memory Box - Big Splash Border, Holly Vine & Prim Poppy
Poppy Stamps - Murana Butterfly, Samirah Butterfly, Cheviot Butterfly & Delaney Butterfly
Pink Rhinestones
Art Glitter Yellow
Sakura 3D Crystal Lacque

Butterfly Flight

Greetings Everyone, I don't use my Pan Pastel Chalks very much but they seem to work well with the new Memory Box Stencil.  After coloring the stencil I spray the finished design with  Krylon Workable Fixatif to protect the chalk, it sets the chalk so they don't smear.  Also, if you don't use the stencils to emboss I like to lightly spray the back of the stencil with Krylon Easy-Tack, it adds a slightly sticky residue that will stick to your paper projects.  If you need to remove the residue I use Goo-Gone.

Materials:
Memory Box Butterfly Vine Stencil
Pan Pastel Chalks
Poppy Stamps Petite Four Border
Krylon Workable Fixatif  (Michael's, Amazon)
Krylon Easy-Tack (Michael's, Amazon)
Half Pearls

Simple Wedding Card & Elephant Ear Cookie Recipe

Hello everyone, just wanted to say thank you to all my new followers.  For those that might need a fast wedding card this design was quick and easy.  I die cut the center heart, attached the butterfly, popped on the corner pieces and added mounting tape to the back of the first layer.

Materials:
Spellbinders Shapeabilities Lace Hearts & Matting Basics A
Poppy Stamps Delaney  & Cheviot Butterfly
Cheery Lynn Designs Lace Corner Deco F
Mounting tape

For those that enjoying baking I have enclosed my version of the the Elephant Ear Cookie, one of my favorites, I have shortened the steps but you can also go to Martha Stewart's website and view the original. These are so good and go fast.

Martha Stewart Elephant Ear Cookies (really it is more like a delicious pastry)

Recipe

• 1 cup walnut halves (original recipe called for pecans)
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar, plus more for surface
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons light-brown sugar
• 1 3/4 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• All-purpose flour, for rolling
• 2 sheets frozen puff pastry (from one 17.3-ounce package), thawed (I use Pepperidge Farms Puff Pastry Sheets)
• 1 large egg, beaten well

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Toast walnuts on a baking sheet until fragrant and lightly toasted, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool completely.

1. Grind walnuts, sugars, cinnamon, and salt in a food processor until very finely chopped (mixture should resemble very coarse sand).
2.  Place puff pastry sheets side by side on floured parchment; press together at seam to form a 9 1/2-by-18-inch rectangle. Roll out to an 11-by-20-inch rectangle using a rolling pin. Brush generously with beaten egg, and evenly sprinkle with walnut mixture, patting it into dough. Starting with a short side, use one hand to roll up as tightly as possible, holding unrolled portion firmly with other palm. Brush off excess flour with a dry pastry brush as you are rolling, and press sides back into shape (they tend to splay). Roll tightly in parchment.  Chill in freezer for 20 minutes.
3. Cut crosswise into 1-inch slices. Generously sprinkle a work surface with granulated sugar, and coat both cut sides of dough slices in sugar. Press dough slices to flatten slightly. Roll out into 6- to 7-inch rounds on sugared surface, sprinkling more sugar on top as needed.  Line baking sheets with parchment paper and bake in batches until golden brown, 17 to 18 minutes, rotating halfway through. Let cool on baking sheets.

If you get time to make this let me know what you think.

Tweeting A Birthday Greetings

Greetings to all my visitors, currently my house is in complete disarray.  I was planning on having the inside painted but not until July my painter had an opening in his schedule and wanted to start two weeks ago.  So I was a crazy person removing everything from the closets, pantry etc.  Then as fate would have it our septic system alarm decided to go off which I then had to call a company to pump and repair the system.  On the same day as the septic issue my husbands car blew a hose and will now have to be towed for repairs.  So I think I need a bit of good luck for a while.

Materials:
Poppy Stamps Happy Birthday Background
Impression Obsession Bird Bath & Love Birds
Dee's Distinctively Small Leaves

Running with the Pack

I really like the way the contrast worked using gray, white and black for the trees.  It actually looks better than the picture.  The rolling hills are from In The Meadow Die and I tucked some Martha Stewart grass in between.

A big hello to my new followers, thank you for stopping and taking a peak.   Also, I received a very nice e-mail recently telling me how I have inspired them.  Gosh, I am so humbled, I hope I can continue to create fun and interesting projects.  HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to everyone.

Materials:
Memory Box - Grand Alder Tree & Small Alder Tree
Poppy Stamps - Labrador
Papertry Ink - In The Meadow Die Collection (set of 2)
Martha Stewart grass punch

Singing In The Rain

Greetings fellow crafters, since the past few fantasy cards have displayed the ladies I figured I had to sneak in a masculine design.

To achieve the shadowing effect you need to die cut the  Gentleman Leaping on the white paper and also the umbrella that way when they are attached to the black background paper it shows a slight shadow.  Then when attaching the man slightly  offset him so the black cardstock shows behind him.  Double up on the white umbrella to give it more depth.  I used an x-acto knife and scissors for the rain drops which I don't think turned out that great.

Materials:
Memory Box Gentleman Leaping & Petite Umbrella

Old Mother Hubbard

Old Mother Hubbard

Went to the cupboard,

To give the poor dog a bone;

When she came there,

The cupboard was bare,

And so the poor dog had none.

Good Morning everyone.

I just had to add Old Mother Hubbard to the group of fantasy cards.  I have used the Madison Arched Window before to make a cabinet and added some spider webs to the corners.  Just add the flower box to the bottom and trim off sides, attach some half pearls and punch the legs and (Wala!) you have a cabinet .  It is too bad Memory Box retired the Lady Dancing I find all sorts of ways to use the die. Still available at some scrap book on-line places.

A big hello to all my new followers, thank you for joining and  everyone who has time to stop by for a visit.

Materials:

Memory Box  - Lady Dancing, Snowflake ornament

Poppy Stamps - Dachshund, Curious Cat, Frenchy, Grand Flower Box,  Small Madison Arched Window
EK Success Large Real Estate punch (legs of cabinet) Then use it again to punch out leg shapes.

Martha Stewart Doily Punch & spider web

Mary Poppins

I keep singing a spoon full of sugar makes the medicine go down.  A big thanks to my new followers, gosh I am so honored that you have joined my site. Greetings to everyone, I am trying to get more uses out of my dies with these fantasy designs.  I truly am not sure how to use the little rain die so I just added the clouds on top. 

On this design I used a gray cardstock under the white piece so the rain and houses would show through the die cuts.  I added an additional skirt in blue and cut the cauldron to shorten it then attached the handle from the pail to create a purse.

I love stopping by all your blogs and seeing what fun projects you have created.   There are just so many wonderful ideas.  

Materials:
Memory Box - Lady Dancing, Petite Umbrella, Garden Tools (used just the handle for purse), Grim Cauldron (purse), Puffy Clouds, A Little Rain
Poppy Stamps - Brevilla Houses
Martha Stewart bow punch

Mother Goose

Greetings to everyone, for some reason I am on a nursery rhyme theme right now.  I hope you enjoy my latest fantasy design.  A big thanks to my new blog friends, and all of you who take the time to stop by.  It is to bad Memory Box retired the Lady Dancing die I really use it a lot.

Materials:
Memory Box - Snowflake Ornament (hat), Petite Umbrella, Puffy Clouds, Tender Leaves (swan feathers), Oceana Border, Brand New Bicycle (front of swan) Vintage Bicycle (back wheel of swan), Lady Dancing & Gentle Swan.
Dee's Distinctively small snow covered stacker tree (rain drops under clouds)
Papertry Ink - In The Meadow Die Collection borders
Sakura Crystal Lacquer for dress, hat and bow
Martha Stewart bow punch
Cuttlebug Polka Dot embossing folder

Little Red Riding Hood Paper Art

I have not created a paper art project in a while so I thought why not just add a splash of color for intrigue.

A big thanks to all my new followers, I am so honored that you have joined my blog and also all my friends that stop by for a visit.

Materials:
Memory Box - Lady Dancing, re-positioned her legs and arms
Memory Box Snowflake Ornament  cut the top to use as a hat
Memory Box Woven Basket  I also used the bottom part of the Lady Dancing dress as the basket cover
Memory Box Frosted Christmas Tree & Tall Birch
Poppy Stamps Fuzzy Bunnies & Brighton Flower Border
Poppy Stamps Labrador I die cut in white, gray and black to create my version of the wolf
Papertry Ink - In The Meadow Die Collection borders
Mounting Tape

The Colors of Fall

I know you are all thinking WHAT a Fall design, it has rained here the past few days so I am  pretending it is a nice Fall day, you might have noticed I skipped over Spring here in the Northwest because it tends to rain on and off until July..

Greetings to all my new and continual blog followers and friends. I really have to say if any of you own the Impression Obsession small Maple leaf dies they have a beautiful detail when you die cut them

Well I have really gone out of my comfort zone to create this design.  First I sponged a light blue ink on white cardstock to create a fun background design.  I also sponged the edges of the clouds using  a different shade of blue .  Even though the picture does not show it I sponged a gold color on the wheelbarrow which makes it look antique.

Materials:
Memory Box - Alder Tree & Puffy Clouds
Poppystamps-  Massa Leaf Background
Impression Obsession - Wheat stock, small Maple Leaves & Wheelbarrow
Martha Stewart Daisy punch
Small daisy punch
Blue Ink for Clouds

Overflowing Flower Pail

Greetings Everyone,

Thank you to all my new and old blog friends who stop by for a visit.  I hope I have gotten to everyone's blog to see what you all have been up to lately. There are such a lot of really talented and creative people with fabulous designs.

I recently purchased the Impression Obsession pail and watering can dies and they are just the perfect size for the type of cards I design.   I really like the Wheat stock also, very versatile I used it as flower stocks.

Materials:
Impression Obsession - Pail, Watering can, Hollyhocks & Wheat Stocks
Poppy Stamps Meso Background, Dianna Border & Tulip Fanfare
Martha Stewart Grass Punch

Celebrate Spring

Good morning everyone

We are having a few sunny days here in the northwest but rain is on the horizon.  I am in such a Spring mood, can't wait until the flowers start to bloom.  I hope you enjoy this whimsical design.  A big thank you to my new blog members and those that stop by for a visit.

For the chair I trimmed off part of the Madison Park Bench and just attached the arm.  You can make a chair any size with this method , maybe someday Dave at Memory Box will design a chair.  The flowers I made using the Sizzix Accessories - Susan's Garden Tool Kit and a 1/4" circle hand punch.

Materials:
Memory Box Petite Umbrella, Puffy Clouds, Garden Tools & Garden Pots
Poppy Stamps Dianna Border, Frenchy, Dachsund, Madison Park Bench & Sitting Cat
Martha Stewart Grass

Over The Bridge

For those that stop by my blog you probably know I enjoy whimsical designs.  I don't stamp and just the thought of coloring gives me the vapors.   Today's post started out with the idea of could I create a bridge using the dies I have.  I started first by die cutting the 3¾″ circle which I then embossed using a brick pattern.  Next I used the 3¼″ circle and cut out the arch.  After trimming the wrought iron fence I attached to the top of bridge and added the trees and houses.  I added the big splash border under the bridge and the trailing vine on the right side and honeyblossom sprig to the left.

A big thanks to all my new blog friends and everyone that has time to stop by for a visit.

Materials:Spellbinders Nestabilities Standard Circles Large
Memory Box - Big Splash Border, Country House, Petal Party, Honeyblossom Sprig, Wrought Iron Fence & Puffy Clouds
Poppystamps -Brevilla Houses, Viva Tree, Berry Sprig & Trailing Vine