Week #2 of CDD Christmas Linky Party

Good morning everyone! I hope you all have survived the holiday weekend.  Unfortunately my holiday was met with a tragedy.  My brother-n-law passed away suddenly at the age of 46.  All of the family was together for the holidays due to this unforeseen tragedy, it made me appreciate my family even more.  I truly did count my blessings!

When I need to escape I go to my safety zone which is crafting and creating.  I brought along a bunch of images that I stamped so I could color while I was there. I decided to play along with the Craftin' Desert Divas second week of their Christmas Linky Party which is what I created this card for. This linky party is extended and doesn't end until December 20th so you will have extra time to create and play along.

 First I stamped the Santa from the Craftin' Desert Divas Holiday Helper stamp set. I then stamped him on some post-it note paper to make a mask for him. To get my snowy background I used the Snow border stamp from Across the Borders stamp set.  I would just like to say, this is not just a snow stamp ( I called it that) it can be used for so many different things.  To give the snow a different pattern I would flip the stamp around.  I used my white embossing powder and my Tim Holtz distress inks to get the background done.  After that was completed I removed my mask on the Santa and used my markers to color him in as well as adding some liquid applique, Stickles and some Wink of Stella markers.  

My Stitched in Circle dies are always close by since I love using them.  I cut out the Santa with the larger stitched circle die and added it to my favorite paper Doodlebug SugarPlums paper pad. The sentiment "Christmas Blessings" from the Tis' The Season was embossed in black across the bottom of the card.

I hope you come on by and play along with our Christmas Linky Party challenge.  They normally last only two weeks but this one is extended until Dec. 20th so you have plenty of time to play along and get some chances to win prizes!

Supplies used:

Across the Border

Stitched in Circle Dies

Holiday Helpers

Tis' The Season

Doodlebug SugarPlums Paper Pad

November Craftin' Desert Divas Blog Hop

Welcome to the CDD November Product Release Blog Hop.  All stamps & dies are in the CDD shop and now available for purchase. 

For this release we have (4) new 2x3 mini stamps and (3) new 5x7 stamp sets and 2 new die sets designed by our own design team member Leah!

Cheers
2x3 mini stamp set

Chickie
2x3 mini stamp set

Little Birdie
2x3 mini stamp set

Tons
2x3 mini stamp set

Busy Bees
5x7 stamp set

Home Sweet Home
5x7 stamp set

Across The Border
5x7 stamp set

Pocket Pieces Hello Dies

Stitched Scallop Dies

You can purchase them here.

Free shipping on $75.00 or more.

Here is what I've created for you.....

I wanted to try something different with this adorable Elephant stamp.  I took the little peanut that comes with the stamp and stamped them into a frame of sorts, then stamped the elephant in the middle.  I used my Winsor & Newton Promarkers to color everything in.  I added some Glossy Accents to the Peanuts to make them raised (it is hard to tell in the photo).  I used my Fancy Frame dies to make the layers of the card as well as the banner die from the Party Dies to string across the card.  The sentiment came from the Animal Antics stamp set.

Here are the specials for this release:

**FREE shipping everywhere, no code necessary!!  We are also going to have a Pre Black Friday Sale, the biggest sale of the year.  The entire shop will be 20% off starting the day of the blog hop!  You need to use the Code:blackfriday during checkout to receive the discounts.

Free shipping and sale ends 11/29 10pm MST

Stamps and dies are made in the USA.

Here is today's SVG freebie.  Each stop along the way there will be a code letter for the freebie code.  You must comment and follow each blog in order to get the free file.  The file will be available in the shop at http://craftindesertdivas.com/ just for that day.  Just add it to your cart and enter the letters you collected at each stop for the special code word at checkout to receive your free file download.  **The code word and free file will be available that day ONLY so please be sure to visit the link.

I hope you enjoyed this release and will join us again tomorrow for more projects and day 2 of our blog hop release.  Thank you so much!!

Your code letter from me is: F

Your next stop is the super talented Kristin. Just wait until you see what she cooked up for you!! You will be in love!!!

Christmas Blessings

Good morning y'all! Today starts a new linky party over at Craftin' Desert Divas.  The theme is Christmas.  That is an easy one, especially since most of us are already in (or will be) into the Christmas spirit of making cards etc. 

For my card I used a couple of the new sets that were released this week.  For the background I used the Across the Border stamp set for the snow background.  I stamped and embossed several lines of the snow stamp flipping it to make the pattern a bit different.  Then I used some Tim Holtz distress inks to give the sky some color.

Next I put my scor tape on some white cardstock and ran it thru my Cuttlebug using the hill die from Outdoor Landscapes die set.  I peeled the tape off and sprinkled my Snow flower soft on top to give it that fluffy snow look. The street lamp is from the Rudy stamp set which I colored than cut out and tucked it behind one of the hills.  

To get the adorable birdie wearing the hat from the Chilly stamp set, I first stamped the hat on the paper then masked it with my Post It paper.  Next I stamped the Chickie from the new Chickie stamp set and peeled up the post it paper and wahla! Easy peasy way to Winterize that adorable Chick!  I just adore that bird. The sentiment came from the Tis' The Season stamp set which I embossed in black.

I hope you come on by and play along with our Christmas challenge over at CDD!.

Gobble Gobble

I wanted to pop in and share with you a card I created for the first challenge over at the new Too Cute By Jessica blog.  The theme is a Thanksgiving theme.  I decided to use the adorable new Little Lovelies Happy Turkey Day file that was just released.  I combined a couple of elements from several of the turkeys and images to create this card.  I just can't get enough of these adorable Turkeys!!!

The paper I used is from Doodlebug Paper called Fall Friends.  I got my paper pad HERE.

I hope you come on over to the new Too Cute By Jessica blog and play along with our Thanksgiving themed challenge!

Have a great day!

HAPPY CRAFTING!

LISA

Altered composition notebook

Good afternoon everyone!  Today I wanted to pop in and share an altered compostion notebook that I made.  I left it blank so it can be personalized.  It can be used as a Christmas Planner or a journal of sorts filled with Christmas Memories.

To make this I used the Christmas Candles SVG File from Too Cute By Jessica. I cut the candles in several layers so they would pop up some.  The smaller one I cut out and layered four times and the tall one I cut out 3 times.  I used some distress inks as well as Glossy Accents on the candles.  It was hard to picture because the Glossy Accents wasn't completely dried when I was taking the pic.  I added a banner from Craftin' Desert Divas Mix It Up die set as a space for it so be personalized.

These would make inexpensive but personal gifts for the holidays! Or a great way to record and keep your treasured Holiday Memories!

Have a great day!

HAPPY CRAFTING,

LISA

Tags in a flash!

Hello everyone! Today is my day to share a craft tutorial over at Craftin' Desert Divas. I thought it would be fun to share with you a quick and easy way to make a bunch of tags at once.  These can easily be added to card fronts or tied to gifts. I made all of these in a matter of minutes. 

Here is a picture of some of my supplies I used for this project.

First, I took the smaller tag die from the Tag Essential Die set and cut one out in acetate to use as my template (you can see my template on top of the Texture Paste jar). I took the heart die from the Mix It Up die set and made a pattern with the heart die on the acetate template tag. I cut out a bunch of tags with the same tag die using watercolor paper. 

Then for each tag I laid the template on top of it and used my Ranger Texture Paste so the hearts would be raised up.  Once that was done I waited for the texture paste to dry.

Next I used some Tim Holtz Distress inks to make an Ombre looking background on the tags and blended the inks until I got the desired look.  I flicked some white paint over all the tags.  I topped the hearts with Glossy Accents and Dazzling Diamonds so they would not only be raised, but they would be shiny and glittery. I also sprayed and splashed water on the tags for more of a watercolor/distressed look.

For the base of the tags I ran the bigger tag from the Tag Essential Die set in blue as well as white.  I embossed the tag base then glued the solid white to the back so the backs could be written on.  

I took the sentiment "Sprinkled with Love" from the CDD Got Coffee stamp set.  I did cut the stamp in three to make it easier to stamp and emboss. The top layer is raised on the tag by using foam tape.

Here is a group picture of the finished tags.  I did distress the edges of a few of the tags for more of a variety.

Close up so you can see the details.

CDD Supplies Used:

Tag Essential Die set

Mix It Up Die set

Got Coffee Stamp set

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

Good morning everyone!  Today starts a new two week challenge over at the Sisterhood of Crafters hosted by my wonderfully crafty Sister Darlene.  I would like just to make a quick shout out to her and thank her for all she does for the Sisterhood.  She is the one who does all the work behind the scene and keeps everyone and everything on track.  I don't know how she does it! I know I would be lost without her!

Well now onto the fun stuff.  The theme she picked is "It's Beginning to look a Lot Like Christmas".  This one should be easy enough since we are all (if you celebrate it) are probably crafting away in hopes to get ready for the Holiday season.  

For this challenge I thought I would actually work ahead on some little gifts for my twins to give out during the holidays.  I made these Easel Post-It note holders following the tutorial I found HERE.  It is a super easy tutorial to follow and very easy to make several of these at one time.  I printed out several of these adorable digis that I got from Craftin' Desert Divas called Hot Cocoa Bear. It was fun to just sit down with the sheet and color a bunch at once.  

I was kinda mad because I loved the coloring I did on one of them.  Don't ask me how but somehow without even going very far I lost two of my markers!! I was so mad, and wasted my time looking for them.  I finally gave up and had to move on with different colors.  On a side note, almost 3 weeks later I still have not found them!! 

I did a couple of different sentiments on them.  I used the "Tis' the Season" sentiment from CDD's Simply Christmas stamp set, "Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas" from CDD's Get Your Jingle On and last but not least, "A Cuppa Thanks" from CDD's Got Coffee stamp set. All the sentiments I embossed with black embossing powder.

This is how they look when they are folded flat as well as propped up. To give the layer with the bears on them a bit more detail I used my Pocket Pieces HI die set for the stitched rectangle frame. 

These make perfect little gifts, especially for teachers or anyone in the office environment during the holiday season.  Just a little gift to put a smile on their face everyday to let them know they are loved and appreciated!

I hope you come on over to the Sisterhood of Crafters and play along with our new challenge.  I would love to see what you create!

Have a great day & HAPPY CRAFTING!

Make It Sparkle

Good morning!  Today starts a new Linky Party over at Craftin' Desert Divas.  The theme is "Make it Sparkle". I have been having a blast making my own backgrounds with different techniques. For this card I used some of my Tim Holtz distress inks to make an Ombre' sort of background on some watercolor paper.  

I used my Fancy Frame dies to cut out my top layer of the card.  I stamped the trail of stars using the large bunch of stars stamp from Bitty Blessing a couple of times so it would go off the top layer onto the bottom layer.  I colored those in with some Stickles for a little bling.  

Then I used the sentiment from Tis' the Season and embossed that in silver. To give the card a bit more of a "pop" I put some scor-tape on the back of white cardstock and ran it thru my Cuttlebug with the stitched star die from the Banner die set. 

 After I ran it thru I peeled off the scor tape and covered it  in glitter for some extra sparkle.  The card is not the traditional type of Christmas/Holiday card but that was my intention, I wanted to try something different then I usually do.

I hope you pop on over to the Craftin' Desert Divas blog to play along with the "Make it Sparkle" linky party.

Hot Cocoa slider gifts

Hey y'all! Do you need a quick, fun and inexpensive gift idea to make for the holidays?  I made a bunch of these to hand out as small gifts during the holidays.  These are hot cocoa slider gifts and can easily be massed produced.  I made about 15 of these but only included 3 in the picture so you could at least get a good look at the details.

I used the large stitched circle from the newly released Stitched in Circle dies for the center. I embossed the sentiment from Get Your Jingle on first in black. Then I randomly stamped some snowflakes from the new CHILLY set in white craft ink, then sprinkled on some iridescent embossing powder. 

 To give it some added pop I sprayed and dabbed some Tim Holtz Distress sprays in silver and white. I did crimp the top and bottom of the holder with my Crimping tool but it is hard to see in the picture. 

You simply pull up the tab and out pops the pack of hot cocoa! A cute way to dress up really any sort of treat or small gift. 

Thanks for popping in today, I sure hope you enjoyed my little project I shared with you.

Have a great day and Happy Crafting!

Hugs,

Lisa B.

CDD Two of Tuesday daily post

Hello everyone.  Today is a special Two for Tuesday post over at CDD.  Two for Tuesday is a post where two designers pick one stamp and and both design a project so you can see the many ways one stamp set can be used.

Tara (the owner of CDD) and I are both using the stamp, PANDA PALS.

To make this card I used the masking technique to stamp a group of pandas as well as the stalks of the bamboo in the background. I simply flipped each small segment up and down to get the different patterns of the bamboo shoots (making leaves go left to right).  I also used the clouds and sun from The Sky is the Limit. 

To color the images in I used my Winsor & Newton markers to color the images in as well as some Wink of Stella markers to add some glitter. Glossy Accents were added to the eyes and paws which is hard to see in the photo, but in person it really makes it pop. The images were so cute I wanted to keep them the focus of the card so I kept it simple.  To accomplish my clean cut card I used my scalloped die from Fancy Frames and several layers of designer paper.

Supplies used:

PANDA PALS

 THE SKY IS THE LIMIT

Fancy Frames