A Yappy Birthday Card for My Puppy Loving Son

So what do you do when your son wants a dog of his own for his birthday.. that's it... whether he's got to steal yours or rescue one but he can't have one where he's living?  You make him a birthday card with some puppy balloons!

I'm also up on the Three Amigos Blog with this one announcing that our July challenge will be a little late because of vacations and the holiday!  We will have our new challenge and winners post up by July 6th!  Thanks for your understanding!  (I have used a die cut using an MFT die for the "birthday" word since our June challenge is Machine Die Cutting but I also included a hint to what our July challenge will be... can you guess??)

When I was trying to decide what his card would look like, I thought of the Balloon Alpha set from Little Acres Creations and then I thought of the adorable Bork (Stubby Pup) stamp set from The Ink Road.

I took some inspiration from our resident artist over at Little Acres, Miko (check out her awesome card here!) and stamped my balloon alpha letters in versamark onto vellum (I used vellum that was already colored because I had it and I knew it would be easier) and heat embossed in white.  I let it cool and then fussy cut them out

Stamped, colored and cut out my pups and then I arranged all of my "balloons" on the card and when I had the look I wanted, I attached everything using various levels of foam tape... letting some overlap (love the way the vellum let's some of the puppy parts show through...lol!)  I added liquid glass to my pups eyes and noses and added some highlights on the balloons, Miko style, using a white gel pen.

Finished off my sentiment by adding the MFT Birthday die cut.. I cut it three times in Glacier cardstock and stacked them.  Then I added some liquid glass to make it stand out.  After all was dry, I cut a few vellum balloon strings using the Craftin Desert Divas Party Die Set and added those in tucking some behind, cutting some short and letting some of them lay across another balloon or the sentiment.  LOVE it!

SO!  I created this using the colors I did to fit the Double Trouble Challenge and the Color My Heart Color Dare challenge which both use these colors!  I may have added the twist of "strings" for Double Trouble, but I'll let them be the judge of that... while I have no ribbon or twine or anything... I DO have balloon strings!...lol!  But honestly I'm good whatever the verdict because I wouldn't have done anything different.

Thanks for stopping!  See you again soon!

Mini Album Makers Challenge June 2018

I have a quick post for you today!  I was asked by a co-worker to make her a card for her granddaughter who had just gotten engaged... and then this happened!

I'm linking it up to the June Challenge over at the Mini Album Makers Challenge Blog!  You can check that out here!

I've always loved making these Accordion Albums and they are really so quick to make and aside from a few challenges, pretty easy!  The papers I chose were from a couple old CTMH packs and then various flowers and embellishments... Prima, CTMH, die cuts.  And of course used some beautiful crinkly seam binding that I bought at an antique store near me.  It's not antique ribbon, but one of the booths has a selection of beautiful crafting supplies like the ribbon, bags of buttons and spools and such... LOVE going there!  Luckily I have a big stash.  All I had to do was print the pics and I had everything else I needed in my home!

You only need limited supplies and a few pics.  I've made them before as birthday cards and so I asked her to get me a few pics and told her I'd make one of these... she really had no clue what it was and agreed.  It's basically made with two square pieces of cardboard, three square sheets of paper and whatever embellishments and paper you want to use.  

As I'm getting ready to go on vacation right now, I don't have time to go into details on measurements and such.. and to be honest it had been so long since I made one, I used an older one I'd made and made it up as I went along, but I promise I'll post another in the future, keep better track of what I'm doing and include a photo tutorial with measurements for those interested.  I can tell you each space is around 4 1/4 x 4 1/4... the three sheets I folded were about 8 1/2 x 8 1/2 and the two cardboard pieces (to create the cover and back) were about 4 1/4 x 4 1/4.  Again, these measurements are approximate, but it's made to fit 4x4 pics... I'm positive you could do whatever sizes you want and create different sized albums...maybe I'll do that for my next one and change it up!

One of my favorite "pages" in this album is this one...lol!  This is the song for their wedding and I googled the lyrics, typed them up in Pic Monkey and added a couple pretty overlays.  Then I printed it on my laser and foiled it with some Gina K foil and my Minc.. Love it!

The hardest part of this album is that there are only four spaces that you can use a whole, uncut picture.  The rest must be cut diagonally, so you want to find pics that you can trim to 4x4 and that will lend themselves to being cut diagonally without say going through someone's face.. 'cause that would be just weird..lol!

I was quite challenging for this one because I didn't have a large choice of pics and they were all pictures my co-worker had taken from her granddaughter's facebook page so not the best quality... but I made most black and white or muted colors in picmonkey and I think I made it work!

The other challenge here is decorating without too much bulk on the inside... I loves me some layers and bumpy stuff, so I struggled a bit with that as well, but in the end it all came together. Hoping this will be a keepsake for them.  She delivered it this past weekend and they went dress shopping.. I got to see the pics and I'm already thinking maybe I'll get to make another one after the wedding!...lol!  But now I better start thinking about what my next one will be.. my fur babies.. my furless babies?  Maybe the flowers from the cacti in my garden... ooh... yes... I think that might be it!

Thanks to all of the girls over at the Mini Album Makers Challenge for all of the inspiration!  I so enjoyed making one of these again!  Now I have to finish packing!  Flying off tomorrow for a crafty weekend!  Come back tomorrow for an announcement regarding Three Amigos for July and a cute birthday card for my son!

Papertrey Ink June Blog Hop Challenge

I created this card for two reasons... one for love and one for fun.  I happened upon a hop this past weekend, Stamping For Families.  A small group of crafty friends with large hearts.  I found we had something in common...we are all concerned with the tragedy going on right now in our country... children being separated from their parents.

This is not a political post and I won't be discussing with you my thoughts on that subject.  But whichever way your politics sway, you have to agree that separating children from loving parents is never the solution to a problem.  So I decided to join in and link up a card.   If you do feel the same way and want to help, there are some awesome resources and links at Sandy Allnock's blog here.

Also, I wanted to create something for this month's Papertrey Ink Blog Hop.  The gorgeous inspiration photo... literally made my mouth water. 

When I thought about what kind of card I would create, my thoughts immediately turned to this Words To Live By: Courage sentiment set by PTI.  I am wishing all of the families that are separated strength and courage until and after they are reunited.  It will be a long road with many struggles and obstacles even after.  My heart hurts for them.

And what better represents freedom, renewal, and hope but a butterfly.  And I decided to make a rainbow of butterflies.. as so often happens, the colors in the inspiration photo for the Papertrey Ink Blog Hop are what inspired me.  What a beautiful photo isn't it?

So that's it for me today.  I'll be back on Wednesday with something else.  If you'd like to support or link up to the Stamping for Families Blog Hop you can start at Sandy Allnocks place.  There are a few prizes being offered by some of the participating bloggers, but go for the love and inspiration. 

If you'd like to join along with the Papertrey Ink Blog Hop for June 2018, then you can link up here!  You must use at least one Papertrey Ink product and be inspired by the photo below... you know... the gorgeous one!

Thanks for stopping and if somehow you don't agree with this cause that speaks to me, then just tell me what you think about my card!

The Cutting Cafe Blog Hop - Anything Goes!

So excited you stopped to visit today!  We're doing something special over at the Cutting Cafe!  We've put together a Blog Hop for you.. comment to win at all the places along the way and have chances to win the files that each DT member chose to play with for today!

My file is the Bendi - Bendy Card File!  How do you spell it?  Who knows?  Who cares??  It's so much fun to play with!  Such a cool card because it will lay flat for mailing and then you just insert the tabs into the slits and Voila!  It stands on its own!  There is also a cutting file for a box that will house it!

There are so many options with this file too!  You can check out the video here:

I chose the size that would fit in an A2 sized envelope... although mine won't any more because I added this sentiment to the top...lol!

The file comes with a few different diecut sentiments as well as some printable sentiments.  I mounted my sentiment on a butterfly border.  There are a few borders in the set as well and each border has a few single shapes to print... like these butterflies that are flitting about!

This cute fence comes in the set too!  I cut the grass with a die... Regina does have grass in various cutting files, but it was an afterthought for me and I'd put my Cricut away, so I just pulled out the die and cut it with that.  Who is that hiding under there?

I just love these sweet Doodlebug Kitten Smitten Shape Sprinkles that you can get in the sister store, The Cutting Cafe Shop, here!  SO adorable!  And I just scattered some flowers from my stash around and a few sequins and done!

So much fun and with the help of the quick video you can access right from Regina's shop, quick to put together and it will be even quicker the next time!  You can be as simple or elaborate as you want with these... very cool!

Now!   Would you like to win this set or any of the sets that my Teamies have used today?  Just leave me some love here and on all of your stops along the hop and we'll each be drawing a name from our blogs ... you could win some files!

Here are the links:

Regina Easter

Martha Lucia Gomez

Maria Pilar

Gail Scott

Chauntelle Lee

Keri Parish

Robyn Weatherspoon

Lisa Bzibziak (You are Here!)

Mitra Pratt

Audrey Long

Sheryl Wilder

Lisa Snowdy

Debbie Fisher

Maria Luisa

Shanta Newby

Krista Norman

Thanks so much for stopping today!  Hope to see you again soon although my posts may be a bit scarce for a little while since I'll be on vacation!  Woo hoo!  It's a crafty vacation though so I should have some good stuff for you when I get back!

Caffeine Fueled Paper Play - The Ink Road and Rubbernecker!

I'm up on the Coffee Loving Cardmakers Blog today and playing along with the Cupcake Inspirations Challenge using some products from a few of our hop Super Sponsors including The Ink Road and Rubbernecker Stamps!  Hop on over there and check out the details!  Here's a Sneak Peek!

Paper Sweeties June 2018 New Product Release Rewind!

Welcome to the Release Rewind at Paper Sweeties!  Today I'm using the new Treat Box Add On: Home and Garden on a card!

I just can't get enough of that sweet door!  I started by creating a little focal area using the house shingles.  I also love those cute little lanterns!  I stamped and added just a little yellow for glowing lights.  And those flowers are from the stamp set also.

And then I used one of the shingles from the new Home and Garden Sweet Cuts and a couple banners cut using the Sweet Borders Sweet Cuts for my sentiment area.  A few more flower clusters with Nuvo drop centers and some sequins and I was done!

Hope you enjoyed your stop today!  Be sure to check out what everyone has created for you:

Debbie Marcinkiewicz – Paper Sweeties
Jinny Newlin
Karen Letchworth

Kathy Schweinfurth

Larissa Heskett
Lisa Bzibziak (You Are Here)
Mackie Robertson 

Maria Patrick

Michelle Bala
Nancy Salkeld

New Products and Links:

Treat Box Add On: Home and Garden Stamp Set and Sweet Cuts

Treat Box Sweet Cuts

For You Stamp Set

Sweet Cuts Sweet Borders - Paper Sweeties

Home Is Where Your Story Begins Stamp Set - Paper Sweeties

Paper Sweeties - Marshmallow Sequins

Lil' Inker Designs Sponsor Solo with Coffee Loving Cardmakers!

Today Amy is up on the Coffee Loving Cardmakers Blog and featuring Coffee Hop Super Sponsor Lil' Inker Designs!  My teamies and I are joining her and sharing some makes using the new Super Coffee stamp and die set from Lil' Inker!  It's pretty adorable!  Here is the set:

SO Super cute, right??

And here's what I made:

I started with this cute little star shaped card... I just folded some cardstock in half and used a star die from my stash to cut it letting one of the star points hang over the fold.  Then I cut the same star out of some glitter paper and attached it to the front.

I stamped, cut and colored our adorable coffee hero cutie pie using my Copics.  This adorable stamp and die bundle is only $13.98!!!  You can find it here if you want it...and you know you do!

I chose to paper piece a plaid cape on him, and you may see a pattern here today...a plaid pattern...lol!  Do you see my upcycling on this one?

And then I did this:

I'll be honest... the last time I made a galaxy background, I made a few to have on hand.  I had one left and I thought it would be perfect to use with this set!

I love playing with the colors on this guy...lol!  And that cape...#madforplaid!

I decided I'd try to create a celestial object .. perhaps a moon... so I just cut a circle using a die from my stash, colored it with some gray copics and then added some craters and hills.   I did this once in a coloring class and while it's not perfect, I love the way it came out and I love how it makes him look like he's just taken off into space and getting ready to perform some amazing feat of heroism... like.. maybe he's going bring me coffee on a Monday morning when I found my coffee container empty.. not that I'd ever let that happen...  But if it did, someone better come to my rescue!

The sentiments in this set are SO .. well... awesome!  Love that there are a couple smaller ones and a couple big bold ones.  I thought this one was just right for this card along with a few star sequins.

And then I thought he might be floating through the clouds to save the day:

I created this cloud shaped card using a cutting file from The Cutting Cafe and embossed the white with some swirls.

And decided he'd wear his orange outfit today... along with a matching plaid cape... oh.. and that adorable face!!  That's separate on the stamp set so you can use it or not...   

And another great sentiment and a bit more upcycling... did you guess??

★Now, let’s do a little giveaway, shall we? Leave a comment on the Coffee Loving Cardmaker's blog and all participating blogs for a chance to win one of two Super Coffee Die and Stamp Bundles★

Even more awesome, right??  So don't delay!  Head on over to the CLC Blog where you'll learn a bit about Lil' Inker Designs, check out some more artwork, find links to all of my teamies' blogs with even more Super Coffee goodness and leave some love along the way ... you might just win this set!  I'm crossing my fingers for you!

And then head on over to Lil' Inker's place here and check out the rest of their June release... coffee lover or not, you are not going to be disappointed...  I've already placed my order...lol!  And I have a long wish list left still.  I dare you!  Tell me what you ordered or added to your wish list AND tell me what I upcycled and maybe I'll send you a little something!