CardMaker Blog

Happy Friday, everyone!

Just a quick note to let you know that I am posting over on the CardMaker Blog today. I am sharing some photos of my creative space. I always love to see where other crafters work, so if you'd like to check out my little corner and some of my storage solutions, be sure to head over there for today's post.

Have a great day!

Play Date Cafe Challenge #159

Hi there!

It is time once again to share this week's Play Date Cafe Challenge. I hope you enjoyed last week's two-weeker and had a chance to play along with us. This week we have a super fun Color Splash for you!

This week's challenge colors are black and white with a splash of maroon. Here is the card that I made:

Santa is from the Around Christmastime set from Waltzingmouse Stamps. I stamped the image and die cut it with a Spellbinders circle die. I colored just the hat, and added some Frosted Lace Stickles to Santa's beard. The circle was matted with a die-cut pinking circle, a doily, and some big buttons. I like the little strip of red that peeks through the doily.

The background was stamped with the Vintage Christmas Backgrounder from WMS.

I hope you will join us for this week's challenge. You can link up your creation over at The Play Date Cafe Blog. You have through Tuesday, December 4th to play along. While you're there, you can get all the necessary details, be inspired by the rest of the DT creations, and check out the Cup of the Week prize. Whew!

Thanks for stopping by - see you soon!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Around Christmastime, Vintage Christmas Backgrounder - Waltzingmouse Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Black - Wplus9; White - PTI; Cherry Cobbler - SU!
INK: Tuxedo Black Memento - Tsukineko
OTHER: Standard Circles Large, Pinking Circles Small - Spellbinders Paper Arts; Doily - Wilton; Frosted Lace Stickles - Ranger Industries; Copic Marker (R59) - Imagination International; Corner Chomper - We R Memory Keepers; Buttons - PTI; Sewing Machine - Janome

CardMaker and Flower Soft Blog Hop

Hi there!

Today the CardMaker Magazine Blog Team is teaming up with Flower Soft for a fun blog hop. Each of the CM blog team members and Flower Soft DT have made an animal themed card and combined it with Flower Soft products. You should have arrived here from the Flower Soft Blog. Jennifer Buck will be your next stop along the hop.

I used this adorable tiger stamp to create a fun card for a little boy.

:) Isn't he the cutest?

I started by stamping the tiger image onto a rectangle of cream cardstock. I went in with a fine tip glue pen and added glue to the tiger's stripes. Then I applied Black Flower Soft to the glue. After that dried, I used a two-way glue pen (with a fatter tip) and applied glue to the tiger's body. There, I added a mix of the Bright Orange and Nut Brown Flower Soft. He looks so soft and fuzzy!

The sentiment is from the Half Pint Heroes set from WMS.

Please be sure to check out the Flower Soft Website and Blog. Jennifer is going to be your next stop on the hop!

I also want to give a special shout out to my fabulous CardMaker Blog Teammates. This is our last hop together, as most of our terms are ending this month. These ladies are the best, and I have been so grateful for the opportunity to work with them! I also must mention how wonderful it has been to work more closely with Tanya and Brooke, the editorial team from CardMaker Magazine. These gals are just the best!

Anya Schrier - You are here!
Carolyn King
Colleen Schaan
Glenda Wyatt
Jennie Harper
Kimberly Crawford
Trudy Sjolander

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great day!


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Recipe
STAMPS: Jungle - TPC Studio; Half Pint Heroes - Waltzingmouse Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Kraft, Black - Wplus9; Vintage Cream - PTI
PATTERNED PAPER: Bitty Box Basics - PTI
INK: Onyx Black Versafine - Tsukineko; Antique Linen, Vintage Photo Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
OTHER: Black, Bright Orange, Nut Brown Flower Soft; Corner Chomper - We R Memory Keepers; Standard Circle Large - Spellbinders Paper Arts; Button - PTI

Giving Thanks

Hello there!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. It was a good one here!

I am popping in to remind you that you have a bit more time for the current Play Date Cafe Challenge. This week's challenge is running for two weeks, so the blog will be accepting entries through Tuesday the 27th - there is still time to join us!

Here is another card that I made using the current challenge colors:

I used lots of bits and pieces from the Vintage Garden - Seed Packet set from Waltzingmouse Stamps. I stamped the carnation image onto patterned paper and then pieced it inside the seed packet frame. The sentiment is also from that set. I layered it on a strip of gray cardstock that was stamped with the houndstooth pattern from Heirloom Patterns. Added a button, doily, and lots of Distress Ink to finish this off.

Sorry for being such a sporadic poster recently. I have been slammed at work since we headed into fall, and I am desperately trying to keep my head above water. I have the best intentions of getting cards made and posted, but it doesn't always work out. I hope you'll bear with me!

Take care!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Vintage Garden - Seed Packet, Heirloom Patterns - Waltzingmouse Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Sage Shadow, Going Gray - SU!; Soft Stone - PTI
PATTERNED PAPER: Nostalgia - My Mind's Eye
INK: Slate - Amuse|Studio; Onyx Black Versafine - Tsukineko; Pumice Stone Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
OTHER: Doily - Martha Stewart Crafts; Sewing Machine - Janome; Button

WMS November Blog Party

Good morning!

Just a few hours left in this month's Waltzingmouse Blog Party. I'm just under the wire as usual!

This month's theme is gratitude, and it is always good to take stock of what we're thankful for regardless of the time of year. I am sure we all have a long list.

I have always been fond of this sentiment from Jar Fillers - Jam Packed and thought it would work well for this month's theme.

After stamping the jar lid and then the jar, I stamped the 'filling' using the Cabin Plaid Backgrounder. A great way to incorporate my new favorite stamp into the mix. I wanted my thank you jar to stand out, so I stamped the rest of the jars in black and left them plain. I used lots of foam dimension tape to pop up my jar, too.

If you'd like to join us for this month's Blog Party, create a project with the theme of gratitude and head over to the Waltzingmouse Blog and link it up. You have until 1:30 pm EST today before the links are closed, but there is still time to join us!

Have a great day!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Cabin Plaid Backgrounder, Candy Jar, Jar Fillers - Jam Packed - Waltzingmouse Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Wild Wasabi, Marina Mist - SU!; Vintage Cream - PTI
INK: Onyx Black Versafine - Tsukineko; Wild Wasabi, Marina Mist, Early Espresso - SU!
OTHER: Cream Button Twine - Waltzingmouse Stamps; Button

Play Date Cafe Challenge #158

Hello, hello!

Another Thursday, and it is time for me to bring you this week's Play Date Cafe Challenge! This week our colors are rose, eucalyptus, and slate.

I just love that holiday door decor!

Here is the cozy card that I made for this week.

The Cabin Plaid Backgrounder from WMS and the Winter Wishes set from Wplus9 play so well together!

Love the warm coziness with the combination of soft colors, plaid and mittens.

Because next Thursday is Thanksgiving here in the US, this challenge will stay open for two weeks, so you have extra time to play! I hope you will join us and link up your creation over at The Play Date Cafe Blog. You have through Tuesday, November 27th to play along. While you're there, you can check out the Cup of the Week prize from our fabulous challenge sponsor, Scor-Pal!

Thank you for stopping in - have a great day!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Cabin Plaid Backgrounder - Waltzingmouse Stamps; Winter Wishes - Wplus9
CARDSTOCK: Blushing Bride, Going Gray - SU!; Oatmeal - Wplus9
INK: Pink Petunia, Sage Versamagic - Tsukineko; Slate - Amuse|Studio
OTHER: Star Dust Stickles - Ranger Industries

CardMaker Blog Team Hop - Holiday Yummies

Hi there!

Today is blog hop day for the CardMaker Magazine Blog Team, and this month our theme is Holiday Yummies. We were challenged to create packaging for holiday treats along with a coordinating tag or card. I had the perfect idea for cookie packaging while I was trying to fall asleep one night and it actually worked out! ;)

How FUN, right?

I created a cut file using the Silhouette Studio software of this little tree box that folds up to hold some yummy (peanut butter chocolate chip) cookies!

Here's how it started..this is one side of the box cut from patterned paper. You will need two of these pieces to create the box.

A few score lines at the base of the trees, and some adhesive to adhere the two squares together and that's it! Here is what the box looks like assembled before its folded up. There is room for a few cookies or other treat inside. I added a square piece of cardstock to the very bottom of mine to give it a little extra sturdiness.

I wrapped some metallic elastic thread around the trees to keep the box closed - it also doubles as a garland. :)

So, I thought maybe you'd like to the cut file, too? Yeah? You can download it here. You are welcome to use it as you see fit, but just for personal use only, please.  A little shout out is always nice, too! :)

And finally, a little card to go along with it.

I used some of the same patterned paper as the box along with dies from Wplus9. So there you have it! Quick treat packaging and a simple card to share the holiday spirit.

Speaking of sharing, here are links to my fabulous CardMaker Blog Teammates!

Anya Schrier - You are here!
Carolyn King
Colleen Schaan
Glenda Wyatt
Jennie Harper
Kimberly Crawford
Trudy Sjolander

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great day!


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Recipe
Card
STAMPS: Vintage Christmas Backgrounder - Waltzingmouse Stamps; Pretty Patches: Tree - Wplus9
CARDSTOCK: Kraft - Wplus9; Rustic White - PTI; Real Red - SU!
PATTERNED PAPER: Project Life Turquoise Collection - Becky Higgins; Season's Greetings - Echo Park Paper Co.
INK: Onyx Black Versafine - Tsukineko; Whisper White - SU!
OTHER: Pretty Patches: Tree Die, Simple Snowflake Die - Wplus9

Tree Box
PATTERNED PAPER: Project Life Turquoise Collection - Becky Higgins
OTHER: Silver Elastic Thread - SU!; Silhouette Cameo Electronic Cutting Machine

November Cloud9 and CardMaker Blog Hop Mash Up

Hello Wplus9 fans!

Here we are already at the November Cloud9 Blog Hop! I am also piggybacking on a CardMaker Blog Team Hop today as well. Ready for all the details?

Here is this month's Cloud9 inspiration picture. I know I say it every time, but Suzanne picks the best photos!

The things that popped out at me were the stack of books on the right hand side, and the brightly decorated white trees. Here's the card that I created with that inspiration in mind.

Bright and happy isn't it?

Now here is where the CardMaker Blog Team Hop comes in. Xyron was fabulous enough to send the CardMaker Blog Team a box full of goodies. I used some of the products they sent on this card and they were wonderful! Time savers for sure!

I started by using the permanent adhesive option in the Creative Station to apply adhesive over the entire surface of a 4 x 5-1/4 piece of cardstock. I used this piece as a base to adhere all the colored stripes. Having one piece of card all sticky made this step a breeze! I didn't have to apply adhesive to each strip, and the coverage was perfect to keep these all in place. Can't wait to try the magnet and laminating features of this little machine!

After I adhered the colored strips, I stamped and embossed the tree from Iconic Christmas on Kraft cardstock.

Then I experimented with a little confetti (1/8-inch hole punch) and the create-a-sticker maker. I was so happy that this worked out.. I just fed a bit of confetti in the sticker maker at a time and it came out with the adhesive applied! I just peeled the confetti off the backer and stuck it down on my tree. This was so much easier that anything else I could have used! I also tried out the Mega Runner when assembling the rest of my card. If you don't have a tape runner, I highly recommend this one! Super strong adhesive and very easy to use. I'm a big fan!

A sentiment and a some Stickles finishes it off. Really loving it!

Before you go, I have lots of links to share with you. First, be sure to visit the rest of the Cloud9 Inspiration Team:

Suzanne Dahlberg
Gayatri Murali
Christina MacLaren
and this month's special guest, Erin Taylor!

Then head back to the Cloud9 Blog to link up your creation.  You have until 10 am on November 12th to link up with us.  

Then please join me in visiting the fabulous gals on the CardMaker Blog Team:

Carolyn King

Colleen Schaan

Glenda Wyatt

Jennie Harper

Trudy Sjolander

And don't forget to visit the Xyron Website and Xyron Blog. Inspiration abounds!

So glad to see you today - TGIF!


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Recipe
STAMPS: Iconic Christmas - Wplus9
CARDSTOCK: Oatmeal, Kraft - Wplus9; Hawaiian Shores, New Leaf - PTI; Real Red, Pear Pizzazz - SU!
INK: Onyx Black Versafine - Tsukineko
OTHER: 1/8" hole punch - Fiskars; Detail White Embossing Powder - Stampendous; Star Dust Stickles - Ranger; Creative Station, create-a-sticker maker, Mega Runner - Xyron

Play Date Cafe Challenge #157

Hiya!

Welcome to this week's Play Date Cafe Challenge. This week we have a trio of rich scrumptious colors for you: plum, fuchsia, and wisteria.

And here is the card that I created:

Purple-icious!

Purple is one of those colors that I always struggle to create with for some reason. Three purples together was a challenge for sure!

For this card, I started by stamping the Cabin Plaid Backgrounder in plum ink. I built the rest of the design around that, going with some layered ovals and a cameo.

I hope those purples don't intimidate you - I can't wait to see what you come up with for these colors!

You can link up your creation over at The Play Date Cafe Blog. You have through Tuesday, November 13th to play along. While you're there, you can check out the Cup of the Week prize from our fabulous challenge sponsor, Simon Says Stamp!

Thank you for sponsoring us this week, Simon Says Stamp!

Have a super day!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Cabin Plaid Backgrounder, Ovals - Classic Frames, Cameo to Go - Waltzingmouse Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Oatmeal - Wplus9; Vintage Violet, Rich Razzleberry, Perfect Plum - SU!
INK: Perfect Plum, Vintage Violet - SU!; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger
OTHER: Classic Oval Small - Spellbinders Paper Arts; Adhesive rhinestones - Recollections; Framed Fonts - Tattered Angels

Hi there!

Today I am posting over on the CardMaker Magazine Blog. If you have a few minutes, go check it out!

Have a great day!

WMS November Release Blog Waltz

Hi there! Today is release day for Waltzingmouse Stamps. Eight new sets are being released this month, and they are all available for purchase now in the Waltzingmouse Stamps store!

You should have arrived here from Claire's blog, where she kicked things off for today. Tosh will be your next stop after this one.

As usual, Blog Waltz prizes are up for grabs! One winner will be randomly chosen from the comments left on one of the Design Team blogs, so let us know what you think of the new release! You have until 6:59 AM EST on Monday, November 5th to leave your comments. The winner will be announced on the WMS Blog on the 6th.

Today we are sharing the last set of the release, called Candy Wagon. Super fun set, perfect for gifty things!

First... a little sumpin' sumpin'!

I combined some of the images and sentiments from Candy Wagon to create this little tag for a gift bag of candy (rock candy is my hubby's fave). I stamped the wagon and contents then cut it out. Layered it onto a Very Vintage Labels No. 10 and added the sentiment and sparkles.

I attached the tag to my cello bag with a button and twine. Love the sweet sugary colors in this.

I got to thinking about what other things might fit in the little wagon and came up with this one:

I first stamped the cart and then followed up with the group of pumpkins from Bountiful Baskets Additions. I colored the pumpkins and accented the cart with Copic markers. Its very seasonal, no?

That is it for me today! Thank you all for your wonderful comments on the release projects. Tosh is your next stop! Enjoy the rest of the waltz!

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Recipe
A Little Sumpin' Sumpin'
STAMPS: Candy Wagon (available November 2), Very Vintage Labels No. 10 - Waltzingmouse Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Oatmeal - Wplus9
INK: Pretty in Pink - SU!; Latte - Amuse|Studio; Aquatic Splash Versamagic - Tsukineko
OTHER: Labels 10 - Spellbinders Paper Arts; Star Dust Stickles - Ranger Industries; Aqua Mist Button - Papertrey Ink; Cello Bag - SU!

Let Us Give Thanks
STAMPS: Candy Wagon (available November 2), Bountiful Baskets Additions - Waltzingmouse Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Close to Cocoa - SU!; Oatmeal - Wplus9
PATTERNED PAPER: Mischevious - My Mind's Eye
INK: Rich Cocoa Memento - Tsukineko; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
OTHER: Copic markers - Imagination International; Sewing machine - Janome

A Blog Hop for Jeanne

Good evening - three posts in one day, I think that is a personal record!

I am popping in this evening to take part in a blog hop for Jeanne Jachna, one of my most favorite paper crafting peeps. If you happen to be following along with the hop, you should have arrived here from Renee's blog (I love her, too!! ;)

Jeanne is celebrating a birthday later this month, and I'm joining in to wish her a wonderful day. I remember the first card that I saw Jeanne make (it was this one) and I was floored. Ever since then, she has continued to amaze and inspire with her incredible use of die cuts and embellishments. I tell ya, that girl knows how to pull elements together. Each of her creations is a work of art, and I am so grateful for the opportunity I have had to get to know her better.

I made a little birthday card for her, I couldn't resist the chance to use Yonder Star again, but I fear it isn't a very girly birthday card.

I thought I'd go for some Novembery colors, rich fall leafy colors for this one. I combined both the solid and outline shapes for this, and can't wait to give this a try with light blue and silver. Before adding my sentiment, I stamped the Yonder Star Background to add some texture.

My dear Jeanne, I wish you the most wonderful birthday (and will say so again once it gets closer!) and am so glad you're my friend. Now hop along to see what Tracey has created.

Hugs!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Yonder Star, Yonder Star Background (available November 2), Compact Sentiments - Waltzingmouse Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Sahara Sand - SU!; Oatmeal - Wplus9
INK: Dusty Durango, More Mustard, Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, Sahara Sand - SU!; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries

Play Date Cafe Challenge #156

ETA: This is my second post of the day. If you're here to check out Day 3 of the WMS release countdown, please scroll down or click here. :)

Hello friends.

Thursday has rolled around again, and it is once again time for this week's Play Date Cafe Challenge! This week's colors are so wonderfully seasonal: cinnamon, squash, vanilla, and sage.

This week we are being sponsored by DRS Designs. They supplied us with some of their unmounted red rubber stamps for our creations, and here is what I made:

I used the Fall Leaf with Acorn and combined it with the 1 Line Beauty of Autumn sentiment.

I stamped the image once onto my vanilla cardstock and then onto my different colored cardstock. I cut out two leaves and the acorn and paper pieced them onto my card. I flecked a little Perfect Gold Perfect Pearls onto my card too for some fun splatters. The sentiment was stamped onto a strip of patterned paper and adhered to the bottom. Love the simple design of this, allows this gorgeous image to take center stage.

Now I invite you to head over to the The Play Date Cafe Blog to link up your creation. You have through Tuesday, November 6th to play along. While you're there, you can check out the Cup of the Week prize from this week's challenge sponsor, DRS Designs. Thank you, DRS Designs, for sharing your fabulous stamps with us this week!

This week we are also saying farewell to our two Private Blend Designers, Amy Tsuruta and Connie Mercer. These ladies have brought such amazing creativity to the team, I will miss them. I am sure we'll be seeing lots of crafty fabulousness from each of them, though!

I can't wait to see what you come up with for this week's challenge! Have a super day!


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Recipe
STAMPS: Fall Leaf with Acorn, 1 Line Beauty of Autumn - DRS Designs
CARDSTOCK: Mellow Moss, Ruby Red, Peach Parfait - SU!; Vintage Cream - PTI
PATTERNED PAPER: Storyteller - Crate Paper
INK: Early Espresso - SU!; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
OTHER: Perfect Gold Perfect Pearls - Ranger Industries

WMS October/November Release Day 3

Howdy!

Today is Day 3 of the countdown to the October/November Release at Waltzingmouse Stamps. This month, 8 new sets are being released, and will be available for purchase in the WMS Store on November 2nd.

Today we have three more sets to share. I have a little something using the new Sheriff and Cabin Plaid Background sets. We are also releasing a Half Pint Heroes Additions set.

Sheriff is a mini set, with a badge you can dress up for your cowboy. I stamped it along with the Deputy designation and heat embossed it with silver embossing powder. My card base was stamped with the Cabin Plaid Background and then distressed. Some extra touches from Back in the Saddle and Way Out West finish it off.

That's it for me today. Here are the links to the rest of the DT ladies:

Claire Brennan
Bonnie Sharp
Lynn Mercurio
Belinda Chang Langner
Sarah Martina Parker
Tosha Leyendekker
Anya Schrier - you are here!
Kelly Schirmer
Sandie Dunne
Clare Buswell
Becca Feeken
Julia Aston
Jennifer Holmes
Laurie Schmidlin

See you tomorrow. Have a great day!


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Recipe:
STAMPS: Sheriff, Cabin Plain Background (available November 2), Back in the Saddle, Way Out West - Waltzingmouse Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Island Indigo, Dusty Durango, Early Espresso - SU!
INK: Island Indigo, Dusty Durango, Early Espresso - SU!; Walnut Stain Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
OTHER: Detail Silver Embossing Powder - Stewart Superior; Sewing machine - Janome