Midnight Hour on Halloween

It is 12:00 am (EDT) on Halloween have you seen any ghosts or goblins yet?  I haven't, but I did see a mermaid earlier.  True story!  That was my daughter dressed up, making sure her costume fit for tomorrow.  She was super cute!

Meanwhile, time to start your trick or treating early with a fun new Stuck on U Sketches Die Cutting Challenge. The theme...guess?  Easy...

Here is my take on this week's challenge:

This features a couple of different dies, the circle from Lawn Fawn and the tree from Simon Says Stamp.  The sentiment is also from Lawn Fawn.  I love the background paper from Graphic 45 from 2013!  The little orange star gems from Doodlebug Design add just a touch of glimmer and the black lace ribbon from SU! is a nice accent. I want to howl at that moon!  Maybe I should be a werewolf for Halloween!?

The DT has a ton of AMAZING creations over on the SOUS blog.  WOW!

Entering this into:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge- Anything Goes

Color Throwdown #316

Halloween Thank You!

Hello Top Dog Dies friends!  So glad you can join me today for a quick and fun Halloween Thank You!

You might be thinking, have I ever sent a Halloween Thank you?  Maybe, maybe not.  But maybe you SHOULD.  I know there are times when I was a kid that we went to specific neighborhoods that gave out real sized candy bars or even dollar bills, it seemed soooo cool!  Or if you go to an amazing Halloween party, or even if your parents still send you treats at Halloween (even though you are an adult!)  All good reasons to send that Halloween thanks!

So here is my halloween Thank you.  I used the negative image from the Top Dog Dies Halloween Trio Die Set.  Isn't it great as a negative?  it is so fun how it shows the Authentique Spirited DP through.  I shadow stamped my Impress sentiment in Momento Black and then used Color Box Silver.  Finished off with a touch of SU! ribbon and some MME silver enamel dots.

Soooooooo..... who are you going to send a Halloween Thank You too and why?  Please do tell.

Thank you for stopping today!

Entering this into:
Catch the Bug Challenges
CAS Halloween over at AAA Cards

mouth watering goodness....

Just a quick post today... but filled with mouth watering goodness!

Am I right?  Doesn't this look tasty!?!

Maybe a little off season, but this was a quick and easy card so why not.  I used mostly pre-made elements from American Crafts Summer Time collection.  I included AC paper, journal card and this ice cream element  The ribbon was the perfect accent and the enamel dots look like extra cherries!  Yum!  The fabulous sentiment is from Winnie and Walter.

So, I need to know what is your favorite treat?  If it where your birthday or a special day what treat would you want?  Me, I grew up loving strawberry rhubarb pie.  My hubby, he likes Tiramisu (which I don't like at all).  Anything chocolate, I'll eat that too.  I do in fact have a sweet tooth.

Entering this into:

Wanna Sketch #21
The Pink Elephant- 274
Simon Says Stamp Monday- Treats!

Fusion shout out!

It's F-F-F-Fusion time!  Who's ready?!?!  I know I am!

Here is this week's inspiration for you:

I focused on the green and the sketch for my creation.  

This card goes with a shout out to some of my lovely crafty friends here in the PNW.  I've met some lovely ladies in the last few years and I am so lucky to know and be able to craft with them.  Two of these ladies are right her on the Fusion team, Ms. Kimberly Wiener and Ms. Amy Tsuruta.  Thanks to you all though, you know who you are.  You make my world better, one craft, one laugh and one cup of coffee at a time! 

Sooooooo, are you going to play with us this week?  I sure hope so!

Head over to the Fusion blog for the rules, more fabulous inspiration and some fun! 

Tail feathers turned into pretty petals

Hello friends!  I hope you were able to get your cards in to the Jingle Belles challenge where they were raising funds for the Susan G. Komen?  I only got one in myself, but every card counts!  I noticed 100 entries yesterday X $4 per card- easy $400 in funds!

Today I want to share something a little different with you.  This is a Thanksgiving card that is....well a little different.  I was originally going to make a turkey using the new Top Dog Dies Turkey Time Die Set, but as I worked with it, I just kept seeing a sunflower.  So that is what I decided to make, a colorful, non-traditional sunflower.  Two of those tail feathers back to back aren't exactly round, so I did a little fussing to add another row of feathers in the middle.  You can see it if you look closely, but had I not pointed it out, maybe you wouldn't?  The colors just scream fall, I used Wild Wasabi, Blackberry, Razzleberry, Only Orange and Saffron (all SU)!  I used a fun variety of yellow buttons as the seeds for my sunflower and I love that bit.  The sentiment is also from Top Dog Dies, the Top Dog Dies Give Thanks Die.

So what do you think?  A little different I know but eye catching and fun?  I hope so.

Time for you to shake your tail feathers or flower petals or whatever it is you want, just have fun with it! :)

Entering this into:

The Card Concept- Sunflowers- Clean and Layered

Stamplorations Sketch-

Simon Says Stamp- Monday Challenge- Anything Goes

Cut it up Challenge- Colors

Pink Christmas

Here's the deal....if there is a person alive who doesn't think these Lawn Fawn bunnies are cute they are simply crazy.  PERIOD!  Who would not love those sweet little faces?  I dare you to try and find one person! :)

So... that wasn't weird at all right?!  :D  Time for me to tell you about this card.  Super easy.  The DP did most of the work here.  I used my new Lawn Fawn die for the snow slope and simply cut off the  trees.  I stamped my tree in Wild Wasabi (SU!) and colored in the little dots to match the background.  I placed those cute little bunnies around it and stamped the sentiment.  Finally I mounted it on Pink Pirouette paper (also SU!) for a super sweet card.

The best part about this card is that I am entering it into the Jingle Belles Pink Christmas Challenge.  For every card that is linked up they donate $4 dollars to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.  Isn't that awesome!?!  So you have one more day to get creating and link up!

I am also entering this into the Merry Monday challenge for this week since they are also featuring a Pink Christmas.  I am having a ton of fun making non-traditional holiday cards.  I'd love to see your non-traditional holiday cards too!  Put your link in your comment and I'll stop by for a visit. :)

Thanks for visiting!

Nuts!

Happy FRIDAY (er, Thursday night PST)!  My oh my I am so glad this day of the week is here!  

The weather in Seattle has changed towards fall so it's only appropriate that for this Stuck on U Sketches Die Cut Challenge we are playing with the theme of Anything Autumn.

My husband is ready to light a fire in the fireplace even thought it is still 65 degrees during the day.  I personally think he is crazy, aka nuts!  But... I know I can be a little nutty too, so we really do make the perfect couple.  For that reason I dedicate this card to him {heart}.

This card is made using the new Fancy Pants True friend collection of papers and journal cards.  I love this color combo, it just makes me happy.  I used my Top Dog Dies Fall Foliage dies to create the lovely colored oak leaves.  I wrapped up some hemp cord for fun and embellished with a cobo of Neat and Tangled and Teresa Collins sequins.  

So, what will you be creating for this SOUS Die Cut Challenge?  If you aren't sure I encourage you to head over to the SOUS blog to see all the lovely creations over there and get some inspiration. 

Tutorial over on Top Dog Dies today

Hi Friends!  I am posting late in the day but I wanted to let you know that I have a tutorial up over at the Top Dog Dies blog today HERE.

I hope you will come visit!  :)

Fall Foliage Die from Top Dog Dies

The other day I pinned a delicious sounding and looking recipe, check it out...

Salted Caramel Apple Crumble

If you aren't drooling, I think you should seek IMMEDIATE medical attention. :)

We often go to a pumpkin patch each year with a group of friends, and sometimes we go back to their house for food and chatter.  If that happens this year, I will definitely be bringing this with me.  And along with this scrumptious treat, I'll be bringing the hostess a thank you card featured below.

This lovely card features Top Dog Dies new Fall Foliage Die Set.  This set is complete with the oak leaf, acorn and a maple leaf.  I used SU! Confetti Celebration as the majority of the DP on this card.  The exception is the yellow which is from Fancy Pants True Friend Collection.  I love the color combo together!  Though they may not be traditional fall colors, I think they look great together.  I also used my Winnie and Walter, The Big, The Bold and the Happy as my sentiment, embossed in black.  To add a little trendy flair, I also used some hemp cord curled around behind the leaves to add texture.  

I can't wait t go the the pumpkin patch for some fun with these friends.  I hope they like the card...and the Salted Caramel Apple Crumble!  :)

Hope you have a wonderful week filled with fun fall activities!

Finally!

Finally, Friday is here!  I am so ready for a little down time this weekend.  It will include some crafty shopping with my friends Amy Tsuruta, Kimberly Wiener and Tonya Jastad.  Lucky me!!!! :)

I wanted to share one of the cards I was able to make on World Card Making Day this last Saturday.  I was inspired by Winnie and Walter's many WCMD challenges, specifically this one.

Such a fun sketch right?!  I coupled it with this drool-worthy DP from Chickaniddy Crafts.  I love these soft colors.  My fave part of the card is how I curved the sentiment (The Big, the Bold and the Happy) and embossed it in white.  It makes me...well....HAPPY! :)  Other elements on this card are MME enamel dots, SU! Cardstock and more.  I sent this card to my friend June Houck for her birthday the other day and hope it makes her happy too.  

So, with that I bid you ado and happy weekend!

Fusion Thursday

Happy ALMOST weekend!  Are you ready for it?  I sure am!  In fact, I wish it was here already, but I guess I can get through two more work days... :)

Today is another amazing Fusion Challenge.  Hopefully you got to see the challenge from last week and all the amazing entries, I mean WOW!  Seriously some amazing crafters out there, shout out to all of you and thank you for joining us for the bi-weekly Fusion Challenge.  It is so fun for us on the DT to see all your amazing creations.

So let's get to this week shall we?  Here is our inspiration for this week:

I can tell you that I had a TON of fun with this image.  I typically have a completed idea in my head when I start, it often gets modified along the way, but it is there none the less.  With this one I only had a partial and wasn't sure where I was going with it.  Here is my final product. 

I used my MFT pocket die cut in Marina Mist and distressed it with Baja Breeze, Navy and some Tim Holtz brown to make it look like real vintage jeans.  I even added white stitching with my chalkboard marker.  The purple flowers are another MFT die cut that I love.  The flowers are from two older SU! sets.  The white flowers are done on white paper with white embossing powder.  I added some yellow Gelatos over the top to add that rich center, it also added just a little tint to the rest of the flower.  The other little flower (mostly leaves) is done on Wasabi paper in clear embossing powder.  I then used some white crayon to color the flowers in.  Finally, the sentiment is die cut from Simon Says Stamp.  Originally, I started with some other flowers for the daisies that I didn't like, so I am pretty happy with how this turned out.  Hopefully, it will cheer someone up when they are in need.

Whew!  That was a lot of talking on my part...  I hope you will come over to Fusion and check out all the fun and play with us!?!

Entering this into: 

Stamplorations October Challenge- Stamps and Embossing

Mixed Media Card Challenge- Vintage

Happy Birthday Top Dog Dies

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOP DOG DIES!

Did you know Top Dog Dies has just turned 1 year old?!  It's true!  So very exciting to be part of the Top Dog Dies Design Team and see all the very fabulous dies they have come out with!

Today I want to share a birthday card that I made using two BRAND NEW dies that are being released today! Today I am featuring Top Dog Dies Cool Cats and Top Dog Dies Scalloped Square Frame A2 Mat. 

Now here is what I did to create this.  First I cut out the Top Dog Dies Scalloped Square Frame A2 Mat out using my BasicGrey Fresh Cut DP.  I stamped the sentiment (Savvy Stamps) in white on the DP.  I love this chalkboard feel!  Next I cut out my kitty, dish and fish from the Top Dog Dies Cool Cat Die Set using more DP from my BasicGrey Pad.  The bright colors here draw the eye from the dark frame.  I mounted the frame with dimensionals on the backdrop layer of DP from Lawn Fawn's Hello Sunshine Collection.  I mounted the cats with in the frame as if they are looking out the window.  Finally, I used a banner from American Crafts to finish it off.  

Now...what is a birthday party with out presents?!  Top Dog Dies has some fabulous coupons for you to receive a discount on your purchase from now to Thursday, October 9th.  So...what are you waiting for, get your birthday shopping on! ;)

Thank you for stopping by today!  I hope you enjoy this post and this card.  I always welcome your feedback and hope you will stop by again. :)

SOUS- We're all mad here!

Over at Stuck on U Sketches we are all feeling a bit MAD!  Not mad as in Angry, but mad as in crazy...think Mad Hatter!  

The idea is to use a top hat, tea cut, tea pot or saucer etc....

I don't have any cup dies or anything of the sort, so I kinda went a different angle.  I used my Top Dog Dies Vintage Frame Dies to emulate the fanciness of doilies at a tea party, then I jazzed it up with some super contemporary patterned papers.  Crazy?  Perhaps, but it seems to match my mood as of late! ;)  I used a couple of stamps, the first is the rabbit designed from Alice and Wonderland, the hearts and the red pair nicely together.  The sentiment says it all though... "Wishing you some stolen moments among the madness of the day."

I think I'll be giving this card, with that sentiment to myself... LOL!

Come on over to SOUS and check out the rest of the goods.