Cadillac Santa

Hello and welcome back to the CottageCutz blog. It's Marla here today. I'm slowly transitioning into Christmas card makes. I've been having so much fun with fall projects it takes a little effort to make the shift. My card today has a 50's vibe with the "Cadillac Santa" die from CottageCutz. I used a color combination to fit the retro style and couldn't be happier with the finished card.

Let me walk you through my design process.

• Die cut the pieces using the "Cadillac Santa" die and white cardstock
• Ink up the die cuts.  I used Catherine Pooler Inks: Rockin Red, Fiesta Blue, Dress Blues and Sand Castle.
• Use a black Micron Pen to add eyes, color hoofs and antlers.

I wanted Santa to be traveling through the forest, so I pulled out my favorite tree die from CottageCutz "Pine Tree, Slim".

• Using the die, cut out the pieces from white cardstock
• Ink the three layers using Catherine Pooler In the Park, Mint to Be and Macchiato ink
• Glue the layers together

To finish the card:

• Cut a piece of pattern paper to fit the front of an A2 top folding card base
• Cut a piece of white cardstock using a mid-size rectangular shaped die I used a postage rectangle from my stash.
• Adhered the pattern paper to the card base and add the white postage layer more toward the top of center.

 

Thank you for stopping by today.  You can use the links provided to shop these CottageCutz products and more.  Until next time.... Marla

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Card Design Secrets Using Dies

Happy Monday!  It's Marla here with a new YouTube video tutorial.  Today, I am sharing my design tips for using dies that have multiple images.  

I used Botanical Garden 2 paired with Happy Birthday Sentiment on my card today.  I have linked the products for easy shopping.

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Using Up Odds and Ends

Happy Wednesday, friends.  It's time for another CottageCutz YouTube Video.  I don't know about you, but my craft room looks like a bomb went off in it.  I have been happily crafting away, but honestly, not putting things away.  This left me with a pile of Christmas die cuts I had cut but had not colored or assembled.  I decided to roll up my sleeves and use a few of these odds and ends on my cards today.  

If you caught the Black Friday sale, there were several fun large sentiments in the release.  This got my crafty mind churning and I thought I would pair some of my CottageCutz Christmas dies with these new large sentiments to create a couple post-holiday cards.

I've linked all of the items I used on my two cards below, but you can see how they came together and enter to win one of the sentiment dies by watching the video.  I hope this gets your crafty mind churning too and you continue to find ways to use some of the beautiful Christmas dies after the season ends.

Until next time....Marla

"Old Fashioned Ornament"

I'm super excited to share today's CottageCutz YouTube video with you.  As you know, the highly anticipated CottageCutz Christmas release is here and there are five, yes five amazing retro ornament dies within the release.  I thought it might be nice for you to see the scale of each of the ornaments and then build a few simple Christmas cards using a few of the new dies. I have shared a "teaser" card above. If you would like to see the ornaments assembled and get a better sizing perspective head on over and join me.  I will also be sharing how you can enter to win one of these beautiful dies.

I will link the products I used in my video below for easy shopping.  Until next time... Marla

Faux Die Cut Inlay

Hello, crafty friends, Marla here with another CottageCutz YouTube video tutorial.  I love the inlay die cutting technique, but sometimes the work involved can be a little daunting.  My card today features a cheat for this technique that gives the appearance with less work.  The technique is one that any card maker can achieve, and it worked well with the beautiful "Spring Butterflies" die.  

I would love for you to join me today over on our YouTube Channel and after watching, I hope you give the technique a try.  There's also an opportunity to win the "Spring Butterflies" die, which is an added bonus.  

Don't forget to check out the new "Folk Art" release that just dropped at the Scrapping Cottage.  It's a magical new collection you don't want to miss.

Until next time..... Marla 

Faith Based Easter Card

Hi, it's Marla sharing a card I created using the new CottageCutz "Easter" release.  I think this release is amazing! Choosing which dies to use first was a difficult decision because I love every die.  After much consideration, I settled on the beautiful "Spring Lilies" and paired them with the "Cross w/ Draped Cloth.  I thought the two dies really complimented each other and would make a beautiful faith-based Easter card.

I began by cutting the images from Bristol Smooth cardstock.  I wanted to watercolor with my Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers and have found that this paper works best for a smooth blend.What stood out to me right away was the amazing, embossed texture in the cross.  The textured wood appearance is beautiful and the addition of the cloth is such a lovely touch.  I paired Dark Brown/Dark Oatmeal and Deep Violet/Light Violet markers for the cross and cloth. This was easy watercoloring with the Zig Markers.  I added my darkest color to the edge and the lightest color inside that line.  With a little bit of water on my brush, I dragged the ink to the center of each image.  Once the pieces were dry, I secured the cloth to the cross with glue.

Next, I worked on the lilies. I wanted a high contrast, and I thought orange Tiger Lilies would be beautiful surrounding the purple in the drape.  I started with my Bright Yellow Zig Marker adding the color to the left and right side of each petal. I added a touch of water to my brush and pulled the ink toward the center, leaving a little white space.  Tiger Lilies have a beautiful dark orange at the tips and centers, so I added Deep Vermillian to these areas.  On the buds, I added the color to the v's where the petals met and followed any embossed lines.  I added more Bright Yellow again to add more depth of color.  To finish off the petals, I used a Copic multi-liner pen and added small dots to the centers of the petals.  I used Dark Brown with a little Bright Yellow markers on the stamens and Smoky Yellow/Ever Green for the leaves.  I have included a short video on the CottageCutz YouTube Channel if you want to see the watercoloring process for the flowers. 
 

There is one lily that needed to be assembled.  I simply looked at the photo on the packaging to see how the petals should be arranged.  I should note that I did need to cut out an additional stamen for the third open flower and I cut two additional stems for my flowers.  Instead, of following the design on the packaging, I planned to arrange the lilies around the cross, so I needed a few additional pieces.

I had an A2 top folding card base with stenciling on my desk.  I had created it for another project but didn't use it. It was perfect for this card. I had partially stenciled the design from the bottom right to upper left corners and then added a soft coat of the same color ink on top of the stenciling.  Once I arranged and adhered the die cuts, I used a stamp from my stash to add a sentiment to finish the card.

Thank you so much for stopping by today.  I've linked the products I have used below.  Until next time....Marla