Happy 4th of July

It's Marla back with another card featuring the "Patriotic" release available now in the Scrapping Cottage store.  I love the larger size of the "Patriotic Eagle w/Top Hat" which paired beautifully with the "U.S.A Flag".  I wanted to include the "Happy 4th of July Phrase" for my sentiment, so I went with a slimline card, which balanced out all the amazing dies well.

I am giving one of these new dies away in my YouTube video on the CottageCutz YouTube Channel.  I hope you'll join me.  Until next time.... Marla

Let Freedom Ring

Happy Wednesday!  The Scrapping Cottage has been very busy with two new releases.  Today, I am focusing on the "Patriotic" release, which not only will help you create beautiful cards for the 4th of July but can be used for cards to celebrate your favorite service member.  
Today, I am sharing this celebratory card over on the CottageCutz YouTube Channel.  I combined several of the new dies from this release.  I thought all of the products I used tells the story of unity, liberty and celebration that exemplifies our nation's observance of July 4th.  Again, there's a chance to win one of the dies I used on my card.  See which one we are giving away and find out how you can win it here.
I have linked all of the products I used on my card 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 

Using Water in Your Card Making

Hello, Marla here with another CottageCutz YouTube video tutorial and GIVEAWAY.  It's no secret that I love adding flowers to my cards, so I couldn't let these "Spring Tulips" sit any longer.  I paired them today with the milk can that came with the "Christmas Farmhouse Florals" die.  The container was the perfect size to compliment these beauties.  

I hope you will head over to check out the video.  Not only do I share how you can win these "Spring Tulips", but I am also demonstrating a few different techniques I used on this card using water.  

I've added the links to the CottageCutz dies used on this card for easy shopping.  Until next time.... Marla

Spring Themed Thinking of You Note Card

Hello, my crafty friends.  I hope you are beginning to see signs of spring and are getting outside more.  One of my favorite things about this time of year is listening to the birds sing again.  The melodic sound always brings me joy.  Especially, when I sit outside to enjoy my morning coffee.  Obviously, they were the inspiration for my card today.
I used two dies from the Easter release to create a cheery spring card.  I loved the size of the "Spring Bird w/ Vine" yet I wanted to add a couple flowers for that spring feel, so I used the flowers from the "Spring Potted Flowers w/ Bird."  I hope you'll join me over on the CottageCutz YouTube Channel to see how the card come together and to enter for a chance to win one of these two dies.  Until next time.... Marla

Split Scene Easter Card

Hello, my crafty friends, it's Marla back again with another CottageCutz YouTube video tutorial.  I am sharing a split scene card today using the "He is Risen w/Empty Tomb" and "Hilltop w/Crosses" dies.  I will be giving away one of these dies, so I hope you head over the channel to see how to enter to win.
The Easter release has been so much fun to create with and I hope you have been enjoying all of the inspiration on the blog and YouTube Channel.  There are several dies that go beyond the holiday, and we are excited to keep the inspiration coming your way.  Until next time... Marla
CottageCutz He is Risen w/ Empty Tomb 4x6 (scrappingcottage.com)

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

Happy Birthday!

Hello, my crafty friends.  It's Marla here today bringing you another CottageCutz YouTube video and GIVEAWAY.  I am featuring one of my favorite scene building techniques and a coloring tip to help add the illusion of dimension to your white die cuts.  

I will link all of the CottageCutz products that I used on this card below for easy shopping, but I hope you'll join me on our YouTube Channel. 

Until next time...... Marla

 

Dress Up Your Die Cuts

Hi my crafty friends, it's Marla back with another card share.  Easter is right around the corner and it's my favorite holiday for so many reasons.  One being, it's when all of the beautiful colors begin to show themselves again. For today's card I mixed several dies from The Scrapping Cottage to create a beautiful, yet playful Easter card.  

The "Flowers and More" release had so many floral and foliage dies that work well together to create amazing floral swags and clusters.  I wanted a colorful card, so instead of coloring the leaf die cuts in traditional greens, I used non-traditional color combinations.  If you look carefully, you'll see I included all of the colors of the rainbow on this card for a bright and vibrant touch.

I hope you will head over to the CottageCutz YouTube Channel to see how this card came together.  I will also be giving away the "Little Flowers" die.  I provide all of the information on how you can win in the video. I have also added all of the products I used below for quick and easy shopping.

Until next time..... Marla