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

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

Empathy or Sympathy Card

Happy New Year!   I am happy to be back with you today after a busy Christmas season.  Today, I am sharing an empathy or sympathy card.  These are the type of cards we don't like to make but unfortunately are needed.  I love the classic elegance of this card.  If you don't need an empathy or sympathy card in your stash, you can use the card's basic design for a birthday, anniversary or wedding card.  The sky is the limit. 

All of the specific design details can be found on the CottageCutz YouTube Channel. I will also be giving away the beautiful "Holiday Dove w/Floral" die.  The die was created for the Christmas Part II release, but as you can see the addition of the dove is perfect for the theme of my card today.  

I have linked all the beautiful dies I used on my card below for easy shopping.  Thank you for stopping by to take a look at my card.  Until next time....Marla

                                                 

Getting Creative With Your Dies

                                        

   
Welcome back my crafty friends, Marla here with more Christmas inspiration from the "Christmas Part II" release.  I'm up on the CottageCutz YouTube Channel today with a colorful Christmas card. I am a huge fan of greenery for my Christmas cards. I love the delicate elegance of these types of dies and the new release is filled with many beautiful designs that fit that bill.   I also like to create cards that use the CottageCutz dies in an unexpected way.  

At first glance, the "Christmas Greenery" does not seem like the "perfect" pairing with the "Polar Bear Trio and Igloo", but as you can see, with a little creative imagination they worked together beautifully.  I hope you'll head over and join me as I put this card together.  Not only will I be sharing some tips and thoughts on this design, but there is also a chance for you to win the "Polar Bear Trio and Igloo" die.

All of the products that are available in "The Scrapping Cottage" are linked below for easy shopping.

Until next time...... Marla

Two Cards One Die

Hi, it's Marla back again with a new CottageCutz YouTube video.  The Christmas Part 1 release is live and I for one am excited to play with some of the amazing dies in this release.  I love creating Christmas cards and can always count on CottageCutz to come up with some of the sweetest designs.

When I buy new products, I try to think of multiple ways that I can use them. I want to get the most use out of my products.  When I saw the "Christmas Tree Peekers" die, I imagined so many ways I could use the peeking Santa and reindeer with some of my other CottageCutz dies.  Today, over on the CottageCutz YouTube Channel I am sharing two of the designs to help you get your creative juices flowing.

I don't want to forget to mention that I am also giving this die away, so head over and watch to enter the GIVEAWAY.  I've linked all of the CottageCutz products below that I have used on my cards for easy shopping.  Until next time.... Marla

Down on the Farm

It's time for another CottageCutz YouTube video and today, I am bringing you something a little different.  Did you know that CottageCutz has scene dies?  Not only are they a quick and easy way to create a card on their own, but if you make a few adjustments, you can add other images to them for an entirely different look.  

That's what I have done today.  I used the "Fall Farm Scene" die and paired it with the "Kitties w/Daisies and "Fresh Strawberry Patch" dies.  I thought it would be fun to keep my scene white (even easier), you certainly can color it in.  I think the pop of color to images I added, really amplifies the sentiment.  What do you think? I hope you'll head over to watch my video to see I used to really make the background stand out even though it's white.

I will leave you with the links to the products I used for easy shopping. Before I go, I want to mention the new release "Baseball and Golf"  which is available now in the Scrapping Cottage.  It's perfect for creating cards for those guys in your life, both big and small, who enjoy sports.

Until next time.... Marla

A Rainbow of Flavors & GIVEAWAY

   One of my fondest memories as a kid was going to Thrifty's for an ice cream cone.  I can't tell you how many times I ordered Rainbow Sherbert.  The swirls of color and touch of tang always made me happy.

It's what inspired my card today, which I am sharing over on the CottageCutz YouTube Channel. For my video, I am featuring the "Build an Ice Cream Cone" die and bonus, I am also giving it away.  This die is filled with several styles of ice cream cones so you can build the cone of your dreams.  An ice cream card is a great way to send a note to let someone know you're thinking of them and would pair perfectly with a gift card to someone's favorite ice cream shop.  Who wouldn't love this sweet surprise in their mailbox?

I hope you'll head over to watch and don't forget to check if you are the winner of the "Candy Cart" die I gave away in my last video.

Thanks for joining me.  Until next time.... Marla