Spooky, Kooky, Creepy, and Fun!!

Halloween is the time of ghosts, witches, and

scary black cats. Of spooks and spirits and

silly-fun tricks! And candy corn,

jack-o-lanterns, haunted houses, and bats!

I created this "Halloween" box to sit on our
kitchen table for the season. I will keep it
filled with fun, tasty treats for all of us to
enjoy.

It would have been impossible to make such an

animated piece without the awesome designs of

CottageCutz and some fun QuicKutz shapes.

CottageCutz

Build-a-Jack

Broomstick

Ghost

Bat

Witch Hat

Spooky Tree

Black Cat

Ghost with Legs

Quickutz

House and Tree

Spooky Scroll

Halloween

Ghouls Rule :)

Ever since The Scrapping Cottage previewed the Sept. Halloween Cottage Cutz release, I have been chopping at the bit to get my hands on these adorable Halloween dies!! Finally, I just couldn't wait any longer to make a Halloween layout. (I know, it is only Sept - what can I say - I love scrapping Halloween pics!!!) So, as I was thumbing through my Cottage Cutz dies looking for some inspiration, it hit me - how about a Haunted Tree House!! So I went about turning the already adorable Tree House Cottage Cutz die into a spooky Haunted Tree House.
I had so much fun putting this tree house together! And everything you see came from the Tree House die except the little ghost swinging on the tire swing. He comes with the Haunted House die from the Sept Halloween release. It is hard to tell, but I actually painted my little ghost with glow-in-the-dark paint! I can't wait to see if it really works!!

If you haven't already purchased your Cottage Cutz Halloween dies yet, you had better get your order in fast!! Well over half of the first shipment has already sold out so you want to be sure to get your name on the waiting list for the second round!!

Happy Haunting :)

Watch for it Wednesday #27

This week's Watch for it Wednesday features...

Tissue Paper!!!

Tissue paper can be a very valuable asset to

every scrapbooker! It is a wonderful and

inexpensive way to highlight, enhance, and

give dimension to all of your paper crafting

projects!! There are a multitude of colors to

choose from as well!! Today I chose to use a

scrap of white tissue paper, as well as, a

scrap of white cardstock.

First, I ran the white cardstock through my die
cutting machine to create a die of this sweet
little ghost. After that I took the piece of tissue
paper and crumpled it up into a ball to give
it a wrinkled look. I smoothed it out, just a
little, and ran it through my machine.



I lined the die cut tissue paper up with the die cut
cardstock and glued it on. After, I took a few more
scraps of the tissue paper and crumpled them up.
I then smoothed them out, ever so slightly, and
glued them onto the ghost. The tissue paper adds
dimension and also gives the ghost more of a
flowing, transparent look.

Fun, Fun Fun!!!

Check back on Friday to see
how I used this little guy!!

Anyone Having a Bird-day today?

Today's card is made from the CottageCutz Tropical Bird #1 which is a 3x3 die. I really wanted to create a card with this cute bird that you could give a guy. I Googled tropical birds and was amazed at how many different colors real tropical birds come in. I found one that was this gorgeous blue and tried to copy it.

I added 2 extra tail feathers and some gems for the eyes to give him a different look than the sample picture on the die. Remember to think outside the box when it comes to using your dies.

I placed some mounting tape on a few tropical leaves to give him some dimension.

I'm anxious to make a girly card next with this cute little bird.

CottageCutz Penquin

I have a fun card for you today using the CottageCutz Penguin. He is a super easy one to cut out and put together. On this card there are a couple of different patterned papers plus black and white cardstock. There is a little zig zag stitching
at the top and bottom. The letters are foam thickers by American Crafts and I used
some circle punches for the "snowballs." Just think of all the fun things you could do with the CottageCutz Penquin! :) Be sure to check out all the great CottageCutz dies at Scrapping Cottage.

Wild About You!

CottageCutz are incredible!!

Everytime that I work on a layout,

I look through my stash of

these awesome dies and I always

find the greatest addition to

all of my pages.

From hibiscus flowers and wishing wells

to pelicans and ghosts with legs.....

CottageCutz bloom wherever they are planted!

Spooky News

For all those that pre-ordered the awesome Halloween CottageCutz dies they are starting to ship!

Mad Tea Party with the Scrapping Cottage Exclusive Die

As soon as Scrapping Cottage released this Exclusive Tea Set Die, I snatched it right up. I just knew there were going to be so many opportunities to use all the different parts of this die in my future scrapping. Princess tea parties...heritage layouts...wedding showers...the list goes on!!

When I started working on my Disney World pictures of the Tea Cups ride, I immediately thought of using this Tea Set. I don't use a lot of stickers because I like to be able to coordinate my die cut embellishments to my pictures and papers. However, I have purchased some of the Disney character stickers and so forth for my Disney pages. But the teacups sticker that came with the Mad Hatter package of Disney stickers was cute but way too small for a layout. So, by using the cup and saucer from the Tea Set die, I was able to recreate the stacked cups sticker in a much larger and perfectly color-coordinated form.

I also used my Silhouette to cut the Spinning in the Teacups title as well as one of the 12" Wave Borders to create the spinning trail coming off of the title.

Last Day for Cottage Cutz Special Sale!!!

WATCH FOR IT WEDNESDAY #26

Ink Chart

I created this ink chart a few years ago and I am amazed at how often I reach for this.

I have one for all my inks, but today I'm just going to show you the one for my Distress Inks.

I simply type up a list of the colors I have (or plan on getting) and then stamp the color right next to it's name for easy reference. I do a lot of shading on my patterned papers and diecuts and like to match the color as close as I can.

I just place the ink chart up to my paper and see what color or colors match the best.

I have found that the color on the pad or the top of the box isn't always an accurate match to the actual stamped color.

I also like to label my distress inks so I can easily see what color I'm reaching for. I always store them upside down too to keep the ink at the surface.

Get Well "Well" Card

CottageCutz Wishing Well

The moment I saw this die I knew what I wanted to do with it. This is the perfect die to make Get Well & Best Wishes cards with.

For this card I cut out my pieces from cardstock and then used my Copic Caio markers to color them. I used a darker brown to outline the marks in the wooden roof and made some of my own details, then colored the whole piece with a lighter brown. For the brick part of the well I used a Copic to outline and then applied a little white ink shading to the side. I wanted some flowers in my pail so I punched out two circles and shaped them to look like flowers. I wanted the well to stand out a bit so I mounted it with mounting tape on top of a cardstock panel I ran through my Cuttlebug with an embossing folder.

These CottageCutz dies are so original and fun to work with. I can't wait to work with the upcoming Halloween dies! There are some spooky things ahead....

CottageCutz Chicken

Have a fun card for you this week using the CottageCutz Chicken die. I did some shading with chalks, used some foam tape on the wing, and added a small black brad for the eye. The papers are by Anna Griffin and the sentiment was computer generated. I thought using the leopard print
with this die gave it a fresh and funky look. :) Be sure to check out all the
unique CottageCutz dies at Scrapping Cottage.

Baby, it's cold out there!

As promised, here is the entire layout I mentioned on my post from yesterday. You can see the little overlay strip of ladybugs that I decorated with the stickles. When I added the piece of cream cardstock onto my layout, I felt like it was sort of boring. So I pulled out one of my Embossing folders to liven it up a bit. I used the Polka Dots folder to coordinate with the other dots on the layout. These are so easy to use and can really add a fun element to your pages and cards. Be sure to check them out!

Watch for it Wednesdays!! #25

I love that so many manufacturers provide such fun embellishments to coordinate with their paper lines. It makes it so easy to add some extra elements to your pages when someone else has done the "matching" for you. Recently, I purchased some cute overlays. The designs were really cute but I wanted to add a little something extra.

My tip for this week is how to dress up your overlays. For these little ladybugs, I wanted to add a little extra bling. So I flipped over the overlay and added black stickles to the head and red stickles on the back to color the spots. You don't have to worry about trying to get the stickles to stay inside those tiny little ladybug spots because the extra won't show through on the front. Once the stickles are dry, flip your overlay over and look how cute these little bugs are now! You could also use your Copic markers to add some color to your overlays as well.

Come back tomorrow to see the rest of this layout!! :)

We're HALF Way There and a Red Hibiscus!

This is so neat to see our followers increase daily. Thank you to all those who have chosen to be followers of the Cottage Blog and hope you enjoy it here! We have 250 more followers to go and we can draw a winner for a $250 shopping spree here at the Scrapping Cottage.

Today I'm featuring the CottageCutz Large Hibiscus. There is so much you can do with flowers, especially this famous tropical Hibiscus. I chose to make mine red because growing up in Southern California we had neighbor who lined their fence with these and they grew over supplying us with these beautiful red flowers. I remember taking my teacher a few of these on more than one occasion.
I shaded my flower with ink and applied some yellow Stickles to the top of the center.

I think anyone would appreciate a cheery Get Well Card like this. Other card ideas would be:

Birthday, Thank You, Aloha, Vacation Wishes, Wedding etc.

Think Outside The Cage

As you know from previous posts, I have a thing for butterflies and frogs. :) I also love bird and bird related things. I was super excited when the new
CottageCutz Tropical Bird dies were released. :) Today's card is a fun one
using the CottageCutz Tropical Bird 2 and
CottageCutz BirdCage. Be sure to check out all the great CottageCutz dies and
other products at Scrapping Cottage.

Fall is in the Air

I know it is still August and not a single leaf has

fallen from any tree but there is a definite sense

that it is almost fall.

Children are going back to school,

Department stores are filled with long-sleeved shirts,

There is a brisk, quiet breeze,

and a feeling of excited anticipation for a welcome change.

I love the fall....in fact I love every season. I am
always ready for the next glorious season to arrive.


Not only do I derive great pleasure from God's beautiful
transformation, I am also overjoyed by the realization that
with each delightful month that passes, there will be a new
CottageCutz release!!!


I wait in excited expectancy for the incredible
fall release that will shortly be upon us!

Almost Paradise

I just love the Under the Sea themed dies from the August Cottage Cutz Release! Plus, since July the Cottage Cutz dies have been released in pink and they are so pretty!! I almost didn't want to foam them when they arrived!

For this layout, I used a couple of the great ocean shell shapes to accent the corner of my photo. These Cottage Cutz Dies are so well designed that by just adding a little simple shading, you can really make them come to life. I cut the large Palm Tree using my Silhouette. The title fonts are Rollerskate (which is on sale right now for 50% off!!!) and Central Park.

The August Cottage Cutz release is really going fast! If you haven't ordered your favorites yet, you better not wait too much longer! Or while you are shopping for some of the spooktacular September Cottage Cutz, grab a couple of your favs from the July and August releases so you can get that Free Shipping and finish up some of your summer layouts at the same time!

Watch For It Wednesdays #24

I have ONE more card idea for your CottageCutz Frog w/Crown die today.
It will be the last one. (Or will it?.....inserting froggy grin here.)
This is a fast and easy card using the CottageCutz Frog w/Crown die and a set
of clear stamps by Penny Black. Throw in a flower, a brad, a paper crimper and
ribbon and you have a fun card. Be sure to check out all the great products at
Scrapping Cottage. The CottageCutz dies are exclusive to Scrapping Cottage.

CottageCutz Woody Car

Isn't this the cutest Woody Car you've ever seen?

This was so fun to make and see it come to life as I put together the pieces of this Woody car.

I chose my patterned paper and then some orange cardstock to match and started cutting. I also used my ink and daubers to shade the pieces before I put them together. When I was done I used some mounting tape to make the car pop up just a bit.
Check out all the fun CottageCutz dies available at The Scrapping Cottage.

Don't forget to enter our contest for a $250 Shopping Spree - it's simple and you may be the lucky winner!

Feeling Froggy, Part Four

Have you thought about using the CottageCutz Frog w/Crown die for making fun holiday cards? :) In part four and I suppose my last of the series (although I still have lots of ideas for this die), I did two cards. One is a Halloween card featuring "Count Frogula." :) The second card is Christmas themed. I hope you have enjoyed my "feeling froggy" series. Be sure to check out all the great products at Scrapping Cottage.

LAST DAY TO SAVE...

SUNDAY, AUGUST 23rd

New CottageCutz Halloween Release is now available for pre-order. Save 15% on individual items, Save over 20% on the bundle. Theme is spooky, scary and Trick-or-Treat with 21 new Halloween shapes. Shipping mid-September!

See website for details

What Little Girls are Made of.......

I had a great time creating this layout with sparkles

and glitter and ribbons! It is everything our daughter

loves all bundled up into one piece of 12 inch paper!

I used one of my favorite CottageCutz dies on this
layout. Can you spot it?? Give up? I used the tail of the
Bird (Bird and Birdhouse shape) to create the swirls
found on the white star. It is perfect for this layout!


I love my CottageCutz dies for a million reasons
and today I discovered reason number one million
and one....their versatility!! I can use them as they
are or make them be what I want them to be!!
CottageCutz are the perfect dies for everything!!

Summer Hello card

If you are like me, you don't get to see a lot of your friends during the summer. So, what a great opportunity to let you friends know you are thinking about them AND show off your card making skills by sending out some fun and bright summer hello cards! The Cottage Cutz Summer Shapes from the June Release are just perfect! These Popsicle shapes are just perfect for any summer related paper crafting project.

For this card, I used some pearlescent cardstock to give my Popsicle a shiny, icy look. I also embossed the brown cardstock and then took my brown chalk ink and rubbed it across the top of the cardstock. Because my embossed dots are raised, it is easy to cover them with ink without getting any on the background. This technique helps the embossed pattern to stand out a bit.

I also used the Quickutz Rollerskate alpha for my sentiment. I love this alphabet because it is perfect when I need a smaller alpha but also has some style to it as well. This is a GREAT time to pick up this alpha because right now Rollerskate is 50% off!!! Add it to your cart while you are taking advantage of the last few days of the preview sale for the fabulous Halloween shapes from the September Cottage Cutz release! If you haven't seen this shapes yet, you are going to be blown away!!

WATCH FOR IT WEDNESDAY #23

Celebration Mini Banners

Today is my youngest daughters Sweet 16 Birthday. We always decorate a bit for the birthday boy or girl in our family with some crepe paper and a painted wood sign that says Happy Birthday. I wanted something a little more special since 16 is such a big birthday, after all you are old enough to get a real job, get a drivers license and in our home your finally old enough to date. I just took two sheets of 12x12 cardstock and made the base for my mini banner.

Then I decided on the new Quickutz Teriyaki Cookie Cutter font for my message.

Add a few other diecuts and colors and there you have it. This idea would be great for any celebration and costs very little and personalizes the occasion.

I put this up on our fireplace mantle with some Sticky Tac so I can slip this into her scrapbook when I'm done with no tape marks to tear the cardstock.

Feeling Froggy, Part Three

Here's two more ideas for the CottageCutz Frog w/Crown die. This die is so cute and I have such fun with him (as if you couldn't tell). :) Be sure to check in next Monday for the last of my "Feeling Froggy" series of ideas.