It's a Party!

A Froggie Park Party. I couldn't wait to get this adorable CottageCutz Frog w/ Branch die. I knew it would be perfect to use on the invitations and goodie bags for my sons 7Th birthday.

This is the CottageCutz die I am showcasing today.



I only added a bit of shading using ink to my frog. He was almost perfect as is.

This is a close-up of the invitations.


Here are the goodie bags and invitations.


I wanted to say "Thank You" to the Owner and DT of the Scrapping Cottage for giving me the opportunity to be a guest designer for 6 months. I feel so blessed!

Have a great Thursday everyone!
Karen

WATCH FOR IT WEDNESDAY #50

Today I'm going to show you how to make a really cute, but simple treat container.

If you've ever gotten a baked potato at a restaurant you may have a gotten some sour cream in a funky little container, well that's what I'm going to show you except this one contains a treat instead of sour cream.

Start out with a 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" piece of double sided patterned paper. I like to use a heavier weight paper myself.

Then apply some adhesive as shown.

Then make a cylinder using the edge with the adhesive to seal it up. Then take a corrugator and put a few crimps on the edge with the adhesive.
This leaves you with an open end to put your treats inside.

Leave some room at the top to seal the end. Then where the other strip of adhesive is seal together going the opposite way to form the sour cream container look.

Add the crimps with the corrugator again and whatever tag and ribbon you like and there you have it!

I used this adorable CottageCutz Mini Bunny for my tag. Since I have a real bunny rabbit this was a must have for me, it makes me smile when I see this cute bunny bum. Too cute!

The Scrapping Cottage is sure to have whatever Spring/Easter diecut you're looking for.

Thank Ewe

You can never go wrong with a sheep die because there are so many "ewe" sayings to use on your cards.

I made this "Thank Ewe" card with the CottageCutz Sheep w/flowers die.

I cut this die out with an thick ivory cardstock and colored in the bell and flowers with my Copics. For the hooves I used a dauber and black ink and sponged the color on, this gave them a more subtle black than just cutting them out in black. I used Antique Linen Distress ink to sponge around the sheep.

We hope you'll join us this month for all our fun projects using the CottageCutz Easter release.
Some other sentiments using this die:

Thinking of "Ewe"

"Ewe" are Loved

I Love "Ewe"

Happy Birthday to "Ewe"

We're excited to announce that Karen will be a part of our Design Team here at the CottageBlog and look forward to seeing more of her wonderful layouts and projects!

Welcome Karen!

FUN TAGS

HAPPY MONDAY!!! Here are a few fun tags using Cottage Cutz dies and Glimmer Mist. I used a different color of Glimmer Mist on each tag. When the tag is dry, you can add your favorite Cottage Cutz die. Now you have a perfect tag for any layout!This cute snowman with broom die is from the Christmas release.

And the adorable little fox from the camping release.

Spring Cottage Cutz Release!!

New Spring Cottage Cutz Dies have just been released!! Check them out!! There are several dies in this release that will go very nicely with dies from the Easter release that is shipping now!

Now is the time to take advantage of pre-order pricing on this newest release!!

Patio Picnic

I am getting so tired of this cold winter weather so what better way to warm up than by working on a bright springy layout! The new Cottage Cutz Butterflies from the Valentines Release are going to be must haves for all of your spring projects this year! This die is sooooooooooo cute and the butterflies are so easy and quick to put together! I love how I can customize the butterflies with the exact colors I want and the direction I need it to face!

This layout was inspired from PageMaps because as you know I love to play with sketches! So get out your Spring papers and get to scrapping!

Home is...

where the Heart is.

I am sad to see February end. I have had so much fun working with these adorable CottageCutz Valentine dies! Of course, they are perfect for Valentine layouts or crafts but are adaptable enough to be used year round.

These are the CottageCutz dies I am showcasing today.


Both of the dies I am showcasing today are so versatile. These are the dies you will keep pulling out to use on your pages. They really add that extra something to your layout or project.

The CottageCutz Heart Doily can be cut in so many different ways to create so many different looks. I have used it here, only cutting the top, to create the scallops of lace. You could also only cut the bottom V of the heart, for a different lace effect.

The CottageCutz Lock and Key is a perfect embellishment to use on so many of your creations. Use them together or separately. Ideas for this die include, in titles(see Watch for it Wednesday #48) or cut only the heart die to use as an accent(see layout below) and finally the keys, a great die to have for a variety of different projects(see layout below).

**Click on image to expand for a better view.**


Have a wonderfully creative day!
Karen

WATCH FOR IT WEDNESDAY #49

Welcome to Watch for it Wednesday! For today's project you will need a bottle or two of Glimmer Mist and your favorite die. I used the ribbon in the Cottage Cutz Lock and Key die.

You will also need a craft mat but if you don't have one you can use a piece of wax paper. Spray some of the Glimmer Mist on the mat or wax paper.

Take your die and rub it face down in the Glimmer Mist you sprayed on your mat or wax paper.
Once you completely cover the die with Glimmer Mist, pat off the access with a paper towel.

Let it dry and you are ready to use it on your layout or add another color of Glimmer Mist.

This chipboard heart was sprayed with two colors of Glimmer Mist. Doesn't the heart look great?
You can also use Glimmer Mist to add color to your paper. This paper was sprayed with Pumpkin Pie Glimmer Mist. Once it was dry I added a little green ink.

Have a great Wednesday!!!

Cupcakes are all the Rage!

Have you noticed all the cupcake rage going on? Lots of little shops that specialize in cupcakes, cupcakes on patterned paper, diecuts and embellishments? The Scrapping Cottage not only makes unique dies but also keeps up with the trends. There are 4 different cupcakes to choose from on the Sugar Sweet Valentine's release.

Here is the CottageCutz Cupcake #3. I shaded it with my inks and then added some Stickles which went wonderful with my already sparkly patterned paper.

Make them any flavor you want and for any occasion. There are lots of options with this one die or you can get all 4 dies and make your own bakery.

DARE TO BE DIFFERENT

Happy Monday!!! Ice Cream Sundaes are fun to eat all year around. You could probably have a different sundae everyday. They are great with hot fudge, pineapple or strawberry toppings. The Cottage Cutz Ice Cream Sundae on this composition notebook is a little different, an Ice Cream Sundae with Strawberry toppings and a little chocolate on the top. Dare to be different when you use your ice cream die and make it with your favorite toppings.

This is a fun project and easy to do. Just get a composition notebook and some scrapbook paper and your favorite Cottage Cutz dies. I used Mod Podge to adhere the paper to the notebook. Let it dry and then add your favorite Cottage Cutz dies and embellishments.

Happy Birthday Cupcake Card

I just love all of the Cupcake shapes from the Valentines Cottage Cutz release! They are each so unique and so different that it is hard not to want them all, but I think everyone needs at least one of these in your stash! Cupcakes can be used for any and all holiday and other celebration themes which is why these cupcakes are so versatile.

I created this card by pairing this cute Cupcake #1 Shape with some Basic Grey papers. Aren't these papers perfect with the Cottage Cutz cupcakes?! Any of the cupcake shapes would really be a fabulous embellishment with these papers! I loved how great the stickles looked on one of the adorable tags posted on the Scrapping Cottage Facebook Page and so I wanted to try it on my cupcake, too. I used a contrasting color of stickles to coordinate with the cupcakes from the papers.

Easy Bake Fun!

I am having so much fun creating layouts and other projects using the yummy new shapes from the Cottage Cutz Valentines Release. There are so many possibilities my fingers just can't keep up with my "to-do" list!

One of my oldest daughter's favorite Christmas presents this year was her Easy Bake oven. I think this gift is a right of passage for all little girls. I can still remember my own Easy Bake Oven. So of course I had to take some pictures of our maiden voyage of the new Easy Bake oven. Big sister was not thrilled with little sister helping, but if there is one thing she loves most, it's sweets. So little sis couldn't wait to play Easy Bake Oven, too!!

As soon as I saw the Bakery Shoppe from the Valentines Release, I knew it would be the perfect addition to an Easy Bake Oven layout!

This shape pieces together very easily. I recommend starting from the bottom of the Bakery and working your way up to the top to make sure you end up with enough space for everything. It can easily be customized for any layout by changing the colors in the cute awnings and trims. I chose to pull out colors from my girls' pink shirts, a darker pink from the polka dot paper and a touch of yellow from the paper and the cookie.

Thanks for stopping by the Cottage Blog! If you haven't joined our Facebook group yet, click the image on the right of the blog and become a fan! TGIF!!

Sweet Treat

Good Morning!

This is the CottageCutz die I will be showcasing today.


Any way you use it, the CottageCutz Strawberries w/ Chocolate die is a sweet treat! This versatile die can be used all year.
For my layout, I only cut the strawberries not the chocolate. This gave the strawberries a fresh spring look perfect for my page. I used bright colors to keep with my spring/summer theme. A simple layout that keeps the focus on my photos and the cute CottageCutz Strawberries.


I hope you all get some creative time today!
Karen

Watch For It Wednesday! #48

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

I wanted to talk today about sewing on layouts. I thought I would go over some of the basics of stitching on scrapbook pages. It is a great way to add texture and dimension to your pages. It also adds a bit of whimsy and fun.

First, these are the CottageCutz dies I am showcasing today.


I recommend that you practice on some scrap paper first. You are going to need to adjust the stitch tension and stitch length depending on your machine. I find for me, that a medium stitch tension works best and a long stitch length. The other thing to remember is the speed at which you sew. If you sew slowly, you will run the risk of the stitches not catching. If you sew too fast, the thread seems to get clumped up in knots on the backside.

As far as what type of paper to use, I have sewn on cardstock, pattern paper and die cuts. They all work fine. You also don't need any fancy kind of thread, just regular sewing thread.

Now that we have gone over some of the basics, on to the fun stuff. What can you do with the sewing on your pages?

Tip #1-A great idea is to stitch around your photo or entire layout to frame it.
I used both a straight stitch and zig-zag stitch around my photo, this adds interest and playfulness.


Tip #2-Stitching is a great way to adhere paper or items to your pages.
I used a straight stitch to attach my CottageCutz Heart Doilies to my page. This gives the Doilies dimension because they lift on the sides.


This is another example of using sewing to adhere items.
I used zig-zag stitches to attach my journaling strips to my page.


Tip #3-You can create accents with sewing.
I stitched a heart using both a straight and zig-zag stitch to frame my CottageCutz Key.


I hope this will inspire you to try sewing on your layouts.
Have a great day!
Karen

Bon Bons on a Stool in my Craft Room

You've heard the saying "What do you do all day, eat bon bons on the couch and watch TV all day?"

Well, I had fun making diecut bon bons on my stool in my craft room all afternoon.

Too bad I didn't have some real ones to eat while I was making them.

This CottageCutz Bon Bons die lets you create your own box of chocolates.

I cut out my bon bons in "milk" chocolate and "dark" chocolate and then sponged around the edges with some distress ink.
This release is so much more than just Valentine's Day, there are so many fun "sweets" to make all year round.

VALENTINE MAILBOX

I hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day! This is how I sent the message of my love to my two little grandsons. I found a cute little mailbox, decorated it and put a little Thomas the train inside.
For the front of the mailbox I used the Cottage Cutz lock and key and used my gold and silver dabbers to paint them.
On the side of the mailbox, a delicious hot fudge Ice Cream Sundae. The mini bow and arrow sending a heart of love on the back.

And Jack showing off his mailbox!!!

Happy Valentines Day!!!

I hope everyone is having a lovely Valentines Day!! Today is not only Valentines Day, it is also my parents' 40th Wedding Anniversary. So I decided to whip up a card to take to them at dinner tonight. The new Cottage Cutz Cake on a Pedestal shape is the perfect addition to a celebratory card like this one!
I replaced the heart cookie topper that comes with this shape with the number 40 to signify their anniversary. You could also use this cake shape for any birthday card and add the birthday number on top of the cake as well. You can't tell very well from my scan, but I used glitter cardstock for the pink icing and also for the little heart accents on the pedestal. It really helps add a little extra bling to the cake :)

Back from Disney!!

Yep, that's right! I have finally made it back home from the happiest place on earth. Disney World has to be one of my favorite places in the whole world. I have just as much fun now as an adult as I did when I was a child. You never get too old to enjoy the magic of Disney! However, the older you get, the longer it takes you to "recover" from all that fun!! Honestly, I can truly say I have never been this tired in my whole life. I was even too tired to scrapbook!

Fortunately, I have rallied a bit today and was able to finish up my Blog project that I started before I left. Since Valentines Day is fast approaching, I thought a Valentines card would be appropriate for my post this week (one day late - sorry about that!!!). There are so many darling new Cottage Cutz Valentines Dies to choose from when it comes to making your Valentines cards and layouts this month that it is hard to decide which one to use first!

For my Valentines card, I chose to use the Beaver shape from last month's release and the Limited edition Heart Doily shape from the Valentines Release. I am still enjoying all the adorable little animals from the camping release. And they make the cutest additions to cards, too! I used a bit of pink paper when creating my little beaver to give him a bit of a Valentines look. I thought about swapping out the wooden stick for a little heart, but I decided to keep the stick since it goes so well with my sentiment :)

Be sure to check out the newest Cottage Cutz Easter/Spring Release!!

There are some absolutely adorable new shapes for Easter and St. Patrick's Day as well as great Spring embellishments to go along with all of your upcoming projects. Definitely some "must-haves" in this newest release to be sure!!

Valentine Treat Basket

Happy Thursday Everyone! With Valentines only a few days away, I wanted to share a quick and easy idea for a Valentine Treat Basket. See end of post for info on template.

These are the CottageCutz dies that I am showcasing today.


I used the CottageCutz Valentine Puppy on one side and cut a few more of his hearts as accents.


I used the arrow from the CottageCutz mini(bow&arrow) to accent my punched heart.


This Valentine Treat Basket is a perfect way to showcase those adorable CottageCutz Valentine dies. Embellish your basket with your favorite dies and fill with goodies. Remember this would work great with the new CottageCutz Easter dies too.

I found the template for this cute basket online. It was very small, printed out on half a 8.5x11 sheet of paper. I scanned it back in and re sized it to print on a 12x12 sheet of paper. It is now a good size to fill with Valentine treats. If you are interested in the template, please email me at karenhelmka@aol.com. If you have a large format printer, print it on a 12x12 sheet of paper. If you have a standard printer, print it in halves, cut out and tape together and you are ready to go.


Have a wonderful day!
Karen

Watch for it Wednesdays!! #47

Today I would like to give you a tip I discovered last week while working on my Gingerbread House shape. Since my "so-called" scrappy friends have gotten me hooked into these Copic markers (like I need another scrapping addition!!) I have started using them more and more in my die-cutting. Before when I wanted to add more layers and colors to my die cuts, I cut the shapes out over and over in different shades of paper. Now, I just cut out the shape once in white, and then color in the smaller detailed pieces in whatever colors I need.

Since I have started using this alternative technique some, I have found I only need to tend to cut out my shapes in one or two colors of cardstock. For the Gingerbread House, for example, I ran all three die plates through my cutter using both brown and then white cardstock. In the past, I have always laid one 4x4 die onto my plate at a time and then placed one piece of 4x4 cardstock on top and rolled it through. Well this time, I laid all three die plates from the Gingerbread House shape onto my cutting plate at once and then I placed a 12x4 piece of cardstock on top and rolled the whole thing through at once. By doing this, I only had to make two cuts - one for each color of cardstock I was using. But, the coolest thing I discovered, was how much easier it was to locate and keep up with all my shape pieces because I only had to pieces of paper to handle instead of 12 little 4x4 pieces of paper

I encourage you the next time you are working with one of your Cottage Cutz Shapes that come as 2 or even 3 plates, try this method and see if you like it as much as I do!

Come back tomorrow for our fabulous Guest Designer, Karen's Thursday post!