A Wee Bit of Gift Giving

Really! Really. . .No RED. . .are we past all the red holidays? . . .Yes we are finally into Spring. . . Yellows. . .Pinks. . .Lavendars. . . This week I decided to do a wee bit of green and yellow to create a few quick gifts. I used a large glass mug (found at the dollar store) and filled a cello bag with chocolate & nut covered caramel popcorn and tied the bag with green, yellow ribbon and gold metallic cord. I am sorry I can not tell you how much popcorn to use. . I ate so much out of the bag while I was working on the project. . well . . . I think I ate more than I used. . .so the thought is . . . . buy three times as much as you think you will need. ! ! ! !

I used the Cottage Cutz Postage Stamp and Beer Mug Die to create a tag to tie to the side of the glass mug. I used Bazzill Bling cardstock for most of the tag. The golden yellow from Bazzill Bling is such a good beer color (also great for sunflowers). I used black cardstock for the postage stamp to have a really dark backround so the greens, golds and white would pop.

I highlighted the gold cardstock in brown ink with a sponge. I went ahead and highlighted the bubbles and glass stripes before punching them out. . .that is another cool thing about Bazzill Bling paper, the die WILL cut the paper. . but the thickness of the paper alows it to hold really well until YOU want to punch it out. . . .no lost pieces.

The pillow bag of popcorn was wrapped with a strip of cardstock and the tag was added like a buckle on a belt. I used the Cottage Cutz Beer Mug Die and also used the Label Die. Also on both pieces if you noticed the very small shamrocks. . .they are from the Cottage Cutz Irish Pub Die. I wanted to add a few shamrocks. . and thought . .. in the world . . .am I going to find micro shamrocks without using foil confetti. . . than I remember the PUB sign on the Irish Pub Die. . . .good save l!!!

These two items would make great quick gifts . . . . Make the tags ahead of time. . than when you need the gift. . . just just run out for the popcorn or candy. (Just buy the large bag!)

Happy Valentine's Day

Just a short post today.  Happy Valentine's Day to all of my blogging friends!  Hope you spend some time with someone you love!  I used Cottage Cutz Tiered Cupcakes to make this card.  Enjoy the day!

Hugs and smiles, Janice

If you're lucky enough to be Irish.............

Hello. For my card today I used the Flourish Tree die. I used a wood-grain background stamp to white emboss the tree. Since tomorrow is Valentine's Day I figured I'd switch it up and make this a St. Patrick's Day card. I glued 3 of the larger hearts from the die together to make a shamrock. ;o)

Ok, that's if for me today! See ya next Sunday!

♥ Nikki ♥

More Valentine Love

Good morning!  WOW!  Have we seen some awesome creations this week, or what?  Our design team has provided us with some wonderful inspiration, and I hope I can keep that momentum going.  I have two cards to share today, and I used the same layout for both cards.  I simply couldn't decide between the Puppy with Valentine die, or the Kitty in Envelope die, so I threw caution to the wind and did them both!  I know, living dangerously, right?  LOL!!!  Since returning home from CHA, it's taken me a while to find my routine again, but I was totally inspired to use these adorable dies that arrived right before I left.

 While at CHA, I was blessed to be working beside the very talented Barry who is also a designer for The Scrapping Cottage, and I have to say that Barry is one of the most knowledgeable people I've met in this industry.  Barry knows so much about so many areas of this business, and it was truly a wonderful experience getting to know him, and watching him work.  One of the tips that Barry shared during his demonstration was how to add a beautiful little pop of sparkle with the glitter Gelly Roll pens.  Instead of trying to color in an entire area on your die cut, Barry recommends that you place a little line of color down with your pen, then take your finger and blend the area to spread the sparkle around.  I have used this so much since returning home.  It's so much easier than getting out the glitter and glue pen, and it is such a pretty effect!  I've sparkled up the edges of my puppy, kitty, and the conversation hearts using Barry's technique, and I think you can see what I mean about how effective it is.  I wish it would photograph better, because it's really beautiful!!  

In addition to the Kitty and Puppy dies, I used the Conversation Heart Mini die.  I love that these dies emboss the I *heart* U sentiment, because it allows you to fill in with a gel pen in any color you want.  Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I hope you have a warm and wonderful weekend!  Happy Crafting!!!

More Valentine ideas!

Hello everyone! I'm so glad to be back posting again. I hope you're keeping the germies away, because this one that's going around is really a nasty one. Thank you for all the good thought and get well wishes while I've been gone. :)

Ok, so for my first project this week, a Valentine card, I've used the adorable cottage cutz giraffe, heart locket die, and for the tiny heart, the tree of hearts.


And for this treat box, I used the plain heart from the heart locket die to make the window then outlined with hand stitching and scallop doodling. For the window, I recycled packaging from my BigShot cutting pads. Works great for windows like this one!

Thanks for coming by today. And thank you again for the love while I've been sick. I've really missed creating and sharing and it feels so good to be back at it again. This is my last post before the 14th so I'll wish you now a Happy Valentine's Day!

Puppy Love

This Puppy w/Heart die is so cute and oh so simple! I cut it out, inked the edges of the pieces

and glued it together. For the nose I applied Glossy Accents (got make those cute doggy noses look wet :) I added a dot of white paint to each eye and some to the nose as well as the

bow and heart. I ddin't really need a whole lot else with a die this cute!

This cute puppy has a slit for it's mouth so you could easily put a flower, gift, bone or anything

else you want for lots of other occasions besides Valentine's Day.
Don't forget that these dies are great for scrapbook pages & Valentine's boxes too!
See you next Wednesday!
Kay

You had me at MEOW

You had me at Meow!, what a cute verse for this Cottage Cutz Cat Peeker die. I also used the Cottage Cutz Pocket die. The key to the pocket die is to remember the directions of the thread on the finished pocket. The die pushes the threads up, so you need to place the paper face UP on the die, in most cases you would face the paper down. I made the cat in pink card stock and highlighted it in hot pink ink and made the hearts in chocolate browns. The pocket was Bazill Bling white which has a cloth/demim look, also highlighting the pocket in the hot pink ink, whiped real fast so the threads would come back white.

I am sorry . . .but no live action with these photos, but I used an item on the cats head so when you hit the ear the head would bobble. The company is AWI at www.actionwobble.com . They were passing samples out last week at CHA. Lori and I split a pack. They work really well for this card. Normally you would have mounted the head behind the paws, but in this case I let the head bobble over the paws. The two clear disc has a plastic spring between them that you just peel the white paper away and there is sticky clear mylar. I think the company produces the springs for adverdising use.. . . . Paper Crafters are not afaid . . . you know if we can stick it!, glues it! or tie it! down in any way. . .we will use it!

On a side note, I had so much fun last week at CHA, Lori from this blog and I were ther doing demos for Cottage Cutz. It was so funny, we had never meet or talked before. . but were setting up for the demo. . she brought her Copic Markers out, . . fanned the cases open. . across the desk. . She held her hands over the markers . . just like over a crystal ball.. . . She gazed into my eyes and SAID. . . DO NOT TOUCH THE COPICS. . . I Said A! A! Yes Mama! . . . Lori is so talented . . .I learned so much from her about Copic Markers and really . . really what a nice person she is. . . . by the end of the stay . . she let me touch ""one"" Copic Marker. . . Thanks again Lori for all your help.

Quick and Easy Valentine

Hello Everyone!

Today I made a card using several of the mini dies from the Valentine Release. After cutting the heart locket and key I covered the pieces with versamark and heat embossed with fine detail gold embossing powder. I colored the cupcake with copics and added some glitter. Thanks for having a look!

Hugs and smile,

Janice

Happy Valentine's Day

Hiya! I heard there is some sort of football game on today...but in the meantime...Here's a picture tutorial of how I made my card for today! ☺ I used the Cupid Mini die. I cut a bunch of them out of Post-it craft paper which is self adhesive backed. I arranged them in a pattern I liked. They are going to act as masks. Then I sprayed my paper with viva pink glimmer mist....

Spray and zap it with your heat tool to set it quickly....

Peel them off and VOILA! You have made your own patterned paper! It gives a really cool wispy water-colored effect. You could use vinyl if you want a crisper look.

I know this card is super simple, but I LOVE this technique! I really wish the glimmer would show! Grr

Anyhoo, that's it for me today! Happy Footballing. HA

♥ Nikki ♥

Valentines Day Card

Valentines Day is fast approaching!! How is your card making coming along? Here is a card from me to hopefully help inspire you to finish up your V-Day cards before it is too late.

For my card today, I am showcasing the Lacy Heart Doily and the Frame 1 Lettering Stamps. The Happy Valentines Day from this Cottage Impressions set fits perfectly inside the heart doily.

To give the heart doily a little extra pizazz, I threaded some Baker's Twine through the cutouts. I also backed the doily with a scrap piece of white cardstock.

Have a great weekend!!

    

Have you seen our booth at CHA?

Come take a look here.

Heart Flower Card

Today I'm featuring the Heart Flower 4x4 die. This die has so many fun possibilities.

When you cut out the flower you can leave the center petal hearts in, take them out or add another color. Then for the center of the flower you have different options as well. The center piece has a swirl inside that can be left in, taken out or made a different color as well. There is also a plain center and heart on the die also.

I love easily you can make the petals stand out to create a three dimensional effect.
With all the snow and ice that so much of the country is getting right now I'd say it's a great time to get something warm to drink and craft away!
Kay

A Single Rose to say I Love You!

Hello Cottage Cutz Fans!!

When I received the Cottage Cutz Rose die in the mail, I knew it was one that I would really like. I made this card for my husband. It was inspired by the glass rose in the photo. My husband, High School Sweetheart, gave me this glass rose when I was 16. Though it has lost a petal or two and the color has faded it is still very special to me! My mom loved roses too, and she had this displayed in her curio cabinet for years. It was safer in her hands than mine with all the moving my husband and I did in the early years of our marriage. I hope you like the card. This die is very easy to assemble. I cut the rose from white cardstock and colored with copics. There are only 6 pieces to assemble with this die. Even though it is easy, it still has lots of detail. Here is another rose card I did, as well as the Furry Teddy Bear. Enjoy your day today!

Hugs and smiles! Janice

You've got my heart on a string

Hello! For my card today I used the Peeker Pocket and the Elephant Peeker. This elephant is just so cute! I ♥ her!!! I wanted to girl her up even more so I painted her nails pink. ☺The elephant die cuts out a cute double heart, but I cut my own out of my patterned paper...

Well, I hope you like my card. See you back here next Sunday!

♥ Nikki ♥

Flying by to say Hi!

This is just a fun card using the Cottage Cutz Frame Die. These dies are so versatile that it would be a shame to only think of them for Valentine's projects.

Happy Scrapping!!!



Hogs and Kisses

Good morning!!!  Today I have a card made with some of the newest Cottage Impressions release.  This pig stamp was just too cute, and I couldn't help myself.  The "Hogs & Kisses" HAD to be done!!  

I'm on my way to Los Angeles for CHA, and I'm sooooo excited!!  With that being said, have a beautiful day, happy crafting and Hogs & Kisses to you!!