Hello Crocodile

Hello crafty friends!

It's Kris here to share some Monday inspiration with you! 

For my card today, I combined 2 challenges from Splitcoast Stampers:

Our very own DT Leader here at CottageCutz, Mary Marsh, was the Color Hostess for CC960 and I LOVE this pretty combo, so I played along:

I actually substituted the Lost Lagoon with Just Jade (closest I had to it)

and then I also played with this week's sketch challenge -- turned vertically

I had the idea to make the front a split diagonal fold card, so the focal image is only attached to the upper left of card front.  INSIDE you get the upper left half of card to write or stamp your message ☺

Design Steps:

I started by cutting my top folding A2 card base (4-1/4" x 11" - scored at 5-1/2"

I then opened the card and cut diagonally from the top right corner (at score line) down to the bottom left corner.

I then cut (4) different patterned papers at 4" x 5-1/4" -- although I only used 3 of them.  I just couldn't decide which I wanted.  Then cut all of them in half diagonally.  

*Tip:  use the other halves to make a 2nd card!

I then cut the green patterned paper in half (line up the SHORT edge and cut at 2") as shown.

Next, I repeated that process with the pink/white/green striped pattern then attached all 3 pieces as shown below.

I then die cut the largest of the Nested Stitched Doily dies, and the Crocodile from white cardstock.

I die cut the Tropical Bouquet from Bubble Bath and Berry Burst cardstocks.

I die cut the Crocodile and [leaves from the] Safari Adventure Gang from Just Jade and Mossy Meadow cardstock.

I glued just half of the white doily circle to the top (left) of card front, and then popped the Croc in middle with foam dots.  This allowed me to tuck the flowers and leaves in under and around him (some I glued, some I popped up with more foam dots).  

I decided to die cut the Hello w/ Shadow from the Bubble Bath and Berry Burst and glued to left right corner (which is inside the card!  ☺

I would be done, however I was not following a tutorial on this, and noticed this style of card does not stand on it's own for displaying ... SO, I remedied that by adding a "kick stand" to the back of my card.

I used the left-over triangle piece from my card base, and trimmed it down to 2-3/4" x 3-1/2" and scored it at 3/4" as shown.

I should probably also tell you, that if you glue this now to the middle back of your card, it still won't stand well because the front is "top heavy" with all the die cuts.  SO... to remedy this, I turned the piece so the 3/4" score line is horizontally at the bottom, then I measured 1/2" in from the top right corner, placed a mark, then with scissors, I trimmed from the bottom right corner up to that 1/2" mark.  

I glued the tab to the back of card to that the bottom of tab is flush with bottom of card.  That slight angle allows the card to tilt back a li'l bit and counters the heaviness of card front.  ☺  Win-Win!!!

PRODUCTS USED:

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial!  I really enjoy working with the cute CottageCutz dies!  

For more inspiration and tutorials, see our YouTube channel here.  Happy Crafting!

~Kristine

Fall Farm Scene

Hello CottageCutz friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with us today. It's Mary Marsh here bringing you the Saturday edition of the Blog.

Our new Folk Art release is still available in the online store at 35% off individual dies. There are 19 new designs that are so perfect for cardmaking, journaling, and scrapbooking.

In fact, all of the releases from 2023 through Halloween of 2022 are currently on sale. Check them out here if you want to pick up any that you may have missed and still want. The sale won't be on long. 

For my card today, I chose an older die to create a Fall scene. It goes back to 2013 but it is still available in the online store. It's the Fall Farm Scene. This will be one of my Thanksgiving cards. So let's get started with some details of how I created my card.

Design Steps:

I started by cutting the scene from a pecan cardstock. The scene itself measure 4 1/2" x 3 1/2". 

Next, I used the die inlay and overly technique to add some color to the scene. For the inlay part, I gave the barn a red door and a red roof and added red apples to the basket. For the overlay part, I cut the sun in a yellow cardstock and glued it over the brown sun. And for the tree I gave it a Fall look by cutting the tree a 2nd time with white cardstock and used distress inks for the color.  

I was going to do ink blending for the background then decided to try and use patterned paper in blue and green shades. 

The blue measures 3 1/2" x 2 1/2" 

and the green measure 3 1/2" x 2 1/8". 

I secured those with clear drying glue. I glued the green paper up just a teeny bit high and because I glued it down it wouldn't move. So, to cover that I added some leaves to the base of the tree. Cut the leaves from the Campfire Clothesline die. 

I added a layering panel using a terracotta cardstock. My card base is a mossy green.

terracotta layering panel: 3 3/4" x 4 3/4"

mossy card base: 4" x  5"

I wanted to add a sentiment, but I didn't want anything to large and take away from the Fall scene, so I decided to stamp a simple "Give Thanks" on the tree. I used pecan ink. 

That's it for me for this card. I hope I have given you an idea for using this scene building die. See you next Saturday!

Happy Fall

Hello Friend

I am in Arizona where the temperature has been soaring.  It has been over 100 degrees for a month!  So needless to say I am ready for fall!   I am trying to wish autumn here a little quicker with this cute little fall card.  I made this card with a variety of older dies.  The focal point is the Sweet Fox die which is available in the store now!  

I saw a card by Ann Chuang on Pinterest that I loved.  So I used her card as my inspiration.

Design Steps:

1.  Start by cutting all the pieces using the following dies, Sweet Fox, Mushroom Fairy Garden, Pumpkin Pie & Latte (leaves), and Rustic Sign & Trees (log) and these colors of card stock: red, yellow, rust, orange, tan, green gray, black, white and brown

2.  Ink all of the pieces with coordinating inks.  I used TH inks and a small applicator.  After you ink assemble the pieces with a fine tip glue

3.  The card base is a gray A2 size.  I cut a piece of DP 4 1/8 x 5 3/8.  The birch trees I cut out of gray using the Merry Christmas w/Deer Family die.  I inked them before I glued them to the DP. Then I glued the DP to the card front

4.  Cut the grass from a 4 1/8 x 2 piece of green using the Grass Slimline die.  Glue the grass to the bottom of the card.  Add the log and the fox to the center of the grass as shown above

5.  Continue to add the Mushrooms, little clumps of grass, foliage and fall leaves to the card as you like.  You can see by the finished card below I moved a few things around before glueing them down

6.  Add the sentiment stamped on gray and layered on rust and your card is finished

7.  I had a few pieces left so I decorated the inside for a little surprise!

We have more inspiration on our YouTube Channel check it out HERE

Thanks so much for stopping by!  And I will see you next Thursday.

Blessings and Take Care

Halloween Fun

Hello, Marla back with a new CottageCutz YouTube video.  Last year's Halloween release was so much fun.  There were so many fun dies that I didn't get a chance to use and since the release is currently 30% off in the Scrapping Cottage Store, so I thought this would be a great time to share a sweet card using the "Spookie Kitties" and the "Halloween Chair."  I more of a cutsie Halloween girl and these kitties couldn't be more adorable.  
You can find all of the card details in my YouTube video.  Also, if you entered to win the "Folk Art Fox", I will be announcing the winner there. I hope you'll join me.  Don't forget to check out the Halloween sale here.Until next time......Marla

Sorry Card With Candy Bouquet

Happy Tuesday crafty friends,

Today I am sharing a fun card I created with some terrific Cottage Cutz dies. Here is what I made.

I created this fun candy bouquet along with this super colorful and fun card.

Here is a closer look at my card. It is a bit larger than my normal size card. It is 5x7 side folding. I felt I owed one of my coworkers an apology and wanted to make a cheerful card to make the best of a potentially awkward situation. She loves chocoloate so I decided a candy bouquet of mini candies would be a great addition to the card.

Here is a close up of the sweet little daschund die cut. I set him on the wacky stitched square. I added a mat of some patterned paper. I set him on some grass. I also added a smaller wacky stitched square with some cute little flowers. I cut all my die cuts out of white paper and then used my markers to color them all in. I created a little boy daschund as my coworker has a little boy daschund.

Here is a closer look at the super cute wood sign. I was going to write something on the sign but decided to leave it plain. I added it to a larger wacky stiched square. I used a coordinating patterend paper for a mat. I also added a fence and some more of the grass. I added some lines on the fenceto make it look like a little older wood.

Here's a closer look at the word SO. The letters are all a part of the stiched alpha die. I added a sweet little lady bug to the top of the letter "O".

Here is a closer look at the word "Sorry". Like all the others, I added it to a wacky stitched square with a patterned paper mat. I added some more of the cute flowers to the letters for an extra decorative touch.

And here is a closer look at the word Very. I again added some flowers and I also added some with ink to the stitching that is already on the dies. As I mentioned before, all of these die cuts were cut from plain white cardstock. I then used my various markers to color them in. I tried coordinating the colors with the patterened papers.

Here is one last look at the candy bouquet. To make it, I went to my local dollar store and hit the candy isle. I bought a variet of candies. I  know my co-worker loves chocolate so I figured I would hit some candy that she likes...lol. To make the bouquet, I bought some wood skewers at the dollar store and then used some double sided tape to add the candies to the skewer. I bought a floral foam square from the same dollar store and then a little plastic square container from there. I added the foam square to the inside of the vase and then began poking my skewers into the foam. I added a little foil tissue to the base to cover up the foam and other mechanics and it was all done! I have to say,  she loved it!

Dapper Dachshund

Spring Chicken

For the sign, little flowers and lady bug

Fence & Grass

Wacky Stitched Square

Stitched Alphabet

Well that about covers it for today. Be sure to stop back by and see what the rest of the super creative designers have to share with you. Don't forget to head over to the Cottage Cutz You Tube channel! So much great inspiration.

Until the next time, have a wonderfully crafty day!