Cottage Blog Challenge #2

Welcome to the Cottage Blog Challenge #2

As mentioned last month we will have a challenge each month that will be posted on the second Saturday of the month. My challenge for June is a scrapbook challenge using this sketch from pagemaps.com (thanks Becky!)

Here are the rules:

You need to create a new layout 8x8 or larger that has an immediate likeness to the sketch below. You are welcome to rotate it any direction you would like.

You must include at least one CottageCutz die.

Here is my example using the CottageCutz Celebration Cake and Eyelet Edger die.
You will have until Friday, July 8th to enter.
Play along for your chance to win a $25.00 gift certificate to spend at The Scrapping Cottage store. Please use Mr. Linky to link to your project post, not just your blog. I'm excited to see your entries!
Challenge #2

Congratulations to the WINNER of our first Challenge

Good morning everyone.  We had 9 entries to our first challenge.  Thanks so much to all of you.  Random number generator picked #5 Jill Rugg.  Congratulations Jill!  Have fun shopping!  Hope to see you all for Challenge 2, hosted by Kay!  Have a great weekend to you all!

Yum, Yum!!!

Hello, happy Friday, and welcome to The Scrapping Cottage Blog!!  I didn't think I'd ever get here this morning, because my camera is giving me fits, and I couldn't get a good photo of my card for you today to save my soul!  I did finally get one, but it's a bit fuzzy, and I apologize in advance for that.  With that being said, here's what I have for you, and I hope that despite the bad photo, you can see and enjoy the adorableness of the whole thing!

There have been so many wonderful releases from The Scrapping Cottage, and I keep going back and forth between the birthday release and the in the kitchen release.  I can't decide which one I love more, so I guess back and forth I'll KEEP going!!  ;-)   I used the Mouse With Banana Split Cottage Cutz die, and cut this out with white cardstock.  I colored all the pieces with my Copics before assembling them.  The Yum, Yum! sentiment comes from the In The Kitchen clear stamps set.  I stamped it twice, slightly offset, and added the comma and exclamation mark with a marker in the same color as the ink I stamped with. 

Thanks for dropping by for a look today.  Have a wonderful day a blessed weekend, and if you're lucky, some happy scrapping/stamping, too!

   

What's cookin' ?

Have I mentioned how much I love this release? I'm a domestic goddess from the 50s and all these kitchen things are right up my alley! Totally in love. ;) So, from the In The Kitchen release , here is the cute Chef Chicken. Just saying that makes me laugh. A chicken that bakes chocolate chip muffins... LOL! Anyway, it's cute, don't you think. I used it with one of the mixing bowls just cuz those are cute too and I love them. LOL There are so many fun dies in this release. And there are clear stamps this release, as well as dies, and some dies that even come with stamps! Be sure to check them out.

Product list, project #1:
Pattern papers, Basic Grey Offbeat and October Afternoon Modern Homemaker
Bazzill cardstock
Scrapping Cottage dies, mixing bowl and chef chicken
Computer generated message

And this spice rack and measuring spoons are adorable, aren't they! The spoons come with stamps for tablespoon and teaspoon measurements, but also this super cute dash, pinch and smidgeon stamps. So cute! Spice rack comes with stamps for these spices and more. Have I mentioned how much I love this release?! 

Product list, project #2:

Scrapping Cottage spice rack die and stamp set

Scrapping Cottage tablespoons die and stamp set

Bazzill textured cardstock

Tim Holtz Distress inks

Thanks for looking. I'm in love with everything in this release. I hope you find something you can't live without! :)

Mixing up some Peanut Butter Brownies

This 4x4 Retro Mixer w/bowl die is as cute as these Peanut Butter Brownies are good!

I have said it before but I just love these dies!

Here is a close up.

When this post goes live I will be at a scrapbook retreat scrappin' away. This is my favorite part of summer. Hope you get have some fun plans this summer too!

Kay

Cherry Pie Bliss

Good morning Cottage Cutz fans!  There is still time to enter the first Scrapping Cottage Challenge for a chance to win a $25.00 gift certificate to The Scrapping Cottage Store.  We have had some wonderful entries!  You can read all the details here.  Kay will be posting challenge #2 on Saturday, June 11.
Now on to my card for today.  I used the cherry pie slice from the In The Kitchen Clear Stamps and the tiny cherry stamp from the Homemade Tag Clear Stamp.  I also used the Circles With Eyelets die for the cherry pie slices.  
I love to use stamps to create background papers.  For this card I used the tiny cherry stamp from the Homemade Tag Clear Stamp.  If you have been following me for awhile, you know that I love cherries.  I have made many cards with cherries on them and never grow tired of them.  When I lived in Wisconsin we used to go cherry picking.  YUM!!!  I have cherry decor in my kitchen, on plates and towels...... well you get the idea.

I stamped the pie slice three times and colored with Prismacolor colored pencils.  I cut the pie slices out and mounted them on the small circles from the circle eyelet die.  If I had known my final design of the card I probably would have stamped the slice onto the circles, although I do like the added dimension from cutting them out.  If I needed to make a lot of the same card, I think stamping directly to the circle would be the way to go.  The YUM sentiment is from the Kitchen Clear Stamps, and I used some ruffled black gingham ribbon to finish the card.  Thanks so much for having a look!
Hugs and smiles,Janice

More Fun In The Kitchen

Good morning!  Happy Friday to you, and I hope you've got a great weekend planned.  I've have something fun cooked up for you today with the In The Kitchen Release at The Scrapping Cottage.  I'm sure enjoying this release, and my recipe card collection is growing as a result.  I though I would share this wonderful recipe for Gooey Butterscotch Rolls with you.  They are easy to make and SO DELICIOUS.  I hope you  like them as much as we do.  You can click on the picture to see a larger version that's easier to read.

For this 8x8 recipe card, I used the Measuring Cup 3x3 and the Measuring Spoons 4x4 Cottage Cutz dies.  Both of these wonderful dies come with stamps for adding the fine details like the measurements on the cup, and the spoon sizes on the measuring spoons.  What a fabulous idea, and one that allows so much creativity!  I LOVE them!!!!!!  I cut the spoons in silver metallic paper, and did some shading with my Copic markers.  The measuring cup was cut with white card stock, and shaded with Copics, then stamped with red ink.  As a finishing touch for the measuring cup, I cut another one in clear acetate and overlayed it onto the first die cut.  You can't see it in the photo, but it looks shiny.  Just like a real glass measuring cup!!  So cool!!!!

Have a blessed day, and happy scrapping!!!

White or Wheat?

Is there anything that smells better than fresh baked bread?? Well, maybe a few things, but this has got to be one of my favorite smells. I took a class a couple of years ago and learned to make fresh homemade bread from start to finish in an hour, yes really.

I was excited to get this 4x4 Bread die because I knew just what I was going to use it for.

I love that I can use just the bread board, loaf of bread and knife alone or together.

I'm just loving that I'm getting more of my recipes done with these new dies!

Now go bake some bread for dinner tonight :)

Kay

Simple Recipe Book as a Gift

 This week I am using some of the Cottage Cutz Kitchen Collection of dies to make a simple Recipe Book. I use the simple 4" x 6" albums that retail for about $1.99. They come with a removable front and back cover, all you do is slide the old one out. Than replace with your own covers. They have twelve two sided pages. all you need to do is about twelve pages and they will have additional pages to add more recipes.

 On the cover you see I used the Cottage Cutz Apple Pie die. I selected the criss-cross pie top (the die has two pie tops to choose from). As you can see I gave you the Copic color numbers for the colors that I selected to highlight the card stock. At the top of the chart I made tiles of all the colors of card stock that was used.  I tried to stay in the Black/Red/White theme. . the silver/cream and brown of the kitchen utensils worked in well.

 This is one of the two pages that I have shown you today. This page I used the Cottage Cutz Crock with Utensils die. I wanted to stay in the Black/Red/White color group so the crock is red (so I added the heart as a embossed item to the crock, by using the Copic highlights of darker red behind the heart). On each page I ran a black polka dot paper as a pocket. I only attached the black  paper at the outer edge, so there is a slot to slide the recipe card under. All the die cuts and borders are attached to the black. so the card will slide under all the over lapping die cut designs. 

 You can switch the border throughout the book from any of the four sides. This not only adds contrast to the designs, but also allows the book to stack flat because not all the thickness of the card stock designs are on one side of the book. This is always an issue when designing an album. How do I keep the level of the album?. . You alternate the added thickness of embellishments!!! The pages all fit a 3" x 5" index cars (shown here in white).

Think about doing a baby album this way. If you start with 12 TO 24. .  4" X 6" card stock pages and a 4 1/4" X 6" cover & back. Than place the photos or journaling cards under your embellishments. . . You can work on the pages all at once and WHIP those mini albums out . . just in time. . for Christmas gifts.
  Thanks Barry

Memorial Day Thanks

Hello everyone!  I hope you have been enjoying the long Memorial Day Weekend.  Thank you to all the service men and women who serve our country!  I have great admiration for your bravery and dedication to our country.  It takes a special person to be called to fight for our freedom, and to you I am sincerely grateful! 

Today I have a few samples from the Kitchen Release.  I know I have said this before, but I really love the dies from this release, and I know I have heard it from my fellow team-mates.  The Chef Chick has a new outfit this week.  I assembled the Chef Pig and I think he is adorable.  I  have assembled a sample of the Basket of Baked Goods.  And finally, I used the basket from the Baked Goods to make a basket of vegetables.  The carrot tops reminded me of broccoli, so I added a couple pieces to the bottom right corner.   I hope these samples show some of the possibilities of creating with these dies.  Have a great day!Hugs and smiles,Janice

Homemade Salsa Tag

Good morning!  I have something yummy to share with you today, and I'm not just talking about my homemade salsa.  I think I love this tag even more than I do that homemade goodness in the jar.  I made this cute little tag using the Homemade Tag die, and the coordinating Home Baked Clear Stamps that are a part of the recent In The Kitchen release at The Scrapping Cottage.

 I started with a base tag, and you can cut your own, or use a die, as I did.  Mine was a Sizzix die.  I then used the Homemade Tag die to cut the the lighter paper to be applied to the base tag.  I stamped the veggies with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored them with my Copics.  The edges of the tags are sponged with Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Vintage Photo.  I did a little bit of paper piercing along the edges of the tag, and each layer is popped up with foam dimensionals.  I added some vintage hardware, a bit of burlap, and seam binding ribbon, which I crinkled for a more vintage look.  The homemade salsa is some from last year's garden.  I sure hope this year will be bountiful so that we can whip up some more of this.  I've given lots of it away for gifts, and it would be a great bake sale item.  The tags just make them irresistible!!  Oh!  Have you checked out the first Cottage Blog Challenge?  There's still time to enter, and you can find all the details here!!

Have a safe and wonderful Memorial Weekend!!  Happy stamping and scrapping!

 

You BOWL me over!

Ha! I make me laugh!. :) Have you seen the new Cottage Cutz In The Kitchen release yet? Oh be still my heart! I have a love for all things kitchen and a weird thing for mixing bowls. LOL Today's project with Scrapping Cottage Cottage Cutz dies includes the super cute new mixing bowl set. I LOVE these!!!

Of course I added foam tape for dimension -- because that's how I bowl, I mean roll! :)



For my message I used the measuring spoons. These are so cute AND they come with mini stamps with measurements on them (which you can see I did not use in this sample). Still, they are stinkin' cute!

Hope you enjoyed my kitchen punny card this week. ;) This release is my all time fave. If you can't find something you like In The Kitchen, I don't know if we can still be friends. HAHA!! Have a crafty week, peeps!

Let's do Some Bakin'

I'm absolutely lovin' this Kitchen Release! I started a recipe book years ago and I'm constantly adding to my book. I was so excited to get my hands on these kitchen dies for this very reason.

I used the Measuring Scoop Mini die and the Flour & Sifter die for my recipe for Buttermilk Biscuits.

It also comes with two stamps to complete the look.

I added a little bit of Picket Fence Stickles to my sugar to make it look real.
Tell us what you think of this release and the fun ways you have found to use them.
Have a great Wednesday everyone!
Kay

A Birthday Wish

 A Birthday Wish for your Happy Day!. This weeks card I used the Cottgae Cutz Cake Slice die, along with the flowers and party horns from the large Cottage Cutz party collection of dies. I decided to make the cake chocolate with strawberry frosting. I created a shadow box style card. The card is 6" x 6" with a 4" x 4" window. I used foam tape to raise the frame up from the white inside panel of the card. I than cut four banners to create a dimensional loop of paper. . . like a ribbon coming out of the card. The frame was filled with card stock flowers, foil streamers and bow stickers.

Check out the party collection of Cottage Cutz dies, there are a lot of celebration opportunities. Birthday, Get well and even wedding.

Thanks Barry

Cookin' Up Something Sweet

Hello friends!I am having a difficult time writing my post this morning.  I am so saddened by the recent devastation of the tornadoes in Missouri.  The images of the damage caused by the tornadoes are so unsettling.  I couldn't just jump in without giving pause to those who have lost loved ones, lost there homes, lost their sense of well being, not just in Missouri but around the world.  So I just want to offer prayers and positive thoughts to those facing any difficulties.  

Now on to my card.  The new Kitchen Release is definitely a favorite of mine, and I am sure it will be a favorite of yours too!  I used Chef Chicken to create this card.  I think the apron and her bloomers are too cute.  I like to use patterned paper for the clothing pieces to give the die cut more character.  I will post more later to show how fun they can be.
Don't forget about our first ever challenge.  There is still plenty of time to participate for a chance to win a $25.00 gift certificate to the Scrapping Cottage Store.  You can see the details here.
As always, thanks for stopping by!Hugs and smiles, Janice

The Spice of Life

Hello and happy Friday!!  Oh my goodness!  Have you seen the newest release from The Scrapping Cottage?  This In The Kitchen release has to be my all time favorite!  After operating our own restaurant for 7 years, and our son just taking it over within the past month, this couldn't be more timely!  I'm seeing all kinds of food and restaurant themed projects and cards in my future!!   When I saw this adorable Spice Rack & Jars die, I fell in love!!  Am I the only one that is totally addicted to spices and unique flavors when I'm cooking?  If I happen to get to the Amish store in our area, I'm hard pressed to make it out of the bulk spices aisle!!  I LOVE spices!!!  This adorable Cottage Cutz die comes complete with 12 stamps to make your spice cabinet personalized to your liking and is over the top fun to work with.

I kept this card on the clean and simple side, because I didn't want to detract one bit from this wonderful die, and I didn't want the card to become too busy.  I cut this with a variety of colored card stock and sponged the edges of nearly every element with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Vintage Photo.  Although the gingham and baker's twine in the photo look black, they're actually chocolate brown.  The sentiment is computer generated, and is popped up with foam dimensionals.  I hope you like this as much as I do!!

Thanks so much for stopping by today, I wish you a blessed day and weekend, and of course lots of happy crafting!!  Oh, and before I forget, have you checked out the first ever challenge from this blog.? Please check Monday's post to find all the details about our newest venture.  There is a fabulous prize that will be awarded to one lucky player, so pull out those Cottage Cuts and Cottage Impressions, and play around with the inspiration challenge this month!!!  I can't wait to see what you're doing with your Scrapping Cottage goodies!!  You can find all the details here.