Santa Paws ;)

Tis the season! I'm busy making gifts... and we can't leave out the furry members of our family!

I was so tickled when I saw Paper Smooches' latest release - Woofers and Tweeters. 

Doesn't that puppy look JUST like my Jax? Ack! I had to have him! And I put him to work on the latest Sparks challenge too.

I decided to make a treat topper, stretching out the sketch on the left :)

I love how it turned out!! I used my new-to-me Alphadot stamp set for the custom sentiment "Santa Paws". I can already tell I will be using this one A LOT! Love this font! I embellished with the paw print heart from Woofers and Tweeters.

I *loved* inking and paper piecing this lil guy! I used a grainy kraft cardstock and inked his snout in black to make him look like my Jax. I added a Santa hat sticker ;)

He is popped up on a red scalloped circle to make him the center of attention ;) So typical!! I hope he brought a smile to your face. Enjoy the rest of your week! Click HERE to join the Paper Smooches fun.

Red Velvet Cupcake Toppers :)

Good afternoon!! TGIF! :) I really wanted to play along with the Paper Smooches latest "Sparks" challenge.

 This week it is an inspiration photo:

I really wanted to recreate the cupcake flags, with a 4th of July theme. Man, the Circle of Honor set would have really come in handy!

I improvised with my "Sentiment Sampler" set for the "Celebrate" sentiment. I embossed it in white on red cardstock. The star came from a free Paper Smooches digi image - I used my 1 inch circle punch for the skinny star with the heart in the center. I layered it the same red cardstock circle and again on a navy scalloped circle. 

I thought these mini red velvet cupcakes were the perfect sweet treat for my picks! :) Perfect for this weekend's picnic.

Thanks so much for stopping by!! Have a great Friday! :)

Precocious Paper Features

Thank goodness it's the weekend! Yesterday I was featured on the Precocious Paper blog :) I'm so excited to showcase the "For Like Ever" add ons!

I altered a wooden monogram with papers from new My Minds Eye "Miss Caroline" collection and the "For Like Ever" felt roses:

It looks so cute hanging in my scraproom :)

Maybe I should start making a few more "decor" items.. 

Second, are the butterfly doilies. I just LOVE these unique embellishments. I decided to use them on a pair of "just because" cards:

This card uses some leftover patterned papers from Simple Stories' "100 Days of Summer".

The second features leftovers from my Fancy Pants' "Love Birds" line.

Both sentiments (aren't the adorable??) are from the Paper Smooches set "Giddy Bugs"

And the last project I wanted to share was a layout is another layout for my Colorado album, for my sister-in-law's wedding:

I paired my favorite DCWV "Lemon Flower" stack with the For Like Ever "Sweet Spots" :)

You can find all these fabulous embellishments in the PRECOCIOUS PAPER etsy shop and see more inspiration on TESSA's blog :)

Have a great weekend!!

Recipe Challenge at TPV! :)

Good  morning! I love October and this time of year :) I'm so excited to carve pumpkins with my cousin and her two little ones this weekend. I hope to get some great pics for scrapbooking !!  This photo inspired this week's TPV {{recipe}} challenge:

Easy cheesy, right?!

We welcome back a FANTASTIC sponsor this week! :) We love returning friends.

You MUST got to THE PAPER VARIETY to see the fabulous layouts my team B designers created. I had to be different and make a treat bag :P

I used my Cosmo Cricket Matilda 6x6 pad... again. I can't help it! Love the colors and patterns!  I added a purple ribbon for contrast. I have my 3 buttons, 2 word sentiment..

.. and this adorable pumpkin!! She's cut from the Simply Charmed cartridge and has a Peachy Keen Face. I've been DYING to use this new set I just got.

I also punched the edge with my Martha Stewart spider punch. What is SWEETER... the topper or the candy corn?? AHH I can't decide! lol !!!

Hop over to THE PAPER VARIETY to enter your recipe projects!

Have a great day!

Cricut Cardz - Mini Card/Tag Challenge ;)

Mary has another fun challenge posted at Cricut Cardz! 

Make a set (2 or more) of mini cards or tags. Tis the season! :)

I chose to make a set of tags using my favorite cut from Plantin Schoolbook. I cut the ornaments on my cricut too, using Sure Cuts a Lot.

I just love kraft, red, and white together! I'm so pleased with hose these turned out and can't wait to make more.

We put our tree up tonight, so I couldn't resist the opportunity to take a picture of my tags hanging.

Hope to see you join the fun at Cricut Cardz!!

Wrap it Up !!

Abby has a fun challenge posted at The Paper Variety!

I made a gift bag, using a recycled brown paper lunch sack.

Simple and cute! My favorite part is the white threading water punch under the topper. I love white embossing on darker colors like that red, too.

So, show us what you have!  Scrappy Jo's is sponsoring this week's prize. Link up for a chance to win some amazing goodies from American Crafts!

Stop by and play!

Hot Chocolate Slider!

Tis the season! Cristina posted a challenge to create a project using hot chocolate. I have seen quite a few of these slider cards popping up on different blogs I read so I decided to try one.

I used paper from Imaginisce's Polar Expressions collection. I embellished the front with cuts from A Child's Year. 2 green brads at the bottom seals it.

Pulling on the ribbon will slide the cocoa mix out! It can be easily re-inserted, too which is nice.

I even embellished the back with coordinating cardstock, another snowflake and "to/from" stamps from Scrappy Mom Stamps. I will be using these again and again in the coming weeks for sure :)

If it gets any chillier here tonight I will be drinking this one myself ;)

The Paper Variety's 8th Challenge!

The new challenge is up at The Paper Variety!! :)

Our sponsor this week is Tessa's wonderful etsy shop, Precocious Paper !!

I used one of Tessa's flowers on my project this week, too! I created this altered canvas for my best friend's bridal shower next month. I used Bo Bunny's Mamarazzi collection and my Storybook cricut cartridge. Her wedding colors are black and blue so I think it will be perfect :)

I hope you play along! Check out the rest of the design team inspiration and link up your wedding projects here. Have a great day!!

Papercraft Star Challenge #18!

It's a "thank you" theme at PaperCraft Star this week! I created this fall arrangement, using a "thanks" stamp from Scrappy Mom Stamps.

In addition to a "thank you" theme, your project needs to include dry embossing, cricut (or other) die cuts, and metal. I created this adorable pumpkin, inspired by Crystal's project posted at Split Coast Stampers.

Here is a quick tutorial on how I made it: [click on any of the photos to view larger]

I cut 8 strips of orange cardstock at 2"x8". Then freehanded the "feather" shape. I only ended up using 6 of them.

Then, I ran each of them through my Cuttlebug "D'vine Swirls" folder for the dry embossing element.

Since they are longer pieces, you need to flip them around and run through twice - as I explained in a previous cuttlebug tutorial here.

Then, I cut a strip of brown cardstock at 2"x12" and ran it through my Cuttlebug "Distressed Stripes" folder.

I decided my stem was too tall so I cut the strip in half down the middle and made it 1"x24". This was perfect!

I rolled it around my finger and adhered with adhesive.

Back to the orange strips, I lightly inked the embossed side with brown to bring out the texture. Then curled by hand, pierced a whole in either side and put a metal brad through.

Wala! I added the stem and a diecut leaf (from Create A Critter cartridge). A sheer brown ribbon brings it all together.

This is the accompanying card (same as I posted earlier this week, different sentiment), using Create a Critter die cuts.

Hope to see your project linked up at PaperCraft Star!! :) Our sponsor this week is one of my favorite online stores - The Scrapbook Cottage! Enter to win by noon on Saturday to be eligible for the voting.