Thursday with AiFactory

So Tuesday's with AiF has now moved to Thursday's and over at the AiF Challenge Blog, a color challenge will be up on Tuesday (wait...none of that made ANY sense!). Well, we'll figure it out as time goes along. I really like the colors Angie gave us to work with and the digistamp we are using is super cute!! She has got to be my new favorite.

With the new year literally around the corner, I think we can all take a lesson from Yoga Girl. She is so at peace. You know, I took pilates and yoga at the university and loved them both. I told myself "I hope I continue this even after the semester" but I never did. Even got me a mat and a book.

First some details: some paper is PTI, some is "cheapy" CS, CS from Glitter Mat Stack, digital image is AiFactory, colored with copics, used stamp-a-ma-jig to place letters from $1 Target bin, nesties and dots folder in Cuttlebug. Hope I didn't forget anything.

This card fits the following two challenges:

• AiFactory - color challenge

• MojoMonday - Card sketch 119

My vacation is just about over, so I'll be back to regular posting soon! So for more info on this adorable digitalstamp, just click HERE and you can find info on the new release and how you can win this stamp for free.

Don't forget to check out the rest of the DT's blogs for more inspiration. --->

Last Minute Gift Ideas with AiFactory

It's Tuesday and that means challenge day over at AiFactory Challenge Blog. For Challenge 17, we're using a super cute clip art set perfect for scrapbook layouts, tags, and cards. To enter this challenge, simply show us your gift ideas! Here is mine:

I made four of these for Bean's teachers. They are really good to her and she talks about them with affection...I know she's only 2 1/2, but she really does express herself well. Anyway, these are sort of like little wallets having two pockets, a writing area, and a place for a gift card.

Here's an inside view. On the right, I used one of the clip art images from AiFactory, and will write a small note to each of the teachers. The left side holds the gift card, and the slots contain the Ghirardelli chocolates.

Details: The cardstock is cut at 5.5" by 8". Using my scor-pal, I folded the long end 1/4", then folded again in half and glued in place (you have a flat tube). Then I scored the middle at 4", placed my ribbon using just a little adhesive, then sewed down the middle (the ribbon is now held in place and two pockets are formed). I forgot to mention I made two cuts to hold the gift card BEFORE gluing together. So now just add candy, gift card, embellish, and tie shut.

Other deets: Ellen Krans cardstock, Ghirardelli chocolate/caramel candy, Stampin' Up's Cute & Curly with coordinating punch, AiFactory clipart, ribbon, Firebrick Red Ranger Ink, glue.

I hope you will join us for last minute gift ideas over at AiF. Don't forget to check out the rest of the super talented DT blogs and leave them some love. Their links are to the right.

How to Wrap a Belt

Use LOTS of GLUE!!

Yup, inside this package is a full size belt for a man. I used a cute graphic from Lettering Delights, and printed two round peppermint candies on white cardstock. I glued the candy circles to cardboard and snipped away to make it look seamless...not sure if I'm making sense here.

I rolled up the belt and put a rubber band around it to hold it in place. Then I used plain white paper to wrap around the belt a couple times and tucked the remainder of the paper inside. I used lots of glue to stick the candy circles on, one on each side. Cellophane wrap to top it all off! It came out too cute if I may say so myself. Just a few more days to go! As usual, I'm running late for everything!

7 Days to Go

This happens every year! I'm not done with Christmas shopping. I ran out of Christmas cards and need around 20 more...where does the time go? Anyway, here is one I made last night:

First, the details: paper from unknown stack, $1 ribbon from Michael's, digi-stamp from The Character Cafe, sentiment stamp from Stampin' Up (Short & Sweet), copics, chipboard snowflakes (made using cereal box & glitter CS, cuttlebug, & die), pop-dots.

At first I wasn't sure about this little guy. I wondered "how do I color snow?", "could I do him justice?", "I know so-and-so can color him so much better than I ever could." Well, he's grown on me and I had to give him another try. I really like him. He is so super sweet. Even with the pink heart buttons, he's still a boy ;)

Now, for the challenges:

• Mojo Monday - sketch 117
• Pile It On - chipboard (snowflakes)
• Pink Elephant - winter and/or Christmas
• Papercutz - Snowman or Snowflake
• Stamp Something - Winter Wonderland, holiday, winter
• Crazy for Challenges - Snowmen or snowflake

So here's one more card to send out this year. I can't believe I don't already have enough. Bean wasn't afraid of Santa this year, so I have a pic to send out with cards!

Tag You're It!

This week the AiFactory DT have made tags using some great AiFactory Store frames. When I saw this chandelier, I fell in love and immediately knew what I wanted to do. So here is my tag:

What I did: opened word, opened a text box and inserted a pic, sized to the desired dimension, printed on plain white paper, lined up my dictionary page (on the white paper printout) and taped in place with regular scotch tape, ran the paper through the printer again.

To finish off my tag, I got off-white ribbon and ran a loose stitch on top (using my sewing machine), pulled one thread to create the ruffle. I taped the ruffled ribbon in place and ran another stitch - sewing the ribbon to the kraft. I added my layers, used Tea ranger ink on dictionary page and ribbon, added a brad, used ranger alcohol inks to color the white brad, added a white piece of CS on back for personalization, added shear ribbon and hemp to tie.

I hope you like it and will join us this week at the AiFactory Challenge blog. Just make a tag, upload it using Mr. Linky for your chance to win a free digi stamp. You will have until next Monday night to enter.

Tuesday with AiFactory...On Wednesday

I'm a little late with the latest challenge over at AiFactory. I have a reason, but I won't bore you with the details. I'm excited to show my all occasion card:

I LOVE it! I really do. I went for a clean and simple layout. I wanted to show off the papers and stamps.

Here are the deets: digital paper from AiFactory (printed on 80lb white cardstock), cardbase is PTI, stamps are Pendant Park from Stampin' Up (just got these and love them), Peeled Paint Ranger ink, brown chalk ink.

I hope you will visit the rest of the AiFactory Design Team for more inspiration.

Also, to join in this weeks challenge, make something with digi papers! That's it. Super easy. Upload your creation using Mr. Linky over at AiFactory Challenges for your chance to win. Also, just a little FYI - the AiF Store is currently having a 50% off sale - just in time for Christmas!

^^^^^^^^^^SIDE NOTE^^^^^^^^^^

Just want to share that THIS CARD made "Super Six" over at Card Patterns and that THIS CARD made "Top 5" over at SPCC.

Santa's List Vintage Card

Friday is The Character Cafe day. They have a challenge over at the blog for half of the DT while the rest of us go out into blogland to participate in other challenges. No aye problema! First, I wanted to use this adorable Santa's List digistamp - colored with copics. I also wanted to go with a vintage look. I really like the look of vintage on handmade cards depending on the image used.

I found a great card sketch over at 2S4U. This card has a kraft base, sewing, distressing and inking.

Incorporated Challenges:

• Pink Elephant - Plaid, Brad(s), no ribbon
• 2 Sketches 4 You - card sketch

So head on over to The Character Cafe Challenge Blog for your chance to enter this weeks challenge. You have until next Thursday night to post your creation using Mr. Linky.

Christmas with Stampin' Up

A few weeks ago I went to a stamp a stack hosted by the lovely Ruth. Here are two of the cards we made - just in time for Christmas.

I don't remember the name of this stamp set, but it is absolutely adorable! I really like the colors on this card. There's even a touch of glitter on his nose.

All the white on this card makes me hope for snow this year. Can you see the dimension on this one? The background uses a SU embossing folder, and the first ornament is hand cut and popped up.

Happy Birthday Kent

Using a layout from Everything but the Kitchen Sink, I made the following card for my little cousin's birthday:

The inside reads:

"So I heard it's your birthday....no need to get all cocky about it!"

I know, cheesy, but hopefully he will get a kick out of it. I inked all the bird parts and added a googly eye. The circle is cut with my nesties (my circles are quickly becoming my favorites) on pop-dots.

The rooster is From My Kitchen cricut cart cut at 2 3/4" (regular, layers, and shadow), the CS is from DCWV Old World pack inked with Ranger distressing inks (fire brick, walnut, peeled paint), and CS from PTI.

Friday with The Character Cafe

This week we have a sketch challenge going on over at the Character Cafe challenge blog. Isn't he adorable? Once again, this is with my new copics. So I'm still learning. You can pick up this digi over at The Character Cafe Store.

Now I know the colors aren't traditional Christmas colors, but I couldn't resist this weeks SPCC color combo. Solid CS is PTI and the patterned strip is from my unknown pile. I added sewing, rhinestones, and distressed the edges. I also used my nesties for the rectangle and circle.

I hope you will head on over to Character Cafe to enter your creation for a chance to win this weeks prize. You have until next Thursday to upload your card to Mr. Linky.

Here are the challenges I have incorporated into my card:

The Character Cafe - sketch

Cupcake Craft Challenges - Digital Image (my super cute reindeer)

SPCC - colors: real red, certainly celery, bashful blue (don't you just love their fancy names?)

Little Red Wagon - distress

Also, I hope you will visit the rest of the Character Cafe design team. They have some awesome creations this week! You can find their blog links on the right --------->

November Challenge at Scrapnfonts

Over at Scrapnfonts, the challenge is to use ONE word on your creation. It took me a little while to figure out what I wanted to do, and I ended up with two cards. These were papers I had already cut, and I had an idea at the time, then put them aside - so I finished them off like this:

I used LD Beatnik for "Party!" and DB Hoos Birthday for the owl. See, my plan is to get SCAL someday so I can really use these fonts to their potential! Basically, I've been putting it off because I'm not sure if I'll be able to learn it.

I happen to like frogs. This is from DB Forest Friends and the "Hi" is freebie LD Going Nuts. I created a 1.5" circle template long ago, so whenever I do one of these cards, I just change out the color and put whatever I want inside. I use my 1.5" punch and place it on top a scallop circle. Instant embellishment.

Reminder: Have you made a creation that incorporates chipboard? If so, head on over to AiFactory to enter their chipboard challenge using Mr. Linky for a chance to win!

More Punches

This weekend I went to Ruth's Stampin' Up punch class. These classes are great and you make creations using all punches. Like I've mentioned before, I have a good time, but I would never do these on my own...I'm too spoiled with my Cricut. I still like to share since they really are creative!

Isn't he just too cute? Stampin' Up sells the little cups (M&M's not included ;) ) and I've seen them used in the most creative ways. The size of this card is going to be great for either a gift card or cash. I'm not sure who I'm going to give this to just yet, but I wonder if they will take the card apart to get to the candy.

The teeth on this little guy just makes me laugh! Last year we made a singing reindeer - and I'll post the pic if I have one. These singing creatures are just too cute!

Now this I didn't make. I like going to Ruth's classes because she always has some cute little give-away that makes me go "awwwww."

So the two little cards fit right inside. I feel so bad because the stuff I get at her classes, I never use or give away. It's like they're too cute to part with. But if I just keep them, then no one else will get the opportunity to enjoy them as well. Know what? I'm going to make an effort to pass these goodies along! Stop hoarding and start sharing! That's my new mantra.

Wish

Hello all. Just sharing a card with a super cute digi from Robyn's Fetish. I entered a challenge and won - I think I was the only one who played that week so I won by default...but I'm still a winner!!! LOL! So with my winnings, I picked out this princess.

I made the little embellishment: I covered the chipboard with patterned CS (using Tacky Glue), waited for it to dry a bit, then cut around using my xacto knife. I smooth all my edges with emory boards.

For this card, I used the latest layout at Mojo Monday, my Oops-a-Daisy paper pack, and super cute digistamp from Robyn's Fetish. I hope you like her as much as I do!

Such a Sweet Girl

I love this little girl. She is a digi from Softpencil (you can get her digis from either Etsy or AiFactory). I didn't include a sentiment because I think this card fits many occasions, so I'll just wait to see what I end up using it for, then stamp the sentiment. Or I can leave it as is and stamp something inside.

I really like the way this one turned out. You know how sometimes you're happy with something, or sometimes you hate it...well, I'm VERY happy with this one.

This one includes many challenges:

• Softpencil - flower(s)
• SP Color Combos - melon mambo, black, yoyo yellow, not quite navy (I used the closest colors I had)
• My Grafico - stitching (LOVE stitching)
• Card Patterns - layout
• Papertake Weekly - digi and sparkle (I put plenty of sparkle on her shirt and hair bow)
• Little Red Wagon - scraps (believe it or not, everything used was from scraps - even the kraft cardbase (which has stamping on it but I covered it))
• Daring Cardmakers - kraft (LOVE the kraft)

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you get a chance to create something today!

Anything But a Card

Pull Up Treats wrappers would be perfect for some cigars.

I used my Scor-Pal for the measurements since the cigars are a little thicker than a candy bar. This came together so quickly, and I can't believe I haven't made these before. This works by pulling the ribbons straight up to reveal the surprise inside - and it worked perfectly.

The image is a digi from Dustin Pike, colored with Bics, cut out, and popped up. I stamped the sentiment on the ribbon with Stazon.

My other packaging creation is a small box-like container with an acetate window. I think it would have looked much cooler with colored tissue instead of white, but you get the idea.

Again, this came together so quick and easy. I don't know why I don't do more non-card items. It's fun and quite satisfying. I can't find the tutorial I used for this one, but if you really want it, leave me a comment and I will hunt it down!

Two 4 Tuesday Challenge with AiFactory

Hello all. It's Tuesday, so challenge time over at AiFactory. For challenge #11, De has us 1) using a freebie image from the AiF Store AND 2) using CAS38 challenge over at Splitcoaststampers which is to use brads and/or eyelets. Great challenge but I had a little trouble deciding which freebie to use, so I've come up with two cards.

Card #1 - Celebrate with Cake

The AiF digistamp is obviously the cake;) For the CAS38 challenge, I added 3 rhinestone brads for bling. The layout is from Clean and Simple Stamping, FTL7.

I used brown PTI cs, ribbon and pop-dots.

Card #2 - Masculine Happy Birthday

At least I think it could be a great guy card. I created the patterned paper in Word, using a this freebie from AiF. I did use editing software to change it's color. This also uses a great layout from Clean and Simple Stamping (FTL63).

Challenges in this card:

AiF - use a freebie and CAS38

Splitcoaststampers CAS38 - Ways to Use It - Brads & Eyelets

Colour Create - blue, silver, white

For your chance to win a free digistamp, head over to the AiFactory Challenge blog and upload your creation. It's super easy! Also, I hope you take a look at the other DT blogs for their take on this challenge. They are such a talented group of ladies! Their links are on your right.

Blog Hop with The Character Cafe

It's the first Friday of the month, and that means new releases at The Character Cafe! That also means time for a blog hop (these are too much fun)! If you came here from Heather's blog, then you are in the right place. If not, go to The Character Cafe for the start of the hop.

I was inspired by Tek Tuesday at Character Cafe Blog. Meredith did a wonderful shaker card tutorial so I wanted to do one too. I used the latest layout over at Mojo Monday, colored my digistamp with Bics, made the frame using Accent Essentials cart cut at 3 3/4" (once in teal and once out of chipboard to create a sturdy scalloped square).

I sewed around the frame just for a little more dimension, and guess what? Not a single piece of glitter in site! Well, I'll let you in on a little secret: I used glittered embossing powder.

The snowflake is also cut with Accent Essentials at 2" (once regular cut and once on shadow feature in white). This card contains LOTS of Tacky Glue (Love that stuff)!

Want to win the digistamp used on my card? Simply leave me a comment and I will pick a winner at random on November 11th.

More Blog Hop details:

• Want to win the full set of new releases? Comment on all the blogs then leave a comment at the Character Cafe letting them know you commented on all blogs for an entry.
• To get another entry, post about the blog hop on your blog - make sure to leave another comment at Character Cafe letting us know you posted info on your blog.
• "Remember" is the discount code at TCC in order to receive 40% off your order (only good through Friday, November 13 at noon).

So head on over to Angie's blog next. And in case you get lost, here is the blog hop order:

Billie

Meredith

Angela

Piali

Sara

Deanne

Fink

Rachel

Diane

Heather

Lola (that's ME!)

Angie

Thanks so much for hopping with us!

I LOVE Coffee

Over at Cuttlebug Challenge, the challenge is to create something with a "favorite thing." One of my favorites is coffee. Another favorite thing is my new From My Kitchen cricut cart.

I used papers from the Armadillo stack (Paper Studio) for a more retro look - since this cart is very retro in style. The layout is from Fresh & Fun. I love Beate's blog, but have never participated in her challenges before.

I haven't had energy to sew lately, but last night I was having one of my better nights, so I went a little nuts. I added glaze to the white areas of the coffee die cut and the handle. The circle is cut with my nesties in my Cuttlebug. Just to let you know, I'm currently on my second cup of coffee as I type this post! LOL.