Cheery Lynn Designs: A Masculine Card

Can you believe that it is the last day of April already... spring is in full swing where I am at in Michigan (finally!) and that alone makes me feel so happy... but add to that the chance for me to stop in at the Cheery Lynn Designs blog to share another card I created using Cheery Lynn Dies and I'd say life is pretty darn good right about now (not to mention the fact that it is also SATURDAY..yay!).

When I was putting together my thoughts about what I wanted to create today, I decided it was high time we tackled another masculine card. I don't know about you, but for me, creating cards for men is far more challenging than creating cards intended for a female recipient. 

For today's card you'll need a set of three stamps that are small enough to use together (these are DarkRoom Door stamps), a sentiment stamp, some Core'dinations cardstock, (I used Irish Mint from the Chocolate Box Collection), the Core'dinations Sand-It Gadget, the second, third and fourth dies from the Rectangle Cheery Lynn Designs Card-Maker's Stackers collection, Cheery Lynn Designs Lattice 1 die, Rustic White cardstock, ribbon (mine are from Papertrey Ink) and Baker's Twine (from Kraft Outlet). You will also need, ink (I used Ranger Archival in Coffee), The Stampin Up Word Window punch and your favorite tabletop die cut machine.

Here's how to recreate this masculine card:

1. Create 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 card base from Rustic White cardstock
2. Cut a piece of Irish Mint cardstock to 4 x 5 1/4; emboss with Lattice 1 die and lightly sand to achieve the worn look.
3. With the fourth die from the CardMaker's Stackers Rectangle die, die cut piece of Rustic White cardstock and adhere to embossed Irish Mint Cardstock; wrap with ribbon and Baker's Twine and adhere to card base.
4. With the second die from the CardMaker's Stackers Rectangle die, die cut piece of Rustic white cardstock and stamp images as shown.
5. With the third die from the CardMaker's Stackers Rectangle die, die cut piece of Irish Mint cardstock and adhere to back of stamped cardstock; adhere to card front with Pop Dots to add dimension.
6. Stamp sentiment on piece of Rustic White Cardstock cut out with Stampin' Up Word Window Punch and adhere to card front as shown.

Cheery Lynn Designs CardMaker's Stackers dies make it so easy to create perfectly spaced layers with a cleanly embossed edge for your cards and other papercraft projects as well.  More examples of how I've used the CardMaker's Stackers dies for cardmaking are here, here, and here . Other examples of how I used the Lattice 1 die are here.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend and be sure to stop in at the Cheery Lynn Designs blog every day for more inspiration from the entire Cheery Lynn Designs Design Team!

Clear Scraps an Imaginisce: Fit for a Princess

(please note, this is my second post today, if you are looking for my

Papercraft Star Executive Team Reveal it can be found right here.)

We have been enjoying a bit of a product swap with Imaginisce sending over a bundle of i-rocks and bling for their designers to work with and in return Clear Scraps sent us a wonderful package of clear acrylic albums in all shapes and sizes.

In honor of today's Royal Wedding, over at Imaginisce we've put a "Royal Twist" on our projects today and are showing off a bunch of the mini albums we created like this mini album that I made for my two young nieces who will be celebrating a double-birthday Tea Party in May.  (This explains why you won't see any photos or journaling yet, because the event hasn't taken place!)... but I'll share the pages that I have ready for the additions their mommy will make after the party.  Here's the cover...

and some of the inside pages...

I used the Imaginisce Enchanted Collection of patterned paper and die cuts throughout the entire album.

Imaginisce Pop Up Posies, the I-Rock and Crystals from the Hot Rock Compact got lots of use too. Not to mention die cuts from Spellbinders coupled with Waltzing Mouse stamps.

The doily cut is from Cheery Lynn Designs and felt from Papertrey Ink. I used my Cricut along with the Once Upon a Princess and Doodlecharms cartridges to create frames and the sweet teapot cuts and title on the front page of the album too.

I'm looking forward to seeing some darling photos of my nieces and their friends adorning this album for sure! :-)

In keeping with the Royal Wedding theme there is also a special Clear Scraps mini album giveaway at Imaginisce as well....so head on over there and get in on the Royal party! :-)

Executive Team Reveal for Papercraft Star - One Photo...Two Cards

If you are regular follower of Papercraft Star, then you know that we announce our challenges (listed on the menu under the Challenge link over at the Papercraft Star blog) WAY ahead of time (right now, without looking I know we have all of our challenges listed through at least June or July if my memory serves me correctly).  I tell you this for two reasons... the first, because we want you to know that they are there to give you a head start of creating your projects for our challenges..., the second reason I mention it is because of this...

This week's inspiration photograph I found and put into our list of challenges some time back in late 2010, so you can imagine that I was pretty surprised when over at Imaginisce (as part of their 2011 Design Team) our February challenge was.... this EXACT same photograph! (Gosh, but it's a small CRAFTY world, huh? lol).  At any rate, I created a project with Imaginisce products for that challenge using this same photo as the inspiration.... here's the project I created WAY back in February...



 Now, I loved this inspiration photo back then... and I still love it today.  But what I wanted to show you is that even the same Designer can use the same photo inspiration piece and end up with a couple of very different cards (but hey, I think you probably knew that already, am I right?). With that said... if you happened to have created something for that challenge at the Imaginisce blog back in February, we'd love it if you also added it to your post of the project you make for this challenge... so we can see both of them! (Only link your current project though so we don't get confused come voting time!).

Anyhow, to make a long story...well, longer...I've been really lovin' on my pad of Crate Paper's Neighborhood Collection paper pack (that was showcased at Winter CHA)... and so when I was gearing up to create a card for this particular challenge, I started flipping through that pad of paper when suddenly a pattern from that collection really spoke to me...just as this inspiration photo does too!



 I loved this particular pattern so much that I didn't want to cover it up with any other patterns so I simply opted to add a button, twine and a sweet little Spellbinder's florish. I also added my current favorite color and font style Thickers to the card for the sentiment and the little dots I added to the flourish.  The cardstock is from Stampin' Up.

I hope you are as inspired by this week's photo challenge as I have been... twice now! :-) Remember, you've still got plenty of time to join us this week.  You'll find the link to our current challenge in the top left sidebar at Papercraft Star...and we can't wait to see what you create!

Heart of Haiti Mother's Day Post Series: A Woman Who Helped You

I bet you've heard that saying (typically attributed to an African Proverb), "It takes a village to raise a child". Well my "village" growing up was a strong group of independent women, led by my mother. She is the second born in a family of seven siblings ... five of which are women. My mother had a close relationship with all of her sisters while I was growing up, and as a only child my aunts were subsequently an important part of my life; each of them playing an important role in shaping my development from a young girl into a strong and confident woman. I will be forever grateful to these five women for their part in my life, and the help and support they gave me while I was growing up and I am reminded each Mother's Day of their significant contributions to my life as a woman and want to take this moment to thank them and honor them as part of my "village".

Having said that, I am also inclined to write this... aside from all the wonderful and valuable life lessons that my mother and aunts taught me growing up, there was one lesson that become valuable only after I had my own children (all three of which are girls) and that is that among sisters, as close and loving as they may be, drama is never in short supply. Watching the relationships between my aunts gave me, an only child to my mother, a bird's eye view of the "sister-relationship". As I write these words a quote by Linda Sunshine comes to mind, " If you don't understand how a woman could both love her sister dearly and want to wring her neck at the same time, then you were probably an only child."  This statement, by Linda Sunshine, though intended to make us laugh (I assume) could not be more true and finer words never said in my opinion. So, if not for my experience with the relationship of my mother and her sisters, I would have surely spent the last 2 and a half decades filled with anxiety and perhaps just be dazed and confused on a daily basis about the dynamics of the sister-relationship between my own daughters. So although there may have been more important ways that my mother and aunts assisted me through the years, this one thing among them has helped me immeasurably with my own daughters... just knowing that while they may want to wring each other's necks sometimes...they do still really love each other dearly. ahhhh! :-)

So whether the important woman who helped you is your mother, your aunt, your sister or friend, Mother’s Day is the perfect time to honor them and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to write this post for the Heart of Haiti Mother’s Day series.

Through a partnership with Macy’s and their Shop For A Better World' initiative, Heart of Haiti offers artisan-crafted decorative arts and jewelry for sale. All income derived from sales of the products on the Heart of Haiti site enhances an artisan’s family’s nutrition, educates children, and brings access to health care and dignity.

To view the Shop for a Better World / Heart Of Haiti collection in it's entirety (including just added items for Spring and Mother's Day), visit this link. This is also the perfect time to purchase Mother's Day gifts and more from Heart of Haiti, and when you do, use this special discount code: CLEVERGIRLS to receive 15% off Heart of Haiti and Rwanda Path to Peace products. The discount code is valid May 3 through May 8.

*I was selected for this very special “CleverHaiti” opportunity by Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity. All opinions are my own.

May Day's Thursday Trigger

Our May Day Challenge at The Kraft Journal is in full swing and I've got a May Day theme-inspired card to show you today... but before I do and just in case you missed our posts earlier this week, I want to tell you that our Design Team created a number of projects that I hope will give you just the incentive you need to get out your paper and glue so you can play along with us for this challenge! You can see our Design Team Reveal and link your project up at this post right here, and you can stop in and watch this week's whimsical pinwheel tutorial presented by Audrey Pettit right here.

Why not pick up our new blog button while you are here too for a chance to win a  $10.00 Kraft Outlet gift certificate... you can read more about how to enter to win right here.

For this Thursday Trigger post I created a card that, while it isn't actually in celebration of the holiday... it is inspired by the month of May... or my take on it at any rate.


May Day Challenge

This card actually didn't end up at all like I first envisioned or planned for that matter.  When I started this project, I printed a pretty little digital image of a May Day bouquet that I planned to use as the centerpiece to the design... but after a whole lotta fiddlin' around I finally realized that the image just wasn't working for me at all... BUT it did inspire me to use some pretty patterned papers (Webster's Pages) that I paired with  Buff Ivory Coverweight cardstock used as accent paper for the trim, the stamped backdrop and the stamped leaves too. I layered everything onto a Kraft Blank Notecard and even stamped the envelope to match. As for the finished card, while not what I first envisioned, once finished I felt it reflected what the month of May means to me....although I have to admit that while I can't recall ever seeing a butterfly flit about my yard this time of year (this IS Michigan)... they somehow landed on this May Day card... perhaps just a happy accident. :-)

Other supplies I used to create this card include: Ink: Stampin' Up, Pearls and Crystals: Bo Bunny, Dies: Spellbinders and Papertrey Ink (leaves), Stamps: Papertrey Ink (Sentiment and Leaves) and Waltzing Mouse. Stampin Up Word Window Punch, Martha Stewart Royal Butterfly Punch, Seam Binding: May Arts

Remember, you have until Sunday, 6:00 p.m., Eastern time to enter your project in The Kraft Journal May Day Challenge.... and we can't wait to see what you create!

Note:  I've entered this card into these fun and fabulous challenges... hope you join me!
Simon Says Stamp: Anything Goes
Stampavie and more... Pearls
Party Time Tuesday: Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion: Layers
Make it Monday: Anything Goes

Imaginisce I-Rock Accessories Add Glamour

The Imaginisce I-Rock Accessories Release Party is still in full swing over at the Imaginisce blog... our party continues through tomorrow and winners of the amazing I-Rock accessories prizes will be announced later in the week too.

One of the things I loved in this release was how easy the new accessories make it to add glamour to your projects... like using these fabulous stencils for instance...



For my second project I used the Bracket & Border Stencil to create my card and the Large Flourish Stencil to create the matching canvas mini gift bag.



I love the look of the new Black Glam Rocks on this white cardstock and with the aid of the stencils adding flourish with the Glam Rocks in these pretty patterns is a snap! I simply laid the stencil on my project, made tiny pencil marks inside each hole, removed the stencil and applied the Glam Rocks with my I-Rock tool. My only regret is that I didn't use all black on the canvas bag (canvas bag available for purchase at Kraft Outlet). 

Okay now you gotta get a move on over to the Imaginisce blog and check out all the other beautiful projects the Design Team came up with for today's post...and don't forget to get in on the giveaways too! 

Imaginisce - The New Bling - Day One Release Party

Hey, what are you doing here at my blog when you could be over at Imaginisce for the new I-Rock accessories release party??!  The entire Imaginisce Design Team has been busy creating up a storm with all the latest in bling accessories for your I-Rock tool that are hitting stores soon (maybe right this moment even)! 

Okay but wait... before you head on over to the Imaginisce blog to get in on the party and since you are here already, I created a couple of projects I'm tickled pink to share with you. The first one features some of the new Glitter Hot Rocks in a fun and sparkly orange hue that pairs perfectly with the Imaginisce Berrylicious Collection. That said, I found a sweet little tutorial over at Chic' n Scratch (back in 2010 sometime)....and because we all need a little "purse" to carry our gum around in... I thought it was high time I created this little number...

The Velcro used to hold the flap of this little purse closed is hidden by the layered scallop that I created by first die cutting a small Spellbinder's scalloped circle from white cardstock. I then cut a slightly smaller scalloped circle from orange cardstock and stamped it with the Snag 'Em Stamps - Circle Frame from the Garden Party collection. Then I broke out my I-Rock tool and went to work heat-setting those yummy Glitter Hot Rock on each little scallop... and topped that off with a small white circle that I stamped and added another Hot Rock to for the dot of the "j". (for the record, my grandsons loved this project...even after I told them it was a "purse" and despite the fact that they have recently been on a "we hate girl stuff" kick).

Okay now, I don't want to keep you from the party any longer so I'll share my other project tomorrow... but until then, I do hope you hop on over to the Imaginisce blog (right now!!) and join us for a chance to win a prize package just filled to the brim with all the new I-Rock accessories! Bling-Bling!

Live Simply with Cheery Lynn Designs

I just recently received the Cheery Lynn Designs 2 x 3 inch Hibiscus flower die.  I found it to be so beautiful in its' simplicity that I knew exactly what I wanted to do to highlight this little die cut.... create a card of course. The simple beauty of this flower pairs perfectly with the sentiment of the card... to "Live Simply". (I should attempt to heed that advice!) :-).



 Directions to create this card:

• Create a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inch card base from white cardstock.
• Cut a 2 x 5/ 1/2 inch piece of white cardstock and emboss with Extra Large Damask Embossing Plate.
• Adhere embossed cardstock to left side of card front.
• Using the Hibiscus die, cut one flower from red cardstock and adhere to card front.
• Using the Hibiscus die, cut another flower from red cardstock and adhere three of the red petals on top of the matching petals already on the card. Use Pop Dots to adhere the petals to add dimension.
• Using the Hibiscus die, cut one flower from yellow cardstock and adhere stamen to front of card.
• Using one of the Little Stackers Nesting dies Scalloped Oval die cut one oval from red cardstock.
• Using  corresponding Silver Stackers Oval die cut one oval from white cardstock and stamp with sentiment.
• Adhere sentiment to red scalloped oval and adhere to card front with Pop Dots.

Thank you for joining us today and be sure to check back in tomorrow and every day for more inspiration from Cheery Lynn Designs.

Note:  I've entered this card into these fabulous challenges...hope you consider playing along too!
Less is More: CAS and recipe: Off Center
Wee Memories: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (anything girlie)
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge: Flowers

Kraft Outlet Thursday Trigger: Easter Blessings Card

Our challenge this week at The Kraft Journal is "Easter" and you've still got some time to finish up those last minute Easter projects and join us in the fun this week! We've got some lovely project ideas featuring Kraft cardstock, as well as products from Kraft Outlet by our talented design team.  You can find them and our challenge at this link right here in fact!

Today I have a quick Easter card to show you that was made super easy with my Cricut and the Winter Woodland cartridge.  I've had my eye on this little bunny for some time now, envisioning the cute Easter cards that the "furry" little creature could adorn...

however, because time was at a premium for me these last few days, when I finally sat down to create the card, I was aiming for something a bit more quick and easy than what I initially envisioned... I think you can imagine along with me, that this bunny would really be extra adorable if the pieced paper were embossed perhaps...and/or he were embellished further...like perhaps a little cotton ball for a tail. But alas... I said I was aiming for QUICK...right?  So here is my little "Plain Jane" bunny...though I like him all the same for it! 

I created the base of this card using Brown Kraft Cover Weight cardstock, a Kraft Outlet "yummy" for sure. I also cut another piece of the same Brown Kraft Cover Weight cardstock and used a border punch to add a little something special to the overall composition of the card. The sentiment is stamped on a circle cut using a Spellbinders die from Buff Ivory Cover Weight cardstock and then trimmed to create the shape shown. The base of the bunny is also cut from Buff Ivory to complement the Kraft cardstock and October Afternoon patterned papers.

Okay now, that's it for this Thursday Trigger... can't wait to see what you create...and by the way, I hope you've had a chance to see the great decorative tape flower tutorial that Kristina created just for you! If you missed it yesterday, you can find that post right here!

One more thing before I go though... Kraft Outlet will be closed tomorrow, Friday April 22 through Sunday April 24 in observance of the Easter Holiday. Blog posts at The Kraft Journal will continue as usual (thanks to modern technology and the ability to schedule posts in advance!)

Happy Easter from the Kraft Outlet and The Kraft Journal Creative Team!

I've entered this card into this fabulous challenges!
That's Krafty Thursday - Use Kraft
For Fun Challenges - Easter
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Easter
My Time to Craft - Easter Wishes
Ladybug Crafts - Anything Goes
Top Tip Tuesday - Open Challenge
Kaboodle Doodles - Thoughts of Spring/Easter
Lawnscaping Challenge - Calling All Critters

What's Happening at The Kraft Journal and a Video Tribute too!

Here's what's happening over at The Kraft Journal today (besides our current Easter Challenge) Designer Kristina is presenting a sweet flower tutorial and... as a special double feature I put together a little something-something as a warm farewell to one of our current Designers.... (see below).

As some of you may already know, Aphra Boyler will be leaving the Kraft Outlet Creative Team at the end of April due to other Design Team commitments.  Because of this, we thought it would be fun to create a video in honor of Aphra's time with us at The Kraft Journal.  We hope you enjoy this look back at her projects and allow us a few moments to thank her for all she's done as a member of our team!



Don't forget, there is still LOTS of time left to enter our Easter challenge that is going on this week! You can find our current challenge right here!

Kraft Outlet, Cheery Lynn Designs and Julia Stainton have this in common today...

You know that saying, "Imitation is the best form of flattery" well if that is true, then today I'm sending that flattery to the very gifted Julia Stainton. I don't know her personally (and I hope I have the right one...as I looked her up on Google!).  At any rate, there is a card in the May/June 2010 issue of Papercraft Magazine entitled "The Carriage Awaits" that she created that REALLY spoke to me... I mean, really, really.  I loved her card so much that I decided to CASE it (if you look that acronym up it means to either Copy and Steal Everything or Copy and Share with Everyone)... either way... I did it.

Thank you so much for the inspiration Julia as I had such a GREAT time creating my version of that card and I FINALLY used a stamp set I bought almost a year ago... a BIG plus. Add the use of that stamp with my MOST FAVORITE papercraft products from Kraft Outlet AND Cheery Lynn Designs and I've got a card that I am totally lovin' on today thanks to Julia's creative brilliance! (For the record, I think her card was more of a wedding theme... not so much baby). At any rate, it is just too bad I don't know a SINGLE PERSON to give it to right now...so I'll have to stow this one away (with the other million or so cards I've made) until someone has a baby on the way!

In the meantime however, I wanna share it with you for our Challenge 14 theme, "Bunnies, Baskets or Babies" at The Kraft Journal blog (notice the bunnies on the patterned paper and the card is for a baby too!) :-) There is still time to join our challenge over at The Kraft Journal this week and I do so hope you'll be inspired to create something using this theme. By the way, I'm also sharing this card on my Saturday (4-16-11) post at Cheery Lynn Designs blog (go here on Saturday) with information on how I created the mixed paper die cut using Cheery Lynn Designs French Flare Large Stackers Nesting Die!




The photo below gives you a closer look at the flower I layered as well as the mixed patterned paper die cut. I used my Copic markers to gently color in the pink on the baby buggy (and they worked surprisingly well on the Kraft Outlet cardstock too I might add!) You gotta love that embossed edge from the Cheery Lynn Designs French Flair die too!

Supplies Used:
Kraft Outlet: 
Light Kraft Cover Weight Cardstock
Cheery Lynn Designs:
French Flair Classic LG Stackers Nesting Dies, French Flair Little Stackers Nesting Dies
Stamps: W Plus 9 Designs "Kisses and Cuddles"
Ink: Stampin' Up and Ranger
Patterned Paper: Jillibean Soup (Egg Drop Soup Collection)
Color Cardstock: Papertrey Ink
Ribbon and Twine: Purchased from Really Reasonable Ribbons
Flowers: Prima Marketing
Copic: R11 and R12 Sketch Markers (to color the baby buggy)
Top Crest Border Punch: EK Success
From my stash: Mini clothespin, flower, rick rack

I also entered this card into these fabulous challenges:

Simon Says Stamp - Card for a Child
Amber's Crafts and Stuff - My Favorite Things
Cooking it Up with Katie: Easy as 123 (1 image, 2 patterned papers, 3 embellishments)
Crafts and Me - Ribbon
Crafty Creations - Paper Piecing
Creative Belli Challenge - Eggs and Bunnies
Creative Card Crew - Spring
Freshly Brewed - Cute and Sweet
The Paper Variety - Flowers
Incy Wincy Designs - Flower Frenzy
Pink Elephant - Easter
Woodware USA - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Dimensional
Top Tip Tuesday - Spring has Sprung

Imaginise Day Three of the Little Cutie Release Party

It's Day Three of the Imaginisce Little Cutie Release party over at the Imaginisce blog and again today we're showing off projects created with the Girl collection! 

I'm thrilled to share another Little Cutie project with you today but first I just want you to know that you can see the entire Little Cutie Collection right here. You can get in on all the Little Cutie Release Party festivities at the Imaginisce blog right here. Our Design Team has more Little Cutie inspiration for you at the blog and... we've got lots of prizes to give away as well...something Imaginise is famous for I do believe!



 

Imaginisce Little Cutie Collection (Girl)

This card features the Little Cutie Girl Collection papers as well as one of the cute Snag 'Em stamps that I colored just a bit with my Prima Watercolor pencils. This card also shows off the pretty new Glitter Hot Rocks that I am so love with right now. 

Now be sure to hop on over to the Imaginisce blog to join in on the Little Cutie Release party and visit there again tomorrow for our final day because you'll see more projects then too... like this Birthday card that I made with the Little Cutie Boy Collection!

Imaginisce Little Cutie (Boy) Collection



Imaginisce Little Cutie Release Party Day Two

It's Day Two of the Imaginisce Little Cutie Release party over at the Imaginisce blog and today we're showing off projects created with the Boy collection! 

I am super excited to share my next two Little Cutie projects with you. This one features paper from the Little Cutie Boy Collection! You can see the entire Little Cutie Collection right here. And just as important...get in on all the Little Cutie Release Party festivities at the Imaginisce blog right here.

I know I said this yesterday... BUT, If you've had the pleasure of attending previous Imaginisce Release Parties then you already know that there are always lots of inspirational projects from the Imaginisce Design Team, plus project tutorials and videos as well as heaps of FABULOUS prize give-aways.  You are not going to want to miss a single day of this week-long event... the party started yesterday (Monday April 11) and ends on Friday (April 15 - Tax Day) with the announcement of the prize winners!





This Side Step card features a number of elements from the Little Cutie Boy Collection including Boy o Boy patterned paper, the It's a Boy Snag 'Em stamp and the most adorable Teddy Bear and Stars ever from the Mommy's Little Boy Chipboard Sticker set. Also featured on this card are the new Glitter Hot Rocks that I adhered to the card with my beloved I-Rock tool.

For today's release I also created a this card.... perfect for a boy. The cute wagon and tag are also from the Mommy's Little Boy Chipboard set.

Okay folks, that's all I've got for today...but do stop back in again tomorrow for more Little Cutie projects....and

Now be sure to hop on over to the Imaginisce blog to join in on the Little Cutie Release party and come back here and there yet again tomorrow for more from the Little Cutie Girl Collection!

Imaginisce Little Cutie Collection Release Party - Day 1

It's Day One of the Imaginisce Little Cutie Release party over at the Imaginisce blog and today we're showing off projects created with the Girl collection! 

I am super excited to share my first Little Cutie project with you and don't mind mentioning that I actually think that this is my new favorite collection! So many adorable papers, die cuts, canvas and chipboard stickers...as well as the fabulously priced "Snag 'Em" stamps that coordinate beautifully together! You can see the entire Little Cutie Collection right here. More importantly, you can get in on all the Little Cutie Release Party festivities at the Imaginisce blog right here. If you've had the pleasure of attending previous Imaginisce Release Parties then you already know that there are always lots of inspirational projects from the Imaginisce Design Team, plus project tutorials and videos as well as heaps of FABULOUS prize give-aways.  You are not going to want to miss a single day of this week-long event... the party starts today and ends on Friday with the announcement of the prize winners!

Little Cutie (Girl) Collection

This card features the Little Cutie Girl Collection. I paired the the gorgeous Sweet Baby and Beyond Precious patterned paper from the collection with a number of Daddy's Little Girl Chipboard Stickers to create this uber-girly card. Also featured on this card are some new I-Rock goodies that will be officially released later this month. This card shows off the pretty new Glitter Hot Rocks... you're going to want to add them to lots of your projects for sure! I also added a Crystal Hot Rock to the twine bow...just for a bit of extra bling!

Now be sure to hop on over to the Imaginisce blog to join in on the Little Cutie Release party and come back here and there tomorrow... we're gonna show off the Little Cutie Boy Collection then!

Apple for the Teacher with Cheery Lynn Designs Dies and Embossing Plates

Before we know it, school will be out for the summer (yay!), so now is the perfect time to start creating a card or two for that special teacher that put up with taught your child all year...don't you think? :-) To create today's card, I paired the new Apple Orchard Extra Large Embossing Plate with the darling little Apple Orchard 2 x 3 inch die.

Beth Moore

Directions to create this card:

• Create 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inch cardbase from white cardstock
• Cut patterned paper to fit front of cardbase and adhere.
• Cut Core'dinations Whitewash Collection (Grandma's Rocker) to 4 x 5 1/2 inches and emboss with Apple Orchard XL Embossing Plate.
• Lightly sand top of embossed cardstock with Sand It Gadget.
• Adhere embossed cardstock to card front.
• Cut piece of patterned paper 2 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches and die cut with Scalloped Diamond border.
• Adhere to cardfront.
• Wrap card with ribbon and tie into bow.
• With 2 x 3 inch Apple Orchard die, die cut 2 apples from red cardstock (discard worm or save for another project). 
• Color stems of apples with dark brown Copic Maker of choice.
• Cut small piece of scrap white cardstock and adhere behind apple highlight. Adhere this apple on top of second apple with Pop Dots to create a dimensional shape.
• Adhere apple to card front as shown.
• Die cut scrap piece of Core'dinations (Grandma's Rocker) with Little Stackers Nesting Dies Scalloped Oval.
• Die cut scrap piece of white cardstock with coordinating Silver Stackers Nesting Dies Oval and stamp with sentiment.
• Adhere sentiment to Scalloped Oval die cut off center slightly to create a "shadow-look" and adhere to card front.

I do hope you enjoy your weekend and be sure to check out the CLD blog every day for more inspiration from the Cheery Lynn Designs Design Team.

Friday Executive Team Reveal at Papercraft Star!

It's Friday...which means two things over at Papercraft Star.... it's time for one of our Executive Team reveals for this week's sketch challenge (our sketch is by the talented Liz Chidester by the way) AND it's almost the weekend too (whoot-whoot)!

When I first saw Liz's design for this week, I knew I wanted to try creating a card from this adorable scrapbook page sketch. But, I have to admit that for a moment I sat at my craft desk scratching my head about how I wanted to proceed (while I admire round cards.. I myself am not much of a "round" card maker) so after some thought, I opted instead to create a square 5 x 5 inch card and then I picked up my new pad of 6 x 6 patterned paper (Crate Paper Neighborhood Collection) and TA-DA... I was inspired (cease scratching of head)! In fact, I was so inspired, I even finished the inside of this particular card (something I only typically do if I have an intended recipient..which I don't currently have). 

I just have to say that that little cat  (Kristina says it is a dog... but I prefer to think it is a cat - lol) on this card just makes me SMILE... a great way to start my weekend indeed!

...and like I said, I finished the inside of this card as well...

Supplies used to create this card include:
Scalloped circle/circle dies: Spellbinders
Little Nesting Rectangle Dies: Cheery Lynn Designs
Word Window Die from Stampin' Up (for sentiment)
Ric Rac Die from Papertrey Ink
Ink: Ranger
Swiss Dots Embossing Folder by ProvoCraft
White Cardstock, Ribbon and Sentiment Stamps from Papertrey Ink
Color Cardstock from Stampin' Up
Patterned Paper: Crate Paper Neighborhood Collection (6 x 6)

I hope you find some time this weekend to join us for this fun sketch challenge.  You'll find the link to our current challenge up on the sidebar of our blog!  We can't wait to see what you create... who knows, YOU could be our next Papercraft Star!

Spring Cleaning (Sucks): Thursday Trigger at the Kraft Journal

... okay, I've got to admit that this whole "Spring Cleaning" challenge we've got going on over at The Kraft Journal might be a bit more, well...challenging than I first thought.  I say that because when I first wrote that challenge theme I thought it'd be easy, but the entries (or lack thereof) for this week so far (only a handful of brave crafters as of this writing) says perhaps the theme is not inspiring so much as stunting your creative juices (am I right)?

That said, and before I reveal my Thursday Trigger for The Kraft Journal blog, I just want to say that our challenges are "designed" to inspire your work...not dictate it!  So I guess what I am trying to say is that we just want you to CREATE (with Kraft!).... and so, .. just go with your gut on this one and enter whatever project you come up with (using Kraft cardstock or products from Kraft Outlet) as we really are looking forward to seeing them!  :-)

As for my project let me preface it by saying that those people who know me (yes, Mom...you included), know that while I love a clean house, I hate to clean! My daughter bought me a great fridge magnet that defines my nature perfectly, it reads,  "I understand the concept behind cooking and cleaning...just not how it pertains to ME!)... and hey, I don't hide that fact, everyone knows it (now give me a yard or garden to tend to and I'm a happy camper)...but that cleaning toilets and doing laundry stuff... Sucks! (and I mean, you do the task...and it just has to be done over again in a few days... grrr!).  Consequently this part of my nature generates a tender heart toward a man who loves to clean (especially if it happens to be a man I live with)!   Granted I haven't REALLY had the pleasure of living with such a (dream) man (unless you count my (half) brother, who got the NEAT FREAK gene from our dad).  Never the less... this feeling of mine spurred the creation of this "Real Men do Housework" card... (a girl can dream, right?)
 

I can't help but note the irony in the fact I think cleaning sucks...and I used stamp with a vacuum for this "cleaning card"


This card features a couple of really yummy products from the Kraft Outlet store including, Light Kraft Cover Weight Cardstock paired with some perfectly divine Brown Kraft Baker's Twine. I also used two newly released Spellbinder's dies, my Corner Chomper (Deco/Stub) and some buttons from Papertrey Ink (I can't for the life of me remember what patterned paper... but it's new too and I will happily look it up if you are so inclined to want to know... I'm just too lazy to walk back down to my craft room right now!).

 Don't forgot to stop by The Kraft Journal blog again tomorrow for a fabulous Feature me Friday that we have scheduled and just so you know...there is still plenty of time to join us for this week's Spring Cleaning challenge (you'll find the link to our current challenge in the top right sidebar of The Kraft Journal!

In the meantime, I think I'll leave this card laying around... perhaps it will inspire my man?? (like I said, a girl can dream, right?).

Click it with Cricut at Imaginise

This week I had the pleasure of working together with fellow Imaginisce Designer Kim Holmes for the special Click it with Cricut feature at the Imaginise blog. For this segment we both created projects featuring Cricut's Tags, Bags, Boxes & More.  Make sure you hop on over to the Imaginisce blog to see our projects and get in on a chance to win some great prizes!

I combined the Animal Crackers collection with Circut's Tags, Bags, Boxes & More, and "monkeyed-around" with Cricut's Create a Critter and Nate's ABC's to put together this little gift-bag ensemble for my two grandsons (who often run around like monkeys I might add!).

Cricut Cuts - Tags, Bags, Boxes & More - Gift Bag
- Cut < inchbg > with Blackout Feature selected  at 7 inches from Animal Crackers patterned paper
- Use Animal Crackers Border Die Cuts, your i-rock and Glam Rocks to decorate

Tip: Add the border to the bag while it is still flat, before you fold it.

Cricut Cuts - Tags, Bags, Boxes & More - Hang Tag
- Cut < hangr2 > with Blackout Feature selected at 5 1/2 inches from Animal Crackers patterned paper
- Cut < hangr2 > with Shadow Feature selected at 5 1/2 inches from orange cardstock
- Adhere cardstock to patterned paper with POGO Adhesive Dispenser

Cricut Cuts - Nate's ABC's - Letters for Names
- Cut letters for name from organe cardstock at 1 inch with < font2 shadow> feature selected
- Adhere letters to tag to form name with POGO Adhesive Dispenser
- Use your i-rock and Glam Rocks to decorate

Cricut Cuts - Create a Critter - Monkey Stick
Cut < monkey > at 4 inches from black cardstock
Cut < monkey > with Layer 1 selected from Kraft cardstock
Cut < monkey > with Layer 2 selected from dark brown cardstock
Cut < monkey > with Accessory selected from green cardstock
Adhere together with POGO Adhesive Dispenser as shown in photo
Attach money on vine to a stick (I used a Wilton Cookie Stick) with Small Badge Daddies created with your I-Top

(note: supervise play with "Monkey Stick" due to stick pin on Badge Daddy, or adhere vine to stick using glue)

Tip:  Add "whites" of eyes with a white gel pen. Add "pink" to inside ears and cheeks with chalk

Add candy or small prizes and shredded paper to inside of bag and you are done... TA DA! :-)

A Little Sewing Machine Action for Batman

Jack (the older of my two (almost) 4 year old grandsons) outgrew his "nursery" some time ago so in the last several months we've thought a lot about what we wanted to do to change things up for him a bit...for a "Big Boy" room.  When asked he if would like a specific theme...his answer was an adamant "Batman" (no surprise there really as the boy is CRAZY for Batman... in fact both my grandsons are).  At any rate, the "baby" wall border and decor came down, I re-painted the room (you know, when I was painting the whole upstairs a few weeks back)...and even long before then, I started checking out Batman bedroom ensembles (the prices are CRAZY for that kind of stuff I might add!)... so I opted to buy a comforter set (for less than 80 bucks as opposed to over $400.00) that featured the colors associated with Batman instead (Navy Blue, Grey, Yellow), then I hopped online and found some Batman material to sew a valance for the Navy Blue curtains I purchased to match the comforter set.

I actually started to do a photo tutorial of the process of sewing the valance, but I stopped several times to throw in some laundry, feed the boys lunch and let the dogs out (and in and out and in and out) and ended up getting so distracted... I tossed out the whole idea of the tutorial.  Let's just say that this valance was EASY to sew.

And this was the end result.  Also added to the "decor" are a whole lotta Batman wall decals (which is much easier to put up...and take back down than wall paper borders)... the decals were a gift from his Aunt Laura (his daddy's sister) and Jack and his mother (my daughter Cait) had great fun placing them around the room too!

I had to chuckle when I walked in the room after they were done with the decals to see Batman "swinging" from the clock!

and in other random places...

The new "Big Boy" room is a hit as far as Jack (Jack is on the left in Blue, Seth my younger grandson is on the bed...and that is Marley on the rug) is concerned...and as far as "Nanie" (that would be me) is concerned, it's a hit too because we can easily change it out when he either grows tired of Batman (gasp!!) or he and his mother finally buy their own place (we're working on that project too and actually waiting to hear back on an offer as well!) :-)

Masculine Birthday Card with Cheery Lynn Designs Dies

Cheery Lynn Designs Card-Makers Stackers Nesting Dies help make perfectly spaced rectangles for cards and I know I've said it before (but it's worth repeating)... I just love the embossed edge they create on the die cut paper too! The Lattice II die coupled with the Card-Makers Stackers Nesting Dies made creating this masculine card quick, easy and fun too, despite the fact that creating masculine cards often poses a challenge for me.

Directions to Create This Card:

1. Create a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inch card base from white cardstock.
2. Using the Lattice II die, die cut a piece of red cardstock and adhere to card base.
3. Using three differently sized Card-Makers Stackers Nesting Dies, cut one rectangle from three different coordinating patterned papers. (note: for this card, I adhered each of the patterned papers to a piece of white cardstock that I cut from the same size die to make them rigid for popping up on the card with Pop Dots for added dimension).
4. Wrap coordinating ribbon around two smallest rectangles and adhere.
5. Adhere rectangles of patterned paper using Pop Dots as shown on card.
6. Die cut red cardstock circle from Classic Circle Little Silver Stackers Nesting Dies and adhere to ribbon.
7. Die cut white cardstock from Classic Little Stackers Nesting Dies, stamp sentiment and adhere to red circle with Pop Dots.

Other supplies used:
Cardstock, Stamp and Ribbon: Papertrey Ink
Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricut
Ink: Ranger

Don't forget to visit the Cheery Lynn Designs blog every day for more inspiration using Cheery Lynn Designs Magical dies!

I'm entering this card in the Cards for Men "Embossing" challenge right here.