Red and Green

That is the challenge this week at the Kraft Journal.  Originally, I was going to use the red and green for a Christmas card but being the procrastinator that I am, I just can't do Christmas yet. So I cut out a watermelon instead with my Silhouette.

Hoping to achieve a country look for this card.  I started with Light Kraft Cardstock and then adhered two pieces of patterned paper from my stash.  The price sticker is one of the stickers on the General Store Sticker sheet.  "Sweet" is stamped onto an Index Label.  And lastly, I added a piece of Natural Burlap Ribbon.  What do ya think? Sweet?  Country?
Join us this week at the Kraft Journal with your red and green creations. 

Challenges:
Simon Monday - 3 colors (red, green, kraft)
Simon Wednesday - anything
Tuesday Throwdown - just because
Word Art Wednesday - anything

A Note To Say Thanks

Time to make a Thank You card for the Kraft Journal Challenge.  Always good to have them on hand.

One of the products at the Kraft Outlet is the Vintage Black Journaling Cards.  For this card I used the card with the bird and flowers in the right lower corner, adding a little color with Prisma Pencils.
On the journaling card I used three stamps to express thanks.  After backing the card with black card stock, I attached it to a piece of Buff Ivory Cardstock, distressing the edges with ink and a distressing tool.
With a Copic marker,  I colored the centers of the paper flowers and wrapped a bit of Natural Hemp Cord around a flower - just for the fun of it!
The Kraft Journal team would love to see your CAS thank you cards.  Challenge ends Sunday p.m.


Challenges:
Crafty Sentiments - anything
Tuesday Throwdown - texture
Word Art Wednesday - anything

My Little Red Head and Favorite Colors

One of my granddaughters is entering Kindergarten and she is so excited.  She went to pre-school last year and can hardly wait to move up to "real school".
Preschool wasn't all she had hoped it would be.  When her mom asked her how she liked her first day, her answer was, "well, we didn't learn anything".  Hopefully Kindergarten will meet her expectations!

The background paper is Diane's Daydream Design, as are the paint, crayons, and glue.  Diane is offering her whole set for free.  Just go HERE for download info.
The number strip is cut from a piece of designer paper and the star is a sticker.
The image is by DearieDolls.

Challenges:
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Cute Card Thursday - back to school
Pink Gem - for girls
Crafty Creations - back to school
Simon Wednesday - back to school 

CAS Valentine

One more Valentine for the Die Cut Diva's Challenge because Valentine's Day is one of my favorite days.

These hearts were cut with the beautiful Spellbinder Lace Hearts.  I popped one heart on top the other with dimensionals, pasting a small heart in the center.  So easy, so elegant.
The patterned paper is embossed and has some sparkle in the flowers. 
There are a few more days to enter the challenge, Holidays, at the Die Cut Diva's Challenge. Our sponsor this month is LeCrystelle Clothing and Crafts.

Challenges:
Pink Gem - for girls
Papertakes - dies
Die Cuttin Divas - celebrate
Crafty Sentiments - anything
Tuesday Throwdown - texture
Word Art Wednesday - anything
All Sorts - favorite color (pink AND green)
V's Sweet Ideas - anything

Even the Birds Praise Him

Sitting on my front porch in the morning with a cup of coffee is my favorite way to start my mornings.  One of the things I love is watching all the birds in the flower beds, bushes and trees around our house.  Hummingbirds, Robins, Orioles, Finches, Wrens, Woodpeckers, Chickadees, and Towees - I saw all those a few mornings ago.

I haven't made a 6 X 6 verse display for quite sometime but watching the birds inspired me to make another one. (this makes 12)
This digital image by Sweet and Sassy is a bluebird but I colored it as a Yellow Warbler by adding some more feather lines and shading with a Tim Holz Distress Ink Pen.  The beautiful frame behind the bird is made with a Stately Circle Spellbinder die.
I printed the versed onto Light Kraft Text Paper found at the Kraft Outlet.  The sheet music is a piece of Vintage Sheet Music also from the Outlet.  Keeping some elegance and yet tying in the colors, I added a strip of Black Twill Ribbon and a piece of yellow grosgrain ribbon.
Originally, I was going to band these 6 X 6 pieces on the top but some have such bulky embellishment, I just display them (one each month) on my wood easel.
Before I go, I must tell you that the Kraft Journal's challenge this week is anything goes with birds.
We would love to see your entries.

Challenges:
CASual chic - pretty patterns
Simon Monday - citrus
Word Art Wednesday - anything

I Love Pumpkins

I do.  I love pumpkins: orange ones, white one, bumpy ones, and all the yummy things you can make with them (pumpkin muffins and pumpkin lattes being among my favorites).
Most people associate pumpkins with Jack-o-lanterns and Halloween.  Not me.  I think of harvest and the term of endearment I use for my grandchildren - "Punkin".

The challenge at Die Cut Divas is Holidays.  I've taken a lot of liberty with that challenge because this card really isn't about any specific holiday, just the Autumn season.
These two shades of orange are cut with the Spellbinders Pumpkin dies and then stacked on top of each other making four layers.  Here is a tip:  in order to save paper, I cut the smaller pieces out of the larger pieces knowing the negative would not show after they are stacked.
The digital sentiment is cut with a Spellbinder Tag die.

We are half way through the month so you still have time to play the challenge at Die Cut Divas.  Our sponsor is LeCrystelle Clothing and Crafts.

Challenges:
Simon Monday - homegrown summer
CASual chick - pretty patterns
Paper Creators - dies
Crop Stop - anything  (used Cuttlebug ) 
CASual Chic - patterns

Another Back To School Card

I'm still working on back to school cards.  I need eleven this year - 10 for grandchildren and one for a daughter.  

This beautiful background paper is from a set by Diane's Daydream Designs.  (see her comment for download info)   I attached it to a base of Buff  Ivory.  The notebook paper card is one of the cards in a package of Vintage Journaling Cards - just right for the front of my card.  The A+ is a stamp.  The other sentiments are digital and printed onto the card. (So glad they line up right!) The apple is Doodle Pantry, fussy cut.  And lastly, the antique ruler - just a strip of designer Kraft cardstock.
Do you enjoy making CAS cards?  That is the challenge at the Kraft Journal this week, with a twist of choosing three items from the list: red, ruler, tag, emboss, washi tape, ribbon, apple, die cut.  Let us see what you do with that list.

Challenges:
Papertakes - anything
Word Art Wednesday - anything
CASual Chicks - pretty patterns
Without Words - fruit or vegetable
Sweet Stamps - anything
Simon Monday - homegrown

Valentines in August?

The Die Cut Diva's Challenge for August is your favorite holidays.  One of mine is Valentine's Day.  I make more cards for that day than any other.   I was pretty excited to play with some of the products by Le Crystelle Clothing and Crafts, including these beautiful die cut hearts using the Spellbinder Lace Hearts dies and the tri- fold heart step cards. 

The step cards are pre-scored and made with Bazille cardstock.  I really like how they are shaped and sized so that the die cuts fits perfectly.  The only thing I had to do was stamp "I love you" and add a few olive colored pearls.
LeCrystelle Clothing and Crafts is the sponsor for this months challenge.  Pop over to the challenge for more details and to enter.

Challenges:
Pile It On - sequins and beads
Papertakes - anything
Crafty Sentiments - holidays
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Simon Says Work It Wednesday - die cutting
Paper Creators - dies

Back to School

All my grandchildren enjoy school so it is fun to make and send back to school cards to each of them wishing them a great year.

The challenge theme this week at the Kraft Journal is Back to School.  For this card I used Light Kraft Cardstock as the base.  Using a Spellbinder torn page die, I cut the edge of a piece of Vintage Dictionary Page.  The image by DearieDolls is colored with Copics.  I cut off some of the image (an envelop and desk) before gluing it onto Lunch Bag Kraft.  Back to School is hand written onto a piece of school themed designer paper then backed with Lunch Bag Kraft.  The embellishments - Bakers Twine and Notebook Grid Washi Tape.

Looking Ahead to Autumn

August 1st.  Oh, how I have been enjoying this summer and hoping it will last at least 2 more months.  But I do love Fall too.  Then, of course, at the end of Autumn comes Thanksgiving, one of my favorite holidays.  That is the new challenge at the Die Cut Diva's Challenge blog - favorite holidays or celebrations.

This beautiful precolored digital image is by Doodle Pantry.  I thought it would be fun to make a window for it with one of the dies from the Spellbinder Pumpkin Dies set.  You can find that set at Le Crystelle Clothing and Crafts, our sponsor for the month of July.
The base of my card is Light Kraft cardstock from the Kraft Outlet.  The leaves are three different cardstocks cut out with a Spellbinder leaf die.
The Die Cut Divas would love to see what your favorite holidays are.  You have all month to play.

Challenges:
Simon Wednesday - anything
Simon Work it Wednesday - die cuts
Paper Creators - die cuts