Think Pink Blog Hop

Welcome to the Think Pink Blog Hop!! 

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, so the Die-Versions Design Team wanted to bring Breast Cancer Awareness to our crafty friends. We want to get the message out to all women about the importance of early detection with regular self-breast exams and mammograms.

We want all of you to Hop with us!!  Link up as many new projects (no back-linking) that fit the theme of Breast Cancer Awareness to the Die-Versions Blog for a chance to win a $25 Gift Certificate generously provided by Die Versions.  Die-Versions manufactures low profile dies made right here in the United States. You can see all of the dies Die-Versions has to offer and do some shopping at the Die-Versions store.

Many of the designers today will be using images generously provided by Doodle Pantry. Doodle Pantry provides a diverse selection of images. There is something for everyone, so be sure to stop by to see all they have to offer.

We have also joined with Fighting Pretty to donate cards to be delivered to breast cancer patients. If you would like to donate your cards we would love to pass them along to brighten the days of needed recipients. Please email Lori at mulchlady(at)aol(dot)com for the address to send your cards.

On my first card, I used a little bird that comes in a digital image set called I will survive from Doodle Pantry.  The images come color and uncolored.  

I used the colored version... it doesn't get much easier than that. I fussy cut the bird. Added glossy accents to the ribbon and foam squares for dimension.

From Die-Versions, I used the gorgeous Whispers-Lucky Scallop die, which I die cut from pink card stock.  

On my second card, I used two dies from Die-Versions.  The Whispers Diva Crown and the Sweet Frame Smile.  

I also used a Julie Netting die and stamp set for the girl in the frame.  I kept her hairless to stress how fabulous we are at our core.  

I hope you have enjoyed your time here and good luck in the contest.  

Your next stop on the Think Pink Blog Hop is Irit. So keep hopping, celebrate courage and strength, and most importantly spread some Pink Hope.

Here's the entire line-up in case you get lost along the way:

Die-Versions Blog 

Lori
Anne

Patti

Me

Irit

Lisa

Christmas is on my mind

Hello crafty friends,

Even thou I spent a good portion of this weekend working on my Halloween cards, I have been thinking about my Christmas cards for several weeks now.   I haven't yet focused on my design, too many different ideas still going through my mind, thanks to Pinterest.

And speaking of Pinterest... last weekend I found a card by Yana Smakula on Pinterest that I like so much I ended up scrap-lifting the idea and creating my own version of it.   Here's my version of the card:

I used the Die-Versions' Whispers - Polished Diamond die, which I die cut from Green, Red and Purple glitter paper.   The Merry & Bright text is from the Stampin Up "Merry & Type" stamp set.

I used wood grain pattern paper, because I currently obsessed with the stuff :)

Nothing went to waste on this card, because I used all the little pieces from the die cuts.  

I'll post my Halloween cards here a few days after I mail them and people have received them.

Until next time... take care.

Die-Versions + Great Impressions: A Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to the Die Versions + Great Impressions designers' blog hop! 

We've got both talented teams hopping today with a chance to win prizes from both of these craft suppliers! Our theme for this hop is "Tis the Season" so get ready to see some beautiful holiday creations! You should have arrived here from Mynn Kitchen's blog. If you haven't and would like to hop with us, please go back to the Die Versions blog to see the entire hop list and to start at the beginning for the maximum chances to win! There will be two lucky winners – Die Versions  & Great Impressions are each giving away one $25 Gift Card! The more you comment, the more chances you have of winning!

Today I have two cards (both measuring 5"x6.5') for you. The first card is a Fall theme one using the Great Impressions Argyle Owls Stamp, the Die-Versions Patterned Pumpkin Whispers and Celebrate Express Edges dies. 

This card has a fall theme, but the inside sentiment can easily include a Fall birthday greeting. To make this card I started w/a piece of background pattern paper that had yellows, greens and browns.  It wasn't a fall theme pattern, but it didn't have to be for my purpose.  

I die cut the pumpkin in both orange and green.  Trimmed the stalk and vine off the orange die cut and glued it over the green die cut.  I used a copic to color the flowers and the stalk of the pumpkin die cut. Next I die cut the celebrate in brown and after adding dimensional tape behind it, I attached it and the pumpkin to the card.  I added some green twine and started working on my cute little owls.  

The owl stamp has the owls attached, but I wanted them separated, so I cut around their joined areas.  If you notice on the card, I hide one of my cut owls behind the pumpkin just enough to hide the missing wing section.  On the second wings open owl, I add a tiny piece to the missing area and I'm good w/how it looks.   Because the third owl is looking right, I placed him at the far left.  I loved working with these little owls.  They were super easy to color and in my case cut apart.






My second card is a winter theme one using the Great Impressions Frolicking Penguins Stamp, the Die-Versions Enhanced Spots - Snow Much Fun, Corner Concepts - I Love You and Express Edges - Winter Fun dies.

For this card I started with some winter pattern paper, which I cut to leave a 1/4 of an inch white card border. Next I die cut the snow much fun, the winter fun and the I love you dies all from white card stock. I only used portions of the the winter fun and the I love you die cuts.  I copic colored the winter die cut and I inked the snow much fun circle.  I also die cut the middle snow flake from the background pattern paper and glued it over the white snow flake.  I set the die cuts aside and starting working on my stamped imaged.  

I stamped this super cute three penguin stamp onto white non-texture card stock.  I used a 3.5" circle punch to create my circle image.  Very little copic coloring was needed on the penguins, but I wanted to create a blue sky, so I used two shades of blue on my sky.  

I have a cool tip for you that I just picked up from watching a Kristina Werner video. Use a copic colorless blender marker to remove color.  I used this trick to create tiny dots (snow).  I finished the circle element by inking the edges. 

I attached my elements to the card using three layers of dimension.  The winter and love words are flat against the card.  The circle penguin image in popped up on a thin layer of foam tape and the snow much fun circle is popped up on a thicker layer of foam squares.      

I hope you have enjoyed your time on my blog and that you come back to look around.  Thank you for stopping by today! Your next stop in the hop is Patti Gilliam's blog! We hope you're inspired all along the way, and that you grab all the goodies used from the Great Impressions and Die Versions stores!


Until next time... take care.

Another BDay Layout

Hello crafty friends,

I had a nice relaxing Saturday in my craft room where I created two layouts.  The first layout has a large (6x8) photo of Peter just after desert arrived at our table on his birthday.

My journalling says... Thursday, 9-4-2014, a normal weekday made extra special because it's your BDAY!  Dinner at Red Robin.   For his real birthday meal he asked for Texas De Brazil, an expensive all you can eat Brazilian steakhouse, which we took him to the following Saturday :)

On this layout I used a sheet of birthday text pattern paper from the Pebbles Birthday Wishes 12x12 pad Wendy Antenucci sent me.  I used the Die-Versions Happy Birthday Solo Sentiment die, which is truly my favorite birthday die and the Wee Petite Super Stars die.  I also used the Quickutz Nesting Balloons dies.  

My second layout of the day was this one...

Rusty has been a member of our family since January 2014.  He turns 1 in November.  We had cats before and they were great cats, but Rusty is an awesome cat.  We are so very lucky to have him in our family.  His foster family had five kids and they must have held him all the time, because he loves to be held and to be near people.

My Journalling  says... You are such a great cat.  You love to be held.  Most nights you sleep in our bed between our pillows, but after we fall asleep.   You love pencils and will go crazy until you get them on the floor.  You are a little swiper and love to steal my earrings.  I'm excited to see how you handle xmas and all our xmas trees.

Here's a cute photo of Rusty keeping me company while I scrapbook this layout :)

I printed photos for three layouts, but didn't get to the 3rd one yet.  Hoping to work on it tonight. Until next time, take care.

BDay Party Layout

Hello crafty friends,

My baby boy will turn 14 in a few days.  We had a family party on Saturday for him.   I took Thursday and Friday off, which I used to get ready for the party.  I used Sunday, to recover from the party (I don't really like parties).   Today I got up and went right into my craft room.  I was on a mission to scrapbook.

Honestly, it's been a while since I've been in the frame of mind to scrapbook.  Kind of lost my mojo there for a while and I'm not sure I have it back.   But with a handful of newly printed (kudos to my new printer) birthday photos.  I pulled out the Pebbles Birthday Wishes 12x12 paper pad Wendy Antenucci sent me a while ago.   Was it really back in June?  WOW!  This summer has just flown bye me. 

Those who know me, know I love pattern paper and I love designs with text.  When I saw Wendy's layout on the Pebbles blog a while ago, I fell completely in LOVE and asked for a tutorial, which she very kindly gave us on June 23rd (here).  I still love Wendy's original layout with all the color and embellishments she added.  My plan was to copy (scrap lift) her layout, but when I sat down, I ended up going in a different direction.  

Here's a photo of Wendy's original layout:

Here's my layout:

I think it's a teen friendly layout  and I'm happy with how it turned out... although I just noticed that I didn't include his age, so I'll have to find a place to insert that important piece of info.    

Thanks for stopping bye.  Stay tune for more bday layouts in the coming weeks.  

LOL

Every BDAY party needs one of these guys...

Die Cuttting & Baking

Yes,

I did some baking this weekend.  I made some cookies and a large pan of brownie cake for my son Peter's 14th bday party on Saturday.   And guess what, when it came time to decorate the brownie cake, I went into my craft room and pulled out one of my favorite birthday die.  The Solo Sentiments - Happy Birthday die.

Before I show you how I added die cuts to the brownie cake, let me back up and give you a little back story.  While in the baking section, looking for candles and inspiration that were "boy like" and "teenage like", I found sugar sheets like this one in a couple of colors.   I was excited and right away I was thinking of my favorite big bold birthday die, so I picked up the gold one and walked out of the store a happy Mom :)

I cut the sugar sheet in half, so I was working w/two 6"x8.5" pieces, which gave me 4 Happy Birthday die cuts.

I instructions said to remove the sugar paper from the plastic backing, but I ended up not doing this.  I kept the sugar sheet on it's plastic backing when I cut the sheet in half and when I made my die cuts.  The plastic backing did not die cut.

Noticed how the sugar paper die cut stayed within the die. Trust me it wasn't stuck.  It was super easy to lifted a corner and pulled the die cut out.

I was able to die cut four, which I placed (at Pete's request) on each corner.














LOVE how it turned out.  I'm so going to do this again.  I'm picturing a two maybe three layer cake with white frosting and these same die cuts in different colors all the way around the cake :)

Now, it's out of the kitchen and back into my craft room to scrapbook some of the bday party photos! Until next time... take care.