Merry Monday Challenge #224 & Muse Christmas #72

Today I am playing in the Merry Monday Christmas Challenge #224 - a masculine Christmas card.

I do love making masculine cards.  This one is once again for my son.  By choosing masculine colors, I think this makes for a masculine card.  I used an OOB Top Dog Doily Die cut, Simon Says Eliza Snowflake Die cut, and CUTlorations Merry Christmas Word Phase Die cut

---

I went on to play in Muse: Christmas Visions #72.  My fellow teamie Cornelia made a fabulous tag.  I also made a tag, but put it on a card for easy mailing. I kept with the silver embossed background and sentiment that she used.

I used the CUTplorations Nesting Luggage Tag Die cut, along with the Jingle All The Way Phrase Die cut, STAMPlorations Christmas Bells.  My embossed background is CAS-ual Fridays Holly Jolly Borders.

---

---

Thanks for stopping by~

Just Us Girls #371 - Photo Inspiration Week

It's my challenge over at Just Us Girls, and the above photo is meant to inspire you :).  It did me!

While I don't normally like purple, I do like it with silver.  I used an older ornament die from the OOB Top Dog, and my MC is from Hero Arts Merry Christmas Tree (retired).

Are you inspired by the photo?  I hope you come on over to my JUGS challenge and play along.  The gallery should be really pretty :).

---

---

Thanks for stopping by~

A Fun Project

Today I am showing you a project that I have been wanted to make for months!  I finally took a few hours and did it!  I was kind of motivated by Iheartorganizing Dare to DIY link up.

Yep - It's a Favorite Recipe Holder.  Yes, like all of us, I have many cookbooks, but I wanted one to hold my "go-to" recipes.  You know, the ones you like to make often, but never remember how to.  Now, I have a convenient holder!  I used my Top Dog Mason Jar Die, along with the Mason Jar Album Finishers, and some recycled cardboard from various stuff.

I covered all the pages with fun designer paper, and put a title on it using the The Stamps of Life, Boxes4abc.  

I cut off the side of an envelope so it would fit on the page, and used it to hold my recipe cards.  Eventually, I will list [on the outside of the envelope] what recipes I have in the inside of the envie for easier use.

I also left some pages open for additional categories, and/or if I have too many recipes cards for one envie.  

I am looking forward to using this simplified system of finding a recipe when I need it.

---

---

Thanks for stopping by~

One Layer Christmas Card #3 - Gold

It's the One Layer Christmas Card Challenge #3 time again. 

 I used an ornament die from Top Dogs and inlaid it to keep the one layer.  Works for me!

Your turn!  Come on over to the One Layer Christmas Card Challenge and play along!!  We can't wait to see your creation~  Oh yeah, there is a potential prize!!

---

---

Thanks for stopping by~

ShowCASe your style #2 & Card Concept #23

I was really motivated from the colors over at showCASe your style #2.

Aw these colors just sing for Christmas!  I used a die from Top Dog, Ornament & Tag, and a sentiment from Hero Arts, Holiday Sayings.

I even made a 2nd one with more of my lovely white -- I don't like this as well, but I do like it.

I also was motivated by Card Concepts #23 challenge - great colors there too!  I stayed with CAS.

I tried the "snow" on the tree stamping - using white along with a dark color.  It does look like snow.  I used a Silhouette reindeer cut, a Posh Impression, Tree Frame stamp and the bird from Gina K Designs, Sentimental Holiday.

Yep, it seems like it has been forever since I joined in challenges!

---

---

Thanks for stopping by~ If you have a question, please leave an email so I can answer you :)

A New [revised] Challenge

Finally I get to stamping!  There are so many fun blog hops today I spent about 2 hours just perusing blogland.  Fun stuff!  Also in my email, was the NEW [dare I say improved] One Layer Simplicity Challenge website!  Yep, Susan has moved up and created a new website [thanks to Ardyth] for her One Layer Wednesday challenge.  I am so there!

Today's challenge is "re-stocking" the stash.  I am going with a semi sympathy card.  I [unfortunately] need some "extras" in that category.

I used a sentiment from Dare 2B Artsy, Thinking of You, and an image from [my new Team] STAMPlorations, Trendy Feathers.  One thing about an one layer card, it sure doesn't take much explanation.

I also came across ColorQ's #222 - [Arielle really does rock at combining her colors!]

I needed another desk calendar and these colors worked quite nicely.  My calendar is a free download from Printable 2014 Calendars.  My background is printed acetate [love it] with black card stock in the back. My year is in gold mirror paper [so hard to photograph], die cut with Tim Holtz's Chip Block.

This will fit perfectly on my desk.

















And lastly, a card I thought about and had to make before I forgot what I was thinking....

Though I am no longer with Top Dog Dies, I still love the few dies I do have.  This Cherish Doily die is my favorite.  A heart from Spellbinders, 2 hearts from MFT Hearts a Plenty, and a IBS Background Basic 3, for my script background.  Yep, came out exactly how I was thinking it.

That's it for my fun first day of 2014~  What about you?  Did you get in some inky time?

---

---

Thanks for stopping by~

Last Top Dog Day

I hope everyone who celebrates Christmas had a wonderful day!  I sure did~

This is my last post [exclusively] for Top Dog Dies.  I have to say, that 3 months went super fast!!  I still have a few dies that I still haven't even used, but I am sure in the future, you will see them, just not an exclusive post for them.  Meanwhile, here are my last 2 cards:

The heart day is coming and I figured I'd get a jump on it.  For this card I used Top Dog Dies; Cherish Doilies & Tags, Heart Doily, and Vintage Alphabet Die.

For this cheerful card I used the Heart Doilies & Tags, Wildflower Die, Vintage Alphabet Die, and Bird Cage Album Finishers Die.

I do highly recommend popping over and checking out the Top Dog Dies - they have an amazing selection from large to small.  It's been my pleasure designing for them over the last few months~  Good designing to the new Team - you have fabulous quality dies to create with!

---

---

Thanks for stopping by~

Sketch Motivation

I was totally inspired by a couple of sketches today!  First off is Sweet Sunday Sketch #200

I just laugh - I have had this Memory Box die for quite a while, and I have used it once.  Yeah, one time - ridiculous.  Karen's circle on her graphic just screamed for it~ I used Tim Holtz Chipblock for my numbers.

I am having fun using my mirror and glittered paper for my New Year's

cards -- they both work awesome for celebration. 

I used a partial sentiment from Gina K Designs, Joyful Holiday.

---

The next sketch was from Retro Sketches #95:

I used a Top Dog Die from Cherish Doilies & Tags.  I just love it in the mirror paper!

When I look at the sketches, they are very similar, but different products equal a different look.  Card making so awesome!  :).

---

And one more challenge -- CASology 75 - Knit.  This challenge instantly brought this idea to my head:

 Looks like knit to mwah!  Sentiment is from GKD Simple Snowflakes.

---

---

Thanks for stopping by~

---

Top Dog Die

It's Top Dog Die day again here on the blog.  TD sent me some more dies- these dies are really fun!

I started with these dies;

I guess most people would make an album of some kind, but I have found that while albums are fun, and I love seeing them, I just do not use them.  They take a lot of time to make also.  I'll stick with fun projects like my bird cage.  It works sitting in my stamp room as a decoration.

I cut four "cages", made a small box for the base, adhered the sides to the inside of the box, and tied the top closed - after I added my sponged little birds.  Kind of a fun project.

Be sure and pop on over to Top Dog Dies and see all the fun dies they offer.  The quality is amazing!  Plus, if you enjoy using dies, they are running a Design Team tryout through December 20th~

Also, the winners from our hop last week:

Kim Crain

Kate Burton

Just contact Top Dog to claim your prize!  Congratulations~

---

---

Thanks for stopping by~

Top Dog Die Day

I realize that we had a hop yesterday with Top Dog, but I had already made my weekly cards and wanted to share them with you.

I found myself needing more sympathy cards [it's never planned when you need these ya know?] -- I used the wonderful Wild Flower.  It works well when you cut it two times, and use one as a shaded background.

Again, I used the Wild Flower, and also the Sophia A2 Mat, and the banner from Mason Jar Album Finishers.

2 days of Dog fun - yep I love it~

---

---

Thanks for stopping by~

Top Dog Die Hop!!

It's a first hop for the Top Dog Die Company and Team!  This is going to be fabulous -- and, there is an amazing prize; 2 $50 gift certificates to Top Dog!

I used the fun Ornaments & Tag 2, along with the banner from Mason Jar Album Finishers.

For my second card, I once again used the Ornament & Tags #2.  This time, I paired it with the fabulous [and stunning] Cherish Doilies & Tag.  I used Chupa's Saturday Sketch #111 for the layout of this card.

Okay, that's it for me!  Here is the list of Teamies on the hop today;

 Michelle Neddo
Angela Bode
Kendra Sand
Kathy Martin
Vicki Dutcher - that's ME!
Lisa Somerville
Nasayi Atkins
Maureen Cronin
Shellye McDaniel

The party isn’t over just yet, though: We’re giving away $50 Top Dog Dies eGift Cards to two lucky winners. Entering is easy: Just add your email address here and you’ll be included in the giveaway!

You can earn extra entries by commenting along the blog hop and by following us on  Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Even better news? You have until Friday Dec. 13 to enter and we'll announce the winners on Monday Dec. 16.

Thanks for joining us for our first – but definitely not our last – blog hop. Happy hopping!

---

---

Thanks for stopping by~

Top Dog Die Day

It's the TD day today.  I am still short on some Christmas cards, fortunately, the Dog comes through!

I just love the Cherish Doilies & Tags die.  I think it went really well with the Ornament & Tag #2.  I used a sentiment from Hero Arts Holiday Sayings.

I also made a second card.  I love snow globes and didn't this work out fabulous, using the lid from Mason Jar Album Finishers, and Photo Props for my melted snowman.

This is so perfect coming from Arizona!  Melted would be the only snowman we have here!
Personally, I love the "sunglasses" - this card really makes me smile~

I think I need 4 more cards and I will be done for Christmas 2013!

---

---

Thanks for stopping by~