Damask Divas Scaredy Cat Blog Hop!

Welcome to my blog!  It is finally time for the next Damask Divas Blog Hop, and we are planning ahead for Halloween with the NEW Scaredy Cat Paper Packet from Close to My Heart, so come on in and enjoy the treats, but hopefully not any tricks!  (This Blog Hop officially begins on September 1st, so the links will be good to go then.)

You should have arrived from Kelly's Blog.  If not, just keep on hopping since this hop runs in a circle.  In case you get lost, the entire line up can be found over on the Damask Divas Blog.

My project is one that I have been wanting to do for quite a while now, but keeps getting put on hold when Halloween disappears so quickly.  Since we are showcasing this great Halloween themed paper a month ahead of time for you, I was able to get a huge jump on things this year!

These spooky cricut cuts are found on the Artbooking Cartridge exclusively available from Close to My Heart.  I love how easy it was to line the back of the haunted house with the orange pattern...

This adorable little fellow is found on the Frightfully Fun My Acrylix.  I just stamped him in Black Exclusive Ink and trimmed him out.

Notice that sparkle?  The NEW Purple Glitter Paper is perfect with Scaredy Cat!  This adorable quote is found in one of the pattern papers, and it happened to go PERFECTLY with my theme, so I just trimmed it out.  (Yep, that little candy corn was already there!)

The wonderful new White Enamel Stars are great on so many projects! 

If you happen to be a bit of a perfectionist (like me!) then just trim out the stars while they are on the clear backing and arrange them how you like before attaching them permanently.  That way you can get them all just right the first time!  ;)

I am so glad you are hopping with us today.  Now head off to Michele's Blog to see what she cooked up.  Have a great time soaking in the inspiration!  :)

Get yours HERE!

Check it out on my website HERE!

Damask Divas Ivy Lane Blog Hop!

 Hello, my crafty peeps!  Welcome back for another edition of the Damask Divas Blog Hop!  This time, we are debuting the BRAND NEW Ivy Lane Paper Packet! Our entire hop goes live on February 1st, so all of the links will be working by then--please bear with us as we get the kinks out and help our newest Divas get the hang of this thing!  :)

If you came from Jessica's blog, then you are on the right path!  If not, feel free to start at the beginning over at the Damask Divas Blog where you can see the entire line-up of Divas participating!  :)

Since February is a month of love at our home for a variety of reasons (V-day and two anniversaries!), I wanted to focus on that for my theme.  I had never made the mailbox from the Close to My Heart Cricut Artiste Collection, so I figured it was about time!

This amazing paper project is found on page 51 of the Artiste handbook.  I LOVE how they color coordinated the parts in the pictures so you know just what you are cutting with each step.  It really makes choosing your papers a breeze!  Then, it even shows you how to put it together in the Assembly Guide.  Thank goodness, because I did NOT do it the right way at first!  ;)

I used Cocoa CS that is included in the Ivy Lane Workshop on the Go Cardmaking Kit for the main body of my mailbox.  The trim was cut on Kraft CS.

These gorgeous 3D flowers were JUST the thing to decorate my mailbox.  I used Kraft CS, Hollyhock CS from the Cardmaking Kit, and the double sided pattern paper included as well--one side for the leaves and the other for the flowers.  :)  These beautiful cuts are also found on Artiste...the leaf is right underneath the flower.

I attached a great little love banner that is found on the Remarkable Wreath My Acrylix.  This has long been one of my favorite stamp sets from CTMH, and I even bought it BEFORE I became an independent consultant.  I stamped it in Cocoa Ink and blinged the ends of the banner up a bit with a couple of the smallest gems in the Sparkles Brown and Tan Assortment.

Back to those flowers for a moment...I inked the edges with my Sweet Leaf Exclusive Ink Pad and dauber.  Then I folded them along a faux vein to give them some depth.

See the bit of glimmer on those inked edges?  I used my Wink of Stella glitter pen to easily add the pretty sparkle.  Super-easy and quick, PLUS I love the effect on the flowers!   I attached them to the mailbox with Liquid Glass--THE BEST go-to adhesive for bulky embellishments! 

Here is one product you won't find anywhere else in the NEW Spring and Summer Idea Book--GOLD Shimmer Trim!!!  It is exclusively available in the Ivy Lane Workshop on the Go Cardmaking Kit!  Let's just say it was on my FIRST order!  ;)  It matched really well with these Rolos candies that I decorated with a simple 3/4 inch scallop punch.  These were PERFECT to fill my mailbox!  I used the Almond Hershey Kisses that are wrapped in gold for another version of this box (and my friend adored it, BTW!)

I hope you found some mojo to take with you from my blog today! 

Your next stop is Brenda's blog!  Have a great time browsing all the fabulous creations on the rest of the hop, and never let ANYONE steal your sparkle!  :)

February Stamp of the Month!

Embossing is BOSS!!

Damask Divas Sparkle and Shine Blog Hop!

Welcome to my blog for the shiniest hop this year!  ;)  If you arrived from Jamie's Blog, then you are on the right path.  If not, just check out the Damask Divas Blog for the entire line up!  :)

I finally had a chance to play with my new paper, and love how it looks with this simple card design!  I have had this one brewing in my mind for a while, using the tree as the letter 'A' in PEACE.  I had no idea it would work so perfectly with the Tree Delights My Acrylix and the Framework Alphabet!

Now, you sure can't tell in the first picture, but take a look at this one close up!

The lettering is stamped in Juniper Ink, while the tree was stamped with Versamark and sprinkled with Close to My Heart's Silver Embossing Powder.  The heating tool just shines it right up to match the silver color in the new Sparkle and Shine patterned papers!   I am really loving the softer look of the Juniper rather than the more traditional green for Christmas papers.

I trimmed the edge of the White Daisy card front with the Scallop Border Punch for a different look.  Hope you are inspired to try something new with my card, but now you are off to Tammy's Blog for another amazing paper creation!  Have a fantastic time on the hop!

Remember, if you get lost, jut pop on over to the Damask Divas Blog for the entire line-up!  :)

Don't forget to pick up the Stamp of the Month, Scandinavian Wishes before October ends!  :)

Damask Divas Laughing Lola Blog Hop!

Welcome to my blog!  I know you have been waiting for this!  It is finally time for another Damask Divas Blog Hop!  Be sure to tune in I am sure you are all enjoying the fantastic paper creations of my teammates by now, so let's get down to business...

(If any links aren't live yet, just check out the hop Oct. 1 when it will be free of kinks!)
If you hopped over from Traci's Blog then you are in the right place!  If not, you can find the lineup  HERE at the Damask Divas Blog. (Or you can just go back to Mandy's since hers is the first stop!)  ;)

The Laughing Lola Paper Packet is certainly a new favorite of mine from Close to My Heart's Autumn/Winter Idea Book.  I thought I would add a pop of Sunset CS to see if I could make her Halloween friendly, and I think it worked like a charm!  ;)

This fab little treat box cracker cut is on the Cricut Artiste Collection.  I used my ATG to put it together nice and tightly, then filled it with a Bath and Body PocketBac, decorated Hershey's Chocolate Nuggets, and Kisses! 

The Black Shimmer Trim is one of my all-time favorite embellishments to use for some serious bling.  Isn't the scallop cut on the ends of the box a great detail?!

Check out these Twist Ties I used to decorate the ends where the box gets tied shut...would you believe I was able to color them with my alcohol ink markers?  YEP!  I have also used my ink daubers to color them up as well!  :)

These Nugget candies are so fun to decorate with a simple scrap of 1 x 3 inch paper or cardstock.  I added this awesome spiderweb border found on the Artiste Cricut Cartridge to these as well.  SO easy!  The Dark Chocolate Kisses are are already the perfect color to go with my box!

I am going to give this nice little package to my kiddo's teacher to keep her happy and germ free for the Fall!  ;)

Thanks so much for hopping in today!  Your next stop on the hop (giggle) is Teri's Blog!  If you ever get lost, you can always check out the entire line-up over on the Damask Divas Blog.  Have a great time checking out all the creations and hope to see you here again soon!  :)

Damask Divas Chantilly Blog Hop

Welcome to another Damask Divas Blog Hop!  (March 1st all links will work!) Thanks so much for stopping in to see the many ways you can put your Chantilly Paper Packet to use!  If you came from Shirley's Blog, then you are in the right place.  If not, just check out the line-up at the Damask Divas Blog.

Chantilly just might be my favorite paper of all time!  Of course, I am a girl who likes to change her mind, so let's just be realistic and call it my favorite for the moment, shall we?  ;) 

I made this shadow box frame for my cousin and her hubs who had their second darling little baby girl in February.  I simply love creating these personalized frames for people who order them from my Etsy Shop.  They are fabulous gifts for new parents and easy to customize.  This is also my entry for the Heart 2 Heart February Challenge, Love is in the Air.  It has been tortuous waiting to link it up until we had the blog hop because I finished this project before Valentine's Day!!  ;)  It was totally perfect for both assignments though, so well worth the wait.

The background paper for this frame was made by dabbing my Twilight Exclusive Ink onto a piece of White Daisy Cardstock with my handy dandy sponge dauber.  I used it all over the paper and then cut out the section that I liked the best.

I used a few different Close to My Heart My Acrylix stamp sets for this one.  The Chantilly Scrapbook Workshop size C set I used for the clouds is currently available and the retired sets I used are Capture the Date, Moments in Time, and February Word Puzzle.  I used all these retired sets for numbers and lettering, so they would be very easy to substitute.  :)

The hot air balloon is a gorgeous cut found on the Close to My Heart Artiste Cricut Cartridge.  It usually has a flag on top of the balloon, but I just cut that off.  ;)   I added a bit of baker's twine to attach the basket.

These letters that spell out "olivia" are the glamour glitter alphabet stickers.

I placed one of the Chantilly zip strips along the bottom of the frame for a bit of grounding effect.  I really love the looks of this particular strip.  The sentiment at the bottom of the artwork melts my heart.  I positively had to place a heart in the basket being carried away...snif!

I hope this has inspired you to create your own beautiful paper piecing!  Have fun on the rest of our blog hop--you won't believe your eyes!  Cydney's blog is your next stop!  :)  Don't forget to enter the rafflecopter giveaway on the Damask Divas Blog for a chance to win a Close to My Heart My Acrylix Stamp Set!!!

Damask Divas For Always Blog Hop!

Can you believe it?!  Here it is!  Our first blog hop of the new catalog!  This hop officially starts on February 1st, so if you are a bit early be sure to check back in!  If you came from Traci Williams' Blog, Paper Crafting 101, then you are in the right place.  If not, you can start at the Damask Divas Blog at the beginning.  I need to take a few deep breaths, so have a look at my first creation with the For Always Paper Packet while I do that...

I have been wanting to make one of these double pocket cards for a little while, and since Heart 2 Heart posted their fancy folds challenge for week #3, I had the superb motivation!  This type of card gave me the perfect opportunity to highlight the beautiful patterned papers of For Always.

The card takes just one sheet of double sided pattern paper.  It also conveniently gives you a finished card size 4.25 x 5.5...the standard A2 card size!   Here is the video tutorial I used.  As you will see--it is unbelievably simple!  I used the second version she shows so that the paper patterns alternate in the finished card.

I started by making the sentiment for my card.  I cut the "we" and "u" from the Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge on Ruby Cardstock that comes with the paper packet.  The "Love" sentiment is cut from our second Cricut Cartridge, Artiste.  Do you see the boarder at the top and bottom of the sentiment?  That is the zip strip that you cut off from each of our patterned papers.  I really liked how this one looked by covering half of it.

3D flowers were actually one of the first things that drew me to Close to My Heart.  At the time, the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge was one of only two that had the beautiful cut on it that allowed you to form these beauties.  But I needed to know HOW to make them, and I needed the right adhesive.  I found Mandy's video tutorial that gave me exactly what I needed to know.  I. Was.  Hooked.  You had me at liquid glass!  Yes, I use our amazing liquid glass to hold these beauties together and also to attach them to the card itself.  Trust me, it is the BEST product out there for this purpose.  It also lasts FOREVER!  A little goes a long way.  To make a long story shorter, lol, when I saw the black and white script design in For Always, I knew that 3D flowers were going to be the first thing I made with it!  I inked up the edges before I rolled them with Ruby, Cotton Candy, Hollyhock, and Blush Exclusive Inks (from left to right above.)

The centers are dotted with our brand new Pink Glitter Sparkles to match each color of ink.  They come with 5 different shades all in one pack!

These tags were SO much fun to embellish.  Each one matches the personality of the girlie who will be writing a sweet sentiment to their grandma on the back for Valentine's Day.  :)  They pull out like this so that she can read them:

The tag cut is found on the Artiste Cricut Cartridge.  I used our Black Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Black Tulle, and NEW! Black Shimmer Trim as tag-ties.  I added a new Black Button to one with some black waxy flax.  The girls' names are spelled out with the gorgeously glittery Glamour Glitter Alphabet.

Sparkle galore!

Well, I have kept you long enough for today!  Tammy Smith at Legacy of the Heart is your next stop on the blog hop, so pick up your sparkle and move on along!  Thanks for hopping in!   ;)

Oh, and don't forget to comment on the Damask Divas blog for your chance to win an awesome Close to My Heart Acrylix Stamp Set!!!  HERE

And the winner is....

Time for me to announce the winner of my Black Friday sales!  Well, OK, it is past time so I won't make you wait any longer.   The winner is....


BETH OMAR!!!!  Congratulations, Beth!  Please let me know which WOTG you would like and I will get it right out to you!  :)

I have a few miscellaneous Christmas tags left to show you too...

I went a tad bit poinsettia happy the past month or so while making my wreath, lol.  Here is one of the first tags I made this season.

Next, I wanted some easy ones to mass produce for my gifts.

The shimmer trim sandwiches easily in between these two tag cuts on the cricut Art Philosophy collection.

I LOVE using my Gelly Roll Stardust pen to just add some sparkle to these...but it is tricky to photograph.  I drew along the lines in the middle of the star.

Are you making any Christmas tags this year?  :)

REMEMBER!!!!  I am hosting our Damask Divas Blog Hop giveaway this month!  You can enter to win this size B My Acrylix Stamp set, Blessings of Peace on the Damask Divas Blog HERE!  ENDS tomorrow, Wednesday, the 5th!  Hurry, and Good Luck!!!

UPDATE:  SO SORRY!  The giveaway said until Tuesday and I thought that included today.  :(  So sorry!

Damask Divas November Blog Hop -- Flirty

Hello!  The first of the month means one thing around these parts--the Damask Divas Blog Hop!  This month, we are featuring the Flirty Paper Packet.  This gorgeous combination of raspberry, orange, gold, and green is wonderful for scrapbook pages from spring flowers to fall leaves.  It also proved to be perfect for home decor projects.

If you came from Stephanie's blog, then you are in the right place!  If not, you can start at the beginning at the Damask Divas Blog.

It is such a relief to finally post my project.  I have been waiting patiently because I had it finished WAYYYY ahead of time.  I could just not keep my hands off this gorgeous Bracket Frame--so I didn't!  Here it is, FINALLY!

When I first saw the colors in the Flirty Paper Packet, my mind conjured up images of the 70's.  I was just a kid back then, but I can distinctly remember avocado colored appliances and tupperware, orange shag carpet, and Mustard colored tweed chairs.  Tell me it was just a bad dream!  HA!  It really happened, and so the perfect picture for me to decorate this frame for was one from that decade.  This pic is of my dear sis and I making faces in my Grandma's Texas backyard.   That's right, ya'll--I am part Native Texan!  ;)

Back to the present! Let's start at the top.  I used Close to My Heart's Rhinestone Sparkle Brads to anchor each side of this "sisters" banner at the corner of my frame.  The banner comprises several different products.  The very Autumnal Orange Flirty B&T Paper backs the triangles of Burlap Ribbon.  I attached them all to a strand of embroidery floss with liquid glass.  Then I pulled out my new Pixie Glitter Alphabet stickers for the first time.  Sigh.  This is a first cousin to my FAVORITE product--Shimmer Trim!  I outlined the letters with a black sharpie to make them pop from the light background. 

This bottom corner is decked out in Fabulous Flirtyness.  I cut out a couple of beautiful flowers from one of the papers and added some layers with foam tape.  These are backed by strategically trimmed Sparkles Flourishes.   One of the flowers is embellished with a large sparkle from the Sparkles Brown and Tan Assortment.  Then I inserted two pins from the Autumn Lane Assortment into the foam that backs the flowers.  Perfect!  This organdy ribbon is an older product that I was able to get my mitts on for this project.  I really try not to use retired product for my hop projects, but just look at it!  Sorry!

You can see the different textures I have going on in this pic.  I used my paper distresser and foam tape to add visual interest and dimension.  The Flirty Raspberry paper is matting the photo.  I used the large rose stamp in the Love Blooms My Acrylix Stamp Set to random stamp the pattern in New England Ivy.

This frame came together so well with our coordinating products.  That is one of my favorite things about our papers and inks--they are all coordinated!  It is such a joy to grab a B&T paper packet knowing that everything I need to create a paper project is right inside!  Instead of spending my time searching for papers that work well together, I got to concentrate on the creation of my fabulous frame!  LOVE it!

Well, you made it to the end of this month's hop.  We hope you had as much fun browsing our creations as we had making them!  Before you get too busy making your wish lists from all of this amazing inspiration, be sure to enter the Rafflecopter drawing on the Damask Divas Blog for your chance to win some blog candy from our very own Diva, Gloria Shirr!  Thanks so much for hopping with us--now go get your crafty on!