Boo! Three Ways

Hello crafty people! So, I will admit that I have been a rather bad blogger lately, but I’ve still been working on things and I have THREE cards to share today!

Two noticeable things, I used my Cricut and I used some new photo editing effects to play up the Halloween theme. I really like the fading effect, but it does make the photos darker so by all means, let me know if you don’t like it.

My good friend Norma and I were chatting one night and she pretty much told me I should make a card using my Cricut. Well, I decided that I wanted to work on my design skills, so I used the same image and sentiment in a series of cards. I started with something simple, and worked my way up to something more involved. I have to be honest and admit that if I were just going to make one card, my first inclination is to always make it very involved.

What I ended up doing was using a few select patterns, textures, colors, and embellishments in different ways. The chevron from the ribbon the first card inspired the use of the chevron paper on the second and third cards. The first card had a black base, but instead of using a black base on the second card, I used a pattern that was mainly black. And, on the third card, I used the same patterned paper (stars) to punch out the pattern, to tie is back to the second card. Lather, rinse, repeat!!

Thanks for stopping by today! Have a blessed day!

Tree-mendous Wishes

It’s beginning to look a lot like . . . summer. Cause I live in Alabama and it’s hotter than a box of firecrackers on the Fourth of July. Anyway, I welcome you on this great Wednesday!

I have a quick Christmas card to share with you today. I was trying to make it vintage, yet fun.

For today’s card, I wanted to incorporate a little more stamping –because that’s what I mainly consider myself to be these days, a stamper. And, one of my favorite things to do is stamp onto die cuts. In this case, Cricut cuts. I stamped on the lighter green cut with my Just Jeans stamp from Stampin’ Up.

I totally winged this card. With the exception of the Kraft base an the Christmas tree cut from Winter Frolic, the rest just kind of came to me as I was creating. Just to let you all know where I was going, the Christmas tree is basically a vintage pin. At least that’s what I’m telling myself. When I cut the tree, the little circle that are meant to be balls were incredibly tiny. But no matter, I grabbed my Melissa Frances pearls and colored a few with my markers, problem solved. A little Crystal Stickles and my little tree was complete. The button card stamp is from Button Boutique and I stamped it with Real Red ink.

Standard card base, no need for reinventing the wheel today. Continuing the theme, of the week, my pattern papers are from the Echo Park Merry Christmas Collection. The green polka dot measured 4” x 3,” and the stripe is 4” x 2.25.” Adhered them with a small amount of ATG – just enough in the center so they won’t shift while sewing. By the way, I use Coats & Clark thread for all of my sewing. While I had my machine out, I stitched some lace over the seam where the papers met.

Once I added the lace, I figured I might as well keep with the fabric/texture theme, so I stitched some burlap with Liz’s Boutique onto a scrap of Vintage Cream cardstock. Initially, I was going to distress the edges, but I decided to trim it with my pinking shears to match the little paper sack I used. Which reminds me . . .  Before I stitched the burlap, I used Background Basics: Houndstooth to stamp on a Canvas Corp bag. I used Stampin’ Up’s Soft Suede ink. Words cannot describe how much I love that color. Love it. I know some of you are thinking, Trell, it’s just brown. Errr, no it’s not, so there!

From there I tied a bow with some red seam binding, because everything is better with a bow. I adhered the bag and the button card to the card with red line tape. I have found that I like to use it because it has such a strong hold. Anyway, I stamped my sentiment from My Creative Time’s newest sets, It’s a Magical Season, onto a negative from a frame that I kept. I know it’s on Elegant Edges. The main cut is a postage note frame.

To finish it off, I inserted a corsage pin into the bow, and inked around the card with Antique Linen Distress ink and a little Soft Suede.

Thanks for stopping by and leaving such wonderful comments. Have a blessed day!

My Creative Time March Blog Hop!

Hey everyone! It’s been a super busy week, but I’m back with a card to celebrate the March release! If you came to my blog from the wonderful and talened Tracy’s, then you are doing great, if not, start here: My Creative Time.

I decided to go vintage with my card for today. I’ve been trying to work with color palettes outside of my normal box and I have to say that I just love the little touch of turquoise. against the richness of the dark red, I think it makes for an interesting card.

My card is Vintage Cream and is a standard A2. I have a mat of Hawaiian Shores and patterned paper from a Paper Studio pad called The Classics. Lots of timeless patterns and I think it was around ten bucks. Totally worth it. I sewed those together with my sewing machine and some cream thread. I then inked the edges with Antique Linen and Walnut Stain Distress Inks. I used my blending tool and I used the Walnut Stain very sparingly. I didn’t want to overdo it.

I cut the stamp shape from Elegant Edges at 3.75”. I used the wonderful background Emma designed from Coffee Backgrounds and stamped it with Versamark. Initially I was going to leave it plain, but I decided on a whim to go ahead and clear emboss it. I then took the same Distress inks to my stamp mat. My to-go cup is from the AWESOME Coffee Break Set. I diecut it in Vintage Cream and stamped the sleeve with the polka dot background with Cherry Cobbler ink from Stampin’ Up. I love this red. Love it. I inked my cup as well. 

I tied a bow using some Offray grosgrain, one of my favorites. I adhered the stamp mat with my thicker dimensional adhesive dots at an angle, and I adhered the cup with Stampin’ Dimensionals. I stamped my sentiment from You Are Perk-fect on a piece of Vintage Cream with the same Cherry Cobbler ink.

***** BLOG HOP GIVEAWAYS *****

For the BLOG HOP giveaway each one of us will be giving away a brand new Release Echo Park 6x6 pad of paper! All you have to do is leave a comment and a way for the DT member to contact you if you should win. Each designer will be using RANDOM.ORG to pick the lucky winner. Emma and Each Designer will announce their winners on THEIR blogs on Wednesday March 21. So remember you have 16 chances to win! ! All you have to do is leave a comment on ALL blogs for more chances :) 
EASY PEASY!!! GOOD LUCK;)

Blog Hop Line-up

Emma~ http://www.creativetimeforme.com/

Amy ~ http://www.scrappingmommy.com/

Cassandra ~ http://www.ctimz3.blogspot.com/

Cathryn ~  http://inthepinkcathryn.blogspot.com/

Cindy ~ http://cindylee77.blogspot.com/

Glora ~ http://glorascrafts.blogspot.com/

Jeanne ~ http://www.jeannespapercrafts.com/

Katie ~ http://www.craftingwithkatie.com/

Kim ~ http://www.scrapinmomofoneinspiringlittleboy.blogspot.com/

Nikki ~ http://scrappinnavywife.blogspot.com/

Rosy ~ http://sweetdelightspapernmore.blogspot.com/

Shar ~ http://scrapendipity.blogspot.com/

Tracy ~ http://tracyscricutcorner.blogspot.com/

Trell ~ http://polkadotsandpaint.blogspot.com/

Veronica ~ http://www.vkcreate.blogspot.com/

Micia ~ http://yellowbirdcreation.blogspot.com

Thanks so much for coming by! See you for the Imagine challenge on Monday. Have a blessed weekend!!

Peter Cottontail is on His Way!

Hello everyone! I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend. In case you haven’t heard, the My Creative Time Team is manning the Everyday Cricut blog this week and today is my day to guest post! I am so excited and thankful to Joy and Melanie for the opportunity.

I did something for this card that I haven't done in a long, long time - used my Gypsy. Go me, woot woot! I used the ever reliable Create a Critter and the must have Elegant Edges on my card today. 

Normally when I use my Cricut, I will cut the image first and then build my card around it. Well, this time, I started with my card base and patterned papers, and cut my image to coordinate. I used patterned paper from the My Mind’s Eye On the Bright Side – Two collection.

I used my Tim Holtz edge distressing tool to rough up the edges of the Spring Moss cardstock. For the patterned paper, I simply bent the edges back and forth after I stitched it to the green mat. I used a gray thread, so it’s not very visible. Everything was inked with Antique Linen Distress ink.

As I mentioned earlier, I used my Gypsy to design everything, and I don’t know how the sizing would work without using it. Especially with the scalloped oval, I had to hide contour and things of that nature. So, if anyone wants the file, shoot me a message and I will do my best to get it to you.

My sentiment comes from my first, and most favorite, My Creative Time set, Color Me Happy. It’s just perfect for Easter and Spring themed projects. If you look closely, you’ll see the Chicken Wire background stamp from Spring Chicken Backgrounds. To do this, I stamped the background onto the green strip of cardstock using London Fog ink. I then stamped my sentiment onto a strip of vellum cardstock using VersaMark and embossed it with white Zing embossing powder from American Crafts. To complete the card I tied a double bow with some gingham ribbon I picked up from Hobby Lobby and I added an adhesive rhinestone to the flower.

Now, before I go, y’all know a party ain’t a party unless there is a . . .

GIVEAWAY!!

A Color Me Happy stamp set, courtesy of the fabulous Emma, will go to one lucky person! All I need you to do is leave a comment on Everyday Cricut, and at my blog, Polka Dots, Paint & Cake Batter. Please be sure to leave a way for me to contact you!

Have a blessed day everyone!

Rosie’s Rocking 45th Birthday Blog Hop!

Hello everyone! Me along with five wonderful ladies are hopping to help Rosie from Scrap Loving Mini’s celebrate her 45th birthday! If you didn’t start with Rosie’s blog, I made her blog title into a link to to get you to the right place.

Here is the card I made for Rosie. I bought this Echo Park collection earlier this month and I was saving it for today. I really hope that Rosie likes it!

The card is a standard A2 and is True Black from Papertrey Ink. The floral pattern and the black polka dot are from the Echo Park For the Record Collection. I used a flourish stamp set that I’ve had for a while now and Bermuda Bay ink to give a backdrop for the sentiment. I use Think Big Favorites #12 for the sentiment. If you can’t tell, it’s embossed with black Zing embossing powder and I realize now that I used regular VersaMark instead of my normal Dazzle in Frost. It makes a difference!

To embellish the card, I tied a double bow with some red sating ribbon and used a variety of yellow and red roses from Recollections and I Am Roses.

Blog Candy

I’ve decided to give the winner a choice of three things for my blog candy! And here are the choices:

1. $10.00 Gift Card to Jo-Ann
2. $10.00 Gift Card to Hobby Lobby
3. A stamp set of your choice from My Creative Time

The only requirement is that you leave a comment here with a way for me to contact you AND leave a comment on Rosie’s blog wishing her a happy birthday. You don’t have to follow me or anything of that nature.

Hop Line Up

1. Rosie - http://www.scraplovingminis.blogspot.com

2. Kari - http://purplefuntastickcreations.blogspot.com/

3. Zeni - http://www.scrappyzeni.com

4. Trell - http://polkadotsandpaint.blogspot.com (you’re here)

5. Rosa – http://craftsbyrosa.blogspot.com (next stop)

6. Lena - http://lenascreations.blogspot.com

7. Gloria – http://www.omascrafts.blogspot.com

That’s all for me today. I wish everyone a blessed weekend, and Rosie I hope you have a wonderfully blessed birthday!

Favorite Stamp of the Month

Hello everyone. I hope everyone is having an awesome week. It’s still gloomy here, and I think that we’re supposed to get a little snow today. The new year brings changes, and one of the changes that we’re having at My Creative Time is the Favorite Stamp of the Month. On specific Thursdays of every month the team is going to focus on an older stamp set and Emma is going to offer the set a a discounted price. This month’s set is, “You Had Me at Chocolate.”

If you own this stamp set, we would LOVE to see ANY projects you have made OR any NEW projects using this stamp set! My Creative Time is having a, "You Had Me At Chocolate," Link Party! Please link up your projects HERE to Mr. Linky on My Creative Time's page! If you do NOT own this set, it's your LUCKY day because it is on sale right now: HERE! Go pick up your set before they sell out!  We are ALL looking forward to seeing your projects!;)

I’ve had a desire to make a black, white, and red Valentine’s card for a few days now. It’s the idea that just seems to be at the forefront and I find that I have to make whatever project that is before I can move on to other things. My goal for this year is to also try my hand at making cards that are more simple.

My card base is from a sheet of patterned paper by DCWV. It’s called Dancing Polka Dot, and I bought it open stock, but it’s also in the All Dressed Up stack. It’s a 12” x 12” sheet that I trimmed to 4.25” x 11” and scored at 5.5.” I used my Scallop Sentiment punch to put a scalloped border on a scrap piece of red cardstock. I added a thin black mat and a piece of cream that was an eighth of an inch smaller. The red heart is the stitched heart from the 100% Sweetness stamp set. I used my Jenni Bowlin Malted Milk ink to stamp my sentiment on the cream cardstock to create sort of a patterned paper. And I stamped it once in Real Red. To finish it off, I tied a bow with some black grosgrain.

That is all for me today. Next week is Sneak Peak week – the first of 2012 and I am so excited to share the new things Emma has come up with! Thanks for coming by and have a wonderfully blessed day!

Cheers! – MCT Sneak Peek Day 3

Hello everyone! We’re on day three of sneak peeks for My Creative Time’s November release. And, today, we’re all showcasing two new sets: Keepin’ It Classy and Classy & Fabulous.  I have to admit that I am in total love with the images from Keepin’ It Classy. Emma’s brother, Mark Villar, hand drew them all.

I knew I was going to make a card for today’s project, but I have to admit, what I was envisioning, is not the final product. I’m thinking you’ll see that Friday because I still plan to make it. Anyway, my card base is Papertrey Ink Dark Chocolate and is a standard A2. I used Aqua Mist as a mat for my patterned paper. Both papers are from the first Lost & Found collection from My Mind’s Eye. The mat is from the Madison Avenue collection, and the paper that my image is stamped on is from the Union Square collection.

I used Elegant Edges and my Expression to cut the frame for my focal image. You can find the frame on page 65. I used the oblong and I sized everything with my Gypsy. I stamped my image with Chocolate Chip ink from Stampin’ Up. I then used VersaMark Dazzle to stamp the wine glass and I embossed it with gold Zing embossing powder from American Crafts. I will apologize now for the darkness of my photos. I craft in the middle of the night. I did use Tea Dye and Vintage Photo Distress inks to give everything an antique look, because otherwise, the papers were all too bright (especially the Aqua Mist) but it’s really not that dark in person.

The label that my sentiment is stamped on is from the Teresa Collins Sophisticated cartridge. I am in love with the fonts Emma used for Classy & Fabulous. Just as I did with the wine glass, I embossed the sentiment with gold embossing powder. Generally, I prefer to emboss my sentiments. I don’t do a lot of embellishing on my projects, so I feel like that kind of makes up for it. As I always say, there is a method to my madness and I have a reason behind everything.

Sneak Peek Giveaway Time!

Listen up "My Creative Time" friends! We are giving all of you an opportunity to win the BEST PRIZES during Sneak peek week with a total of "6" winners to be announced during Friday's Stamp release! All you have to do is leave a comment HERE along w/the rest of the design teams blogs for a chance! There are some AWESOME prizes w/this release!

1. SPREAD THE WORD TO THE WORLD ON FACEBOOK about this release & whatever connections you may have! Let us know on "My Creative Time's" FB page here http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/My-Creative-Time/364568506334 that you did so! OR you can just tag me in your post! And . . .
2. Just comment on ALL of the designers blogs EVERYDAY during Sneaky Peek week! THAT's ALL you have to do to qualify for the BEST giveaways EVER!;)

All winners will "randomly" get chosen and Emma will announce all six winners on Friday, November 18th @ 12:01am PST in her video during the release of this AMAZING new stamp collection & maybe a new die!;) GOOD LUCK! Log onto to your Facebook now & let start spreading word!;)

That’s it for today! I want to thank you all for coming by and I wish everyone a blessed day!

All Star Layout - MCT Sneak Peeks Day 1

Hello everyone! Welcome to day one of sneak peeks at the November My Creative Time stamp release. We have some amazing stamps sets being released this month!

Today, I’m showcasing, “Sports Sentiments.” And, as you can see, I made a layout! Truthfully, my first inclination is to ALWAYS make a card. And, naturally, I did just that. However, I did not like it. Normally, if I’m not super thrilled with something, I will still post it. I may still, the verdict isn’t in yet. Anyway, I made an 8” x 8” page to showcase the stamp set. I will be the first to admit that I am not a sports boy (I’d rather be crafty!), but I do love the, “All Star,” stamp. I think it could be used with more than sports related projects.

I used Versamark and white Zing embossing powder from American Crafts to stamp the title and journaling spot intro. The journaling spot is a cut from Elegant Edges.

I don’t have any sports related Cricut cartridges, so I took a trip to Hobby Lobby with my bestie, Jessica, in search of patterned paper. I won’t say I love the footballs, because I’d be lying, but I do like the paper a lot. I think in a way, it’s very much my style. But, Jess picked it out, so she gets the credit!

The border is from Elegant Edges. I used my Gypsy to size it, and I stamped, “MVP,” with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

Sneak Peek Giveaway Time!

Listen up "My Creative Time" friends! We are giving all of you an opportunity to win the BEST PRIZES during Sneak peek week with a total of "6" winners to be announced during Friday's Stamp release! All you have to do is leave a comment HERE along w/the rest of the design teams blogs for a chance! There are some AWESOME prizes w/this release!

1. SPREAD THE WORD TO THE WORLD ON FACEBOOK about this release & whatever connections you may have! Let us know on "My Creative Time's" FB page here http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/My-Creative-Time/364568506334 that you did so! OR you can just tag me in your post! And . . .
2. Just comment on ALL of the designers blogs EVERYDAY during Sneaky Peek week!  THAT's ALL you have to do to qualify for the BEST giveaways EVER!;)

All winners will "randomly" get chosen and Emma will announce all six winners on Friday, November 18th @ 12:01am PST in her video during the release of this AMAZING new stamp collection & maybe a new die!;) GOOD LUCK! Log onto to your Facebook now & let start spreading word!;)

That’s my project for today! Also, I think you still have a chance to enter the, “Throwback Thursday,” challenge! Have a super blessed day!

Mouse in a Box!

 

Hello everyone! I’m back on this wonderful Tuesday with a birthday card for Celebrate the Occasion. This week, the challenge is to make a tall card with a present. I got my Imagine back from Provo Craft and I used it for part of my project.

The cute mouse is from Birthday Bash. I used Hopscotch to flood fill the images. He’s matted on a cut from Elegant Edges. I used the Seeing Spots folder to emboss the top layer. I used pinking shears to cut the tails of the knot. The ribbon came from Hobby Lobby.

I used my Frost VersaMark and white Zing embossing powder to emboss the sentiment. I’ve found that I don’t like the white Zing, it’s to coarse and that affects the way it melts.

To carry the theme for this week’s challenge to the inside of my card I decided to use this stamp in different colors and I used my scallop edge punch for a little interest.

I have a baking post coming to tomorrow and Thursday I’m having a guest post here to celebrate my birthday! I’m so excited!

Thanks for coming by. Have a super blessed day!

Masculine Birthday Card

 

Hey everyone, I’m back with yet another birthday card. My sister’s dad had a birthday last Friday so I made him this card using a few cuts from Elegant Edges and some Bo Bunny paper.

I’m doing my best to expand my horizons and try new things. I decided to put my Martha Stewart (LOOOVE her!!!) score board to good use, and the result was the rosette you see. I’m sure y’all are tired of me saying this, but once I get my computer situation settled, I’m really going to try and make some videos. Also, I think more layouts and maybe a few 3D/altered items might be coming. One thing that I’ve definitely decided is that I’m going to diversify and do more stamping. AND, my Imagine should be in the house by the end of the week! I digress . . .

All of the patterned papers used came from the Bo Bunny Timepiece collection. I knew I wanted to use the paper and it helped that I had sentiments that made allusions to time and getting older and vice versa.

Here are the details:

• Card Base: Papertrey Ink Kraft 5.5” x 5.5”
• Red Mat: Hobby Lobby Open Stock, 5” x 5”
• Patterned Papers: Bo Bunny
• Rosette: My Mind’s Eye
• Colorbox Chestnut Pigment Ink
• Stampin’ Up Early Espresso Ink
• Fiskars “Make a Wish Quotes” Stamp Set
• Gold Sakura Gelly Roll
• Elegant Edges Cricut Cartridge (Scalloped Circle and the Oblong)

Thanks for coming by! Have a blessed day.