Creative Belli Challenge, Mothermark's Teapot Tuesday , and DDC

Good morning everyone and welcome to another Creative Belli Challenge!!!
This week's challenge is to use Christmas embellies on your projects.
We are soooo fortunate to be sponsored again this week by Creative Cuts and More!!!

I used their adorable Christmas Sleigh die cut in a beautiful navy blue called Huckleberry Pie. I drew the center section on the side, colored it in with Milled Lavender Ranger Distress Crackle Paint, and drew around the edges with a gold Zig pen. After the paint dried and had that cool cracked look, the foliage image from Peaceful Wishes was stamped on the painted area with Old Olive. The Kaiser Wood Flourish from Stamper's Dream was colored with an Old Olive color wash and the bling was added over the berries. Ribbon and Taylor's Tiny Twinkles bling finish it off.
Be sure to visit the Creative Belli Design Team Member's blogs to read more details about their designs. You will find lots of awesome ideas!!! If you upload a card to Splitcoast or PCP, be sure to add CBC78 in the keywords section.

Chris Dickinson
Ceal Pritchett
Holly Brown
Anne Harmon
Danielle Marcus
Debbie Daniels
Fern Riley
Robin Kirkpatrick
Steph Zerbe

Betty (gbedwright) was the hostess for the Color Challenge on Splitcoast yesterday and the colors she chose were Very Vanilla, Kraft, and Bravo Burgundy.
This is also for da Mudder's Teapot Tuesday Challenge hosted by Charlene (LilLuvsStampin). It seems poor little Dusty Bear was left in an attic for years, all alone. He was sooo sad and lonely....all tattered, torn, and really hungry!! I am on my way to Detroit (gotta make a detour to Michigan to pick up Charlene aka Bertie) with Florence Bear to the rescue....she has a bowl of da Mudder's chicken soup which will cure almost anything. Charlene is also hosting the DDC challenge this week...her challenge to us is to join in Mothermark's Teapot Tuesday Challenge. Soooo, gather all your bears, food, clothes, and sewing kits and join us in helping little Dusty Bear!! Be sure to add DDC to the keywords section of you upload so we can find you cards!!
Recipe:
Stamps: Florence Bear by Rubbernecker
Paper: Kraft, Bravo Burgundy, Very Vanilla, Basic Grey's Bittersweet
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Creamy Caramel
Accessories: Wood Flourish by Kaiser, Lace, Ribbon, Sewing Machine, Copics


I made this Christmas card for the Ways to Use It Challenge on Splitcoast last Thursday. Julia challenged us to use stickers on our designs. I just received the beautiful SEI Winter Song stickers and papers which go perfectly with the Rubbernecker tree images from the Snowflakes and Stardust set. This is a 3 part tree image with 2 squiggly tree images and the stardust which was embossed with silver ep. The snowflake stickers and ribbon finish it off.

Recipe:
Stamps: Rubbernecker Snowflakes and Stardust
Paper: White, Riding Hood Red, Sei Winter Song dp
Ink: Riding Hood Red, Baha Breeze, Versamark
Accessories: Ribbon, Nestabilities, Silver ep, SEI Stickers, Dimensionals

Thanks for visiting today....have a great day!!!

Festive Frame Blog Hop

Hello everyone and welcome to the Festive Frame Blog Hop!!!! Melanie Muenchinger illustrated this FABULOUS stamp set for Gina K. Designs and asked little ol me to join in the hop tonight...WOOOOT!!!

When I first saw the Festive Frame set I was blown away by how elegant it was.... I knew right away that I wanted to emboss gold on vanilla with a touch of pink. The frame was stamped with Versamark, embossed with Egyptian Gold ep, and watercolored with a pink Tombow marker. The poinsettias in both corners were stamped three times, embossed, watercolored with the pink Tombow marker , cutout, and attached with dimensionals.

Pink rhinestones were added to the poinsettia centers.
The sentiment and swirl from the same set were stamped with Versamark, embossed, cutout with an oval Nestie, colored around the edge with a Tombow marker, and attached to the center of the frame with foam tape. The shear ribbon finished it off.

Recipe: Stamps: Festive Frame
Paper: Very Vanilla, Prism Razzleberry Light
Ink: Versamark
Accessories: Tombow Marker, Ribbon, Rhinestones, Oval nestability, Egyptian Gold ep, Foam Tape

The Festive Frame on this card was stamped with Memento Rich Cocoa onto white cardstock. An aquapainter was used to move the color around on the images for a little color and the center of the frame was cut out. White cardstock was cut like rolling hills and run through the cuttlebug with the Dotted Swiss folder for a little texture. They were then sewn on the polka dot patterned paper and attached to the back of the frame. The corner poinsettias were stamped on the dark red patterned paper twice, cut out, and layered on the frame. White pearls were added to the centers.

The bird and snowflake stickers from SEI's Winter Song collection were added and the wood flourish and ribbon finished it off.

Recipe:
Stamps: Festive Frame
Paper: White, Baja Breeze, Winter Song Patterned Paper by SEI
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa

Accessories: Stickers from SEI's Winter Song Collection, Wood Flourish by Kaiser, White Half Pearls, Ribbon, Sewing Machine


I really wanted to try a rustic design....I love kraft paper paired with dark green...soooo homey and country!!

This also shows the versatility of this set....from elegant and classy to rustic and shabby chic...the sky is the limit!!!

The Festive Frame was stamped with Memento Rich Cocoa and colored with ink pads and an aqua painter. The center was then cut out and all the edges were distressed and sponged. The poinsettias were stamped three times on vanilla with Memento Rich Cocoa, sponged with Riding Hood Red, cut out, and layered with dimensionals. Red pearls were added to the centers. The frame was attached with foam tape to the Hunter Green layer which was embossed with the Dotted Swiss folder and distressed along with the kraft matting.

The twine was wound around the frame and attached underneath with a glue dot. The sentiment from the same set was stamped on vanilla, sponged with Riding Hood Red, cutout with an oval Nestability, and attached with the distressed matting with dimensionals.

Recipe: Stamps: Festive Frame
Paper: Kraft, Handsome Hunter, Vanilla, Riding Hood Red
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Riding Hood Red, Old Olive, Summer Sun,
Accessories: Twine, Pearls, Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, Dimensionals

Melanie also asked Wendy Price and Linda Payne to join the Hop tonight.......be sure to check out their blogs to see the beautiful projects they made with the Festive Frame.

Then, check in on these Gina K. Designer's participating in the Blog Hop tonight:

Melanie Muenchinger
Carolyn King

Donna Baker

Erika Martin
Jessica Fick

Lee Murphy
Theresa Momber

And the fabulous Center Stage Spotlight Team:

Deb Felts
Diana S. Queen

Melissa Cash

Sharri Seffens

After you are finished hopping to all the designer's blogs, stop by Gina K's Idea Center for more projects using Melanie's Festive Frame stamp set. Don't forget to cruz on over to the Gina K. blog and leave a comment so you will be eligible to win a Festive Frame set!!!!
Thanks for stopping by tonight....enjoy the hop!!!!

Creative Cuts & More Our Favorite Recipes Blog Hop

Welcome to the first day of the Creative Cuts & More Mega Recipe Blog Hop, which will feature the 8”x8” Treasured Family Recipes Kit. We have 24 designers who will be creating wonderful pages to inspire you. Plus we all will be sharing some of our own delicious treasured family recipes.Make sure you check back at The Diecut Diva Blog tomorrow for the Holiday Treats Apron Recipe Kit Blog Hop. We will also have 24 designers who will be showcasing their great creations and sharing holiday treat recipes.

As part of the celebration CC&M will be having a great sale. For the next six days, we will offer 20% off the entire store. But act quickly, it is only for six days – this sale will end on Nov 14th. Make sure you enter this code recipebloghop2009 during checkout.
As a continuing part of the celebration CC&M will of course give away great gifts. Each day we will give away one kit. Here is the twist – go through the blog hop, leave wonderful comments for the great designers. After you have finished the blog hop, return to The Diecut Diva Blog and instead of leaving a comment, you need to share a recipe to have a chance at winning the kit. Share the recipe on your blog and link it back and get another chance to win the kit. Help us also make this a great recipe swap.

This is the cover of the recipe book I created with the Treasured Family Recipes Kit.

The background paper is from Cosmo Cricket's Early Bird collection which is included in the kit along with all the darling die cuts and the letters. The only extras I added not in the kit are the May Art's gingham ribbon and the Nestabilities cut paper from the kit which I framed around the circle opening.

The die cuts all have sticky tape on the back so they stick right where they are put.

I wanted the *yummy* image to show through the circle opening so I lined up the front and first pages, adhered the yummy sentiment, and then designed the page around it.

This is the first page...we are starting out with breakfast. The oatmeal muffins will get your day started off heart healthy!!!

The only things not in the kit on this page include the ribbon, Nestabilities cut circle, and the scalloped edge made with a Martha Stewart Punch.

This is the second page....after the muffins we are going to enjoy a breakfast pizza. This is what I make for breakfast when we have company or for brunch with the family. It's filling and can be doctored up for everyones taste. The only things on this page not in the kit are the ribbon and the Nestabilities cut red cricle.

For the third page we are moving on to lunch. It's a quick salad easy to make and goes well with just about anything. The ribbon is the only thing on this page not in the kit.

Is everyone ready for supper?? You are going to love this hashbrown casserole....sooo good with all that cheese!! The extra things on this page not included in the kit are the ribbon and the top note cut papers. I ran the red top note through the cuttlebug with the Dotted Swiss folder for a little texture.

Are you ready for the main course? We are having BBQ meatballs...sooo easy to make and they taste good, too!! The ribbon, round Nestability cutout, and a punched borders using a Martha Stewart punch are not in the kit.

Now it's time for dessert....yummmmm!!! This cherry dessert will knock your socks off!!! The little blingy cherries are not in the kit. I can't believe how many wonderful dies, papers, borders, and papers are in this kit...I have enough left to make several more pages. I will be finishing the backs of these pages next week. This will make a great Christmas gift for someone special!!

If you came from Noelle's blog, you are on the right track. If not, you will want to go to the Diecut Diva blog to start the hop from the beginning. Now, off you go to Suzanne's blog for more great recipes!!!

Thanks for coming by today...I know you will enjoy the hop!!!

Christmas Card Sets

Hello everyone!!! I thought I would share with you the Christmas card sets I made for the church craft sale today. We had a great time but boy, am I tired!!!! We were there from 9 - 3PM...I'm kinda bummed because I didn't win the quilt that was raffled off....it was a real beauty!!! I'm not going to list all the recipes on these...If you want any deets, just let me know and I will get the info to you.

Thanks for visiting today...I'm off to the couch for a little nap!!!

Clearly Inspired Challenge #1

Good morning everyone!! Today is the first Clear Dollar Stamps challenge on Lori's blog, Clearly iStamp.
We are to use 5 of something....5 layers, stamps, colors, ribbons...you name it...the sky is the limit!!

1. This challenge will be open to any stamps - if you have Clear Dollar Stamps, why not use them!!

2. This will be a bimonthly challenge - every other Friday but the challenge itself will only be open for 1 week.

3. This is because the winner (randon draw) and a TOP FIVE will be posted the following Friday after the challenge and will just stay up until the following Friday when the nect challenge is up.

4. The challenges will vary every single time from sketches, colors, themes, products, etc.

5. There will be a prize (random draw) of a stamp set of choice to one indivividual.

I used the adorable images from Clear Dollar Stamp's Dog Days set...stamped the images with Memento Tuxedo Black and Memento Rich Cocoa, colored with copics, and attached the layers with dimensionals. 5 little bee buttons were used to harass that poor little pup in the dog house!!!

Recipe:

Stamps: Clear Dollar stamps Dog Days

Paper: White, Ballet Blue, Ruby Red, Basic Grey dp

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Memento Rich Cocoa

Accessories: Nestabilities, Ribbon, Bee Buttons, Dimensionals

Thanks for visiting today......join in the fun...get out your stamps and make a card with 5 of something!!!

Tea Party at the North Pole and a New Baby!!!

Hello everyone!!! We have had a busy week around here....our baby donkey was finally born yesterday!!! First I want to share with you the card I made for the Color Challenge on Splitcoast. Betty challenged us to use neutral colors for the background layers with a pop of color in the colored image.
This is also for the DDC challenge hosted this week by Francie G. She challenged us to make a card with no less that 4 layers and ribbon or cording. You can see all the DDC cards here. These sweet little penguins may fool you...they are actually bionic and we are headed out to the North Pole to help out Santa...Whoohoo!!! Mrs. Claus is going to treat all the tea potters from Mothermark's Teapot Tusday Challenge to a feast in exchange for helping Santa since his old sled is not in good working order. My little penguins with the polar bear will get Christmas gifts delivered in no time!!! The adorable images are from Clear Dollar Stamps Just Chillin set...colored with copics, popped up on dimensionals, with silver pearls added to the snowflakes, and flower soft added to the snow.
Recipe:
Stamps: Clear Dollar Stamps Just Chillin
Paper: White Chocolate Chip, Kraft, BoBunny St. Nick Holly Berry dp, SEI Christmas Mint dp
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Bashful Blue
Accessories: Silver Pearls, Shear Ribbon, Flower Soft, Dimensionals








This is Mack....he was born yesterday on our DGD Mackenzie's 10th birthday. We have been waiting forever for this little guy to make an appearance!!! He came out half grown!!!
He looks a little like his dad...fewer stripes and white inside his ears.
Baby donkeys hop like bunnies...he is just sooo cute but his older brother, Larry, who was born on my cousin Larry's birthday last year, is really jealous. We have mom and baby in the pen for a few days so Larry can get used to the idea of sharing mom.

Thanks for visiting today and I hope you have a great evening!!

Halloween 2009

Hello everyone!!! Just thought I would share some pictures from Halloween. My DH worked 2 days constructing the fence around the front of the house for his *Haunted House*.

This is the entrance and the goblin is standing guard!! He set up a pully system for the ghosts to fly around on and the fog machine was going for the spooky look.

Everything was draped with *spider webs* and all the talking goblins were going off at the same time...I'm surprised the police didn't get called!!!

My wonderful grandbabies had a great time!!! Grandpa's was the in place to be!!!

George had so much fun with this that he went shopping on Sunday and found more Halloween stuff for 80% off...he already has his game plan for 2010!!

My parents had a great time....we had over 150 kids come for trick or treating!!

Thanks for visiting and I hope your Halloween was fun, too!!!

Clear Dollar Stamps is 5 Years Old!!!

Clear Dollar Stamps is 5 years old!!!

Lori is celebrating her 5th year of business with her stamp company. Lori and Laurie Wilson designed a special birthday stamp set that is on sale at a special price for the next 5 days. Along with this stamp special, if you head on over to Lori's blog - Clearly iStamp, there is a celebration going on where you could be one of 5 winners of a stamp set of your choice. 5 random winners will be chosen for 5 straight days to celebrate this anniversary of Lori's. Good luck and enjoy all the fun!!
This is the card I made with the Birthday Celebration stamp set. The images were all stamped with Memento Rich Cocoa. The cupcake and the cake were both paper pieced with SU dp
and the ribbon and pearls finish it off.

Thanks for visiting tonight and now head on over to Lori's blog for all the deets on the 5 day celebration!!