Mix It Up Challenge Blog + Optional: Diecuts

Boy, do I love die cuts — they’ve basically become my creative language! 😄

And the holidays are the perfect excuse to pull out all the goodies and make fun tags. At Mix It Up, it’s always Anything Goes, or you can add a twist and focus on Die Cuts. You know me… I went with the twist 😉

I made this tag for my boss — total chaos on the loose 😂 — using Spellbinders’ Yuletide Ride and Christmas Cocktails Etched Dies. He loves white cars, so that’s what he got… loaded up with all the things! There’s a peppermint in the backseat (ha!), plus a tree, stocking, gingerbread, Santa hat, lights, candy cane, and greenery. So fun. So crazy.

I added foil using the Sprinkled Glitter hot foil plate with white foil — I love using it as falling snow! ❄️

To finish it off, I smudged white ink under the tires and along the base of the tag, then embossed the sentiment from Waffle Flower’s Family Christmas Sentiments in white.

I hope you join us at MIX IT UP, we'd love to see your creations!

Gingerbreads E'rywhere!

Hey friends, how are you?

 We have been invited to our son's in-laws for Thanksgiving - our two girls are spread out and our youngest daughter will be traveling with her in-laws, so it's a quiet time for Jim and I...and top it off, I will be dog sitting. 😀 BUT, if it works out, we will join them for a bit.

I wanted to make a gift for our hostess, something she could use - at home and for the holidays, so I created 8 gingerbread tags - 4 girls and 4 boys, paired with a gingerbread mug and tea towel. And when the to/from tags are cut off, the gingerbread all become ornaments you can place on your tree or use for decorations!

Everything on the gingerbread tags comes from Pretty Pink Posh (Gingerbread Holder and Christmas Holder Additions); I then finished them off by adding holiday greetings and to/from tags using The Greetery's Tear Strip Tags (I've owned this die and stamp set HOW LONG, and just used them for the first time 😁).

The final picture shows the large mug and a hand towel tucked inside; I think the set will make a nice gift showing our appreciation for the invitation and the work that goes into feeding a large group of peeps!

  

Two girls / two boys with tags 

 

Two girls / two boys without tags

 

 

Two girls / two boys with tags 

 

  

Two girls / two boys without tags

 

 Gingerbread mug and matching tea towel

 

LTSCB - Happy Halloween (a few days late)

At Love to Scrap Challenge Blog, it's always ANYTHING GOES, but this go-round, I'm sharing the suitcases I made for our kids for Halloween. These photos were right before I put the luggage 'handle' on them, but you still get the gist!

For the past few years, I've made a card for each of our kids (3 + 2 in-law kids); but this year, I created one suitcase per family / kid, but gifted things to encompass everyone. 

Teal is for our oldest daughter, Forest Green is for our youngest daughter and hubby, Orange is for our son and wife. I put $31 cash inside the suitcases, then gifted other fun things to each kiddo. 

The suitcases are a die from Papertrey Ink, they are an absolute favorite for 3D gifts. I used one for our son's couples shower with his bride-to-be.

For all of these, I added hot foil using the Spellbinder's web background with opaque black foil, then shading around the edges. I then die cut everything possible - HA - from Pretty Pink Posh: Halloween Mug Additions, Big Halloween Cupcake Dies, Spooky Mug Additions, Ghost Holders Die, Spooky Fence Die, I think that's all of them. 

I then started shading and layering all the pieces - I kept each suitcase similar in layout.

I hope you enjoy seeing these and are inspired to create your own 3D project, we'd love to see it, or as always, ANYTHING GOES, is an easy one - so join us!!

Some-BUNNY Loves You

Hi friends, how ya doing?

If you follow me on Snapchat (whimsycreation) or Instagram (whimsical_creations), you will notice this as being a much more involved version of the treat boxes I made for the Ronald McDonald Children's Home (RMCH). I made 10 of these with only the bunny peeking out to take to the RMCH; I filled the boxes with green and pink faux grass, then added as much candy as I could pack in to each one. I also took the leftover candy to RMCH, I hope the families were able to enjoy the items! 

All die cuts are from Pretty Pink Posh (bunny products and treat box)- goodness, I so love their products!

Anywho, as I was cutting the boxes for RMCH, I cut 2 extras to create little care packages for a couple dear friends. One's favorite color(s) is black and white; I didn't know the other's favorite color, so I did a light lilac.

Before I die cut the boxes, I used the Spellbinder's Tufted 3D Embossing Folder to emboss the full panel. I embossed, die cut, then embossed again to help with any embossing that was somewhat flattened during the die cutting process. 

Once complete, I highlighted the black box with white pigment ink and the lilac box with a dark purple ink. All inks, except the white pigment ink, are from Simon Says Stamp pawsitively ink. I adhered the boxes together with double-sided tape to make sure they were strongly secured. I then die cut and shaded lots of elements from the Easter Mugs Addition and Big Easter Cupcake dies; the bunny is from the  Bunny Face Shaker dies. The inside of the bunny ears were cut from white card stock and some were cut from a light grey card stock, shading was added with pink Copics. 

Oh, I almost forgot, I purchased the grass border die, also from Pretty Pink Posh. I die cut it from a couple different shades of green card stock and also added shading. I was able to create two rows of grass from one die cut. 

Thanks for HOPPING by, I hope this gives you some inspiration!

Mix It Up Challenge Blog - Inlaid Die Cutting

Hello friends - how are you doing?

We are back at the Mix It Up Challenge Blog (MIUCB) with another super fun challenge - inlaid die cutting, so many was you can do this! I love to send birthday cards or tags, but I leave them blank so the recipient can re-use them. This is no exception!

I created a watercolor smooshed birthday tag with various Distress Inks and a retired Reverse Confetti CELEBRATE die. Rather than the tag with the Reverse Confetti set, I used the largest tag die from the Hero Arts Nested Infinity Tags. I smooshed the inks on and dried with a heat gun, I then cut the word CELEBRATE from the tag, as well as, black cardstock, and a few layers of white cardstock. I inlaid the black CELEBRATE into the tag; I then adhered the white layers to the watercolor piece and adhered the stacked CELEBRATE to the tag slightly offset to the left and down; this way you can peek the black cardstock. I also splattered some black ink for a bit more texture.

I then stamped and colored, with Copic markers, some balloons and presents from MFT's XXX set. I added some white gel pen accents and adhered a blank tag to the back for a handwritten message. I failed to capture a photo of the back of the tag, but it has the Hero Arts sentiment 'Some things just get better with age and you are definitely one of them', I love this Hero Arts birthday sentiment set - so many great sentiments!

Hope you will join us at the MIUCB with an inlaid die cutting project, or ANY project. We always love 'anything goes' creations too!

Thanks for stopping by!

MIUCB - 3D Project

Hi friends - hope you are doing great! Thanks for popping over today; the Mix It Up team is showcasing 3D projects. I recently purchased The Greetery Stationery Box which I used to hold these 3 amped up Christmas cards (amped up = lots of dimension)! I always think 3D projects that you have to assemble can be a bit tricky...and this remained true. 😆 I didn't get the 2nd side adhered perfectly so I had to do a tiny bit of trimming. 

Once assembled - yes, after the fact - I remembered I wanted to lightly stencil the front. Sheesh! I also added some stenciling to the 'lid / flap'; hard to see, but it's there, it goes straight up and down, whereas the box is at a diagonal. After photographing, I went back and added more of the Moonshine sequins.

The cards all feature new products from The Greetery too. I mixed up colors for the flowers / berries, but kept the leaves the same. 

 

Thanks for stopping by; hope you are doing well! And don't forget to join us at Love to Scrap!

WHAT'S IT TAKE:

Stamps: The Greetery Winterberry Bouquet and Opposites Attract Holiday

Inks: All inks (except for base card) from Taylored Expressions, Tumbled Glass and Mermaid Lagoon distress inks used on the card base

Papers: Neenah 110 lb. white, TE Granny Smith and Cupcake

Accessories: The Greetery Winterberry Bouquet die, Opposites Attract Holiday Script die, Abundant Joy die, BotaniCuts Pine Bough die, Stationery Box die,
Moonshine sequins, white gel pen

CHALLENGES:

Dalgona Coffee?

Hi friends - welcome back to Colour Crazy Challenge sponsored by Scrappers Delight and boy, did I pick a good one!! Have any of you seen the Dalgona coffee craze (I included a YouTube link for you); now they are making all sorts of whipped drinks.

I will say my daughter and I tried it and WERE NOT a fan; but maybe we need to change the ratio of products, we are not instant coffee drinkers, but I have a friend that LOVES all things coffee; hence today's creation!

I think this image from Scrappers Delight is so cute and I 'think' it might be designed as a boy BUT if you know me, you know I now have short spiky hair after having v-e-r-y long hair for years and years (about 20+ years). And during COVID, I allowed my daughter to add some pink to my hair - I added pink in the image but it's so light, it's rather washed out. Great reminder that contrast is a good thing! ;)

The little bag is filled with Folger single-serve instant coffee packets and I included the recipe for Dalgona Coffee on the back of the tag.

Thanks for stopping by; hope you will join us at Colour Crazy Challenge with anything goes as long as it includes coloring!

Take care, stay healthy and safe!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE:

Stamps:  Scrappers Delight Chibbi Make Mine A

Inks: Tea Dye Distress Ink

Papers: Neenah 80 lb. white, Reverse Confetti Winter Solstice DP

Accessories: misc. ephemera, frosted bags (long held in my stash)

CHALLENGES:

Alcohol Mixed Media - Love you Lots

Hi friends; thanks for stopping by, I love when you visit!

My closest friend and I used to work together; however, she recently took a new job so I wanted to make a fun card...and she loves pink!

I started off by creating a pink pearl alcohol ink background then I dug out my stash of ephemera. I have LOTS of ephemera on my desk; they sit in 2 little jars so I can always reach for them. Some fun things I did with a few of the pieces; the heart on the right I stamped a quote from The Greetery, Pretty Postmarks (I also used this on the alcohol background); chunky glitter on the butterfly, on several of the flower pieces, I added Transfer Gel Duo and holographic foil. There is a clear ephemera piece which says 'you are one of a kind' and the circle was stamped with a discontinued Verve Visual stamp set. 

Underneath all the ephemera is a heart wreath (also just hanging out on my desk), Neat and Tangled Punchinella die (on sale for $3.50 when I looked this morning - WOW) cut from silver card stock, some torn lace and finally my favorite tag, Memory Box Distressed tag, cut from polka dot vellum. I added some TE Bits and Pieces Full of Heart and black/white yarn finish it off.

Such a fun card to create; throw on everything you can and send them out with love! 💕

Thanks for popping in; hope to see you again soon!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE:

Stamps:  The Greetery Pretty Postmarks, Verve Visual (discontinued)

Inks: TE Lollipop (double stamped) and Cupcake

Papers: Yupo, Neenah 80 lb. white

Accessories: ALL the ephemera, Transfer Gel Duo, holographic foil, heart wreath, Punchinella die, TE Full of Heart, Studio Katia Chunky sparkle glitter

CHALLENGES:
  Through the Craft Room Door

Flowers for You!

Recently, Laurie Willison posted some photos of these mason jars from The Greetery; I have the same set and told her I had not inked it up yet; she told me I needed to get to it. :D So get to it, I did!

I stamped a total of 8 jars, 2 of each color. There 'might' have been a little ink transfer on one, but hey - we're just rolling with it, because if at all possible, we DO NOT start over.

I stamped a bunch of flowers and greenery, hopefully enough for 4 tags and 4 cards. I cut 4 blank mason jars and adhered to the back of the tags sandwiching the flowers/greenery in between. The overall inspiration for the tags came from Dawn McVey. And I took lots of liberties in my colors; I wanted lots of variety and colors!

I tied on the circle tags with some super soft yarn from Hobby Lobby. The circle tags can also include a note on the back. I wish I would have added some flowers to the circle tag like Dawn did; but I thought these were still cute.

TFL; hope you have a great week. Stay safe & healthy!!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE:

Stamps:  The Greetery Just Mason Around, Pine Blossom, Signed and Sealed with a Kiss, Simple Things

Inks: Gina K Obsidian, multitude of inks from TE, Versamark

Papers: Neenah 80 lb. white and 110 lb. white, PTI Summer Sunrise, Hawaiian Shores, Simply Chartreuse

Accessories: Black/White yarn from Hobby Lobby, Simple Strips die, MFT stitched circle, The Greetery Simple Things die, Just Mason Around die, Signed and Sealed with a Kiss die, Pine Blossom die

CHALLENGES: