Bella Carta

one more in this tumbled glass color scheme

 

 

 

its beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Now that halloween is over.... I'm working on Christmas cards!  I had originally thought I'd make this one in olive green and primary red, but once I started, this is where the colors took me!

This one features felt from Papertrey Ink in chartreuse - paired with aqua mist and spring moss.  The background is a cuttlebug embossing folder (it was in my prize pack from Paper Crafts Magazine) its one of the new larger size ones.  I swiped some corresponding color ink pads over it the ones used were Certainly Celery (SU), Tumbled Glass and Broken China (both Tim Holtz distress inks).  The felt is die cut with the new tree die from Papertrey Ink (it matches a stamp set, too!) and the sentiment is Signature Christmas (also PTI).

 

it's beginning to look a lot like ....

it's beginning to look a lot like ..... I was going to say Christmas, but that's not exactly the case here in Florida.  But we are headed into the holiday season!   When I received this month's Paper Crafts Magazine, I knew that I wanted to try their featured color combo for myself: silver, gold, garnet and ebony. 

I used one of my new cuttlebug embossing folders and then flipped the piece around so that the image is recessed rather than raised.  This embossing folder was in the HUGE Cricut/Cuttlebug prize package I won and I love it, it makes beautiful cards!  The ribbon is red velvet from my ribbon hoard.

 

HOPE floats!

Here's a card for the October splitcoast stamper's challenges:  Hope You Can Cling to.  This challenge was to create a square card, using pink, and to use four square embellishments like scrabble tiles, buttons, etc.   The background is made using Cuttlebug embossing folder Deb Devine - this is one of the newer, larger size folders.  I then swiped "Spun Sugar" distress ink over top.

 

The details:
Cardstock:  Sweet Blush (PTI) and the paper is retired K & Co Pink Toile
Ink:  Dark Chocolate (PTI) and Spun Sugar TH Distress Ink (Ranger)
Stamp:  Mega Tea Cup (Unity Stamp Co.)
Other:  White satin ribbon (SU) and Scrabble tiles

 

new Tim Holtz Alterations dies

 

Hi everyone!   I've had a bit of a quiet week but one of the products I've been looking forward to most since the big winter CHA show is the new Tim Holtz sizziz dies and embossing products! Today I wanted to hear from you!

Who out there has gotten one or has it on their wish list ?  I've heard from two of my readers that these dies will work with the Cuttlebug, remember to use them face down (cutting side edge/with the foam downwards).  I had tried to sizzix dies with both the cuttlebug and the big shot a while back ago.  I originally had problems using the sizzix steel ruled dies (original and bigz) in the cuttlebug cutting side up (and ended up cracking a plate) but figured out that if I change them face down they work just fine.   (I do also recommend keeping an extra set of "b" plated on hand - or upgrading to the Big Shot - I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE mine!)http://bellacarta.typepad.com/rebecca/2008/08/it-works-it-wor.html

Tim Holtz's website notes that these *will* work with Cuttlebug, as well as Sizzix BigKick, Big Shot, and Quickcutz Epic.

So ... I have my TH dies on order .... I can't wait to play with them!   I really had a hard time choosing, I wanted them ALL!   Some of my favs were the tattered florals, hanging sign, the gears .....

Please let me know if you love these, hate 'em, where they're available (I don't think all stores have received them yet) and who you think has the best price! 

 

I'm Alice .... Take 2! TTIC #10 redux

The Twilight Tuesday Inpiration Challenge Design Team is taking off the new two weeks so that we can have some time with our families and friends, to rest and recharge!

Go to Tonya's blog and do one of the three to be entered to win!  You're welcome to enter as often as you like if you're creating projects for each challenge! ***Make sure you're at Tonya's blog in order to be entered to win.

 I have been assembling a fun little package of goodies for you - there are three different ways to enter to win during the month of December! (TTIC 10, 11 and 12)

1) first leave a comment in the weekly post describing the challenge (for this month these were TTIC 10- which Twilight female heroine are you?  TTIC 11 - a Very Cullen Christmas, describe your fav holiday tradition, and TTIC 12 - your favorite quote).

2) Create a project for any of the December challenges!  If you upload to splitcoast, two peas, your blog, or any other site, just leave us a link in the comment section.  We are not limiting the challenges to stampers ..... you're welcome to join us in the medium of your choice!

3) Come check out the new Twilight Tuesday forum:

http://twilighttuesday.com/

Counting back, the challenges are:

TTIC #12 - Be inspired by your favorite Twilight Quote

TTIC # 11- A Very Cullen Christmas

TTIC #10 - Which Twilight Hereoine are you?  (If you missed it, I'm Alice!)

TTIC #9 - Twilight the Movie

TTIC #8 - Bella Swan

TTIC #7 - Emmett Cullen

TTIC #6 - Rain

TTIC #5 - Which team are you on? Team Edward? Team Jacob? Team Switzerland?

TTIC #4 - Alice Cullen

TTIC #3 -  Edward's Meadow

TTIC #2 - Forks High School

TTIC #1 - Rosalie Hale

AND ... don't forget to check out the rest of the Twilight Tuesday design team to see what they're up to!

• Beth

• Danielle

• Eve

• Jen

• Julie

• Margie

• Tonya

ETA: Also, BIG NEWS, after our 2 week vacation, the TTIC will *officially* move to our new location http://twilighttuesday.com so be sure to put that in your bookmarks, RSS feeder, or sign up for the newsletter. All the design team will still post their projects as normal. However, the official site will house the actual challenge and play host to a chatty little Twilight forum for those who'd like to socialize!! (And a special thank you to Jen for making this all possible!!!!)

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So .... here is my second card for my favorite Twilight heroine - Alice! (TTIC #11).  The card features a printed muslin tag that reads:

Who we choose

changes us

Who we love

Transforms us

How we create

Re-shapes us

What we do

Remakes us

This sentiment just seemed profoundly perfect for Alice ... think about it.   The tag is from K & Co. and its part of the Amy Butler Lotus collection.

Easy journal or notebook project

I saw this project on Splitcoast (I apologize for not remembering who to give credit to!) and just knew I wanted to make one!  These are quick, easy fun and very versatile!  Think of all the "themes" you could do!  These could be journals, note pads, Christmas wish lists, birthday/anniversary date lists, mini photo albums, etc.   This one is intended to be a gratitude journal, to remember the things I'm thankful for.

The project features the Top Note die cut as the basis for this nifty little journal.  I cut 6 of the top notes from Kraft cardstock, but you could easily make it bigger or smaller to fit your needs.  The covers are made by adhering dsp (I used Juntos, from the spanish language catalog) to the kraft CS.  I did that part before die-cutting.  Use your paper trimmer and trim off an edge (I used the long top side, but you could use the shorter left side also).   Then I used a Bind It All with a 5/8 in. spiral to hold it all together. 

I used my Big Shot with the Flower Layers die and a jumbo pewter eyelet to create the fall flower embellishment for the front.  The sentiment is from Define Your Life stamp set.  I punched two of the new Scallop  Square Punch from SU and layered them together to form a longer rectangle used to mat the sentiment.   Jumbo pewter eyelets are used with Always Artichoke ribbon to tie the journal together.

{All supplies from Stampin' Up! except the Bind It All}

A few more falling leaves ....

It's been stinkin' hot here, so its been fun to create some fall cards!  This is another one that uses the Juntos dsp and two punched scalloped squares to form a rectangle.  The really rust rectangle is the negative - its whats leftover from using the die cuts to cut out the leaves.

The Juntos paper is really pretty, I just adore the "really rust" colors - I think it speaks to (but with a spanish accent!)  the same things I love about the tuscan oranges and reds! 

And some of my favorite shiny copper brads (I hate that these were discontinued!).  I miss the changing of leaves - here in FL we have "evergreens" (trees that stay green year round, not just pines) and those that go "bald" (drop their leaves) during the winter months.  There is no pretty saffrons, rusts, oranges, reds as the leaves change colors and drop.  Its pretty much all or nothing (green or nothing!).  That's probably why "tropicals" like crotons are so popular for outdoor shrubs.

Celebrando Creatividad

If you've overlooked the new Stampin' Up! Spanish language catalog:  Celebrando Creatividad - then you're overlooking some incredible designer series paper!

This card features "Juntos" dsp - in really rust, more mustard, always artichoke and mellow moss.   I used my Big Shot, but with dies from Cuttlebug since I had those handy (and they're a bit smaller - which I thought was a better choice for a card front).  The sentiment is from "Always" and the rhinestone brad is from the Jasmine collection from Imaginesce!  It didn't photograph that well (the brad) but they're quite pretty and a gift from my peep Sally (Thanks Sally, I ♥ them!).

This weekend I'm working on a the Labor Day Card challenge for Troops!  This is an ongoing effort to create blank cards for troops deployed overseas to send back home to loved ones.  If you're an SCS/RAK member ... please check us out!  If you're not and would like to participate, I'll be happy to give you the details! 

Stick a cork in it! :-) {smile, that's a joke}

Here's one more cork project!  In addition to the incredible amount of static that cutting cork creates, here is a COOL benefit! If you cut the cork sheets to quarter sheet size (cardfront size) 4.25 in x 5.5 in. - you end up with a negative style frame!  By "negative" I mean the part left over from the "top note" cut out.

This card is created on cardstock and you can really use white or any other neutral or color!  I used Kraft as the color seemed to blend really well with the mottled tans of the cork.  I cut a piece of dsp (designer series paper) from the Urban Garden paper and used the colors as my guide.  The DSP gets adhered to the cardstock, and then adhere the cork frame over top!  Wrap your favorite ribbon on it - I used the new Baja Blue wide grosgrain.  T

he stamp set is from Punches Three, a level one hostess set that coordinates with the new punches (the scallop square and large wide oval).  The image is stamped in Not Quite Navy (one of the colors of the DSP) and I've used a half pearl to accent it.  The stick pin is also from the Pretties Kit.  I just have to tell you - if you haven't bought the pretties, please do so!  I can't believe how much GOODNESS is packed into!  Really .... I've been using my kit for well over 6 months and it hardly looks like I've dipped into it!  Don't let the cost scare you, you will find this kit lasts and lasts and lasts.