Easter Blog Hop with Cheery Lynn Designs

Today we have a treat for you, our design team has been busy creating with the newly released Easter dies from Cheery Lynn Designs and we are doing a blog hop.

Visit each of the Design team members blogs and leave a comment.

 One lucky person from each blog will win the Lace Egg that member used in her post.

I am using Lace Egg Three for my project today.

In addition to the chance to win the above die, if you leave a comment on the Cheery Lynn Designs blog, you will also have a chance to win the Nesting Egg dies.

For my project, I wanted to use these dies in a way to show you that even though they are Easter dies, you do not have to be limited to using them on Easter Projects only.

To start I have taken some paper towel tubes and have cut them down to just over 4 inches each.

I then covered each one with decorativve paper and used the smallest of the Scalloped Circle dies to cut out covers for the bottom only of the tubes.

They will stand up like this when finished.

Next I took the largest Nesting Egg and another Scalloped Circle and cut the shapes out like this.

 I then used an assortment of dies to finish off these Babushkas.

I have used the Lace Egg Three for the sign and the apron  of each doll.

I figured these could be used for so many different occasions.

Table settings, name place cards, Mother’s Day Brunch, Baby showers just to name a few.

Each doll is decorated with paper lace and flowers from the following dies:  Pretty Petal, Lace Flourish Butterfly, Dancing Doily Lace Border, Zig Zag Ric Rac and the Stacker flowers Leaf.

 Each doll holds a small treat.

I hope you liked my idea today!  Leave it to me to look for the out of ordinary way to use something, right?

Now you should go and visit each of the other team members blogs and leave a comment.

 Remember:  One lucky person from each blog will win the Lace Egg that member used in her post. I used Lace Egg Three.

Also, remember, to leave a comment on the Cheery Lynn Designs blog for a chance to win the Nesting Egg dies.

Winners will be announced on the 19th along with this week’s challenge winner. Good luck and have fun hopping.

Here are the blogs that are participating in the blog hop.

Cheery Lynn Designs Blog

Bonnie Brown
Celeste Glover
Donna Smith
Jeannie DeGruccio
Jodi Baune
Kianel
Sandie Louise

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoy all the projects on this hop!

Sweet Stamps Tuesday!!

Starting today on the Sweet Stamps blog, we have another new challenge for you!

LOVE

Perfect challenge for this time of year!

Here is my card.  I have used so many supplies from Sweet Stamps.com.

Where do I start to let you know all the fun things I used on this card?  My background paper has been embossed with the DAMASK folder and all my decorative papers are from the LOVE LETTERS 6×6 pad.

The doll is called RUSSIAN DOLL, her wings are SMALL LACE BUTTERFLY WITH ANGEL WING.

The stamp YOU ARE LOVED finishes off the card.  I also used the FRUIT PUNCH Stickles to add some pretty shimmers to this.

If you like challenges and want to join out challenge, head on over to the Sweet Stamps blog and read the entry requirements and link up with us!

You have a chance to win a $20.00 gift certificate to Sweet Stamps and you can buy some really fun stamps and accessories there!

I hope you are having a wonderful January. Can you believe it is 2012?

I am on the COUNTDOWN, counting down the days until I get to leave for CHA!!

As of this post it will be 4 days till my departure!!

I CAN’T WAIT!!

A long overdue gift…

If a law were to be passed that said we all had to change our names to highlight our hangups or weaknesses, my name would have to be, “I really meant to, had the best intentions, where did the day go, DeGruccio.”

I have a wonderful friend and co-worker.  I have had many plans over the 7 or so years I have known her to MAKE things for her.  Awhile ago I made her some cards and she loved them so much, she said she’d never use them..oops!  So, I knew the next time I made her something it’d have to be a gift that she did not need to give away. My lovely friend is a Krishna Devotee.  Now, before you think back on any movies you have seen with Hollywood’s version of the Hare Krishna’s, that is not Judy. 

 I tend to be somewhat open-minded when it comes to religion.  I mean that I think in this life we are living, there really needs to be more acceptance and love for the religions we have.  We were not put on this earth to judge one another or ones, beliefs, that is not our place.  Maybe I am more open to listen and appreciate other religions because I myself, belong to a church that the mainstream media loves to distort.  Goodness, I think there is even a HBO show that has tried to bring back the whole idea that our church still practices plural marriage!  ****ROLLING MY EYES!!!!*****  Since my church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, tends to be a religion that some love to hate, I am very sympathetic and unwilling to believe stereotypes of others too easily.

Judy, has to be on of the most gracious, kind, peaceful, loving unselfish, (I could go on and on here..) people I know.  I would trust her with my life and would do anything to help her, or make her happy.  She is just GOOD! 

Keeping that in mind, and back to my LONG OVERDUE GIFT, I have had an idea of something to make for her for a while.  This is where one of other favorite people come in.  THERESE TRAVIS, the brilliant artist behind all my fairies and other creations, made an Angel for me, based on Judy.  I emailed her this picture of my friend:)

This is Judy at home in front of the Temple that she and her hubby built on their land.  It is truly beautiful and they welcome, any and all to come and visit. 

 Without further ado, here is the Angel Judy.  This is the DIGI STAMP version.

 

Here is another picture, I always love to try to photgraph the layers and detail.

 

Now, because Therese is just AWESOME, she also did a .svg file for me.  Here is a larger version of Angel Judy, done on my Cricut.  I thought I was done and then I realized I’d forgotten to put her earrings on!  OOPS!

 

Here she is with her earrings, some additional work to her hair and her wings!

 

Another close-up for you.

 

My little ones, seriously could not keep their little hands off the finished product!  My 6yo son looked at Angel Judy and said, “Mommy, you are just so good at making crafts!”  Is that sweet or what?

Lastly, Judy had asked if I knew how to make business cards.  So keeping that in mind while photographing Angel Judy, I was able to turn my creation into a Digital image to use over and over again.  I knew she wanted her name on the front(she thought I was going to use a photograph of her) and on the back she wanted her chant written.  As soon as I got done with her real gift, I whipped this business card up.  I told her we can fine tune it to suit her needs, but she just smiled and said, “I LOVE THEM!”

 

I hope I have kept your attention for this whole post.  I have some around me who do not understand why I make things.  It might seem like a waste of time and yes I have a house that could be much cleaner, if it were not for my hobbies.  But, the look on Judy’s face and the pure joy I knew she felt to look at and hold what I made for her, reminded me why I do this.  Not for freebies, not for money(although that’d be nice…right?)  I do it because, I love creating things and even more, I love creating things FOR others.  Might seem crazy, but that’s me!

Thanks for joining me again.  Remember to stop by THERSE’s PAPERFACES DESIGNS and of course check out RHINESTONE HUES  inventory while you are there.  This project would not have been possible without either one of them!

It’s a Blue Tuesday

Now, that is not meant to be a depressing title.  My projects today are a a combined effort for Cheery Lynn Designs and Paper Faces Designs by Therese Travis.   I figured since they both offer things that are not of the same category, there is no “conflict of interest” going on here.

Christina of CG SAYS SOMETHING LOUDLY, came up with our Challenge theme I have followed. A one word theme: BLUE.

  

 

POLKA CABANA NOTE:  

I am dedicating this post to some friends I have made on a different website called, Theme Worx.  I won’t name them by name, since I have not asked persmission. 

When I was given the BLUE challenge and made my card, I looked at here and wanted to name her INDIGO.  I have learned a whole new world is attached to this color, that I never knew existed.  If you have not heard this color used in reagards to personalities of people, it is a very facsinationg subject.  So my card, which is I now refer to as INDIGO, is dedicated to those 2 special people that have shared some very personal and wonderful information with me.

 

This actually turned into quite a challenge. I used nothing but the one Therese Travis Digi Stamp and then nothing else but Cheery Lynn Designs products.  Challenging, yes, but fun too!

 

The way I made my project interesting, without being boring, is with all the different patterned papers in the BLUE scheme.

 

Here is Angel Meggie, all decked out with the help of Cherry Lynn Designs dies and other fun stuff.

Here is a close up of the banner above Meggie’s head. Can you see those tiny bows, and what, are those glass beads hand sewn to those PRETTY PETAL flowers?

Why yes they are.

I admit, I went a little overboard on this card, and I loved every minute of it!

Here is a close-up of the banner, cut from the PENNANT DIE.

 

 I just kept the inside, fairly simple. The phrase reads, “Friend: One who knows all about you and loves you just the same.” Such a true statement.

 

In the corner are a trio of PRETTY PETAL flowers.

Here’s a close-up so you can see their dimension and detail.

On this last picture, before you navigate away from us, look closely at the background papers. I cut the scalloped rectangle using the dies with the same name, SCALLOPED RECTANGLE. Look even more closely, the paper that in under the SCALLOPED RECTANGLE piece, has been pierced with the new PIERCE PLATE. I am having a blast with those and the stitching plates. They make a fabulous look and texture on plain, hum drum cardstock. Lastly, the base of my card(white), is embossed with the BANDANA embossing plate.

 

 

I could have stopped here, but why?  Christine had mentioned these cards called Waterfall Cards.  I showed one the other day that I made for Tiffany Doodles new flower stamp releases.  You can see that card here, and compare the two cards.

 

 

Bear with me as I share many pictures, I am doing this so you can get an idea of how the WATERFALL CARD works.  With this card, I have again used one of Therese’s stamps.  But it is only the Flowers from here Heart Wreath. 

 

 

The WATERFALL card has 4 different images. 

  

 

As you pull the ribbon, each image is revealed, one at a time. 

 

 

After one image is shown and the ribbon is pulled, the previous images cascades and falls behind the image you just viewed.

 

 

Here is the last of the 4 images, the others are all tucked neatly behind the last image.

 

 

Here is a side view, as the Waterfall begins. 

 

 

With such a complex fron, I just left my inside plain.  I did make a tiny little flower and thought it would be neat to incorporate Thereses store name in the flower.

 

 

One last view of this wondrful card.

 

 

That is has been my BLUE TUESDAY for you. Thanks for visiting The Polka Cabana today.

I know that all of us on the PAPERFACES Design Team are revealing a challenge.  I do not have the specifics, but, as soon as I get them I will add them to this blog post.

The Cheery Lynn Designs products used in my cards today are as follows. All products have the link embedded in their product names.

 

PENNANT DIE, PRETTY PETAL, SCALLOPED RECTANGLE, PIERCE PLATE LARGE RECTANGLE and BANDANA.

Come back again, pretty please???

One picture, SO MANY OPTIONS!!

Another of my top 10 people who have inspired me and has had a great impact on me is Therese Travis.  Therese’s Design Team for PAPER FACES DESIGNS, was the very 1st team I wan invited(or allowed) to be on.  I am proud to say I am still with her and she will have a hard time getting rid of me:)

The other day, I shared with you the tutorial of how to create a card with a Digital stamp and Digital Papers.  Todays techniques have some same steps, but are different in many ways.  To view the tutorial on Digital Stamps with Digital Papers you can click here to view the post.

Today, I am using Therse’s Angel Miriam.  You can purchase Miriam for your own personal use here.  I will show you how to use a .svg file and also how to use Miriam as a DIGI STAMP for 3 beautiful cards.

For my.svg card, I am using a version that Therese created for me so that I can cut it out on my Cricut.

You will start with your file opened up in your cutting software.

Please note, I have warped the pattern to hopefully protect Therese’s image. 🙂  The image will open up all grouped together.

My next step is to discard what I won’t use.  Or to be safe HIDE what you do not need and at this point, I group them on my mat how I want them to cut.

I am pretty picky about trying to save paper.  So I go with the minimum of paper I can go with to cut my files.  You can see on the next image, I have divided the pieces up into what color I will cut them out on.

Next I measure my colored paper out to fit the image on my template and adhere the paper to the cutting mat. That is the next image you are seeing.

Next you will see my pieces are cut and ready to go!  Yes, I warped the picture again:)

Jeannie tip here…When working with certain files, such as Therese’s Fairies, angels, or anything with faces or cirles etc, as I am removing them from the cutting mat, I turn them over and put a small dot on the TOP so I know which is the top and the bottom.  Might sound silly, but it has really helped in my assembling process.

I have gathered all the supplies to complete this card.  In one place..it helps the picture taking process tremendously!!

It is always important to add some depth to you pieces by sponging them with a neutral color.

My next step is to emboss my background and assemble my word art on cardstock.  I sponge these with a dark color and edge with a gold stamp pad.

Here is Miriam all assembled and ready for her card.

Time for the bow.  I use an empty cup and tie a knot on the cup.

I then cut the ribbon on the opposite side of where I just tied my nice knot.

At this point I have a for tailed ribbon, take the ends that you cut and adhere them around an attach behind your card with tape.

At this point, I forgot I needed to mat Miriam with white paper, so find a scrap and “bubble cut” around her.

Next, put dimensional adhesive on the back of Miriam and the word art.

Assemble the rest of the items and that is how I use an .svg file.

Here is a comparison with a card that I did with the DIGI stamp and colored cardstock.  I love the way it looks..but with the .svg file, the CRICUT does the cutting, with the DIGI, I do the cutting.

I also tried a different techiique I can show you later if anyone is intrested.  It uses the DIGI stamp also.  Here is the final product.

Here are the TRIO.  Which do you like best?

Your favorite will be my FREEBIE today..that one lucky winner will receive.  To qualify for the freebie..here are my terms:

Please visit THERESE and if you do let her know that Jeannie sent you over!

Leave a comment and on next WEDNESDAY’s post, I will announce the winner!  Send you friend over and they mention your name..you get an EXTRA ENTRY!

• Leave a comment = One Entry
• Send a Friend = One Entry
• Follow my Blog = One Entry
• Visit THERESE and leave a comment = One Entry
• Fiskateer’s post your Fiskateer Number in comment = One Entry
• Co-Design Team Member of mine, on any team = One Entry  Just mention which DESIGN TEAM we are together on!

Be sure to let me know HOW MANY entries you qualify for and what card technique is your favorite.

The others will go on Etsy, and I will take special orders for these, if you need more than one.

Can you believe the art of Therese?

Lastly I leave you with a card and a scrapbook page made from another one of Therese’s lovely drawings.

CARD

SCRAPBOOK PAGE

I hope you liked this tutorial.  Let me know if there you have an intrest to see the other technique I used on the 3rd card.

I want to thank Therese Travis of http://www.etsy.com/shop/paperfacesdesigns for allowing me to use ANGEL MIRIAM  in this project.

Visit http://tuesdaytrio.blogspot.com/ to see what the sketch and challenge are for this weeks challenge.  Here is what I did with Theres’s Angel Cherie.  Let me know how you like her also.

Wow, what a post, right??