Dot & Whimsy

All this week we have a special treat for you from the 

AUTHENTIQUE and PETALOO Design Teams! 

 And since I'm on both teams, I'm sharing double the goodness :)

There are PRIZES to be won as well, so follow the links that

I'll provide at the end of the post and hop on over to leave a comment!

First up is an amazing, box-style mini album that I made for Authentique:

All papers are from the "Treasure" Collection; a must-have for your

Easter and Spring projects!

I have a tutorial up on the blog of how I put it all together :)

And today I'm up at Petaloo with this sweetie of a card:

I have always loved pairing up Authentique papers with yummies from Petaloo...

they're simply made for each other!  These beautiful 'sugared' flowers go hand-in-hand

with the delights that Spring will bring :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Although St. Patrick's Day is a week away, there is still plenty of time to craft up

 a sweet vintage-style hanger to greet your March guests!

I shared this yesterday over at the PETALOO Blog 

You can see close-up photos and Petaloo product that was used by

visiting the blog post --here--

These wood pieces are inexpensive, yet well-made.  If you're looking for a
handmade gift to give this Christmas, consider crafting one of these!

Thanks for visiting me today!

This month's "Inky Paws" Challenge is up at

I cannot express to you how much I truly, for real love this collection:
Grateful by Authentique Paper.

It's yummy beyond words with colors such as dusty pink,

vibrant oranges, rust, mint green and pine...it's soothing yet warming

at the same time!  If you love all things Fall and Thanksgiving, then you

must get this collection in your little hands!

I'm sharing a quick chipboard banner that I made with a precut pumpkin

shaped mini album that I found at Michael's.  I just traced, cut and pasted!

 Come on by the blog today and see close-up photos and

instructions on how I put it together :)

In the meantime, here are just a few of my absolute favorite

pieces from the Grateful Collection:

 

Beau-tiful, right?  Just click on the link above to see the collection in its entirety! 

Baccccck tomorrow!

Hello and welcome tothe

May Arts, Authentique and Imagine Crafts Blog Hop.

I hope that you've had a chance to check out all of the fun

and inspiring stuff that's happened throughout the week!

 I chose to use the brand spanking new Christmas collection, "Believe" to

create this pretty altered tree that I found at Hobby Lobby.

Along with that, I'm using some ink and textured spray from Imagine Crafts and ribbon
 and trim from May Arts!  I purchased the inexpensive tree with a vision of covering
 the slats with Christmas patterned paper!  The sides of the tree are longer than a
 12X12 paper, so I went with a strand of 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, which worked perfectly.  

 I cut the paper strips to a 1" width and distressed around the edges with some 
Memento Luxe Tuxedo Black.  Next, I blended the ink in with one of the Ink Blushers 
sponges by Imagine Crafts.  To the plaid strips I also added flecks of irRESISTible
 Colored Textured Spray (Bamboo Leaves).  I removed the spray applicator from
the bottle and gently flecked the paint over the paper. It's hard to capture in a photo,
but there is a nice, raised and shiny texture to this spray!

The sides of the tree were longer than 12" so I went with a 5/8" grosgrain ribbon in
covering the sides.  First I attached a border of the new Adhesive Scallop Trim by 
 May Arts with the grosgrain ribbon following on top of that.  To attach the ribbon,
 I used the Xyron 1.5" Sticker Maker to create an adhesive backing.

To the back of the tree I added some of the off-white mini pom pom trim.

 Instead of going with a large bow at the top of the tree, I added two layered
boutique-style bows to the bottom sides of the tree.  I really love the Faux Canvas ribbon...
it has the look of seam binding but holds its shape much better when making bows.

I used several die-cut shapes and some of the punch-outs from the  
Believe Collection for the focal point of the tree.  I distressed with the same
 Tuxedo Black ink around all of the edges and then layered on to the
 front with foam adhesive.

Authentique Paper- Believe Collection: "innocence" 12x12 paper; "tidings"
 12x12 paper; "ideal" 12x12 paper; "components" 6x12 paper die cut; 6x6 "bundle"

May Arts Ribbon-  5/8" Faux Canvas Ribbon; 5/8" Dot Grosgrain Ribbon;
Mini Pom Pom Trim; Scallop Adhesive Trim

Imagine Crafts- irRESISTible Colored Textured Spray Bamboo Leaves,
 Memento Luxe Tuxedo Black Ink, Ink Blushers Sponge Applicators

 Be sure to stop by the Authentique Paper Blog and leave a comment
for a chance at a Prize Pack!

 Happy Wednesday!  Welcome to Day #3 of the
Newton's Nook September Releases!
Today we're featuring another set of the more 'solid'
stamp images, as I like to call them.
These are so much fun to use when you don't have time
to color in a design or if you just like the clean 'n simple look that they bring!

"Spooky Street" Stamp Set:

My sample card made with this spooky stamp set:
The house was restamped over the bottom of the 'moon'

and then topped with the same image that had been hand-cut from the cardstock.

I had some fun cutting up a little yard from a scrap piece of green paper :)

Patterned papers from Authentique.

Would you like to win “Spooky Street”?
 This set will be given away to TWO lucky winners! 

Here's how to win: 

Comment on the NND blog and Design Team and Guest blogs (see list below)!  
Two winners will be chosen at random from the collective blogs release posts.
 Make sure to check out each of their blogs and comment for your chance to win.  
You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment 
on the better your chances are of winning! 

 You have until Thursday, Sept 18 at 9pm CDT to comment 
 -- winners will be announced on the blog post on Friday, September 19th--

Newton's Nook Designs
Taheerah Atchia
Lydia Brooke
Larissa Heskett
Samantha Mann
Crafty Math-Chick
Shellye McDaniel
Jess Moyer
Stephanie Muzzulin
Danielle Pandeline
Tessa Wise
Kimberly Rendino (Guest Designer)

Back tomorrow with  Day 3!  Enjoy the hop!

 Happy Tuesday!  Welcome to Day #2 of the
Newton's Nook September Releases!
Newton has been at it again and you're sure to
love he and his friends in all of their adorableness :)

Today we're featuring "Falling Into Autumn"

My sample card made with this sweet stamp set:
I used three different colors of Memento Luxe Inks and applied each in a section

of the leaf stamp.  Next I used a sponge to blend the colors together.  I hand-cut 

around the leaves and then swirled them in a circle at the center of the doily die-cut.

The card and patterned paper is by Authentique and the jute string is from May Arts Ribbon.

Would you like to win “Falling Into Autumn”?
 This set will be given away to TWO lucky winners! 

Here's how to win: 

Comment on the NND blog and Design Team and Guest blogs (see list below)!  
Two winners will be chosen at random from the collective blogs release posts.
 Make sure to check out each of their blogs and comment for your chance to win.  
You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment 
on the better your chances are of winning! 

 You have until Thursday, Sept 18 at 9pm CDT to comment 
 -- winners will be announced on the blog post on Friday, September 19th--

Newton's Nook Designs
Taheerah Atchia
Lydia Brooke
Larissa Heskett
Samantha Mann
Crafty Math-Chick
Shellye McDaniel
Jess Moyer
Stephanie Muzzulin
Danielle Pandeline
Tessa Wise
Kimberly Rendino (Guest Designer)

Back tomorrow with  Day 3!  Enjoy the hop!

Good Friday morning again, crafty friends!

I have another Halloween home decor item that can

easily be translated into a general Fall display to encompass 

the entire Autumn season :)

Today I'm using the Pumpkin Album Die from

 and the brand new "Spirited" Collection from Authentique Paper.

I die cut the album shape from a medium weight chipboard and then cut 

matching pieces from the colorful patterned papers.  

Using the 9" Xyron Creative Station made adhering the papers to 

the chipboard super quick!  

To attach the panels together, I folded each of the pumpkins along the 

tab that is in place for binding (if using the cut-out as an album).

The tabs were then glued to the next panel in an accordion fashion.

I accented the pumpkin fronts with use of the Vintage A2 Mat Die and the ghost

shape found in the Halloween Trio Die Set. 

I used black velvet leaves from a floral pick that I found at Michael's and the 

orange flowers are by Petaloo.

The edges of the pumpkins were trimmed in grape baker's twine and was

also used as an accent for the two labels at the ends of the accordion.

You will find all sorts of really fun Halloween/Fall projects this month at 

Top Dog Dies!

Happy Friday, crafty friends!

 I don't do a lot of 'shabby chic' cards, but I had

a lot of fun putting this one together with some brand new dies from

 and pretty papers and stickers from Authentique Paper!

I've used three of the August Release Dies in making this card:

TC063-Windmill

TC061-Modern Mosaic A2 Mat

TC062-Vintage A2 Mat

As you can see, I used the top part of the Windmill Die and

turned them into blooms!  I added a disc of blue paper to the back for

extra color and to show-off the fine detail.

 I grunged up the edges of the Vintage Mat Die with a walnut ink 

before laying it with all of the pretty stickers and embellishments.

See more Top Dog Dies' projects and shop for dies at 

Have a very happy weekend, y'all!