Dot & Whimsy

It made my day to see all of the excitement generated by

my Valentine project over at 

yesterday!  If you didn't get a chance to see it yet, here is a look:

So don't throw out those K-Cup boxes!  Visit the S&CT Blog to

see a tutorial on how I put this sweet gift box together!

This past weekend I drug out my cross stitching supplies

and found this adorable Valentine pattern that I just had to make!

I combined it all in this sweet ornament/wall art/collage piece that I have up at 

I embellished the cross-stitch piece with pom trim, twine and some larger die-cuts

from Doodlebug Design papers!  The banner dies are from the now closed 

Top Dog Dies, although similar shapes can be found.  

I used my fabulous Xyron 9" Creative Station
  to adhere all of the die-cut

papers to a matching chipboard shape to give the ornament extra sturdiness.

As you can guess, this was an absolute blast to put together...I'm so enjoying

making these one-of-a-kind little works of art :)

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I'll be back tomorrow to catch up on some other projects and news to share!

I've had a new package of goodies from

sitting on my desk, so this past week I dove in and got crafty

with stamps, dies and Prismacolor pencils!

Here's a look at one of the cards that I made with the 

Pure Innocence Happy Banner Stamp & Die Set:

I started with a 3.25" circle of white cardstock that was sprayed with Citron Color Shine by Heidi Swapp.  The circle was trimmed with Bubblegum Twine by Doodlebug Design and trimmed around the back with white pom pom trim.

Next, I traced around the die with a pencil onto a piece of smooth white cardstock.

   The image was carefully stamped inside of the tracing with Memento Tuxedo Black ink.  

I proceeded to color in the image with Prismacolor pencils and used gamsol and

blending stumps to create a watercolor effect.  

After completely coloring the image, the die was lined up with the tracing and then 

cut out with the WeR Memory Keepers' Evolution Advanced manual die-cutting system.

For the background papers I used a gingham swimming pool and swiss dot bubblegum

prints from Doodlebug Design.  

The bottom was embellished with a satin scallop ribbon by May Arts.

There is a fantastic video tutorial over at 

Inky Antics on how to use gamsol and blending stumps.

I hope you'll check it out and give it a try!

Thanks for stopping by!

COMING SOON 

to Big Picture Classes, "Valentine DIY Party"

Here's a little peek at some of the projects we'll be making!

-Incorporating Printables
-The Cookie Box
-Crepe Paper Fun
and
-Bags, Bags, Bags!

Visit the BPC "Coming Soon" page to learn more about this class and others!

Happy Friday! 

Whew, I'm finally getting to blog a couple of things that I had intended to share yesterday...house cleaning got in the way; can you believe that?

For Totally Teriffic Thursday, I used one of the new Itty Bitty stamps, Friendship Rainbow.

I created this Valentine treat bag using a standard white gift bag and embellishing with the sweet black/cream dot from the back of the “Meghan Kay” paper (Family Fun). I handcut the lady in blue from the Dimestore Vogue paper sheet and attached her to the front of a red heart-shaped doily using foam dots. On the inset of the doily, I cut a small heart from the Dimestore Vogue paper sheet and adhered. I also added a running stitch of black/white baker’s twine inside the perimeter of the heart and tied it into a bow. Four shiny blue hearts were punched from the Fancy Foil Sheet, machine stitched down the center and then added to the bag front. To finish off, I added a strip of the blue gingham paper, topped with a large black ric-rac and vintage red buttons to the bottom of the design. A small red heart was added to the dress for a pop of color. I printed out the words “I would be blue without you, Valentine, so please be mine” onto cardstock, trimmed to size and then attached. That’s it! My hubby loves Ghiradelli chocolates, so I tucked in a couple of packages of candies and added a little tissue paper before gifting. 

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I'm working the weekend (booo, yes I said it and I normally love going to work...but it'll be rainy and I had just rather be home scrappin'!) So I'll see you all on Monday with the EAD Blog Hop.

Until then...cheerio!

Shellye

Well, I forced myself into going to 'town' today.  You know the trip.  Sam's Club, Wal Mart, local scrapbook store, Wally's party store, gas-up...oh yes...I got some new tires today too!  Ah, there's just something about the way a car drives with brand-spanking-new tread.  I pulled up at the school to get the kids and just knew everyone was staring at their beauty...well maybe not, but I surely do feel that they've brought sexy back to my SUV :)

Today was the last of the (almost) 48 hours of rain, drizzle, mist and downpours.  Thank goodness!  I have pictures that I need to take tomorrow.  I'm thinking that I need to spruce up The Red Robin over at Etsy...it is lacking in new things and I have so much to share...so I'll try to get some of that done tomorrow as well.

Okay, onto my latest project for

A really quick notecard using the HELLO stamp from the

The notecard is actually from a set that I purchased from Wal-Mart...all ready scalloped with a colored border.  I simply stitched on a swatch of patterned paper and embellished...literally minutes.  I think that handmade gifts make the best gifts.  Why not take a few assorted notecards, add some stamping, a few embellies and then tie them up in a satin ribbon for gift giving!
If you would like to see more Ippity Stamps by Unity, please give Heather a visit!
http://www.iheartippity.com/

You know what tomorrow is?!? That's right...time to draw a winner for the
VALENTINE GIVE-A-WAY
YAYAYAY
I can't wait to award someone special with this really sweet kit :)
I will be adding like kits to The Red Robin in the days and weeks to come...so be sure to bookmark or add it to your favorites if you would like to get in on some really great deals and unique stuffs!

Until we meet again, be blessed!
Shellye

Ah ha!  I caught you with that crazy sounding title didn't I?

hehehe

My last CARDS Challenge for this month over at My Scrapbook Nook is a

Just use one or both of these Pinterest inspired photos to create a card or layout



My sweet friend, Danni Reid created this sketch over at October Afternoon.  Having just received the last bit of embellishments from the Holiday Style collection, I just had to use it to scrap a layout based on her sketch!

 I'm in so much W-A-N-T of the upcoming OA paperlines...oye, I can't even tell you how much I want and NEED them in my little hands! Cake Walk and 9 to 5...have you seen them yet?

I know, right?  I was gasping too!

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Lots and lots of orders for crepe fringe from Dot & Whimsy. I don't know for sure, but I think the little peek in Simply Handmade magazine may have something to do with this influx of orders...yay!  So I'm out of here a little early this evening before work to pick up some rolls of pink and a few new colors of crepe paper.

Don't forget about the

going on here at The Papered Cottage through Friday, January 27th!

Just check in here to leave a comment and be in the running for a really sweet prize pack :)

Have a wonderful week!
Shellye

I love and appreciate all of the comments that you, my blog readers send :)

So, I'm sharing the love right back with one of you!

To enter yourself into The Papered Cottage's

simply

1- Be a follower of this blog

2- Leave a comment on this posting

3- Be sure to leave your email address so that I may contact you if you're indeed the winner!

That's it!

-4 Handmade Vintage Valentine Embellishments

-1 Card of Retro Buttons

-1 Jenni Bowlin Sticker Letter Sheet

-1 Red/Cream Label Stickers

-1 Bunch of Cream Colored Rosies

-1 Yard EACH: Red/White Swiss Dot Grosgrain Ribbon, Turquoise Grosgrain Ribbon (with Satin Edging) and Black/White Baker's Twine

Ideal for any of your upcoming Valentine papercrafting projects!

And who doesn't love some turquoise and red? Hmmm? Hmmm?

Thank you again for participating in my first ever Give-A-Way

Good Luck!

Shellye

Do you know EAD Designs? 

Well, WOW!

If you love whimsical designs for scrapbooking and beautiful artwork for your walls and home decor, then you will really love EAD Designs.

**Shop the site...stickers and rubons SHIP FREE**
So, here's a fun bit of news that I'm excited to share (borrowed from EAD Blog)

The New DT will be starting in February

First off I'm so Excited to say that Amy,Jenn, Liz & Lauren will be staying with us this year.

I have really loved getting to know these amazing girls and it's an HONOR to have them stay.

Drum Roll Please…

•Candace

•Julie Ranae

WOW! Talk about a FABULOUS team.

I can't wait for all these talented ladies to get started and share their creative passion with all of you.

Plus don't forget about our DIY Girls

Kassidy- Before & After

Katie- DIY Thursday

Jenn-She's Crafty

Take a minute and check out all the Design Teams blog and give them a HUGE welcome

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Oh yeah, uh-huh...happy dancin' :)

As stated above, I will officially start designing for EAD in February...just around the corner and I can't wait.

Cute, cute, cute stuff!

Newest mini scrapbook album is now up at Dot & Whimsy

Chipboard mittens+snowflakes+adorable Bella Blvd papers and stickers= 1 CUTIE

 12 total pages of snowy goodness!

If you are here for the VALENTINE GIVE-A-WAY...I will be posting it just a little later on today...I promise.  See you all then :)
Shellye