Dot & Whimsy

Hello, Unity Friends!  

Welcome to this Thursday's Inspiration Hop

And don't forget to comment as you visit each blog...

THREE lucky people will receive a $20 Unity Gift Certificate!

I know that a lot of the ladies on the hop today are using the 

NEW! Stephanie Ackerman Sentiment Stamps...aren't they fabulous!?!

With so many CHA projects due I had to work ahead on my card for 

today, so I haven't had a chance to play with the newest red rubber goodies.

I did incorporate the July Inspiration Sketch & Color Challenges though:

 First I stamped the June KOTM image onto a light blue cardstock

and then colored in with Faber Castell Aquarelles.  

I also stamped back over the image and used a clear embossing powder.  

Keeping with the 'woodgrain' theme, I used a couple of veneer pieces from 

Studio Calico and printed clothespin by Little Yellow Bicycle!

Hope you enjoy all of the beautiful projects today...I can't wait to see them all myself :)

 Have fun!

Hello, everyone!  I'd like to share my project for the

 I have a complete tutorial and step-by-step photos on the blog right here

(or click on the "May Arts Tutorial" link on the navigation bar)

From the many finalists, a few will be chosen by The Ribbon Lady to be 

a part of the new Ribbonista Team :)   Although 'votes' by May Arts fans do not 

determine the team, those who leave a comment with their 'favorites' will be in the 

running for some fabulous spools of ribbon!

 so there's plenty of time to visit and vote for your Top 3 favorites!

Thank you! 

has just given release of their newest collection for Fall:
FEELS LIKE HOME

If you'll visit the LYB Blog you can see things more up-close-and-personal :)

Printed wood shapes, fabric foliage, hand-written words and bunches more!

Here's a simple peek of a burlap mini album that I made with the collection...more to come soon!

Are you ready for some CHA sneaks from

BELLA BLVD?

I was thrilled when I saw the new releases...and this year we have new

Bella Halloween and Christmas themes...YAY!  So let's get started with

a few peeks at the samples that I made for the Bella CHA Booth:

This collection is filled with adorable word bubbles, cameras, houses,

arrows and graffiti-styled art...perfect for those everyday moments are more.

Don't you love the bright colors?  And you'll see a lot of black in this collection too!

Basics are back!  This collection hits on a bit of everything, from months of the year 

to everyday sayings.  You will find your favorite Bella color palette done in large

chevron prints on one side and varied basic prints on the other side of the patterned papers.

 Along with the papers you will find brand new elements called Miniature Sticker Sheets

that include arrows, geo icons and more.

 

Elf on the Shelf a big deal in your house at Christmastime? You will find a hint of 

the elusive elf in this newest yuletide collection, Christmas Countdown!

Along with traditional colors, there are also hints of turquoise and gold mixed in!

Bella has a new mascot...not sure of his name, but he is the cutest little owl ever!

You will see him mixed in here and there in this whimsical new Halloween theme

 Cute spiders and delightful jack 'o lanterns will also bring a smile to your face :)

And I know that the NEW "Paper Pieces" packs will make your crafting even more fun!

We're hosting "Focus on Ephemera Week" at

PINK PAISLEE
which is super fun as Pink's ephemera and paper packs are so popular!

I’ll admit that I’m still quite smitten with the City Sidewalks Collection and the bits and pieces
 found in the Ephemera pack. Since it’s not Christmas time just yet I decided to work-up a
couple of cards showing how versatile this collection can be for non-Christmas projects :)

Oooo I adore this sweet ice-cream truck (an ice-cream truck to me
anyway)! The vintage colors…the whimsy…I just had to use it! While
pilfering through my stash, the stamp “here’s the scoop” immediately
jumped out at me and I knew they must be paired together…

I pulled a few more City Sidewalks elements together (Parcel Tags and Candy Shoppe Paper)

 and began my layering. I love the different look that’s been created by turning the patterned

 paper in opposite directions! The sentiment was stamped onto a white cardstock and

 then trimmed  ut before attaching to the card.

 Now we’re going to venture to the opposite end of the spectrum and go for a more

 shabby-chic-romantic look! 

The beautiful cabbage rose paper (Story Time) reminds me of a quilt that I once had…

with that thought I set out to create a ‘quilted’ card. I stitched on a couple of the small ‘advertisements’

 from the ephemera pack and used one of the postage stamps (cut in half) as photo corners. 

After removing the center from the Artisan flowers, I added the numeral piece in its place.

 I also cut down one of the larger advertisements and fashioned them into banner strips!

 A couple of paper leaves and looped thread from my stash and my pretty card is all done :)

 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

CHA (or Create 'N Connect) is only TWO WEEKS away!

Tomorrow I'll have a few sneak peeks from Bella Blvd :)

See you then!

Happy Monday, friends!  

I have a couple of cute projects that combine these two companies:

First up is a card  using Doodlebug Design's "Hello Spring" Collection 

 and Cardstock with McGill's punches.  Before layering the scalloped and circle pieces, 

I chalked around the edges of each with a coordinating color. 

After punching the smaller flower shapes, I placed each onto the Molding Mat and created a well

in the center by using the medium stylus tool.  This allows the petals to roll in and add a 3-D effect.

 After chalking the edges, I added them to the edges of the larger flowers with a flat Glue Dot.

The centers were adorned with Doodlebug Design's adhesive pearls.

Oooo, all of this patriotic goodness!  Bella Blvd is all about

red,white and blue cards today so stop by and take a gander

The striped and polka dotted Designer Tapes were just perfect for creating the flag for this card. 

I cut a piece of cardstock to 3" X 4.5" and then applied strips of the striped Designer Tape.

 Next, I cut a smaller piece of cardstock to 1.75" X 2", covered with the navy dot Designer Tape

 and then machine stitched around the edges before attaching to the striped piece.

 I kept the design simple by embellishing with a couple of hand-cut flowers and sticker sentiment.

 Supplies:All American: Borders & Cute Cuts, American Pride, Alpha+Bits Stickers;

Ever since being introduced to the Crochet Hearts, I've wanted to make a butterfly from them!

 For this card, I took two of the smaller McIntosh hearts and centered them over the journal sticker. 

For the middle of the butterfly I used a snippet from one of the chipboard Icon pieces and attached 

it with a fabric glue. The antennas were formed by adding two pearl stick pins through the 

crochet hearts and then bending them just a little. 

 And that's all from me today, friends!  Off to enjoy the 4th of July festivities with the fam :)

Fourth of July Greetings to my friends from the U.S. of A.!

(and a happy belated Canada Day to my Canadian buddies to the North)

I like to think of myself as a true patriot...I love all things red,white and blue,

I get the chills every time I hear the National Anthem and I tear up when I see a veteran :)

The 4th is always such a fun holiday to celebrate and today at 

we have some amazing things to share...first a fabulous promo:

And as with every Inspiration Thursday, three lucky commentors will be chosen

at random to receive a $20 Unity Gift Certificate!  So don't forget to leave those comments :)

(if anything goes awry, just head back to the Unity Blog to be redirected)

My card is clean-and-simple today...I think the sentiment and dog tags say it all!

 I did add a little texture to the die-cut postage mat with a Sizzix embossing folder.

And because I wanted to cut out the dog tags from the grey paper, I thought the

ball-chain strand would be so cute and such a nice touch!

The patterned paper is by Pebbles, Inc...for the stars I used a 1/4" round punch and

punched them from a patterned paper.

That's all from me today!

Today is Birthday Day at Little Yellow Bicycle!

A few of the team members have whipped up some really cute ideas

using the newest collection, Vintage Summer.

 Next I used the same circle die and a large doily die to pretty-up the window.  

Hello, hello, hello!

After a monthly hiatus I'm so happy to be sharing today at Simple Stories.

In June they featured the new "Life Documented" Team who will be sharing

all things Project Life and SN@P related...lots of great ideas so be sure to visit the blog

Today is all about the newest Simple Stories Collection, I {Heart} Summer.

I love all of the different shapes of chipboard that you can find these days. 

 While browsing my local scrapbook store I picked up several pieces, two of which were a

 'flower' and 'pennant' shape...the two came together to make the cutest ice cream cone!

Putting this together was as easy and tracing the shapes onto selected I Heart Summer
 patterned papers and cutting out. I did machine stitch around the edges before adhering,
but this is completely optional.