12 Kits of Occasions: August with Kara and a Birthday Theme!

It's the last day of the month and time for the August edition of our 12 Kits of Occasion blog hop.  This month our hostess is Kara of K and R Designs and the monthly theme is birthdays!  Kara outdid herself with her jam-packed kit...here's a peek at the kit she sent us:

Look at all that birthday fun...and did you see the cute WPlus9 stamp set she also sent us?  Kara was so generous to us and she is going to be equally as generous to you too...That great stamp set is going to be given away to one lucky person who leaves a comment on KARA'S BLOG.  Here the link again in case you missed it up above:  K and R Designs

Here's what I made this month!

 This is my favorite...love the black/white paper and those cute pink shaded flowers.

This one is going to my birthday girl niece turning four in September.

Now that you have seen mine...head over the the  12 Kits of Occasions blog for more details about Kara's giveaway...don't forget to leave a comment on her blog!

Thank you Kara for a really fun birthday themed month!

Ooh La La: Top Dog Die Dog Days #2

Every time I see the cute French Poodle die from Top Dog Dies latest release, I can't help myself from saying, "Ooh La La!"  I've never been to Paris, but I can only imagine a beautiful and elegant French Poodle being led around the streets of that famous city.  Today I have a card using Top Dog Dies Dog Days #2 which includes a beautiful French Poodle die.

The card I made is a little different for me, practically flat and one that can be easily mailed without worrying about it poking through the envelope.  You can't tell from the photo, but the sweet poodle is cut from black felt and the patterned papers, border and Eiffel Tower are all digital image I layered on top of each other in photoshop.  There is even a very subtle fleur de lis background added to the paper, just elegant enough for our very rich and elegant poodle die.

If you haven't seen the latest release over in the Top Dog Dies store...get over there now!  You will love all the new release dies as well as all the other dies from Top Dog Dies.  Ooh La La!

Top Dog Dies Dog Days #2

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Top Dog Dies Dragon Die: Hot Stuff Birthday!

Monday morning is my time to share something new from Top Dog Dies...and this month we have just released a batch of new dies...all super cute and fun!  Today I am sharing a card using the new Top Dog Dies Dragon Die...one I know I will be using a lot once my sweet baby grandson is born!  What little boy doesn't love dragons?  Here's my card:

Look at the detail on that dragon!  I could have made him any color or in patterned paper, but I wanted you to be able to see all the texture in the die itself.  This dragon could be fun and whimsical, or as fierce as you want to make him!  Anyone else a fan of Game of Thrones and Khaleesi's nasty dragons? If you don't know what I am talking about...you have to watch the tv show or better yet, read the books...it's such a great series!

Top Dog Dies is also having a contest with a great prize...all of the dies from the August release.  Follow this link to get all the details...you have until Wednesday to enter!  Next week I will be sharing a cute card with a sweet poodle and Parisian theme.  Thanks for checking in with me!

Top Dog Dies Dragon Die

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Top Dog Dies August Release

The happiest days of the month for any crafter are the days new dies are released...that is what is happening today with Top Dog Dies.  Today the August release goes live and I can not wait to show you the new dies and a card I made with a few of them.  First, here's all the new dies:

Top Dog Dies Dog Days #1 Die Set

Top Dog Dies Dragon Die

Top Dog Dies Windmill Die

Top Dog Dies Vintage A2 Mat Die

Top Dog Dies Modern Mosaic A2 Mat Die

Are those fabulous...or what?  As if last month's cute Top Dog Dies Dog Days #1 labrador wasn't cute enough, this month we have a sweet Scottie dog and elegant poodle!

For my card today I used three of the new August release dies:  Top Dog Dies Dog Days #2, Vintage A2 Mat Die and Modern Mosaic A2 Mat Die.  All three dies are already up for sale in the Top Dog Dies Store.  I used two of the Modern Mosaic A2 Mat Dies...one cut and one embossed.  I colored the embossed die with copics and then layered the cut version on top of it.  My elegant poodle was die cut, run through the xyron machine and then covered with sparkly glitter.  I added the cute bow that comes with Top Dog Dies Dog Days #2 and adhered her to a Top Dog Dies A2 Mat Die cut from vellum.  The poodle was the perfect size to cover up the adhesive for the vellum layer.

As if seeing the pictures of the new dies wasn't enough to make you hurry right over to the store...there is also a contest this month!  One lucky person will win all of the new August dies...just follow this link for all the details!

I will be sharing more cards from this month's release on Monday, August 18th...thanks for sharing in the excitement of our Top Dog Dies August release.

Dog Days #1: Sweet Lab

Even though I am definitely a "cat" person...I have had several dogs that were special to me during my life.  One of those dogs was Butch...a black lab that my husband and I had when our children were born.  He was the sweetest, most loving and protective dog and was so wonderful with our kids when they were little.  He was so patient and put up with quite a bit from my rambunctious boys.  The Top Dog Dies Dog Days #1 Labrador really reminded me of Butch, so my card today brings back really happy memories for me.

I used Top Dog Dies Dog Days #1...a set with this great lab and also a couple of other sweet "doggie" embellishments (a banner, bone and a fire hydrant).  Can't you see this cute dog with birthday balloons tied to his tail?  How about adding a cute Santa hat for a sweet Christmas card?  Check out Top Dog Dies Dog Days #1 and all the other new July release dies in the Top Dog Dies Store...and here's a little secret...we're getting ready for a new release in just a few days and have been crafting like crazy with the new dies, and there is going to be a very nice contest to go along with the release too!  

Top Dog Dies Dog Days #1 Die Set

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Top Dog Dies Vintage Frame Die Swing Card

I'm back from vacation, heading back to work today, but before I go...I've got a card made with one of the dies from the new July release from Top Dog Dies.  It's a swing card made with the Top Dog Die Vintage Frame Die.  Never seen a swing card before?  It was new to me too...a technique I have never Top Dog Die Vintage Frame Die.  Take a peek:

tried before, but was absolutely perfect with this new

Isn't that a cute die cut?  The fun part begins when you start to open the card:

A little peek of what's inside begins to show (also stamped on a solid white Top Dog Die Vintage Frame Die) as you start to open the card.

Look at the detailed embossing on the new die.  It can be both elegant and fun all at the same time!

By now, I hope you all have had the chance to check out all of the dies released a few weeks ago located in the Top Dog Dies store...but, just in case you were on vacation like I was...get on over there!  You will find some fabulous new dies, as well as lots and lots of other dies you may not have seen before.  

http://www.topdogdies.com/top-dog-dies-vintage-frame-die.html

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Make a Rosette Embellishment with Top Dog Dies

Today is my day to share a tutorial over on the Top Dog Dies blog.  I made a rosette embellishment using Top Dog Dies Madison Border Die.  I hope you will stop by the Top Dog Dies Blog and see how I did it!

Here's the card I made using the rosette:

Here's the card I made using the rosette:

Top Dog Dies Madison Border Die

Top Dog Dies Alexa Frames Die Set

Top Dog Dies Diaper Card Finishers Die Set

Top Dog Dies Butterfly Finishers Die Set

Top Dog Mini Tag Dies

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Card Concept #16: Use a Wedding Theme

I am so sorry my post for Card Concept #16 is a little late...I've been on vacation and had to hurry home early due to a health issue with my mom.  I did, however make a card for this challenge before everything started spinning out of control.  This week's challenge is to make a wedding card.  Here's the beautiful photograph we had to work with:

I loved the pretty roses and the beautiful blue and white combination.  Here's my card representing the Freestyle Collage style.

Since this card will likely be hand-delivered...I went with a very dimensional card with rolled flowers and an elegant doily.  I am pretty sure I will always use the PTI Propose a Toast stamp set and matching champagne flute on just about any wedding card I made from now on.  I love those glasses!

We have some new "Wild Card" members joining us this week at Card Concept.  For all the details, please check out the Card Concept Blog which is introducing our newest designers.

Top Dog Dies Flower Lace A2 Mat Die

By now I am sure you have all seen that Top Dog Dies has just released six new die sets for July. The Tp Dog Dies Design Team have all worked very hard creating samples using the new dies and you probably already have those dies ordered and in the mail on their way to you.   Just in case you haven't seen them all, here's another card with one of the new dies...Top Dog Dies Flower Lace A2 Mat die.

Today I used just a portion of the die cut to create an inlay on my card.  I can't tell you how crisp and clean this die cuts!  I added some rhinestones to the center of each flower to give a more formal feel to this card.  I also used another new set of dies from the Top Dog Dies July release, Top Dog Dies Banner #1 die set.  I folded them over the top of my card and did a little zig zag stitching to keep them in place.  That tag at the bottom with the sentiment is also one of the Top Dog Dies Banner #1 dies, just the right size for a sweet sentiment.

Here are the other dies released last week over at the Top Dog Dies Shop:

Top Dog Dies Banners #1 Die Set

Top Dog Dies Vintage Frame Die

Top Dog Dies Dog Days #1 Die Set

Top Dog Dies Corset Die 

Top Dog Dies Flower Lace A2 Mat Die

Top Dog Dies Party Drink Die Set