12 Kits of Occasions: Rewind Month

Shame on me!  I have been looking forward to our 12 Kits of Occasions "Rewind" month for quite some time...my closet is stuffed with left over materials from past kits...

I am afraid time got away from me and I have shown just about zero creativity this month.  So much so, that when my friends try to find something unique to comment on my three cards...they will probably have to say something like, "I love the background paper you chose for your photograph!"  Honestly, my cards are flat-out CASED cards...almost down to the last detail!  I have Jeanne, Kara and Tracey to thank for this month's cards...thank you sweet friends for sharing your card designs with me:

Jeanne's Card:

I loved this card from Jeanne back in April...even found the butterfly pin she included in our kit.  Thanks Jeanne.

Kara's Card:

I loved the cute snowman...the only thing I changed was the Christmas die cut!  Thanks Kara!
Tracey's Card:

I loved the cute yellow flower die cut layered over the gorgeous floral patterned paper.  Thanks Tracey!

I promise I will come up with a lot more creativity next month when our hostess is Jessica and our theme will be Fall and Thanksgiving.  You can see more of our 12 Kits of Occasions "Rewind" month cards on the 12 Kits of Occasions Blog.

CASology #114: Flutter

It has been For-Ev-Er since I played along with CASology and their fun word cue challenges...but this week (#114) I just had to.  I didn't even have to take time to think what the cue word meant to me...I just KNEW!

Flutter.  Just a couple of days ago my son Andy and his wife Ashley came over and showed us the first ultrasound of their baby due in April.  The ultrasound very clearly showed the fluttering of the baby's heartbeat.  It was such a relief to see and it made every one of us so happy.  Here's the card I made inspired by the ultrasound:

I don't know that their baby is going to be a girl, but since our son Matt and his wife Katie are having our first grandson in November, I am going to pretend that Andy's baby is a girl...at least until I know otherwise!  A grandson and a grandaughter, wouldn't that be perfect?

I used Top Dog Dies Onesie Card Die and Onesie Card Finisher Dies along with a little heartbeat cut with my silhouette.  I am going to give this to my mom along with a copy of the ultrasound...just a fun way to show off her latest great grandchild.  This was such a fun cue word...what does Flutter mean to you?

Top Dog Dies Onesie Card (A2) Die

Top Dog Dies Onesie Finishers Die Set

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Top Dog Dies: Signature Chelsea Die

It is officially Fall and time to get serious about making a few Halloween cards.  Top Dog Dies is having a new die release this week and my card today features not only a new die, but also some previously released dies dressed up to celebrate Halloween.

One sure sign of a versatile craft die is when the negative of the die is a good as the positive.  That's what I used today to introduce  one of the five new Top Dog Dies, "Signature Chelsea Die".  Top Dog Dies is releasing five new card shape dies that not only make great shaped cards all by themselves, but also bits and pieces, both positive and negative can be used to create all kinds of projects.

The negative portion of Top Dog Dies Signature Chelsea makes a really nice border for hills, snowy banks and in this case, a sidewalk.  I rubbed some ink along the top edges to bring out a little more definition in the edges and popped the panel up with dimensional foam.  I think you will recognize that cute little scottie dog and bow from Top Dog Dies Dog Days #2Die Set...this time dressed up as a scary witch.   I used one of the wings from the Top Dog Dies Dragon Die to make his cape and added a few stickers, buttons, broom and even a spider to turn that sweet puppy into something scary.  Let's face it, he's not scary, but he is awfully cute!

The Top Dog Dies Design Team is going to be sharing cards with the three new dies for the next several weeks...here's a peek of the five new dies available exclusively at Top Dog Dies  in two days on Sept. 26th...Time to shop!

Signature Finley

Signature Chelsea

Signature Emerson

Signature Delilah

Signature Beatrix

Top Dog Dies Halloween Trio

I had a very busy weekend...and very little time for crafting.  I did still fit in some time to make a few Halloween decorations for my daughter to take to her classroom in a few weeks.  I know she will want to decorate her classroom...with a Halloween birthday, it will make the day seem that much more special.  It's very easy to make some quick and easy decorations using some very inexpensive "Dollar" aisle bargains from Target.  A few additions of some sparkly die cuts from Top Dog Dies Halloween Trio Die set and Carly's classroom will be right in the spooky festive mood.  Here's what I made:

I  had my husband drill three small holes into the plaques and inserted jewelry wire into the holes with glue.  I then added Top Dog Dies Halloween Trio die cuts sandwiched over the top of the wires.  I bent the wire until it looked right and that was it.  My little Halloween Trio dies have sure gotten a workout this year...here's a link for you to check them out for yourself in the Top Dog Dies Store.

To Dog Dies Halloween Trio Die Set

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Top Dog Dies - Onesie with a Bow Tie

Happy Monday morning...I have a baptism to attend next weekend and needed a card appropriate for a baby boy.   It was easy to do using Top Dog Dies.  My last onesie card was all done up as a cowboy.

Today's little baby will be all decked out in formal wear, complete with a bow tie.

Is that the cutest little outfit, or what?  I used Top Dog Dies Onesie Card A2 Die for the base and vest.  I just cut one double onesie in white and another single onesie in gray.  I hand traced a vest and embossed it with a linen texture.  I also added the cute collar from Top Dog Dies Onesie Card Finishers Die Set topped with that sweet red bow tie from Top Dog Dies Photo Props Die Set . Isn't this cute for a baptismal card?

Top Dog Dies makes it very easy to make a baby onesie perfect for every occasion!

Top Dog Dies Onesie Card (A2) Die

Top Dog Dies Onesie Finishers Die Set

Top Dog Dies Photo Props Die Set

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Card Concept #18: Back to School

Welcome to the Card Concept Challenge #18, a theme challenge this week and very timely for the first week of September.  Back to School is our theme and as my daughter is a brand new first time teacher this year, I knew my card would be something I can give to her to cheer her on and encourage her as she begins her teaching career.  Here's the picture we had to work with along with the Back to School theme:

I loved the traditional "apples for my teacher" and overall colors in the photo.  I actually have very few stamps or dies that fit for a school theme, but I do have a Silhouette and there were a ton of cut files that fit this week's theme.  Here's my card for the very special teacher at my house:

Isn't that the cutest little pencil?  I used a large alphabet embossing folder and a clipboard cut file along with a traditional apple and paperclip.  The notebook paper is a die cut from Papertrey Ink as is the cute sentiment from Vintage Picnic.  I am going to tuck this card into her plan book she brings home every night and hope that she doesn't find it until she opens it up at work.  It makes me so proud to see her accomplish the goal she worked so hard to achieve.

Ready to make a school themed card of your own?  You have two weeks to play along with the Card Concept...the contest ends on Monday, September 18th at noon, PST.  I hope to see your card in our gallery very soon!

Top Dog Dies Halloween Candy Jar

Today is my day to share something I have made with my Top Dog Dies and since it is officially September...and in my mind, Fall is officially here, my crafting theme has switched into holiday mode.  First up...Halloween and something fun to fill (and refill) several times before Halloween actually arrives!

It's easy to make a cute jar to hold all the candy corn I plan to consume before Halloween is over with Top Dog Dies Pumpkin Album Finishers Die Set and Halloween Trio Die Set.  I used both sets today to decorate a simple jar from Michaels.  Instead of card stock, I used vinyl to die cut my images.  No glue, no mess...just peel the back off the paper and apply it to your jar.  It can also be removed and repositioned until you get the placing exactly right!  The front and back of my jar used the cute pumpkin face from Top Dog Dies Pumpkin Album Finishers Die Set.  I couldn't resist adding some googly eyes too!

The other two sides of my jar use Top Dog Dies Halloween Trio Die Set.  I love the cute ghosts, black cat and bat dies...scary and fun all at the same time!

The vinyl even picks up the cute stitched detail on the bat and punches out the eye holes for the ghost!  I added a few rhinestones and pearls for the eyes, some ribbon trim and a bow and filled my jar with candy.  So easy!  Let's see how long this jar of candy lasts...LOL!

To Dog Dies Halloween Trio Die Set

Top Dog Dies Pumpkin Album Finishers Die Set

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