Top Dog Dies October Release Preview

TOP DOG DIES IS HAVING A BIRTHDAY!

There's was lots and lots of fun around the Weber house last week.  Top Dog Dies is releasing nine new dies just in time for your holiday card making.  I literally didn't know which die to try first, so being the cat lover that I am...I opened up the Top Dog Dies Cool Cats Die Set first.

The die set includes two different size and style cats...and together they remind me of a couple of "kitty" sweethearts.  The heart-embossed border at the top is another recently released die from Top Dog Dies, Signature Delilah.  Those cute hearts are also part of the new Top Dog Dies Cool Cat Die Set and there's also a cute little food dish, ball of yarn, mini banner and a sweet little fish tag.  There are lots of dies for your money with this set!  Are you ready to see the new dies being released tomorrow, October 7th in the Top Dog Dies store?  Here's a sneak peek of all nine dies.

October Holiday Release

The Top Dog Dies Design Team will be sharing peeks of the new dies on their blogs over the next few weeks...I've got another cute card using Cool Cats to share on Wed, Oct. 8th.  In the meantime...head over to the Top Dog Dies store tomorrow and don't forget your checkbook...you are going to want every single one of these dies!

Card Concept #20: Color Challenge

Welcome to Card Concept Challenge #20.  There have been so many fabulous cards made during the past 19 challenges,  but I am certain when you see this week's challenge theme and photo,  we are going to see a record number of "spooky" cards popping up in our gallery.

Yay!!! This week we have a color challenge, just in time for you to get busy with all of your Halloween stamps and dies, and admit it...you have a lot of them!  Right?  By now, you all are familiar with the the Card Concept challenge rules.  All you have to do is create a card using the weekly theme and based on one of the following card-making styles:

                                                       Clean and Simple (CAS)
                                                       Clean and Layered
                                                       Clean and Graphic
                                                       Freestyle Collage
                                                       Shabby Chic
                                                       Classy and Elegant

This week I used dies from Top Dog Dies.  They just released some new Shape/Border dies and one of them was just perfect for my card representing the Freestyle Collage style.

The embossed panel with the spider web is Top Dog Dies Signature Delilah.  I folded it before I cut it and made an twine wrap around closure.  That cute cat (Halloween Trio) and the mini banners are also from Top Dog Dies (Banners # 1 Die Set).

The inside of my card uses Top Dog Dies Vintage A2 Mat die and the bat is also from Top Dog Dies Halloween Trio Die Set.  I had a lot of fun piecing together sentiment stamps from a variety of stamp sets and also had to add a few spiders to my web.

There's a lot more examples of the five different card style over on the Card Concept Blog...you have two weeks to play along.   The contest closes on Monday October 13th at noon PST.  I hope to see your card in our gallery very soon!

Top Dog Dies Signature Delilah Die

To Dog Dies Halloween Trio Die Set

Top Dog Dies Vintage A2 Mat Die

Top Dog Dies Banners #1 Die Set

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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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