Monday Rendezvous at Cuttlebug Challenge

Today I am giving a class on making your own embossing paste at Cuttlebug Challenge When you go there, remember to take the ProvoCraft survey if you haven't done so yet. You too will have a chance to win an embossing folder!!

I am also posting my class here; hope you enjoy it and find it informative!!

Making your own EMBOSSING PASTE!!

This photo shows the supplies you will need to make your own embossing paste and to do your project. Yep, you see that right, it's spackle!!! You can find this in your supercenter or hardware store. I think I may have gotten this at Walmart and it is not expense at all. Maybe a couple dollars!!. This says 'fast'n final lightweight spackling'. Also shown is painters tape, chalk, plastic knife (lost my better craft spatula), embossing plate, paper plate and glitter.
Ok, we are ready to get started!! Set your embossing plate on the cardstock you want to work with. Using painters tape, tape all four sides.
Take some of the spackle and put it on the paper plate. Put the lid back on the tub so the spackle will not dry out. You are now going to make embossing paste!!..Take how much you think you may need; I always work with more just to be sure. The way I get my color is to take my old chalks and scrape some of the chalk with the knife over the paste. You determine how much color you want to work with. Remember you can always add more chalk and if it's too dark, just add a little more of the white spackle. Now, you want to keep mixing until all the color is evenly mixed and the texture is creamy.
Yes, this is the same blue..the camera changed the color!!..Take your knife and start putting the embossing paste on your embossing plate until the design is completely covered. Once it's all applied, start swiping if off. Keep doing this until the only paste showing is that in the design itself. Be sure to wipe your knife after each swipe. Keep working until it looks like the next photo. If I had used an embossing plate that didn't have a design so close to the edges, I wouldn't have to bring it out so far. The main thing, no matter what embossing plate you are using, is to cover all the design.
Be sure to check those little edges. You may need to reapply a little to fill it in. Yep, sometimes you will swipe away and it will pick up where it shouldn't. No problem, just fill it in.
While still wet, sprinkle glitter over the design. Then, remove the painters tape working backwards. Lift the embossing plate and there you will have your finished design. Soak your plate immediately for easy cleanup.
Here is the finished card all set and ready to go!! Cuttlebug embossing folders swiss dot and textile were used to give the card extra texture.
Here is a close up of the card; you can see the raised embossing. Pretty..isn't it??!!
Some of you asked how I did the icing on my Be Inspired #24 project and now you can see how easy it is to do!! Follow step 3 with mixing your color (chalk) until creamy and mixed well. This time, transfer a glob of paste to your icing area. With your fingers, you will mold the icing until it looks like the real thing. I tapped a few times with the knife to give it a more puffy effect. While still wet, I sprinkled some pink glitter, let it set and then lightly sprayed the glitter with hairspray to hold it all in place. You will find the heavier the cardstock, the better since your cardstock will 'warp' a little. You don't notice it in the final project thought.

There's a party going on...!!!!

There's a party going on at cuttlebug challenge!! How would you like to win a Cuttlebug Embossing Folder? How would you like to see a preview of one of the new folders Provo Craft is coming out with? How would yu like to take a survey and give feedback to Provo Craft?

Stop by cuttlebug challenge to get all the details!!!

Be Inspired Wednesday Cuttlebug Challenge #24

Welcome to Be Inspired Wednesday at Cuttlebug Challenge with a big thank you to Regina at The Cutting Cafe http://thecuttingcafe.typepad.com/the_cutting_cafe/ for these super cupcakes and messages to compliment your card or project. I took a Prima tin and altered it so I could fill it with some birthday goodies. Notice the icing on the cupcake? I will be giving a tutorial on the technique March 30!! Be sure to stop by and see how easy it is!! And what is icing without sugar sprinkles, except I used lime glitter (sorry, name unknown). Prima and Imaginisce flowers were used and the thin green ribbon is from Wright. The weave lime green ribbon is from last year that I got on sale because it was for Christmas..I did not see it being used for Christmas, but knew it would work for my scrapping stash. Papers used are from K&Company (Que Sera Sera). Cuttlebug birthday and swiss dots embossing folders were used to give it that little extra touch!! Stampendous dots were used on the card cupcake. General's Pastel Chalks, Yasutomo paints and Loew-Cornell pencils were used along with my Marvy blender Pen. Be sure to stop by Cuttlebug Challenge and see what the design team has for you this week!!
This is a close-up of the Prima tin that I decided to alter and make pretty. All I need to do is fill it with candy and/or flowers!!
I chose a different cupcake for the card, but kept with the colors from the tin.
A close-up of the flower on the front of the can. Several times on my project I used very thin strips of cardstock and wrapped it around a pencil to curl. All I needed was a little dab of glue in spots to hold it in place.
This is a close up of the lid. Looks just like yummy icing!! Again, you can see the thin strips of cardstock.

I wanted to mention that this week we will have 4 lucky winners each getting the digital files that the DT received from The Cutting Cafe.!! Also, one GRAND PRIZE WINNER who will get to choose 2 extra files from The Cutting Cafe..how cool is that??!!! Be sure to stop by Cuttlebug Challenge

Cuttlebug Announcement!!

Please check out Cuttlebug Challenge for some new and exciting news from Provo Craft and an interview with their presentative, Eric.

Also, look for an announcement and a SURPRISE Provo Craft/Cuttlebug Party beginning Thursday March 26th!!

Read all about it Cuttlebug Challenge

Ally's Blog Candy!!

How would you like a chance to win some stamps??!! Check out Ally's blog and see how easy it is to have a chance to win this cool prize!!

Thanks Ally, for doing this!!

Cuttlebug Challenge #22 Sassy Stamps & Glitter

Congratulations ladies!!! Winners for our Cuttlebug Challenge #22

Thank you Sweet n Sassy for your awesome digital stamps!!

Shantaie

Debb

Angela

Corey

Beth

Rosanne

Hilde

Pajalu

Anne

GrammyOlivia

Be Inspired Wednesday Challenge #23

Welcome to my blog!! For this week’s Be Inspired Wednesday at Cuttlebug Challenge, we were asked to use our punch a little differently. For this card, I first cut a 5 ¾ circle with my Cricut using Cloud 9 paper. I found it best to not use cardstock for this. Once cut, I folded the paper in half, opened it and folded it again in the other direction. One more time, I opened it and folded it again to give me 8 pieces of the pie. Once that was done, I started folding and punching with my EK Success Paper Shapers Pop Up Butterfly punch keeping the creased side to the left of the punch. I continued opening and changing the folds until I had 8 butterflies, one in each pie. The last punch cut was in the center of the fold, but I made sure I was centered enough not to cut short or into one of the cut butterflies.

Once all the cutting was done, I took my Fiskars Paper Edgers (cloud) and went around the outer border of the circle. I popped up the butterflies and used Close to my Heart Liquid Glass to give it some sheen.

After that dried, I inked the edges with Martha Steward ink.

The base card I used was a 5 ½ x 5 ½ Joann Craft Essentials and embossed with my Cuttlebug embossing folder Textile Texture. Again, I inked the edges with Martha Stewart ink.

I cut a small tag with my Nestabilities and embossed it with my Cuttlebug Swiss Dot embossing folder; added a K & Co butterfly.

Prima flowers, pearls and Stickles finished it.

If you have any questions, please email me. I would be glad to help you.

Be sure to stop by Cuttlebug Challenge to see what our design team has to show you!!

Now it’s your turn to take the challenge and show us your creation!! Post your card using Mr. Linky!!

All Purpose Cards

That cute little butterfly on the green card is from Sweet N Sassy digital stamp that I downloaded. It was perfcct for printing on transparency and then adding just a hint of Stickles.

March ATC Feathers

This is one of 14 that were done for the Cricut ATC Challenge. I used Glitter Mist on the card for a little color. On the vintage clipart I embossed it 3 times with clear embossing and then when dried, cracked it. The Nestabilities cut is on pop dots. I cut a little slit in her hat and tucked in the feather. Added a little bling and she is done!

The Face

Face of sweetness, face of trouble..that was my first thought when I saw this photo..I have to laugh everytime I look at that picture.

Cotton Candy

A fun layout I did today wanting to show the silly side of Nina. The papers were given to me at a SWARM, so I don't know who it belongs to, but I love the print and colors.

CuttlebugChallenge Be Inspired #22

Welcome to Be Inspired Wednesday!! First off, I would like to thank Sweet'n Sassy for this cute little mouse that I got to dress-up. With him being so cute, all I needed was a simple little card to show him off.

I used one of the flower strips from the Cuttlebug Embossing Folder Border Set-Frills to emboss 2 sides of a pre-score Die Cut With A View card. Using the sanding block, I popped up those cute flowers showing the white core of the card. My little mouse friend and surroundings were done with General’s Chalk Pencils and Gamsol. Stickles was added for a little sparkle.

I then cut a 4 ¾ scallop square from Accent Essentials using my Cricut Expessions. I embossed it using my Cuttlebug Swiss Dot Embossing Folder.

The mouse square was cut at 4 inches and glued to the card. The scallop border was inked using Tsukineko Splendor ink pad then set on pop-dots for dimension.

Final touch was a little bow holding the balloons. The design team was given 3 different digital stamps to work with, so stop by http://www.cuttlebugchallenge.blogspot.com/ to see what the design team has done for you. Also, be sure to check out Sweet n Sassy to see their cute line of digital stamps.

Erin's March Mystery Challenge

For Erin's March Mystery Challenge, we received feathers!..I had an idea of what I wanted to do with a card and this is it!!..I used H2O to shade in the butterfly and leaves (clipart stamp). The fun part is cutting..lol..Tucked in some feathers and 'dressed' it up with a few more embellishments and stickles. You can find this challenge at www.haveyourwaywithpaper.com

When

this layout was done for a scraplift challenge at www.haveyourwaywithpaper.com Rita, who sponsored this challenge choose Just Jenn and me for our members to lift. Jenn's layout, that I chose, was perfect for this sweet photo of Nina.

Ian being Ian

This layout started out one way, but ended up another. I'm pleased with it even though this isn't what I had invisioned. How could anything not work with that cute little face!!

Be Inspired Wednesday-Watercolor #21

Cuttlebug Challenge-Our challenge was to use watercolor!!..I love the Martha Stewart bird stamps and thought this little guy would be perfect to 'paint' up. I used Niji pearlescent watercolor cake paint set (and my waterbrush) to give the bird, leaves and branch some color. The bird was done twice and then pop dots were used for dimension. To give my card a little extra character, I use the Cuttlebug embossing folder, textile. Be sure to check out all the cards at http://www.cuttlebugchallenge.blogspot.com/
and don't forget, do work with your watercolors and show it to us on Cuttlebug Challenge this week! Remember that you have until Tuesday night to post yours to Mr. Linky. Check out what the rest of the Design Team did to Inspire YOU!!!

Trophy Winner

yep, that's me!!..Not the best picture since I wasn't feeling well this past weekend. But, it certainly didn't stop me from having a great time!!..This is the card I made from the challenge pieces we all received and was instructed to make a card. We could add, but not take away from what Betty sent us. If you look further back in my blog you will see where I had posted the card and what the inside looks like. It was from a demo I had see of Michael Strong the designer of 'silver linings'. It opens into a shadow box and you can let your creativity do it's job to complete the project. My award was for 'most technical' with 5 catagories in all. I am so sorry I didn't get a photo of all the entries. Kristi Dricoll, Sandy Brathwood Claire Walz, Janet Kohr and Bonnie Boyd who also won trophies for their winning entries.

South Florida Cricuteers in Paradise

Here is the fun group of ladies (and two men) I had the pleasure of spending time with this past weekend in Punta Gorda. A few smiling faces are missing from the photo because it was so hard keeping everyone inside and not running to Michaels or Joanns with store coupons..I think I heard someone say they even went to ACMoore..That sweet lady holding our sign is Olga. At 96 years old, she was so getting into the cardmaking and...it was her first time. God Bless her and what a great inspiration for someone her age.

I'm on the team at Cuttlebug Challenge

I have some 'tooting' to do!!!..I was asked to be on the Design Team at www.cuttlebugchallenge.blogspot.com/. What a sweet and pleasant surprise to be asked to join such talented ladies whose work I am in awe of. I am so inspired by their work and hope others will be inspired by what I have to share. Check there often to see and take part in the many challenges that the Design Team has put together.