Spring of a different color is just as sweet!

Hello my Doodlebugs friends!  I hope Spring is treating you well and your world is full of the fresh colors of Springtime!  If you live in my neck o' the woods, Spring is a little behind [at least it was at the time of this writing] but no worries!  I have such a love of neutrals I'm just as happy to share that with you today!

Ready?  I have a flurry of 'flutterbys' for you so I'm getting right to it!

I should start by telling you that I've hot foiled my Pinkfresh Small Butterflies with 

white Spellbinders foil! Yes, white!  I love how it looks over this kraft cardstock!

My card base is pale grey and embossed using Altenew's Beautiful Bergenia folder.

This wonderful sentiment is one from Altenew's Versatile Greetings die set which includes both the shadow and upper layer of each word in the set. Today, I cut

one thanks and friend from both kraft and white, then used the top layer to create and outline die cut!

Pretty cute, huh?

My next card shows the sentiment as Altenew intended it to be used.

A few butterflies fluttering around in a circle looks right at home over another one

that I've embossed with that Bergenia folder again.

One last card with the Bergenia folder and a tiny tag from Honey Bee Stamps:

Before I leave you to your weekend plans, here is another use of that white foil - this time on a deep charcoal cardstock... and my favorite Pinkfresh Songbirds on Branches foil plate and dies.

I never would have imagined white foil - but I love the look, and the matte finish of the foil!

Okay, that's it for me today - that sentiment says it all - you are all such a blessing in my life!

=] Michele

Links to products used or recommended are listed below:  

A friendly floral garden and adorable honey bee using Concord & 9th products

I hope spring has arrived for you!  At the time I'm writing this, it still hasn't quite arrived here in the PNW.  Die cut flowers and bees are the closest I'm going to get to spring today.

This sweet card was quick and easy to create and assemble.  I cut and assembled the flowers and bees from the Friendly Florals die from Concord and 9th.

I created the striped background using the Simple Stripes Diagonal die from Lawn Fawn and finished the edge with the frame that is included in the Fancy Cake die from Pretty Pink Posh.
 

 

 

The "just because" sentiment was stamped and cut from the Blended Petals stamp and die from Concord and 9th.  After stamping, I die cut a few extra pieces from white cardstock and layered the stamped sentiment on top for some added dimension.

I finished the bee with a bit of glitter glue.

Thanks for stopping by!  Hope you enjoyed the card.

 Cathy

Links to products used or recommended are listed below:  

Fancy cake birthday shaker card

I'm back with a fun, a shaker, birthday card using the Fancy Cake die from Pretty Pink Posh.  I added lots of new embellishments from Trinity Stamps to the shop and had to play with the Stained Glass Confetti Mix.  It's perfect for a birthday celebration.

 

 

As I usually do, I did all my die-cutting first.  Actually, I cut quite a few of these cakes, and all the extra pieces.  (you'll be seeing them in future blog posts) Then I spent some time assembling them.  This helps my creative process.  When I sit down to make my cards, I have numerous cakes, in different colors to choose from.  This one seemed perfect for the shaker card I had in mind.

The frame that comes with the Fancy Cake die is perfect for creating a shaker window.  I cut several of the frames, stacked them up, added a piece of acetate, and then finished with one last frame over the acetate.  

I added my confetti to the top of the card and then secured the acetate, frame window over the top.  I added my cake and a sentiment I had on hand from the Birthday Unboxing Hot Foil plate.  Last time I used that hot foil plate I made a few extras.  I knew they'd come in handy at a time when I didn't want to get out all my hot foil products.

Hope you enjoyed this project and you're inspired to get creative.

Links to products used or recommended are listed below:  

Warm weather brings warm [colored] Concord & 9th Flowers

It's April 21st and by now I'd hope our weather has turned a corner - but one never knows!  No matter what the weather, warm colored blooms are always just the ticket to warm our attitudes, right?

Michele here today, and I've dusted off my Prismacolor pencils for a lovely image from Concord & 9th:  Blended Petals.  This set comes with just one image and many sentiments to suit my needs.  I stamped the florals onto a panel of pencil-friendly paper like this one from Strathmore.  It has a nice 'tooth' that will grab the pencil coloring but allow for layers of color to be added a bit at a time - so important for blending colors for highlights and shadows.

Ready for my finished project?

After all the coloring was complete, I used the coordinating die to partial-cut

the floral image - adding foam just under that cut edge to lift it.

This sentiment is just one of those in the set that fits on the fun label die in the set!

I can't wait to watercolor this image - AND Copic color it, too!

Thanks for stopping by today!  I hope I've inspired you to try colored pencils - just take your time, and plenty of breaks, too - there is a certain muscle in my arm that really got a workout!  OH! If pencil coloring isn't your thing, there is a gorgeous set of coloring stencils available!

=] Michele

Links to products used or recommended are listed below:  

A birthday celebration with the Pretty Pink Posh Fancy Cake die

A GREAT cake die is a must!  I love this one!  Use it as intended with a single scallop top and the middle layer of frosting, or change it up with multiple scallop layers.  I've even made it taller, by adding more layers.  You can cut off the candles and add some flowers for a wedding or shower cake.  It's definitely a favorite of mine.

So, I decided to use it for my FREE Download Project this month.  I created a quick and easy card with a downloadable instruction sheet.  The project and instructions are great for getting together with friends for a crafty event or if you're just having trouble getting inspired.

You'll find all the details for creating this card in our Printable PDF Project Sheet.  It's FREE.  The link will take you to the website where you can download the instruction sheet.  Add it to your cart, check out, and start creating.

 

Links to products used or recommended are listed below:   

It's gonna be a bright, bright sun-shine-y card!

Hello my Doodlebugs friends!  It's Michele here bringing you some bright blooms - I can only hope you have a sunshine-y day to match!

I recently added this wonderful Altenew Sulfur Cosmos layering die set to my ever-growing collection - it was love at first play for me!  Instead of starting out with white cardstock, I chose a pale yellow, and medium green then added a bit of blended ink to bump up the colors.  Like this:

It's always good to follow the guide that Altenew is kind enough to include in their packaging, and online.  I love their keyhole, and arrow guides - each numbered and really easy to stack!  After figuring out which dies go together, here is how I store them for ease of use the next time:

You will NOT find a stem die included in the set - easily remedied by cutting a slim strip of the same green cardstock and arranging accordingly.  But seriously, the set is perfect without it!

Don't they look adorable on this Pinkfresh Daisy Chain cover panel?  I had so much eyelet in my wardrobe in my teens - did you?  

You might see that my petals have been popped up here and there to give them a more realistic look and I'm sure you've noticed I've used that wonderful Waffle Flower Craft Hello Friend again - I have a little stash ready to go whenever I need one! 

Happy weekend everyone!

=] Michele

 Links to products used or recommended are listed below:  

Put your tulips together and whistle!

If you have arrived here from my personal blog, thank you, and welcome!  Michele here again today - it's Friday, after all!  I'm going to jump right in today because I happen to be showcasing my all-time most favorite flower of all... tulips!  

I'm not sure why I'm obsessed with purple these days - clearly I haven't added any new markers since the last time! ha!  But just look at these lovelies from Waffle Flower Crafts, won't you?   There are two clusters in the Layered Tulips set and I'm so happy to have the dies now, too! 

I have a new cover die to share today:  Concord & 9th's Potpourri!

It's a lovely garden in which to plant my tulips, isn't it?  

This sentiment is from Waffle Flower's Hello Friend combo set - there isn't one sentiment in this set that I wouldn't use, and I love the two fonts they've added to each.

Another little smattering of those Pinkfresh jewels and voila!

All that's left is to thank you for stopping in - it is much appreciated!

=] Michele

Links to products used or recommended are listed below:  

Copic Markers

Creating a pop-up garden card with Concord & 9th's Friendly Florals

 Hi friends!  I'm still busy making flowers hoping it will bring some spring weather.  If I can't have flowers in the garden, I'm sure going to have them on my cards.  Something you may not know about me....my second favorite hobby is gardening.

For this card I was inspired by the lovely Jennifer McGuire.  I used her framework to create a pop-up card.  You'll find the specific instruction for the pop-up portion of the card on her blog or YouTube channel. 

After creating the basic structure I embellished it with the Friendly Florals dies from Concord & 9th.  That long, oval window is also from the Friendly Florals set.  I thought it made the perfect window for those long, lovely flowers.

I did some ink blending for the background and then sprayed it with the Iridescent Shimmer Spray from Altenew.  I cut and layered the flowers, added a bit of shading with my copic markers and added them to the window.

My favorite part are those cute little bees.  Aren't they sweet?  I added some glitter glue to their wings for some added sparkle.

Hope you enjoyed my project today.  Thanks for stopping by!

Cathy

Links to products used or recommended are listed below:  

Creating fun, rectangle borders with the Combo Rectangle from Mama Elephant

I'm sharing a quick and easy card today using one of my favorite dies, the Rectangle Combo from Mama Elephant.  I love how easy it is to create a custom, two color scallop frame or mat with this die. I feel like it adds just enough to jazz up the simplest of cards.

I colored this sweet, little bear from Mama Elephant's To My Dearest stamp set, with my Copic Markers.  Instead of cutting him out, I used a stitched rectangle die to frame him and then layered everything up on the front of the card.
 

 

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you're inspired to get crafty soon.

Cathy

Links to products used or recommended are listed below:   

Copic Markers