Farewell is not Goodbye

Farewell to one of the founders of the modern Die Cut Divas' challenge blog, Paula Laird.  Paula has a lot going on at this time in her life and she may wish to jump back into her Diva spot at another time.

I almost feel like Paula is getting on a train riding out to a brand new land, but hoping she'll stop back in every once in awhile.  I'll miss her on the blog, but hope to keep her friendship alive with snail mail... (yes, snail mail is so much fun) and emails.   Here is the "Thank you" card I sent out to her. 

 To sweet Paula.

I'm going to sorely miss her.on the blog.

Your's truly, Arlene

Visit Die Cut Divas for our GUEST for April!

I won't tell, but you'll love her!

Meanwhile I'm adding a new card made with a brand new die - Katie Label Pivot Card die.

 The Bugaboo image, I bought last year in July.    I stamped an old Hero Arts snowflake stamp all over the background of this card to add a little interest.

Inside of the card when the cut-out portions pivot inward from the front and back.

Close-up of the front label turning inside.

Close-up of the back label turning inside.

Lots of Layers!

I bought a couple of new dies and here's a Christmas Card I made with them.

All new dies here, at least for me.  One Stamp here.

Recipe:

Hero Arts Holiday Sayings  CL343

Red Tissue Box

Spellbinders Wrought Iron

Dee's Distinctively a cut above TREE die-cut

Cheery Lynn die -Window

Stickles

Pearls

I'm entering this in A Blog Named Hero Layer Cake challenge - add LAYERS!

Happy Birthday to Marcy

I had just finished making this birthday card and found out it was Marcy's birthday so I sent it right out last weekend.   Marcy has probably received her card so I'm posting it now with a second Happy Birthday wish. Here's hoping all your birthdays will turn out like this one.  I spotted Marcy's reply on the Hero Arts Flickr threads that herr birthday was quite magical.

Here's to magic, birthday magic.

I didn't think I'd be using this birthday image very soon, but she went out the day after I made this long oval card.  It still fits in an A2 envelope without a problem, the the next oval up would not have.

Recipe:

Bugaboo digital image - Fancy Sunbonnet Cake

Oval dies - QuicKutz Cutting Dies - nesting ovals

Happy Birthday - Elizabeth Craft Designs Dies

Stickles

Copic markers

What was I Drinking?

 I'm posting two cards today.  The first one makes me wonder, that's it, just makes me wonder....  Obviously something green is giving the patient butterfly effects.  A great gag card.  I think she's fun and her face just says it all.   The digitals are all from Bugaboo Digi Stamps.

Close-up

Second card is for those coffee lovers. 

 I definitely think this is fun coffee humor for that person who MUST have their first cup of coffee.

Close-up

Hope you liked the fun cards today!

My trips to the Convention

My trips to the Convention - yes, more than one trip - I went both days to the Sacramento Stamp Convention over the 12th and 13th.  I have a couple photos from the convention to share as well as a surprise Christmas tree and bicycle.  Don't skip the bicycle!

Lots of things to buy.

Photo of the demonstrator where I bought some goodies.  She's showing us fun foam she's going to use on the back of one of the butterflies.

 AND here is my first die-cut Coke Can made into a Xmas tree

 Here is my Coke men's bicycle - DON'T you just LOVE it!

Here are my die-cut Xmas trees cut from Tissue Boxes

Arlene and the Die Cut Divas

Ladybug, Ladybug, Am I seeing Double?

Bugaboo has crazy stamps and then there are some just charming stamps that make me just sit back and bask in the the lovely glow of sweet satisfaction.  Check out the challenge at Die Cut Divas.

I really loved the way these two cards turned out, very similar images.  I couldn't decide which card to lead off with, but I eventually chose the single flower.  Color just brings out the the flower and little ladybug.  I know the lady's head is red, but I think she's in love with the flower - artistic license, you know.

Dollar Flower Bug

Close-up

Cuttlebug

QuicKutz Cutting Dies

Copic markers

Scene it - Ladybugs

I just love the colors here.  It really turned out much better than I was even hoping.  I was focusing on one thing at a time here and  ended up with this card and I love it.  I hope you don't mind my open mouth and look of wonder on my face.

 Close-up

 

Copic Markers used

Colored panel cut to fit note card

Hero Arts Enjoy Today (CL759) - sentiment

No die-cut or embossing done on second card

I just loved the images and the colors just flew to my hands.  Hope you like these.  Enjoy the spring.

I'm going to enter the Bugaboo Challenge here too.

Stamp Convention April 12 - April 13, 2014

Stamp Convention in Sacramento, California.

I entered the ATC contest with this ATC:

 The Deep - ATC -  Winner 2nd Place

$20.00 to buy from any vendor

 ATC with matte black Dreamweaver Paste

Background was made in a JudiKins class

Painted with PanPastel Pastels

I was going to enter this one (I made the top to exchange with a friend)

I can't find this one.  I swear it was in my purse.  

I splurged on picking up a die.  Woohoo

Are you Fabulous at 40?

This fun image is from our April sponsor at Die Cut Divas.    Ruby Fabulous 40 is just one of the hip, cool, outrageously fun images at Bugaboo Digi Stamps.  I know you can't tell unless you look very closely, but I paper pieced Ruby on top of her flat image to give a little depth to her.

Close-up of Ruby where I think you can tell she's paper pieced on top of the same image. A bit of Glossy Accents for the dress and boots makes her look a bit more fab!

I just had fun with this.  Hope you enjoyed Ruby dropping by.

Twenty Nine Again!

As the sentiment goes, "talk about recycling", how about recycling a tissue box, not the birthday girl!  The panel behind the numbers 2 and 9 is a recycled tissue box.  YES, I'm back to recycling.  I'm finding some great and fun patterns, so I can't help but use one.  

This fun image is from Die Cut Divas' April sponsor, Bugaboo and I loved the sentiment.  Someone must be turning TWENTY-NINE again somewhere!  I'll be ready.  Hope you enjoyed this bit of recycling in your life. 

Closeup of 

If you found this image to be fun, here's where you can find Stella at 29.  I know this would tickle many of my friends.

Come CCC with me to SOS

Join in with friends and visit Society of Stampaholics to exchange cards with other card makers from around the world!   I first got to know Deborah Nolan from the Hero Arts group, one of the nicest stamp communities around.  Deborah established a very successful Card Chain Challenge (CCC) on her own blog and then she successfully took it to a group challenge blog which unfortunately had to close.

NOW, Deborah is working on rebuilding the CCC on her own blog at the Society of Stampaholics.  You have until the 16th of April to join in the group.  Do NOT put the card you are making on the link so your card will be a surprise for the recipient.  I

t's FUN and don't you like to receive a card from someone who knows the labor of love that goes into card making?   Here is the direct link to the CCC post.  Come join the fun with me.  Always something new to create!

Head on over to Hero Arts for a Scramble

It's Scramble Time at Hero Arts at 10:00 a.m. Pacific time.  I'm hosting.  This post will pop up at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time on Saturday.

On the Hero Arts blog
The challenge is to use
1. At least ONE Hero Arts stamp, (may be a digital Hero Arts image) especially for the main image
2. A die-cut OR a punch OR dry embossed panel on your project.
3. At least ONE embellishment (defined  as some type of ornamentation; you can use pearls, sequins, gems, appliqués, beads, brads, buttons, bows, lace, trims, rhinestones, charms, pendants, ribbons, feathers, flowers, gears, or findings
4.  Tag your card using Quickcard81
5.  Link the picture of your card here on this thread - see below

There will be two random winners chosen through a drawing at the end of the scramble. The first winner will receive a little something from me. The second winner will receive a digital prize donated by the amazing Hero Arts! (This winner will just need to email Tami Hartley a message Monday morning letting her know you won and she will take care of you).

I made a few examples using the same Hero Arts clear Butterfly and Flowers stamp set (CL750), matching die set Flower and Butterfly Frame Cut (DI090) and wood block Pattern Stripes (K5884).

Example 1

Pearls are a lady's best friend!

Example 2 

Gems sparkle and shine

Example 3

A gem of a butterfly 

Ready, set, go!

Patches on my Hat!

Yes, Bugaboo Digi Stamps is the Die Cut Divas' sponsor for April, but I love the Fancy Bonnet gals.  I don't know why, but I find them fun.  I start to color and all of a sudden I've completed an image.   I really like the way she turned out.  The background note card is a deep green dabbed with Distress paints in Picket Fence, Salty Ocean and I think the last is Mowed Lawn.  I made this background for another card and absolutely hated it.  But it works here.  Dabber rain?

I sponged on Shabby Shutters Distress Ink for the background on the oval Spellbinders die-cut after coloring with my trusty Copics.

We've just had rain here all week and I feel just like this little gal below, drenched, all bundled up, drops falling on my head in a world of green haze with water between my toes.

Love working with the gals, the Fancy Bonnet Gals. 

Bugaboo Digi Stamps - Fancy SB Umbrella

The sentiment is from Hero Arts Enjoy Today set (CL759) - I'm finding I'm using the messages to this set quite a bit.  I think the sentiment is perfect.

Cuttlebug
Spellbinders Ovals

You Make me Smile

April and a brand new challenge at Die Cut Divas.  Go check out the blog to see samples and challenge rules.  Here is my sample for this month.  I just love the Bugaboo digital images.  They are so fun to color and there's usually something for everyone.  I think the three die-cut circles create a nice design.  Now, go find out what the challenge is!

Close-up - some Glossy Accents dot the centers of each flower.

Hope you enjoyed the card.