Cut, Paste, Glue! Glitter 'n Paper too!

I spent a few wonderful hours in my studio today...

Do you remember making Valentine cards as a kid? I certainly do!!

It was so much fun to pick out the perfect one for the teacher & then another for that special someone!! I decided to transport myself back to a simpler time today, channel my inner child & get crafty with my Valentines this year!

{If get one of these in the mail & you're reading this: sorry for the spoiler!! XOXO}

Since Maggie can't really read yet {& she visits iCarly.com more than our blog!}, I can tell you all that I made the one above for her, because she is my Sweet Valentine after all!! {I already have a special bear & some goodies hidden away for her!!}

I can't tell you who's getting these two...the tag is actually a card though, so I didn't want to put any fibers in the hole like I usually would because it would be hard to open!

{images from same collage sheet as above}

Last, is this "smoldering" romantic card!

And you guessed it! It's for the hubby!!

You may recognize the image - I used it on my Bingo swap cards I posted the other day.

{You can see that post here.}

One of the things I like best about working with COLLAGE SHEETS is the instant gratification when I order them!

Meaning, I only have to wait for an email & not snail mail, before I get to play with them!

So, if you are in the Valentine card-making mood, be sure to check out what's available to spark your creativity over at Altered Pages!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

All the card bases are CHEAP packs from the $1 bins at Michael's!

All images: Altered Pages

Papers:

  Polka dots: Glitz; Music: The Paper Studio

Bingo Card - K & Co.

Paper Doilie - Michael's

Inks & Glimmer Mists in reds & pinks; Distress Crackle Paint in Antique Brass

Netting & lace trim: Glitz

Tinsel trim: Ashland Signature Accents (Michael's)
Various found objects - bingo number, heart-flower pick from my stash

"How Do I Love Thee" - a collage

Here's the collage I was telling you a little about yesterday!

(If you want to know a little bit more about the FANASTIC-K SILLY tool I used yesterday, click here to see the full post on the Altered Pages blog!)

(image from AP "Young Lovers I" collage sheet)

I used a 12x12 panel board "canvas" to collage various papers (most from my stash, but a couple from the Glitz collections), paint, modeling paste (for texture), & ink.

 

 I LOVED working on this panel board (Michaels for like $15 w/o a coupon!) for collaging because it's HARD instead of soft like an actual canvas!! It made adhering the papers so much easier! Not to mention that when I stamped, the ENTIRE image would imprint & not just in the area that's the firmest! (I am thinking of getting a couple more & turning them around to use the INSIDE like a shadow box!!)

I like to collage, but sometimes I find it rather intimidating! You really just have to let go & not worry about where the paper, paints & inks land! You can always cover up what you don't like!! (Although, the pink "LOVE blob" was a mistake, but it's growing on me!) 

How about you? Do you find collaging easy or hard?

I would love to hear about it & what techniques you use to get the look you want!!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Getting Crafty!

I blogged a little bit more about this over on My Laughing Magpie, but I just wanted to share with you all here the tag sets I created today! I was lucky enough to spend most of the day, alone, in my studio creating...all available now in our Etsy shop!

Message in a Bottle set of 3

The Journey is the Reward set of 3

Gotta Have Vision set of 3

Wonderful You set of 3

Cupid's Arrow set of 6

And, because I have spent so much time online over the weekend, I have TONS of ideas for more fun stuff as well as 2 FABULOUS new stamp sets coming in the mail to play with!!! Oooooooo, I can't wait to show you more!!! Now, I just have to find the time!!

TTFN!!

- Becky

CC&M January Blog Hop - Valentine Ideas

Hello everyone & welcome to the first Creative Cuts & More Blog Hop of the New Year!!!

We are all super excited to share our Valentine ideas using the amazing dies available through CC&M!

Hopefully you are joining me from Chris Dickinson's blog (doesn't she do wonderful work?!), but if not, you will want to begin at the beginning - the Die Cut Diva blog - so that you don't miss any of the ideas our talented design team has to present to you today!!!

Now, let's get started...It's Kim here this month, & I actually have two projects to share with you today! The first being a fun black VELVET tag (Large Tag #5) to attach to a gift or goodie bag, in this case!

This large tag is great because it has lots of room to add embellishments! To give you an idea, it measures 3 7/8" x 5"!!

You can have CC&M cut as many as you want in a number of paper options starting at only $0.35 each!!

I added some fun stickers from the Echo Park's "Be Mine" line, added the little stamped key to the fibers & behind this tag is another for me to write a little message on...

Next, I made this sweet little Heart Box cut from the Azalea Stardream Metallic cardstock!

 The box even comes with acetate to place on the inside of the heart window & is super easy to put together! Especially if you have some Killer Tape on hand!! (CC&M has the best prices!!)

I stamped & embossed the word "Adore" on white cardstock to adhere to the front & found some fun Grungeboard Wings by Tim Holtz that I also embossed.

Inside, I stamped & embossed in silver the little "lollipop tree" & then added/popped a little stamped/embossed hear to it.

 I adhered all that to the inside of the box covered in the fun EP polka dot paper! Now all I have to do is add some treats for that special someone!

Creative Cuts & More has some great boxes, cards & tons of "love-related" dies to choose from, so be sure to stop in there when you're done hopping to pick up your supplies for all your Valentines!!

Now it's time to hop on over to Robin Parker's blog - she's our super talented Guest Designer this month!!

Valentines!

Just another quick note here to draw your attention to the Creative Cuts & More blog - Die Cut Diva where the talented ladies of the DT for CC&M will be showing lots of Valentine ideas all month! Especially for our monthly hop on Jan. 19th! Don't miss out on the fun!