Hazel did a fabulous job on her pretty tri-fold card.

On to the new challenge. This time we want to see you making anything but a card. Here is your inspiration board.

And here are some great inspiration pieces from the design team.

We’ll start with Denise, and her beautiful scrapbook page. She has used the Grunge Neutrals paper pack by Delightfully Distressing Designs.

Next up is Brook with her adorable 3×3 notepad holder. That pretty butterfly is from the Butterfly Bliss set by Delightfully Distressing Designs.

Mary Ellen has created a fabulous necklace using City Smash Stamps by LilyPink Designs. I want one!

Finally, I used Bingo Dress Form & Wings by LilyPink Designs for my altered box.

I was able to use a beautiful neutral background paper from Delightfully Distressing Designs for use in the journaling section.  I really like that so it doesn’t take away from the journaling.  This pack of Grunge Neutral papers is so versatile…check them out!

Hope you find some time to craft today!

Smiles,

Denise

We made it through another week!!! Allergy season is in full swing here in Chicagoland, and there is plenty of snorting to go around, and it’s not just Latte (the Pug) this time.  Today, KiniArt has some images to get you ready for the summertime with a fun line of Summer Spaniel images.  But first, we have added a NEW way to shop in the store – you can now shop by artist, so if you have a favorite, you can see all of their images in one spot.  Never fear – the other filters are still available!

Ok, now let’s see the adorable Spaniels that KiniArt has for us today…

Today’s line is based around this adorable Summer Spaniel image:

Summer Spaniel has teamed up with a kitty pal for some Kitty Love:

This one is a set of 2 images – Summer Spaniel + the adoring kitty to layer together to create the image above.

Next up, Summer Spaniel has taken to the sidelines with some cheers for you in Cheerleading Spaniel:

And finally, Summer Spaniel is going to help you catch some Flutterbies:

You see how versatile this little image can be and how many different ways you can easily color it!  I’m hoping for more in the Summer Spaniel series, but who knows what KiniArt has up her sleeve!

Before you go, did you notice that we have two NEW paint products in the store???  There are two fabulous NEW lines from Tattered Angels – Plain Jane Stained Glass (that is anything but plain!) and High Impact Metallic Mixed Media.

Here’s a sample of the Plain Jane Stained Glass (this is the Aqua color):

There are 4 colors available in this fun medium – Aqua, Hot Pink, Lavender, and Lime.

There are 2 colors available for the High Impact Metallic – Platinum and White, both of which are opaque with a fabulous metallic shine, although these pictures sure don’t display the luster:

Don’t forget about our birthday flowers challenge going on now:

I have a quick CAS card to share today using To Go Cup. All I added to the card was a circle of green card, a sentiment stamp and some faux stitching.

When I saw this image I thought it would be perfect for personalising cards by adding names like you see on takeout cups. Everyone loves to see their name on things, and I feel it makes handmade cards just that little bit more special if they are personalised.

Coffee images are so versatile too, and I love that this one is left blank so you can decorate it however you want.

Don’t forget to check out our latest fun challenge.

How about that gorgeous number from Teresa??!!  Congrats, lady, and thanks for playing along with us!

It’s my birthday, so I’ll do what I want to, do what I want to, do what I want to…  hee hee…. I think Mynnette chose some fabulous inspiration for her birthday:

How fun are those??!!  Let’s see what the design team did with these fun inspiration photos…

First up is the birthday girl using Rose Flower by KiniArt, Buttercup Liquid Pearls, & Good Friends by Hero Arts:

What an absolutely gorgeous birthday card!!!

Next up is Kathy using Script Flowers by LilyPink Designs:

Don’t you just LOVE the colors she used??!!!

Next up is Brook, who also used Script Flowers, but the end result was totally different… I LOVE that!

This stamp makes a fabulous focal point on a quick and easy card!

Next up is Emkay, who made this adorable number using Penelope by LilyPink Designs:

That banner is just too much fun behind that purple polka dotted elephant!

Emkay thought Penelope wasn’t “birthday enough”, so she added a little more birthday love with Celebrate with Cake by A Creative Need:

I love the simple coloring of this – so quick, just absolutely fabulous!  By the way, Emkay, Penelope was just fabulous, too!

Next up is Mary Ellen, who put Betty Edwards’ Busy Bee in an adorable polaroid-looking frame:

Sponging is so an art, and I am eternally jealous of those who can do it properly!  LOVE IT!

And last, but certainly not least, we have Denise who created a fabulous layout (as usual!) using Green Goddess Creations’ Birthday Bash mini kit:

Oh, to be 18 again… I absolutely LOVE the fun colors of this that remind me of the fun and carefree days of being 18… thanks for the trip down memory lane!

How will the inspiration photos move you?  I hope you join us to celebrate Mynnette’s birthday, and don’t forget to drop her some birthday love on her Blog – On a Stampage.

You can link up your birthday flower wonders here; we can’t wait to see what you create!

Today is the first Friday of May – WOW!  If you haven’t been by the store lately, you’ve missed a BUNCH of new products added, to include 3 more Brag Book color options.  Before we get there, though, A Creative Need has three FUN new images for you today, so let’s check them out…

Today, we are taking a trip down memory lane with this Retro Phone:

Oh, but wait, that’s not all!  How about the whole package with the Retro Phone Table:

I so remember a table like this in my Grandmother’s house, complete with the rotary phone.  She used to let the grand kids play with it because it wasn’t hooked up any longer. I used to LOVE playing “office” at this table!  Oh, what FUN memories that I had totally forgotten until seeing this wondering image!

And we come back to a timeless classic with this Martinis & Shaker image:

Shaken, not stirred, of course!

Which image is your favorite???  Oh, this will be a tough one for me to pick today!  While you’re deciding, how about I throw some non-digital items your way….

Boxes have been showing up like it’s my birthday, as the rest of my CHA orders are finally coming in. We have new things from 7 Gypsies, Canvas Corp, Fancy Pants Designs, and Silhouette America.

As I have already alluded to, we have 3 new color options for the already fabulous (& best selling) Artist Edition Brag Book from Fancy Pants Designs – Navy, Red, & Sand:

I love how each one is just a little bit different to give it that little bit of “extra”.

From 7 Gypsies, there are 3 sets of small file folders in 3 different sizes that all feel like “real” file folders – Mini, ATC, & Manila:

We also added a FUN background stamp called World Travel Words:

And finally, we added a white option to the Solo Shadow Box Tray:

From Silhouette America, we added some FUN new printables and rhinestones!

The item I have been stalking has been this Chipboard, which I am SUPER excited to use this weekend, as I make a scrapbook kit to give with a Brag Book to a friend who is expecting a baby.  This Chipboard is fabulous value – 25 sheets of 12×12 chipboard that will cut in your Silhouette is only $9!

My next stalker item is the Printable Clear Sticker paper. Oh yes, that’s right!!!!

I cannot WAIT to play with this!!!

And finally, from Silhouette, we have added Rhinestones and the Rhinestone Kit.  There are 4 color set options for the Rhinestones, and I’ve been searching through my house for stuff to bling up. Latte wasn’t too receptive to the idea, so she’s out.  What will you add some sparkle to???

And now for the grand finale, the FUN stuff from Canvas Corp!!! I had been not-so-patiently waiting on this order to come, so that I could ship a piece of it off to the artist to create our first mixed media hybrid kit.  I’ve decided to keep you in suspense on what item that is and not put it in the store until the kit debuts.  I know, I know – I’m mean!  But, I think these fun products will keep you busy until then…

First up are 3 new canvas sizes.  We have an 8×10 Chunky Natural Canvas:

We also have 4×4 in Natural Canvas and Burlap:

Next up are 4 different options for Tags with Twine, which all come in sets of 10 - Kraft Skinny, Kraft Triangle, Speckled Scallop, & Zebra Skinny.  Oh yes, I said zebra!!!

We have added 4 more Mini Shapes to bring up to 7 different options, all of which come in sets of 3 – Canvas Pockets, Canvas Squares, Denim Triangles, and White Canvas Triangles:

Let’s let it hang loose with this next item – Canvas Fringe:

How much FUN will that be to use on a project????!!!!  Talking about fun, how about adding a tiny chalkboard to your project with these Chalkstock ATCs:

We aren’t done yet!  We have also added two new canvas scrapbooks – one that ties with a cord (called Canvas Stitched Book) and one that has a thick cardboard spine (called Canvas Stitched Scrapbook):

And last, but certainly not least, we have added a Canvas Wine Sac:

OH YES!!!!

Tomorrow is International Scrapbook Day, so what do you have planned??? Drop us a line and let us know!  We’d love to see what you are making, even if it’s not using C.Y.D.I? products, but you KNOW we’d love it if you did!  I will be making a scrapbook for my friend to celebrate the birth of her 3rd child due towards the end of the summer and will post pictures of my “kit” for you.  If you’re looking for inspiration for tomorrow’s celebration, how about making something for our current challenge? Nathalia has a fabulous sketch that can be used for card or scrapbook page.  Don’t forget, there is a PhotoShop template available as a freebie for this challenge, as well, so get it before it’s no longer free!

First up is Helen with this GORGEOUS tag:

And we can’t go without mentioning Dee’s amazing butterfly:

So, I said Nathalia had something up her sleeve for today’s inspiration, so without further ado, I give you today’s inspiration image:

Oh, yes, that’s right!  It’s a SKETCH!  After all, a sketch is just an inspirational photo.  To help make it even easier for you,  I have a Scalloped Card Template (for PhotoShop or PhotoShop Elements) that will be free during the length of the sketch.

Now, let’s see what our design team did with this fun sketch…

First up is Emkay, who used the adorable Heart Ears Pup by KiniArt:

Don’t you just love the black and white?!!??!!

Next up is Kathy whose coloring on A Creative Need’s Jars of Flowers is just sublime!

Is that an inside decoration I spy too?

Next up is Mary Ellen with TWO cards.  Her first uses my Button Card:

Her husband said it didn’t remind him of the sketch, so she made another card, but what does he know??!! I think it’s absolutely adorable, and after all, a sketch is just inspiration!

I’m glad she decided to make another card because look at this one that uses LilyPink Designs’ Love Tags:

SO FUN!

Next up we have Lelia with an ADORABLE owl, sentiment, & digi brads from Green Goddess Creations’ Love You Owl Ways element pack. She also used the coordinating Love You Owl Ways paper pack:

Oh how I <3 this little owl!!!!

Brook is setting sail with Emma & Edward at Sea in her gorgeous card:

Don’t you just LOVE those colors???

Hold on to your eyes because they are about to pop out with this AMAZING layout by Denise with LilyPink Designs’ Traveling Luggage for that little bit of “umph” (not that it needs it at all):

The view is just breath-taking! WOW!

Ok, now that you’ve recovered, check out Mynnette’s FUN card with a TON of digi goodies – Butterfly Bliss paper pack by Delightfully Distressing Designs, Pretty Polka Dots Washi Tape by Green Goddess Creations, Key Background by LilyPink Designs, and my Gingham Brads (currently a freebie, but hurry!):

And last, but certainly not least, is Nathalia with this FUN card using the Scalloped Card Template, Green Goddess Creations’ So Berry… Sweet paper pack, and the camera from AnnieJDesigns’ Photography A set:

We hope you’ve enjoyed the inspiration by the design team, and as you can see – the sketch can go a million different directions!  ENJOY!

It’s finally Friday, but wow was this a TOUGH week!  Our hearts go out to those who witnessed the horrible tragedy in Boston, as well as the families of those who were so seriously injured.  There is a charity that has been established called The One Fund, and very soon we will have images here that will benefit this charity aimed at helping those most affected by this tragedy.  Adidas has a few t-shirts that will benefit this charity, as they were the official race sponsor.

Today, LilyPink Designs has a few fun images to hopefully take your mind off of this and on to more fun items…

First up, we have two fun Watering Can images, with and without a fun gardening quote:

Next up, we have two fun frames – one Square, and one Flower that will make quick cards by themselves, or make fabulous scrapbook page embellishments:

And last, but certainly not least, we have two fun tags to take with you on a fabulous voyage, or scrapbook it when you get back, or just wish someone well on their way off, one Railway and one Cruise Ship:

Be sure to check out Leslie’s latest tutorial to use bottle caps – SO FUN!  There are links to all of our tutorials in the right-hand columns, so you can check out any of our tutorials you may have missed or want to re-read.

There’s still time to get your project entered in our current challenge – Butterflies:

I don’t usually do 3D because I only make cards, so I challenged myself to use the tiny bottle caps on a card, and I’m happy to report my idea actually worked as I’d hoped it would. Let’s get started!

Here is the finished card so you can see where we’re going:

I used the bottle caps as the flowers. The supplies I used for the card are:

Glossy Accents or another good liquid glue, a 1/2″ circle punch, some 1/2″ bottle caps and some 1/2″ epoxy dots. You will also need some pretty paper scraps.

First I used the 1/2″ circle punch to punch out some circles to use in the caps for the flower’s centers, then I started playing with the card front. I had to figure out where I wanted the flowers to be:

Here I have one of the centers inside a cap and the other two circles are just for placement. You can see a circle die to the right that I’ll use in a minute to cut the circles in the yellow paper. You could also use a circle punch if yours reaches far enough (mine did not). My circle die is the smallest of the Nestabilities circles, and is just under 3/4″.

I made a pencil mark under each flower center so I’d know where to cut:

then I went to the Big Shot to cut out the circles, using the pencil dots to center the die:

Sorry about the lighting – it’s different at the Big Shot station than it is on my desk.

After the circles were cut, I added some green pieces for stems and grass:

Then I put dimensional adhesive all over the back of the yellow layer, making sure to add some around the holes so there was no saggage:

and stuck it down to a white panel. This gave the layer some height to nestle the bottle caps into:

Now, about those bottle caps (finally, I know!). Here’s how I assembled them.  First, put a drop of glue into the center of the cap:

Then add the paper circle:

(This is really tough, right?) Make sure to squish it around a little to spread the glue. Last step is to add one of the epoxy circle dots:

Just peel it off the package and stick it on. So easy!

Then I put the three bottle caps with their centers inside the die-cut panel:

I was not pleased. They stuck up too far above their little nests, so I had to flatten them a bit. Here’s how I did it.

Please note: I’m using a Big Shot, but there are video tutorials out in the Interwebz that show you how to do this with a Cuttlebug, and also how to do it with a pair of pliers.

First I opened the platform so there were no tabs. Or should I say I took off all the layers of tabs until it was just the base of the platform. Then I put down one cutting plate and put the bottle caps on it:

Note: I use one plate for (mostly) cutting and one for the top plate so the paper isn’t marred by all the cut marks. For this project I put the smoother of the two plates on the bottom, and put the bottle caps with the open edge up. Then I put my ugly cutting plate on top:

Since I’d practiced this a few times to figure out the sandwich, I knew I’d probably embed the caps into the plate, so I wanted the ugly one on top.

I rolled them through and they came out a bit flatter. Here they are in the card front again:

See how much better they nestle?

Then I noticed the backs of the caps were a bit concave:

so I used a piece of dimensional adhesive to fill it in:

and then stuck them into their nests.

Done!

Wow, that was looong, but I’m a visual learner, so I wanted to include as much detail as I could.

Ready for something else? I have a few projects with some 1″ bottle caps. First, I made a magnet with an American flag cap:

You’ll notice it looks a bit different than a regular cap. That’s because I flattened it real good! I used the same steps as above, starting (from the bottom up) with the platform with one cutting plate:

Here the cap is front-up so you can see it, then I flipped it over:

and added the top cutting plate. Here is the sandwich again from a side view:

From bottom up: Platform all the way open, cutting plate, bottle cap with the opening up, top cutting plate. Run that through and you’ll get this:

Even though I used the same steps as above, the materials must be a little different in the larger caps, because they flattened out a lot.

When I turned it over, I liked it just as it was:

so all I did was glue a magnet onto the back. You add a drop of glue:

then the magnet:

and you’re done!

This was so easy I made a few more. The supplies are about the same as for the smaller cap:

But I used a 1″ circle punch for these, and 1″ epoxy dots.

I started with an aqua cap, flattened it like I did with the flag cap:

and punched out a circle from a pretty paper scrap:

I glued the circle to the top of the cap this time, and I also did another one with some dotted paper:

I used one of the 1″ epoxy dots for the center of the dotted cap:

I tried to cover the other one with Glossy Accents, and well, let’s just say in my world the epoxy dots are a better option. Less mess and no drying time. But if YOU like to play with Glossy Accents, there are a ton of projects out there in the wild you can try. I’ve linked to a few on my Pinterest Bottle Cap Projects board.

This one turned into a magnet, too. I also made another one with some pretty shiny paper I had no idea how to use, and now I do:

Pretty, huh? For this one I used the inside of the cap. I glued down the piece of pretty paper, then added the epoxy dot to it.

Okay, ONE MORE. I made some ornaments:

For the one on the left, I just used a circle cut from some glitter paper and added a Christmas epoxy circle I got in a dollar bin forever ago. For the one on the right I used a 1″ circle cut from a piece of Christmas paper scrap and put an epoxy dot on top of it.

You’ll notice both of these have a hanger, which means I punched a hole in them. I DID! I used the smaller of the two hole punches on my Crop-A-Dile to bend the edge of the cap back a little, then punched a hole. I just threaded some gold cord through the hole and tied it.

Note: You want to punch the hole before you add the epoxy dot in the center. Ask me how I know.

I did not flatten these two caps. The decorations are nestled inside the cap.

You know what else you can do with these? Necklaces! Use the same idea as these ornaments and just make the tie longer so you can wear it around your neck. You’ll probably want to use a jump ring through the hole to hold the ribbon or cord.

Okay, I AM DONE, finally!

I hope I’ve given you a few ideas of how you can use these fun bottle caps. They come in all sorts of colors and patterns, so the possibilities are endless. Do check out my Pinterest board, and you can also search Pinterest for Bottle Cap or Bottle Cap Crafts and you’ll find a ton of other ideas.

Thanks for reading, and if you have any questions, please ask in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer you.

Because we had so many entries, we picked a second card – this gorgeous thing from Adrienne:

If that doesn’t get you in the spring mode, then Kathy’s inspiration photos sure will….

Talk about some GORGEOUS creatures!  Here’s how the designers were inspired…

First up is Kathy, and I can just see her butterflies dancing around. She used Delightfully Distressing Designs’ Butterfly Bliss stamps:

Next up is Mynnette, who used the same stamps flat on the card, but you can still see them dance with her sparkles (click on the image to make it bigger to see the sparkles:

Next up is Emkay, and she used Carla’s Creatures’ Butterfly Kisses stamp to make her adorable creation. Don’t you just want to hug that lovable mutt???

Denise made a gorgeous scrapbook layout using LilyPink Designs’ Flights of Fancy for her wings:

Brook used Butterfly Bliss, but took it in a totally different direction to create this beauty that totally screams Spring:

And last, but certainly not least, we have Mary Ellen with these fabulously bright colors also using the Butterfly Bliss stamp set:

There are several Butterfly items in the store, and you can see some of them HERE, in case you don’t have any butterflies to play along with us.

Link up your projects for a chance to win!