Apr 30, 2014

Thinking of You....

Hi, everyone!

Another Wednesday and time for my contribution to the fantastic ideas you were already  able to get from Mikha and Darlene this week.  Today I thought I would stick with something simple.  This idea can be used to create any number of cards by changing the sentiment or adding an image.  The basis for this card is the Spellbinder A2 Fancy Ribbon Threader.  I love this die! The bottom of the die has slots that allow you to weave either your favorite ribbon or matching paper through to create a beautiful backdrop for your card. In my case, I decided to use some gingham ribbon which accented the paper I used for my background.

Often, I will tie a matching bow in the corner, but today I decided to go with a spring flower instead, so I chose the Magnolia Doily Flower die and added a flourish from Memory Box Macarena Corner Flourish to finish it off.  The sentiment is from an old Stampin Up set.

Here is a closeup of the doily flower so you can see the detail better.  These are incredible when cut in white and added against a darker background too! I added a button for the center, but brads, glitter glue or gems work just as well.






I rounded the corners of my card and background designer paper in keeping with the rounded corners on the main die. I also added a flower to the inside to carry the design through.  I left the remainder of the inside blank so I could write a short note.


As I said, it's a simple card, but one you can use for so many different things!  Now I'm sure you are going to want to head on over to the Dies R Us store to check out all the incredible new additions!  We are getting so many new things in you can't keep up with them all!

Don't forget to come back tomorrow & Friday to check out what Robin and Alicia have for you too! And remember that beginning May 1st, you will want to come back to join in all the fun & prizes we will have for the new Dies R Us Challenge Blog!  Ten designers ( 2 teams) and loads of new ideas!  I don't think you will want to miss this!

Until next Wednesday, have a terrific week!  Go create something fun!

Sherri

Apr 29, 2014

Day at the Park . . .

Hello everyone!  Hope you're having a fabulous week so far!
Glad you have stopped by our Inspiration Blog and don't forget ... we have something NEW to share everyday ... Monday through Friday!!  So come back often!


What a fun time I had creating this little scene for you today!  The design paper I have used today is from Graph45 Secret Garden and worked perfectly with some of the new dies I found at the Dies R Us Store!  Did you see?  We have newly released Cheery Lynn Designs as well as the newly released Spellbinders available now ... come check them out!  Such a wonderful selection of companies to pick from ... I'm sure you'll find something you 'just can't live without!'  And, at a great price too ... COME ON OVER and see for yourself!

Today I thought we'd go to the park and sit a spell on this beautiful Spellbinder 'Garden Bench' (S2-085).  And, of course, with warm breezes and sunshine comes that time of year when love is in the air ... as witnessed by this adorable Wild Rose Studio 'Love Bird Tree' (WRS009).  



 
And of course, you can't walk through the park without seeing banners flying and flowers growing.  In 'my park' I have a Poppy Stamps 'Simple Banner' (#836) and Cheery Lynn Designs 'Shasta Daisy' (B310).  These dies make it so easy to create flowers of all types.  You say you've never seen a blue daisy??  Well, you have to come to 'my secret garden' to find them! LOL!


A little distressing and sponging and this card is ready to make someone smile!   I hope I've been able to make you smile today and you're inspired to pop on over to the store to get the dies you need to create your own secret garden.  

Remember, we are open 24/7 and not only are new dies added frequently, but if by chance you find that the die you are desiring is marked as 'out of stock' ... just click on the 'Put Me On The Waiting List' and you'll be notified when it's back in stock for your purchasing pleasure!  AND, we have a wish list available for you too ... come register and check out all the amazing dies available ... $35 (USA) $50 (International) gets you free shipping!  WOW! 

Please stop back again tomorrow when Sherri will have something AMAZING to share and I'll be back with another inspirational creation for you next Tuesday!  Hope your week is to 'die' for!! 

Apr 28, 2014

Simply Elegant Black and White

Hi everybody! It's Mikha :) just want to share a simple card using:

All you need is just put all of them together, and then added some layers.
It's a simple and quick yet gives elegant feels!!

 

Thanks for visiting our blog today :)

We're having new challenge blog opening at May 1st! Don't forget to join our challenge to win great prize!! :)

And also don't forget to visit Dies R Us store! You'll find tons of dies and also get free shipping at purchase over 50$.

xoxo,


Mikha Adriani

Apr 25, 2014

You Are Awesome!

Greetings Dies R Us friends. Happy Anzac Day!

Today I've prepared a quick clean and simple card using some of my standard dies.



This cute little stamp set is 'Cutasaurus' and is from Papersmooches. I've stamped it with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink on Kraft stock and coloured in with Distress Markers. All layers have been edged with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. I've dry embossed a strip of purple cardstock and layered on a Spellbinders Grand Circle die cut and three different sized Spellbinders Label One dies.


A splash of Wink of Stella and some purple rhinestones finish it off and your done!

If you don't already know Dies R Us are starting a challenge blog! Please hop over to our brand new site which will commence on May 1. We are looking forward to sharing more creativity with you and are looking forward to seeing your creativity too!

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to come back next Monday for another week of inspiration from the Dies R Us team.

~  Alicia  ~

NOTE: April 25 was originally to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought at Gallipoli in World War 1. Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance that now commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. Today is the 99th anniversary of Gallipoli campaign. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them.

Apr 24, 2014

Flower Power...

Thursday already? Robin here with my inspiration of the week for Dies R Us. The die I used, called Mod Flower Background, is made by Poppystamps. This die caught my eye because of it's many uses, it makes a fast and simple card AND you could use the die cut as a stencil! 


The fun part of this design was picking the colors to go behind the die cut. I used my circle punches to make it easier to put together but it would be just as easy to hand cut.


The sentiment is from Hero Arts is stamped on a homemade banner; the addition of Gem embellishments, from Hero Arts, adds a bit of sparkle.

Until next week…thanks for stopping by, Robin

Apr 23, 2014

With Sympathy..

Good morning, everyone!

I hope you have been enjoying the inspiration that Mikha and Darlene have already posted this week!  Isn't it great to have a source of new ideas that you can go to when you are doing your cards, scrapbook pages & crafts?

Today I thought I would share a really easy & simple sympathy card with you.  Sympathy cards are not easy to make under any circumstances.  Having to make one always means there has been a loss of someone near to you.  That in itself is hard enough, but trying to decide what to make for a card can be really difficult.  This card is one I make & use a lot.  It's beautiful & soothing to look at.

I like to use light gray or pale pastels for this card & I start by cutting out white cardstock with a Spellbinders A2 Filigree Delight die.  You can stamp your sentiment directly in the center or cut the oval center in this set & stamp on that for a raised look, which is what I did here. The sentiment for my front is from My Sentiments Exactly and the inside sentiment was from Lizzie Anne Designs.


I use my background color to cut a Memory Box Lovely Peony background and more white to cut a Memory Box Lovely Peony Outline.  Memory Box has a lot of these beautiful "outlined" flowers, so be sure to check out the entire selection.  Once you have glued the outline to the background, put some pop dots on the back & adhere to the front corner.

These outline dies are just spectacular and are cut to fit perfectly against the background die.

Once you are done with the outside, I like to cut one more A2 Filigree Delight  die for the inside and stamp my sentiment directly on it.


There you have it!  Nothing very complicated, but something beautiful enough to send to anyone.

Be sure to head on over to the Dies R Us store to check out their newest dies. And don't forget to check back tomorrow & Friday to see the amazing cards done by Robin & Alicia.

And don't forget to check back on May 1st for the new Dies R Us Challenge Blog & see what our wonderful new design team has in store for you too!

Until next Wednesday, happy crafting & happy cutting!!

Sherri

Apr 22, 2014

Music is in the Air!


Happy Tuesday Dies R Us Friends!

Darlene here with another inspirational creation to share using dies from our Dies R Us store.  Today, I decided to play with some of the new Memory Box STENCILS I purchased recently to create a unique background for this adorable vintage image.

The two stencils I used on this card are:
Memory Box - STENCIL - Ornate
#88514
Memory Box - STENCIL - Bubbles
#88574
By simply positioning your stencils (tape down with removable tape to keep them from sliding) and sponging with various colors (going from lighter shades to darker on the edges), you can come up with some of the most wonderful pattern paper.  In fact, the background paper I used was a very subtle polka dot printed paper.  I used Tim Holtz distress inks and sponge daubers to create today's fun background.

Here's a full list/links of the stencils & dies I used on today's card:

Remember ... if something happens to be 'out of stock', click on the PUT ME ON THE WAITING LIST tab and you will be notified when the item is returned to stock. 

I've also added a little ink sponging to my kraft colored kitties ... aren't they cute!

I hope I've inspired you to give stenciling a try.  They can be used with so many different mediums ... paint, paste, inks, chalks ... just to name a few.  And combined with all the amazing dies available at the Dies R Us store, you will be having great fun releasing your creativity in no time!!

Don't forget about our new Dies R Us Challenge Blog 
being launched May 1st!
Why not pop over right now and meet the designers, then come back on the 1st and 15th of each month for a new fun themed challenge.  We'll all be there!  Hope you are too!

Please be sure to stop back tomorrow when Sherri will have another one of her FABULOUS creations to share with you!  Until next time ...

Apr 21, 2014

Happy Easter!!

Hi everybody!! :)

It's Monday, and Mikha is here, sharing you a new inspiration!!
First of all, I'd like to wish you all a happy Easter (a late one, LOL).

Andd..... BIG NEWS!!
We're having new challenge blog, starting May 1st!! Do please join us!

And today,
it's a easter card from me :)
I'm using:

This cute image is from YamPuff. Please click the name to visit the DeviantART account! :)


Made the sentiment myself and then decorate it with blinks and also liquid pearls.

Thanks for visiting today!! Don't forget to pop on the store, grab much dies, hehe :)
You're having free shipping for order above 35$ (US) and 50$ (International Shipping).

Tomorrow, Darlene's gonna share something beautiful. Stay tune! ;)

xoxo,


Mikha Adriani

Apr 18, 2014

Circle Easel Card Tutorial

Greetings to all visitors to the final inspirational card for the week, here at Dies R Us. I hope you've had the chance to check out all of the other fantastic inspiration prepared for you from our great Dies R Us team.

If you don't already know Dies R Us are starting a challenge blog starting on May 1! Be sure to check out the wonderfully talented teams from across all parts of the world, who will be hosting two challenges per month starting on the 1st and 15th of each month. And don't forget to follow the challenge blog so that you don't miss out on all of the fun.

Back to today's inspiration and tutorial, I'm showcasing a few dies which should be standard in everyone's stash! Today's card is brought to you by Spellbinders.


The image I've used is the cute 'Clyde' from Bugaboo (isn't he just gorgeous!) and I've coloured him with Copic markers. I've fussy cut him out and layered him on foam tape on a layer stack of glitter cardstock and standard cardstock using Spellbinders Standard Circle and Spellbinders Scalloped Circle dies.

 

This is actually an easel card made using the largest dies in this series, the Spellbinders Grand Circles. This style of easel card is very simple to make too, as I will explain.

 

Step 1: Choose your card base and fold and score it in half. Place the appropriate sized Spellbinders Grand Circle die slightly overlapping the folded cardstock and put through your press (as below).


Step 2: Open your card base and fold one side in half, back into the centre (as below).


Step 3: Cut a single circle from cardstock the same size as the base and adhere it to the bottom folded half of the card base (as below). Decorate as you like. 


Note: to make it stand up nicely, add something 'raised' so that it can rest on it. I've used ribbon on my card, however anything like buttons, badges or elements on foam dots works well too.

And there you go, a quick and simple easel tutorial.

Thanks for stopping by & don't forget to check out the new challenge blog too!

Cheers!

~  Alicia  ~

Apr 17, 2014

Mother's Day Bouquet

Happy Thursday, Robin here with my design of the week. Where is the time going? Mother's Day is May 11, just giving you a head start! You have plenty of time to order your dies from Dies R Us and make a few cards. With just a change of sentiment this card can be used for many occasions.


I used Taylored Expressions Tag Stacklet 1 and Impressions Obsessions Border Duo 1 as background elements. The Garden Watering Can die from Memory Box was shaded with a grey Copic marker. The flowers were cut from Memory Box Blushing Bouquet die. By using a patterned paper and coloring the stems and leaves with a Copic marker the bouquet came together easily.


The detail in these dies is amazing! I love the little holes in the watering can and in the centers of the flowers. A Pippi Butterfly die coupled with the Isabella Butterfly make a beautiful embellishment.


The card was finished with a twine bow and a sentiment stamped on Impression Obsession's Flags die. Don't forget Dies R Us is your one stop shop for dies. New dies are always arriving so stop by and see what we have! 


Dies R Us Challenge Blog 

will launch May 1

Our NEW challenge blog will be ready for YOU on May 1st !!! Twice a month you will have the opportunity to design a project using a specified theme. Rules and list of themes will be available for you on May 1.

Until next week…thanks for stopping by, Robin

Apr 16, 2014

To Cut or Emboss? Why Not Do Both!

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

If you still haven't finished all of your Easter cards, I have a new idea for you to try!   I'm sure a lot of you have beautiful doily type dies that you run through your die cut machines & cut.  Have you ever tried cutting just half the doily and embossing the design from the second half directly into your card?  It's a fun way to create a whole different look!   Here is a card I did that with & I will explain how later in this post.

 This card was made with Cheery Lynn French Pastry Die & the Cheery Lynn Anastasia Border. As you can see, the right half of the doily die is actually cut through & the left half of the die is simply embossed into the cardstock. The adorable bunny stamp is from an old Stampin Up set.
 This gives you a better idea of the card as it will look when opened.
I began with a 12 X 6 inch piece of cardstock which I scored at 6 inches for the card fold.  Taking your doily die, lay it to the outside edge of your cardstock.  Add score lines halfway through the doily going from the doily edge to the edge of the card.  This will be your folding line once the die is cut halfway out. Lay your top cutting plate along those score lines as shown in the photo above and run it through your die cut machine. Now place your rubber embossing mat & embossing plate on top & run it through again to emboss the other half.  When you pull it out, fold along the score lines and your doily will pop out.  Glue down the half of your card behind the embossed side & decorate as you want.

I hope you have already checked out the awesome cards for Monday & Tuesday, and don't forget to come back for the rest of the week too!  Our designers have some great ideas for you!!

I'm off to check out the newest additions at the Dies R Us store!  I'll see you there!

Enjoy the rest of your week!  Happy Crafting & happy cutting!!

Sherri

Apr 15, 2014

Wedding Day . . .

Hello Dies R Us Friends!
It's Darlene ... here again to share my card creation using various dies from the Dies R Us Store that I hope will inspire you!  Have you been following along through out the week?  What amazing designs and ideas my team mates have all shared !  WOW!  I too have drawn wonderful inspiration from this group!


What fun it was to create this Wedding Scene!

First, let me give you the list of dies I used ...

Frantic Stamper 'Wedding Day' #FRA-9121
Memory Box 'Party Music' #98757
Poppystamps 'Grand Gothic Iron Work' #850
Cheery Lynn Designs 'Victorian Picket Fence' #B123


The walls of the 'church' were created by embossing the upper portion of a white panel using the Sizzix Tim Holtz brick wall embossing folder and sponged over top with Tim Holtz Tea Dye ink.

The  [ 'Party Music' ] music notes (there's always beautiful music at a wedding) were die cut from black card stock and popped up with pop dots.


To create the 'stained glass' panel, I simply scribbled various pastel colors with my Spectrum Noir alcohol markers onto white vellum.  Die cut my 'Grand Gothic Iron Work' using thin gold metallic card stock and glued the reverse side of the vellum to the back side of my gold die cut.

After the glue dries, simply cut away the excess vellum with either your scissors or craft knife.


For the fencing, I simply die cut my 'Victorian Picket Fence'  with white card stock.
BUT ... I did cut the lower portion off because it was a bit too high for the scene I was trying to create.  And, I also cut a small section out of the center, as an opening so they could walk into the church!

There are SO MANY things you could do with this fabulous 'Wedding Day' couple. 
I die cut the entire die with white card stock first,
then die cut the groom again in black card stock,
and the bride in ivory card stock and paper pieced over the white panels.
A little coloring was done for the hair, face, headpiece, dress accents with alcohol markers.

Tip:  You could add lace, tulle, pearls ... so many things for the brides dress.
And you could make the grooms tuxedo any color you wanted. 
Here's a fun thought ... if you knew the wedding colors,
 you could coordinate your card to match the bridal party! 
They would be so impressed!! LOL

We thank you again for stopping by our new blog and hopefully you've been inspired!
Remember, you can add your email address to the EMAIL UPDATE section of our sidebar,
to receive an email notice each day with a new DT project.    We also LOVE hearing your comments!  Please, don't be shy ... 
I'm headed over to the store to see what new products have come in  ... 
Catch you back here tomorrow when Sherri will have something new and fun to share!!

Apr 14, 2014

Wishing you a fantastic day!

Hi everybody!! :)

Mikha is here, back to share a card for you today!!
Don't forget to pay visit to the Dies R Us Store, because we're having tons of dies!

I coloured this LOTV image, and then paper pieced her dress. This is my first time did it :D

And then I used Spellbinders Labels One as the base of image. Also used Taylored Expression - Swirly Clouds.

Here's my colouring details:
I coloured her using Copic.

Actually I put Magnolia Doohickey - Cloudy Tag here, but of course, you couldn't see it because of the bow, LOL.

Just simply put flowers, doily, frantage and also pearls. 


Thanks for visiting.
I hope you like it... Until next time! :)


xoxo,


Mikha Adriani



Apr 11, 2014

Fabulous in every way!

Hello friends, fans & followers of Dies R Us!
It's Friday so that means it's my turn to finish of this wonderful week of inspiration again. I hope that you've had the opportunity to catch the other DT's gorgeous creations from this week, they're pretty special!

Onto my creation for the week. I started off wanting to showcase one of my favorite (Spellbinders Jeweled Fantasies) but have also incorporated a brand new favorite one too!


The digital image I've used comes from Rick St Dennis (Mae) & I've coloured her using my trusted Copics. She has been framed with the Spellbinders Classic Scalloped Oval and layered her simply on some cardstock.


I wanted to highlight the feathers in her costume so I added a couple of the Spellbinders Jewelled Fantasies feathers, which I edged in Vintage Photo Distress Ink and adheared a rhinestone to.


This was the first time I used a new die set in my collection & that is the Cheery Lyn Designs Alison's Ribbon die. It comes in 2 separate plates, one for the ribbon base (5 bases) & one for the ribbon decoration (7 to choose from). There are endless combinations to this die which makes it so versatile & handy!

Here is a close up of the 'ribbon' I used, plus all of the other 'left overs'.
Look at all of those combinations!

   

I've finished off my creation with some Liquid Pearls & a splash of Wink of Stella, for that ever important bling!

Thanks for stopping by & letting me share my creativity with you.
Happy crafting!

~  Alicia  ~