Cuttlebug Challenge Becomes "Passionately Artistic"

If you haven't seen this yet, then let me tell you Cuttlebug Challenge Blog is having major changes, starting with a new name and new URL:

Passionately Artistic

I have been a design team member for 2 years and it has been a great experience but is now time for me to step back. So I wanted this last card I made as DT member to be an illustrationof the reason of my leaving the team:

My Little Punkin

I don't know if it's a girl or boy yet, but it's already requiring lots of attention even from the womb, so I decided to leave all commitments behind, until I will get a hang of this new job of being a mom.

It's the biggest card I have ever made, so I will probably use it as a book/album cover one day.

I have used a lot of creative cuttlebug embossing and hand cutting. The pumpkin tails are cut out from the Birds and Swirls embossing folder, the pumpkins are hand cut and layered with 3D foam.

Image by Digital Delights by Louby Loo

Click on the images to have a closer look at the glitter accents using PKGlitz glitter.
The glitter is lovely and this company has so many great ways to use it like sticky paper or transparencies.
I have received 3 sample colors to play with, but I only used a little on this card. I really want to explore all the possibilities with it so I dind't want to rush it since I only got mine yesterday. I guess you'll see more coming soon. Don't forget to check the other DT cards for more PKGlitz inspiration

World Cardmaking Day, Cuttlebug Be Inspired #103

This post should have been here on Wednesday, but I had MS Windows issues. Then yesterday when I was done with sending out wedding menus and cooking dinner, the internet provider was changing devices and I had no connectivity.

Well, here I am with my favorite morning activity (coffee and internet) and here is my card.


Cred ca pe romaneste nua re rost sa dau prea multe detalii despre furnizorul meu d einternet care ieri scimba antena cu fibra optica si eu am ramas fara conexiune exact pe cand sa postez felicitarea asta realizata pentru Cuttlebug Challenge #103 cu ocazia Zilei Mondiale a Felicitarilor Handmade.

And this is the inside.
Interiorul...

Hello, Autumn! Swaps, Challenges and just for Fun

The mornings are cooler but then a a beautiful sun shines not too hot, just enough to call you for a stroll. The wonderful colors of autumn are everywhere.... I love this season! I love it so much that I started by making a bookmark for a swap and ended up with a whole set made of a card, a bookmark and a tag.




I started by making a background in shades of brown, then stamped and embossed some leaves in black, but when I had to color them as planned I just didn't feel like doing it. So I took put my box of scraps and started flipping through the color palette files in it and stopped at black. After all it is one of the Halloween colors, so I thought "why not"?

Here is my bookmark after a little cuttlebug cutting and embossing and ponging some copper ink. Totally Love it! And yes, that's the book I am currently reading.


Now another try at stamping and coloring leaves, total failure so I decided to go the same way as with the bookmark and see what comes out. In the mean time I made a flower from some gift rap paper I had in my scrap box. I thought it looked great on my cream-brown-black card.

I am entering this card into the Scrapper In Romania Challenge #6. The great thing about this challenge is that anything goes: from digital to jewelery you can create anything as long as it matches the theme.


I had the leaf, I had the tag from a mini album I made last year, so I thought why not combine all these elements since they were already out and here is what I came up with:

Wishing everyone a warm and lovely autumn!

Buttons and Bows -Cuttlebug Be Inspired #102

This was a very challenging challenge to me be cause we had to use images from Whoopsi Daisy Designs. I totally love the images, but I don't like coloring so I had to find a way to use the black/white version. Here is my card. I love that umbrella image!



The #102 Be Inspired Cuttlebug Challenge is to make a project using an image, buttons (at least 2) and bows. The deadline is Tuesday, September 29.

Happy (Belated) Birthday, Cuttlebug Challenge!

I have made this card about 10 days ago and never got the chance to photograph and post it. I even missed the Be Inspired Challenge #100 it was designed for (days in advance).

Anyway, here it is: my card for the 2n'd birthday of Cuttlebug Challenge. I have been with them for 1.5 years now and I will probably have to take a break in February when I will be 2 since my baby is coming then and he or she will require my entire attention.




You still have time until Tuesday to participate in this challenge. The theme is obviously "birthday" and you can find more details by clicking the picture below.

"Baby, I Love You" Mini Album

Last week I received an email from Court at Court's Crafts asking what was "Meda's little miracle" that the girls were talking about on the Cuttlebug Challenge forum.

So I guess it's time to reveal the big mystery: Meda is 3 1/2 months pregnant, doing very well and hungry all the time.

And this is the first thing I created for my unborn baby:

It's a Basic Gray mini album that I am going to use like some kind of pregnancy journal. So you are going to see more of it as I decorate the pages.

I chose these colors for the cover because I don't know if it's a boy or girl yet so I decided to use some of my favorite colors that remind me of nature.

Materials:
Paper: chocolate color cardstock, paper scraps, Cosmo Cricket "Earth Love"
Cuttlebug: Victoria folder, Persia die
Stamps: My Pink Stamper
Other: Sizzix swirl die, handcut flower, pearl, Sakura glaze pen, Cropadile




It seems I am a double lucky girl today. Once because my cropadile arrived in the mail and second because the sun came out for just enough I needed to take a quick photo of the album and show you my project for today's Cuttlebug Be Inspired Challenge #99.

This week's sponsor is My Pink Stamper and I was sent some word stamps from the Family and Friends line to play with. I am sure Betty sent me the baby word intentionally. You did right, Betty, because as soon as I saw it I knew I wanted to start decorating that BG album I had bought for this very purpose.

Your challenge for this week is to make a card, layout altered item etc. and use any sentiment on the front. Don't forget the cuttlebug. It's still a cuttlebug challenge. Add your link to the In Linkz gadget here by Tuesday, September 7 and check back on Wednesday to see if you won.

Clearely Creative - Cuttlebug Be Inspired #96

This week's challenge over the Cuttlebug Challenge Blog is to use clear sheets and your cuttlebug to make cards and other projects.

This is the first card I have made in a long time. I used sime recycled packaging to make the clear flap. Recycling always makes me happy.

The green swirl is hand cut from a piece of paper embossed with the Birds and Swirls folder.

Queen of my Heart Box (Cutie regina inimii mele)

Be Inspired Challenge on the Cuttlebug Challenge Blog is all about Doilies and Lace.

I designed this box for someone who wanted to fill it with love notes for his loved one.
I was so impressed by his request that I put in 2 days work to make it perfect. I hope it was appreciated.


I made the box from scratch and used the Textile Hearts combo from Cuttlebug, flowers, lace, pearls and organza trimming to decorate it. The frame with the custom message is a digital stamp By Mlamarre Designs. Thanks, Maggie, it's one of my favorite stamps ever.

As always, the winner of the cuttlebug challenge receives a cuttlebug folder from Provo Craft, our main sponsor.

My favorite Green Wedding Invitations (Invitatii de nunta verzi - preferatele mele)

Sipped yesterday... They were a feast t watch (all 260 of them :)
First time using the Floral Fantasy folder on a wedding invitation.

Expediate ieri... O adevarata placere de privit (toate 260 :)
Prima data cand folosesc modelul Floral Fantasy la invitatii.

Home Decor with Cuttlebug: Black And White Butterfly Canvas

Today is my turn again to write a tutorial for Cuttlebug Challenge Blog.
Azi e din nou randul meu sa scriu un tutorial pentru Cuttlebug Challenge Blog.


Deborah and I chose black and white to showcase Mother's Day. She made a box and I made a butterfly canvas. See full tutorial here.
Eu si Deborah am ales sa realizam proiecte de ziua mamei folosind doar alb si negru. Ea a decorat o cutie, iar eu am ales sa va arat cum puteti realiza o panza decorativa folosind o tehnica mixta. Tutorialul se gaseste aici.

Busy, Busy, Busy....!

I have been receiving e-mails from my readers asking if I was ok.

Thank you very much for your kindness. I am perfectly fine, but working around the clock to finish some invitations.

The image above is of sample sea shells I have purchased for a wedding at the Black Sea. I am just ordering them in bulk right now. Of course you are only going to see pictures of the invitations in July, but I do have some invitations to publish the next weekend after Easter.

Otherwise, If you want to see some lovely Easter projects head over to Cuttlebug Challenge Blog. I wasn't able to participate with a card of my own, but the other design team members have created the most beautiful Easter pop ups.

Here is a sneak peak from our Amazing Odette Martinez:

Thank you for all the blog awards you have sent me the past 2 weeks. Unfortunately, I will not have time to post them, but I wanted to let you know I appreciate you very much and always love hearing from you.

Little Envelopes (Pliculete)

I am very late for this week's Cuttlebug be Inspired: Envelopes.
I needed one of my friends to motivate me make these. They will hold Bible verses for her bible study group.

Am cam intarziat saptamana asta la concursul Cuttlebug Be Inspired: plicuri decorate.
A trebuit ca o prietena sa ma motiveze sa le fac . Ele vor servi la pastrarea unor versete din Biblie pentru grupul ei de studiu.

Cuttlebug and Stitching: Masculine Butterfly Card

Quick post and simple card today for Cuttlebug Be Inspired #71.
The challenge is to use stitching on your cards and layouts but I just faked it by using a gel pen.

Last Minute Wedding Cards for Caardvarks (Felicitari de nunta de ultim moment pentru Caardvarks)

The current challenge over the Caarvarks Blog is "Wedding Cards".
Tema concursului curent pe Caardvarks este "Felicitari de nunta".

Unfortunately I only managed to do some last minute cards, that are still useful, but not my best.
Din pacate am reusit sa fac doar niste felicitari de ultim moment care, desi se pot folosi, nu sunt tocmai ce am eu mai bun.



Card 1. Featuring one of my favorite cuttlebug folders (fleur de lis) and a royal red flower with pearl center. Such a personal combination!

Felictarea 1. Perzinta una din texturile mle preferate (fleur de lis)si o floare rosu regal cu perla in mijloc (combinatie foarte draga mie).



Card 2. Trying my hand at making paper roses. I love this combination of soft salmon with purple. The texture is made using a brass stencil. Do you ever use those anymore?

Felicitarea 2. Experiment de facut trandafiri din hartie. Imi place aceasta culoare delicata somon combinata cu mov. Modelul din spatele trandafirlui e obtinut cu ajutorul unui vechi sablon de alama. Mai foloseste cineva asemenea sabloane?



Card 3. Fleur de lis, lace and ecru flower with a tiny purple rhinestone in the center. Need I say more?
I am starting to grow on yellow this year. I love my relationship with colors and how it changes from season to season!

Felicitarea 3. Fleur de lis, dantela si o floare ocru cu stras mov in mijloc. Mai e nevoie sa spun ceva?
Incepe sa imi placa tot mai mult galbenul anul acesta. Imi palce relatia mea cu culorile si cum modul meu de raportare la ele se schimba de la un anotimp la altul.

Mardi Gras Fine Art with Cuttlebug

If every year before Christmas I paint poppies, i don't know how it happens that around Valentine's day I do mixed media art using cuttlebug texture.
Daca in fiecare an inainte de Craciun pictez maci, nu stiu cum se face ca in preajma Valentine's Day realizez o lucrare mixed media folosind texturi cuttlebug.


Here are some details. Click on images for larger view.
Iata si cateva detalii. Faceti click pe imagine pentru o a se mari.


As design team member for the Cuttlebug Challenge Blog I was assigned a Mardi Gras project and tutorial so I chose to experiment with painting on cuttlebug texture.
Ca membru in echipa de designeri Cuttlebug Challenge Blog mi-a fost desemnat un proiect si tutorial cu tema Mardi Gras, asa ca am decis sa testez pictura pe o suprafata texturata cu cuttlebug.

Here are some work in progress pictures. See full tutorial on the Cuttlebug Challenge Blog (follow link above).
Iata cateva poze din timpul lucrului. Tutorialul integral se gaseste pe Cuttlebug Challenge Blog (urmati linkul de deasupra)

Last year's painting

I don't have it at home so this is the best picture I could find. You can read more about it in last year's post.

Black Butterfly and Poppies (Felicitare cu fluture negru si maci)

Third post today!
Sorry guys, but I have soooo many things I haven't showed you yet.
I just finished this card for 2S4Y and I also made it match my butterfly box I posted earlier.

Al treilea articol pe ziua de azi. Imi pare rau, dar mai am o multime de lucruri sa va arat.
Tocmai am terminat acesta felicitare pentru concursul 2S4Y. De asemenea am vrut sa se asorteze cu cutia din articolul anterior.




Of course I HAD to use a black butterfly!
And did you see these black poppies I cut with my cuttlebug die? I have had it for ages and this is the first time I managed to use these poppies on a project. I wonder why. It's an image I really like.
Evident A TREBUIT sa folosesc un fluture negru.
Si ce ziceti de macii acestia negri taiati cu cuttlebug? Aveam stanta de multa vreme, dar e prima data cand reusesc sa-i folosesc la un proiect. Ma intreb de ce. E o imagine care chiar imi place!


Both the butterfly and flower are spritzed with wine color glimmer mist. Since the cardstock is black you can only see the shimmer which is exactly the look I went for. Starting to like my glimmer mist more.
Atat fluturele cat si macii sunt stropiti cu Glimmer Mist de culoarea vinlui. Cartonul fiind negru nu se vede decat sideful din spray, adica exact ceea ce am urmarit. Incepe sa imi placa tot mai mult acest produs.

Vintage Style Butterfly Box (Cutie in stil antic cu fluturi)

This is one of those boxes that you might have seen in a Victorian dress room.... Little black ebony table with curved legs.....

Aceasta este una din cuttile pe care ai fi putut-o vedea intr-o camera din epoca victoriana.... pe o masuta neagra din lem de abanos cu picioarele curbate...




Well, it's not that old.... I just made it yesterday at my best friend's request.
Ei, nu e chiar asa de veche! Am facut-o abia ieri :) la cererea celei mai bune prietene.

I love her! She comes to me whenever she needs a gift and she asks for a coordinated box or other gift and card (card coming soon). She already knows where all the craft shops are and she buys the plain boxes on her way to my place. Love the shape of this one!

Tare imi place de ea! De cate ori are nevoie de un cadou vine la mine sa-i fac o cutie sau alt cadou si felictare asortata (in curand si feliciatrea).
Cum stie deja unde sunt magazinele cu articole de craft, cand vine la mine se opreste si cumpara si cutiile in drum. Imi place forma acestei ultime cutii.

The pattern paper on the bottom is from the Earth Love Kit by Cosmo Cricket. While I don't like their cartoonish designs I do love this kit that is a little bit more towards elegant.
Hartia cu model este din setul Earth Love de Cosmo Cricket care imi place mai mult decat altele pentru ca inclina spre elegant.




Since Cuttlebug Be Inspired #70 challenge is using fabric I decided to show this to you. I love doing decoupage with pretty floral fabrics.

Avand in vedere ca tema concursului Cuttlebug Be Inspired #70 este folosirea textilelor, am decis sa va arat si voua cutia. Imi place sa fac decupaj cu materiale elegante cu motive florale.




The butterflies are cut and embossed with my cuttlebug. I wanted to use black butterflies but everyone in the room (we had homemade pizza day yesterday)said it looked like a mortuary box.
Looks like I have to make one for myself just the way I like it. I really like black lately. I think it's extreme elegance.

Fluturasii sunt taiati si embosati cu cuttlebug. Eu am vrut sa-i fac negri dar toata lumea din casa spunea ca pare pentru morti (ieri a fost zi de pizza facuta in casa). Se pare ca va tebi sa-mi fac eu o cutie complet neagra pentru mine. In ultimul timp imi place foarte mult negrul. Il consider de o eleganta extrema.


Check out what the other Cuttlebug Design team Members have made using fabric.
Look how cool is this napkin ring by Odette! Matches my box, right?

Vreti sa vedeti ce au creat ceilalti membrii ai echipei de designeri cuttlebug folosind textile?
Ce ziceti de acest inel pentru servetel creat de Odette? Se asorteaza cu cutia mea, nu?

More Valentines (Alte felicitari de Valentines Day)

I have left the best to the last.This is my favorite one:

Am lasat ce-i mai bun la urma. Aceasta este felicitarea mea preferata din grupul celor de Valentine's Day





And the first time in my life I used fuchsia on a card. I like it, but will never be among my favorites. I don't like bright bolds.

Si iata prima felicitare din viata mea in care am folosit culoarea fucshia. Imi place, dar nu va ajunge niciodata in topul preferatelor mele. Nu prea imi plac culorile tipatoare.




And if you care for some sweet candy all the way from England, check out my friend's Angie's blog.