Damask Divas Lollydoodle Blog Hop

Welcome to Keepable Paper Creations - a place where your creations are always "keepers".  You have "landed" on my contribution to the Damask Divas Lollydoodle Blog Hop for March.  My name is Brenda Zimmerman, and I am an Independent Consultant with Close To My Heart.  I hope you are enjoying all of the fabulous ideas coming your way!
If you came from Traci Williams' page, you are in the right place.  If you have jumped here and just discovered our blog hop, feel free to check the list at our Damask Divas Blog to find the complete list of blog hop participants.
So, here we are with our Fabulous Paper Pack, Lollydoodle. Just the name, alone, gives you a sense that you're going to have fun with this one, and boy - will you!  When I saw Lollydoodle in our new 2014 CTMH Idea Book, for some reason, I didn't think I could connect with it.  But when I got it home, I fell in love.  Why?  Can you say RETRO?  I absolutely "dig" the blue, green, pink and hollyhock tones together.  In my mind, together they say, "Let's Go Bowling"!
If you know me at all, you know that I love my Cricut.  And, because of my love for my Cricut, I became a Close To My Heart Consultant.  The cartridges that Close To My Heart offers are the best you will find.  All three are amazing in their own, distinct way.  You can learn more about our Cricut Collections on my CTMH website.
For this project, I used the Cricut Artiste cartridge and its coordinating stamp set, Kudos. I also added the help of some non-CTMH cartridges, Suburbia, and Nifty Fifties for the bowling gear you see.  I am an avid bowler, I work in a bowling center, and I help coach the youth bowlers in the center I work in.  I think every young bowler deserves a card like this... just for getting on the lane and trying it :).
I have seen many side-step cards on YouTube, and thought this would be a terrific way to show off several Close To My Heart products at one time.  I was right. My favorite side-
step card tutorial so far is by Mary at CardzTV where she creates a Halloween side-step card.  I followed her tutorial, which, much like the pop-up box I created last month, was super easy as far as the construction of the card.  Some score lines, one cut, and that's about it.  Here we go with the challenge (again) - embellishments.  But this month I had a plan - even before I constructed the card... because of Lollydoodle's RETRO color scheme.
Who doesn't LOVE the Chalkboard trend right now?  I had no idea how MUCH I loved it until I used it here.  I just wanted to make an award.  Something bowlers could sit on their mantle and be able to see.  So I used the Kudos stamp set and some Colonial White ink on black cardstock and voila!  Chalkboard!  Looks great atop the Lollydoodle backdrop, don't ya' think?


I used 3-d tape to secure the bowling pins at different angles to create the "pin splash" effect, and I offset the "cool bowling shirt" to make way for the "You're the Best" Award in the background.  For the Award, I used Juniper ink around a dimensional element, also included in the Cricut Collection Pack, to back the stamped image up.  Several versions of the side-step card do not use a background, but I chose to use one for the "Award" effect.

Did you notice the masculine feel provided by the chevron-embossed card base?  That's one of Close To My Heart's NEW Embossing Folders hard at work.  It gives texture and interest to an otherwise blank base.  Another idea, if you're working on a similar project (while maybe waiting for your embossing folders to arrive :) ), is that you can repeat a stamped image randomly to cover the card base, and again, you create interest. 
Perhaps the coolest feature of all on this side-step card is its ability to lie (almost) flat.  It's not too bulky that you can't pop it into a standard A-2 sized envelope to send.  How fun would it be for your friends to get something like this in their mailbox?  Such a fun card - no matter what theme you attach to it.
If you'd like to create a project similar to this one, I encourage you to just do it. Jump in and don't be afraid to go for it.  What you come up with will always result in a sense of accomplishment and pride, because YOU DID IT... and if I can help you to succeed in your crafting passion by providing the tools you need to "get it done", then I will feel accomplished right along with you!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  The next blog on the list is Jamie Blades.  Hope you enjoy checking out all the creations using our Lollydoodle Paper Pack as well as all that is new in our 2014 IDEA BOOK!  The rest of our hop is just a click away, but if you get lost, just hop on over to our Damask Divas Blog for the full list!



 Before you go, I'd like to invite you to try our Studio J on for size.  What is Studio J you ask?  It's Close To My Heart's outstanding web-based scrapbook layout tool.  Throughout the month of March, you can enjoy Studio J layouts - that you create yourself at your own pace - for just $5 per two-page layout.  Play with your Studio J layout as long as you like to make it your own and design the perfect pages, and when you're ready to purchase, if it's in the month of March, it'll be just FIVE dollars.  Quite a savings, and well-worth the money, I'd say.

Also, don't miss out on Close To My Heart's Stamp of the Month for March - Happy Place.  A great way to display how much you love just being home - no matter what the occasion!


8 comments:

  1. This is FABULOUS!!!! What an unexpected way to use the Lollydoodle patterns! I love it, Brenda!

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  2. This is just brilliant! Love the black, works amazing with paper! Wonderful work. Love every detail!

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  3. Very nice! I like the color combinations. What creative cards - thanks for sharing.

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  4. The side step card was PERFECT for this! I hadn't realized that the color combos were so retro but they really do have that feel. I may have to do some retro kitchen designs out of Lollydoodle now! Thanks!

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  5. Super fabulous card. Love it!

    Mandy

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  6. Fabulous card! I love the different way you used Lollydoodle!

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  7. Oh my goodness this is AWESOME!!! So creative... love it!

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