Monday, January 20, 2014

Guest Designer for Top Dog Dies and a Giveaway

I have been asked to make some projects from Top Dog Dies and well I was happy to do so!

Top Dog Dies is a new online store that offers their own brand of wafer-thin and steel-rule dies, along with dies from brands you already know and trust, including My Favorite Things, Sizzix, Savvy Stamps and Cheery Lynn Designs. Top Dog Dies is also the leading U.S. retailer for Tattered Lace, a new line of intricate dies designed by U.K. designer Stephanie Weightman.

I have 2 projects today. The first is a wedding card using a monogram with the Vintage Alphabet dies.  The Madison Doily cut beautifully (that's patterned paper, Amy Tangerine Sketchbook pack). I did poke some of the holes with a piercer but they pieces fell off easily. 

Top Dog Dies Card

This card was an evolution. Let me show you how it started:

 I seem to always go for the cream card stock, so I wanted to try something different. I die cut the doily and alphabet from patterned paper and rounded the corner.

And then just stared at it.



 It didn't "feel" right. What do I do with these elements? So off to talking to Elena to figure it out. Elena is the creative genius behind JUST ME PRINTS. She gets me, and what I am trying to achieve, and is my GO TO person for help when I hit a wall with a card.

Sometimes she tells me to walk away.

Sometimes she tells me try again.

And she is ALWAYS right!

She didn't like the black and didn't like the paper. Yeah, she's tough, but it's worth it. We work well together. She suggested a monogrammed look and showed me a sample HERE.

So I sent this one below. (I kept the black and the paper, I liked it myself and well sometimes you gotta stand up for your designs)  ;)




Her reply?

"It's better than it was, but the focal point isn't strong enough for me and where is the rosette??"

So I went back and added the rosette like I should have in the first place. And that's how I got the final card folks!!

For my next project, I was asked by Crate Paper to make a mini album. I had lots of ideas, but nothing was as easy or as cute as the circle mini album by Top Dog Dies.

 Here are just a few of the pages. To see the album in full, check out the Top Dog Dies Blog HERE. 

I used some old cardboard and backing to 12x12 paper packs to create the album and then die cut the paper with the die as well. It was so easy then to glue together. 





For this one, I die cut half the die and stitched the bottom.


All supplies by Crate Paper Oh Darling Collection. 



Top Dog Dies has generously offered a gift card for one lucky person. To be eligible for the giveaway, you need to register on THIS page, but you can get extra entries by both commenting on my blog post and following them on our Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram accounts.
Deadlines to enter the giveaway will be Sunday, Jan. 26 at midnight.

Thank You so much for visiting. I appreciate it so much :)

24 comments:

  1. Super sweet little book (and subject matter) and yep, Elena is always right (although I could do the middle version too. Me likey the black outline of the flower gracing the doily).

    ReplyDelete
  2. I adore that album, and yay for crafty help! You've been there for me so many times too :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I just love your posts, Wida! :) I have been in your shoes many times! I love your card and your album is soooo cute!! :) Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love the final result and great to have a friend to help out. Mini album = gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Loved seeing the evolution of the card, and your mini album is so sweet!

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is a most day-brightening, 'educational', engaging and inspiring post! Your 'card evolution' for the first was eye-opening on so many levels: from the 'needs something' response, to seeking out suggestions, to the finished, lovely product. Great to know the 'pros' have their "hmmm...." moments, too! Mini album: LOVE it! It's a mini (I adore mini cards, albums, tags...); it's beautifully creative; it showcases your sweet little one. Heart-warming! Memories captured; a keepsake to treasure. Once again, a visit here has planted a smile alllll over my face! Fabulous-ness x 100000!
    c

    ReplyDelete
  7. Very nice projects...love that adorable mini album.

    ReplyDelete
  8. OHHHHHH! I LOVE that card-- love the shared process in making it! I tend to get stuck sometimes! It's great to see how you worked out this card! LOVE that glittered part! LOVE the mini album too! The layering, the colors, the papers, and design- AMMMMMMMMAZING! YOU rock, Wida <3

    ReplyDelete
  9. I read that at CHA this year black was the new neutral - your card really showcases that idea. I love the card and the mini-album is amazing! What a treasure! Robin

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wida, your friend was so darn right about that card and I loved how you shared the process. I get stuck in a rut too and I always turn to my sis for help lol. Love that mini album and your rosette card!!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. These are so so pretty! I love how the card turned out and the mini is just fantastic!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hey Wida! Love the bold colors/doily & all in your wedding card! But I gotta tell ya..my huge smile comes from your mini album!!! These are so fun to give & make! I've been checking out Top Dog Dies and like what they offer! A $50 gift cert. would seal the deal! Thanks for sharing!!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Whoa! When did you have time (with all that you do!) to create such an adorable photo album? I love it! It's girly cute!
    And the starburst is the perfect touch on your card--love the doily out of patterned paper.

    ReplyDelete
  14. You two make a great double act! Elena is awesome and yes, she was right!! The card turned out great with every detail perfect. As for the Mini Album - just wow. I saw it on the Crate Paper blog first of all but was waiting for it to show up here so I could tell you just how much it knocked me out of my seat!! See, *this* is *exactly* what I meant in my #FF post and our chats about your 'evolution'. The album is breathtaking and a perfect example of how you've really come into your own now. I wish I could see it in real life!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. You two make a great double act! Elena is awesome and yes, she was right!! The card turned out great with every detail perfect. As for the Mini Album - just wow. I saw it on the Crate Paper blog first of all but was waiting for it to show up here so I could tell you just how much it knocked me out of my seat!! See, *this* is *exactly* what I meant in my #FF post and our chats about your 'evolution'. The album is breathtaking and a perfect example of how you've really come into your own now. I wish I could see it in real life!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. How great that you have Elena to bounce things off of .... she's my go-to person to ask about parties! :)
    Lovely card and I LOVE that Crate mini-book!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Great projects. It is nice you have someone to give you advice.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Wida, I just love reading your posts! Thanks for sharing the evolution process of your lovely card! And, Oh my Goodness! Your kiddos are so sweet, and your little Crate Paper book is amazing! I've never owned any Crate Paper - guess I should try to order some! Thanks for inspiring me to try new things :) Hugs...

    ReplyDelete
  19. I love your evolution posts! So glad you share them with us, as it makes me appreciate the finished project so much more. You know I'm always interested in the design process. And adorable mini album!! What a great way to use all your new Crate Paper goodies.

    ReplyDelete
  20. It was so interesting to see your card evolve. That Elena is some sort of genius, but then, so are you. And, the album is sweet, too.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I love to hear about your crafty conversations:) I have to admit though I do love the cream/white combination in the first card. I think that mix is so elegant. And your mini album is a masterpiece. Each page is so well put together without looking overly worked on (does that make sense?). Of course, your subject matter is adorable, so that helps:)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Gorgeous GD spot WIda - LOVE the mini album & elegant card :)

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for stopping by...