Exciting news

Hi Everyone,
Saturday is the start of June, the month we most associate with weddings. That happens to be the theme we chose for this month here at Craft-Dee BowZ, so you will be seeing projects his month that showcase that theme.

I have exciting news for you all. First, we have a guest designer joining us this month. We are so excited to be able to bring you the wonderfully talented Dana Tatar and here is her pic and bio:

Hi! My name is Dana Tatar and I am a stay-at-home mom currently living in Florida with my husband and two young daughters. I started scrapbooking to preserve memories after the birth of my first daughter and now I enjoy the creative outlet.

I love to mix products from different collections on my projects and I frequently find inspiration in music, poetry and pop culture. I love fussy cutting and flowers and both can be seen on the majority of my projects. My dominant scrappy styles are clean and simple and pretty chic, but I do like to mix things up a bit, depending on the paper or photos I want to use. I'm an active blogger and I like to share my tips and ideas. I create a little of everything, including layouts, cards, tags, artist trading cards, arches and small gift and home decor items.

When I'm not scrapping, I enjoy cooking and baking, reading, listening to music and spending time outdoors with my family and basset hound.

I am so excited to be a Guest Designer for Craft-Dee BowZ and I'm looking forward to sharing my work and my perfect bows! I love visitors, so please stop by my blog, They Call Me Tatar Salad!

More exciting news!!! Thursday June 6 is the next blog hop and the theme is Butterflies and Flowers. I can't wait to see everyone's awesome creations.  Also we are all pleased that Dana will be joining the blog hop this month. We've asked Dana to show off more of her creativity and she's graciously accepted an invitation to post here on Friday June 14. She will be showing something special I'm sure. So stay tuned because June is going to be a fun and busy month here at Craft-Dee BowZ.

Speaking of fun, just a reminder that we host a challenge here at Craft-Dee BowZ each month. May was our first month and whew!!! what a response we've had. Winners are chosen on merits and the top winner will receive a Craft-Dee BowZ tool. How awesome is that.

I will be back Saturday to announce the May challenge winner and announce the theme for June's challenge. I will also be back again on Tuesday June 4 with my regular monthly post. I can't wait to show you my creation, remember it's going to be a wedding theme. Don't forget, all of the other designers are busy getting their creations designed and ready for you to view on their regular Tuesday posts. See I told you it was going to be a fun and busy month.

See you Saturday for the June Challenge and the May Challenge winner,

Barbara

A Dream....

Good morning. Hope you had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. I have a card for you today. Stamped flower image first and then stamped wording over top of it in a different color. Hard to see from the picture but I colored in the flowers with some shimmering H2Os in purple. Added some rhinestone bling under the bow which of course uses the Craft-Dee BowZ maker.

Used a border punch for the side stripes. Oval was cutout with Spellbinders and is popped up with dimensions. I also sponged some ink on it before mounting it.

Inky Hugs,
Amber

IT'S OFFICIAL!!

I'm so excited I can't stand it!  I'm shouting from the treetops!  The mailman brought me one of the best pieces of mail I've EVER gotten -- my notification that the Craft-Dee BowZ is OFFICIALLY Patented!!!  We are no longer "Pending"!  And here's that wonderful official document that sealed the deal.

I guess that truly makes me an inventor.  I really cannot believe that my life would take such a crazy turn like this.  Someone pinch me -- I'm high as a kite.  Hubs keeps hauling me down off the ceiling.  Hmm,  now it's time to get going on that other idea I've had percolating in the back of my wee brain.

I just wanted to share my personal achievement with all my bow making and card making friends.

Have a bow-ti-ful day -- I know I have!

Donna

This wire isn't from Western Union!

And just when we thought we had this great little bow making tool figured out -- along comes another idea!  My good friend Chris was "playing in her room" (that's Craft Room) and she dug out some wire and started to fiddle with it on the Craft-Dee BowZ.  Well, lo and behold, she emerged with a flower!  Yes, I said flower.

So, I decided to give it a try with brighter colored wire and this is the result.  You be the judge.

Easy as pie.  You create your wire flower on the Craft-Dee BowZ the same way as you would a multiple loop ribbon bow, except that instead of making a knot in the center back, you simply twist the wire nice and tight.  Trim the excess and bend the twisted wire at the back.  I placed a large brad and added some bling to the center of the brad.  I then manipulated the wire to form a flower.  I could have wrapped it a few more times, but this will come with practice.

To finish off the wire flower, I die cut some leaves and placed them underneath the flower which I secured with a large glue dot.  Here's a close-up of the flower.  Isn't that just the cutest?!

I deliberately kept this card simple looking so that you could focus on the wire flower.  I'll most likely do a video tutorial on this fairly soon, but we have some more surprises coming your way using wire.  You will be amazed, I PROMISE!

Happy bow making and have a bow-ti-ful day!

Donna

A Spring Wreath

Hello everyone! The weather is finally warming up here, but we have gotten more rain than I think I've ever seen!!! I wanted to create something different with these beautiful ribbons and cute little dress die. I started by cutting a circular piece of chipboard and painted it a matching green as the ribbon.

I took the green ribbon and wrapped and gathered, stapling in the center in an offset pattern. Once I had that completed I took the purple ribbon and wove it around.

To fill in any blank spots I added the little sprays of tulle and pearls of the same color. Then die cut three of the little dresses, 2 yellow and 1 purple and also placed them randomly.

I tied bows with the left over green ribbon with my Craft-Dee Bowz tool and also adhered them. I added little purple blooms and a butterfly as well. The finishing touch was a multiple loop bow in purple with my Craft-Dee Bowz tool!!!

I thought it turned out cute and you could make lots of variations of this little wreath! You could make multiples for shower decorations, or birthdays........lots of possibilities!

Thanks so much for dropping by, and please check back again to see what else we have in store for you!

Bows and Washi tape...

What do they have in common?  Well, bows, actually!!  Yes, you can make bows using Washi Tape.  Here's a sample.

We actually have two different types of bows here -- ribbon ones in white and a Washi one in the blue pattern.  I'm sure you're curious as to how to do this.  I had posted another sample quite a while back, but thought I'd refresh your memories.  

Let's begin with the ribbon bows.  I simply took a length of ribbon and tied a 1-1/4" bow on the Craft-Dee BowZ and without cutting the ribbon, I  slid it along the dowel as if to make a brand new bow, then tied another bow.  Now you have two bows on one piece of ribbon!  Here's a closer look.

 

As for the Washi tape bow-- easy peasy!  Using a white plastic bag from the supermarket i.e., cut away any writing on the bag.  You'll have to determine approximately how long you'll need your Washi tape"ribbon".  In this case, I allowed about 12" to create the bow and another piece about 7" for the band across the card.  Lay your washi tape on the plastic bag and burnish lightly.  With good scissors, lay them against the long ede of the washi tape and zip along the edge cutting away all the plastic.  Do the same to the other side.

Once you have both strips completed, using the longer of the two pieces of Washi tape "ribbon", create your bow on your Craft-Dee BowZ being VERY careful when tightening your bow.  Use a squeeze and squish motion to compact the knot down rather than pulling hard on the washi.  You must remember that washi on plastic is very fragile and cannot withstand the pulling that you would do with ribbon.  In this case, before I completely tightened the bow, I inserted the 7" piece of washi thru the back of the knot to create the band across the card.  When done, trim the tails of the bow and adhere to your card using double sided tape.  Done!  And yet another use for Washi tape!  And here's a close-up of the Washi Tape bow...

Hope you enjoyed this verbal tutorial and if you have any questions, please feel free to email me.

Donna

Hey there, Sunshine!

Good Morning everyone! Or at least it's a good morning for me! I have another day to enjoy life and all it has to give.

Today I have a card to share using the colors and theme Donna chose for the design team. The colors were green with pastels, butterflies and flowers.

The bow was created, using the Craft-DeeBowz bow making tool. I used purple ribbon, along with white tulle ribbon. After I created a multiple loop bow, I cut the tulle loops to make it fluffy.

I hope you like this card and purchase a craft-deebowz for your self and also make these beautiful bows. Have a great day! Hugs Brenda

From Bows to Flowers

Hi Everyone,
Babara here. Thanks for stopping by today. I have something to share with you.

You know we all buy stuff and don't use it for one reason or another and this is no exception. I had some wired yarn sitting around and  wondered, what I would get if wrapped the yarn around the pegs on the Craft-Dee BowZ tool as if it were ribbon.

You have to see what I got!!!!

A  FLOWER

This is so cute. Maybe it's a little too dimensional  for a card or a L/O but it could go on a package or maybe a pin.

Here is how I made this.

I first got the tool out and set it up with the pegs to be about 4 1/4" apart. 

Then I wrapped the wired yarn around the pegs, just the same as if it were ribbon.

I wrapped 4 full times

Then placed the left  tail over the other like you do with the ribbon. Next that tail on the top,  bring it under and thru all the wired yarn and back over the top. This would normally be the know in a ribbon bow.

Then instead of  tying a knot just twist the tails together.

Twist it pretty tight and twist all the way down the other tail. So now you have just a stem.

Remove the wired yarn from the tool

Start to position the loops. I have shaped them in a round fashion.

Keep pulling them gently into place. I worked on one side then went to the other side and fiddled with it til it looked like a flower of sorts.

And here it is my finished flower.

Funny how things wind up. I bought this for possible use on a Derby hat and wound up making a flower.

Well I hope you give this a try if you own the Craft-Dee BowZ and if you don't have one yet, you can purchase one here.

Thanks

Hi Everyone,
It's Barbara here for today's post. Did you know CDB is now hosting a monthly challenge??!!. You may want to check it out, just access the tab above that says Monthly Challenge and that will take you to the right spot with all the info. The May challenge theme is Anything Goes with a Handmade Bow. I hope to see your entry.

The ribbon we got this month is gorgeous, but it is every month. I thought I'd use a stamp I recently picked up and the ribbon color was perfect for the card.

The leaves on the calla lilies are a pale green, hope it shows up. I also added a few beads that I strung on some wire.

This bow is a double looped bow and the CDB tool makes a perfect bow every time. Love the wired ribbon, it enables you to shape your bow and the loops really stand out..

Well, I hope you have a wonderful week, and please stop in next week to see what the super talented Brenda has in store for us.

Barbara

Another Mother's Day card

Hi everyone!  Yes, I do exist -- I just haven't been posting since I have such a great team doing that for me.  You have to admit, they do some delectable work, don't they?

I was actually supposed to post something on Tuesday, but a visit to VA to see family precluded that.  Add that to the fact that I simply forgot to get it ready and well...!  So here's my contribution to our Mother's Day theme.

I know it comes as no surprise to you that I've used Graphic 45 papers again.  This is from their French Country selection.  This is a little twist on an easel card that I had seen and I added my own changes to it as you will see by the last two photos.  This card was simple as can be because all it took was fussy cutting some sunflowers and putting the different patterns together to make it more cohesive.  And, of course, I topped the whole thing off with a gorgeous satin ribbon, multiple loop bow created on the Craft-Dee BowZ.  Really, if you haven't availed yourself of this tool, NOW is the time to do it!

Here's a pic of the card open...

And here's a side view of how it sits...

I hope you enjoyed this simple-to-do card and feel free to leave comments.

Happy bow making!

Donna

May Challenge

Hi Everyone,

Welcome to the new monthly feature here at Craft-Dee BowZ, 

A Monthly Challenge!!!

We are very excited to be able to invite you to participate in our challenge, which is a monthly feature. On the 1st of each month, we will begin a new challenge. You will be able to link your creation at the bottom of this post to be in the running for a Craft-Dee BowZ tool that will be awarded at the end of the month.  

Monthly Prize
The Craft-Dee BowZ tool

The winner of the contest will be announced at the time the next challenge begins, so the winner for the May contest will be announced on June 1. 
You will have until June 15 (that's 2 weeks) to claim your prize

You will always be able to access the current challenge or to view prior challenges by clicking on the Monthly Challenge tab at the top of the page.

The themes will change from time to time, so please make sure to check the theme for the current challenge.

This month's theme: ANYTHING GOES with HANDMADE BOWS

Here is some inspiration for you for our 1st challenge.

May Keyword:

CDB01

We are looking forward to seeing your submissions

Here are the guidelines for playing:

• Create a NEW project for the challenge. No back links please.You can use stamps from any company, or any digital images.
• To be eligible to win, your project  MUST use a handmade bow on each project you submit.
• Please link to your blog or to your post at the SplitCoastStampers gallery (SCS)
• If posting to the SCS gallery, please be sure to include the keyword code that appears on the monthly announcement to tag your project to the challenge. Please enter that code using the keyword CDB01   Each monthly sketch will have its own unique code that will appear in the announcement..
• Please link the card or project to the inlinkz icon at the bottom of the challenge. Please make sure to link to your post containing the challenge card not to your blog address.
• The winner will have until the 15th of each month to claim your prize.To claim your prize please email me at bbruder@fuse.net with your name address city, state and zip code.
• Each months challenge starts on the 1st day of the month
• The challenge will end each month on the last day at 8:00 p.m. eastern time

If you have any questions please email me at bbruder@fuse.net