For My Nephew

I made a third bookmark for my nephew for his birthday. That's all of them now, 2 nieces and his. I used this tutorial here to make a corner bookmark. Red is his favorite color. The striped paper came from Making Memories twinkle papers. The top paper came from the Stack 5, I wanted something that looked like ice and this did the trick. I distressed the edges of both papers and used red grosgrain ribbon to divide the 2. The hockey player was a Silhouette image. The letters Making Memories 7/16" Funky Black letter stickers. I used the word goal this time instead of read, but I think goal has an educational context as well as a hockey context, so it worked for me. For the back triangle I just used black cardstock.
My lessons learned: I was shocked at how little red and white patterned paper I had. I had more red, white and blue papers than red and white. And I really wanted to use Canadian colors. Going to have to fix that. I wanted to put the 'ice' colored paper on the bottom but I have found that it really looks better to have the darker color on the bottom. It just seems to anchor things better.

I would like to share my bookmark at:

Do You Stack Up stripes, closes Dec. 28,

MelJen's Designs no rectangle cards, closes Dec. 28,

Stampin' for the Weekend anything goes, closes Dec. 30,

Incy Wincy Designs winter wonderland, closes Jan. 1,

Crafty Sentiments bookmarks, closes Jan. 3,

Charisma Cardz anything goes, closes Jan. 4,

Digital Tuesday Challenge winter wonderland, closes Jan. 10

Abby's Christmas Ornaments, Part 2

I also made these marshmallow snowmen for the tree as part of Abby's birthday theme of Hot Chocolate. I started with 3 very old and slightly hard marshmallows. I cut about 1/3 off of one (and this became the middle). I cut about 1/2 off of another (and this became the head). I pushed a toothpick up through all of them and used a little hot glue between the layers as well. I cut a toothpick in half and colored it brown for the arms. Cut the end off of another toothpick and colored it orange for the nose. For the eyes and buttons I used black glamrocks and set them with my iRock. Used my hot glue gun to glue my ribbon onto the top of the marshmallow head. Then a half a mini Oreo, without frosting, gets glue gunned on top of that. Used the glue gun again to add a chocolate drop on top of the mini Oreo. Next glued the whole works onto 2/3s of a graham cracker and my snowman was complete.
My lessons learned: It would be best to use sprinkles or candies for the eyes and buttons but I didn't have any so I improvised. Probably also best to use frosting to attach the chocolate drop to the mini Oreo. I didn't have any of that either so I used hot glue. It melted the bottom of my chocolate of course so I put my ornaments in the fridge for awhile afterwards. I also think they need a smile, but I got outvoted that they were fine just the way they were. They should also probably be sprayed with a shellac but since I don't plan on keeping mine past this Christmas and that spray makes them smell very stinky I opted just to hang them on the tree as is.

I would like to share my ornaments at:

City Crafter Challenge winter white, closes Dec. 27

Abby's Christmas Ornaments

Every year for Abby's birthday, she turns 2 soon, I make some ornaments to match her birthday theme. We have to have the tree up, it's a live tree, so I try to incorporate it into the party decorations. This years theme is Hot Chocolate. I made these mugs as decorations. I saw the idea here. I bought some small mugs at Winners/HomeSense. I used watered down brown craft paint to coat the insides. I used kraft paper for the insides and painted the top of it with the same brown craft paint. I glue gunned some white pom poms to the top. I didn't want to completely cover the top in 'marshmallows' because I wanted you to be able to see the 'hot chocolate' inside. I added a small candy cane and some red grosgrain ribbon as ties.

My lessons learned: My mugs were still too heavy even though they were small. I think they would have to be plastic but I searched high and low and couldn't find plastic mugs. I even considered the plastic tea cups in little girls play sets but none of them were clear. Plastic punch bowl glasses would be ideal. Didn't find any of those either. The paint also softened the kraft paper so maybe a light cardboard or a brown cardstock would work better. They look really great, but they are hung so far back on the tree branch (because they are so heavy) that they are hard to see on the tree.

 

I would like to share my ornaments at:

The Sisterhood of Crafters Christmas challenge, closes Dec. 25,

Try it on Tuesday anything goes, closes Dec. 26,

Sparkles Forum Challenges anything but a Christmas card, closes Jan. 15

It's Official, I Have Completely Lost My Mind, Day 12

I DID IT! All 12 days! Day 12 at Bugaboo Stamps 12 days of Christmas challenge was to use a Christmas song as an inspiration. Think, think, think, which one will I chose? Oh, right.
I chose an image that represents the "true" meaning of Christmas for me and my faith. I embossed the white background cardstock. I added a cloud image from Silhouette around my stamp and then printed and cut. I did the same for the sentiment. For the 2 little clouds I offset the images, cut the offsets out, then printed the smaller images onto them using my printer. I edged the edges of all of my clouds with Tim Holtz distress ink in broken china. That worked really well. Used pop dots on the sentiment and little clouds. I wanted to keep this as clean and white as possible. And I like the way it turned out. Actually I wanted to ring it in Christmas lights and find the flashiest gold sparkle paper and a neon sign with an arrow saying "I did it!", but I went with clean and white ;o)
My lessons learned: for whatever reason I have to cut out my image using my Silhouette and then run it through the printer to print on it. I can not print then cut, it doesn't work. Don't know why but it doesn't.

And now for the Big Reveal (and the reason I had to crop all of my pictures so closely)...
I made a mini album ~ well 2 actually. I put the first 6 days in/on one album and the last 6 days in/on the other. Now you know why I had to have so many common elements and so little dimension. My lessons learned: I wish I had not chosen a theme because I bought stamps to match my theme, not necessarily because they were my favorites. I was also limited by size. My album squares are 4" x 4". I really could have used the extra inches that a regular card would have given. And I did miss adding dimension. And the time of year...don't even get me started. But my friend Vicky said, "being creative is never a waste of time". I like that. I LOVED the challenge of having to come up with a new idea/technique everyday for 12 days. And what I loved most of all was that I think I did. It felt really good. I felt really creative. But now I'm putting away my scrapping supplies (we'll need the dining room table) and getting to work on the 2 big days coming up. My Abby turns 2 on Dec. 23rd and Jesus turns 2011ish on Dec. 25th. A BIG, BIG thank-you to my followers for indulging in this splurge of creativity with me!!! Merry Christmas to you all!

 

 

  

I May Have Lost My Mind, Days 10 and 11

Day 10 at Bugaboo Stamps 12 days of Christmas challenge was to make a masculine card. I chose Deacon the elf because that was the only one I thought looked like he was in motion, best for 10 lords a-leaping, or swinging in this case ;o) I used blue argyle background paper from the Stack 5. I cut out a tag using my Silhouette. I used Tim Holtz distress ink in broken china and my ColorBox silver ink to color the tag. Then I used the top of a plastic water bottle to make the rings. I like that coffee cup ring stained look but I knew I needed it on a smaller scale for my tag, so the water bottle worked perfectly. I attached my tag to turquoise ribbon and then used 2 snowflake brads to attach my ribbon to the background paper. Used print and cut on the Silhouette for Deacon, colored him in, ran him through my Xyron and added him to the card too.
My lessons learned: I'm getting much more comfortable using patterned papers on my cards. I wasn't sure whether Deacon should have some blue on him or not. I opted not because all the colors do go together, but still not 100% sure...

Day 11 at Bugaboo Stamps 12 days of Christmas challenge was to use plaid. I really like plaid. I know I said no more birds but this little penguin just sings to me ~ I'll be there with bells on! Really suited the 11 pipers piping. I printed and cut him out using my Silhouette. I used 2 plaid papers that I had, cut them both out into a square, cut the green in half and glued it onto the red. Then I made a snowflake border to run diagonally between the 2. I first used my silver sketch pen to draw the snowflake border using my Silhouette then used the cut edge feature to cut it out. I also used the offset feature on my Silhouette to create the white mat for my musical penguin. I just felt he needed it with such a dark, patterned background paper. I used my Silhouette to cut out the tag, ran it through the printer to put the sentiment on it, then used my gold glitter glue to add the accent.

My lessons learned: move your glitter glued tag further away to dry when coloring, otherwise you end up with glitter glue in your hair as you are leaned over your coloring.



I May Have Lost My Mind, Days 7, 8, and 9

I figured out how to do this without clogging up everyones newsfeed. Just do one post for all 3 cards. Learning! So, Day 7 at Bugaboo Stamps 12 days of Christmas challenge was a photo challenge.

Here's the little trick, Bugaboo doesn't have any swan images. I'm pretty literal when it comes to photo challenges so that threw me. Anyways I picked a penguin (both birds) and followed the color scheme. Also used my evergreen background paper, the same as Day 1, kind of a nice tie in. Printed my sentiment and birdies right onto the background paper. Printed out my image and colored and paper pieced him. Added some faux stitching around both to complete Day 7.

My lessons learned: I am so glad to see the end of these birds!!! Things were getting kind of squishy trying to fit everything on one page. I made a mistake trying to have some continuity amongst all 12 cards because by Day 7 that can be rather limiting...and squishy.

I would like to share my card at:

Creative Craft Challenges stitching, closes Dec. 20th



Day 8 at Bugaboo Stamps 12 days of Christmas challenge was milk and cookies. I picked the gingerbread man in the measuring cup because I figured he was a good match with my just add milk sentiment. Printed my sentiments out on the gingham background paper. I think gingham just has country kitchen written all over it. Well actually my gingham has the 8th day of Christmas verse written all over it, but I digress ;o) I used the print and cut feature on my Silhouette for my image. Then I paper pieced his hat and apron. Colored the rest with my Zig markers. I printed the measuring cup out on vellum, cut it out, ran it through my Xyron and placed that on top. Love the way it turned out!

My lessons learned: I need to buy a light brown marker. The only one I had has poor gingerbread man looking a little overbaked.

 

I would like to share my card at:

digistamps4joy no animals, closes Dec. 27th.



Day 9 at Bugaboo Stamps was for a feminine card. I picked this little Christmas girl because her dress reminded me of the Irish step dance dresses, perfect for 9 ladies dancing. Used my Silhouette print and cut again. I colored her using my EK Success pencil crayons. I used the purple, pink, teal and lime green colors that are the "in" non-traditional Christmas colors right now, and they do look really sharp together. I added 2 Imaginisce flowers and a snowflake brad. Background paper from the Martha Stewart playful pink paper pad.

My lessons learned: I really need to put small(er) flowers on my Christmas list. I like using flowers on things but most of mine are too big, especially for card making. I have so many decorative brads just screaming to become flower centers, but I really need some smaller flowers.

I would like to share my card at:

For Your Inspiration photo, closes Dec. 14th,

The Stamping Boutique no tradtional Christmas colors, closes Dec. 18th

 



I May Have Lost My Mind, Day 6

Ok, I've been working like a busy little beaver this weekend, so I will apologise now to my lovely followers for the onslaught of posts. I promise I'll take a holiday break :o) Day 6 at Bugaboo Stamps 12 days of Christmas challenge and the theme was humor. Not hard to do with all the hilarious stamps they have but I've been kind of working on a theme with all my cards so I had to be original. I had some cool sandy, sea foamy type background paper on which I printed my sentiment, birdies, pop can and sun. Then I used my Silhouette to print and cut my sunbathing goose.She of course HAD to have a teeny, weeny, yellow polka dot bikini. Added some glossy accents to her shades.
My lessons learned: I really didn't know whether to put 6 birdies up top and my goose or 5 birdies + mine. Went with 5+. This image printed with grey lines instead of black and I kind of liked that better I think, at least for coloring.

I Told You I Know Several

And my brother-in-law Lawrence, his birthday is today, is another of the Gus' I know. He just bought a new, red, Dodge Ram truck with a Hemi engine and a dirt bike. And they live in the city. Can you say mid-life crisis?!? Don't tell him I told you that! So I used both background papers from the Stack 2, cut out the pieces using my Silhouette, and paper pieced the truck. Used glossy accents for his eyes and metal brads for the hubcaps. Shiny metal paper for the 'chrome' bumpers. Sorry for the rushed post but we're off to the husbands staff party tonight and I'd better not still be sitting at the computer when he's ready to go!

Ok, I'm back. For his staff party they all met at a pub at 4:30pm. No planned activities. So by 9pm everyone was basically ready to leave. Not much fun really. But, shouldn't complain, could always host...no thank-you. I would like to share my card at:

Divas by Design anything goes, closes Dec. 13th,
Totally Paper Crafts anything but Christmas, closes Dec. 15th.

I May Have Lost My Mind, Day 5

For Day 5 at Bugaboo Stamps 12 days of Christmas challenge we were to use gold. Considering my current glitter addiction I really, really had to restrain myself. I chose this dapper snowman holding 5 snowballs which I converted to rings by adding 5 very small circles inside the snowballs using my Silhouette. I cut out the gold frame, also using my Silhouette, and my girl Kaylee helped me thread it with green ribbon. I tied a pretty great bow in the corner too. Bows are not usually one of my strengths. I cut my white background paper out using my Silhouette the ran it through the printer adding both the image and text. I colored him using my Zig markers added some red Stickles to his cheeks and DecoArt snow to his cuffs and hat brim. I used Diamond Sparkles on the snow below. The 5 golden rings were blinged out using my iRock and some iRock gems. I couldn't resist adding some "ice" ;o)
My lessons learned: When you're feeling sick (I am feeling sick, but Mommies don't get sick) all those time saving tricks you've come up with in the past backfire because you forget details. I had been printing my rough copy with a colored background so I knew exactly where to place my cut out pieces before running through the printer. Really ingenious. However you have to turn your colored background back to white before printing the good copy. You know, details.

I would like to share my card at:

Pixie Dust Studio glitter and bling, closes Dec. 14

I May Have Lost My Mind, Day 4

This was the hardest yet, I even moved on I was so stumped on this one, not sure why. Anyways Day 4 at Bugaboo Stamps 12 days of Christmas challenge was to use a bird. Maybe because I'd already used so many penguins I had such a hard time with this one. I picked a marshmallow snowman with 2 birdie friends and added 2 more. I used a vines and berries patterned background from the Silhouette store. I used the pan pattern feature in the advanced options to best line up the patterned background with my image. Then I used the print and cut feature. I know a marshmallow snowman works because both are white but I just couldn't resist coloring him the colors of mini marshmallows. I like that it adds some non-traditional colors to the mix. His green and white scarf is in the same colors as our CFL football team, the Saskatchewan Roughriders. If you're from Saskatchewan you know that everyone owns something in those colors. I printed and cut the tag with sentiment and added a green glam rock with my iRock. Some DecoArt snow finished the job.
My lessons learned: I had not used a background pattern in the Silhouette before and I realized it only added pattern to the background and kept my image white. Before I was cutting a printed background paper and then had to cut out my image separately and put it on top. Or if I printed the whole image on patterned paper I then had to paper piece the images I needed colored. This was much, much easier. The only downside is that it doesn't add any dimension. But that did allow me to use a more graphic background.

I May Have Lost My Mind, Day 3

The 3rd day of Christmas challenge at Bugaboo Stamps is to use an animal. I know penguins aren't technically an animal, but the design team used them on their example cards and this was another past freebie so I'm pretty sure these guys will work. Most of the work for this one came in arranging the image itself. I imported it into my Silhouette program then replicated it twice more (and then there were 3). I used the eraser tool to erase some of the snow between the 2 penguins before putting them next to each other. The 3rd one I flipped horizontally, made a little smaller, and set on top. I printed everything onto my background paper. I printed another copy on white cardstock and colored the hats, feet and noses. Then I cut out the pieces, this time by hand, and glued them onto the background paper. Added some DecoArt Snow Writer for the snow at their feet and we have 3 cutey penguins for the 3rd day of Christmas.
My lessons learned: that my markers, even the red, will not color over polka dotty paper. That's the reason for the paper piecing.

I would like to share my card at:

Creative Craft Challenges free for all, closes Dec. 6th,

Simon Says anything goes, closes Dec. 7th,

Charisma Cardz spots, closes Dec. 7th, 

Card Makin' Mamas sentiments, closes Dec. 8th,

Sweet Stampin' Challenge snow, closes Dec. 9th.

I May Have Lost My Mind, Day 2

So far so good, 2 down, 10 to go. Day 2 at the Bugaboo Stamps 12 days of Christmas challenge is love. Background paper from The Stack 5. I cut it out using my Silhouette and ran it through the printer for the sentiment. I colored my image using my Zig markers, glitter pens, and used diamond Sparkles on the snow. I used my chalks to add the glow around the star and to add the blue to the sky. Used a Silhouette frame for my image.
My lessons learned: that my chalk applicator can smear the printer ink if I press too hard. I thought I had heat set my printer ink but either that doesn't work or I forgot. And since I may have lost my mind, I'm going to go with forgot. I love the way the frame makes the image look like a family photo. I was very tempted to leave the image uncolored (like a black and white photo) it really stood out nicely but the husband said it need some color ~ which of course means glitter ;o)

I would also like to share my card at:

Creative Craft Challenges free for all, closes Dec. 7th,

Delightful Challenges let it snow, closes Dec. 7th,

Simon Says anything goes, closes Dec. 7th,

Card Makin Mamas sentiments, closes Dec. 8th,

Meljen's Designs holiday song, closes Dec. 8th,

Sweet Stampin' snow, closes Dec. 9th,

Designed 2 Delight snow, closes Dec. 10th,

Divas by Design anything goes, closes Dec. 14th.



I May Have Lost My Mind

Not really worried, it wasn't really there to begin with. So Bugaboo Stamps is having a 12 days of Christmas challenge on their blog. A new card everyday based on the song the 12 Days of Christmas with the new theme released each day. And you must use a Bugaboo stamp, makes sense. Really, it's not like I'm doing anything else for the next 2 weeks. Course the little one turns 2 on Dec. 23rd, and then there's that other big birthday celebration on the 25th. I may have lost my mind, but I so love Bugaboo Stamps. They have a new freebie every Friday and it is always a fantastic stamp just as cute as all the others in their store. Oh and they are having a 50% off sale for all of December, so the argument that I might have to buy stamps to participate kinda lost some steam with the sale on too. So here we go! (I may have lost my mind).
Today's challenge was to use a tree. I used my Silhouette to cut out the background frame and then ran it through the printer to put the sentiment on it. It was from Deja Views the Sharon Ann collection. I cut out the little frame for my Old World Santa (a past freebie) and ran it through the printer to put him on it. I colored him with a combination of my Zig markers, EK Success pencil crayons, Martha Stewart glitter markers and a white gel pen. I used Diamond Sparkles for his beard and DecoArt Snow Writer for his cape. I LOVE the snow writer, it adds such texture!
My lessons learned: the girls and I have all been sitting down at the dining room table after supper to color (Daddy too, he just doesn't color). It's great for all of us to "craft" together. The only downside? The table gets bumped A LOT. I save my really detailed coloring for when they go for snack ;o)

I would like to share my card at:

Digital Tuesday Challenge go green, closes Dec. 5th,

Aud Sentiments any Winter holiday sentiment, closes Dec. 6th,

Simon Says anything goes, closes Dec. 7th,

Cute Card Thursday a number, closes Dec. 8th.