Ellen Hutson's Twelve Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist!

Here's my lucky tag for this lucky day 12.12.12 over at Ellen Hutson's 12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist!  I was inspired by Jennifer Maguire's beautiful tag for both subject matter and colors.  I love her little touches of bling, colors, and three snowflakes.

Hmmm...snowflakes!  Think I'll enter this in Simon Says Stamp's Snowflake Challenge too.

The hardest part of this was making the crystal drops to hang from the birdcage but I love the look!  It's a little hard to see in my photos but I used the Cricut snowflake embossing folder then antiqued the edges  of my tag with Broken China Distress Ink and the flakes with a frost white Colorbox stamp pad.  I chose not  to add a sentiment this time around. 

The bird and cage were both embossed with embossing powder to add some fun texture.  I used several diecuts of Martha Stewart snowflakes and pine bough with a craft store silk flower for a little zing to this otherwise blue creation.

Operation Write Home World Card Making Day Bloghop

If the link in the logo doesn't take you to the bloghop, click
here http://operationwritehome.org/starsandstamps

Here's the OWH sketch I followed for my card for the winter-themed bloghop...

My cards were inspired by some I found on a Lawn Fawn challenge. The cards are constructed similarly by making the bases 4" x 4.25" with the focal image overlapping the card, making the card the required 5.5" x 4.25", fitting an A2 sized envelope.

The papers used on my cards are old stock from my stash which includes Martha Stewart and Cosmos Cricket with a little American Crafts Neopolitan (Mason jars) tossed in for good measure!

Thanks for stopping by my blog and have fun hopping along! Please stop back to see me again sometime.

Peppermints were glazed with Glossy Accents.

All glitter elements were sealed with Glossy Accents.

The Franklin Mint, Harley Davidson Teddy Bear "TINY"

Today, I posted this photo and the following excerpt on an old classmate's Facebook page and thought I should put it here for posterity.

Here's something I designed while a Design Manager at The Franklin Mint (TFM).  This was my last program at TFM so I didn't get to finish everything but it was a fun project while it lasted. I chose English artist, Christine Pike, who prototyped and designed the bear itself because she made the coolest bears with open mouths & TEETH!! I named him "Tiny" in the 2D stage and was surprised it stuck, he was given an embroidered tattoo with it on his arm...a novel thing for bears at the time.   In the end, his teeth were dropped because some thought it might scare collectors! There are so many little secret bits I remember about this bear that no one person at TFM or its predecessor would know today. Oh yeah like, his portly girth was inspired by the Marketing group's name for the first issue which had something to do with Harley Davidson's "Fatboy" motorcycle! With a large direct purchasing manufacturer like TFM there were legions of individuals involved in the design & production of this bear of which I was honored to be the individual who first visualized the bear and pulled all the pieces together to develop 2D and eventually a 3D bear. I really loved this little guy and thought he embodied the best of what I brought to TFM.

At some point it appears the bear's name changed to "Tiny Tim"...I didn't know that until just now! Wish I could still be doing bears...they were so much fun :)  Harley Davidson, if you're listening...

Mid-Week Magnolias is having an "Olympic" challenge! Since I created a USA patriotic inspired card with my new go-to stamp I decided to go for the next best. Inspired by my family's mother land, Italy check out the latest card destined to a trio of favorite cousins!

This card was colored with Copic markers. I used the paper piecing technique on Tilda's dress along with several Spellbinder diecuts. I used a modified easel card base where I folded the easel in half toward the opening and topped with my image and a base of 3 diecuts. This shows off the topper well.

Here are a few more angles:

Patriotic Tilda

Here's our inspiration for the current Magnolia-licious Challenge...

My card...

This was a fun challenge for me because I never seem to find use for a patriotic card until this summer. I made it from several kits I received in a swap last year including lots from the kit I made and shared.

I was particularly tickled by the silver star garland I found and snipped into pieces and worked into my card, adding a red faux crystal to make it bling-worthy. I think it made a terrific embellie as did the wired red glittery stars representing fireworks.


You've probably noticed that in addition to coloring Tilda with Copics I used two more techniques by paper piecing Tilda's dress from a polka dotted paper and hand drew the "USA" on Tilda's flag so my little American Tilda could show her patriotism!

Spellbinders Labels 8 made a perfect base for Tilda on my easel card.

Here's a peek at a few more angles and the card interior:

I'm entering my card in the following challenges:

Magnolia-licious Color Inspiration Challenge

7 Kids Kollege Fund Challenge #51 Stars & Stripes

Stamp N Store Repurposed Storage

Here's my thrifty $2 purchase from the local flea market. I hoped it would work for Copics but looks like it is best suited for my stamp pads and reinkers with some Stickles tossed in for good measure.

First, I scrubbed it down then lightly sanded all surfaces. I didn't opt to prime it since it had a commercial grade coat of white paint so I moved straight on to painting. It took several coats of satin black paint to cover the white with a light sanding between coats...



I finished off with several spray coats of clear satin acrylic for durability. One sheet of scrapbook paper made a perfect lining for the back of the box and voila! Not bad for a $2 investment and a couple hours of time.

Free Paper Crafting Templates

It doesn't take much to make this papercrafting-granny sing anymore but this actually got me off my feet dancing a little jig! Oh my, just when you think you've been around long enough to know alot along comes a link so fantastic you just have to share with your blogging friends and family AND wonder why you haven't found it before now. ((Cousin Linda, I hope you find this and have fun :o))

Fun-stuff-to-do.com is just the spot for one-stop shopping for FREE templates of every sort. I think I might have to make one of those fun cake boxes everyone was making last year soon too. Here's the first pattern I downloaded: okay...so the site says I can't publish their patterns without permission so here's a 3D item I created from a spent roll of clear wide package sealing tape but it gives you the idea of "CAKE" right? Well, maybe soon I'll post a wedge of cake made from their pattern. Keep checking but in the interim if you'd like to make my version you can see my tutorial in an earlier post HERE.

Magnolia Summer Memories New 2012 Collection

Hello fellow Tilda fans! I tend to love mostly summery stamps with a beachy theme and for the moment am pondering if I should take the leap and buy the club kit from Sweden while it is still available. Sheesh, decisions, decisions!

Enjoy the amazing new Summer Memories release of Tilda, Edwin and friends!

I resized some images on page 2 and omitted stamp names so I could fit them all. If you need a PDF with individual stamp names it is available online if you search like I did!

UPDATE - I am so disappointed! I just heard from Diana Crick at Magnolia-licious that none of these stamps will be in the club kit...and I just purchased it. Darn!!

Magnolia Summer Memories

The great folks at 7 Kids Kollege Fund have emailed a super peak at the new Magnolia collection called "Summer Memories". Be still my heart!! Oh my, do they know I love all things beachy, especially mermaids?? Heavens to Betsy! I'm all a gaga :o) I can't wait to get my hands on that baby.

Moxie Fab Hero Arts and Studio Calico Freebies

There's always lots to see and do at the Moxie Fab blog and now is no exception! While you're there be sure to check out the Stamping Royalty contest currently underway but hurry, it ends March 20th.
Hustle over and enter your name at the Moxie Fab blog for a chance to win a slew of the cool new stamps which are a collaboration between Studio Calico and Hero Arts. Check some of them out...here's my fav------------------------->

I'll be heading back to Tuesday Winnerday to see who won...fingers crossed its me, me, me!

Latte Cards, Stamps & Cartridges

I'm lovin' this Cricut Everday website latte...I'm sure you will too! I want to use my Cricut more for cardmaking and this little video by Emma of My Creative Time stamps shows it with flair or java/joe/brewsky...however you look at it.

Emma will show you how to use the Cricut Lacy Labels to cut an A2 size card that will be your base for a tall latte using Love You a Latte. This is a collaborative effort using My Creative Time's stamp set You Are Perk-fect and Coffee Backgrounds. Can you believe THIS awesome set for just $16.99...including dies?? I HAVE to add these to my wishlist!!


I LOVE coffee and give it away by the bags full all summer long at my Angelstide rental property...yep...all summer! Nothing better than an early morning cuppa joe, relaxing in my wonderful Florida room overlooking the Little Assawoman Bay and our lake....ahhhhhh!!

Magnolia Tilda Princesses and Princes Collection

The newest collection of Tilda and family is just darling! Scrapyland has them all and they offer a once-monthly 40% off coupon if you use the code LADYBUG. It makes for a good time to purchase a sweet little stamp!

They offer international shipping specials at Scrapyland too. I do not receive free products or any sort of payment from Scrapyland (but wouldn't that be nice?!)

Fantabulous Cricut Top 5

Check out who made Top 5 at the Fantabulous Cricut "Love Is In The Air" challenge!  Check the cool blinkie I get too...woohoo!  I LOVE Top 5 honors because it means my item was chosen from the 134 entries as one of the 5 best.  That makes you want to run create more.

Here's the card that won...

A 4 x 6 Art Exchange Project

An online art-swapping, paper-loving friend posted info. on Facebook today about a free 4" x 6" art swap in which she's participating.  I'm not sure I'll get around to this one but thought it might be a perfect project for my card-making friends to consider.  Hey, it's even pretty close to an A2 size card so you're bound to have envies around that will fit the project.  All you need to do is send in your work of art and a self-addressed stamped envelope...easy peasy!

Hmmm.  If I do this, I just might have fun making some sort of colorful collage.  If DH goes back to work next week, maybe I'll give it a go.  How about you?

One Last Valentine for 2012...SNIFF!

It is a very good thing I started my Valentines early this year.  As the day draws closer, I've not been able to get my mind back into the creative mode.  My DH has been having some health issues so he has been my focus.  My grandkids are actually gettingr store-bought cards....eeek!!  A first but I bet my 5 year granddaughter will love it for a change, so I don't feel so bad.  It's sorta like the child who wants a store-bought Halloween costume after sporting beautiful mommy-made ones!  Been there a few years back so I feel well prepared.

Here's the last of the cards I got made before chaos reigned in our house:

The Tilda was from a swap I participated in recently.  The lovely kraft/damask print and newsprint cardstock are from Canvas Corp.  The large red heart was cut with my Cricut.  Ribbon is my signature fav by May Arts.  The greeting inside the easel card was cut with Spellbinders and a coordinating stamp set.

I'm entering this is the following challenges:  

All That Scraps - Anything Goes, ends 2/14

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge -  - Use a Cricut Heart ends 2/12

Valentine Freebie

Wow!  The joy of pinning on Pinterest is amazing...and look at the freebie I just found for my readers:

Be sure to stop over to Vintage Indie to grab your own sheet of these fun vintage Valentines!

Hero Arts Digital Freebie

Just in time for Valentine's Day Hero Arts is giving away for free this cool set:

To get yours run quickly to Papercrafts Magazine to snag yours1

Maggie Card Swap

I belong to a sweet little group on Yahoo Groups that likes to exchange kits to make cards and pre-made cards. This month's card swap theme is "Wouldn't It Be Loverly", a Valentine theme I suppose. Here's a photo of the card I made my partner, Beth...

This was a lot of fun! Little did I know when I was using my yummy bag of printed kraft pieces that these were actually scraps from a new line of card stock by Canvas Corp. I'm seeing it around now and at sneak peeks from CHA this week! Also used a number of Cricut cartridges for the hearts and my ever-growing supply of Copics for coloring, then tossed in some red Stickles and slathered things with Ranger Glossy Accents. There was also a generous amount of antiquing going on with various Colorbox stamp pads. Oh, and the most fun item is the little paper piecing I used on Edwin's overalls...that's more from the scrap pack by Canvas Corp I purchased at A.C. Moore. The ivory rose was snipped from trim purchased on eBay long ago. The trinket pin is by Maya Road with a little addition of a red glass crystal I glued in place with a small dab of Glossy Accents (that stuff is amazing and love it's "multipurpose-ness"!) I used Spellbinder's lacy square for the interior. The awesome black & ivory check ribbon is from a spool I won at May Arts...lucky me! Here are a few more close-ups for you to see:

Guess what? It's an easel card!

Tilda Valentine Challenge

Magnolia-licious is having a Valentine challenge. Be sure to check it out. Here's a look at my entry...

Notice I split the easel card base so the top of my heart shows! Be sure to check out the details below about my Tilda and Edwin image.

I used distressing & antiquing on the card and pop dots to lift the large heart off the base for some fun dimension.

I came across a tiny heart print cardstock in one of those scrap packs at my local craft store and knew I had to do a paperpiecing on my Edwin overalls. I also used the same print on Tilda's pocket. Edwins patches and pockets were colored with a Copic marker. I love the result...those hearts are the perfect size for this technique. By the way, all I did was stamp the image on the red heart cardstock and fussy cut and glued over my image used here. Easy peasy!

I made all the heart embellies on the card with my Cricut using hearts from the Plantin Schoolbook cartridge. The red heart window was a double cut of the same hearts, created using Cricut's Design Studio and my laptop. I pop-dotted the red frame over a black and kraft heart base, which I cut using the larger outer heart so they would match up perfectly. "I & U" were cut using "All Mixed Up". To give them more zing I highlighted the heart edges with Colorbox Frosted White stamp pad, added a layer of red Stickles, and slathered with Ranger's Glossy Accents. A heart-shaped faux crystal was added from my stash.

Here are the ingredients for my little recipe. (Oops - am showing the negative of the letters I used.)

I also plan to enter this card in the following challenges:
Just Magnolia and Hanglar Stanglar "Window" challenge. Hurry...this one ends Jan. 25th!