Tim's 12 Tags of Christmas

I happened across Tim Holtz wonderful blog of Christmas tags this morning and wanted to share a link so everyone can visit and marvel at his talent! Check out the blog by clicking HERE.

Here's a peek at my favorite tag by Tim...


Be sure to check out the video and complete tutorial on the blog too! I love all the "layers" of technique but am especially drawn to the crackling on the snowman. You'll love it!!

Hero Arts Holiday Card Challenge

This fun was a simple card to make but looks so elegant! I'm looking forward to making more of these for this year's batch of special handmade Christmas cards.

Hero Arts challenged us to make a holiday card with a non-holiday stamp. I chose my Blossom Art set of clear stamps and used only the leaf to create this wonderful poinsettia flower. I stamped and heat embossed 7 petals in silver on white vellum and fussy cut. I found it easiest to glue the petals to a punched green Bazzill CS star with Glossy Accents. A punched hole made quick work of assembling the poinsettia with a yellow crystal brad center.

The background is layers of: recycled corrugated cardboard; cream cardstock which was stamped using MS sentiments in aqua & clear heat embossed, 2 faux crystals separate words; 4.125" green Bazzill cs; 4" Pink Paislee Butterfly Garden dp were pop-dotted for some fun dimension; and finished with a tie of aqua netting.

Be sure to check out the fun, upcoming Hero Arts Challenges and Hero Arts Flickr group.

Paper Mache Christmas Houses...

Ooohhhh...I am so tickled with a present I am giving my dear, dear fellow crafty- doll-loving-grandma friend (who'll know what she's getting for Christmas if she peeks at my blog too soon!) I'm sorry I didn't buy this set for myself but I will take joy in seeing my friend make hers and perhaps give it a go in 2011.

Took some doing but I found the houses at Hobby Lobby...

...plus lots of inspiration from Tim Holtz for possible techniques on this awesome snowman tag. My friend has a nice collection of paper mache Christmas houses which I was reminded of by looking at Tim's tag & recipe for snow: 1 part white UTEE, 2 parts clear UTEE, 1 part glass glitter, 1 scoop perfect pearls. Can't you see globs of this frosty goop slathered on this delicious house by Debbie Olson?
I just love the October Afternoon Mitten Weather papers she used! There are a few more ideas and a pattern at October Afternoon's blog. Check it out!

Graphics Fairy

This is a little free gift from the folks over at Graphics Fairy. All you need to do to upload it to your computer is click on my image, then right click on that page, and save to your computer. You'll also want to be sure to visitGraphics Fairy to see all the amazing free vintage images and participate in the fun. I'm going to someday soon...right after I sew stockings and make & address Christmas cards, wrap, prepare for my 2 parties...you get the idea. 'Tis the season!!

Not A Creature Was Stirring...

...not even this tiny paper mouse! I hope you enjoy my original 12" x 12" single page layout from a couple years back. I've been making so many cards lately I thought it would be fun to reach back into the archives and find a few of my favorites from the past to share during this busy time. I LOVE sketching so making my own original paper piecings was so much fun.

For those of you who aren't familiar with scrapbooking, paper piecing is the art of cutting pieces of paper out to form things like the mouse and mug on this layout!

Sorry...this layout sold already but I can remake similar ones upon request!

May Arts Ribbon Freebie!!

May Arts Ribbon is having a Plaid Ribbon Craft Challenge. Guess what?? The plaid ribbon is free...all you have to do is check their inventory and email them with your wants, your Christmas craft project and they'll mail off the ribbon you want to use. AND you stand the chance of being their featured blogger for the following month PLUS win a bunch of free ribbon. Click the link above and visit their store to pick out your plad ribbon then email them at sales@mayarts.com for your free ribbon. Deadline for entries is December 13th with a winner announced on December 17th. Have fun...I've already chosen my ribbon and will be sure to post my craft as soon as its finished!!

2 Peas and Jennifer McGuire - Free Lessons!

The amazing online superstore
2 Peas In A Bucket and Jennifer McGuire have teamed up for a series of videos entitled "Thinking Inking." I've been at 2 Peas most of the morning catching up! Jennifer is a endless well of creative energy who constantly amazes with the treasures and techniques she creates. Do yourself a favor and set aside a little time to go enjoy these videos. Then head over to May Arts and Hero Arts for more Christmas magic and giveaways! Check around too...many of the HA stamps are on sale around the internet.

HOLY COW - I won!!!!!

Wowza!!! I cannot believe this but I won a wonderful set of Sugarplum Christmas stamps from one of my favorite stores online...All That Scraps. It pays to blog hop :-)

Here's the cool set I won and if you hop over to ATS there are still many chances to win new stamps:

Totally Tilda Challenge #2

The theme for challenge #2 at Totally Tilda is a shaped card. I chose a Christmas stocking shape for my card. I used shabby prints from Fancy Pants in non-traditional colors for Christmas. The Tilda Elf sits in a pop-dotted frame to give her fun dimension. I made a trio of buttons for the cuff in an assortment of coordinating polka dots. This can be used as a card or glued around the perimeter as a stocking for your recipients favorite giftcard. The challenge ends Aug. 14th so hurry over and enter yours!

I made this fun little stocking for two challenges! Just Magnolia's #65 Vintage and a double-pocket All That Scraps Wednesday Challenge. It was a fun endeavor for sure and quick too!

I sketched a freehand stocking on a 5" x 8" card and cut around both layers making two sides of the main pocket, then traced & cut pieces to decorate the front side from MME's The Merry Days of Christmas collection. The cuff was trimmed with old lace, ribbon & a button from my stash. I notched the top with a partial cut from a circle punch to make taking items out of the stocking easier and stitched the toe/heel & around the outside of the stocking. A diecut from the same MME collection was used to make the front pocket which was sewn to a layer of green cardstock, 3 corners were punched, brads added & glued in place on card top to finish. The edges of the main section were glued leaving the top open for stuffing with loot!

My vintage Tilda Santa rubber stamp was hand colored with Copics and pop-dotted him on the small outer pocket. The seal, also a Tilda rubberstamp, warns all little children that "Santa is Coming to Town". I decorated a grungy tag by 7 Gypsy's added Prima flowers and MS punched evergreens along with some vintage buttons & ribbon. The ruler was made long ago for a back to school project. I thought it looked perfect inside!

What a perfect Christmas stocking for any boy or girl with double pockets for a giftcard, lollipops and loot...I know a bunch of little ones in my family who are getting this at Christmas!!