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.

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!

Edwin's Halloween Treat Challenges

Hi fellow crafters and Tilda fans! Today, I'm posting a treat bag/box made of painted and distressed wood. I hope you enjoy.

You can barely see the moon-colored cardstock, black & corrugated layers under all that goodness!

Glossy Accents were added to button & eyes.

Bats on curled wire are on chipboard base with a coat of black Stickles and Glossy Accents.

I used the masking technique on the jack-o-lantern!

Check out that weathered wood treatment!

I began with a wood handled shopping bag purchased from the craft store for $1 (I love bargains) which I painted with 2 coats pumpkiny caramel brown (sand lightly between coats), a fairly thick coat of Decoarts Weathered Wood crackling compound, then finally black acrylic paint and a spray coat of clear matte. I love the affect and almost didn't want to cover over it!

I used a handpunched round of glittery cardstock for the moon backdrop to my little Edwin vampire. I only have 2 Edwins and they are both Halloween stamps...my personal favs! The sentiment is a Stampendous cling stamp.

I used lots of Copic markers coloring Edwin in spite of his fairly simple coloration. The clothes, shoes, and hair used: C1, C3, C5, N7. For his deadly pallor I used: E000, E50, V000, RV000, RV02, V02. The jack-o-lantern used: Y04, Y07, YR21, G20, Y17, G82 and that's about it!
I'd like to enter my box in the following challenges:

Magnolia Down Under #117 Halloween, ends 10/14
ABC DT - Pumpkin Challenge (10/22)
(10/22)
Magnolia Stamp Lovers Fall Challenge (10/22)
Hooked on Crafts Anything But A Card (10/15)

7 Kids Kollege Fund Halloween (10/25)

Simon Says Halloween Challenge (10/18)

Magnolia Tilda Sweet Christmas Dreams Collection for 2011

I visited a few stores tonight that are taking preorders for the new Tilda Sweet Christmas Dreams collection. If you have a chance be sure to check out all the new stamps. Here are a few online stores in the USA that began taking preorders today:
Stamping and Scrapping

Stamp and Create (shipping now so I ordered Tucked Tilda in a stocking and Halo Tilda Angel)

Tilda's Town (free shipping - preorders)

Have fun and drop me a comment with what you'll be buying...it might help me decide what to get!

Magnolia Sweet Christmas Dreams Collection for 2011

I found it at last! I've looked for days and am thrilled to finally be able to post this. It turned up on a Facebook group.

This photo seems to be missing some of the stamps in the club kit like the angel and all the sentiments, mini, and santa hats. Maybe the photo is not the complete issue or those missing items are exclusive to the club kit. I'm really not sure, sorry!

Don't you love the ice skater and the Tilda in a stocking?? I've slowed up buying these because they've gotten so pricey but might have to break down and buy just one!

A Stair-Step Card at Last!

Well, it took a week longer than anticipated but I hope it was worth the wait! I had a ball making this card. It represents a lot of firsts for me in card making. A first "step" card, first "dirty" Tilda, first Pirate Tilda, first time painting a card, and first time using gauze.

To make Tilda look a little grubby I added brown tones to the shadows on her hat and the stripes on her shirt...as I look at it now, I might go back and add it to the boots as well!

The diecuts are all from Cricut Paper Doll, Accent Essentials, and Life's a Beach cartridges. I tried something new this time (another first!) by cutting everthing, except the flag & ship, in white Neenah Solar White and then colored everything with Copics. It is so much easier than running little scraps of colored cardstock through the unit and the small items are easy to color. I added Glossy Affects to the crab, starfish, shell, anchor, & fish eyes for some fun dimension and also to the back of the ship to make it a little less fragile.

The waves were cut using a Fisker border punch. Each row was antiqued a bit with white paint & stamp pad then slathered well with diamond Stickles. I chose to use alternating rows in different colors with waves facing opposite directions to give the card some movement. The shadow of the little pirate ship from Cricut Paper Dolls in the background gives the illusion of distance.

The gauze is a simple 2x2 bandage that I opened and stained with coffee to make a net for my shells. It was tied to the pier with string as was the anchor. The pier is a stamp by Art Impressions that I stamped on kraft cardstock and colored with Copics #E25, 29 and O. I cut it out and glued it beneath the first row of waves. Tilda was fussy cut also and pop-dotted to the pier to give a 3D affect.

I used the following Copics:
Flesh - E0000, E21, E50, R000, R20
Hair - C3, C5, N7, 0
Clothes - E40, 43, R22, R39, R46, B91, B95
Boots/hat - C1, C3, N7, E40, E43, E44
Earrings - YR21
Pier - E25, E29
Sun - Y00, Y15, Y17
Sealife - R22, R46, R17, Yoo, Y15, Y17, C1, C3
This photo is inspiration over at Magnolia-licous Challenge blog this time around. I love the colors and the geometrical shapes with a plain white background!

I'm entering this in the following challenges:
7/31 Magnolia Highlites - Summer Bash, Fishing fun
8/24 All That Scraps - #12 Hot, Hot Days of Summer
8/8 Magnolia-Licious #22 - Photo Inspiration

Make a Side Step Card

Split Coast Stampers has a wonderful tutorial to make the side step card. Be sure to click the link and go there to get directions to make yours. It looks complicated but is so easy!

I've been dying to make one of these: CHECK BACK FOR MINE LATER THIS WEEKEND...but go ahead and get started on making yours.

Magnolia Stamps of Sweden - Edwin's Fish

It has been years since I first saw this stamp and failed to buy it!! I have thought about and wanted to use it so many times since and am always annoyed that I let another summer go by without getting one so today I have decided to contact Diana at Magnolia-licious and order it! Just wait to see the next teepee card I make :-) Here's a photo from the official Magnolia website in Sweden.

The only bad thing I have noticed about this stamp is the fish all face the same direction. Otherwise, I think they are just the cutest...this coming from someone who HATES fish in either a tank or on my plate but I do love the sea and live fish swimming in their natural habitat.

If you have this stamp and would like to part with it...get in touch asap and maybe I'll buy yours instead of ordering new. Thanks for looking in today!

Maggie & Friend Teepee Card

The challenge over at Magnolia Card & Kit Swaps was to make a teepee card to share with a teammate. My teammate is Frances from Florida. I wanted to make her something that I thought any Florida-lover could enjoy and what better than an ocean theme? When I think Florida I think blue water and sandy beaches! I hope she enjoys the card and homemade box.

This box was so easy! It took all of 10 minutes including the stamping and diecuts. All you need do is measure the outer edges of your card, add width dimension x 2 + approx. 1/4" to length and width and score on those lines on all 4 sides. clip on the inner aspect of where the lines intersect on the two shortest sides. Folds on scoring and assemble 2 sides of the box, glue in place. Voila! Your done and ready to decorate.

Here are some additional challenges I'm pleased to enter my card:
1) Week #113 Just Magnolia & Hanglar Stanglar - Anything Goes w/optional Shabby Chic(closes July 7th)
2) Magnolia Stamp Lovers Challenge - Thinking of You Summer Flowers (ends July 16th)
3) All That Scraps - #11 Anything Goes (ending July 13th)
4) Creative Inspiration - Summer Vacation (ends July 9)

Magnolia Tilda Summer Stamp Kit 2011

There is much controversy over Magnolia's latest stamp kit for summer 2011. I thought it would be fun to re post the image from our Magnolia Yahoo Group for my visitors to check out and comment.

I have to say, I'm so glad I didn't get around to ordering this kit which would have been the first time for me. Last summer the kit was so much fun with summer stamps from the Bon Voyage collection. Ironically, I visited Magnolia's site and had it in my cart and something stopped me. Boy! I'm really happy as I'd have been very disappointed. They are cute stamps but none are very summery. However, sometimes these unusual stamps net the best cards. I'm still pining for Edwin's Town and Edwin's Fish which I never got around to ordering.

Here are some helpful links I visit so you may explore Tilda's wonderful world:
The Official Magnolia Inspiration Challenge Blog (TOMIC)
Stamp Club Kits
Magnolia's Online Store
Magnolia-Licious Store
Tilda's Town (free shipping)
CC Designs Magnolia Department
7 Kids Kollege Fund Stamp Store

I'm A Cover Girl...Woohoo!!!

This cute little card is the cover shot currently at the Yahoo's "Magnolia Card Kit and Swap" group. Thanks to Melanie for adding her! If you want to learn more about the group and join us please be sure to hop on over HERE. If you love Tilda and company you'll want to join us soon!

This card dates to when I was first teaching myself to color with Copics so I won't even go into the color selections! The dock stamp is not a Magnolia stamp and was just quickly stamped on brown Bazzill cardstock. I added a couple simple fish cut from the Cricut Doodlecharms which I pop-dotted and added a bit of twine to make them look to be hanging. Tilda's toes are dipping in a bit of water I deco'd with diamond Stickles. The sun is an ancient Sizzix diecut I purchased on eBay.

That about does it for this post. I hope you'll stop over and join the fun with our little group on Yahoo!

Stair Step Card

Today's adventure is to use some of the fun coloring I did this weekend. Since we have a number of weeks before Easter I thought I might get busy trying a new technique before the crunch hits so I decided to look around Split Coast Stampers for some ideas and came across wonderful Beate's stair step card and thought it would look terrific with my Tilda bunny. Watch for my card to show up on this post later today or tomorrow.

MIA Valentine...

Thank goodness my little granddaughters got their Valentine from DH & I. This one I sent to my daughter's office at a large lawfirm downtown never arrived. She's our only unmarried child so I usually send one each year to her in thanks for all the running around she does for us. I can't believe it never arrived.

I proved you can make a great card without stamping! The double-layer heart was cut from Cricut's Doodlecharms cart. and embossed by the Cuttlebug. I antiqued it with a white foam stamp pad. The ribbons & lace are leftovers from the May Arts competition, entry below.

At least I thought to make photos!


UPDATE...the card showed up this week with 41 cents postage due! Interesting since I took it to the p.o. to be weighed. I can't see how this simple card could require $1.05 postage. I think I'll be making more rectangular cards!

Valentine Challenge Card

This fun sketch is by Melanie Navarro Fuentes from the Yahoo group Magnolia Card & Kit Swaps. This is a fun group stop by and check it out!

After a little struggle with ideas my card ended up turning out okay.
Thank goodness for a huge stash of ribbon and embellies! For some reason, I seem to have a problem with using flowers. Each time I set out to make a card, I always feel certain I will use flowers and true to form I did so this time but alas...NO flowers again! The ribbon & buttons looked so cute, I had to use them instead.There are 2 layers of pop-dots to give the card fun dimension. I used vintage K & Co. Valentine DP from my stash with one new addition from Making Memories. All layers were sewn with some extra distressing for fun.
For some added interest I dry embossed the pink heart Tilda is holding and added string. By the way, this Tilda is Butterfly Tilda who had a wing-ectomy! She's the only suitable Tilda I had for this card so I just took off her wings and added a paper-pieced dress and strung heart.
I love the card interior! Mine aren't usually this embellished :-) Again, I used the altered art style of tossing things out in a well-planned but not-looking-it fashion!!I colored Tilda with the following Copics:
Shoes - C1, 3, 5, N7
Socks - RV02, RV21, C1, RV000
Flesh - E50, E00, E0000, E21, R20, R00, R11
Hair - E50, E33, E21, E25
I'm entering this card in these challenges too:
All That Scraps Magnolia Challenge #6 - Queen of Hearts
7 Kids Kollege Fund #14- I {Heart} You
Magnolia Down Under - Love
Totally Tilda - Lots of Hearts