Christmas in February

Hello and Happy February 25th.
Yes, it's time for my February Christmas card for the Christmas All Year Long Blog Hop--thanks to Julie for organizing it. Our group is part of the Magnolia-licious Yahoo Group--thanks to Deb, the owner. A group within a group, dedicated to producing Christmas cards on every 25th of each month to ease the mad rush to get everything done around Christmas time...LOL.

A list of the participants and the start of the blog hop can be found at the Magnolia-licious Christmas All Year Long Blog. If you're taking part in the blog hop and have come here from Nadyne's blog, then you're in the right place. The next blog to visit after me is Peggie's.

So this is my February Christmas card.

I didn’t know what I was thinking when I started this. I just chose a Tilda image that I wanted to colour and started colouring her in whatever colours I felt like it at the time. This is not the way to do it—at least not for me!!! I had the hardest time determining the colour scheme for the rest of the card and the DP’s to match. Much, much, much easier to pick out your papers first and then pick out your colours from them. But I knew that, you know…. like I said, I didn’t know what I was thinking!!! LOL. And that’s why I ended up with this non-traditional Christmas colours.

For the card, I used this Skecth # 103 from Inspirational Card Sketches, designed by Stacy. An added/optional challenge is to make it an easel card...woo hoo my fave!

Other challenges:

Top Tip Tuesday - Bling it on challenge

Creative Inspirations - Challenge 100 - Stripes!
Paper Play Challenges - Week 8 - Let's Get Sentimental

Fussy and Fancy Friday - Week 31 - Embossing and/or Paper Piecing

This is Tilda in Winter Light from Magnolia's A Merry Little Christmas Collection 2010. She is available from Diana's online store Magnolia-licious.

I have lots of glitter on this card: all the snowflakes, TIlda's white fur trimming, lantern and to outline the label die cuts. LOL...I have lots of glitter all over my craft room table and floor too.

I can only found one DP in my stash that would work for this card, the striped one. The other one, I took a plain coloured paper and just stamped some flourishes/swirls on it. For the embossed one, I took one of those card stock sheet that is surfaced-coloured only, You know, it’s coloured on the front and back, but the middle is still white. I embossed it using a snowflake embossing folder. Then by rubbing a piece of sand paper all over, took some of the colour off so that bits of the white shows through.


Here's a view of the entire easel card.

Other than the recipe for this card, not much more to say. Thanks so much for taking the time to drop by. I appreciate your visit very much. Enjoy your weekend!

Okay, from here, please go say hello to Peggie.

Stamps: Tilda in Winter Light, Inkadinkadoo clear stamp set Sketchy Flourishes.

DP: Keeping Memories Alive Simple Expressions Lavender Stripe.

Tools: Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels Ten, EK Success border punch, Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations Snowflake embossing folder, Magnolia doohickey die Swirl, Martha Stewart Snowflake punches large and medium, Marvy Uchida Snowflake punch small.

Misc.: Jewel Glitter Ritz micro-fine glitter Lilac Pink and Cool Highlights, Martha Stewart Crystal fine glitter, Tim Holtz distress ink pad Walnut Stain, Rhinestone/bling stickers and pearls from my stash.

Baby Swing Card - Magnolia-licious Challenge # 8

Happy Tuesday!

It's the 4th Tuesday of the month, so it's time for a new challenge at Magnolia-licious Challenge Blog. This one is our Inspiration Challenge for February. Here's my DT card ...

Tracy is our host for February and she has picked out this picture to inspire you to create something--a card or some other crafty things--and something Magnolia-licious, of course...LOL.

I've been wanting to make a swing card--or some people call this a flip card--for the longest time. I've been putting it off because all the tutorials and templates I could find on the internet are for cards that are on the small size. As I like my cards to be 6" x 6", I knew I had to figure out the measurements for it myself and make my own template. Well, woo hoo...I finally did it! I've included the template at the bottom of this posting for anybody who's interested.

This is how a swing card works. The card has a centre panel that swings--that's why they call it a swing card...duh. LOL. You have your image on the front of the panel...

... then when you swing the panel around/flip it over, on the other side you usually have your sentiments placed here. But in my case, I've chosen to have another image here instead.

This is Sleeping Baby Tingla from the Magnolia's Autumn Collection 2010. The image on the front of the card is Tilda with Baby Tingla from the Magnolia's Fall Stamp 2007 Collection. Both of these 2 adorable images are available from Magnolia licious online store. And don't forget to check out the latest release of some Butterfly Dreams Collection images to get you ready for Spring--it's just around the corner, isn't it? Please...

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Crafts and Me Challenges - Time to spread your wings.

7 Kids College Fund Challenge # 15 - Square cards (folds up into a square card).

Truly Scrumptious Challenge 51 - Swirls and Pearls.

Simon Says Stamps! Challenges - Make your own embellishment (my flowers are handmade).

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge # 122 - Fancy folds.

Just Magnolia hAnglar & sTanglar Challenge - Week 94 - Love you (precious baby love).

Creative Inspirations - Challenge 53 - Distress (used Tim Holtz distress ink stamp pad vintage Photo to distress my paper edges, the ink type not the torn paper kind).

That's all folks! Make sure you check out the cards and projects of the other DT ladies--OMG, they are FAB-U-LOUS! Check them out here, at the Magnolia-liciuos Challenge Blog and get some inspirations from the projects they've made. Then create something yourself and join our challenge.

Thanks for dropping by. Appreciate your visit. Enjoy your week!

Stamps: Tilda with Baby Tingla from Magnolia's Fall Stamps 2007, Sleeping Baby Tingla from the Magnolia's Autumn Collection 2010. The sentiments are computer generated.

DP's: 3 papers from Hot Off the Press Paper Pizazz Sheets Jacie's Vintage Papers.

Tools: Martha Stewart edge punch Daisy Dot, Coluzzle Oval template, Marianne Design Creatables RL0116 Swirls, Magnolia Doohickey die Leaf, EK Success Retro Flower punches medium and small.

Misc.: Recollections pearl stickers, Tim Holtz distress ink pads Vintage Photo and Weathered Wood, Martha Stewart Crystal fine glitter.

Medium: markers and coloured pencils--sorry I don't have the numbers. I was working on colouring a few images at the same time and the markers and pencils were all over my table and got all mixed up.

So, for those of you who are interested making a swing card (or flip card), this particular template I've drawn up is for a 6 inches x 6 inches card. For any other sizes, there are tutorials and templates for them on the internet, so...what else--just google it!

Have fun!

To print template click HERE - Swing Card 6"x 6" (15cm x 15cm) Template.

Spring Garden

Hello.

I bet some of you are sooo…ready for spring. Well, despite the calendar saying we’ve got another 5 weeks of winter left, it’s very spring-like here today. The snow drops are blooming and I can see about an inch or two of the tulips and daffodils peeking out of the ground.

I've used Mina's wonderful sketch that she's created for Just Magnolia hAnglar & sTanglar Challenge - Week 93.

And a few more challenges I'm entering:

Bunny Zoe's Crafts Challenge 9 - Spring...Flowers Everywhere!!!

Totally Tilda Challenge 16 – How does your garden grow?

Paper Sundaes Challenge #56 - Pick your sundae toppings. My toppings are flowers and distressing. I’ve distressed all my paper edges including the flower petals with Tim Holtz distress ink pad Walnut Stain.

Marianne Design Challenge #27 - Theme Spring. I've used several dies from a couple of Marianne Design sets for the label on the bottom part of my card (see below) and to make the 2 large white flowers.

Despite Google Translator doing it’s best to translate the challenge rules into English, it’s not doing it perfectly. So I’m still not too clear on some of them. If this card doesn’t meet the challenge, oh well... I’m just happy to be sharing this card.

Our Creative Corner OCCC - Cut it out.

Everybody-Art-Challenge Challenge #129 - 3 papers, 3 flowers and option ribbon. I hope that means a minimum of 3 flower and not ONLY 3 flowers.

This Tilda is called Flower Girl with Petals from the Magnolia's Wedding Collection 2010. Isn't she just adorable? You can purchase her from Magnolia-licious on-line store.

And while you're at it, check out the new Butterfly Dreams Collection--ooh, I love butterflies. Diana has a number of images already on her store website here. The images are just as cute as ever. You won't be able to resist--I couldn't! I've already placed my order...LOL. Can't wait.

I've stamped this Tilda image twice. Once for the background paper and I've colored her very quickly. The 2nd stamped image, after colouring, I've cut out and then mount it on pieces of foam tape/dimensionals right on top of the 1st image. I love doing this--most of my Tilda's are done this way to give my card a more 3-D look.

And yes this is another easel card--my favorite type.

Thanks for taking the time to drop by. I appreciate your visit. Have a wonderful week.

Stamps: Flower Girls with Petals from Magnolia's Wedding Collection 2010, It's a Beautiful Day Inkadinkadoo rubber stamp. The other sentiment is computer generated.

DPs: Paper Adventures Karen Neuburger Northern Lights Stripe, Chatterbox Scrapbook Walls Collection Sky Bias Strip and Sky Lilac.

Tools: Martha Stewart Fence and String Lace border punches, Leave punch; Coluzzle oval templace; Fiskars paper edger scissor Deckle Long; tiny flower punches from Michaels $1.50 bin; Marianne Design Creatables LR0116 label die and LR0111 flower petals and flower center dies; Joy Crafts Leaves dies.

Misc.: Recollections pearls, Tim Holtz distress ink pad Walnut Stain.

I love you this much - Magnolia-licious Challenge #7

Happy Tuesday!

It's time for a new challenge at the Magnolia-licious Challenge Blog. Tracy is our host for the month of February and for our colour challenge, she has chosen the colours pink, black and red. Yikes...2 of those colours, black and red, are always real challenges for me to colour. Anyway, this is what I came up with.

This adorable gal is Tilda Wants a Hug from Magnolia's A Merry Little Christmas Collection 2010, available from Magnolia-licious on-line store. I like to cut out my coloured images and mount them on pieces of foam tape/dimensionals for a more 3-D effect, and that's what I've done here.

I am also using this card to join other challenges:

(sorry for the long list, but woo hoo...there's a common theme for most of these...LOL)

All That Scraps - Anything Goes

7 Kids College Fund - Challenge #14 - I (heart) you!

Simon Says - Love is in the Air!!

Stampin' for the Weekend - Challenge #3 - St. Valentine's Day

Creative Inspirations - Challenge #52 - Valentines/Love

Let's Ink It Up - February Challenge - Romance/Valentines Day

Paper Sundaes - Challenge #55 - Two or more images (I hope I don't have to have them on the front of my card...in the inside count, doesn't it?)

Stamp With Fun - Challenge 97 - Love

Cupcake Craft - Challenge 128 - Seeing Red

Crafty Cardmakers - Challenge #36 - Hearts

Basic Grey - Challenge 37 - All Heart (I have use a fabulously designed Basic Grey DP called Raspberry Cream from the Bittersweet Collection.)

All Sorts - Week 89 - It Must Be Love Love Love

I've decorated the inside of the card this way and I've used another Tilda Image. This one is called Tilda With Many Hearts, from the newly-released You Are So Special Collection 2011, also available from Magnolia-licious on-line store.

I hope you will play along with us in our challenge. Have a look at the FAB-U-LOUS creations of the other DT ladies, at the Magnolia-licious Challenge Blog here and let them inspire you. There is a prize of a $25 Gift Certificate from Magnolia-licious.

Thanks for taking the time to drop by. I appreciate your visit. Have a wonderful week!

Stamps: Tilda Wants a Hug from Magnolia's A Merry Little Christmas 2010 Collection, Tilda With Many Hearts from Magnolia's You Are so Special 2011 Collection, Magenta Crafty Individuals Stamp C95031 Love, the other sentiments are computer generated.

DP's: Basic Grey Bittersweet Raspberry Cream, Chatterbox Pink to Heart.

Tools: Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels Fourteen, Martha Stewart Deco Fan Corner, Lace Scalloped Heart Punches and Leaves Punches, Punch Bunch Contemporary Heart Punch, Magnolia Doohikey Swirl, EK Success Retro Flower Punches medium and small.

Misc.: Mark Richards crystal stickers red hearts, Recollections pearls, Tim Holtz distress ink pads Black Soot and Aged Mahogany.

Medium: Alcohol-ink markers and coloured pencils.
Promarkers: Antique Pink, Cocktail Pink, Baby Pink, Pale Pink, Blush, Soft Peach.
Touch: Cool Greys CG9, CG8, CG6, CG4, CG2 and CG0.5, 28 Fruit Pink, 27 Pale Pink, 132 Milky White, 136 Blush
Prismacolor: PC935 Black, PC1067 Cool Grey
Derwent: C190 Pink
Faber-Castell Polychromos: 9201-131