Merry Christmas to you!

Hello.  A Happy Happy Christmas to everyone!  Hope you're enjoying this holiday season with family and friends.

I did a very very very poor job this year of making enough Christmas cards to send to people that are on my Christmas list.  SIGH.  So sorry, my friends, but life happens--isn't that often the case!? tee hee.  I will make a determine effort to do better in 2014...honest!

Anyway, here's a Christmas card that I did manage to finish.

I'm featuring these two adorable images from this year's holiday stamp collection from Magnolia:

- The Day Before Christmas Stocking Tilda from the Winter Wonderland Collection 2013

- A Joyful Tilda from the Winter Wonderland Collection 2013

Magnolia stamps are available from Magnolia-licious, Diana's on-line store, where she carries a large selection of both full-size and mini stamps.  And if you don't see the particular one you are looking for, ask Diana if she can bring it in for you.  Check out also the stamps from Wee Stamps, Wild Rose Studios, Penny Black and Candibeans, along with cutting dies from various companies and other crafting items.

A reminder that if you haven't enter your holiday cards/projects into the month-long Holiday Challenge at the Magnolia-licious Challenge Blog, you still have time.  You have until the end of the year, December 31st, 2013.  HUGE prizes to be won!!!  One entry only, please.

As for me, I am this card into these challenges:
Sketch 'n Stash Challenges #128 - Sketch
Cheery Lynn Designs Challenges #112 - Anything Goes (B146 Pine Branches and B119 Tropical Leaves)
Colour Me Creative Challenge #83 - Holiday Themed
A Little Bit Crafty December Challenge - Christmas Cheer
Christmas Cards All Year 'Round December Challenge - Christmas Stocking
Cards Galore Challenges for December - Christmas
Addicted to Stamps Challenges #72 - Lovely Wishes
Bearly Mine Challenges #117 - Anything Goes
Passion for Promarkers Week 228 - Mega Christmas Challenge - Include a Sentiment
Crafts and Me Challenge #143 - Anything Goes

Materials and Tools Used:
Sentiments:  Computer generated
Designer Papers:  Basic Grey Euphoria Felicity; Basic Grey Wassail Greetings; Mustard Moon Old Red Tractor Small Plaid
Dies:  Go Kreate Rectangular Frames Frilly #10; Spellbinders Labels Grommet Tags and Petite Ovals: Cheery Lynn Designs B146 Pine Branches and B119 Tropical Leaves; Poppystamps 977 Berry Sprig; Tim Holtz Festive Greeneries; C.C. Designs Mistletoe; Memory Box 98316 Cherry Blossom; Impression Obsession DIE071 Spiral Daisy; Memory Box 98467 Pine Needle Border
Punches:  Punch Bunch Impatients; Carla Crafts Small Cosmos; 1/4", 1/8" and 1/16" Circle hand punches
Miscellaneous:  Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink stamp pad Walnut Stain and Forest Moss; pearls and grommets from my stash
Colouring Medium:  Alcohol ink markers - Letraset Promarkers and Letraset Pantone Trias

Gift Card Purse

Hello.  This is going to be a short posting.

For those last minute gift if you can't think of what to get her/him, a gift card might be just the thing.  So much easier and actually much preferred so she/he can so buy whatever she/he wants--rather than what you think she wants...tee hee.  I tried to make this gift card holder to look like a purse (so this is for a 'her'...tee hee).

This gift card holder is based on the double-tag card style that you can find the tutorial HERE at Marianne's blog.  I used a smaller circle, 9 inches in diameter, to reduce the card to 4½" x 5½", a better proportion for a gift card holder than the original size.  This is easy to make--the trick is to use a double-sided designer cardstock.  Also I only bothered to make one tag.

This Magnolia image I'm featuring is from an older Magnolia collection:

- Tilda Goes Shopping from the Bon Voyage Collection 2010.

The stamp for this image is currently out of stock at Magnolia-licious, Diana's on-line store, although the mini version is available there.  Magnolia-licious has other equally adorable images, both full-size and minis.  If you don't see the particular one you are looking for, ask Diana if she can bring it in for you.  Check out also the stamps from Wee Stamps, Wild Rose Studios, Penny Black and Candibeans, along with cutting dies and other craft supplies.

Challenges for this project:
Magnolia-Mania Challenge #82 - Gifts
Sparkles Monthly Challenge #51 - Anything But A Card
Deep Ocean Challenge #67 - Something Old (the image is from a 2010 Magnolia stamp collection)
Passion for Promarkers Week 228 - Mega Christmas Challenge - Include a Sentiment
I ♥ Promarkers Challenge #199 - More Than One Fold
Inky Impressions Challenge IIC #139 - Merry Christmas
Heck of a Challenge for December - Colourful Christmas
Stampin' for the Weekend - Anything Goes
Charisma Cardz Challenge #49 Anything Goes

That's it for now.  Thanks for stopping by.  Much appreciate your visit.  Have a wonderful weekend.

Materials and Tools Used:
Sentiments:  Computer generated
Designer Papers:  K&Company TC Christmas Designer Paper Pad and EB Visions of Christmas Paper Pad
Dies:  Spellbinders Mega Ovals and Classic Ovals; Memory Box 98467 Pine Needle Border
Miscellaneous:  Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink stamp pad Walnut Stain; pearls and brad from my stash
Colouring Medium:  Alcohol ink markers from Letraset - Promarkers and Pantone Trias

Life Happens Chocolate Helps - FFFC #104

Hello.

It's Friday and there's a new challenge at the Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge.  Being hosted by the lovely Wendy, the theme for this challenge is 'Chocolate'.  We're also being sponsored by Fresh Brewed Designs.  You can find complete details of the challenge, the prize and how you can join in the fun at the Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge.  Don't forget to check out also the fabulous cards that my DT teammates have created.

Here's what I've created, using a lot of chocolate/brown shades.  This is the view from the top.

It is really a two-drawer gift box.

And the image is actually a small easel card mounted on top of the gift box.

I love this sentiment "life happens Chocolate helps"--just perfect for chocoholics...tee hee.  It was a digital freebie I downloaded from Create With TLC.  Thanks, Paulette.

This adorable Magnolia image I'm featuring is Tilda With Love from the With Love Collection 2013.

This stamp is currently out of stock at Magnolia-licious, Diana's on-line store, but other equally adorable images are sold there, both full-size and mini stamps.  If you don't see the particular one you are looking for, ask Diana if she can bring it in for you.  Check out also the stamps from Wee Stamps, Wild Rose Studios, Penny Black and Candibeans, along with cutting dies and other craft supplies.

In keeping with the sentiment, as well as the challenge theme, I've filled the two drawers with chocolates.  These marzipan chocolate bars--a favorite of mine--I can only get around Christmas time here. 

Challenges for this project:
Passion for Promarkers Week 228 Mega Christmas Challenge - Include a Sentiment
Crafts and Me Challenge #143 - Anything Goes
Stamping Sensations December Challenge - Free and Easy
Time for Magnolia Challenge #39- Let's Play Bingo (flower, diecuts, Tilda)
Challenges 4 Everybody Challenge #35 - Anything Goes
Divas By Design - Anything Goes
Crafty Girls Challenges #8 - Anything Goes
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #237 - Your Favorite Film/Inspired by a Movie/TV/Song (a French film 'Chocolat')
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #157 - Feminine With A Sentiment
Creative Fingers Challenge #15 - Anything Goes with optional something old (my DP's are discontinued DP's from my scrap bin)

Thanks for stopping by.  I very much appreciate your visit.  Enjoy your day and have a wonderful weekend. 

Materials and Tools Used:
Sentiments:  Computer generated 'Just for You'
Designer Papers:  Basic Grey Cappella paper pad; SEI Park Buddies paper pack
Dies:  Spellbinders Labels Eighteen an Petite Ovals; Joy! Crafts Four Petal Flowers 6002/0068
Punches:  Martha Stewart Heart Chain Punch-Around-The-Page Set; EK Success Medium Retro Flower; Nellie Snellen Floral Punch FLP031 Large Rose Leaves
Miscellaneous:  Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink stamp pad Walnut Stain; pearls from my stash
Colouring Medium: Alcohol ink markers from Letraset - Promarkers and Pantone Trias

Christmas Angel (Plus Bride) Tutorial

Hello. 

I was actually surprised but absolutely delighted by the response to my Christmas Angels (in my previous posting).  Thank you all so very much. 

A few of you have asked me how I created them--really, they're easy to make!  So, in response to your requests, here's a tutorial on how to make your own Christmas angels.

Materials required:
Coloured images--for this tutorial I am using Starlight Tilda from the Merry Little Christmas Collection 2010
Doilies - the size is complete up to you, depending on the size of your images and how long you want the gowns/dresses to be
Coffee filters, if making your own doilies
Cardstock

 

If you're making your own doilies using with cutting dies, use 2 layers of coffee filters--one sheet is too flimsy.
Here are samples of doilies of different designs and sizes:

Step 1
Make the pleated gown first. Create scorelines by folding in half (matching the paper edges each time) and unfolding at half points, quarter point, one-eight points and so on.  I usually use the upper tips of the scalloped edges as my guide--shown by the arrow points.  Once you've gone around the circle, you will have folded 8 times.  

 

I'm not sure I'm explaining that right...tee hee, but it should look like after all the foldings. 

  

Step 2
Turn the doily upside down and redo Step 1 except this time fold in between the previously-made scorelines--use the dips in the scalloped edge this time--shown by the arrow points.

 

 ...and this is the result.

 

Step 3
Form pleats for your gown--like a fan--by sharpening the valley and mountain folds along the scorelines.

Step 4
Make a paper cone for underneath the gown to make the angel sturdier.  Out of your cardstock, cut out a circle that is a little bit smaller than your doilies.  If you don't have a die for it, you can use a compass (from your school days?) and scissor.  You need only a third of the circle to make one paper cone.

Step 5
Apply glue as shown and glue the edges together (overlapping about 1/2" or 1cm) to form the cone.

Step 6
Place a blop of glue a the tip of your paper cone.

Step 7
Insert your paper cone into the underside of your gown to glue in place.

Step 8
Cut a 3/8" or 1cm strip of cardstock, approximately 6" or 15cm long.

Step 9
Curl the paper strip, apply glue as shown and wind it around something cylindrical to form a paper ring--mine's around 5/8" or 1.5cm in diameter.

Step 10
Apply glue as shown--along the inside edge.

Step 11
Glue the paper ring at the top of your pleated gown as shown.

Step 12
Attach your coloured image to the ring.  And voila!

 

If you feel industrious, you can do another image for the back, then you have a nice front and back.  

For a Bridal Tilda

For a wedding dress similar to this Doo Bee Pops Bride Tilda (in my previous posting also), here I'm using all three of the different sizes of doilies shown in the sample picture above.  Glue the doilies together one by one on top of the paper cone--largest one at the bottom, smallest one at the top.

 

Sorry but I don't have the bride image all coloured up for this one...yet, tee hee.

 

Okay that's it!  Let me know if the instructions aren't too clear somewhere.  Have fun with this! 

 



Christmas Angels (Plus Bride) - Magnolia-licious 'Doilies' Challenge

Hello everyone!

We're currently having our 'Doilies' Challenge at the Magnolia-licious Challenge Blog.  It's Team B's turn to post our inspirational cards/projects, so hop over to the Magnolia-licious Challenge Blog to see what my DT teammates have created and also to get the details for the challenge and how you can join in the fun.

A reminder that our month-long Holiday Challenge/Blog Hop is still going on and you still have time to join in.

Now, on to my project for this challenge.  I've made these Christmas angels.  As you can see, going along with the theme I've used doilies to create their dresses/gowns. 

The larger size doilies I have bought from a dollar store. The smaller ones I have made from coffee filters using Cheery Lynn doily cutting dies.

You can leave these angels free standing as they are or you can turn them into Christmas tree ornaments like these...

To name these adorable angel images, they are from older Magnolia collections:

- Dancing With Stars Tilda from the A Little Christmas Collection 2012
- Little Tilda from the A Little Christmas Collection 2012

- Tilda With Hanging Star from the Merry Little Christmas Collection 2010
- Angel Tilda from the Merry Little Christmas Collection 2010
- Tilda With Jolly Wreath from the So Jolly + Under the Mistletoe Collection 2009

Magnolia stamps are available from Magnolia-licious, Diana's on-line store where she carries a large selection of both full-size and mini stamps.  And if you don't see the particular one you are looking for, ask Diana if she can bring it in for you.  Check out also the stamps from Wee Stamps, Wild Rose Studios, Penny Black and Candibeans.  You can also find cutting dies from various companies, as well as other crafting tools/supplies.

As I was finishing up with the angels, I thought of another Tilda image that I could 'dress up' in the same style.  Here's another one that is non-Christmas...

This is Doo Bee Pops Bride Tilda  from the Special Moments Collection 2013.

Challenges I am entering with my project:
Creative Fingers Challenge #13 - Anything Goes
Allsorts Challenge Week 235 - Inspired by a Christmas song or carol (Angels We Have Heard on High)
Charisma Cardz Challenge #46 - Christmas
Stamping Sensations December Challenge - Free and easy
ABC Challenges - A for Almost Christmas
Totally Papercrafts Friday Challenge #195 - Ho, Ho Holidays....
4 Crafty Chicks Challenge - 4CCC #170 Christmas
Crafty Girls Challenge #7 - Anything Goes
Crimbo Crackers Challenge #55 - Anything But A Card
Totally Tilda Challenge #86 - Anything But A Card

That's it for me.  Thanks for dropping by.  I very much appreciate your visit.  I appreciate even more any comment you care to leave...tee hee.  Enjoy your day and have a wonderful week. 
And oh yes, get crafting yourself!  It's getting too close to Chrismas for my comfort as I have no where near the number of Christmas cards that I need...yikes!

Edited:  I've just completed the tutorial for this and posted it HERE.

Materials and Tools Used:
Dies:  Cheery Lynn Designs English Tea Party Doily DL101 and Canadian Kaleidoscope DL104
Miscellaneous:  Coffee filters; doilies from dollar store; Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink stamp pads Aged Mahogany and Walnut Stain; glitter and blings from my stash
Colouring Medium:  Alcohol ink markers from Letraset - Promarkers and Pantone Trias