Christmas Gifts?

Nope, this is for me.....to you, the gift of a last minute idea.... and MERRY CHRISTMAS to you all.

A quick and simple fix to a pencil jar (read soup can) that wasn't jiving in my room anymore.  I so love the GRAPHIC45 papers knew it would be an easy fix for my dilemma.

Materials:
     Paper: Graphic45 "Domestic Goddess Collection: Farmer's Market"
A clean soup can

Simple.  One sheet of paper and a few cut outs.

Use your stash tags

So I missed getting a post out yesterday because I was working on making some custom tags for my gifts for Christmas this year.  You get TWO today..yay.  I will warn you right now we do NOT have a lot of this material in the store available for sale...something similar yes, but the EXACT item...NO!

I used leftovers and scraps on the whole thing...what a wonderful way to use up your stuff.....to make room for NEW goodies!!!

Materials:
     Paper: Paper Cut cardstock
      Checkered paper is available in the store in the car racing section
      Creative Imaginations makes the "CAR" paper and we still have that in stock...you have seen me use that many times.
Brads (to hold the metal letters) are form Making Memories

The photos are printed from the set of cute Christmas pix that Tim Holtz had for his 12 Tags of Christmas.  They are so darn cute....plus I found a few more to add later if need be.  The key, photo corner and "LOVE" brads are from who knows where...we had them in the store about 4 years ago....lost the box years ago too....!  We do have a set in the store that is more like REAL keys and corners that I like much better (but I have to use up this stuff I bought!!).  Metal letters and metal brads are ones I have had lying around for eon's as well.

Like I said, a "USE YOUR STASH" kinda project, but you get the idea.

              

Altered Card

I was playing with more of my TIM stuff and came up with this all purpose card.

Materials:
     Paper: Bazzill Cardstock
     Graphic45 (sign)
     Cosmo Cricket "Homework"
Stamp: Stampers Anonymous and Inque Boutique
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink "Vintage Photo" and "Black Soot"
Tim Holtz Film Strip ribbon
Philosophy Tags (Tim Holtz)
Kimberly Polson photo corner

I wanted to work with the film strip ribbon that finally came in...it has been backordered forever!  So, I started playing with my stamps and ink and paper and got to throw a little more TIM stuff at it.  Hard to tell from the photo, but the paper background looks like notebook paper.

With Sympathy

I had a piece of cork....and I needed to find something to do with it....and here is a nice sympathy card that I created with it.

Materials:
     Paper: WorldWin cardstock
Cork sheet (available at Picture This)
NESTABILITIES: Standard Circle
Stamps: Stampers Anonymous, Impression Obsession and Just Rite
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress ink "Black Soot" and "Peeled Paint"
Glimmer Mist
Glimmer Screens
Ribbon: May Arts

Lots of things going on here.  First thing I started with was my cork and the Glimmer Screen. I laid the Glimmer Screen on the cork and sprayed the cork until I had the coverage I needed.  Then I let it dry.  (don't let that mist on the screen go to waste..have a piece of paper ready to lay on the screen to pull up the color..it makes another great start to a card)  After that was ready I got out the stamps.  I had four different stamp sets going from the above mentioned manufacturers.  Simple layering with paper and ribbon and cork.

Sympathy card

More playing.....and early this time....my late nights are getting the better of me!

Materials:
     Paper: CORE'dinations Vintage and Chocolate Box collections
                WorldWin cardstock
NESTABILITIES: Sunflower 2 and Labels 8
Cuttlebug: "Vintage" die and Fluer d lis folder
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink "Aged Mahogany" and "Black Soot"
Bling: KAiser Craft
Stamp: Impression Obsession

I gave a little layering in reverse a try.  I cut out the large die shape first and then cut the next layer from the middle of the next piece of paper.  I made sure a little of the paper was visible around all four sides too.  Trimming away the excess I then mounted it to the cream card base.  I cut another smaller label then from the cream to put the sentiment on.  Once the sentiment was stamped I inked the edged while it was still in the die and then pop-dotted it to the card base.  The addition of the die cut embellishments followed that.

May peace be with you

Coloring like in a color book....fun times!

Materials:
     Paper: World Win cardstock
               WorldWin Doublemates
               Creative Imaginations (red)
Markers: COPIC and Tombo
Pens: Star Dust Glitter pen (Silver) and Gold Metallic Gel Pen
Stamps: A*Muse and Impression Obsession
Cuttlebug: "Winter Borders"
Ink: Judith "Black"

I just bought this tree stamp....isn't it cute?? Naturally I am a little late for Christmas but it will make some great cards for next year.  I used the Star Dust pens on the trees in little spots for some glittery detail.  Usually I would get out the Stickles for something like that, but with the design being so small, I wanted to have more control.  The glitter pens are perfect.

Winter wonderland

 A chance to play with some of my winter borders from Cuttlebug.

Materials:
     Paper: Bazzill (metallic)
                Vellum (Paper Cut)
                WorldWin cardstock
Bling: Kaiser Carft
CUTTLEBUG folders: "Winter Borders", "Snowflakes", "Just My Type" and "Holly"
Scor-Pal
Stamp: Stampendous "Have yourself a merry little Christmas"

I had a chunk of this metallic blue paper left and rather than cut it down to a normal A2 size (invitation size or 4.25x5.25) I decided to try a letter size card instead.  The Winter Borders set from Cuttlebug is much longer than the usual sets, so this is perfect for seeing all the image.  I glued the paper to the vellum and then only taped behind the areas covered by the paper.  The lighting in the house is bad again (late night and all) so it is much brighter than that.

Baby card

All shiny and blue.....

Materials:
     Paper: WorldWin cardstock
                Reminisce patterned papers
Punch: EKSuccess
SIZZIX die "Baby"

Simple card with double sided paper (so easy to work with!)  One side is baby buggies and the other a coordinating plaid....can't beat that!  I used a SIZZIX embossing folder set this time out.

Bright and Shiny Christmas

I got my hands on these cute cute cute ornament embellishments and decided to whip up a couple more cards to send out....if I get that far anyway.

Materials:
Paper: WorldWin, CORE'dinations  and Paper Cut cardstock
     blue MIRRAcard
CUTTLEBUG embossing folders...Swiss Dots, D'vine Swirl, Season's Greetings, Spot's & Dots and Snowflakes
NESTABILITIES: Spirelli, Scalloped Circle and Standard Circle
Sandylion embellishments
Just Rite stamp set
Silver embossing powder with embossing ink
Markers: Tombo and COPIC

I picked the colors for my cards based on the colors in the embellishments.  The stamps from Just Rite can be interchanged with other insides and outer rings to make a different sentiment for each card.  I have used this particular card design before and it worked well for this fitting my embellishments on the card. The card is still fairly flat for mailing without extra postage (I hope)

Love

betcha thought I wasn't going to get to a post today....well, you were almost right....but I did it.

Simple card, but I was using up leftovers again.

Materials:
Paper: Cosmo Cricket (elements tags)
     Paper Cut cardstock
Tim Holtz Adage Tags
String
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink "Fired Brick"
Bling: HERO ARTS

I was going for a Valentine type theme here with this leftover card from a sheet of Cosmo Cricket from Christmas....and what do you know...it works! Who knew that you could use a Christmas paper for a Valentine card...ME...because I like to figure out how to use stuff in different ways...and that is what you should do.  Just because you see it with a certain paper, doesn't mean you can't make it work with a different one. Shhh.... don't tell my kids, but I have used "girl paper" on their layouts....they'll never know. :)

PEACE

PEACE, what is that and where can I get some?
But seriously, I love playing with my Just Rite stamps where I can spell any word in any configuration...can't beat that.

Materials:
PapeR: Paper Cut cardstock and MIRRAcard (red)
NESTABILITIES die: Fancy Labels
Ribbon: May Arts
CUTTLEBUG "Holly Ribbon" folder
Stamp: Just Rite
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress "Fired Brick"

I like the labels in the fancy label set from NESTABILITES, so versatile.  I decided to give vertical a try on this one.  Since the holes in the label were the perfect width to put ribbon through I gave that a shot too.  I see I got a little low on the ribbon on the left side, but it's handmade...don't stress it right....PEACE is the name of the game.

More TIM tag inspired tags...

Had to try this one even if I didn't have all the same materials.  Gotta make do with what you have right?

Materials:
Cuttlebug: "Floral Borders", "Birthday Wishes Combo" and "Flowers" dies
ALCOHOL inks, lots of colors
Ribbon: Black Ric Rac and Black Silk: May Arts
Applicator and felt pads
Stylus
Brayer
Ink: Archival by Adirondack

So, in the example TIM did on his blog he used some larger sheets of self adhesive metal for the tag.  I am using a large tag (3X6) and I didn't have access to the metal sheets.....but I did have aluminum tape for duct work....it's good to have a man around with piles of  useful things to pilfer...hehehe.
I used the aluminum tape (Which also happens to be self adhesive and narrower than the stuff TIM used) and made my version of the tag.  

I used my CUTTLEBUG to cut out the shapes that I covered up with the aluminum tape.  Since chipboard cuts out so nicely with the "bug" I figured why not try that instead of using precut letters like TIM did.  I glued those down on the tag and then started putting my tape over the images.  After the tag was covered I used my brayer to smoosh the tape down between the spaces and then my embossing stylus to get into the grooves a little more.  Once I was happy with the image I used my bottle of alcohol inks and dabbed a little dot of color on the felt pad of my applicator.  I think I used maybe 6 colors dots on one pad.  I dabbed that pad around on the tag until I was happy with the coloring (go slow, don't over dab too quickly, the colors will blend too much).  Once that is dry I used my Archival Ink (black) to rub over the raised image to give it a bit more contrast from the blended colors.  Tie a little ribbon on the top and you have a fun tag to add to a gift or the front of a card.  Check out the Tim Holtz blog for what he did with his.  He used some very different products from what I did.

More 12 TAGS inspiration....

I am working on all the tags that T!M is doing, but I am not doing them in order....who needs order right? Nor did I go witht he Christmas theme this time....I can only use so many Xmas tags. This tag is inspired by the day 9 tag here.

Materials:
     Paper: Paper Cut cardstock (to print and to back the little pictures)
Tim Holtz "Adage Tickets", "Swivel Clasps" and "Journaling Tickets"
DYMO label maker
Ink: Tim Hotlz Distress Ink "Vintage photo" and "Walnut Stain"
Stamps: Stampers Anonymous "Letters to Santa" and "Urban Tapestry"
Metal Key: Kimberly Polson set
Cut & Dry Foam

Ok, loved the tag Tim did, but I needed to try sometig not Christmas this time.  Plus we can't get those darn film strips in stock.....they are always backordered....gah!  So, anyway, this is what I did instead, because I am nothing if not resourceful.    Can't get a film strip...make something else, adapt and learn something new.  We can't always get what we want, so I make my lemons into margaritas..lol  I found several vintage photos online and copied them to my computer.  After printing out the ones I needed I cut the little images out and mounted them to the black cardstock...sort of a film strip look....but then I arranged them differently on the paper.  I never end up with what the vision in my head starts me out on. So other than inking the whole thing to death, I layered my cool Tim goodies up on the tag....I think really like this altered stuff.....

More 12 TAGS inspiration....

Day 7 brought us this at the T!M blog.  I didn't have the same stamps, but you use what you have.  I thought my version of things was pretty nice too.

Materials:
Stamps: Stampers Anonymous "Letters to Santa", Inque Boutique "Time" and Swirl
Tim Holtz Philosophy Tags
Ribbon: May Arts
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink "Black Soot", "Fired Brick" and "Pine Needles"
STICKLES: Peeled Paint Distress and Candy Cane
Embossing powder "Gold"
Cut & Dry foam

I bought my tags years ago...seriously.  I followed the whole "masking idea" from T!M's blog to layout my stamps..since there were so many of them.  Give some of his ideas a try, you might find out something new...I sure enjoy giving them a try.

12 Tags of Christmas inspiration

Tim Holtz 12 tags of Christmas tags are  a great source of inspiration for me and my huge collection of Tim Holtz products.  I only had to buy a small amount of extra goods to do Tim's tags.....hard to believe i actually DIDN'T have something.....I really have a LOT of stuff.

Materials:
Stamps: Stampers Anonymous "First Christmas" mini and "Letters to Santa" set
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink "Black Soot" , "Fired Brick" and "Pine Needles"
Embossing Powder "Gold" and "Clear"
Tim Hotlz Fragment Charms
Craft Foil by Spellbinders
NESTABILITES: Fleur de lis
Memory Tape
Paper Cut cardstock
STICKLES: Gold, Distress Peeled Paint, Candy Cane (red) and Star Dust
Glossy Accents

all above purchased at Picture This

When I saw Tim had used the Fragments charms on a tag I had to get mine out.  The whole idea of doing them as ornaments was inspired!!  That man is too clever.  I even got to use up some old wire I have had lying around for what seems like FOREVER!.. See, a person can use stuff bought a while ago, you just need something cool to use it on.  I embossed the bough (green ink, clear embossing powder) and the swirl (gold embossing powder).  Everything else is just inked and stamped.  A little ink is rubbed along the edges of the tag with a Cut & Dry foam square.  Glossy Accents are used to glue the fragments to the papers that I stamped with the images. If you want to see some awesome instructions check out T!M's blog.  MY tags are something I bought a LONG time ago.  They are pretty big (3x6) and I put the holes in the bottom with a Zutter to make them into a book later.

Llama Llama

I have been working on past vacation photos and I am getting caught up....finally.

Materials:
     Paper: Sassafrass Lass
                 My Mind's Eye
                 Paper Cut cardstock
Brads and Flowers "lil' Davis"
Bling: HERO ARTS
Die cuts "My Mind's Eye" and "Lil Davis"

The border strip on the Sassafrass Lass paper is what I used along the side of the photos (middle).  Simple layout again.

Be Mine Valentine

Maybe I am getting ahead of myself, but since I have been working on Christmas cards since July, this doesn't seem too early...

Materials:
     Paper: Core'dinations "Ruby" Vintage Collection
                Making Memories "Paperie"
                Paper Cut cardstock
Ribbon: May Arts
NESTABILITIES: Fancy Tags, Scallop Circle and Standard Circle
CUTTLEBUG: "Candy Cane Stripe" embossing folder
Pearls: Kaiser Craft
Ink: Judith "Black"
Stamp: JustRite sets

Spelling out the exact phrase you want is the beauty behind these JustRite stamps.  I love the border designs too.  They work great with the Nestabilities dies....

Sweet page

Ok, I am biased, but this is a SWEET PAGE...really.  I love a good old fashioned candy store and I can't resist taking photos of the pretty treats all in a row.

Materials:
       Paper: Graphic 45
                   WorldWin and Paper Cut cardstock
Cuttlebug: "Vintage" die and "Floral Borders" die

Another easy page with the photos taking the center stage.  Using the Graphic 45 paper made giving this an old fashioned feel easy.  The die cuts from Cuttlebug also helped the theme along.

Merry Christmas all shiny and bright

This one was hard to photograph so forgive me.  It is sunny here and the papers are MirraCard, so shiny and sunny make for a horrible glare.

Materials:
      Paper: WorldWin and MirraCard red and green
Ribbon: Pebbles Inc (on cards with 5 different designs all in the same shade)
Bling: Hero Arts
CUTTLEBUG: "Holly" (which is being discontinued) and the new "Seasons Greetings" folder

Simple card with layers and lots of shiny paper!  I made the ribbon bow by just looping the ribbon and wrapping another piece around it and taping it in place.  If I tied it instead, it would have been very lumpy.

Adventure

One of our adventures this summer.  We ventured over to Interstate Park, a really nice park to check out if you haven't done so.

Materials:
       Paper: Moxxie? (background, it has it's the pirates life for me on the other side)
                  WorldWin
                  My Mind's Eye (stripe)
                  Fancy Pants ("Adventure")
Brads: Kimberly Polson brads and photo turns
Metal Tags: Tim Holtz "Philosophy Tags"
Adage Tags: Tim Holtz

Simple layout using a bunch of photos from our trip to the river.  I pop-dotted the center photo on the left side to add a little interest to the layout.  The background paper had the edges already inked, so all I had to do was add some pictures and go.

Get Well Soon...

So I kept my JUST Rite stamps intact from my last card and made this one, but removed the curved top sentiment.

Materials:
       Paper: WorldWin cardstock and Paper Cut cardstock
Cuttlebug folders: "Diamond in the Rough" and "Holly Ribbon"
NESTAILITIES: Fancy Labels
Bling: Kaiser Craft
Stamps: JUST Rite
ink: Judith "Black" and Versa "Mint" ink
Glimmer Mist from Tattered Angels "Lily Pad"
Glimmer Screen from Glimmer Mist

I have a new color for my Glimmer Mist collection, Lily Pad.  I got a little excited to use my stuff and didn't let it dry long enough in between so my words streaked a little when I rubbed ink on the Nestabilities frame.  To get the branch look in the middle I used the glimmer screen that I had been playing with for another project and used the misted screen for this card.  Why waste some perfectly good mist?  After getting the image on the paper I let it dry and ran it through the Cuttlebug to get the diamonds on it.  Then I layered the remaining items.  I also misted over the entire card at the end for a bit more shimmer.  Get out and play, Christmas is almost here....those cards won't make themselves!

Scrapbook pages

I had a very productive weekend while the men were away hunting.  I finished 9 pages, so you will be seeing those sprinkled in with my card posts over the next few days.

Materials:
           Paper: Lil' Davis
                      WorldWin
Chipboard Letters: Lil' Davis
Tickets: Jenni Bowlin
Sticker letters: (go cart) EKSuccess
Other stickers: Lil' Davis
Brads: Lil' Davis (not available in store anymore, but a red, yellow and green brad would do the same job)

I had been wanting to use my checkered flag paper on this layout, but never got around to it...and this past weekend I finally did!  My pictures are pretty busy and the paper is pretty busy, but this is what my kids wanted for the background of this payout.  Plus the letters from the Lil' Davis set are perfect for this theme!  Nothing special here, just a big circle cut with the die cutter at the store (easy and quick).

Princess

A quick card with leftovers again.

I was playing with this hot pink crown paper and had a few pieces left over....and you know....I had to make a card with it!

Materials:
        Paper: Glitz Design (crown print)
         Cardstock: WorldWin and Paper Cut
Gems: Kaiser Kraft and HERO ARTS
NESTABIITIES: "Fancy Labels" and "Standard Squares Large"
Stamp: JUSTRite
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink: "Black Soot" and "Worn Lipstick"

I went with a 5 1/2" square card this time just for something different.  I hand cut the large crown mounted to the front of the card base and used more leftover paper on the inside with a square of hot pink in there for a place to sign the card with a little message.  I left the paper I cut out with the NESTIES in the die and rubbed my inks on the paper with a sponge (this left a white edge on the paper).   I spelled out the word PRINCESS with my JUST Rite stamp sets.

Precious

A fun page I created with my nieces photo.

Materials:
     Paper: My Mind's Eye "Penny Lane"
          TPC Studios paper
Brads: My Mind's Eye "Penny Lane"
Die Cuts: My Mind's Eye "Penny Lane"
Die Cuts: CLOUD 9 Design "Quote Cards: Sunrise Smoothie"
SIZZIX Die cut letter "K"
Flower: Heidi Grace

Simple layering with fun brads and die cut shape sheets.