Christmas Joy

It's raining here in Southern California.  No snowflakes falling for Christmas Eve.  While I'd like just a light dusting of the white stuff just for today and tomorrow, I'm perfectly satisfied without the cold temps and dealing with the white fluff otherwise!!

So, today I'm sharing a very simple wish of Christmas Joy.  However you celebrate this season, I wish you Joy.

Basic details:  Base Gina K's Pure Luxury White.  DP:  BoBunny.  Spellbinder's Create a Flake One.  Metal:  Ten Second Studios.  Sentiment:  stickers from my stash.  

Until next time..............

Peace and Joy

I will admit that I've debated with myself over the last couple of days as to whether or not to post cards/projects right now.  It seems rather trivial in light of the horrible current events.

One side argues that a moment of silence or a profound, heartfelt post is more appropriate.

The other side argues that a moment of "normalcy" is what is needed for broken hearts and souls.

I am still stuck in the middle, unable to step over the line to either side.  So, I am going to just post the card.  And hope that the sentiment will be a moment of hope.

Merry and Bright

Hey People!  Yes, yes!  Your eyes do not deceive you!  I'm back with another project.  It is amazing how much crafting one can do when off work!

Well, I made it to the semi final round for the SCS CAS winter DT challenge!  Here is the card I came up with for this round.

Let me just say that in real life, the paper and metal match so much better!  You'd think that as much as I like to use metal in my projects, I'd figure out how to photograph the stuff better!! Haven't figured out how to avoid over exposing and glares!!

Base is Pure Luxury 4.25"x 5.5" top fold.  I started with some Barn Red metal and embossed it on TenSecond Studio's Christmas Kubka mold (Sorry, it must be currently sold out as I cannot find it in the eP store or TSS!!).  I used a small wire brush to remove the metal color to a matte finish for the background of the package and a decorative wheel for the frame.  Swiss dots embossing folder was used on the SU Real Red background.  The sentiment is from Hero Arts Joy to All, and was stamped with SU's Real Red.  Added the button and the twine and called 'er done!

Well, I'm off to go make the yearly requested cranberry salad.  I'm also thinking of making some Ooey Gooey Caramel Pumpkin Blondie's.    No one in the family is ever overly excited with Pumpkin pie.  Everyone will eat it (except my FIL), but no one is thrilled with it.  The last couple of years, I've been trying out different pumpkin recipes to take the  place of the pie. I'm thinking that you can't go wrong with caramel and chocolate added to the mix!! 

And lastly, but not the least:  I hope everyone has a safe, wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow!  I know that I am very thankful for the visits, comments and friendships that I have made through this blogging adventure!!  

Joyous Holidays

Hey People!! Are you sitting down?  Yes, I am posting another card!  Two days in a row! OH MY!  I don't believe the world is ending or pigs are now flying, but, I haven't looked outside in the last little bit either!! haha!!

I recently bought a Memory Box die from my LSS that I have had some ideas floating in my noggin' on ways I might like to use it.  Yesterday, I received a comment  on SCS from Miss Boo (aka Jen), which alerted me to the winter CAS DT search going on right now.  One of my ideas for using the die fit the first DT challenge, so I decided to LEAP and give it a go!!

My card base is 5.5" square Pure Luxury, with a side fold.  I die cut the wreath from Echo Park's Season's Greetings by Lori Whitlock.  TIP:  I usually place my steel ruled dies face down on my papers or metal so that I can utilize my paper space as much as possible.  I found that with this particular die, I had to run the die in the "traditional" way of having the die face up with the paper on the top.  I also had to use a thin carboard shim for my machine to cut the image cleanly.  I then cut some small pieces of SU's Real Red cardstock and cut out the largest of the flowers from the die again, adhering with a glue pen.  I then used my VersaMarker and inked the red flowers and embossed with Ranger red embossing tinsel.  I used my Fiskers stamp press to stamp the sentiment from Hero Arts Joy to All.  I then adhered only the larger flowers and some random bits to the matting with the glue pen.  Tied the ribbon along the side and she's done!!

I'm thinking that I will just try out for a guest spot on the CAS DT.  My work schedule in December is HORRENDOUS and I really don't know if I can commit to creating for each week's challenge.  Yes, I know that the CAS challenge is on Monday's, which would give me the weekend to stamp.  But I'm thinking that since I'll be working late hours everyday, that maybe my weekends should be FAMILY focused versus stamping focused!!

Anyhoos!  I've actually made a Christmas card before December 23! 

Maybe I should go look out the window after all.



Be Merry!!

Hey People!  I hope that your week is starting off with a BANG!  I'm trying to catch up after falling to the season's first winter cold.  Ick.  But!!  I mustered enough brain cells to come up with a project for another E-Team hop!!  I didn't want to miss out on all the holiday fun!!

Be Merry Tag series #3

E-Team

Daisy

Broni

Latrice

Linda D

Linda L

Micki

Sherry

ME!!



And as you have all come enjoy and expect, it wouldn't be an E-Team blog hop without some wonderful goodies up for grabs!!  Leave a comment on all the participating Team member blog's for a chance at 3 Be Merry Goody Boxes that will be chosen randomly.  PLUS:  make sure you leave a comment on the eP blog on what your favorite Thanksgiving dessert is (or your favorite dessert period! hehe) for a chance at 2 $20 eP gift vouches to the eP store!!  Comments can be left from today, November 15 until Thursday, November 17.  Winners will be announced on the ep blog Friday, November 18. 

For this series Daisy gave us free reign as to what holiday stamps, papers, embellishments we could use from the wonderful eP store.  Our only instructions were to make a Tag and an ATC.

Have you noticed that lately I have had a very hard time following directions?!!  I'm going to grab onto the very thin life line that I have been sick and just did not have enough energy or mojo for two projects.  BUT!! In my defense, I did create a project that required a few more ideas!

My Be Merry Chunky  TAG ATC!!

Paper:  Idea-ology Paper Stash Seasonal.  Ink:  Distress Vintage Photo.  Accessories:  TenSecond Studios Barn Red and Poison Ivy Metal altered with alcohol inks in Meadow, Cranberry and Current. Dies:  Spellbinder's Layered Poinsettia.  Idea-ology Findings Curio Knobs and Numerals. 1/2 pearls colored with Copics from Want2Scrap.

Paper:  Idea-ology Paper Stash Seasonal.  Accessories:  Rock Candy Stickles (covering main image).  Glossy accents to adhere fine glitter.  Dies:  Spellbinder's Create a Flake One. TenSecond Studios Peal metal altered with alcohol inks Denim and Cloudy Blue.  1/2 pearls from stash.

Metal:  TenSecond Studios Barn Red.  Cuttlebug Dots embossing folder.  Letters are Idea-ology Grungeboard Mixed Mini Plain altered with Claudine Hellsmuth's Studio Paint Blank Canvas.  Essentials Glue pad used to adhere fine glitter (from stash)

Metal:  TenSecond Studios Barn Red embossed with Alterations Texture Fade Snow Flurries.  Letters again are Grungeboard Plain altered as above.  Snowflake is two layers of plain grungeboard cut with Spellbinder's Create a Flake One and altered with paint and glitter as above. 

Metal:  TenSecond Studios Barn Red altered with a Cuttlebug embossing folder (sorry, don't recall the name.  It is a Christmas tree).  Idea-ology Findings Curio Knob.

Other: 2x4 cut to ATC size.  Claudine Hellsmuth's Studio Paint Dash of Red.  Burnishing/sanding block from TenSecond Studios.  Tombow Mono Metal liquid glue.  TenSecond Studio's Killer Adhesive.  E6000 to layer metal embellishments and glue to project. 

I hope you enjoy!  'Till next time...................enjoy the creativity

To Our Soliders on This Silent Night

I'm sitting here with tears running down my face.  "Nough said.

Nope.  One more thing.
Thank You to the men and women who ensure that we ALL can have a Wonderous Holiday.....no matter how we chose to celebrate it.

Decking the Halls

Since I know you are expecting my countdown panic moment~~~you have FOUR more days till Dec. 24.

I'll spare you my hyperventilating.

Instead, I thought I'd drop in and share another CAS card I did for the oldest kiddo's teacher.  This is for a male teacher and I copped out and got him a gift card to Home Depot.  Really, I thought it was a thoughtful gift as he and his wife just moved into a new house and you know how may times you have to run to Home Depot with a new house?!! Or an old house for that matter!!

Anyhoos!!  Here is the card:

I started with a 5 x 5 1/2" base from Gina K's pure luxury paper.  The sentiment was computer generated.  I then ran some Barn Red metal over the Kabuka 11 mold through my Big Shot to save time versus doing the embossing/refining by hand.  It should be noted that these molds are NOT made to go through the various die cutting/embossing machines.  Not to say you can't use them in this matter.  Just be aware that there is no absolute "sandwich".  I believe my sandwich was the multi purpose platform, the mold with the metal on top, a silicone mat, a piece or two of paper and then the texture plate.  But don't hold me to that!! This was made several days ago and in panic mode.  Who knows what I actually came up with!!  Also, be aware that you do risk breaking either your machine or mold.  My advice:  if it seems REALLY tight, don't force it.  Adjust your sandwich and try again.  A little snug is ok....fighting to get it cranked through is probably increasing your risk of breakage.

I cut out a frame around the images and ran a decorative wheel along the edges. Gently sanded off the color on the raised areas with a sanding/burnishing block   Used some Hummungo Killer Adhesive and adhered it to a black mat.  Used some Scor Tape to adhere to my card.  Colored some self adhesive pearls with my copics, stuck them on and called 'er done!!

Thanks for dropping by again today! I did want to say that things will probably be pretty quiet around here as the Christmas and New Year holiday kicks into full force.  I am having to work full time for the next two weeks, covering for the boss and another therapist who wanted time off.  And I really feel that when I get home, I should devote time to the Toad and the Kiddos, as this is what the season is suppose to be about:  FAMILY. 

With that thought, I'd like to make sure and say now (and will probably say it again in another few days):

I wish you and your families the best of Holiday Wishes.  It doesn't matter how you celebrate the season~just know that I appreciate you dropping by, your comments and the "friendships" that I've made this past year through this blog.  And I wish you a wonderfully, creative NEW YEAR!!

Till then................

12:45 AM

I was up until 12:45 AM Thursday night. 

I haven't deliberately seen 12:45 AM in years.  So why did I venture into that time zone this week, you ask?

Because I keep thinking that I have an  inner Martha Stewart inside of me, when I'm really more of an

Erma Bombeck type.

Because of the fact that since I am more like Erma vs. Martha, I got off work then went grocery shopping so that I could feed my kids something besides cold cereal for yet another meal.

Because once I got home I had to clean up the kitchen in order to make room for a new mess.

Because before I went grocery shopping I forgot to actually check to see if I had all the ingredients for the cookies and icing.  Therefore, I had to shove the creamed butter and sugar into the fridge, pick up the kids from practice, run back to the grocery store, and go through the drive through for dinner (hey!! Something new for dinner this week!!).

Because I'm a huge sucker for big brown eyes, who looked up at me and requested "some type of special cookie" for his classroom party treats.

Because even though a certain 13 y/o boy didn't ask for "special cookies" for his classroom, I didn't want him to think he wasn't worth the time to make "special" cookies for.  Or worse, that he is too old to have "special" cookies.

Because my hands began to get tired and sore from using a squeeze bottle to lay down the icing as it would seem I do not have tips #1, 2 or 3 in my measly collection of decorating tools. 

Because it was worth seeing the grin on the Kiddo's face when he saw the cookies in the morning.



If you are looking for incredible inspiration for decorating cookies (or baking period), a wonderful sugar cookie recipe and tips for doing it yourself, may I strongly recommend you check out

Bake at 350.  Her (Bridget's) sugar dough recipe and tips made me look like I knew what the heck I was doing on these cookies.  Go check her out.  And print off the cookie recipe and tips here.  Then you'll be able to impress your Kiddos or their teachers with your artistic creativity too!!

'Till the next adventure...................

All Tied Up.....

......with String!! 

Hey People!!  The E-Team has another great hop for you today!!  In case you've missed my countdown, it is now NINE more days until the Jolly Ol' Guy comes knockin'!!  Daisy challenged the E-Team to come up with some quick and easy wrapping ideas using some yummy twine from the Twinery.  And to help you in those last minute wrapping moments of your own, on Friday, Daisy will chose a lucky winner to receive a package of some twine and other wrapping goodies.  Sound good?  Just leave a comment on each of the E-Team members blogs.  Daisy will randomly choose a winner from all the comments left on the blogs.  She will announce the winner on the eP Blog on Friday (along with some other sale goodies!!)

Broni Holcombe

Latrice Murphy

Linda Duke

Linda Ledbetter

Sherry Cheever

and ME!!  Starla Nelson

I actually have three different wrapping ideas to share with you today.  All are based on using brown paper.  I used brown wrapping paper and paper bags.  Grocery bags and lunch bags would work too.  To me, the twine is a perfect compliment to this more rustic look.

First up. 



 When the youngest kiddo went on his class field trip to the Mission San Juan Capistrano, I found a wonderfully illustrated book with a short history of all 21 missions.  I thought it would be perfect to give to his 4th grade teacher as a gift for her to use in the classroom each year when the students study California History.  The kids are also doing a book exchange among themselves as part of their Christmas party so this will fit right in with that theme!!

After wrapping the book, I had the youngest kiddo help me hold the Maraschino Red twine while I positioned it where I wanted it.  I used a smaller  piece of twine to wrap around the point where all the lines intersected to hold it in place.

I painted a piece of grunge paper on both sides using Jenni Bowlin's Chili Pepper paint dabber (I think it has found a permanent place on my desk top!).  I spritzed over the paint with a mixture of Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Tuscan Sun and Candy Apple Red.  I then used Tim Holtz's Tattered Florals and cut out two of the largest flower and one each of the others (the daisy was not used).  I based it on Tim's tutorial on turning the Tattered Florals into a poinsettia ,but I made two large layers as I wanted a more full flower. I glued the petals onto a punched circle for my base.  I knotted more of the twine through one of his idea-ology accoutrement buttons and used a dab of hot glue to adhere it in the middle. 

The leaves were also done from grunge paper.  I used Distress Pine Needle ink directly onto both sides of the paper.  I then spritzed a couple of layers with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Meadow Green.  The leaves were cut out using the Tattered Leaves die.  I glued the leaves onto the back of the base, then used another punched circle over the top to help hold the leaves and to give the back of the flower a finished look, just in case the teacher would like to use it again.  The flower was adhered over the twine with glue dots. 



Next is my Boss's gift.  Now, in all honesty, he is not likely to appreciate the effort in making a poinsettia!  So, I decided to go pretty simple. 

I started by doing the wrinkle free distress technique on a vanilla tag using  Distress inks in Stormy Sky, Broken China and Faded Jeans.  Instead of misting with water, I misted with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Pearl.  I then used the textured fade embossing folder Tall pines.  I used a sponge to go over the tree with a mixture of Distress ink in Pine Needles and Peeled  paint and the trunks were done with Walnut Stain and Vintage Photo.  I used the Seasonal Salvage stickers for the wish and placed it on dimensionals for an added pop.  The package was wrapped with Cappuccino twine.  I snipped a bit off a garland that was in my stash and added the pine cone and used a dab of hot glue to adhere it to my tag. 

Last but not least!! 



 I decided to wrap all the ornaments (which can be found here, here and here) in brown paper bags.  I cut 1 1/2" strips from the music sheet from Tim's idea-ology Seasonal Paper Stash pack and cut them with the Rosette die.  I then cut out some small images from the same paper pack and matted it on a scalloped rectangle that I had cut with my Spellbinders die.  I used the Sakura Quickie Glue pen along the edges and sprinkled fine galaxy glitter along the edges.  I sandwiched the twine between the back supporting circle and another punched circle.

I hope that you got some ideas for wrapping those last minute gifts!!  Don't forget to leave a comment on each blog to increase your chance of winning your own wrapping goodie prize!!

Thanks so much for stopping by again today!!  I still have a few more cards and gifts to wrap for the Kiddo's classroom parties!!  Till then.....................

Decking the Halls

Well, the weekend is almost over, which will bring us another week closer to Christmas. 

AAAAAACCCKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now that I've gotten that panic attack out of the way, I thought I'd share more of the ornaments that I have been making for the office girls.  All of the ornament frames are from Darcie's acrylic ornament frame line.
**I'm going to try and keep the details pretty basic, as I have a limited time factor here. 

First up:  Another frame that was covered in Ten Second Studios Barn Red metal.  Can I just insert here that I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS COLOR?!  It is so rich IRL, and is perfect for the holiday season!!

I also love this photo!! What a great shot! Too bad I wasn't the one who took it! hehe

Once again, the metal was cut out and embossed with a Cuttlebug folder.  I sanded off the color off the embossed areas to show the contrast of colors. The edges were painted with some Folk Art metallic pure gold acrylic paint.  I used a combination of Claudine Hellmuth's multi medium and Tombo Metal Liquid glue to put this all together. 

The back side: 

Next up is another one done in the same Barn Red metal but this time I painted the edges silver with a Krylon Silver leafing pen.  Did I mention how much I LOVE this color of metal?!!



Basically, everything the same just a different ornament and a different Cuttlebug folder.

Next a couple of smaller ornaments that were altered using MME (my mind's eye) Holly Jolly Paper and Accessories kit. 

I lightly sponged around the edges with some Distress Fired Brick ink.  Some Martha Stewart Snow glitter on the inside.  Used my Spellbinders Create a Flake to cut and emboss the snowflake from Pure Luxury card stock.  Sponged lightly with more Distress Fired Brick and Bundled Sage ink.  I then misted the snowflake with Tattered Angels Pearl Glimmer Mist, giving it a slight shimmer IRL. 

For some reason, I had the HARDEST time getting a decent picture of the next ornament.  Have no idea why.  Just something to throw me into a tizzy, I guess. 

Again, the paper is from the Holly Jolly Kit.  The Fun element I added to this one was to alter some of Tim Holtz's Foliage Findings.  I wish I could say I came up with this clever way to alter these, but alas, Tim was kind enough to share on his blog last year and I just happened to remember it in my mental file cabinet and pulled it out.  I first covered the flower and leaves in some paint (Jenni Bowlin Chili Powder was used for the flower and along the edges of the ornament.  The leaves were a couple of different Folk Art paints I have in my stash).  I then covered the flower in Fired Brick Distress Stickles and the leaves in Peeled Paint Distress Stickles.   The center brad was also covered in the Fired Brick Stickles. After it had dried, I just snipped off the prongs and adhered everything with a drop of E6000 glue. 

Close up (blurry, but a close up) of the flower

That was how most of my weekend was spent!!  Two of the girls have yet to send me pictures and may end up with some other little trinket instead! 

I'm off to find my desk again so I can start on the next item to be checked off my list!!  Thanks for dropping by again today!!  Till next time.......

Boxing Up a Blue Christmas



Hey People!!  It is another exciting ride with the E-Team today!!  The Team was challenged to alter one of T!m Holtz's configuration boxes.  OH MY!  These are like a never ending puzzle!!  So many different possibilities!!  Of course, all these different possibilities mean that you will not want to miss what the other
E-Team members came up with!!  AND to add to the 'liciousness (that is a word, I'm sure!) of this hop,  you will want to leave ONE comment on each blog within the NEXT 48 HOURS (starting at 8am EST today) as Daisy will choose 2 winners from all blog comments by random draw for a Configuration box of your choice, plus lots of paper crafting goodies to enjoy with it.   The winners will be posted on the eclecticPaperie blog on Dec. 3!

Broni Holcombe

Linda Duke

Linda Ledbetter

Micki Harper

Sherry Cheever
And ME!

I absolutely love Christmas!! Even with all the added stress I put myself under, it is about the only holiday I go all out for as far as decorating.  I have different themes for each room.  The TV/family room is done in primary colors with Nutcrackers being the focal point.  My formal room is done in cobalt blue and white with my small collection of white/Silver (or cobalt blue) Santas as  the focal point.  My project today was inspired by a white and silver Nutcracker I found and the "Winter Wonderland" I try to create with my formal decorations of white/silver and bright blue. 

Now of course, this looks NOTHING like the idea I had in my head!!  But as I started creating, things just kept taking a different turn than I had planned.  I started by painting the 6.75 x 8.75" configuration box and the largest cube the brilliant blue.  I then used a crackle medium on the main box.  Once dry, I went over it with some spring white acrylic paint that had been thinned with some glaze. 

While the box and cube were drying, I cut off the top of a Styrofoam cone and wrapped the Lavish Trimmings around it.  A combination of Glossy Accents and straight pins held it in place until it dried. Just a note:  if one was to get involved in another project and walk off and leave the straight pins too long in the Glossy Accents, one just might have to twist and wiggle the straight pins loose from the dried Accents.  Just sayin'.  It would seem that I did not take into consideration any tree topper I might have wished to add to this when I cut the cone.  Soooo.  I  just cut off a couple of the ribbon flowers and glued them on top of each other for my "topper".  The garland was found in the "mini" ornament section of Michael's. 

The large cube was wrapped with the Symphony Tissue tape.  I used Spellbinders Create a Flake One and cut the second largest flake from some Pure Luxury  card stock and from a piece of scrap aluminum metal. I layered the two dies and topped with an Accoutrements Classic Button.  I used some Glossy Accents in the center and sprinkled some ultrafine Canadian Blue Art Glitter over the wet Accents.  I tucked in a French Horn ornament and  some Christmas picks, including a couple of Maya Road crystal trinket stars that were originally suppose to be my tree topper!  The stamped music sheet was a discarded scrap from Darcie's Cardinal Ornament that didn't make the cut on my previous project.  I covered the stamped image with Distress Rock Candy stickles. I used Glossy Accents along the edge and sprinkled with SU's chunky white glitter.  

More Spellbinder snowflakes were cut out of scrap metal.  For the larger die used, one must carefully remove the image from the metal and the "arms" are finely detailed and want to stick!!  While the metal was still in the die, I used a paper stump to emboss the details.  The flakes were adhered to the back of the box with Tombow Metal Liquid Glue.  

 The final touch was to paint another of the cubes the same shade of blue and wrap along the top and sides with the Snowflake Tidings Tissue tape.  I painted Distress Crackle paint over the cube and tissue.  I then used my Cuttlebug "Olivia" alphabet dies to cut out the letters from Claudine Hellmuth's Sticky Back Canvas, with the tape liner being the "front".  I removed the liner, exposing the sticky and covered the letters with SU's fine silver glitter.  I then used the still wet crackle paint as my glue.  I topped off the cube with another snowflake made of Pure Luxury cardstock.  I used my Glue Pad to apply a sticky layer and more SU fine silver glitter to the alternating layers. 

After 10 attempts to get a decent picture of the snowflake on top or a focused picture period, I admit defeat.  This will give you a general idea. 

Supplies:  Tim Holtz configuration box, idea-ology products, Claudine Hellmuth canvas, Ranger signature products all found at ecleticPaperie. 

I think these configuration boxes have soooo many fun possibilities!!  I'm already thinking of some other "themes" that I just might have to explore!!

Thanks for dropping by again today!!  I hope you ejoyed this ride with the E-Team!! Till next time.....

REMEMBER TO TAKE TIME TO EXPLORE SOME TYPE OF CREATIVITY IN YOUR DAY!

Ornaments

Good Morning!!  I hope those of you who celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday have recovered!!  I spent yesterday in my little cave working on projects.  With the Holiday season upon us, I really need to kick it into high gear!! 

Today, I thought I'd share a quick gift idea.  Ornaments blinged out in metal!!

I asked all the girls to send me a favorite picture for the year.  So far, everyone but *L, has picked up on my procrastination habit!  But that's ok!  *L gets the privilege of having her ornament done with undivided attention to detail!

I started with Darcie's Ariana Acrylic Ornament frame.  I painted all the edges, including the acrylic edges, with a Krylon Silver leafing pen.  I then traced the ornament twice onto TenSecondStudios Poision Ivy metal. I carefully cut out the metal using paper snips and then ran both pieces through the Big Shot with a Cuttlebug Christmas tree embossing folder.  QUICK and EASY way to emboss metal!!  Plus, with the clear folders, you can see exactly where the embossing image is placed!  I then sanded the color off the embossed areas. 

Now I "layer" the pieces different from the directions that come with the frames.  The frames use metal clips to hold everything together, but I like the cleaner edge of just gluing the pieces together.  Here is my layering order:  Acrylic frame covered on top with metal/paper.  This is glued to the backside of  two chipboard frames that have been glued together.  My photo, originally printed out as a wallet size, was reduced by 70% on my printer and cut to fit into the recessed frame area.  Then I fill with some Martha Stewart Snow Glitter and glue the second acrylic frame on top to "close" the shadowbox.  My top cover is the last piece of chipboard with the metal/paper. 

Here is a picture of the back side that shows off more of the embossing!

GORGEOUS!  I'm telling you!!  The Toad gave this the ultimate compliment of saying "This looks very professional or factory".  



I used Tombo Metal Liquid Glue to glue the metal to the acrylic and chipboard. The Humungo Sticky Tape is wonderful as far as not budging the metal from the surface you stick it too, but it also does not allow for fiddle room to line the edges up.  After waiting for the glue to dry (the hardest part of this whole thing), I burnished the edges of the metal with a paper stump.  I then touched up any missed spots along all the edges with the Krylon leafing pen again. 

All the girls will be getting a variation of this once I get their pictures, ahem!! 

Thanks for stopping by again today!  I will be back with more gift ideas later!!  Till then............REMEMBER TO TAKE TIME TO EXPLORE CREATIVITY IN YOUR DAY!!

Darcie's Song

Hey People!! You are just going to LOOOOVE what the E-Team has to share today!!



Today I've TWO projects to share using Darcie's Cardinal Ornament and Darcie's Meghan Acrylic Ornament Frame.  Between the two, there are so many possibilities that my brain is about to blow a fuse!!



I'll begin with the card.  The base is a top folded piece of Pure Luxury.  The rich red paper is from My Mind's Eye Holly Jolly.  That is mounted on a small mat of basic black.  The frame was stamped with Stazon Metallic Gold unto TenSecondStudio's Pearl Metal,  I then used my paper stump and refiner to recess the back of the frame to add depth.  The music block was stamped onto a scrap piece of vanilla with Distress Ink in Antique Linen and sponged lightly around the edges with Distress Vintage Photo.  Using my stampamajig, I stamped the sentiment with Distress Fired Brick.  The sentiment panel was adhered to the metal using Sticky Tape. 

The cardinal was stamped onto another piece of scrap vanilla Pure Luxury and sponged with Distress Wild Honey on the beak (I just used the edge of a foam piece) and Fired Brick. The image was then clear embossed and cut out.  The branches are from a Martha Stewart punch.  The Toad (who is becoming my life line when I get stuck on cards) came up with the idea to add the white embossing powder sporadically on the branches to give them the look of having been snowed upon.  I used my Versamarker randomly on the branches and then heat set the white embossing powder.  Tiny 1/2 pearls were customed colored with my Copic marker to make the berries.  The elements were adhered to the metal using Tombow Metal glue.

Here is a close up showing the depth of frame and layers



The ornament is a "shadow box".  The base acrylic layer was covered in the same Holly Jolly paper as the card. I used Glossy Accents to adhere the paper to the acrylic.   I again stamped the music block from the Cardinal Ornament set onto vanilla Pure Luxury with Antique Linen.  I traced around the inside of the oval frame and cut and sponged around the edges with Vintage Photo.  The Noel sentiment was stamped using Fired Brick.  Two layers of chipboard and the other acrylic later were glued together using more Glossy Accents.  

The front (and back) of the ornament were traced onto more Pearl Metal and cut out using paper snips. I cheated just a bit on the stamping of the music.  The included music sheet in the stamp set was just this  much to small to go to the edges of the ornament and was lacking in length also.  So I pulled out a larger music sheet stamp, from Stampendous, that I have in my collection and stamped the notes again with Stazon Metallic Gold.  The metal was adhered with Tombow Metal Glue on the back and Sticky tape on the Front (I wanted to see if there was a difference in how they stuck the metal to the chipboard.  The sticky tape obviously sticks right away and doesn't leave much room for jiggle, if needed.  The glue seems to be holding just as well, but requires a bit of time to set.  If you try to rush it, the metal can slip off.  Ask me how I know!) 

I sprinkled some of Martha Stewarts Snow Glitter in the recess of the shadow box and then stuck the "cover" of my ornament over the top using more glossy accents.  The edges of the metal were then burnished with a paper stump.  I then used a combination of a black sharpie and marker to go over all the outside edges of the ornament to blend them together. 

The poinsetta was stamped with Archival Jet Black ink onto another scrap piece of vanilla and colored with Copics.  It was cut out and covered in Distress Rock Candy stickles. Again, Tombow Metal glue was used to adhere it to the metal.



If you haven't stopped by the other Team members blogs yet, you will want to head over there right away.  AND make sure you leave a comment on the EP blog!! I hear there is Darcie goodies to be given away!!



Darcie Heater (designer)

Broni Holcombe

Latrice Murphy

Linda Duke

Linda Ledbetter

Micki Harper

Sherry Cheever

And! This is where the goodies would be!!

Daisy Sparks/EP blog

Thanks for dropping by again today!! I hope this little hop by the E-Team inspires you to EXPLORE some

CREATIVITY!!

Finding the Joy

Morning People!! The weather has decided to be perfect here. Decided to start the day right and went for a nice long walk with the Toad.  Windows are opened and the dust is gathering on my furniture!! Love it! hehe

I have spent my weekend creating.  I have several more of these cards that go to the teachers/staff of the school for their birthdays in the process of being assembled for this week's birthdays.  I also squeezed in a couple of other projects that I actually liked the final outcome!! About time, if I do say so myself!! Today I thought I'd share a clean and simple card that came together really quick!

Oldest DS had the nerve to take his camera (the one I usually use) yesterday and left it at his grandparents.  I have NO idea how to use the Toad's camera.  And this picture show it!!

I started with a A2 (4 1/4" x 5 1/2") top folded base made of Gina K's Pure Luxury cardstock (have I ever mentioned how much I love this paper?!).  Then using one of my new favorite tools, the Fiskers Stamp Press, I lined up this totally cute Unity Itty Bitty stamp, Find the Joy, on the press grid and inked with Memento Tuxedo Black ink.  I pulled my colors from the Nikki Sivils Flaming Butterfly 6x6 mini pad.  I colored in the Christmas bulbs with various copic markers.  I traced over the toppers and bows with a metallic gold pen.  I then covered the bulbs in glossy accents to give them some shine and dimension.  To "ground" the bulbs, I custom cut the elements that I wanted from one of the mixed collage sheets from the Flaming Butterfly pad   This was done with another one of my new favorite toys~the Fiskers Sure Cut paper cutter.  This cutter has a wire where the blade will cut.  Using the wire as my guide, I was able to cute EXACTLY along the fine lines of the different collage elements that I wanted to isolate for my bottom border.  The portion with the 1/2 circles was one element.  Then the stripes came from another portion of the paper.  This would have been so incredibly frustrating to try and line up my blade perfectly on my other cutter (which, btw, is also a Fiskers), but with the wire, I could see exactly where my blade was going to cut!

I have to say I really like the non traditional colors on this card!!  Kind of a fun, funky, retro look. 

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Blog layout question for you all:  What do you prefer in my post layouts~~a)  listing all the supplies in the post body with a link  b) listing all the supplies at the end of the post with a link or c) list supplies in the post body and again at the end with link?  I would really appreciate you letting me know what you prefer.  Thanks in advance!!

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I appreciate you dropping by again!!  Remeber to make time for some type of creativity in your day!! I'm going to work on a year book layout for the oldest kiddo!! YIKES! I haven't "scrapbooked" in, ohhhh, about 10 years!!

Till next time~~~~

Make a Mess!! Be Merry!!

Happy Friday Peoples!! Whew!! This week has flown by and I don't know how much I really have to show for it~~I still have errands to run to finalize getting my kids ready for school, even though it seems I've been all over Southern California.  My house is still a mess.  There are loads of laundry still waiting to visit the washer.  LOL!! Such is my life!!

BUT!! It's FRIDAY and that means it is time for another Just For Fun Friday Color Challenge.  This week we are challenged to use the following colors:

My first thought when I saw these colors was Christmas.  I decided to channel my inner T!m Holtz and do a folk art/distressed look.  Wellllll..........my inner T!m must be on vacation because all I got was this:

Actually, this picture does not show the entire mess made.  I spent most of Wednesday night trying to unclog my Candy Apple Red Glimmer Mist.  Of which the pump decided to expel DARK RED glimmer all over my bathroom.  I'm talking mirror, tile and MY LIGHT COLORED SHOWER CURTAIN.  I managed to get it all cleaned with some rubbing alcohol, but of course, my shower curtain.  It still has lovely splatters of what looks like blood.  Niiiiice.  Good or bad, this occurred in the office/guest bathroom.  Since our only guests tend to be teen age boys, I'm hoping they'll find my soon to be embellished story of the "blood" thrilling!

After the discouragement of my failure to be T!m, I went a in a different direction.  CLEAN AND SIMPLE. 

I started with the FTL101 on the clean and simple blog. 

And here is my take on it:

(Yes, it was late when this photo was taken.  Which means no true colors!)

I started with a base of Gina K's pure luxury card stock in white.  Another layer of white was used to add some dimension.  I then embossed some Riding Hood Red from SU with a snowflake embossing folder from Cuttlebug.  I swiped some white craft ink over the raised images.  This was matted on a piece of Kraft card stock. I stamped the sentiment from this unmounted sheet of sentiments from Just For Fun Stamps and made my "flag".   I then stamped and colored this cute candy cane from Just for Fun Stamps and covered it with glossy accents.  OH WAIT!!  The candy cane did not make the cut on the card!! Some how my card took on a different feel and the candy cane no longer fit the "look".  I pulled out my Create a Flake 1 dies from Spellbinders (no longer available. Create a Flake 2 still is!) and cute the layers from pure luxury white and kraft.  I then embossed and sponged the embossed areas using Riding Hood Red ink.  The layers were put together using rolled glue dots and dimensionals.  I then layered on some glossy accents and sprinkled Glitter Art shards glass glitter over the layers.  The snowflake was then adhered with dimensionals as was the sentiment flag. 

Not a whole lot of stamping, but I like how this turned out!! If I could figure a good way to mail this with the snowflake, this would be my Christmas cards for this year!!

Make sure you drop by all the other design team's blogs to see what inspiration they have for you!! Remember, if you play along with us on the Just For Fun blog, you have a chance to win a $50 gift certificate!!

Beth Moore

Glenda Brooks

Roni Johnson

Kat Tucker

Terre Fry

Sandy Sandrus

Broni Holcombe

Sherry Cheever

Thanks for dropping by again today!!  I'm going to tackle the mess made on my desk and see if I can't find some other creativity to channel!!  Have a CREATIVE weekend!!