All the presents that I couldn't show....

Hello! I hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas! Mine was wonderful... spent with family & friends. I wanted to share some of the gifts that I made for Christmas presents...

Here is a can of coal! This was a fun gift that I made to give the Fedex driver at work. It was fun to make and even more fun to give...

I made a rosette for the lid and decorated the side of the can with paper and Christmas Trees that I cut from a Quickutz Die. ...a little ribbon tied to the handle and the look is completed!

Below is a Poinsettia that I made using the Tattered Floral Alterations Die by Tim Holtz and the directions from one of his tags in this years 12 Tags of Christmas. I gave it to a friend and she made it into a hair clip for her daughter.

 The next several pictures are little wall hangings that I made for my friends at work. They are 4x4 and are made from a really thick chipboard. I am personalizing them using initials and things that they like... I am not done making them all... I am behind on my Christmas presents...

On this one I painted the base with my Pearl Paint Dabber. I then took alcohol ink and created the background. The Alcohol Inks just "float" on the Pearl Paint, allowing you to get a marbled background. The K is Grungeboard that I painted black and then rubbed Glossy Accents on to it.

This one is one of my favorites. My friend has had a tough year and I wanted to give her something encouraging. I have had quite the rocky year too so this spoke to me too. I found out that she collects Mary Engelbreit. I found this picture online and it was perfect. I printed it on to Sticky Back Canvas. I cut it out and then frayed the edges a bit and inked them. The background is painted with a Paint Dabber and the edges were inked with a Silver Paint Dabber. I then rubbed Glossy Accents over the whole thing added the ribbon and wha-la!

This one started with Distress Ink various Greens. I then swiped over it with a Paint Dabber and actually then rubbed some paint off with a paper towel. The letter is also from Grungeboard. I put it on using pop-dots to add some dimension.

I painted the background with my Cranberry Paint Dabber and then painted Espresso over and wiped that off with a wet paper towel. I inked the edges with the Gold Paint Dabber. The letter is Grungeboard and the flowers are Grungepaper... all inked up!

This one was fun to do! My friend loves Tinkerbell. I found this picture on the Internet. I printed it out onto Sticky Back Canvas and then frayed the edges and inked them with Distress Ink. I added Crystal Stickles to her wings. The background was inked with Distress Inks. I then laid a stencil on to it and misted like crazy with Glimmer Mist. Her favorite color is purple so of course that is what I hat to use! ..and it looks so good with Tinker Bell!

Merry Christmas...

Merry Christmas! I hope you all are having a very wonderful day filled with love, joy, & blessings. I wanted to share a layout that I did, (three times before getting it right!) of a very special Christmas. It was 5 years ago today that my boyfriend, (now husband) proposed to me. I scrapbooked these pictures several times trying to get the layout just right.. never being satisfied until this layout... Layout #3! I know it sounds crazy, but it was such a special moment.... and my dad caught it perfect! (Picture on on the left side!) My parents knew that Chris was going to propose... and well... it was just a very special Christmas!

The tag on the layout is one of my tags from the 12 Tags of Christmas 2009.

Here are some pictures from that special Christmas....

I love this one of my little brother... he was just smiling too... (though maybe he was smiling at the thought of... "finally! I can get rid of her now!"! ...lol)

Here is one of the pictures after all the festivities... I think that I smiled all day nonstop! I do remember my cheeks being sore from smiling so big and so much!

...and here is my all time favorite picture! This is the perfect photo... Chris on bended knee with the ring... me freaking out! I do remember my mom saying, "Christine, you still need to say 'Yes'."

I got my first digital camera this Christmas. We had one as a family, one of the first ones that were available... (can you tell from the quality of the picture?). Yes, I was a scrapbooker back then, and my parents knew that the upcoming year would hold so many special memories.

See how big my smile is????

Day 8 Tag - Extreme Masking! LOVE IT!

O.K. I am in love with this technique! I had so much fun making this tag... all the inking and misting and stamping! Creative overload! I took the technique that Tim Holtz shared and used it with my own mask that I made with my Silhouette. I cut out the word 'wish' in vinyl and used it just as he uses his mask in the instructions. I am going to have to work out the kinks though because the vinyl tends to be too sticky and it is hard to peel off without ripping your project. (I ended up holding my tag in front of my space heater as I pulled off the vinyl! lol...) 

The masking though is so very cool, and this tag ended up inspiring another project which is going to be used for Christmas gifts! Yahhhoooo! I have been waiting for inspiration to strike! 

Here is a close up of my tag. I used the Alterations Tattered Floral Die to make my flower. I inked the back side a little lighter green and added Stickles to it. I then folded over the petals and stapled them giving me a two toned flower. I rounded the edges of the petals a little with my scissors and then added my sentiment stamp! and Whaaa-la!

Hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

Merry Christmas!

Day 7 Tag!

Here is my latest tag! I really loved the poinsettia on this tag. It was so easy and it looks so fabulous! Hope you have a Happy Day!

I also really loved the technique where you ink up the embossing folder! Here is the video!

Tags, PRIZES, & introducing My Random Generator

Merry Christmas! I am here to show two more of my tags that I have done... (I am a bit behind.... but having so fun  following along!) Below is my interpretation of Day 5.

 One thing that I really loved about this tag is my flourishes that I stamped for the background. I have a fabulous stamp set from Autumn Leaves. Each flourish has two stamps, one for the body and one for the outline. I used the Snow Cap Paint Dabber to stamp the body of the flourishes onto my tag. Then using Distress Inks I inked my tag, the paint acting as a resist. I then went back and stamped the outline with the Metallic Gold Paint Dabber.

 Here is my tag inspired by Day 6:

I did not have the Alterations Texture Fade to do the trees, so I used my stamp instead and embossed it with Ranger's Holographic Embossing Powder. I stamped my reindeer using the Metallic Gold Paint Dabber.

NOW...  for the winners! WhoooHoo! 

First, I would like to thank KinderStampO for hosting a fabulous Blog Hop this past weekend. It was my first Hop to ever be apart of and I had a blast! Here is the link to more details about my project.

 During the Hop I stated that if you became a follower and left a comment then it would put you in the running to win a prize. Well... I decided to give away three prizes! I guess I was so overwhelmed by the wonderful comments that you all left. Thank you!

Here is the "official" ballad.

 Everyone, I would like you to meet my "official random generator":

 and here is what he generated... granted there are still a few kinks to work out... out of 59 comments winner #3 was originally "62". So, after running a full diagnostics, we were able to get an accurate reading for number 3! lol...

and his "official" initials...

 Winner #1 was comment 34.

Tanya said...

This is very cool!! Love the idea :) I am a new follower.

Tanya

She wins the following!  

Winner #2 is comment #8.

Debbie said:

Love your idea of documenting the family traditions that you and Chris have started for your family. You did an awesome job! Going to put it on my list of things to make in 2011. I think I will make one for each of my children for Christmas 2011. I am already a follower.

She wins the following:

Winner #3 is comment #52.
gocanucksgo said:
What a fantastic album! I love that key on the covery. Keep up the fantastic work!! She wins the following:

Once again, thank you all for all your wonderful comments and for coming to see my blog. I hope that I have inspired you and that you come back regularly to see me!

Have a great night!

It's a Small World Blog Hop

Happy Weekend! I am so excited to be apart of It's a Small World Blog Hop! Throughout the hop you will see some fabulous projects that are recognizing & celebrating holidays from around the world. So hop along, be inspired, and don't miss your chance to win some yummy blog candy too!

I would like to share with you a mini-album that I created that documents some of the holidays that are important to us and how we celebrate these special days. It records our traditions that we look forward too every year when these days come around.

Here is the cover to my album:

There are seven pages that make up my album. Each one having a tag that highlights a specific holiday.

I chose the following holidays to include:

New Year's

Valentine's Day

St. Patrick's Day

Easter

Mother's Day

Father's Day

Fourth of July

Halloween

Thanksgiving

Christmas

"Our" Special Days (our anniversary, etc...)

Birthdays

If I ever wish to include more holidays or to add more traditions or pictures I can easily expand my little book. Here is one of my favorite pages: Fourth of July.

This is the front of the tag...

 ...and here is the back of the tag. It has the date of the holiday, the year the Declaration of Independence was signed, and a little bit about how we celebrate this day and our freedom.

Tra-di-tion, (noun)

1. an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought or action.

2. the handing down of beliefs and customs

What makes this book so special is that I have recorded the traditions that my husband & I have started and we will be able to look back and smile and also share it with our kids, grand kids, etc... I hope that you have enjoyed my project and it has inspired you to make a little "tradition mini-album" to record your special times.

Now, time for the Blog Candy! I am very excited to be able to give away some goodies! To be entered to win, please sign-up to follow my blog and leave a comment letting me know what you think! The more people I get to follow my blog and comment the more prizes I will give! :) I have some Copics, tags, glimmer mist, and so much more stashed away in my prize basket waiting to go to one of you!

You have until Sunday night to become a follower & make a comment in order to be entered for a chance to win!

Ooops! I almost forgot... (not really...) there is a surprise giveaway all the way at the end. Leave a comment on each of the blogs for a chance to win!!! Good Luck!

Your next stop is:

Jessica - "Creative Stamper" - http://www.thecreativestamperspot.blogspot.com/

If you have just popped in to see me, then go back to here and start hoping so you can have a chance to win some blog candy and for sure to be inspired by all of these wonderful projects!

Tags 2, 3, & 4! Whew!

Well today was a "me" day! I stayed in my jammies and scrapbooked all day! Well, I rearranged my studio too! I started the day off with my Santa hat on and The Grinch playing on the TV. It was just fabulous! So here are my creations!

Tag 2:

Tag Two was very inspiring… as you can see I just took the concept and ran with it. The only thing similar to the tag Tim Holtz did is the flourishes! I started with a technique that I learned this summer in an online class with Claudine Hellmuth: Transfer onto Sticky Back Canvas. Peel the backing off the Sticky Back Canvas and then place your chosen paper face down onto the sticky side. You want to really rub your paper onto the canvas. The next step is to mist the paper with water using a Mini-Mister. Then using your finger, rub away the back side of your paper and the pattern is left on the Sticky Back Canvas! MAGIC!

I cut out a tag from my canvas and mounted it onto a regular tag that I inked up using Distress Inks, Spun Sugar & Worn Lipstick. Using one of my favorite Christmas stamps, by Penny Black, I stamped the Poinsettia onto the canvas using Memento Ink. I went over the image with Silver Stickles and then used Cotton Candy Stickles lightly on the centers. 

Day Three: 

Here I did my background using an Ink Blending Tool and the Distress Ink Crushed Olive. One thing I absolutely love about inking things this way is that you get such definition in your color and it is not all the same shade. You can very easily make it light or get it real dark without changing colors. I then used the same color, Crushed Olive, to stamp my background stamp, the music notes. I used Pumice Stone to stamp my flourishes. For my branch I stamped it with Pine Needles and then went back with an Ink Blending Tool to remove the ink off of the center and then went back and used the tool to add Walnut Stain to the center to give me my two toned stamped image. Neat! I wanted a little bit of shimmer so I sprayed the whole tag with Iridescent Gold Glimmer Mist.

For the tree I used a screen from Tattered Angels. I laid it on my tag and inked around it with my Ink Blending Tool and several colors of Green Distress Inks. I then took the screen and used it like a stamp! My "ink" was a Paint Dabber. I then placed it down onto the tag and used a brayer to push down on the screen to "stamp" my image.

My little birdy is made from the Bird Cage Alterations Die. I stamped various stamps onto GrungePaper and then di-cut the bird. I then inked him up with Distress Ink, Aged mahogany and put on a coat of Glimmer Glaze, Flirty. The final touch was the Distress Stickles, Rock Candy.

Add a few more embellishments and waa-lah!

Day Four:

When I saw this stamp in the store I just fell in love! It is by Inkadinkado. This tag was very simple. I stamped my image and then inked it up with Distress Inks. I did try out a new product on this tag though... curious? Perfect Pearls Mist! (In Heirloom Gold). I did this after I used my Distress Inks. I am very much a Glimmer Mist Girl! I love my Glimmer Sprays. I was really impressed with the Perfect Pearls Mist. Heirloom Gold is such a beautiful color too.  Adding some bling and a little mini-tag with a Bible Verse were my finishing touches!

Hope you have a wonderful evening. I am off to decorate our Christmas Tree with my husband!

Day One Tag

Happy Monday! It has been a busy day here where I am... I have a quick moment to post my Day One tag before going back to work. Mine is a little different from his, but I am so happy with it! I used my Silhouette to cut out the fence. For my sentiment tag, I cut out a rectangle of craft cardstock and then using the Deco Corner Chomper from We R Memory Keepers, I chomped the corners to get the ticket look! I am having so much fun making these tags... If you are interested in following along, all the fun is starting over at Tim Holtz's Blog.

Have a great evening!

I am back....

Happy Day! Sorry I have been gone so long, between hosting Thanksgiving, (I didn’t burn the turkey!), and then getting sick and just feeling miserable, it has been hard to create and blog. Friday, though, after seeing the doctor, two shots, and some antibiotics, I am starting to feel better and getting my desire to create back! Well, I have been thinking about my blog and the direction that I want to take it. There are a lot of ideas spinning in my head and I am very excited about what’s to come! I started my blog to share different techniques and to inspire, but feel as though it as gotten away from that a bit.... If you asked my friends they would tell you that I am always interested in the “new”. The new tools, new techniques, new supplies, new paper lines… It is all so addicting! But I think for now, I want to go back and revisit some of my old favorites. Maybe mix them up with some of the new… I am sure it is going to be an exciting and creative journey and I hope that you all will come along for the ride. I also have some exciting news that I will announce at the beginning of the week.

Going on right now is Tim Holtz’s 12 Tags of Christmas. I stumbled upon this last year and had so much fun making the tags. You can see my tags from last year here. He also has all the years past on his blog. It is something that I look forward to as soon as the cooler weather sets in… It’s not about going out and buying what he is using, for me, it is seeing his tag, being inspired, and then seeing what I can do with it using what I have. Confession: I will go out and buy some things, but only things that I can use over & over again or things that just spark my creativity and ideas just start spinning… sometimes out of control! Lol… Sometimes my tags will look similar to his, but sometimes they look nothing like his. It is just so much fun! I really recommend going over and taking a peak. Even if you can’t follow along, at least leave a comment, there are drawings everyday for prizes! Also, his directions are fabulous. Step by Step and so easy to follow, using both old and new techniques! …and lots of pictures!

Hope that you all have had a great weekend and I look forward to sharing with you this week!

Gather to Gobble... Gobble til you Wobble!

I wanted to share with you today my turkey book that I made to keep all my Thanksgiving Day recipes in...

Here he is sitting on an easel. Isn't it so cute! 

 This was actually a pattern from a Tole Painting book a friend has. I scanned it into my Silhouette and cut out my pieces to put together. I made small ones too, that will decorate the kids seats for Thanksgiving.

Below are some of the pages that I have made. This portion is a work in progress because I want to add some pictures from Thanksgiving this year and I am still collecting and perfecting my Thanksgiving recipes. This will be my second year to host Thanksgiving and I am having so much fun! I love to entertain which is perfect because my mom was more than willing to "pass the torch". :)

I used Bazzill cardstock and the TPC Studio "Rustic Garden" line. What beautiful papers!

Even as I was writing this post I had an idea to add to my book. When I have it

 completed I will post each page, pictures and all!

Well, I am off to go prep for Turkey Day!

Have a happy day...

fitting for the cold day... brrr....

Here is a card that I did for my Christmas cards this year. Slowly, but surely, I am getting them done. I used a shimmer white cardstock for my base. The blue snowflake paper is Bazzill Embossed Paper. It is white on white. I used Distress Inks, Stormy Sky and Tumbled Glass, to ink up the paper. The embossed snowflakes resist the ink. I stamped the snowman on the same shimmer paper and cut it out. I stamped the snowman again on some pink pattern paper and cut out the scarf & hat and pieced onto my snowman. I inked the bottom of the snowman to add just a little color. The neat thing about this card is the stickers I used. They are by SRM Stickers... They are fabulous... a great way to add sentiments to your cards. Here is the sheet that I got my stickers from:

Stickers Sentiments-Winter.

I hope this post brought you "snow much fun"!

So Loving the Sew Easy

Here is a layout that I did today:

When I saw these papers by We R Memory Keepers, I had to get them! I am a polka-dot girl. I just love polka-dot paper. These papers are from their White Christmas line. I used "Naughty or Nice" and "Dear Santa". Before I got started, I traced the shape of "Dear Santa" onto a sheet of white cardstock so I can use the shape on other papers. I knew I wanted to use my new tool, "Sew Easy" on this layout. This is an awesome tool... It makes it easy to add borders to your projects to sew. Your run it over your paper and it pierces holes for you to go back and sew through! It's great!!!

It has a total of 7 attachments. The one that comes on it and then 6 extras you buy separate, (they are sew worth it...) The packaging comes with stitching guides on the back... I put them on a ring to keep with the tool as a quick reference, but We R Memory Keepers has a stitch guide and tips here.

This is my frame that I sewed for my layout. At the end of this post there is a short tutorial on getting your scallop corners to be pretty! It was really "sew" easy to create this and it adds so much to my layout. I added some glitter brads, also from We R Memory Keepers, at the points of all the scallops. I cut out the holly corner piece from my Silhouette. I used Tattered Angels Glimmer Glam & Glimmer Glaze to spice up this embellishment.

I cut out the titles and music note out of my Silhouette too. I used white cardstock and inked it with my Ink Blending tool and Distress Ink, Black Soot. Here on the work "oink" I only inked the bottom and then faded it out to white... I then sprayed Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Marshmallow over it. I used Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Black Magic on top of the words "Christmas Pig".

These pictures had a story behind them that I wanted to capture on my layout. Using the Dear Santa paper was perfect because it already had lines for all my journaling. Here I turned the picture so the journaling would be easier to see, but on the layout it is vertical.

Here is some tips on using the Sew Easy and making the scallop frame:

For starters you want to use a foam like mat. We R Memory Keepers makes one, and its pink and really cute! I wanted it, but since I knew I had something at home that might could work, I chose to get all the attachments instead. (but I still want that super cute mat! lol...) I laid a ruler down on my paper and ran the Sew Easy tool along side of it to help insure a straight line.

When it came to making the next side of my frame, I had to play a bit to make sure that my corners were right. This is what I discovered:

Once you make you one line and you are ready to make your next, you want to line up the bottom scallop with the middle hole of the scallop from your existing line. This way your corner will have a nice transition, like the scalloped line in the picture above.

I hope that this has inspired you and given you some insight into the Sew Easy tool. If you have any questions please feel free to ask... I will be more than happy to help!

Have a very happy week!