Tuesday, December 4, 2012

12 Tags of Christmas - Day Four

(Sorry, I'm so late with this post...)
 
Wow! It's December 4 and so warm where I live... weather in the 65-70's! (not normal!) I bought a pink & zebra stripe Santa hat yesterday and it just felt strange because of the unusual temps!
 
Here is Tag 4... I love my embossing folders and couldn't wait to use them on a tag...

 
The Details:
 
I used lots of fun products on this tag!
 
I started my coloring my tag with the various stain colors. Once I embossed it with the embossing folder, I went back and inked up the raised parts with Festive Berries using an Ink Blending Tool.
I then inked the edges with Pumice Stone.
Using the Epiphany Punch I made my "Unto Us a Child is Born" embellishment. 


Monday, December 3, 2012

12 Tags of Christmas - Day Three

A poinsettia kind of Christmas... Last year I was on such a poinsettia kick. I think that I probably bought 5 or 6 different poinsettia stamps. I used one of my favorites on today's tag:
 
 
The Details:
 
I started this tag using a background stamp and Distress Inks. Using the Ink Blending Tool, I inked my stamp up using my Distress Inks. I wanted to use multiple colors on my stamp, and had more control using the blending tool to ink up the different areas of the stamp. 
 
The result:
 
I then stamped my poinsettia on white cardstock... 

 
 
...and then I stamped a background stamp on top of it... 
 
I then mixed Perfect Pearls with water to color in my image...

 
Waa-la! I did this one, and then I did just the smaller leaves so I could cut them out and pop-dot them on to my tag. 

I hope you have a wonderful Monday. Take time to enjoy the little things this Christmas season and take time to create a little too!
 
Christine


Sunday, December 2, 2012

12 Tags of Christmas - Day Two

Happy Day. I hope that the Christmas spirit is finding you in all things... creating especially! I have been out of my studio too much this year.... stress and circumstances have "stolen" my creativity. Playing with these tags have helped in so many ways.. Creativity heals. It is truly therapeutic. 

With all that being said, here is Day Two... I really had fun with this tag!

The Details: 

 I pulled out the Melting Pot & UTEE for this tag. 

First, I inked my tag up with Distress Ink. Then I poured the melted UTEE onto it and stamped into it while the UTEE  was still melted. THE IMPORTANT THING is to protect your stamp. I inked my stamp up with Versamark before stamping into the UTEE. Once the UTEE cooled, I inked it up with Staz-On ink and then Perfect Medium so I could brush Perfect Pearls over it. 

The trees are cut using a Sizzex Alterations die by Tim Holtz. One is cut from metal paper and the other from Grungeboard. I inked the Grungeboard up with Distress Ink and then brushed it with Perfect Pearls. I used Snowflake Embossing Powder by Ranger to create "snow" on my tree. 
 
Happy Creating!

Saturday, December 1, 2012

12 Tags of Christmas - Day 1

Merry Christmas! 
I can hardly believe that December is here. I am really excited about what I have to share with you today. As most of you know, Tim Holtz decided this year to not do the 12 Tags of Christmas anymore, but instead do a tag each month. I was so sad when I learned this because the 12 Tags have become just as much a holiday tradition as putting up the tree! So I decided to do my own 12 Tags this year! ...and I have had so much fun playing. 
So without further ado... 
Day 1! 


The Details:
I used Archival Black Ink to stamp my background. Then with Salty Ocean & Shaded Lilac Distress Ink, I inked up my tag. 

I then stamped using Perfect Medium and added Perfect Pearls.

This was the first time that I used Mirror Paper. It's awesome! I cut the snowman, the snowflake, & the snowflake border out of this awesome stuff! 

Using Alcohol Inks, I inked up the snowman. Here is a great video about Alcohol Inks

The snow is made from Stampendous Mica Fragments. I added some glitter for the snowman's hat and Tinsel for his scarf. 

I hope that you have been inspired to create a Christmas tag or two this season. Please come back tomorrow to see Day 2's tag... 

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Bright & Happy Buttons!

Happy Thursday... 
With Thanksgiving a week away I thought that I would share a thank you card... WOW! I can hardly believe that next week Thanksgiving will be here! 
I love the bright and happy colors on this card. 

I am thankful for the art of paper crafting. It is a passion. It is therapeutic, it's fun, and brings so many together. Inspirational. 

I hope you have a very happy day and are able to take a moment... or two... to create a little! 

Christine

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Challenge Me Happy

Happy Day... today I want to share a layout that I created for a challenge over at Challenge Me Happy. This is a great challenge blog that I just found. This week the challenge was a color challenge.
Here is my take on it: 


I really enjoyed creating this layout. I dug into my supplies and found the perfect paper... everything just came together after that... A little glitter, some bling, and Distress Stickles and it all came together. 

I encourage you to go check out Challenge Me Happy... for great challenges and great prizes! 

Happy Creating! 
Christine

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Crazy Kind of Layout!

 Here is a layout that I did a while back... It was one of the first "challenges" we did... I picked the challenge: It was the two pieces of patterned paper and that crazy tulle ribbon! This is what I did with it: 

Paint, Prima, and Bling! 
Hope you have a great week and find time to take for yourself. To create and to just be at peace.... 
Christine

Monday, October 1, 2012

Have You Said Thank You Lately?



Have you said Thank You lately? We send thank you cards for when we get gifts, we say thank you for when someone helps us do something... But have you said thank you for just being you? Thank you for listening....
I would not be where I am at today if it wasn't for my friends and family. If you have a friend going through a tough time, you don't think twice about being there for them, as they would do the same for you. I am so grateful for my friends and my family.
It is so easy to forget to say thank you to those who matter most. I assume that they know... but I need to take a moment and really tell them. To say, "Thank you for being there for me. Thank you for listening and helping me through this difficult time. Thank you for being my friend."
Then to also say thank you to those who cross your path... even if just for a brief second. That cashier who smiles and makes your check out experience a good one. The waiter who makes the dining experience even better because of good service. Thank you.
I went to the local Fall Festival yesterday, there were the local police everywhere helping to make the event run smoothly. Controlling traffic so that we could cross the busy street safely... Walking by I simply said, "Thank you for your service." The smile I got in return meant more than anything. These men & women put themselves out there everyday risking their lives for our safety, saying thank you is the least I can do. And the military... Every time I see them I try to say thank you for protecting our country. Thank you for your service.
This all sounds just like common sense and common courtesy ... but I got caught up in life and found myself not saying Thank You. I felt it but didn't take that extra step in letting these people, my friends, my family, the service men & women, know that I am truly grateful for them.
People need to hear those two little words, because in the grand scheme of things, they are not little words. They let the person who receives them feel good. Those words let them know that they matter, what they are doing matter.
So to all my friends who have encouraged me, inspired me, taught me, listened to me, shared their insights & feelings with me,.... THANK YOU.
You mean more to me than I could ever say and I am so truly grateful that you are in my life.
To my parents who have raised me and helped shaped me into the woman I am today, who have supported me, cared for me, loved me... THANK YOU.
To everyone that crosses my path who is helpful, friendly, and makes my day brighter just because of their personality and friendly smile... THANK YOU.

And THANK YOU for all your words of encouragement that you have left in your comments.

THANK YOU.