RedLead Christmas Ornament Swap

I love making Christmas ornaments, so of course I had to participate in RedLead's Christmas Ornament Swap.  We received two, 2-piece chipboard ornaments to alter.  For the first ornament, I used white paint, modeling paste, a star stencil and glitter to create the base.  The image is from RedLead Christmas Collage Sheet #27, with a background stamped using the O Christmas Tree stamp.  I embellished the ornament with some beads and baubles, a brass snowflake, a rustic snowflake that I painted and glittered, and some vintage trim. (Please excuse these horrible pictures - I had to take them with my phone because my camera was temporarily out of commission.)

For my second ornament I wanted to create a mercury-glass type of effect.  Don't know if I really succeeded but it does sparkle (more than my phone photo can show!).

The images (both in the center and the snowman charm) are from the same collage sheet (#27).  For the mercury glass effect I first used white crackle paint, then a layer of pewter rub-on paint, then clear gloss, into which I sprinkled silver glass glitter while it was still wet.  Here's the back:

Still not a good picture but maybe you can get the idea.  I added some more baubles to the bottom of this one too.  Here's the pair:

Can't wait to receive happy mail in return!

Motif Building with Papertrey Ink

I had a fun time participating in Papertrey Ink's Make It Monday #231: Motif Building.  There's a great tutorial on the PTI blog - basically you first choose a centerpiece image, then use a bunch of tiny images repetitively to create one larger image.  It's a great way to give some love to all of those teensy images that are included in your larger stamp sets.  It creates a folk art type of style, which I particularly love for Christmas.

Here are some more pics - I have the details about which sets I used at the bottom of the post.

Stamps used (all Papertrey Ink):

Both wreaths: Wreath for All Seasons

Birds, dotted heart: Feather Finery

Solid hearts, sentiment, circle heart in center of wreath: Love Lives Here

Greenery with bow: Two Feet Deep

Swirly embellishments: Calendar Basics

Quickie Christmas Cards

In the craziness that leads up to the holidays, I found myself short a few Christmas cards.  Since the kids' sports schedules are still going strong (meaning I spend a lot of time at courts and rinks, sitting for 2 hours, which doesn't include the time needed for commuting), I am needing to make every minute 'til Christmas count.  So I decided that my little gluebook project had to make way for my Christmas card project.... the gluebook ingredients in my vintage train case were replaced with selected scraps of holiday paper, vintage sheet music, a single stamp, a pair of decorative scissors, two punches, and three inkpads (everything but the partridge in the pear tree, LOL).  Oh, and card bases and a glue stick, of course.  I also loaded up a little mini guillotine-style paper cutter.  I was all set to mass-produce a few cards. :)

I used a stamp from Stamp Francisco, and papers from a My Mind's Eye Lost and Found Christmas 6x6 pad, along with some scraps.  Once I got the general layout figured out, these were a snap to put together.  When I got them home, I added a little platinum Stickles (gotta have some bling for the holidays!).  Sorta kinda like gluebook pages on a 4 x 5 inch scale, LOL!  Here are a few others that haven't been sent yet.... all the same, but all a little different.

Hope you are all catching up on all of those holiday errands.  I'm still swamped.... looking forward to Christmas Eve, when all is quiet and we all just sit and enjoy family.  Happy Monday. :)

Gingersnap Creations Spicy Supply Challenge - Wax

The new Spicy Supply Challenge over at Gingersnap Creations is CG130: Wax.  Use beeswax or wax crayons or wax paper - anything wax-related, just use your imagination.  I decided to go with an oldie but goodie - the ol' tissue paper adhered with waxed paper onto a candle technique.  You can find a wonderful tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers *here*.  They say to use white tissue paper (which I did for the snowflakes), but you can also use colored tissue to add yet another twist.  Here, I wanted it to look like old parchment or bookplates with Santas printed in sepia.  So I simply stamped on a light kraft-colored tissue (sort of a shimmery champagne color that I got at Hallmark), cut out the Santas, and waxed them on first.  Then I stamped the snowflakes on white, waxed them on, and added a little bling to the centers.  This was very quick, very easy, and makes for a fun little hostess gift that you can do at the last minute.  These Santas are from Artistic Outpost and Victorian Trading Co. 

Here's the other side:

These Santas are from Stamp Francisco and Crafty Individuals.

Hope you find some time to play along! 

Days of Whimsy 2 - 5

I spent the entire day crafting yesterday... it was heaven!  I wanted to catch up with Nancy Maxwell James' 12 Days of Whimsy, featuring the beautiful collage images of Paper Whimsy.  You can get all of the instructions on Nancy's blog, Sugar Lump Studios.  The banner above is the 2nd Day of Whimsy.  I've used Lost and Found Christmas papers for them all, and I am totally addicted to this vintage color scheme! (Just went and bought two more 6x6 tablets of the stuff.  Yes!).  All of these images are from Paper Whimsy.  Here they are individually:

"Merry" is cut from a vintage Little Women book, as is "Christmas" below.  I cut the banners using a Papertrey Ink die.

For the "Wishes", I stamped a Christmas sentiment on a border of the text from the book, so that it would have the same patina.  I finished these off with some Stickles (my favorite color - Platinum), some poinsettia flowers, bling, and vintage mother of pearl buttons.

Next up, Day 3 and an adorable natural batting mitten.  I loved this project, since it gave me a very good excuse to cut into a stash of delicate vintage lace.

The image (from Godrun Loennecken) was printed on sticky-back canvas and stitched in place.  I added a little plastic "thingy" LOL - the little white filigree flower is from some sort of broken necklace I found at a flea market.  Very fun to be able to use that, too!

Next, Day 4 (bet you didn't see that coming, LOL!) and a snowy tag.  This is once again a Paper Whimsy image, vintage lace, glittery snowflakes, mother of pearl... oh how I love these projects!

Finally, Day 5 - glittery snowflakes that I opted to create ornaments with, but you can also attach them to cards, as in the project shown on Nancy's blog.

These came together in a snap.  For the snowflake, I used an image printed on canvas, and some crepe paper that I had edged in platinum Stickles and gathered.  For the star, it's just an image printed on cardstock.  Soooo easy, so quick, such a great way to adorn a package. (P.S. I had found these ornaments on clearance last year at Michaels - 50 cents for a pack of 6 - they might be there again this year, I haven't checked.)

That's my catch-up post!  Today's project involves a decorated tin ornament.... don't know if I have a tin, so I'll have to get scrounging or get creative.  Will hopefully have that tomorrow. :)

Rogue Redhead + Technique Junkies Blog Hop!

Welcome to Stop #5 on the joint Rogue Redhead and Technique Junkies Blog Hop! We are all having loads of fun with the new Technique Junkies' 3D and Fun Folds CD! If you have been following along already you should have come from Beverly G.  If you are only starting here, please head back to the Technique Junkie Newsletter Blog and go from there.

If you have just discovered the blog hop, let me give you some background....
The Technique Junkies team has joined us to showcase the numerous great techniques on this new CD. As you may know, the Technique Junkies Newsletter has been publishing rubber stamping technique tutorials since 2002. The 3D and Fun Folds CD contains 70 step-by-step technique tutorials in PDF format – perfect dimensions, perfect directions and great pictures for every step. Visit www.techniquejunkies.com for more details about the CD and the Technique Junkie Newsletter.

A fantastic group of design team members from both Rogue Redhead Designs and the Technique Junkie Newsletter have helped put together this fabulous Blog Hop to kick off the 3D and Fun Folds CD. Not only are the talented Technique Junkies team hopping with the Rogue Crew today, they started hopping yesterday with Classy Cards N' Such and will be hopping again all the way through Friday one day each with PaperTemptress, Mark's Finest Papers, and Sweet n' Sassy Stamps. Check the The Technique Junkie Newsletter Blog for more details.

After visiting me, you can head off to see Holly Brown at Glitter, Stamps and Ink (Oh My) for your next stop.

For my first project, I couldn't resist making an adorable Technique Junkies "Goodie Purse."  This is the perfect little "handbag" for a gift card!  I used some double-sided Christmas papers, decorative brads, and a stylish Rogue Redhead Designs Milliner Misses gal and sentiment for the gift tag.

Here's a photo of a gift card perfectly nestled inside.  I will give this little Goodie Purse to my daughter with a gift card to one of her favorite mall haunts (Delia's, perhaps!).

Next up, a pretty Scallop Flower Box, decorated with a cute snow couple from Rogue Redhead's Candy Kisses plate.

The instructions for this project include the how-to's for this fabulous little scalloped flower embellishment.

I can see making these to adorn lots of small gifts.  And the box is the perfect size for stocking stuffers... perhaps filled with some Candy Kisses or other sweet treats. :)

I had tons of fun making these Technique Junkies projects, and just in time for the holidays.  I hope you have fun hopping along to the rest of the design team blogs.

If you get lost along the way, here's the whole list of hop stops for your convenience.

1. The Technique Junkie Newsletter Blog

2. Rogue Redhead Designs Blog

3. Jackie Kalchert

4. Beverly G., Rogue Crew

5. Jean Franks Beck, Rogue Crew - that's me!

6. Holly Brown

7. Jane Bosi

8. Laura Liddell, Rogue Crew

9. Joanne Wardle, Rogue Crew

10. Chris Dickinson

11. Stephanie Severin, Rogue Crew

12. Sharon Briss, Chief Rogue

13. Pat Huntoon

Thanks for stopping by!  And one last, very important, thing.....

On Saturday, December 3, Pat from the Technique Junkie Newsletter will announce the winners from each company. Be sure to hop along on each day! There will be FIVE WINNERS! On Monday, December 5th, Pat will announce ONE LUCKY WINNER with a GRAND PRIZE with a bundle of prizes from all of the participating businesses.

You won't want to miss any stops along the way – in order to win you will need to comment on everyone’s blog AND Pat Huntoon's blog. There will be an additional chance to win by playing along in her Blog Hop!

A Masculine Christmas Card with Rogue Redhead Designs

Making some headway on my Christmas cards, this time with some Rogue Redhead Designs stamps.  You can find all of the details over at the Rogue Redhead Designs blog.  Plus, find out about some really great deals on all of their fabulous stamps over at the shop.  (Just a little enabling for your Black Friday pleasure, LOL!)  Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Visions of Sugarplums with Rogue Redhead Designs

A "sweet" little card I made for the Rogue Redhead Designs blog today.  You can check it out *here* and get all the deets.

Happy Veteran's Day, Remembrance Day, Armistice Day to all - thank you to the service men and women who have risked or given their lives so that we may be free.  My dad was a teenager in the US Navy during WWII.  Now my cousin's son serves in Afghanistan.  We all know someone.... take a moment to give thanks. :)

Rogue Redhead Designs' Anniversary and New Releases!

Happy 1st Anniversary to Rogue Redhead Designs!!  I'm so excited to share the new releases today.  There are two - a mini set called Milliner Misses, and an adorable half plate of winter fun called Candy Kisses, a companion to the Snow Hugs plate.

The Milliner Misses mini plate has three gorgeous vintage fashion images and two sentiments.  From the RRD blog: 

"This mini plate packs a lot of style into just a few images.  Capture the distinctive fashion and panache of the twenties with these great elegant ladies and their fabulous hats.  Perfect for gal pal cards and fashionable greetings of all kinds."

The Candy Kisses plate is so versatile - you can use these images for Christmas, but also for birthdays and just for sending warm winter wishes. From the RRD blog:

"A fun companion plate to Snow Hugs, this half plate brings its own charm to the snowy season.  Featuring a mini background, decorative elements, fun images and sweet sentiments, Candy Kisses is sure to become a go-to plate for warm wishes during the cold months of Winter."

And since it is Rogue Redhead Designs' 1st anniversary, they are having some wicked special offers.  You can read all about it on the RRD Blog, as well as see some wonderfully inspirational designs.  You can visit their new web store *HERE* for a little Christmas shopping.  I'm thinking that at only $6.00 (special sale price), the Milliner Misses mini plate is the perfect stocking stuffer for crafty friends (and maybe your own little crafty self!!... Just sayin'!).  There are some wonderful special prices on the gorgeous prior releases as well.  I hope you'll go have a look. :)  Happy November!

Rogue Redhead Peek: Scrappy Christmas Tags

Another peek for you today, of Rogue Redhead Designs' Candy Kisses plate, coming out November 1st.  For these tags, I used some of the fun winter icons in the set, colored with Copic markers.  I cut out each of the designs and glued them to some white corrugated cardboard that I had covered in clear glitter.  I put that on top of a torn piece of cardstock scrap.  The bases of the tags are stamped with the snowflake motif from the companion plate, Snow Hugs.  I added some scraps of trim and some fuzzy sparkly ribbon.  I wanted to make a set of pastel tags for the girlie girls in the family - they could just as easily be done in deep vintage colors, with a background of vintage sheet music or text.  Hmmmm... maybe I'll do that next. ;)

Okay, I'm back.... Yep, I was gone for sumthin' like 14 hours so that I could do another set of tags, LOL!!!  But due to the magic of blogland.... in an instant, here ya go:

My vintage heart prefers these, I think.  But the young ones in the family prefer the top set.  Regardless... these stamps are quite versatile, no?  And I'm happy to have 8 tags done, tee hee.  These are also colored with Copics, then layered on top of vintage hymnal music sheets, then on top of felt, then patterned paper.  I used the same trim for all of these, since it reminded me of snowflakes.  (For some reason, the red felt I used on these looks black in the picture.  A photographer, I am not!)  I hope you'll have a chance to check out Rogue Redhead over the coming weeks... lots of fun designs are coming your way.  Happy Monday. :)

Rogue Redhead Sneak Peek

A bit of a sneak peek for you today, of two new releases from Rogue Redhead Designs.  If that bundled beauty looks familiar, it's because she is the signature sweetie of the Rogue Redhead Designs logo.  Yep, she's a stamp now, and she has friends (hint, hint!).  I've paired her with a pretty poinsettia from another new set that is just perfect for the winter holidays (including Valentine's!), happy hellos, and even birthdays.  Look for more peeks on the Rogue Redhead Designs blog.... these sets will be released on November 1!

p.s.  There just might be some special fun coming in honor of Rogue Redhead Designs' 1st anniversary.  Just sayin'. ;)

Guest Blogger Meghan

Hi! I'm Meghan and I'm eleven years old. I made these cards to send out to my relatives. My mom gave me card bases, slips of paper for borders, stamped images, embellishments, and other neat scraps, then she left me to work my magic. I colored the stamped images with colored pencils. For the card on the bottom row in the middle, I thought the Santa was the woodsy sort, so I placed him going into a snowy forest. I wanted to do something that celebrated the wintery chill in the air, so I crafted a snowy card. The card on the top row on the right says 'Let it Snow', but we don't get much snow down here. :( I hope you have enjoyed my Christmas cards. Happy holidays!

Christmas Cards - En Masse

Our ATC club had a Christmas card swap (actual greeting cards, not ATCs) tonight.  I went with two general themes - kids and Santa - and used lots of Christmas paper scraps that I've been hoarding from years past.  A few quick and easy and *mailable* cards, very fun to make.

Here are a few using Artistic Outpost's Sleigh Ride plate, along with some Tim Holtz texture fades, glitter, Tim stamps, and Hero arts snowflakes sprinkled in:
In purple...

And white...

And blue....

 And here are a couple of Tim Holtz Santas, with ticket stamps and dies:
In white....

And blue...

Have you started your Christmas cards yet? Do you make yours?  I was very surprised when I saw that one of my very, very favorite papercrafting artists and bloggers actually orders hers from an online shop that prints them up with the customers own photos.  *Manufactured* cards, from someone who makes quite possibly the most beautiful Christmas cards I've ever seen. *Gasp!*  So whaddya think?  Is your Christmas card list so long that you have to buy them?  Does it feel weird?  Do you give handmade cards to the chosen lucky few?  Or maybe you do a Christmas letter.  Or maybe, like me, your are a queen-of-the-last-minute and end up either doing them at 2:00 AM or just throwing in the towel.  I'd love to hear your thoughts.  I'm hoping to get enough done for everybody on my list this year.  Maybe.  Hopefully.... ;) 

Tag Tuesday Front and Back

I'm finally back after a technology black-out.... I now have a "new" (hubby's hand-me-down) computer, new paintshop software, email access.... aaah, life is good. :)  Today I'm participating in a *totally fun* challenge over at Kard Krazy.  This week's Tag Tuesday Challenge is to include something on the front of your tag that runs over to the back of it.  Louise has a stunning example - she actually created a scene using two different stamps, both of which are half on the front and half on the back of her tag.  You've really got to see it and read about it to fully appreciate what I'm talkin' 'bout.  I wanted to try the stamp thing, too, and this cute little snowball fight image from Cornish Heritage Farms came to mind right away.  (Keepin' these rascally children apart, LOL!)  So here's the back:

The image is stamped in Adirondack ink, the snowflakes were clear embossed, and then lots of distress inks were applied for the snowy background.  I also split the sentiment, and put "To" and "From" on the front/back. Yes, this is an actual gift tag. :)

Head on over to Kard Krazy and check out all the linkies.... I can see this technique becoming quite addicting!

Tag Tuesday Challenge - Not On Paper

Louise's Tag Tuesday challenge this week over at Kard Krazy is to make a tag that does *not* have paper as its base.  I found some small scraps of felt in my stash and decided to use a piece of deep red for a cozy Christmas tag.  I decided I wanted to create a pocket, to slip in an additional tag (paper, this time) for the greeting and the "To: and From:" message, so that the felt-based tag could be reused.  So, I stamped an old Santa image (Santa Collage from Rubber Stampede) onto cardstock and punched a snowflake edge at the top.  Then I decorated him with distress inks, Copics, diamond Stickles, and a bit of glossy accents for the eyeglasses, then stitched him on, leaving the top open.  I created another little tag to stick in the pocket.  Other little accents include a piece of striped ticking fabric, some star fabric to hold on the ribbon at the top, some pom pom trim, a felt snowflake, button, and baker's twine.  Here's what it looks like with the taglet removed:

Hope you can play along - it really gets your creative juices flowing!

PDCC #42 Vintage Christmas in Green

Well, it's 94 degrees, sunny, and humid.... perfect time to start Christmas cards, don'tcha think?  Over at the Play Date Cafe this week, there is a color challenge with a most interesting and unusual photo, as you see here.  Camels, as far as the eye can see.  Never thought I'd type that sentence.  Anyway, the colors are dark brown, green, and beige.  So those camels and those colors got me to thinking of the three wise men, Christmas..... okay, maybe it's a stretch, but it *is* an inspiration challenge after all, LOL!

All of my images are from Artistic Outpost's  Snowy Woods plate.  I stamped using only Rich Cocoa and Cottage Ivy (Memento) and distressed with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink.  For the image, I got out my aqua pen and blended a little of the ivy ink only onto Santa's attire, just as a little accent.  I added a little Rock Candy Distress Stickles to the boughs to give them a bit of frosty shimmer (which of course does not photograph).  I did a little "messy stitching" (Yep, it's a look, I was going for that... LOL!) to add a ticking fabric panel behind the Santa.  Vintage, rustic, and mostly *flat* - my main goal this year with Christmas cards. ;)

Have a little look over at the Cafe..... you can still play along through midnight tonight.  And maybe get a jump on those Christmas cards. :)

Gingersnap Creations Blog Hop!!

Welcome to the first-ever Gingersnap Creations Blog Hop and Hop Stop #6!

If you’ve already been hopping then hopefully you have just come from Hels at Ink on My Fingers.  If you are starting here, welcome! It's a loop so you can start anywhere along the way.  Your next stop on the hop is Joanne at Made by Joanne.

If you've just started here, let me fill you in.... The Gingersnap Creations Design Team are all creating with some gorgeous stamps from our December sponsor, Hearts in Touch.  If you are participating in the hop, you will get a chance to win the Christmas 2009 plate from Hearts in Touch.  So what do you need to do?

At each stop on the blog hop, you need to collect a word.  There are 10 stops in all starting and ending with the Gingersnap Creations blog.  When you get all of your words - there are 9 in all - unscramble them to form an art quote. Once you have your guess at the quote, email it and your name to gingersnapstamp@gmail.com by December 13, 2009. We will be picking one lucky winner at random from the correct entries to win the Hearts in Touch Christmas 2009 plate!  You can get all the specific information and get a peek at the Christmas 2009 plate from Hearts in Touch on the Gingersnap Creations blog.

My word is "our".

So, on to my card.... the card above uses a beautiful angel stamp from the Hearts in Touch Christmas plate.  I stamped her using Ancient Page ink in chocolate, then used Ranger Distress Inks in Antique Linen and Vintage Photo to give it that time-worn look.  I used some shimmery copper paper from The Paper Company to frame both the image and the sentiment (which is from the same plate).  The patterned papers are from the Winter Wonderland paper tablet from Creative Imaginations.  The little corner ornament is chipboard (7 Gypsies) which I covered with copper embossing powder.

Here's another card using that same fabulous plate:

For this one, I stamped the tree image on acetate using StazOn ink... I ended up loving the way the background took on a frosty window look!  The patterned paper is called Silent Night, from Basic Grey's Figgy Pudding line (so if you've been hoarding, like I have, now's the time to pull that stuff out, LOL!).  The crinkly snowy looking paper at the bottom is ruched white from the Paper Temptress.  A few sparkly snowflakes from Little Yellow Bicycle finish it off.