Don't Make Me Laugh!

Unless you're participating in this fortnight's Jingle Belles challenge, "Ho Ha Ha" in which case, making us laugh, chuckle or smile is EXACTLY what we'd like you to do; by making a card that's funny, punny, silly or snarky. Here's what I made this week:

I loved Stephanie's Taylored Expressions Grumpling card from last week, and it reminded me that I own the Mythical Grumplings stamp set, with it's supercute sourpuss of a yeti, to whom I've given an Eyelet Outlet Santa Hat Brad. I used my (sadly out of print) Stamplorations' "Jingle All the Way" die for the top part of my sentiment panel, and computer-generated the rest, using a free font called Bohemian Typewriter. I used a nice big Nestabilities label die on the panel and matted it on coordinating cardstock; then added the whole thing to a piece of offset chevron patterned paper... (so ancient I have no idea who made it) ...which I augmented with some skinny washi tape strips.

You still have until next Wednesday evening (9-25) to link up your own humorous holiday card(s) at Jingle Belles!

Hello, Fall!

Looking forward to all the joys of autumn, especially colorful leaves, crisp air and cooler temps! Here's a pair of fall cards featuring Eyelet Outlet Leaf Brads, Sunflower Brads and a bunch of autumnal-inspired tapes including Wide Sunflower and Wide Leaf Tapes, plus Brick and Wood Washi as well as intricate and delicate Nature Tape.

Shopping List:

Leaf Brads

Sunflower Brads

Wide Sunflowe Washi

Wide Leaf Tape

Brick Tape 

Wood Washi 

Nature Tape

Visit the Eyelet Outlet Online Store to find all of this and lots more; better yet, check out the Tradeshow Schedule to see if the EO Booth will be coming to your town this fall!

Not Your Ordinary Card Collection

I'm thrilled to get my hands on Wendy Vecchi's new collection from Spellbinders, which is called “Not Your Ordinary Card Collection” and I assure you, it totally lives up to its name. I couldn't wait to dive into the Essential Envelope Die Set, which has TWENTY dies, including this cool style of open envelope, which is a bit like a library pocket, so of course I was onboard as soon as I heard that, lol! I've also used all of the flowers, most of the leaves and the sentiment from the set, and for my first project I just diecut colored cardstock to which I added very minimal shading with Wendy's Archival Inks from Ranger.

The Build a Plaid Layering Stencil Set is also outstanding; it features five 6x6" stencils, each with a different size of parallel stripes, so you can (as the name implies, lol) literally build a different plaid pattern every time. I chose to make a very loose, multi-color design featuring some of my favorite Archival shades including Rosy Posey, Pink Peony, Leaf Green and Sunflower.

For the interior card I used the medium sized frame die from the Pinking Edge Birthday Add-On set, which has three different pinked panels and some cool birthday accessories like a multi-layer cake, as well as the perfect "Happy Birthday" sentiment that you can cut with or without a shadow. 

I'm excited to play with more of the birthday accessories later; oh and there's a very cool Halloween Add-On with stamps and dies (and the cutest cat everrrrrr!) as well as a Christmas Add-On... all of which I will be digging into SOON, so stay tuned! Meanwhile all of these items are available separately or as a bundle on the Spellbinders website as well as fine papercrafting stores everywhere!  

Diamonds (& Speckles) Are a Mandala's Best Friend

It's a 6x6... (plus a little bit extra!) ...Mandala Monday in my Dina Wakley Kraft Journal, with Letter It Fineliners laying down the basic shapes; a combination of inks, markers and paint pens adding color; and a finishing touch of splattered White Gloss Spray.

Wishing you a wonderful week ahead! ♥

New Kit: Happy Haunting

With Halloween on it's way, Paper Anthology Design has put the focus on hocus pocus! It's not just WITCH-ful thinking, our newest Class in a Kit, Happy Haunting, really is creepy, kooky, mysterious and spooky; not to mention cute as can be, and thus these cards are suitable for sending to boys and ghouls of all ages. The designs are built around some of our favorite seasonal stamps and dies from Impression Obsession, Lawn Fawn, Hero Arts and more; but here's the best part: ALL of the diecuts have been pre-cut for you; and all of the sentiments pre-stamped! You get to skip right to the FUN parts: arranging, assembling and attaching all the elements into some of the fastest (and cutest!) Halloween cards ever.

This kit has everything you need… (except adhesives and optional ink for edging) including LOTS of googley eyes! …to create all three A2 cards as pictured, as well as step-by-step instructions and a nice big color photo to help with placement. It's all treats and no tricks. Click THIS LINK (or ANY of the bolded text in this post!) to go directly to the Happy Haunting product page in our Etsy Shop, Paper Anthology Design.

JB2419-Ho Ha Ha!

This fortnight at Jingle Belles, we're asking you to create Humorous Holiday Cards; they can be funny, punny, snarky or silly but make sure they induce a smile, a chuckle or a laugh. 

Here's my card:

Something I only tend to realize when a humor challenge arrives is that I don't have a vast quantity of funny stamps, especially holiday-themed; I'm not sure HOW this is possible, but there ya go! As I was considering what to do, I found this TINY (1" square) HUMBUG stamp which I think has to be 20+ years old and I wondered if I could make it into a full-sized A2 card. And it turns out, YES, though it's definitely a bit more pared down than my usual style. A little matted diecut frame, some foam Thickers, a few patterned paper panels in appropriately coordinating "Humbug Green" et voila!

Hop over to Jingle Belles to see what Stephanie has created and start planning your own smile-worthy card to link up with us. JB2419 Ho Ha Ha will run until the evening of Wednesday, September 25th.  

Unsuccessful Chameleon?

Eyelet Outlet Reptile Brads feature both chameleons and geckos, and it would be a shame if one COULDN'T see them, since they're very handsome indeed. This chameleon is proud to be the star of a "Dad Joke" style card; he's joined by a Tall Palm Brad, and backed up with Grass Tape, Wood Washi and Wide Cactus and Flamingo Tape.

Visit the Eyelet Outlet Online Store where there are creatures and critters galore!