JB2418: Love's Labor Day Lost

September 2nd will be Labor Day here in the United States, so at Jingle Belles we've decided to celebrate by saving you some work with regard to this week's card design. We're asking you to "CASE" (Copy And Selectively Edit) any of the cards that Stephanie or I have made for any of the previous Jingle Belles prompts (yep, you've got 13.5 years of cards to choose from!); be sure to link to the card that inspired you and tell us the selective edits you made to the design.

I chose this card of Stephanie's from July of 2022, featuring a Penny Black Masterpieces Made Simple illustrated panel: 

I loved the way the clean lines and the plain white card base of Stephanie's card really keeps the focus on the pretty illustration. The Eyelet Outlet Fancy Bling Strip adds just enough sparkle and the Tim Holtz sticker sentiment is charmingly apt.

I didn't have the exact same Penny Black illustration, but I did have three other horizontally oriented ones from various Masterpieces Made Simple sets, so rather than try to choose my favorite, I decided to make three cards this week. I used a different style of Eyelet Outlet Fancy Bling, but luckily it was long enough to cover all three cards, though I couldn't quite take it to the edge. I added very skinny mats in a shimmery cream cardstock and chose to put the sentiments on top of the panels instead of beneath.

Before you head over to Jingle Belles to see which card of mine Stephanie chose to inspire her, I should mention that NO, we really NEVER confer beforehand, and we're as surprised as anyone else by what each other have made. If you're wondering why I've spent an entire paragraph on this disclaimer, you might want to POP OVER and see her card... just sayin'... 

Mission: EMBOSS-able!

As you may remember, your mission, this fortnight, should you decide to accept it, is to join the Jingle Belles in creating a holiday card that features heat and/or texture embossing. Hop over to Jingle Belles to see Stephanie's gorgeous card, and in the meantime here's how I went all EMBOSS-ible this week: 

I stumbled upon this background panel, which, at some unremembered point in the past year or so, I had (apparently) embossed using Memory Box's Poinsettia Corner e/f, colored the raised design with Wendy Vecchi's Leaf Green Ink and Sunflower Liquid Pearls and then set it aside. But this is a very good illustration of why I am a Setter-Aside rather than a Thrower-Out (ok apart from mild hoarding tendencies) and that is because although this did not originally meet whatever my goal or requirements might've been at the time, it was a beautiful background which seriously helped me out on a crowded and busy week. All I had to do to make the panel into a card was add Penny Black Poinsettia and Joy diecuts, plus a couple of coordinating mats et voila! Job done!

JB2411: Tic-Tac-Toe

This fortnight at Jingle Belles, we're playing a game of Tree Skirt Tic-Tac-Toe, which is kind of like "Beach Blanket Bingo" but... you know... more Christmassy; and with LOTS more embellishments! We'd love for you to join the fun, all you have to do is pick a row (horizontal, vertical or diagonal) and a create a lovely new holiday card featuring all three elements in that row. There are loads of possibilities, so let's get started.

Here's what I made:

I chose the center column and thus had Embossing + Red or Green + Diecuts to work with. I broke out the Big Box of Bits and Bobs and lucked into the grocer's kraft panel (Simon Hurley Evergreens embossed in a combination of Ranger's Lime Tinsel and matte Green Embossing Powders, with a couple of Raspberry Liquid Pearl hearts on top); the glossy mat with the green stamped foliage from Wendy Vecchi's Doodle Holiday set, and all of those diecut Penny Black Layered Poinsettias to which I've added green Eyelet Outlet Snowflake Bling. 

JB2411: Tree Skirt Tic-Tac-Toe runs until Wednesday evening, June 5th; so head over to Jingle Belles now and see Stephanie's gorgeous card and start planning what you'll link up with us!

Prepare to DIE(cut!) (Again!)

It's week two of our celebration of diecutting at Jingle Belles and this week I've used three dies to make two versions of one card. See?

Penny Black's Glorious Poinsettia is my focal image and I cut it several times from green and from red to make it more substantial and to emphasize the petals and leaves. I also used two of the three dies in Tim Holtz's Sizzix Mixed Media Christmas set to create background patterns using negative space, then layered the pierced backgrounds onto contrasting colors. As you can see, I have no problem at all with combining multiple patterned papers; and NO, for the record, I've never met a Christmas plaid I didn't love!

Jingle Belles' diecutting challenge runs until next Wednesday evening, March 13th. Hop over and see Stephanie's card, take a look at the Readers' Gallery and start planning what you'll link up with us!

Holiday Jumpstart: Poinsettia Joy

"Poinsettia Joy" is the first Holiday Jumpstart Card Kit of 2024 and now available in-store and online at Paper Anthology!

Holiday Jumpstart is our pre-packaged kit that includes everything you need (except adhesives) to complete FIVE copies of this new original holiday card design. It’s called “Poinsettia Joy” since it features diecuts from Penny Black’s Stitched Poinsettia die set and Memory Box’s Brilliant Joy die set. 

All the details you need are in the Paper Anthology Blog Post or the Holiday Jumpstart Product Page!

Bird Brads of a Feather, Flock Together

In this case our Eyelet Outlet Tropical Bird Brads are flocking together on a Happy Bird-Day card and tag, atop backgrounds of Sky Washi and Cloud Tape, respectively; there's a border of fun and funky Giraffe Tape on the card and the vintage birdcages have been diecut from EO Wide Wood Washi. On the tag, the cage is cut from Glitter Gold Washi and there's a Cloud Brad and a Mini Bee to keep the cute toucan company.

If Tropical Birds aren't your favorite, check out lots of other Feathered Friends in the EO Store, including Owls both colorful and realistic, Eagles, Seagulls, Bluebirds & Robins, lots of Cardinals as well as colorful Flying Birds and Mini Birds. (PS: There are plenty of Bird Tape Styles, too!) 

SOS489: Love is in the Air

It's two weeks before Valentine's Day, so you will likely not be shocked to find that this fortnight's challenge at Shopping Our Stash is to make something with a looooooooove theme; whether that be a Valentine, Galentine, Wedding or Anniversary card. Mine looks a bit like this: 

I love (and collect!) vintage typewriters, so when I saw this Penny Black "Just My Type" mini set at Paper Anthology a couple of years ago, OF COURSE I had to have it. Slightly more puzzling (and embarrassing, lol) is the fact that it is only just seeing ink NOW. But that's what's great about SOS challenges, they're specifically designed to make us look through our older stash items and actually USE them! I've paired the stamps with a bunch of XOXO's diecut with Tim Holtz/Sizzix Typo Lowercase Die from a scrap of pink and red gel print set on top of a piece of text paper from one of my somewhat-falling-apart vintage typewriter books. The background is another gel print (I'm totally inspired by the way Stephanie uses her gellies!) and the heart was pre-die-cut from a piece of ancient patterned paper which just happened to match pretty well. 

There's a whole lotta love awaiting you at Shopping Our Stash, in the form of beautifully inspiring cards from the design team. I hope you'll go have a look, then start planning what you'll link up with us this fortnight.

Brads of a Feather Flock Together

Eyelet Outlet Bluebird and Robin Brads are a fine addition to pretty much ANY card, but when teamed with a sweet set of birdhouse dies, cut from our Wood Washi they have literally found the perfect home. Sun and Cloud Brads set the scene, a bright blue Heart Enamel adds another pop of color and Script Tape makes an excellent mat.

This design could easily be adapted to make a lovely Valentine OR an anniversary greeting, and there are lots more embellishments perfect for either in the Eyelet Outlet Store.

Eyelets and Brads and Tapes, Oh My!

I'm having a lot of fun choosing my "Five Favorites" from the cards and projects I made this year in various categories; today seems like the perfect time to post my Eyelet Outlet faves. Please note that the caption under each picture is linked to the original post on the EO Blog, where you can find individual links to every single product I've used.

The ABC's of Eyelet Outlet 

This was one of the biggest projects I did in any category this year. It was arguably a CRAZY thing to make, which is probably why I love it so much! In a related vein, I made a Rainbow Brad Book, where I arranged all my favorite EO Brad Styles by color. If you happen to visit a crafty trade show next year, look for both of these in the Eyelet Outlet Booth!

HB to a T

Diecuts and brads are wonderful together and this Birthday T-Shirt Card is a pretty good example of that. By the way, I have additional ideas for this set of Hero Arts' T-Shirt Infinity Dies and I've also got a brande new set of Lawn Fawn Balloon Dies as well, so get ready for some BIG Brad Cards in 2023!

Witch Way to the Candy

Another crafty shortcut perfect with my EO Brads and Tapes are the sheets of journal cards that come in sets of patterned paper. This particular variety of adorable tags is from Prima's Luna collection by Frank Garcia; but all the backgrounds and accents are EO Tapes and the tags feature a bunch of seasonal brads.  

Wide Washi Sentiment

I can NEVER resist a chunky sentiment in any context and this one features the three tapes I probably used most in 2022: Wide Sky Washi, Grass Tape and Brick Washi. Plus Daisy Brads and a sweet Mini Ladybug, o'course.

Gulls Just Wanna Have Fun

Being a Cancerian, of course I love the ocean in real life and also in papercrafting form. This card features the Starfish from our Sea Shore Brads, a pair of handsome Seagulls, loose Pearl Bling and a beautiful Ocean Tape with foil accents. But Eyelet Outlet has LOTS of other beachy goodness like Fish, Sandcastles, Shells, Flamingos, Palm Trees and more!

♥♥♥♥♥

I've still got some EO Goodies... and Brad-centric ideas... that I haven't used yet, so I'll be ringing in the New Year on the Eyelet Outlet Blog next Wednesday, January 4, 2023!

Here We Come A-Caroling

The Eyelet Outlet Caroler Brads are out on the town, singing their joyful holiday song! 

It's a beautiful night under a Star Night, Star Bright sky, with Sparkle White Glitter Tape snow glistening on the pretty Penny Black Build-a-House diecut village. Accents of Brick Washi and Wood Washi are scattered throughout the homes, with scraps of tan, brown and white patterned paper adding variety. A Wreath Brad, some Snowy Trees and a friendly Snowman complete the design.

The Eyelet Outlet Online Store has all the Brads, Tapes, Bling, Enamels and sequins you need to create holiday cards, tags, giftwrap and more; and the EO Blog has all the ideas you need to inspire your next creation!

Gingerbread Couple

Eyelet Outlet Gingerbread Brads are about as cute as it gets already, but... they're even more adorable in front of a Penny Black diecut Gingerbread Cottage, with a Gingerbread Washi sky, and "landscaping" made of Candy Cane and Peppermint Candy Brads. The cottage is trimmed out with Sparkle White Glitter Tape icicles and a Heart Enamel with a sentiment from Foil Red Stripe Washi.

There are lots more holiday brads, tapes and bling available in the Eyelet Outlet Store!

The Future's So Bright...

...You Gotta Wear Shades! Here's a bright and cheerful card, featuring some beachy Eyelet Outlet Brads, including a handsome Flamingo, a stately Palm Tree, a Sandcastle, and our Sun and Cloud Brads; all arranged on Penny Black's Glasses die with Cloud Washi lenses, on a background of Rainbow Tape.

While I was experimenting with combinations of tapes I came up with another version I really liked: Love Tape glasses with the Cloud Washi again for the lenses. I added Colored Daisies and a Mini Ladybug to the tiny garden and made a tiny glasses-shaped card base from a piece of window plastic.

Whatever the calendar might say, when it comes to papercrafting, it can always be any season you want, as long as you have a few appropriate Eyelet Outlet embellies!

Bloomin' Awesome

There's no bad time of year for a sunny day and a garden full of flowers, so luckily Eyelet Outlet has lots of different Flower Brads (this card features Colored Daisies) as well as Sky Tape, Grass Tape, Butterfly Brads, Mini Ladybugs and Hearts!

Head over to the Eyelet Outlet Store for lots more choices to make your next Bloomin' Awesome card!

Birds of a Feather

I think it's possible that whoever said, "Good things come in small packages" may very well have been thinking about Eyelet Outlet Tropical Bird Brads! These colorful feathered friends are exactly the right size for Penny Black's Vintage Birdcage Dies, which I diecut from our Pink Foil Tape backed with a scrap of plain white cardstock. A punny diecut sentiment, a few fronds of foliage with Colored Daisy and Green Leaf Brad accents, as well as a Flower Washi mat complete the design.

There are other "Birds of a Feather" in the EO Store, including Bluebird and Robin Brads, three kinds of Cardinals, Flamingos and several styles of Owls, some of which are on sale!

Going Batty!

Halloween is always FANG-tastic at Eyelet Outlet, thanks to our Bat Brads, Pumpkins and Kittens; not to mention the Brick Tape which is perfect for diecutting spooky mansions and the cream and charcoal Halloween Washi which just might be the ultimate card background!

If bats aren't your thing there are also Ghosts, Spiders, Skulls, Witchy Hats and Legs, and lots more awesome Halloween-themed items (including addtional awesome Washi varieties) in the Eyelet Outlet Store!

Masculine Merry Christmas

We're making holiday cards for the special men in our lives this fortnight at Jingle Belles, and we'd love for you to join the fun!

I based my card around a postcard-sized pre-printed panel from Penny Black, called Masterpieces Made Simple, which I got at Paper Anthology. These little cards are semi-glossy and slightly textured, so they are a gorgeous centerpiece; you just add stamping, diecuts, embossing or... in my case... an Idea-ology sticker sentiment, some Eyelet Outlet Brads and a few mats! This card was so fun (and FAST!) to make that I decided to use the other three cards in the set right away. I've used Cardinal and Female Cardinals, a handsome Moose, several Snowflakes, plus Bluebird and Robin Brads; as well as a variety of patterned paper scraps and solid cardstock to complete my A6 card designs.

Be sure to visit Jingle Belles, where Stephanie and our lovely guest star Beverly, have made marvelously merry masculine cards to inspire you!

SOS: Extra Special

This fortnight at Shopping Our Stash the challenge is called, "What a Difference You've Made in My Life" and the brief is to make a card for someone extra-special. With Mother's Day just around the corner, that might immediately spring to mind for you, as it did for me, but you can choose ANYONE in your life, just let us know who it is in your post!

Something which has slightly changed my Mother's Day cardmaking duties in the few years, is that my mom has also become an avid cardmaker! Which is really cool but... it does kind of add a little extra pressure because now she KNOWS how things are made, lol! She's also a very keen and expert gardener, so I thought a floral theme would be cool. To encompass the "Stash" requirement for SOS, I've chosen a favorite Hero Arts Tulip die from a few years ago that I haven't used in a bit. I diecut a bunch of flowers and leaves from heavy-duty watercolor paper, then used a waterbrush and a few shades of pink and green Tombow Dual Brush Pens to add layers of (sort of) realistic color.

Other ingredients, old and new: Hero Arts' super-cool Victorian Greenhouse die, which I bought in February of 2020 and somehow NEVER used until now (?!); Penny Black's "Bloom" die; an ancient Tim Holtz Movers and Shapers butterfly die; a scrap of vintage doily; some leftover Prima papers from the Pretty Pale collection; and a brand new frame element from some amazing Stamperia paper which just arrived at Paper Anthology. 

I hope you'll head over to Shopping Our Stash to see the amazing design team cards and then be inspired to make something extra-special to link up with us this time!

Tiny Sealing Wax Collages

Wax seals add instant elegance and nostalgia to any project, and there's seemingly no limit to the combination of papers and embellishments that coordinate well. In this case, we've got Vintage Typewriter Stickers, Classic Icon Fleur-de-Lis Wax Seals, Penny Black Juniper diecuts, Glitter Tape and scraps of sheet music. Read all about it on The Ink Pad Blog!

Wishing You a Beautiful Day

As well as a very Happy Easter if you're celebrating today or a belated Happy Passover if you've just finished celebrating! Here's a pretty card featuring one of Anna's favorite flowers, the exotic and hearty Protea, courtesy of Hero Arts' Protea Flowers Clear Stamp Set. All of the product details and a bit about the process are on The Ink Pad Blog today.

 

Bluebirds of Happiness

Bluebirds might be my absolute favorite of the backyard birds you see in New Jersey (or possibly tied with hummingbirds) and so despite the fact that they are two of the smallest of the eighteen (18!) stamps in LDRS' Country House Stamp Set, they were one of the first things I noticed; and I knew I wanted to feature them prominently in my card. Hop over to The Ink Pad blog for more details, including my trick for getting line free color on large images like, say, a big TREE! :)