Mini Album Mania Challenge - November - My Christmas Mini album

WOW its November and I have some exciting news!!!

 I have joined the Mini Album Mania design team. I am so excited to be on this team and to share with you my albums. I hope to give you some ideas and inspiration. 

Here is a little info about the Mini Album Mania Challenge - Mini Album Mania is a mini album challenge blog and all types of handmade mini albums are welcomed. Since the albums should be "mini",  the size should be no more than 6" on any side, must have at least three pages (the more the merrier) and must be embellished/decorated. Photos are optional. The album can have any kind of binding such as rings, wire, ribbon, staples, glued tabs, etc. Or accordion or flap type with no binding. Just remember they must have at least three pages. No blank undecorated albums. This Mini Album Mania challenge runs November 1 thru December 15.

I love making albums and the one I am sharing with you today is one of my fav's and it's perfect for the upcoming holiday season. This album was hard to photograph so I apologize for the pic's, I wish they were better.

My album is 6"X6" which is my favorite size to make. 

This album has 6 pages and the way the pages are designed and folded, each page is like a Z. So there are really more that 6 page surfaces. Each page has one 6"X6" surface front and back and two 3"X6"  surfaces front and back. There are many pullouts and if you see ribbons in the pics, that means there is a pullout in that spot. So, there is plenty of room for photos and journaling.

Let me share with you my album 

Album front

Page 1 Front 

That white piece is a pullout It pulls out from page one's half page

Behind the first half page is the 1st 6X6 page

 and it too has another half page to the right of the 6X6. 

All the half pages to the right of the 6X6 pages fold to the back of the 6X6

Also notice this half page has a pullout pulling from the top. 

Backside view of page 1

Page 2 

(I forgot to take  pic of page 2 half page)

This full page has another half page to the right of the 6X6

Also notice this half page has a pullout pulling from the top. 

Page 3 

Half page and pullout and a tag

Page 3 full page  

and it too has another half page to the right of the 6X6

Also notice this half page has a pullout pulling from the top. 

Page 4

Half page and pullout

Page 4  

The  full page  and it's half page to the right of the 6X6

It has a half page has a pullout pulling from the top. 

I added a tag to this page also

Back side of page 4

Page 5

Half page and pullout

Page 5 

The full page and it's half page to the right of the 6X6

Also notice this half page has a pullout pulling from the top. 

Added another tag to this page

backside of page 5

Page 6

Half page and pullout

Page 6 

The full page and it's half page to the right of the 6X6

Also notice this half page has a pullout pulling from the top. 

backside of page 6

Inside of album back

Can you just imagine all the Christmas/holiday photos and journaling you can add to this album. Family fun, kids opening up Santa's presents, oh the ideas are endless, LOL. 

In making this album I used various stamps and die cuts and a few 3-d nutcracker stickers. The designer papers were from a few different companies and worked great together. I even found lurking in my stash, some decorative brads that were perfect for this album. The ribbon is a sheer Christmas green ribbon.

Hope you enjoyed the photos and got some ideas.

We'd love to see your creation so submit your mini album in the Mini Album Challenge

Thanks for stopping in and I hope to see you soon

Thinking of You

Welcome to November!!!

Getting close to that 'bird day", or as most of us call it, Thanksgiving Day. (LOL). I can already smell the turkey baking away in my kitchen. Yum Yum

Well since its a new month its also the start of a new challenge over at  Birthstone Challenges. It starts today, (November 1). The challenge runs November 1 thru December 15.

The Birthstone Challenge is a color challenge blog, welcoming all types of handmade projects such as cards, scrapbook layouts, ATCs, mixed media, altered items, 3-D projects, etc. using the featured birthstone colors. 

There are two birthstone colors featured in each challenge and those colors must be the main colors seen in the gallery. You're required to use only one of the colors in each of your projects, however, you may use both if you want. A monochrome color pallet would be wonderful but not required. 

Here are the colors for the November/December challenge

I chose the color of turquoise to use on my project.

For my project I added a few die cuts to accent the magnolia branch that graces the card. Do real magnolias have turquoise colors in their petals? Not that I know of, but I took artistic license and used this beautiful color. Hope you like my color rendition,  That magnolia branch looks so pretty IMHO. 

Here is what I used to make my card:

• Stamps used - Digital Image - Graciellie Design - Magnolia Branch; Clear Stamp - Rubbernecker Stamps - Organic set #3
• Inks used - Ranger Distress Ink - Vintage Photo; Spectrum Noir Alcohol Ink Markers; Staedler Triplus Fineliner
• Dies used - Rubbernecker - Crosshatch Design Die; Spellbinders - Kaleidoscope Strip
• Cardstock - White CS, Turquoise CS, Cream colored CS

I am submitting my project in the following challenges:

• The Crafty Addicts   #7 - Anything Goes (#9)

Thanks for stopping in today and I will be back soon. Hope to see you then

With Heartfelt Sympathy

Welcome back to my blog.

And welcome to another month. Hmm, November, I am looking forward to turkey, are you?? It will be here before we know it.

And it's also time to welcome in a new challenge over at Love To Scrap. The challenge starts today (November 1)  and goes til December 15. Love To Scrap is a fun challenge blog and welcomes all types of scrapped projects - cards, scrapbook layouts, ATCs, mixed media, altered items, 3-D projects, etc. - using bits of new or leftover stuff.  And we all have leftover stuff don't we?? LOL

Well let me share my Design Team inspiration project with you. 

I needed to make some sympathy cards and thought I'd share this one with you. I used some older stamps and some scrap CS and DP.   No coloring, so this was quick and easy to put together. I mentioned I used some old stamps, I seem to never get rid of stamps, I just keep adding to my stash.  I have a treasure trove, LOL.  Maybe I need to thin the herd so to speak. (Nah!!)

Products I used:

CS - White CS, Dark Blue CS, DP
Ink - Memento - Tuxedo Black
Stamps - Stampendous - Flowers; MSE Sympathy Innie & Outies

I am submitting my project in the following challenges:

• Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday  - Anything Goes (#5)

Thanks for stopping in today and I will be back soon. Hope to see you then

Let It Snow

Welcome to my blog and welcome to November. And WOW!!! Christmas is getting so close.  

I'll bet you still have presents to wrap and cards to make and get out. I know I do!!! I have some great ideas for you that will be a great time saver. But first...................

A  new challenge has begun over at the Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog. The challenge runs November 1 thru December 15. Plenty of time for you to make a Christmas project and get it submitted it to the challenge. The Merry Little Christmas Challenge is an all-crafts Christmas challenge blog and welcomes any and all kinds of handmade Christmas creations all year long. 

Here's my time saver:
My project for this challenge is a 2'fer. I made a card and I made a bag topper to match. I love bag toppers and they are easy to make and really dress up a plain white gift bag. 

First I started out with a plain white gift bag (8X10).  I glued strips to the front of the bag. I embossed my strips but you can use left over CS or DP to add some additional beauty to the bag. Next I used an Accu-Cut die cut bag topper. I actually cut 2, one in white and one in blue CS and attached them off center. I embossed the blue CS one using a snowflake folder. I also used punched snowflakes to add additional interest to this topper. I added rhinestones to the center of the snowflakes and some glitter just to give the flakes more omph!!  I know you are saying you don't have one of those large dies to make the bag topper. Well I have a solution for you. Click on this link to check out how to make a topper with no bag topper die at all. It's easy peasy. 

OK lets go on the 2nd part of this project, the card.

The card is 5X7. The card base is white CS and the layered piece is DP. I cut a rectangle out on the left side of the card along with the DP. I embossed  a piece of vellum and put it between the card base and the DP. Next I added a silver frame. Lastly I added some punched snowflakes and put rhinestones in the centers, added some glitter and added the sentiment and that finished the card. 

These two, the card and the decorated bag, make a great duo for any gift.

Products I used:

CS used - White CS, DP, Silver CS, Light Blue CS

Ink used -  Momento - Paris Dusk

Misc used -MS Punch - Snowflakes, glitter

Dies used - Accu-Cut Bag Topper

Stamp used - Old sentiment

I am submitting my project to the following challenges:

• Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday M, Wed, E3 - Anything Goes (#4)
• The Crafty Addicts  M, 1st Wed, 3E,#7 - Anything Goes (#8)
• Word Art Wednesdays  (#100)

Hope you enjoyed my creations. I am looking forward to seeing one of your Christmas projects in the challenge submissions.

Thanks it for now. See you soon,

Triangle Pocket Card

 Hey there, welcome back!!!

If you stopped here yesterday, you saw a triangle pocket card project that I made in the monthly stamping card club that I host. That was such a great tutorial. Click here to access yesterday's post. 

The nice thing was, Carol, our instructor, gave us enough DP/CS to make another triangle pocket card, and with the cutaway pieces I was able to make an additional two cards. So from a 12X12 sheet of DP, I was able to make 4 cards. Not sure how to make a Triangle Pocket Card?? Well click here and visit this video for a great instruction presentation. 

Here is Pocket Card #2

Please notice this triangle pocket card is adhered to the front of a 5X7 card. 

Also I decided to make the pull out piece into a gift card holder

(You could add a sentiment to the top portion of the pull out piece.) 

On the pullout piece, please notice that I added a punched border piece to the bottom. 

That makes it an easy spot to slide a gift card into.

This leaves plenty of room on the inside of the card to write a personal message. 

OK, so now I had those 4 triangle shaped pieces left over, perfect to make made the 2 additional cards below. These cards are both 5X7 cards.

and

On these two 5X7 cards I used a pinkish CS to make the card base

On the bottom card I used washi tape to add some fill to the center open area.

Both of the stamps I used on these cards are older and I have had for a few years. 

(Sorry, no date on the packaging)

Hope this inspires to make the Triangle Pocket Card. 

Its quick and easy to make

I am submitting my project in the following challenges:

• Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday - Anything Goes  (#34)
• The Crafty Addicts   - Anything Goes (#23)
• Digi Choosday Challenge  - #40 - Anything Goes (#17)
• A Place To Start  - October - Anything Goes *(#116)
• Pamm
• ie's Inky Pinkies Challenges  - #2340 - Anything Goes (#39)
• Retro Rubber Challenge -  #217 - Anything Goes (#7)
• Creative Creases -  must be a fun fold - No. 68   ANYTHING GOES WITH A FUN FOLD  (#5)

Thanks so much for stopping by.

I will be back soon. 

Happy Birthday

 Hi Everyone

Last night (Tuesday) was my monthly club meeting night. I thought I'd share the tutorial project we made. 

This was really easy to make and would be a great gift card holder. 

And here is a pic with that insert pulled out. 

This is a darling Happy Birthday card. 

Well its not a card as such. LOL

Carol, our tutorial instructor for this meeting and club member gave us enough DP papers and CS to make another as well. So I have made some other cards/projects using the additional paper/CS and left over piece parts from this project. One of my other projects looks similar to this one but is a little different.  

I will share those with you all tomorrow night So, stay tuned and come on back to see what I came up with. 

I am submitting my project in the following challenges:

• Digi Choosday Challenge -W,E2, - #40 - Anything Goes (#12)
• A Place To Start (M, 1st Mon) - October - Anything Goes * (#110)
• Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge (W, 5E) -  Explore (#20)

Well thanks for popping in and I will see you tomorrow night

Thanks for stopping in.

A Fractured Bag Topper

 Hi Everyone

Thought I'd pop in to share my stamping club project. For the September meeting the theme was to use vellum on our project.

Well I used vellum paper to make the flowers and the holly leaves and the holly swirl

And I also decided to make a bag topper and use the "fractured" design. 

Well as I am sitting here writing this I see that I did not take a pic of the bag topper actually on a gift bag. But I did take a pic of the topper itself. 

So here is the topper

This slides down on the bag handle and it will dress up a plain gift bag. 

Since I do not have a pic with this adorning the bag, I went and made another bag topper similar but not identical.

The scalloped oval is a die cut of an oval bag topper. I wanted a rectangle so I used the oval for the height and width. The rectangle is appox. 7.5"X10"

 

Where those 2 small circles are on the white bag topper, I marked those spots on my rectangle. I then folded at that spot. The topper folds all the way across where those small circles are. I cut between the 2 tiny circles which gives this the capability of sliding the piece over the handle and it will hang down the bag front. 

I added DP layers and a square and then used stamped holly swirls and poinsettias (stamps and dies from Heartfelt Creations)

I added the 1/4" strips to the square to make the fractured look and then finished with those holly swirls and poinsettias

And you now have a decorated gift bag. Ready for the tissue paper and of course the gift.

(This is kind of like making a card front.) 

Hope you like the project and try making your own bag topper to jazz up those plain gift bags.

Have a great upcoming weekend.

A Blooming Hello

Hello and welcome to my blog. 

It's September 1 and fall will be here soon. And I want to know, just where does all the time go!!! I keep looking for it but I never find it. LOL Speaking of time..........

It's time for the new challenge over at Love To Scrap. The challenge starts today (September 1)  and goes til October 15. Love To Scrap is a fun challenge blog and welcomes all types of scrapped projects - cards, scrapbook layouts, ATCs, mixed media, altered items, 3-D projects, etc. - using bits of new or leftover stuff.  And we all have leftover stuff don't we?? LOL

Well let me share my Design Team inspiration project with you. 

I haven't made a side stair step card in eons so I pulled out my die and cut the base. Next I added a pretty image from Polkadoodles and added some more of that same image in the steps area of the card. Added more color to the flowers using spectrum Noir Alcohol markers.

I also mounted a butterfly to a strip of acetate and attached it so it looks like its hovering.

Here is somewhat of a side view.

Here is what I used to make my card:

• Stamps used - Digital Image and Sentiment - Polkadoodles - Flower Meadows collection 
• Inks used - Memento Ink - Northern Pine: Spectrum Noir Alcohol Ink Markers
• Die used - Card Base - Accu-Cut die - A7- Step Card
• Cardstock - White CS

Well I hope you enjoyed this card. I would love to see one of your cards in the challenge. Thanks much for stopping by, see ya soon.

Merry Christmas

Hello and welcome to September 1.

WOW!!  Autumn begins later this month and you know what that means -  Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas aren't far behind.

Well a  new challenge has begun over at the Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog. The challenge runs September 1 thru October15. Plenty of time for you to make a Christmas project and get it submitted it to the challenge. The Merry Little Christmas Challenge is an all-crafts Christmas challenge blog and welcomes any and all kinds of handmade Christmas creations all year long. 

I love Christmas and making cards for that season is really a joy, especially if you are not in a rush. So, the more Christmas cards I make now, the fewer I will need to make at Christmastime. (LOL) 

I thought I'd share a card that I presented in a class I taught at Stampaway this year.  I used circles and ovals in the class and today I'm sharing a card I have made using ovals.  Since oval shapes are not symmetrical you can cut an oval longways thru the center or across the center shortways. 

If you use one small, one medium and one large oval shapes, use 3 different colors cutting them in half and placing them in a specific order you will get  2  very interesting shape designs. I am showing the two cards I made using 1 set of ovals. (6 ovals total)

Both of these cards have used the ovals cut longways 

Card #1

Here is the other card using the left over oval halves. By placing the oval halves differently you will get a different look. The placement of ovals in card one looks more like an oval shape, but the ovals in card 2 look more elongated. 

Card #2 lines up the gold pieces giving that elongated look.

Since the ovals are cut in half, a strip is layered over the where the oval halves meet, to give a finished look. And that is a perfect place for a sentiment. 

I used green pine sprigs and gold leaves to give these cards a Christmas feel. 

These cards are perfect for quick Christmas cards and the great thing is that you will get 2 cards with somewhat different looks from the 1 set of ovals that are cut in half.

Products I used:

Stamps used -Woodware - Christmas Strips - Sentiment

CS used - Red,  Gold, Black, Green CS,  DP

Ink used -  VersaFine - Nocturne

Misc used -MS Punch - Branch 2

Dies used - Pine Sprigs; Ovals (3 graduated sizes)

Hope you enjoyed my creation. I am looking forward to seeing one of your Christmas projects in the challenge submissions.

Thanks it for now. See you soon,

Have a Great Day

 WOW, can you believe it!! We've just started a new month. And that means there's a new Birthstone Challenges starting today, (September 1). The challenge runs September 1 thru October 15.

The Birthstone Challenge is a color challenge blog, welcoming all types of handmade projects such as cards, scrapbook layouts, ATCs, mixed media, altered items, 3-D projects, etc. using the featured birthstone colors. 

There are two birthstone colors featured in each challenge and those colors must be the main colors seen in the gallery. You're required to use only one of the colors in each of your projects, however, you may use both if you want. A monochrome color pallet would be wonderful but not required. 

Here are the colors for the September/October challenge

For my project I decided to use the Sapphire color and I thought my card would be perfect to send to someone for any reason. It's always nice to receive a card for "just because."

I used ovals and as I placed them on the card, it kind of reminded me of fish scales. Hmmm,  maybe I should have used some fish images instead of flowers. LOL

This card is easy to assemble and I love that layered and somewhat different look those ovals give off. I love using flowers and dug thru my die collection, using an older flower die set to accent the card. I'm sure that you have some beautiful flowers or something else that will be a beautiful accent on the card you make. Hope you like my inspiration and hope it gives you some ideas.

Products I have used:

Paper used: White CS,DP (background) - Heartfelt Creations, Sapphire Blue CS, Blue Pearl CS

Misc used: White Flatback Pearls, Spectrum Noir Alcohol Ink TB8 (used to color the pearls), Embossing Folder, Oval Punch

Stamps used: Stamped sentiment - Hero Arts (old)

Dies used : Flowers - Elizabeth Crafts - Victorian flower set 1, Victorian Flower overlay Set 1

Leaves - Heartfelt Creations - Leafy Accents

Thanks for stopping in today and I will be back soon. Hope to see you then