National Button Day ~ FotoBella DT

     Happy National Button Day! It was founded by the National Button Society in 1938, as a celebration of all who enjoyed collecting and crafting with buttons. Being a former seamstress, I've been collecting buttons for much longer than I've been scrapping, and have many boxes and jars that also include ones that I've inherited over the years. But that doesn't stop me from buying new ones, and Bo Bunny ones are my favorite! So I created this page featuring Bo Bunny's Christmas Collage Papers to showcase these festive Buttons, in addition to some included in the Ephemera.

     I stitched all of my buttons, along with the sides of this page, and around these adorable photos of my son when he was just 3 years old. The doilies were masked with Bo Bunny's White Gesso, and the yellow one done with Prima's Lace Doily #3 Stencil.

     The edges of the Holly Jolly piece from the Noteworthy, were inked with Picket Fence Distress Ink, and popped up with the Chipboard flourish peeking out beneath it.

     Then I used Abandoned Coral Distress Ink along the sides of my page, and edges of my title tag, which I finished with a Brad.

     Thanks for looking, and click here to shop for more buttons from FotoBella! 

MME Christmas On Market Street Mixed Media Technique ~ FotoBella DT

     I'm back with another layout and technique to share with you using the new My Mind's Eye Christmas On Market Street Collection from FotoBella!

     I started by using a dotted stencil with gesso onto the white dotted paper that comes in the 12 X 12 Paper And Accessories Kit.

     Then I sprayed over it with Lindy's Stamp Gang Sprays (Rudolph's Nose Red and Cathedral Pines Green).

     Once dry, add gold embossing powder over the dots and set with a heat gun.

For the September 5 Ingredients + Yours Challenge @ Scrapbook.com I used:
1. 2 Pictures
2. Something Messy (My background)
3. Frame (Made from vellum)
4. Star (On top of the tree cut from the Die Cut Alphas)
5. Stripes (The white and gold striped vellum and Paper Tape going across the page.)

For my own twist for the September Stamping Challenge, I embossed the gold dots on the Chipboard tree, adding some bling from my own stash.

And finally for my other twist for the September Sewing Challenge, I did some straight stitching by hand around the vellum frame. I also hand stitched around the vellum circle and circle photo.

Thanks for your visit!

Christmas On Market Street Stripes And Vellum Layout ~ FotoBella DT

     The new My Mind's Eye collection, Christmas On Market Street, is exactly what I've been saving this special photo of me and my grandpa for! This was from 1990, even though I didn't mark it on the page.

     I combined stripes with some of the beautiful vellum papers to come up with this design, using the 12 X 12 Paper And Accessories Kit. To the photo and dotted vellum, I added the gold photo corners that come in the Sticker Labels. From my own stash, I added lots of ribbons and fibers, which I've been collecting for over twenty five years. In fact, I think I bought the green, sheer ribbon when I was the age I was in the photo. I made a banner using some pieces from the Mixed Bag and Chipboard Elements, and attached Brads to the ends of my fiber. I also hand stitched some green fiber and gold specialty thread onto the the punched papers.

      But I didn't stop there, as I used the same gold thread to stitch around the flower die, which also comes in the Mixed Bag, along with the Christmas Eve banner that I added for my title.

   

       So head on over to FotoBella to pick up this gorgeous, festive collection, and get an early start on all of your holiday projects!

Christmas Collage Santa Layout ~ FotoBella DT

     I just LOVE this Santa image that's part of the Bo Bunny Christmas Collage paper collection, from FotoBella, so  I used it here on this layout that I scrapped of my son at 6 years old!

     I also wanted to use the film sticker that comes in the I want it all bundle, since I hadn't yet in my previous projects with this line. It worked great with this sketch from Bo Bunny's October Sketch Challenge.

     I used some Lindy's Stamp Gang sprays (Rudolph's Nose Red and Cathedral Pines Green) to mist the top of the Santa paper, and I think the colors match the collection perfectly. I also did some distressing, machine-stitching, and inking on here, including the title stickers, which I inked along the bottom in red, to make it stand out more. The tag was cut from paper and I added fibers from my own stash to it. I also added the candy cane and holly leaves from my stash. The small, yellow button comes in the Buttons pack, and the rest from the Ephemera pack. 

Thanks for looking!

Bo Bunny (Christmas Collage) Layout ~ FotoBella DT

     The new Bo Bunny Christmas Collage I want it all bundle was so perfect for this old photo of me and my cousins! I'm the one on the right.

     I started by masking the doily with Distress Ink (Festive Berries). Then I used Tim Holtz' stencil (Dot Fade) with some gesso put randomly on the page. I fussy-cut all of the circles and medallions from paper from the 12 x 12 Collection Pack, and added the buttons on top. The star also comes in the pack of buttons, which I added to the top of the chipboard tree, after adding green ink to the edges.

      I added the date with some stickers from the 12 X 12 Collection Pack over the chipboard banner. I stamped 25 with the stamps that come in the Ephemera package, using Ranger Seafoam White embossing powder. I finished it off with some hand-stitched circles around the photo, date, and image of the girl and tree, that comes in the Noteworthy package.

    You'll love this collection for all of your holiday photos, old and new, from FotoBella!!

MME + Sleigh Bells Ring = Joy ~ FotoBella DT

     Like a child at Christmas, I was so joyful to open up my new My Mind's Eye Sleigh Bells Ring I want it all bundle from FotoBella! I used the JOY paper to add this fussy cut photo of my son right in the middle of the O.

     I tore and distressed around the wreath, and hand-stitched the red and white circle, adding some green fiber around it. The Be Merry tag, small circle of berries, and bell ornament, which I hung with more hand-stitching, comes in the Mixed Bag. I added the bow, inking the edges with Mowed Lawn Distress Ink. I used Decorative Tape along the bottom, placing a Decorative Brad on top. I used the Word/Alpha Stickers for the year, which comes in different colors and all kinds of holiday sentiments.

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

Inspirational #104 ~ Under the tree

I'm so excited to be hosting my very first challenge for the Red Rubber Inspirationals blog! My challenge (Inspirational #104) is to let your stamping sparkle by adding glitter, bling, mists, or Stickles to your stamping, like I did on this page that I made of my nephew peeking under the tree.

I used the Amelia Patterned Cardstock Collection and stamped the the top left and bottom right of the green punched paper using Vintage Script stamp and Brilliance Galaxy Gold ink, which I just LOVE! I used the same ink to cover my chipboard snowflake and then applied Stickles (Goldenrod) over it.

I made the star on the Christmas tree the same way, by stamping it onto white cardstock, cutting it out, and applying Stickles (Goldenrod). I used the tag that came in the collection to stamp my tree on using the Oh Christmas Tree stamp with Memento Cottage Ivy ink. I extended the trunk by stamping it onto the bottom layer of the tag using Palette (Burnt Umber) ink. Then came the fun part of decorating it, which I did by using Stickles for my ornaments. I also used Stickles to make the berries on top.

Be sure to join me and the team for some more inspiration! We'd love to see how you make your stamping sparkle!

Christmas Chalk Flower Tutorial for Fotobella DT

As much as I tried using Echo Park's Tis the Season Collection  all on it's own, I couldn't help but add their Reflections Christmas Collection. They're both so festive, and work beautifully together! Just perfect for all those holiday photos, like this one that I used of me and my son from 2012!

I did a lot of distressing on this page, and hand stitched the white blanket stitch. I stamped the black scallopy border, as well as the flower, which I'll be showing  you how to do.

Supplies:

~25 Days double sided paper by Echo Park (Tis the Season Collection)

~Be Jolly double sided paper by Echo Park (Tis the Season Collection)

~Echo Park (Tis the Season Collection) Brads

~Black cardstock

~White Ink

~Inkadinkado Stamping Gear Collection Intro Kit

~Glue

~Cricut Expression (Serenade Cartridge) or decorative scissors

Directions:

1.Using Echo Park's Be Jolly paper (the black side) stamp your image 6 times using white ink. I used Inkadinkado's Stamping Gear, but any type of flower stamp would work too. I really think that it's the white ink that makes this look like chalk, as well as the paper which looks like a chalkboard. 

2.Cut out your images and curl your petals up and out.

3.I cut out this scalloped circle from Echo Park's 25 Days double sided paper using my Cricut Expression (Serenade Cartridge flower #3) at 2 1/2",  and then inked the edges with white ink. You could also use decorative scissors to cut around a circle, or simply just use a circle. 

4.Now cut another circle out of black cardstock that's slightly larger than the first one, and glue it underneath. Then you can take your petals and glue them in the center.

5.Now use a brad to finish it off. I inked the scalloped circle that came with this brad to go with the bottom layers. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Santa ~ Red Rubber Designs DT

I am having SO much fun playing with all of my new inks and stamps from Red Rubber Designs! Here's a page I did using the Vintage Santa Rubber Stamp Set.

I got my inspiration from this awesome sketch @ Grand Diva's Creative Corner! As soon as I saw the black and white polka dots on here, I instantly saw Santa's belt, which I made out of a specialty black suede paper, some gold eyelets, and the buckle, which is chipboard that I covered with metallic gold paper.

I traced and cut the scallops from another paper that I had, and used my Crop a dile Big Bite to punch the holes. Then I used Brilliance (Galaxy Gold) ink along the edges and around the punched circles.
The Santa image and script were stamped onto white cardstock. I wanted to make the script look like Santa's list, so I started by making it look like notebook paper by inking the edge of some heavy cardstock with Palette Ink (Chartreuse) to make some faint lines going across. Then I used VersaMagic (Red Magic)  and Memento (Cottage Ivy) inks to stamp the vintage script and ink the edges. I just LOVE this stamp, and it doesn't just have to be for the holidays, so I already know I'll be using this one a lot.

I also used the VersaMagic (Red Magic) ink to stamp the Santa image. The snowflakes were stamped with Versa Magic (Cloud White) and is by far, the best white ink that I've ever used!

I was finally able to get all of my ingredients together for the January 5 Ingredient + yours Challenge @ Scrapbook.com.
1.Dec./Jan. holiday ~ Christmas
2.At least one color that goes with that holiday ~ Red, green, and gold
3.Word(s) that go with that holiday ~ Santa and stamped sentiment
4.Sparkle ~ Santa's belt, the gold punching, and gold eyelets
5. Circle(s) ~ The stitched circle, punched circles, and eyelets

This is also my example with the twist for the January Stamping Challenge that I host. The twist being to use a new stamp, or never before used stamp. I'd love to see you there! Thanks for stopping by!

Winter White & Gold Flower Tutorial

Season's Greetings!! Somehow, in between wrapping presents, shopping, and everything else,  I managed to create this page that's very dear to my heart.

I was instantly inspired by this GORGEOUS sketch from Alda for Mojo Monday @ Flying Unicorn!

I started by using some old vintage sheet music, which I tore and then painted the edges gold. I masked the tree onto it using Glimmer Mists (Forest Green and Snowy Pine). Then I used gesso to make the dots, applying Diamond Dust to them while they were still wet. I finally used my new Martha Stewart snowflake and flourish border punch set, which I  made sparkle by spraying some Glimmer Mist (Dazzling Diamond) on it. I also punched the green pp and around the big doily for the Punch Fun Challenge @ Scrapbook.com, where we also had to use 2 or more photos and 2 or more lines of journaling. I made a scroll for my journaling and tied it with some gold ribbon.

Here's what it looks like when unrolled.

This is also my entry for the December 4 Categories Challenge @ Scrapbook.com for category 1, to use doilies. The small gold one was stamped and embossed. 

I got the gold flower awhile ago from Michael's, as well as the greenery and red berries. I made the white flowers and will be showing you how I made the larger one. 

Supplies:

Cricut (Mother's Day Bouquet cartridge), white cardstock, glue, gold paint, pearls or bling for the center, and Glimmer Mists (Iridescent Gold and Dazzling Diamonds).

Directions:

1. Using flower #7 on the Mother's Day Bouquet cartridge for the Cricut, cut out 2 from white cardstock at 2 1/2".  Then cut one out at 2".

2.Use a dropper to splatter on some Glimmer Mist (Iridescent Gold).

3. Paint the edges gold. I did this very sloppy for a more distressed look. 

4.Now curl all of your petals up and over like shown in this photo.

5. Layer and glue your flowers together with your smallest one on top.

6.Now spray your whole flower with Dazzling Diamond Glimmer Mist for some extra shimmer. Then I used these Prima pearls for the center.

Here's the other one that I did using a white half pearl in the center, and surrounding it with smaller gold ones. But I really love the large antique pearl button on the left that I inherited from my Great Grandma Dale.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a wonderful Christmas!!