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!

FTC Guidelines

As of December 1, 2009, new FTC guidelines went into effect requiring bloggers to disclose any time they are compensated for endorsing or reviewing products or services. I serve on a couple of design teams (Fotobella and Red Rubber Designs) and participate in various social media sites where I post projects containing components I have received for free, have been compensated for or received perks in return for posts on this blog.

Fotobella Sketch Challenge

There's a new sketch challenge at Fotobella. Get started on your Holiday Scrapbooking with this sketch to win a fabulous I want it all bundle. Post your take to our facebook page and then come back and comment here that you posted it. The deadline is January 15th.

This is my take using Tis the Season 12 x 12 Collection Kit by Echo Park. It came together super fast and easy once I picked out my photos.

I used some gesso on the top left before adding the flourish sticker with the red brad in the snowflake. The candy cane frame along the right is also a sticker. Everything here came in the kit except for the ribbons. 

Thanks for looking!

Echo Park Reflections Christmas Santa Tag ~ Fotobella DT

Happy New Year!! I just wanted to share this tag that I made using Echo Park Reflections Christmas Collection Kit for the Fotobella design team.

I cut the tag from black cardstock using my Cricut Expression (Plantin SchoolBook Cartridge) at 6". Then I inked the edges with white ink and added a silver grommet to it for the tassle made from cream embroidery thread and previously dyed muslin that I tore up. I added the brads just how they came in the package with the doily and snowflake behind them.  I stamped Dec 25 along the bottom. My FAVORITE part of this tag is the layered Chipboard Santa, which I inked around the edges! This collection is SO perfect for all of your holiday projects! I love it all, and can't wait to show you what else I've been doing with it!

Christmas Cards

I hope everyone had a great Christmas! I know I did! I just wanted to share a couple of cards that I made for the season.

I used this tutorial to make the tree. I misted the background and stamped the bricks.
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/foldedchristmastree/

I also stamped all of the snowflakes on this next card.

I was inspired by this sketch #5 used for the December Card Sketch Challenge @ Scrapbook.com.

Thanks for looking!

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!!

Woodland Snowflake Tutorial ~ Fotobella DT

I'm so excited to share my first tutorial for Fotobella using Bo bunny's Woodland Winter I want it all bundle! I'm just in LOVE with this collection of GORGEOUS papers and embellies, not to mention the colors!! Perfect with these snow pics of mine.

I started by using some Glimmer Mist (slate) and reninker (antique linen) on the background. Then I used a snowflake stamp. The distressed edges were covered with Gesso. Here's a closer look at the typed journaling, which was one of the ingredients for this month's 5 Ingredients + yours challenge @ Scrapbook.com. The other ingredients were to use the color navy, ribbon, something stamped, and 3 pictures.

To make the snowflakes start by gathering some twigs outside. Using the Woodland Blizzard paper fussy cut out some snowflakes. I decided on this one that I used on the top left of my LO. Then pick another paper and cut out a circle slightly larger than your snowflake. I used Woodland Winter Journal.  Now cover the edges with gesso and glue your snowflake onto it. 

Break your twigs into 6 equal pieces, and cover with Gesso.

Glue the twigs onto your snowflake, using the center design as your guide.

Now find some bling for the center. I used this pearl to mimic a snowball.

Then cut pieces from another snowflake and glue under the circle, in between the twigs. Here's the finished result.

You can get so many different looks just by combining different snowflakes, papers, and gems. Here's the other one that I made.

If you don't have Gesso you could always use white paint. Stickles or Smooch could also work to make your snowflakes sparkle. Just have fun with it!

Joy ~ Little Yellow Bicycle (Once Upon A Christmas Collection)

Joy is the theme this month at Berry71bleu, so I decided to scrap this old photo of me and my husband on Christmas Eve. I finally broke into my Little Yellow Bicycle (Once Upon a Christmas Collection) that I won from them last year. Lucky me! It really is a beautiful Christmas line!

I got my inspiration from this awesome sketch #104 from Sketchabilities.

I used some Glimmer Mists (Scarlet and Forest Green) to splatter and drip down my page. Then I used my Crafter's Workshop Template (Mini Houndstoooth) with my Distress Inks (Festive Berries, Pine Needles, and Black Soot).I hung the sticker ornaments with some handstitching that I did with silver thread.

I love all of the silver accents that are in this collection, which is the twist  for category 2,  to add silver or gold with red and green for the December Four Categories Challenge @ Scrapbook.com. I made the flowers and leaves from LYB Papercrafting kit. I used silver paint around the edges and then some Smooch and Stickles on top. I also used silver paint around the papers. This is my example for the monthly stamping challenge that I host @ Scrapbook.com, with the twist to use any type of holiday stamp. Here I stamped the North Pole postage in red, but in real life it's straight across the page and not skewed like it is in the photo. I also stamped the reindeer and "magical" in black, and the pine branches were embossed using Ranger Embossing Antiquities in Topiary.

I used vellum tape strips in the background, and vellum for the journaling. Here's a closer look.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Fotobella Sketch Challenge

Happy Holidays! We're so excited to introduce our monthly sketch challenge @ Fotobella.

We would love each and everyone of  you to join in and create your own interpretation of this sketch. Not only do you get to take a time out and just enjoy creating, but you also get a chance to win an I want it all bundle!

Deadline is December 15. Please post your LO on our facebook page, and then come back and comment that you posted it. 

Here's my take using Bo bunny's Woodland Winter I want it all bundle.

I used some gesso on the top left, and then sprinkled it with some buttons and snowflakes in chipboard.

Here's a close up of the journaling.

 Click here to see how the rest of the design team used this great sketch!