Scrapbook News and Review 12 Tags of Christmas

Scrapbook News and Review is running their 12 Tags of Christmas.  Each day one of the very talented staff members at SNR creates a gorgeous tag.  Some of them even got their kids involved and they created a project as well.  If you are signed up to receive the newsletter then you are very aware of the beautiful tags that have been created so far.  I am so honored to work with these talented and beautiful people.  If you haven't already, hop over to SNR by clicking HERE and sign up for the newsletters, check out the forums or subscribe to receive the monthly magazine.  Now onto my tag as well as the tag that my kiddo made!!

I know it looks like a lot, but it really isn't.  Have you ever really paid attention to what you use when you make something? OMGosh, it blows my mind every time!  Here is the list:

• Sheet Music - torn up into pieces because we are going to make a collage!
• Multi Matte Medium
• Ranger Paint Dabbers: White and Pool
• Distress Ink: Broken China, Old Paper and Black Soot
• Ranger Embossing Tinsel - Bridal
• Utility Knife, Paper Distresser, Paint Brushes
• K and Co. Holiday Sampler Pack
• Pink Paislee Christmas ATC
• Tag
• Ribbon, Lace
• Pearls

 Step 1

I love the song Imagine by John Lennon.  I downloaded and printed the sheet music for the song and then tore it up into pieces by hand.  Get your tag, your paint brush and your Multi Medium.  Start your collage by brushing some multi medium on your tag, I worked in sections.  Then brush some on the back of each piece as you lay it down on the tag.  Continue this process working your way to cover the entire tag.  Make sure to overlap your pieces a you go.  I also brushed some multi medium over the top when I was done just to make sure that none of the pieces began to lift up on me.   It doesn't matter if some of the pieces hang over the edge because you will trim that off later.

Once you have finished, get your heat gun and go over your tag.  I heated it long enough for the top of the tag to dry to the touch.  Flip it over and give the back a little bit of heat.  It will try to curl up on you.  Just flip it over and apply some pressure to flatten it back out.  The tag will still feel a bit damp, but the top will be dry.  At this point begin to work the tag between your fingers by bending it around and making wrinkles in the tag.  This will give it a nice worn look.  Now flip the tag over and using your utility knife trim off the excess paper.

Step 2

The top of the tag will have a slick finish to it from the multi medium.  I used a bit of light sanding paper and very gently went over the tag in a few places to rough up the surface.  Take your Old Paper Distress Ink and go over your tag.  Next use the Broken China and go over the edges as well as hitting some of the wrinkles.  I also used the Black Soot and just hit a few places on the edges.  Give this a little hit with your heat gun.

Step 3

Get a few stiff bristled paint brushes and your Ranger Paint Dabbers.  You are going to dry brush some paint over the top to soften it a bit.  To dry brush you place a small amount of paint on the end of your brush.  Using a paper towel brush off some of the paint until the paint coming off looks like it is soft and powdery.  Now begin to dry brush the paint onto your tag.  I used White and Pool paint colors.

After the paint has dried, cover the tag in embossing ink and then lightly sprinkle the Bridal Embossing Tinsel over the tag.  This embossing powder is really pretty.  It is clear but has fine glitter in it and gives everything a soft, shimmery glow.

Step 4

Now we are going to put everything together!!  Begin by gluing the white ribbon to the top and bottom of the tag.  Next take your lace and glue it to the backside of the tag so that it is hanging down at the bottom. I chose to add a blue cardstock border from the K and Co. Holiday Sampler Pack.  I put this at the top under my ribbon.  I love pearls and it seems like I HAVE to add them to everything.  I used a very thin string of pearls to add a little elegance to both the top and bottom of my tag.  I used foam squares to glue down my ATC to give it a little dimension and added a red transparent Dec 25 label to it.  I had some really fun ribbon that came with an order I received and used that to finish it off!

Now for the tag my daughter made..........

My daughter is 8 and loves to be creative.  She loves to draw and sew.  If you are anything like I am, you have a stash pile of "extras".  I like to make flowers and some of my own embellishments.  Some times I make more than actually gets used on my project.  She decided to go through my stash and pulled out a Christmas tree and a snowy poinsettia. 

She wanted to create an outdoor scene for her tree.  She picked out the patterned paper and wanted to coordinate light blue card stock with it.  She told me that she wanted to have rolling hills behind the tree.  Using a scrap piece of paper I showed her how to use an ink blending tool.  I am so proud to say that she did the inking on this tag all by herself!!!  She's a natural!!!   She added a snowflake sticker, the Earth in the shape of a heart with a little bingo card behind it that says Wish.  The pink ribbon is so fresh and funky.  I absolutely adore this tag!!!  She decided that she is going to give this to her teacher for Christmas.   I'm so proud of her.  She did and AMAZING job.

Thanks for stopping by!!!!

Rejoice

This is another page I made using my December kit from Swirlydoos.  What a gorgeous kit.  I made this page for Angelica's Butterfly Challenge.

 I was racking my brain over what I was going to do for Christmas photos this year.  It's funny how inspiration finds you in some of the weirdest of ways.  I was trying to put some things together for a page and I had purchased this lovely piece of Prima Jewelry from Swirlydoos store which was laying out on my desk.  My DD walks into the room and just puts it on her head like a head band and stuck a pose for me.  (She's too much!)  She started to laugh and I said "Wait a minute....that gives me an idea."  A Christmas picture was born.  *insert a choir of Angels singing*

I emailed my friend, Mandy, and asked her if she could work some of her Photoshop magic on a few of my pics.  Click here to see her awesome blog.  She has a link to her photography site too.  She emailed them back to me and they just took my breath away.  On this particular picture she added a fairy wing, a small blue butterfly and an overall ethereal glow to the photo.  Isn't it gorgeous?!  Wowie!!!  Props to Mandy!!  Thanks sweetie~

I used two of the papers from the kit.  I fussy cut the border out of the Creative Imaginations paper and placed it over the top of a paper from Bo Bunny.  I used my white Adirondack paint and with a small paint brush I highlighted the angels wings.  I had planned on using the Prima Jewelry that my DD wore in the picture in my page.  I think it is a nice touch.

I used some coordinating paper to make a small frame behind the photo and then wet distressed the circle behind it.  The Calla Lily and Crepe Paper Carnations were made by hand and if you click the name of each it will bring you to my tutorial so you can make them too! I've also started to keep a list of my tutorials in the left hand side bar of my blog. It is near the top.  The green holly came in the kit and I had the red ribbon in my stash.

The butterfly was provided my Lisa Gregory.  She provides a set of butterflies for each kit.  I added burgandy stickles to it and clipped off some berries from one of the sprays that came with the kit.

Thank you so much for stopping by.  I love your comments.  They always bring a smile to my face and a warmth to my heart.  Have a blessed holiday!!!  Hugs~

Crepe Paper Carnations

How much do I love thee?  Let me count the ways!!  Isn't this flower adorable!?  I ran across this tutorial on the web months ago and it has been rolling around my head ever since.  It is so versatile making it perfect for every one one of your gorgeous creations.  Let's go!

Supplies

• Crepe Paper - I wouldn't suggest the rolls of crepe paper that you buy for parties because it is much too thin.  You can use it.  I tried it and wasn't as satisfied with it.  They were still cute and will work in a pinch. The difference in weight and stiffness makes a huge difference with this flower.  I bought my crepe paper from Paper Whimsy.  This site has awesome downloadable files too!
• Two circle punches - a 1 inch and a 3/4 inch
• Glitter and glitter tray
• Matte Medium
• Fast drying liquid glue
• Tweezers
• Pearls for the flower center - I bought a string of pearls in the jewelry department at Michael's. You can pick up some nice stuff when there is a sale or by using one of their coupons.

 Step One

Cut out 5 of each size circle with your punches.  Just a side note, sharpen your punches first.  Crepe paper is spongy and your punches may not cut all the way through.  My punches are not a great quality so they struggled a bit.  You also need to cut out a 1 inch circle out of card stock.  This is the base that you will glue your petals to.

Make sure that all of your circles are placed so that the creases are vertical (going up and down).  There is a reason for this and it will be explained in the next step.  Using a small amount of liquid glue on the petal, pinch the bottom so that it looks like a fan (see above).  Do this to all of your petals.

Step Two

No, you aren't seeing double. LOL  Once you have glued all of your petals, go back to each one and pull at the creases of the paper making the petals fan out.

 

Step Three

Add some glitter to your glitter tray, or bowl.  Make a little pile with it.  Place a small amount of Matte Medium to your pointer finger.  Now touch it to your thumb so that both fingers have Medium on them.  Take each petal and place a small amount of Matte Medium on the edges by placing it between your finger and thumb. This will add some Medium to the top and bottom.  Dip each petal, like a chip, into the glitter.  You really just want to put a small amount on the edges.

Step Four

Place some glue on the card stock circle.  Begin to place the large petals around the circle.  Tuck one side of your petal underneath the petal before it.  

Step Five

Repeat the step above only this time using the small petals.  I placed a dollop of glue in the middle and used my tweezers to help me place them and push down in the middle.  You want to offset your petals, and will need to layer them the same way you did the larger ones.  I like my flowers to have a little depth to them so I made sure to squish down the little petals making them pop up a little. The last step is to glue a pearl in the center.  When everything dries you can play with the petals to "fluff" them up a little. 

You can use whatever color crepe paper you want for these.  You can use glass beads in place of glitter, or don't use any at all and use ink around the edges.  You can use a smaller flower for the center, glass beads or whatever strikes your fancy.  Really simple, totally customizable, and versatile.  What else would you want from a flower!!  Enjoy~

Calla Lily Tutorial

I fell in love with this flower when I saw a video for it on the Heartfelt Creations website.  So, if you don't want to read my tutorial you can click here to watch it over at HC.   I did distress this up a little bit, which is not on the video.  All right!  Let's get started......

Supplies

• Lily Petals Pre Cut Stamps - You will use the largest stamp (Heartfelt Creations)
• Perfect Petals Die Set by Spellbinders - You will use the largest die (Heartfelt Creations)
• Cuttlebug (not pictured)
• Glitter (not shown) and Glitter Tray
• Paper Distresser
• Ink (I used two: Bundled Sage Distress Ink, and Coffee Bean Archival Ink)
• Jolee's Boutique Vintage Flower & Bud Stickers (can be bought in various places)
• Floral Tape
• Paint brush, pen, or stylus - something to curl your flower
• Glue (I used Zots)

 Step One

I wanted the inside of my lily to have more of a variegated look.  I first covered my stamp in Bundled Sage and then strategically hit specific areas with the Coffee Bean.  **Tip - always start with the light color when using more than one ink.  This way you won't muddy up the light ink pad.  I had to use a paper towel to lightly blot of some of the brown ink, otherwise it would have been really dark.  I was going for a more washed out look so I didn't want super dark ink.

Step Two

Cut out the stamp using your Spellbinders die. Now cut off the bottom 1/2 inch of the flower.

Step Three

Distress the edges of the petal and crinkle up the petal giving it a worn look.  Take Bundled Sage and hit the edges and some of the wrinkles.  Remember to do the back because when you curl your lily it will show.  Add some water (for such a small piece you can use a paint brush, Q-Tip, or your fingers) around the edge of your petal.  Remember that you used Distress Ink so try not to get the center of your flower wet or you will loose some of the detail from the stamp.  Now start to work your paper to give some curl to the edges and waves to your flower.  While the paper is still damp, place your petal vertically (like above) and place your paint brush (also vertically) and roll the bottom of the flower around your brush until the bottom looks like a lily. You are rolling it from side to side and not top to bottom.

I don't have pictures of the last step, but you can refer to the sample picture at the top.  Now stake a flower stamen and using glue place the stamen inside the lily.  You can thread the stamen through the bottom of the flower.  You may also need to glue the bottom edge of your lily where you curled it around.  I cut down a wooden skewer for the stem and wrapped the stamen around it.  You can use floral wire or whatever you like for the stem of your flowers.  The last thing you need to do is wrap floral tape around everything to secure it in place.  I decided to use some Rock Candy Stickles on the inside to give it some shimmer and I also rolled the edge in some silver glitter to match the other flowers on my page.  Not something you need to do, but this just gives you an idea of how you can customize it to coordinate with other flowers you may be using.

Holiday Sampler set to Debut!

Great news!  The Holiday Sampler for Scrapbook News and Review Magazine is set to debut this Sunday at 8pm!!  It is full of some awesome holiday projects and pages.  Trust me, the artwork is awesome!!!  If you aren't a subscriber, then click on the link to the left (or above) and sign up!!!  You won't be disappointed.

In it you will find tutorials, articles, product reviews, mixed media projects, digi projects, traditional scrappy projects and so much more!!!!  There is a member forum that is free and full of information.  Go check it out!!!

Big, Huge, GIGANTIC news!

I got the BEST news!  But before I tell you what it is you should know that I have a Scrappy Bucket List.  This is a list of goals that I have made for myself that pertain to Scrapbooking.  At the top of this list was to become a Design Team member for Swirlydoos.  I have always considered the women over there to be Scrappy Rock Stars!  They are the most talented, selfless, giving and genuinely nice women I have had the pleasure to meet.  I have grown and  my pages have gone up another level because of them.  When I was their Spotlight Artist of the month a few months back, I thought I had finally made it. LOL  This was on my bucket list and I got to put a big ole check mark next to that.  Man, I had a smile on my face like you couldn't believe.

Swirlydoos put out a Design Team call and I wasn't sure I was ready.  These ladies are rock stars.....my scrappy heroes!  With some pep talks from some very good friends, I've even asked one of them to be my life coach *coughRobincough* LOL, I submitted my application.  Now.....the wait.  Talk about cruel and unusual punishment!  The wait is over.....I MADE THE TEAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  O*M*G!!  You can knock me over with a feather!  When I got the call from Lisa Gregory I was at work.  I was practically speechless!  I ended up walking into the conference room, closing the door, letting out a silent scream and jumped up and down.  When I finished I fixed my suit and walked back to my desk. LOL!  I still can't believe it.  I'm scared and excited all at the same time.  Someone pinch me!!!!!