Magnolia Down Under Challenges

Okay, I love my new Magnolia stamps. She is adorable!! I have a cute Christmas version of Tilda with her lamb, but I've been so inspired after checking out the Magnolia Down Under Challenges Blog. There are some really wonderful creations by the DT team. Adorable cards, tree ornaments ... and so much more.

If you like the Magnolia Stamps (US site), then you HAVE to check out the Challenge Blog.

Here is my Christmas card with Tilda and her lamb:

See also the post about this card and the second version here:  Tilda is Here!

Riley Moose -- Christmas cards

Among all the other project I have going on, I am working on some Christmas cards -- a few here and there and I am hoping to have them finished in the next few weeks. Maybe I can get a nice photo of the girls when we get together at Thanksgiving to tuck into cards that I send out to family.

Some of my favorite stamps right now are the RILEY stamps. Originally bought these from Hanna Stamps. Then I found out that they are not making the Rileys anymore. Riley and Sophie were sold ... another company is supposed to be selling them. These are unmounted red rubber. My favorite!!

My first card is Riley carrying home the Christmas tree. Used Ranger's Liquid Pearls for the snow. Maybe it needs some glitter too!?

For the background, I used some scraps of printed papers. Some ribbon, some liquid pearls, some scraps of paper. Pretty simple. I have a whole box of small scrap paper pieces that I can't bear to throw out. Using them on cards and smaller scrapbook pages (like 8x8) is my way of not wasting them. I colored Riley with my COPIC markers.

Another holiday / Christmas image that I am having fun with is "Santa Riley". He's getting ready to go down the chimney and delivery gifts to all the good little girls and boys.

The polka dot background is from Daisy D's. I think this is from a 6x6 pad. I find that these 6x6 pads are great for cards. The images are also made miniature too! You won't find Daisy D's anymore ... sold or gone out of business, not sure which. There's been big changes in the craftnig world in the past few years. More to come, I'm sure. But I still enjoy using their papers and embellishments from my stash!

Used Spellbinders Pendant die cut for the fancy "background", and Labels #1. At first, I was so caught up in matching round with round, and square wth square Nesty shapes. Then I started to relax and have some fun. Wow, there are millions of possibilities then!!

Liquid Pearls for the snow and Riley's beard. Colored with my copics. Wanted something a little different here so I used a blue theme on this card. Santa Riley's bag is blue! Just having some fun.

Having some fun ... I think that's most important when making cards or scrapbook pages. Unless it is a scrapbook page that is dealing with difficult issues ... it should be really fun.

Work is stressful, life is stressful -- crafting should be fun.

Elzybells -- fun card!

This Elzybells stamp image is fun. I love the little "bug" car and that the girl is waiving ... you could use it for all sorts of card occassions.

You can find ELZYBELLS at the UK online store, but we have a US outlet, AMuse Artstamps. Or your local stamp or scrapbook store may have some in stock!

I started my card with the striped and scalloped paper (used for the mat). I had this piece of paper and was looking for an image that I could use with it. Then I found this ADORABLE small Elzybells image -- perfect. Using Spellbinders Nestabilities to cut the shapes (makes it quick & easy ... and don't forget to cut some extras).

The inmage is stamped on the Labels 1 shape (mix and match those Nesties!!). I colored with my COPICS, and added some Silver STICKLES for the bumper and the headlights for fun!

When working with small images, such as this, I would recommend heat embossing the black line. It was very difficult to keep the colors inside the lines. The tips on the "Sketch" Copics are not very fine. They have a brush tip, and it does small detail ... next time I will make my life a little easier by heat embossing the image lines!!

So, using the striped paper as my "inspiration", I added some colors I would never have done (turquoise & red), but as it was coming together, the card looked fun. That was the look I was going for -- FUN!

WOW! COLORFUL! Yes, and fun. Put the striped paper on a turquoise piece. Took some multi-color ribbon and tied around the turquoise layer. Then this was layered on a red piece that I used Cuttlebug embossing folder (circles). Then all put on the card base blue/teal.

Embellishments are a mix of flowers, shapes and textures... mix them up! The centers of two flowers are buttons (LOVE buttons), and the smallest flower center is a dew drop. These are metallic-look dew drops.

The card is done and ready to send ... hopefully it will brighten someone's day!

SUPPLIES:

* Elzybells stamp image

* Copics

* Spellbinders Nestabilities dies

* Cuttlebug embossing folders (used in a Big Shot)

* flowers, buttons, ribbon

* * *

Magnolia Stamps -- TILDA is here!

I fell in love with Tilda from Magnolia Stamps (the company is located outside of the US, but you can find a number of US retailers online).

 She is so adorable. One of the images is Tilda with a small lamb. It was listed in their Easter collection, but I just couldn't help make a few Christmas cards using this stamp.

I started cutting background mats with Martha Stewart punches. These were quick and easy. Then I colored the stamped image with my COPICS. I find the coloring fun, and relaxing.

For added "lace", I used a paper doily (from the cake & cookie decorating section!). This is one way to get a detailed cut design similar to using Spellbinders dies.

I used kraft cardstock for the background, and tied a wide red ribbon around the card. A red flower with a big glitter rhinestone in middle adds some fun. In this version, I colored the lamb a light grey. But I think I like it left white.

A close-up of the Tilda image ... isn't she just adorable?

The second card is a square card, using another paper doily and some printed Christmas paper by Daisy D's. I loved their papers, but they have gone out of business.

I added 3 dew drops in the corner, but their true color doesn't show on the red background. I heard you can color plastic and even metals with COPIC markers. Next time I'll try coloring the drops with the COPICS.

 This version, the lamb is white, but with a little grey outline (or inside line). Not sure which card I like best. I don't usually make square cards, so it is maybe just a tad bit more my favorite.

Christmas with October Afternoon papers & embellishments

This weekend I was scrapbooking some older photos ... photos that are almost 19 years old to be exact! Photos of my older daughter -- she was only 6 months old and she loved (and still loves) the piano.

Looking for the perfect papers, I started with a solid red as these photos were taken in December, during our Christmas vacation with Nana & Grandad. But her outfit is pink, so I had to add SOME pink

I did two versions of these pages ... one for her book and one for mine! Since she is not a big fan of pink, the pink/turquoise version is going in my book.

The 2 pages going in her book started with red background, die cut words (Cricut), and some striped papers (with a little pink!), and a snowflake pattern paper (pink background). I saw this paper somewhere ... and liked it. It's been in my stash just waiting.

Used only one photo on this page, a 5x7.  I added some embellishments of silk flowers, and a swirl of rhinestones (from Prima Marketing). The music sheet paper is from Making Memories Fa La La La collection. I thought it was perfect for this page! I really started having fun combining different prints here!

Adding only 2 photos to the second page keeps this simple. Not sure about journaling as I think the photos speak more than journaling!!

 Wrapped some ribbon around the pink snowflake pattern paper ... kind of like a package. And some stickers for the date: Dec. 1990. Since this was a holiday page ... and no page is perfectly completed unless it has glitter (or better yet STICKLES)!! ... I added some green stickles around the photos on the 2nd page after I took these photos.

Close up of that great swirl of rhinestones from Prima Marketing. These are made to go on the corner of a page or photo. LOVE these!!!

Here's the close-up of the Cricut die cut word "Christmas". I added green rhinestones and covered the tree with a triangle of green. Later I decided it would look better covered with green glitter (not shown in photo).

Now, the version that is going into MY book ... October Afternoon paper collection called "Good Cheer". Love it!! Mixing traditional with some other colors like pinks, and turquoise!

Background paper is October Afternoon. Added the music print, and some pink, red & green flowers. Another Prima Marketing rhinestone swirl in the corner of this 5x7 photo. Some of the stickers added from October Afternoon's collection. The alphabet is mixed uppper and lowercase to bring out some whimsy.

Instead of just 2 photos in this version, I added 3 and a fourth that is a real close-up of her adorable face!! Another cute sticker with "Joy" and the list of holiday theme words randomly added between the photos.

A close-up of the flower combo for this non-traditional color combo. Added some ribbon as "leaves" (or just added embellishment).

Really fun to make 2 versions of scrapbook pages using the same photos and a similar layout. Just a change of colors can make a big difference in the look of a page. Mix and match different patterns from different companies ... put together what you like. Look at the colors and patterns that manufacturers have put together and then search your stash for comparable papers & embelishments. If you like it, try it.

I'm all into "no rules, just right". I am enjoying scrapbooking and cardmaking more now that I am not sticking to one company's papers and embellishments -- mixing, matching, not matching. It's fun and freeing.

Remember: beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If you like it, and it's your book ... then try it.