Season's Givings Blog Hop Year 3

Welcome to my blog and Happy 2015! I am thrilled to be participating in the Season's Givings Blog Hop, year 3. If you are here from Lorine Mason's blog, you are on the right track. If you would like to start at the beginning of the hop, I suggest scrolling down to the list below, and starting at the top. Next stop on the hop is Meihsia Liu's blog. The purpose of this hop is to thank you, my readers, for returning post after post to see what paper crafting things I have been up to over the past year.

For your opportunity to win on my blog, please leave a comment with your email address in my comments at the end of this post before Monday, January 5th, 2015. I will send you the following;

• Flame Dew Drops (The Robin's Nest)
• Getaway Dew Drops (The Robin's Nest)
• Fancy Label Tags 4 Die D-Lites (Spellbinders)
• Mediterranean Medallion [3D] M-Bossing Folder (Spellbinders)
• Glaze pens (Sakura)
• 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" Stripe Embossed Cards and Envelopes (DCWV)
• Reflections Metal Charms (Blue Moon Beads)
• Honey Pie 8" x 8" Paper Pad (Cosmo Cricket)

I have made a thank-you card for you to see today. I've used a new Fall release Spellbinders die template, Majesty to frame my focal point. This a new favourite die template of mine, and I do love it in black. I cut the largest layers using 5x7 Matting Basics A (#7, or the largest die template) and 5x7 Matting Basics B (#6 die template). I used a gold paint pen to run a gold line around the printed paper for a little added elegance.

I cut and embossed the oval accent piece, again using black cardstock, with Filigree Delight. The sentiment is framed and cut using Small Classic Ovals (#3) and Large Classic Ovals (#2). This sentiment and Fleur de Lis are from Technique Tuesday Mon Ami Paris. I stamped the fleur de lis in Encore! Gold ink, and over stamped the sentiment in Onyx Black. 

This is my favourite bit on this card. I used Quatrefoil Band die template and cut and embossed black cardstock. Then, I used a new to me product called Metallic Wax by Deco Art. I love this stuff!! I typically don't like buying new product because what if I don't like it? I hate wasting money that way. This time, however, I'm thankful to Judy Hayes (her blog is listed below) for telling me about how easy this product is to use and how magnificent the results are. I dabbed a tiny bit on my finger and rubbed it on the cardstock. I layered the metallic wax colour by colour. That's it. The residue washed off my fingers with soap and water. The results are stunning and look like aged metal. I used Lavish Green, Iced Espresso, Champagne Ice, and Gold Rush on this strip.

I invite you to stay awhile and scroll back through my blog, or bookmark it for later perusal, or sign up for emails, or join my Followers list on the sidebar to the right. I don't collect emails or use them for any untoward purposed, so rest assured that way if you have any concerns. But do leave a comment below for your chance to win! Please remember the winner for my prize will be chosen January 5th, 2015, and if you have left your email I will contact you directly to get your mailing address so I can send your prize pack to you.

Season's Givings Blog Hop Participants

1.	Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L	46.	Keri Lee Sereika	91.	Loretta Lock  **you are here**
2.	Lawn Fawn	47.	Jocelyn Olson	92.	Meihsia Liu
3.	Spellbinders Paper Arts	48.	Julee Tilman	93.	Sarah Martina Parker
4.	Reverse Confetti	49.	Michelle Woerner	94.	Angeline Choo
5.	Clearsnap	50.	Lori McAree	95.	Christine Emberson
6.	Ice Resin	51.	Theresa Momber	96.	Karen Hightower
7.	My Favorite Things	52.	Anita Autore	97.	Sabrina Alery
8.	Technique Tuesday	53.	Melody Rupple	98.	Debbie Seyer
9.	Paper Smooches	54.	Sean Fetterman	99.	Dana Joy
10.	Sweet & Sassy Stamps	55.	Bunny Vance	100.	Cat Tidwell
11.	Stamp Simply Ribbon Store	56.	Tricia Traxler	101.	Deborah Saaranen
12.	Avocado Arts	57.	Lisa Arana	102.	Ceal Pritchett
13.	A Jillian Vance Design	58.	Lorena Cantó	103.	Lisa Lara
14.	Latina Crafter	59.	Amy Tsuruta	104.	Colleen Schaan
15.	Die-Versions	60.	Jodi Collins	105.	Anabelle O'Malley
16.	Unity Stamp Company	61.	Tenia Nelson	106.	Megan Hoeppner
17.	Splitcoaststampers	62.	Kelly Klapstein	107.	Monika Davis
18.	Verve Stamps	63.	Jill Cornell	108.	Marisa Ritzen
19.	Latisha Yoast	64.	Emily Leiphart	109.	Wanda Guess
20.	AJ Otto	65.	Becky Williams	110.	Jenny Peterson
21.	Vera Yates	66.	Margie Higuchi	111.	Annette Allen
22.	Julia Stainton	67.	Lee Ann Barrett	112.	Gracie Chavez
23.	Judy Hayes	68.	Lisa Hoel	113.	Christina Griffiths
24.	Kim Watson	69.	Heather Campbell	114.	Niki G.
25.	Yana Smakula	70.	Lisa Henke	115.	Kristi Schurr
26.	Chari Moss	71.	Sheri Holt	116.	Jennifer Ingle
27.	Taheerah Atchia	72.	Michele Kovack	117.	Karolyn Loncon
28.	Shemaine Smith	73.	Ashley Harris	118.	Camille Robinson
29.	Emily Spahn	74.	Sharon Harnist	119.	Lindsey M-P
30.	Kimberly Crawford	75.	Lori Craig	120.	Kathy Clement
31.	Lee Murphy	76.	Nicole Nowosad	121.	Maria Levine
32.	Lovely Linda	77.	Laurel Beard	122.	Savitri Wilder
33.	Laura Williams	78.	Michele Boyer	123.	Savannah O'Gwynn
34.	Lori Tecler	79.	Christiana Reuling	124.	Teresa Horner
35.	Chaitali Narla	80.	Laurie Schmidlin	125.	Laurel Seabrook
36.	Darsie Bruno	81.	Jennifer Priest	126.	Libby Hickson
37.	Lydia Fiedler	82.	Stacey Schafer	127.	Yvonne Van de Grijp
38.	Giovana Smith	83.	Heidi Blankenship	128.	Alice Wertz
39.	Teri Anderson	84.	Heather Pulvirenti	129.	Leigh Penner
40.	Beth Pingry	85.	Anita Madden	130.	Lisa Lee
41.	Dina Kowal	86.	Gloria Stengel	131.	Tina McDonald
42.	Daniela Dobson	87.	Sarah Gough	132.	Nina Yang
43.	Lisa Adametz	88.	Rachel Kleinman	133.	Angel Johns
44.	Piali Biswas	89.	Natalie Dever
45.	Kelli Green	90.	Lorine Mason

stamps; Mon Ami Paris (technique tuesday)

ink; encore! gold, onyx black versafine (tsukineko)

paper; raven, maltball (Bazzill), nature study (melissa frances)

accessories; quatrefoil band, majesty, 5x7 matting basics A, 5x7 matting basics B, filigree delight, sm. classic ovals, lg. classic ovals (spellbinders), lavish green, iced espresso, champagne ice, gold rush metallic wax (deco art), black ribbon (offray), liquid gold paint marker (marvy uchida)

Heartfelt Creations Alumni Blog Hop

Just a quick reminder to return here tomorrow for the Seasons Giving Blog Hop with +100 Companies and Papercraft Designers participating and every single blog will have a give away to thank you, the papercraft community for your support!

It's almost a New Year and I'm happy to be participating in this month's Heartfelt Creations Alumni Blog Hop to close off 2014. Today the hop starts on Lee Ann Barrett's blog. If you arrived on my blog from Emilia van den Heuvel's blog, you are on the right track. Leave a comment on my blog by Midnight EST January 2nd for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate from Heartfelt Creations. Winners will be posted on the Heartfelt Creations Alumni hop blogs at noon EST Saturday, January 3rd. Winners must contact Emma Lou Beechy with "Winner of the December Alumni Hop" in  the subject line.

I love the trendy look of thick frames around a scene with saturated colour, so I gave it a try for this card. I've never used Faber Castell Gelatos, and thankfully they are idiot (me) proof! I stamped this gorgeous grass image from Scenery Builders on watercolour paper with Versamark ink and detail black embossing powder and then heat set it. Next, I stamped the 'Missing you' sentiment from Classic Message the same way as the image. Then I coloured the background using the gelatos. It wasn't clean or thick coverage because I spritzed the paper with water and rubbed the colour with my finger to fill in the spaces and blend the colour - Finger painting for grown ups!!

I taped the 5x7 Matting Basics A #7 die template to a piece of white cardstock using low tack tape. Then I taped the Large Long Rectangles #5 die template as shown and cut. I adhered the water colour paper to a 5"x7" card base and mounted the frame using dimensional foam. It's not a difficult card, but it is quite eye catching! I like the vibrancy of the gelato background and how easily they blend.

Carry on my friend, and craft boldly this coming year! There are exciting things coming your way. Thank you for stopping here today and God's richest blessings to you. The next stop is Lisa Gregory's blog, and I hope you enjoy the rest of the hop.

stamps; scenery builders, classic message (heartfelt creations)
ink; versamark (tsukineko)
paper; watercolor paper (strathmore), canvas white (bazzill)
accessories; large long rectangles, 5x7 matting basics A (spellbinders), detail black embossing powder (ranger), mango, butterscotch, peach, red cherry gelatos (faber-castell)

Pioneer Medallion

Doesn't everything about this card remind you of Little House on the Prairie? I know, right?!

I have a tutorial on the Spellbinders blog today to make this card. It's an easy one, and I think I would sponge it some to make it look a bit more vintage. Still, it's a lovely multi tasking card, and I encourage you to go check out the tutorial.

Winter Fairy

I have every intent of sending out more cards this coming year than I did over the last, so I'm starting now. It's been an interesting year, as I reflect on it. I had been away from card making for 2 years at this time last year, and during Winter break, I decided to see if I could produce anything respectable since I was quite out of practice. By the end of January, I participated in my first Heartfelt Creations Alumni blog hop in a very long time. By April, I returned to the Heartfelt Creations Design Team. In May, I was invited to join the Spellbinders Design Team. What a stunning turn of events, and I am humbled by it. And overjoyed. I am happier now that I am able to do more creative things. I am looking forward to being able to do even more by the middle of next year as my graduate studies end.

For this card, I used a discontinued Crafty Secrets cotton printed panel depicting a winter fairy whispering in the ear of a mistletoe endowed Father Christmas. With a beautiful, preprinted panel, this card was a breeze to put together.

I make my bows using a Bow-It-All v.02, and it was worth every penny. I really love the look of double and triple bows, and this tool makes it easy to achieve beautiful results every time.

The paper I've used is an older, gorgeous collection from Basic Grey called Figgy Pudding. I have so much older paper to use up. I've said it before many times, I'm sure, and as I find more time for me again, I am making a valiant effort to use more of my older favourites. I look forward to this challenge I've put to myself in the coming year. That and finishing my dissertation in grand fashion! And spending time with my wonderful family and moving forward in my spiritual journey...not necessarily in that order, of course!

paper; figgy pudding (basic grey), sterling, fern (bazzill)
accessories; white ribbon (offray), image panel (crafty secrets), buttons (basic grey), hemp twine (unknown)

Happiest of Holidays

I want to take this opportunity to wish you the very Merriest Christmas and abundant blessings in the New Year!

I have had the idea for this card since August. With all the things that have been happening behind the scenes personally, educationally and the wonderful releases from Spellbinders that are coming in the New Year, I haven't had time to make my vision a reality until this week.

I love this Edwardian Door and I think its classic design transcends seasons. I envision a 4 season collection of doors. Or wouldn't it be fun to have this Door in an entryway with flowers for each new month to welcome guests? Divine! However, since we are in the Season of Christmas, I've used elements from Build-a-Wreath to adorn the door with a festive pine and holly swag.

This is an older sentiment from Sentimental Christmas by Flourishes, but it looks so elegant, that it was perfect for this card. These little embellishments are new to me Bubbles by Q&Co. I like the way they catch the light and look like they glow and add so much interest to the card.

I have more to share over the coming weeks, and I invite you back especially in one week for the Season of Giving New Years Eve mega blog hop organized by the amazing Latisha Yoast. Everyone (100+ blogs and papercraft companies) will have give aways to thank you for being part of the amazing crafting community.

I pray you enjoy this time of year with people you love!

stamps; Sentimental Christmas (flourishes)
paper; canvas white, candy apple (bazzill)
ink; onyx black (tsukineko)
accessories; build a wreath, edwardian door, 5x7 matting basics B, ribbon banners (spellbinders), red bubbles (q&co), 3L 3D foam squares

Spellbinders Labels 47 & Labels 47 Decorative Elements Lily Card

As I was looking at the Labels 47 Decorative Elements, it occurred to me that the inset die (shown here under the star gazer lilies) looked like the wire mesh lids used on beautiful vintage rose bowls. From this thought, I was inspired to use the die in a similar fashion as both a functional and creative element for my card

I have written a tutorial to show how I planned my work so that you can be inspired and recreate it for yourself.

Supply List:

• S2-064 Create-a-Flower Stargazer Lily
• S4-489 Labels 47
• S5-229 Labels 47 Decorative Elements
• Grand Calibur Machine
• T-001 Tool 'n One

Cross Promotional Partners:

• Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L: 3D Foam Squares
• Beacon Adhesives: Fabri-Tac Permanent Adhesive

To make this project you will also need:

• ivory, light green cardstock
• ivory ribbon
• light green, light brown ink

1. Cut a 3 3/4" x 7 3/4" rectangle of ivory cardstock. Lay Labels 47 Decorative Elements Inset die template on the cardstock on the lower half and mark the center point horizontal to the long edge of the card lightly using pencil.

2. Mark the center line of the card, lay the die template on this cross with the horizontal and vertical points aligned to the pencil marks. Mark a short line indicating the horizontal points of the die. Move die to the left and right of the center marks to create lines for the center of the die and using a ruler, join the upper and lower marks to create crosses.

3. Using the pencil lines, align Labels 47 die template # 2 (with #1 being the smallest die in the set) with the cross lines as shown. Use temporary tape to hold the die in place as you cut and emboss using the Grand Calibur Machine. Placing the temporary tape INSIDE the die will ensure that the tape doesn't tear the card front. Repeat two more times. Erase pencil lines.

4. Waste not, want not. Using the Labels 47 shapes that were just cut, use Labels 47 die template #1 and cut 3 new shapes. Use temporary adhesive on the OUTSIDE of the die template to prevent tearing of the paper on the inside of the die. Repeat 2 more times.

5. Cut out 3 insets from Labels 47 Decorative Elements, as shown.

6. Using paper just big enough to accommodate the end decorative edge of the Labels 47 Decorative Elements Frame die template, cut 2. Adhere them to the top of the ivory card front, and trim to create the illusion of a continuous filagree piece.

7. Cut a 3 7/8" x 7 7/8" rectangle of light green cardstock. Adhere ivory card front using 3L 3D foam squares. Punch holes from the centers of the Labels 47 die template #1 pieces. Adhere as shown using 3L 3D foam squares. These pieces act similar to the 'rose frogs' used in the bottom of the rose bowl to hold the flowers in place in the floral arrangement. 

8. Cut center from the Labels 47 Decorative Elements Inset pieces and adhere them centered over the 'rose frogs' using 3L 3D foam squares, trimmed to fit.

9. Using the Create-a-Flower die template set of your choice, create 3 flowers. Here, I have used the Create-a-Flower Stargazer Lily. Christina Griffiths has made an excellent video tutorial to create these stunning paper flowers. Adhere the finished flowers using your favourite strong glue, placing them as shown or as desired.

10. To finish the card, I cut a 1" x 7 3/8" strip of light green cardstock, and adhered the ribbon and bow to the strip. Next, I adhered the strip to the card front using 3L 3D foam squares. Finally, all the layers created to this point are adhered to a 4"x8" car based, created by cutting an 8"x8" square of cardstock and scoring it across the card at 4" and folding it along the score line.