All is calm...

Merry Christmas everyone!

Christmas at our house was a little unsettling this year, so I set out to create a project that soothed my soul and brought a feeling of peace.

To create peace, I always turn to nature.  This beautiful sunset piece of paper is from Wild Whisper's Canadian Winter collection, and of course features our Rocky Mountains in the background.

                                                                                                                                                            I used another Wild Whisper collection by Pam Bray, called Nature's Bliss to cut out the reindeer (which is an SVG cut file by Just Nick).  I flipped it so that the antlers would cut out of the lighter parts and look like they were catching the last rays of the sun as it set.

                                                                                                                                                         All is calm, All is bright, was stamped using the Wild Whisper "Christmas Comfort" stamp set and Stone embossing powder.

                                                                                                                                                "Rejoice" is also an SVG file from Silhouette, and I cut it out of the same piece of paper that I cut the deer from.  The stars are a stamp from Wild Whisper's older Christmas stamp set "Home for the Holidays".  I embossed them with a lovely, glittery, silver embossing powder.

                                                                                                                                                        The die cuts are graphics from a set call "Christmas Fields" that I purchased from The Hungry Jpeg and printed myself.  They have a wild feeling of joy to me and I thought they suited this beautiful wild background. I popped them up to give them a little more impact.

To create this project, I was inspired by the following two challenges at More Than Words and Art Daily Cafe.  It's pretty clean and simple, but that was what I was needing when I created it!

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Our Main Challenge is based on a word inspiration and a creative challenge.

Word Inspiration - REJOICE

Creative Challenge - ANYTHING GOES

To enter the More Than Words December challenge, go here.  You have until       Dec 31st to enter a project.

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The other challenge was Lights and Sparkles at the Art Daily Cafe.  You also have until Dec 31st to enter a project here.

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Rejoice and feel the Peace and Joy this Christmas!

Play Like You're in the Big Leagues

Hi everyone,

Today I'm back to using the Canadian Winter paper collection because it's winter time in Canada, the hockey season has started, and my grandson is so gosh darned cute!  *Big Grandma smile here.*

First game away for this 5 year old, and don't cha know you gotta dress in a suit and tie the way the NHL players do?

For this layout, I decided to use a sketch by Page Maps.  I'm going to put it in an 8-1/2"x11" album, so I thought this sketch would be perfect.

Because I didn't want Greyson's hockey bag to be covered by the embellishments, I flipped the sketch in my Publisher program, and layered my photo over top to figure out what size it needed to be printed at.

Then I decided to throw another couple of photos in.  Since I print my photos at home, this helps me to save on paper and ink, by having everything sized down to the dimensions required before printing.  (This is all still on my computer screen.)

Here you can see the photos after they came out of the printer.  I threw an extra one on to use up the bottom of the paper.  (I have a very specific layout planned for THAT one!)  LOL

Here's the base of my layout.

The base with photos.

The finished layout with embellishments from the ephemera pack.

The thing I like about sketches, is that if you're mojo is totally gone, they give you a point to start at... and then the rest starts to flow as you work.  

I hope this little tutorial might have helped a little when you're using a sketch.  You change a few things to suit the style of picture you have, and the type of embellishments you're using... the point of a sketch is to get you started!

Happy creating!

Linda

Cross Country Blog Hop - Cedar & Pine

Hi everyone!

Welcome back to another Cross Canada Blog Hop!

The December Cross Canada Blog Hop for CTMH consultants is all about the beautiful Cedar & Pine paper collection this month!

To purchase any of the items seen in our blog hop today, please contact your local consultant to place an order.  For my customers, if you click on the links that I have hi-lighted, they will take you directly to my online business account.

We hope that you will take the time to leave comments on our posts, as we love to get feedback from our viewers....whether it was something that you really liked or some new technique that has inspired you. Comments help us to create posts that will give you the information that you are looking for.

If you have just hopped onto my blog, you can start here as this is a circular hop. If you came from Brandi's blog then you are in the right place!

I actually used a piece from the Holly Jolly collection to mat my coloured digital image from Lili of the Valley, as I felt it matched Santa's hat better. 

(For those of you who don't know, Lili of the Valley sells digital files of some of their stamps that are pre-coloured.  You just print them off in the size that you like and use them on your cards.)  

This image is called "For Someone Special" which I thought was suitable, as the card is for a very special little nephew over in Cuba who will be celebrating his first Christmas this year!

I decided to enter this card in Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge - Traditional Christmas as it fits all the requirements.

The rest of the mats on the card, however, all came from the Cedar & Pine collection.  I also used some of CTMH's white glitter paper as a mat and to create the beautiful snowflake that was cut with a Tim Holtz die called "Fanciful Snowflake".  The Merry Christmas die cut is another Tim Holtz die called "Christmas Ribbon" and it was cut from CTMH's gold foil paper.

The poinsettias were cut from the piece of red paper in Cedar & Pine using a Spellbinders die called "Cinch and Go Poinsettia".  Once they were cut, I lightly painted them with white gesso, and dabbed them with Nuvo Fresh Snowfall Glitter Accents. Embellishments for the snowflake and the poinsettias are from my stash.

For the inside of the card, I used more of the red paper from Cedar & Pine, and embellished it with stickers from the paper collection.

Thanks for hopping along with us!  I hope you have been inspired by the Cross Canada Blog Hop to try out some of the designs,

products and techniques you have seen! 

Watch for the Cross Canada Blog Hop again next month when the paper collection featured will be the beautiful, woodsy 

  Spruced Up!

Be sure to mark January 10th on your calendar!

Happy creating,

Linda

Your next stop on the Cross Canada Hop is at Brenda's blog.

In case you get lost, here is a list of the consultants who are featured on the Blog Hop this month:

Colleen
Rosalynd
Sheena
Brandi
Linda - that's me!
Brenda
Kim

Great Moments With Family

Hi Everyone!

Welcome back!

I put my Christmas playlist on and had a wonderful time making the little portfolio that I'm going to share with you.  It was so easy to make, especially when using all the fabulous bits and pieces that you get with a Wild Whisper collection!  This little folio is 4" wide x 6" high.  It can be made using a 6x6" paper pad.

The collection I used for the portfolio is Canadian Winter.  To cut the base piece of the folio, I used heavy weight #110 white cardstock.

I found the tutorial for this portfolio on Youtube. 

It is a series of videos made by Papercrafter45.  

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

The photo below is to show you what NOT to do.  I seem to be challenged when it comes to getting patterns going in the correct direction!  So be careful when you're cutting your mats and remember to flip one over when you're cutting the tab into it.  That way it will sit correctly.  For me it wasn't that big of a deal because I covered it up with a mat and the problem was solved!

To create some sparkly texture on the front of the portfolio, I used the Snow Fun stencil from Echo Park and Aleene's Glitter Snow texture paste.  (Love this stuff!)

It is so pretty and sparkly!  The coordinated sequins and flair button added a special touch as well!

This is the back of the portfolio.  In most of their collections, Suzy and Heather always include the loveliest quotes, and this one is found in the Canadian Winter card pack.

This is the inside of the portfolio.  The lovely paper that I've used as a background to take my pictures, is also a piece that is in Canadian Winter.

On the left, there is a wide pocket to tuck little gifts into... maybe a gift card, lottery tickets, flat chocolate mints... so much fun thinking up special treats to add!  The snow shoes and warm wishes sentiment are pieces that you can trim out of the papers in the collection.

The mini-challenge at More Than Words this month, asks you to make a project with the word GREAT on it, and that is why I added the little sentiment piece to this pocket.  The challenge ends November 30th so you still have time to enter.  Dusty Attic is giving a $25 certificate to shop in their store to the lucky winner!

On the right, there is another pocket to add more goodies!  The snowflake trim is the end piece that is on every 12x12 sheet of paper.  It makes great pieces for trimming photos and pockets, etc.

So what's tucked in those pockets you might ask?  A cute family that is very special to me.  I thought of them instantly when I was looking at this paper collection and planning projects.  They LOVE to go skiing in the mountains as a family and have tons of fun together.  This portfolio is going to be a gift for them to remember those happy memories.

These are the pocket cards that the photos are glued to the back of.  I love that there is a place to send a little note to them!

So put the Christmas carols on and have a happy time making your own portfolio and don't forget to enter the More Than Words challenge!

Happy creating!

Linda

A New Adventure for Me

Hi Everyone!

I have some exciting news to share today!

I was chosen to join the 2020 More Than Words Challenge Blog Admin/Design Team! 
We are introducing a first glimpse of the new design team today over on the blog.

My duties will be Blog Coordinator, as well as Design Team contributor.

More Than Words is an international papercraft challenge blog offering a monthly Main Challenge based on a Word and a Creative Challenge, open to layouts, canvases and art journal pages. PLUS we host a word-based Mini Challenge on the last week of each month for cards, tags and ATCs. There is definitely something for everyone!  

There are prizes up for grabs each month under many categories:  There's a Main Challenge Winner is voted on by the DT, 4 Runners Up prizes also voted on by the DT, a Random Winner who is drawn from all the entries, and 2 Mystery Winners that have captured the eye of the DT.  One participant, with a high number of votes and handpicked by our Admin team, is invited to be a one-time Special Guest Designer with their own special Spotlight Post.  The Mini Challenge Winner is voted on by the DT.

The Prize Sponsors for 2019 are:  The Dusty Attic, Fabrika Decoru, 2Crafty Chipboard, 7 Dots Studios, 49 & Market, AB Studio, Creative Embellishments, Expressionscraft, Kora Projects, Lindy's Gang, Maja Design, Mintay, The Scrapbook Diaries, and The Vintage Chicks Club!

So what are you waiting for????  
We have two challenges running until the end of the month and we'd love to see your entries in them!

Go HERE for more information and rules.

Go HERE for more information and rules.

Thanks for sharing a special day with me today!

Happy Creating!

Linda

A Trio of Christmas Cards

Welcome back!  Today I've got a set of 3 Christmas cards that I made using Pam Bray's beautiful Christmas paper in the 6x6" size.

I love making Christmas cards because you get to use lots of glitter and bling! 

To make this one, I used the Pine Branch die by Tim Holtz to cut the pinecones, and the beautiful Peace stamp is from a set that is also by Tim Holtz, called Christmas Time 2.

I first embossed the sentiment with gold embossing powder and didn't feel it stood out enough.

So I embossed over the gold with black embossing powder and I really liked the shabby, distressed, black and gold sentiment I ended up with.  

I used the piece that I trimmed off, to put on the inside, and this sentiment stamp is also from Christmas Time 2 by Tim Holtz.

Season's Greetings is also from the Christmas Time 2 set.  I embossed it with black embossing powder and trimmed the sides with gold mirror card and some cute red pompom trim that I had in my stash.

I loved the deer on the porch step and decided to give him a bright red bow and some jingle bells around his neck.

Inside, I again used the trimmed off piece from the front of the card and another sentiment from Christmas Time 2.  (I really love that stamp set!)

This last card was the most work, but also the most fun!

I used a label die from my stash and cut out a portion of the patterned paper.  At the same time, I cut Merry Christmas from gold mirror cardstock using the Christmas Ribbon die set by Tim Holtz and the pine branches were cut from the same die set that cut the pinecones - Pine Branch.

I cut about 5 more pieces of white cardstock using the same label die, stacked them all up and glued them together to make a piece of chipboard about 1/8" thick.  Then I embossed around the sides and the edges as you see above, using gold embossing powder.

I re-inserted this chipboard piece into the original patterned paper and trimmed it up with the diecut pieces, as well as a little poinsettia by Prima.

For the inside of the card, I cut another label diecut, edged it in gold embossing powder and embossed Season's Greetings in red embossing powder.

So there you go!  Three Christmas cards done and an afternoon of creative fun!  I still have MORE pieces of this beautiful paper left over, so there might be a few more cards in future posts!

Happy creating!

Linda