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

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