Polished to Perfection

Christmas in New England

Tonight I thought I would just post a quick Christmas Card with a brief description. This stamp reminds me of a New England Winter.  I stamped it with Adrionadack Pitch Black and colored it with Copic Markers.  The stamp is from Northwood Rubber Stamps and the border is Holiday Ribbon from Lockhart Stamp Company.  For added shimmer I used my Olive and Melon Spica in the green areas and in the locations on the image that were snow I used designer dries clear adhesive to apply crystal glitter from the Art Glitter Institute. The red and white polka dot paper is Rudoplh from American Crafts.   Thanks for stopping in!!

Decorate a CD Gift Box using Lockhart Snowmen

I absolutely adore these snowmen from the Lockhart Stamp Company...they are individual stamps ..so you can make your own family.  I also love their holly and bough border (9002 Holiday Ribbon from the Millinery Collection). Anyone who know me persoanlly knows I love snowman, they adorn all of my handpainted christmas ornaments and my snowman paper designs.  I absolutely love the possibilities these cute little snowman have.  I found these great CD Boxes at the Dollar Store - they come 3 in a packet with a variety of fun designs. I am always looking for great gift ideas and I thought these would be cute with a CD or even with a Gift Card inside the box.

So to start this project I cut a 4 1/2" x 4" piece of white cardstock, then I stamped the Holiday Ribbon border. The border was longer than my paper, so I used a mask on both sides of my paper so that I could make a square frame with the bough border.  Next I cut a Scalloped Oval using my Spellbinders Nestabilities I used Steel Blue Elan Metallics from World WIn and dry embossed it with my Snowflake A2 Embossing Folder. (choose the size oval that fits inside your bough frame).  To color the bough border I used YG67 Copic Markers to color the holly leaves and then I used Apple Green Prismacolr Pencil to color the boughs.  Then I highlighted the holy with my Olive Spica Micro Glass Flake Pens and the boughs with my Melon Spica.  I colored in the berries with my Red Spica.

Using Adriondack Pitch Black I stamped all four snowman and colored them with a combination of Copic markers and Spica Pens.  Then I cut each one of the snowmen our and placed 3 of them on my scalloped oval using foam squares.  I used 2 layers of foam squares to add the smallest Snowman to my family.  For the snow I used snowtext writer and Crystal Glitter from the Art Glitter Institute.  I used a pallete knife to put the snow in place, since my snowman were 3-D.  I placed the tallest snowman on the right hand corner.  To balance the red in my card I used American Crafts Rudolph paper to mat my image.

Know if you have been reading my blog - you know I always like to do one more step...so as I was writing this blog it occurred to me that the Tonic Snowflake Border Punch...Punches the cutest scrap baby snowflakes - so of course I retrieved the the snowflakes from the belly of my punch and they just happened to be this beautiful pale blue and a perfect size to add to my card.  So here is the upgraded design: 

Aren't the baby snowflakes cute??  In the larger version of this photo you can actually see the shine of the microglass flakes- I was so hopeful that you might be able to see them in this photo post...it really makes my cards just pop.

Lockhart Angel with Roses

Tonight I wanted to show you another card using the Rubber Stamp Tapestry Pottery Garden Peg stamps. Using my large Nestabilities scalloped rectangle I die cut a rectangle and used it for a pattern to make my Pottery Garden Border.  But tonight I stamped the leaves first and then added the flowers. I used pearlescent5 orchid and pearlescent purple brillance inks for the flowers and olive and fresh green versacolor for the leaves.  Next I airbushed the outside of the card lightly with Y13- lemon yellow.  Using my Gold Krylon pen I edged the card.

Now I have 2 versions of this card and normally my husband would be here to weigh in on which version he likes ...but he is at a Hockey Game...so you'll have to help me decide which version you like better.This is the original card I designed but I like it half done as well.  What do you think??

I was so excited to get my angels from the Lockhart Stamp Company- I have had my eyes on them for months so I was elated that this angle fit inside the scalloped oval and I thought it made a very sweet birthday card.  The Gingham Paper is My Baby Girl Dot from Pebbles Inc.  I stamped the Angel with adriondack pitch black and colored in the angel with the following Copic Markers: RV10 - Pale Pink,Y11 Pale Yellow, V12 Pale Lilac, B000 Pale Porcelian Blue and I shaded the wings with BG01 Aqua Blue.  I should have used YR00 Powder Pink for the angels flesh...mine has a slight sun burn.(Oh Well).For the stems of the flowers I used my true green prismacolor pencil to highlight the stems and pull some green into the interior image to balance the green in the borders.  I used the Clear Spica Micro Glass Flake Pen to highlight the hair, the wings,the floral bouquet and the stripes on the angel's dress.  The Clear Spica just makes the angel sing...wish you could see it!!  I added a Gold Krylon Pen to both the inside and the outside of my gingham mat.  To add some weight to the corner of the scalloped mat I made gold circles on each corner and of course I added a little bling with Rhinestones from KaiserCrafts.

Rubberstamp Tapestry - Pottery Garden

Tonight I wanted to post this card because I wanted to take the opportunity to say Thank You to everyone who visits my blog!!!  I love being able to share my creations with you and I appreciate how busy everyone is - so Thanks for stopping in and visiting with a friend...I hope that the time you spend with me each day is an inspiration and a little slice of much needed "ME TIME" which I know will be far and few between in the hectic days before Christmas. Now it occurred to me tonight - that those of you who are super organized...probably have all your Christmas cards made and are just finishing the last of your Christmas Shopping.  And perhaps you might enjoy a non holiday post- and a card no less. I can't believe that it has been over a month since I have posted a card - I guess I got off on a serious paper crafting tangent...but as a designer sometimes I just have to go with the inspired flow when it hits.

I have always loved Rubber Stamp Tapestry Peg Stamps for their extraordinary versatility.  If you aren't familiar with their line - their stamps are individual images on pegs...which means you design your image...How COOL is that!!  This set - Pottery Garden comes with one traditional wooden stamp - which is the 5 terracotta pots and then it has 4 peg stamps - 2 small flowers and 2 leaf images.  So you guessed it the possibilities are endless.  To create this card I used tons of my favorite items - First I cut and dry embossed a large oval with my Spellbinders Nestabilities, using my largest scalloped oval nestabilites I cut out a scalloped oval using my nestabilites from Nellie's Garden Tiny Flower from Pebbles Inc.  I also dry embossed this die cut.  Next I used my Krylon Gold Leafing Pen to edge the scallop and set it aside to dry.

Using adirondack terracotta ink I stamped my pots (placing them low enough on my oval that I would still have room to stamp thank you.)  Next I began adding in the large blue flowers using versacolor royal blue...stamp each peg image twice...this will give your arrangement depth.  Next I stamped in small purple flowers using versacolor violet, then I added in the mini ferns using versacolor sage and then the smaller leaves in versacolor bamboo. The Thank you is from a clear word phrase set from Rubber Stamp Tapestry as well. I stamped Thank you with the royal blue and set my image aside to dry.

Now cut out a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" piece of white cardstock and lightly trace the edge of your scallop die with a pencil. To make your floral frame - stamp your peg stamps in the same order as your pottery garden.  Overlap your flowers and leaves into the pencil lines. ( Note that your scallop is not symmetric - so remember which direction you laid it in to trace it).   After I completed my floral frame - I erased my pencil lines and trimmed my paper close to the edge of the floral frame. Since I felt the corners were too white I decided to adorn them using the Tonic Fleur II Corner Punch to decorate the corners of my image.  Using my Gold Krylon Pen I colored the decorative corners - then I edged the paper with the same pen.  To finish the gold I then carefully drew in the line around the decorative corner.  For a little bling I added in light green rhinestones from Kaiser Krafts onto the decorative corners.  The ribbon is from American Crafts - Olive #1.  For the card base I cut out an A2 Card from Nellie's Garden Tiny Flower.   If you have not been to the Rubber Stamp Tapestry website yet- they have 3 great video tutorials on how to use their stamps here is the link Rubber Stamp Tapestry.- go to the video and animated demos section of their site.

To finish the center image I used my prismacolor pencils to add in color under the pots so that they were not floating on my card- I used light cerulean blue,and true green.  I also used a touch of poppy red in my pots to highlight them.  Then I assembled my card and using my clear Spica Micro glass Flake pen I highlighted the flowers on the entire image and I also higlighted the word Thank You.  I wish I could get a great photo of how spectacular the card looks with just a hint of clear spica!!   

Decorated Cuttlebug Wreath

So here is a great way to add embellishments to your paper wreath.  I found these great paper charms from Amy's Magic - (The Bells - EF514B-and the Victorian Santa's - EF512) and what I love about them is that they come in sheets (24 Bells per sheet or 12 Santas) and are molded paper in gold - which you can color with your Copic Sketch Markers. Here's a close-up of the Bell.

I used G17 to color the holly and R29 for the ribbon and the berries, then I added E57 to the interior of the bell on the left and the top of the bell on the right.  The Copic markers look absolutely stunning on the Gold Paper Charms. Here are samples of the charms before and after they are colored.  The Copic markers really make them pop and the Copic Markers dry instantly!!

   

Don't they look awesome with a little Copic added to them!! I am sure you all have tons of cooking to do so I'll keep tonite's post short.

Have a Great Thanksgiving...check in tomorrow to see what else I used for embellishments for this wreath!!

Basic Cuttlebug Paper Wreath with Stamped Bow

 

As I was creating my Cuttlebug Paper Snowman - it occured to me that I needed to also make a Cuttlebug Paper Wreath. Luckily Angela dropped in for a quick visit today and we did a little collaborative brainstorming on a new design for a Bow!!

Supplies you will need:

I used a 10" wreath foam base, 3- 12 x 12 sheets of Shamrock Green Cardstock, 1-Sheet Of Crimson Red Cardstock (Worldwin Papers),Cuttlebug A2 Embossing Folder - Spots and Dots, H4806 Dot Snowflake Border Stamp (Hero Arts),LE7765 Holiday Interactive Circles- Limited Edition Art Warehouse Photopolymer Clear Stamp Set ( Hampton Arts ), Versamark Watermark Pad ,Seafoam White Embossing Powder (Ranger), Rocker Red Brillance ink, Versacolor and Clear Embossing Powder. 

Directions for the Wreath:

1. For a 10" wreath cut 24 strips of paper 6"x 3" (3 sheets of cardstock). Now using your Cuttlebug A2 - spots and dots embossing folder dry emboss the strips.  You will need to dry emboss each sheet twice, since your paper is longer than the embossing folder.
2. To make the fringe for the wreath make cuts across your 6" strip at 3/4" intervals - cut two thirds of the way into the strip. Now  individual wrap each piece of fringe around a pencil to make it curl and give it a sassy look.
3. Next start attaching the strips to the wreath using straight pins.  Make sure to overlap the rows so that the foam wreath does not show. Continue until you have covered the entire wreath.

Directions for the Bow:

1. Using a 12 x 12 sheet of Crimson Red Cardstock cut 6 - 1 1/2" x 12" strips.
2. Now using a versamark watermark pad stamp all the strips with the Hero Arts - Dot Snowflake Border apply seafoam white embossing powder (Ranger) and heat set.
3. Using your Fiskars deckled edge scissors trim each side of the strip. 
4. Now hold on to both ends of a strip and gently bring them into the center of the strip, over lap the ends by 1/2 " (Do Not crease the paper as you fold your bow). Use a staple to secure the bow in place. Repeat this procedure 4 times. Layer these 4 pieces together to form a bow and place a staple through all the layers.
5. Now using the   Holiday Interactive Circles Photopolymer clear stamp set , select the ring that says Peace on Earth (my wish for Christmas). Using Brillance Rocket Red stamp the verse, now apply clear embossing powder and heat emboss.  Next I selected the Noel Circle and embossed it in Fresh Green Versacolor and applied clear embossing powder to this as well and heat emboss it.
6. Now using your Scalloped Circle Nestabilities die cut the stamped image. Now using green cardstock cut out a slightly larger circle using your Circle Set of Nestabilities. Now this circle with a Gold Krylon leafing pen to make it pop. Now assembly the pieces together.
7. To adhere this embellishment to the center of my bow I used 4 generous squares of foam.  This allows the embellishment to sit nicely inside the bow. 
8. Now trim the 2 remainging strips to make a tail and adhere them to the backside of the bow using additional foam squares.
9. Now adhere the bow to the wreath using a large foam square and adhering it to a loop of the wreath.

Wouldn't this bow look great on your Christmas packages!!  I think I will have to make a few more!!

Stop by tomorrow and see how we decided to decorate this wreath - Remember my motto...Always do two more steps than anyone else would!!  Thanks for visiting!!

Directions For My Cuttlebug Paper Snowman

Since the very first tree - I have been thinking about making a Paper Snowman. I actually started him weeks ago ..but we all know how life can get in the way of creating.  So I started working on him last night to unwind a bit from a hectic day....and hours later we found ourselves searching for twigs in our front yard at 1 a.m. in the morning. Yes my DH went out and found me twigs at that hour. And at that hour the twig arms became quite the topic of conversation for 2 very design weary people.  The first twigs had all these great nubs and my DH broke them off until they had two ordinary V's.. (Which are the arms from last night's photo post). I explained that I liked the character of the original twigs before they were trimmed and of course he went and found me new twigs.  Here is the snowman with his revised "naturally nubby twig arms" (yes we are perfectionists- to the nth degree).  While photographing the snowman, my husband wanted the hat to be slightly tilted as a tilted hat signifies a happy go lucky snowman, whereas a hat that is put on straight denotes a very serious snowman. Now remember it was after midnight by this time.  Anyway we were both thrilled with the end result.  And actually the most difficult part of designing the snowman was the scarf...which my husband finally figured out the best way to make the scarf.

So here is our very Jolly Snowman. He stands 12 3/4" high and now I might need to make a larger Paper Tree..since he towers over my forest.

If you have already made my cuttlebug paper pumpkins for Thanksgiving this snowman will be a snap!!

Supplies you will need:

3 sheets of White Cardstock, 6 dark blue snowflake brads,15 dark blue pearlized straight pins, 2" Dowel, Bamboo Skewer, Tonic Snowflake punch and Tonic Border System, Snowflake and Snowman Epoxy's from Best Creations, Golden Rings Christmas Paper from American Crafts - real twigs for arms, Cuttlebug and A2 Snowflake embossing folder, Obsidian Elan Metallics from WorldWIn.   2- 4" Styrofoam Balls and 1- 2" Styrofoam Ball.

To Make the Snowman Body:

Cut 2 sheets of White Cardstock into 1/2" x 3" strips.  Fill your A2 Snowflake Embossing Folder with a layer of white cardstock strips and dry emboss.  Repeat this step until all your strips have been dry embossed.  Next shave a hair off the bottom of both 4" styrofoam balls.  Place paper strips around ball until you have covered most of the ball.  I have 4 layers on each of the 4" balls.

To make the scarf:

Cut a 3" x 12" strip of the Golden Rings Christmas paper from American Crafts.  Using a scor-it board score, make score lines at 1/2" and at 1 1/2".  Place the scored paper in your paper trimmer and cut a 1" x 12" strip (which will be scored at the 1/2" mark).  This becomes the neck section of the scarf.  Fold on the score line and make a circle big enough for your 2" styrofoam ball to sit in. Trim off excess.  Use the remaining 3" x 12" strip to create the tails of the scarf.  Fold the scarf on the score line and fringe both ends of the paper. ( you may curl the fringe on a pencil if you like).  Fold in half making a V and place under the snowman head.  To hold the styrofoam balls in place we inserted a bamboo skewer into the top of the snoman's head and pushed it through all 3 balls.

To make the eyes and the buttons I used navy blue snowflake brads from Creative Impressions.  I found this really cute sheet of epoxy snowman, snowfalkes and trees from Best Creations and I placed the snowflake circles on top of the brads.  I thought it really dressed them up and made the eyes twinkle.

For the nose we cut a dowel and widdled it with a knife to a point and them colored it orange with my copic marker.  For the mouth I used 15 navy blue pearlized straign pins.

To make the hat:

I cut a 2 1/2" x 9" piece of  Obsidiam Elan Metallics from Worldwin and I placed one end into my snowflake A2 embosssing folder and then I flipped the paper around and embossed the second half of the paper. Then I made it into a tube. Next I cut a 2" strip of red cardstock and I used my new tonic snowflake punch to create a snowflake border. (Note you have to start with a wider strip and then trim it to 1" after you have punched it in the border system).  To make the snowflakes standout I backed the red cardstock with white cardstock and added these epoxy snowmen.  To make the brim of the hat I used 2 nested circles from my nestabilities set, make sure the smaller one will fit on your styrofoam ball and will fit the base of your tube.  Now using a third size circle nestabilities cut out a circle for the top of the hat. I used Scotch Tacky Adhesive to glue my hat pieces together.  Since the petallic paper is pretty thick, I decided to staple together my tube, I placed the staple in a location that would be covered by the red hat band.  Have fun Creating!!

It's a Sneak Peak at my Paper Snowman

It's a sneak Peek at my latest creation - a paper snowman...It's late at night and the directions haven't been written yet...but I couldn't wait to share him...so stop back by Sunday Night for complete directions.  Here is a closer look:

Isn't he cute!!    I just had to share him !!

Peppermint Hot Cocoa Packets for your Gingerbread Tote

These are the cute little packets I made to go inside my Gingerbread House Tote.  These make great teacher and secret santa gifts.

Supplies you will need:

Antique Green Polished Stone Paper or Green Tea Polished Stone Paper (Murdock Country Creations),Gold Leafing Pen (Krylon), Hot Cocoa Paper (Su-Lynn Industries) Christmas Trees & Baubles paper,Christmas Cheer ribbon (Creative Imaginations)Candy Cane Sticker (Jolee’s – EK Success) Red velvet bow,Pop Dots, Lettuce Adriondack Ink or Paint Dauber (Ranger) and Ziploc Bags to fit Envelope

Directions:

1. From the Antique Green polished stone paper cut a 4” x 12” strip of paper
2. From a coordinating paper cut a 4” x 12” strip of paper. Adhere to the back side of the antique green paper.
3. Score at 4 ½ “ turn paper and score at 2 ½”
4. At the short end trim the corners of your strip to form a tag like look
5. Edge the entire piece with your gold leafing pen.
6. From the cocoa food paper cut a hot cocoa mug out and place on chipboard. Trim to size.
7. From the Trees & Baubles paper cut a 4” strip of the small ornaments. Place adhesive on only the right side and left side of the strip, so that the center portion is left open. Adhere to the front of your matchbook.
8. Cut a 4” piece of Christmas Cheer ribbon and adhere directly under the ornament paper.
9. Place the hot cocoa mug on a pop dot and adhere to packet on the left side.
10. Place a candy cane on the right side.
11. Punch a hole in the top and place red velvet ribbon in hole. Tie on the inside.
12. Print the recipe for the making a cup of peppermint cocoa. Trim around the edges and distress with lettuce ink or lettuce paint dauber and mat with a slightly larger Piece of Cinnamon Stick Polished Stone Paper.
13. Tuck the recipe under the band of ornaments.
14. Place cocoa envelopes in your gingerbread tote.

To make the Peppermint Hot Cocoa Mix: Use your favorite pre mixed Hot Cocoa Mix and add Peppermint Candy, crushed into fine pieces.   Use one piece of candy per tablespoon of hot cocoa. Stir until well blended and place in a ziplock bag and seal.

Place the following recipe on the front side of your Peppermint Cocoa Packet:

Peppermint Hot Cocoa

To make one serving:

2 T. Peppermint Hot Cocoa Mix

3/4 cup of boiling water

Whipped cream and a candy cane

Place the cocoa mix in a mug

pour boiling water over the cocoa

Stir until mixed  and completely

dissolved.

Garnish with whipped cream and

candy cane.

This pack makes 3 to 4 servings

It was quite cold here today in Maine...we even saw our first snowflakes and I am kinda wishin' that I was sitting here sipping a cup of Peppermint Hot Cocoa Mix right about now!!   See you tomorrow!!

Directions for making a Gingerbread Tote

I love making Secret Santa gifts or housewarming gifts.  This is a Gingerbread House Tote that I created using Murdock Country Creation's Gingerbreadhouse paper I love its whimsical feel.  Tomorrow I will show you the Hot Cocoa Pack Wraps that I made to go inside the tote.  Here is the view of the inside of the tote:

     Supplies you will need:

Antique Green Polished Stone Paper (Green Tea -also works), Cinnamon Stick Polished Stone Paper Gingerbread House Paper - (Murdock Country Creations), Snow Writer (Deco Art), Glamour Dust (deco Art),lime green brads (American Crafts),1” wide green grosgrain ribbon (not shown in photo- so you can see the Gingerbread House),Glue Lines (Glue Lines), and chipboard. Christmas Cheer ribbon, Christmas Cheer Tags, Trees & Baubles Paper all from Creative Imaginations. Score-it Board for scoring box.

Directions:

       1.       Cut the Antique Green polished stone paper to 8 ½ x 11”.

         2.       Score 1 ¼” in on the long side (repeat to both right and left side of paper)

         3.  Turn your paper 45 degrees and score at 4 ½” ( repeat to the left and right side of the paper) 

         4.       Cut the 4 short score lines to form the flaps for the bottom of your tote.

         5.       Place adhesive on the tabs and fold into a tote. Add adhesive where necessary.

         6.       Trim the Trees & Baubles border paper into borders and cut the tree border into two 6”      strips. Adhere one strip to front of tote and the other to the back of the tote. Add Happy Holidays tag and secure with brad.

        7.       Cut a 18” piece of Christmas Cheer ribbon and adhere around the top of tote.

        8.       Cut a 12” piece of 1” wide grosgrain ribbon for the handle and adhere a 12” strip of the  3/8”  Christmas cheer ribbon (note: this ribbon is reversible with polka dots on one side and Christmas words on the other side) to the center of the grosgrain. I recommend using Scotch Tacky Adhesive to attach the two ribbons or you can sew the ribbon in place.

9.      Adhere to sides of tote hiding edges of ribbon under Christmas cheer border on tote.

10.   From the Gingerbread House paper cut out the section of paper that is the Gingerbread House and adhere it to a 5 7/8" x 9" chipboard.  Use the leftover sky from the paper to cover the excess chipboard below the gingerbreadhouse.  Since the backside of the gingerbreadhouse will be exposed showing your chipboard cover the backside with Cinnamon Stick Polished Stone Paper.  Cut out the gingerbread house.

11.  This is a great project for using up the snow writer left inside your bottle. Use a palette knife to scoop snow out of the bottle and frost the roof of the gingerbread house as if you were frosting a cake. Next place snow on the ground in front of the house to cover where the sky paper meets the gingerbread house.  Place the cover back on the snow writer bottle and add snow to the trees, tops of windows and base. Cover the chipboard edge of the roof with snow writer as well. Sprinkle with Glamour dust and set aside to dry.

12. Now place the gingerbread man and girl from the Gingerbread House paper on chipboard and cut them out.  Place these in the snow in front of the gingerbread house.

13.   Once your Gingerbread House is dry insert it inside the tote to complete your Gingerbread House Tote.  Fill the base of the tote with white shredded paper and add Candy Canes and Peppermint Cocoa packets which I will give you directions for tomorrow.

Have fun creating these!! See you tomorrow!!