my_weblog

Splendid Christmas Notes :: Part Ten

There has to be a time when moving forward is the ideal decision in order to create change in one's environment. I've decided to push ahead the wreath project as I'm desperately wanting to work on other kinds of projects. I think the overall presentation of the wreath went really well and served as a great means for bringing forth ideas for creating your own.

If the wreath wasn't your cup of tea, I imagine you still took interest in other aspects of the development of the project, especially the eye candy it provided the last four weeks. As you very well know about me already, I'm privy towards color - it's one of my sole passions in life! Today's note will be the very last one! More than likely, I'll return to the wreath next December..or I'll simply continue working on new notes over the next dozen or so months. I'd like to have it finished for displaying next year! 

How often do you take snapshots of your home?

I mean the outside of your home...it's a simple enough task to accomplish in the Summer, but Winter requires a little more effort in that we bundle in our jackets, boots, mittens and scarf before grabbing hold our camera and heading outdoors to photograph the house. My house turns into a literal igloo this time of year. I consider the snow to be the most ideal of insulators. Rumor has it that it helps retain heat inside the house almost to the same affect as standard, traditional insulation. I'm all for keeping it there then..laugh.

Because I've a porch on the front of our home, the house looks particularly beautiful in the Wintertime. The surrounding trees are usually covered in snow as well - it almost makes you want to take our the sun chair to sit and look at it all day, though the zero degree weather is enough to put me off from staying outside for more than fifteen minutes. Even though I live in Minnesota, I still fear the frigid weather that finds us here in the Midwest every year. It's pretty close to unbearable most of the time. Laugh.

So, there's not a "tutorial" per say to share with you today in connection with the holiday note, though I've lined up a picture-perfect display of images for you to admire to make up for the lack of instructions. I'll of course hint at a technique or two still as there are a couple worth noting. Feel free to follow along...

A "title on a curve" is one of my favorite means of displaying a title. Combine it with a cursive style font and wouldn't you know it, the title takes on an even more "playful" feel that is easily likable and uniquely cute. I rode the title around a layered "Amy Butler" snowflake/ornament that is used as the note's primary focal point. By placing the title in this spot, it can't be missed by the viewer!

 

Houses, houses, houses! They're everywhere!! These little ones are from Bella Blvd. - I hand trimmed them out and circulated them across the note (including on top my photo!) with both regular adhesive and pop dots. 

 

So this if my very first time experimenting with embossing folders using the big shot machine. I'd been eyeing this polk-a-dot embossing folder for a longgg time, even before owning the machine!! It was one of my first initial purchases after buying the thing. I finally had the chance to try out the folder and I'm very happy with it. You'll probably be seeing a lot more embossing from me later on!! Ohhh, I love polk-a-dots!! 

 

It seems that vellum and transparency are gaining momentum again in the scrapbooking world!! Have you noticed this or am I just imagining things?! Laugh. It's as though we're reaching for alternative materials to bring our scrapbooking habit to the next level..always insisting on something new!! I also think we're highly attune to being extra-crafty! With DYI projects being all the rage these days, it's no wonder we're eyeing and experimenting with new materials on our scrapbook pages right now!

I'm definitely interested in experimenting with transparencies more after seeing Kaori (a seriously talented scrapbooker from Japan) work her magic with them. I'm considering printing my own transparency designs to see what I can come up with in using them...for this note, I took a martha stewart border punch to Hambly's "bird cage" transparency. It took a bit of extra effort to punch through the transparency, but it worked! I recommend giving it a try!

Note that it's not easily recognizable, but it's still of some interest. I'm going to attempt to figure out what works best behind punched transparency designs.

-------------------------------------------- 

 Moving on.....

Last month, I'd been informed of an illustrator's blog that I'd not known existed prior to my having been told about it. The illustrator's name is Geninne D. Zlatkis. She's a keen interest in drawing birds, foliage and other nature friendly creatures. I took a liking to them immediately and went on a hunt for some of her products. I asked my father if he'd willing to gift them to me for Christmas and sure enough, he did!! Thank you Dad!! Here's what greeted me Christmas afternoon in a small lil' box:

Lil' pocket for storing friendly reminders and other various writings of importance.

Another something...

 
The planner and cards are available here if interesting in peeking at them for yourself. I couldn't not have them..laugh.

 It's time for me to run to the salon for a much needed update as my hair is starting to take on the shape of a helmet! Another day with this long hair and I swear I'll lose it...thank you for being a wonderful audience today - safe and happy new years if I don't update before then!

Wait, one more note - anyone know of a really good blog designer? This place could use some sprucing up...thanks! And almost forgot Mr.Peanut! Here he is...

Splendid Christmas Notes :: Part Nine

 

Did you survive the holiday weekend? Some three thousand calories later and I think I might of survived it, though I'm still not certain..the house has been turned upside down and we have more "stuff" lying around than there is space to contain it all - my head is sort of in a muster and with Monday just around the corner, I'm feeling extra grateful that I have three more weeks ahead of me of "zero" school, which means there will be plenty of time to deal with the after effects of Christmas. Oh yes, it was a marathon...but a joyful one at that minus actual calorie usage. Laugh. I suppose the "real marathon" will be when I return to back to school and trek the six blocks back and forth between campus and the car...let's not even go there! Eek!

So, I pulled together a quick, easy note for you to follow today. It's technically not a project that entails a whole lot of details, but it still has it's perks! Who doesn't love a blazing red bird with purple tail feathers and a fuzzy heart center? She's just plain'ol cute. The only real challenge in replicating this particular note is the supplies - their extra specific, meaning you'll either have what's listed or you won't. If you're missing something, don't panic - most the items implemented today are still readily available. And if you haven't noticed already, I'm a huge fan of We R'Memory Keepers!! They're one of my fave manufacturers along with Crate Paper...can't get enough of their designs!! Note the Yellow Snowflake mentioned a lil' later on...

 

We're going to begin by my introducing you to the note's background - it's again fairly straight forward. Overlap the center area of a vertical journal card from Elle's Studio(or one similar) with light turquoise/blue solid paper. The background essentially consists of three parts (as shown) - the top dark turquoise border is trimmed using a handy dandy pair of Fiskars "mini scallop" scissors. Pre-measure the papers carefully to ensure a proper fit is had.

 

Apply a large yellow snowflake embossed tag (WRMK) nearly center on top of background with the help of foam core pop dots or....

If you're as unprepared as me and without "pop dots" because you keep forgetting to buy them, then trim a section of an empty "pop dot" insert and adhere the snowflake in place with it. Laugh. Actually, this came as a recommendation from a friend, which I think is total genius! I large piece of adhesive foam like this has more stability than a few measly pop dots, especially for a bigger item like the snowflake!

 

If I had illustrator, I would of had this sweet birdie available to you for quick download so that you could re-create your very own, though unfortunately, illustrator has been resigned to the basement along with my old PC. I'm without a MAC version of Illustrator - it's on my list of maybe's as it's insanely expensive, even with my student discount. Anyway, I drew the bird from hand directly onto dark pink paper and then trimmed it out. I matched it up with a pale purple wing and a pair of dark purple swirls trimmed from a single "s" swirl design (I cut the "S" in half). 

 

Layer one of Elle's "Sweet Summer Scallop Circle Tags" with Yellow cardstock -  Do this with scissors and a watchful eye. Lay the scallop circle tag on top a sheet of yellow cardstock and trim around it. If it's not perfect, don't worry because more than likely, no one will notice! You have to stand pretty close to the thing to see that it's not perfect..art is about imperfection anyway. Take a breather and let the scissors control the show once in a while. No one's going to notice..promise. 

 

Adhere the scallop circle and bird directly on top the snowflake with wet adhesive. Make sure it's center as you probably wouldn't be too pleased to find out that the bird is off-center after it's already been sitting their for a half hour. Rearrange the circle and bird in their ideal spot before adhering them down permanently.

 

To finish up, apply a Basic Grey mini Red/Vanilla felt heart to the wing of the bird. Then acquaint the very top of the note with a "Made with Love" sticker from October Afternoon's "Modern Homemaker" sticker collection. 

 

Now that you've had a chance to fully review what's been written and shown via photos, what do you think? The crisp bold colors are what truly enliven this note, not necessarily the layers, which I love. A little goes a long way!

I put on my brave face over the weekend and photographed myself with the help of my camera's photo timer. I was also recently told by a "friend" to take the camera out of the picture so that people could see my face! Laugh. Well, here I am...without the camera in front of me!! I plan to leave the new image up until I'm inspired to photograph myself again. I'm terribly afraid of the camera. Laugh. I know I shouldn't be, but I am. You'll always find me behind the lens - not in front of it. 

 Another holiday weekend behind us and I'm ready to enjoy the rest of my vacation! I've off all week as well, which is wonderful!! Well, sort of anyway. Crate Paper is in the midst of preparing for the upcoming show, so there's lot of behind the scenes stuff going on right now. Can't tell you how thrilled I am for you guys to see the new designs...you will love them!! As for now, have a fabulous Monday! Hope the holiday's are treating you well so far! 

Splendid Christmas Notes :: Part Eight

For some reason, I'm in love with this lil'note. Maybe it's because of the coordination of colors, materials and quirkly doodling that makes it stands out to me, though I'm not really sure. It's definitely not like the others!! And the fact that it looks like a TV screen - dorky, I know - is another feature I adore as well! Now if only it had antenna's...

 

To begin, cause I'm hopping right into it today - look through your stash of journal cards and find a card that has this similar style of frame (or any frame!) This journal card is brand new!! It's from WRMK's just released "Be My Valentine" collection. 

Trim all the stuff in the middle from the card so that just the frame appears. Set it aside as we'll return to it shortly!

 

We're going to mix-in some of OA's Modern Homemaker here - trace your freshly created "frame" onto OA's "Snickerdoodles" patterned paper and trim it out.

I haven't technically addressed photos sizes before. What's important to mention about them is that they're especially small. Most range in size from 2" x 3", though some are even smaller than this!! Also, I pre-printed all my images on a 8" x 11.5" sheet of photo paper before having begun the wreath. While working on the wreath, I've cut them out individually by hand as needed. Hopefully, this gives you a general idea of what's required for photos - which is not "all that much"!

Frame a horizontal photo with vanilla cardstock. Adhere it to the three items shown in the photo above (2 Fuchsia scallop strips & 1 Green stripe rectangle). Adhere the combination on top your "Snickerdoodles" patterned paper at a slight angle.

HINT: Pay attention to the placement of your items and how they're seen from behind the frame. You don't want for something to be hidden by the frame, such as half your photo!!

 

If you're ever in the market to branch out into collecting more stickers, American Crafts has these super convenient "Remarks" booklets that are packed full of stickers! Be warned, most of the stickers in the booklets are outlined in "white", though it's not really that big of an issue for this avid distresser! To hide some of that white, I brush over it with Ranger Distress Ink using a sponge. This tends to tone down some of the brightness of the white. 

Dear Lizzy's holiday collection is one of my favorites this season!! Take the pretty pink rose from the holiday collection sticker book (very last page!) and layer it on top an Elle's Studio circular journal label (retired). Add it to the note as shown.

 

This step is entirely optional!! I figured it would be an added bonus to an otherwise beautiful flower. Adhere to flower/journal label a black circle transparency piece. If it were possible for me to remember exactly where I found this transparency die-cut, I'd tell you, but unfortunately, I've not a clue of it's origin...hence, optional!

 

Some additional embellishments will need to be thrown on your note - Instead of saying directly "what to add", I've created a list:

Celebrate Sticker {Bella Blvd. - December Details stickers}
Ticket Tab {American Crafts - Ethereal Glitter sheet stickers}
Green/Pink Epoxy Sticker {KI Memories - Elsie F. - retired}
Red Floral Plastic Cabochon {Making Memories - retired - Michaels?}

 

I had an idea pop into my head quite suddenly when baffled by what to do for the remainder of the note's design. After sitting there for a while (I do this a lot!!) and staring at the note, I thought, "Why waste all the embellishments on the background? Why not dress up the frame from behind and then doodle over the top of it?" This brainstorming moment turned out to be of huge benefit to me - so, I clipped a small journal die-cut and adhered it beneath the lower left area of the frame. 

 

You'll want to outline around the edge of the frame with a white gel pen - should of mentioned this sooner!! Sorry!

 

And just like that, adhere the frame to it's background with foam core adhesive.

 

Gather a small assortment of itty bitty embellishments and a medium size butterfly (American Crafts - Letterpress chipboard accents) - layer them together and center them on top the bottom portion of the frame. 

 

I couldn't not spruce up the frame some more!! Because I'm a huge FAN of pinking edging, I trimmed really thin pinking borders (Doodlebug) to lay around the outskirts of the frame. Use a scissors when you do this as the pinking shouldn't be perfectly cut! I carefully adhered them down and then accented them with hand-drawn stars/pearls for a more vintag-y look! 

I'm so sorry this has been a rather long, tedious step-by-step tutorial you guys - it's just I can't help from divulging the details and making sure that a, b & c are labeled and understood. Hopefully, it's not been too much of a task to follow me around today! Laugh. If so, I apologize...now for some more pics!

My work is known to have a few lumps and bumps - it's inevitable when layering so many things...I don't mind.

 

I've a couple other photos to share with you - the first is of a scarf I've been diligently working on since early last week. It's made of the most beautiful hand dyed wool yarn found at a local yarn store (never been to one before? I highly recommend a visit as you'll be inspired to no end!). Amazingly, because the yarn is extra chunky, the scarf is knitting together at a rather fast pace. I plan to finish it this evening! It'll be given as a gift (not saying to whom!) to someone whom I've promised a scarf the last two Christmas's! Laugh. It's often a tradition of mine to give at least one scarf away each holiday season! What do you love to giveaway this time of year?

 

The knitting pattern is seed stitch, which I've worked up with a larger size yarn. Here's a closer peek at the pattern:

This is myself with the nummy yarn on top my lap:

 

 I'm passionate about using wooden knitting needles when fiddling with cozy, long strands of yarn. They're warm to the touch and easy to maneuver...they're also a fine work of art!

 

I've not shown this little man in a longgg time! He's busier than ever being that he's a officially a pre-schooler and tending to art projects while in the classroom. As a Christmas gift this year, he made me a handmade ornament that includes a picture of himself - it's the sweetest thing ever!

Speaking of Ethan, he's anxiously anticipating Christmas's arrival. He speaks of it endlessly and of course, can't wait for Santa to visit with his sleigh and big red bag!! Laugh. This is his first year in being able to recognize the excitement of the holidays - can't wait for celebrate it with him!! We'll see if he likes what "Santa" brought for him :)

 

Photographing projects is somewhat of a challenge from time to time. Currently, we're housing six cats (yes, six!!) on the premises, though two are only temporary. This here is Peanut! He's not yet a full year, so he still has that cute-kitty effect! He managed to rummage himself beneath the chair I use for photographing my projects. While keeping me company, I photographed him because it's not often I catch him in such a position (he's a shy kitty!)...if you're a cat person like me, you're certain to appreciate this photo. "Hello Peanut!"

 Done..at least for now. I'll not post a new update 'til after Christmas! I plan to continue with the notes through January 1st - sending Happy Christmas Greetings and safe travels (to those of you traveling) to everyone! 

Splendid Christmas Notes :: Part Seven

 

So, as it turns out, the Splendid Christmas Note Wreath that I've been working on during the entire month of December, probably won't be fully completed 'til after the holidays. I'm about at the halfway mark, if not a little over it. Though don't despair,it'll get done..just not in time for Christmas. I know, I know, this was suppose to be one of them amazing projects for greeting folks at the front door or somewhere warm and cozy in the house. I still recommend hanging up the wreath, even if it's not finished!! Heck, mine is hanging up right now! I'm not at all too worried whether or not each little clip is parading a brightly colored note. I simply love having it up to look at when walking around the house! It's the sort of thing that when seen from the corner of the eye, pulls you in and and makes you smile - plus, it's ripe with ideas!! It makes me want to hide away in my scrapbook room and scrap the day away!!

 We're finally on note SEVEN - it's dramatically different from the rest of the notes I've shown thus far. For some strange reason, I was craving the warmth of yellow when selecting papers for this note. It's also showcasing some strong vertical features, whereas my other notes are mostly "square" or "rectangular" in shape. When I stuck the note into it's carefully selected clip, it stood out like a lost ornament on a Christmas tree! It simply doesn't go with the rest of the notes!! I almost let ago, though decided that not every note has to be matchy-matchy. I guess that's what I get for being careless with my color choices!! Jeez.

 

After establishing nearly half the note's design, I decided to forego working up a full tutorial for creating it. The reason being is because I changed my mind twenty plus times in selecting embellishments for it!! Have I told you how fastidious and demanding I am of myself when coordinating embellishments for my projects? I think someone recently requested that I share the details of my embellishment selection process, which I plan on doing in January, but be forewarned, it's a messy process my friends! Right now, my desk is coated in gigantic piles of stickers, die-cuts, chipboard, rub-ons, etc. If there were a desk beneath it all, I wouldn't know that it existed!! Laugh. Anyway, so, the focus of today's tutorial will be based on the first couple of steps and anything thereafter, you're welcome to piece together however you want! Have a question about some of the embellishments? Feel free to email me!

The basis of the note is that of a My Mind's Eye Journaling Card from their Sophie collection. Layer the right half of the card with a yellow pattern paper of your choosing (My Mind's Eye - Fine and Dandy "True Blue" paper). Sneak in a thin border of dark brown cardstock beneath the left edge of the yellow pattern paper. 

 

Now, this is one of those products that I think most of you are probably not familiar with - it was released is 2009 via Prima. The actual product is that of a grunge handwritten transparency that's divided into four different sections. I picked up two sheets of this because I figured that more than likely, I would use it some point!! Sure enough, fast forward a year or two later and the scissors have finally found it! Because I'll assume that you don't have this readily available, the next best thing would be to take advantage of a digital scrapbooking website and purchase a series of vintage inspired patterned papers. After doing this, print them on "inkjet" transparencies - these are readily available online or at your local neighborhood office stores. Lucky for me, I have a sibling employed with 3M and she presented me with a gigantic box of inkjet transparencies last year. They're a tad bit spendy, so be prepared! 

 I trimmed a section from my transparency sheet and layered it on top my yellow pattern paper.

 

Adhere the transparency in place and then follow it up with a crazy, non-traditional border trimmed from Kraft cardstock using a favored border punch (Fiskars). When punching your border, ensure that there are spaces between each of the punches. They don't have to line up perfectly either - a punch here and there will do! House the border over the transparency with wet adhesive. 

 

Have you claimed yourself one of these "anywhere" punches from Martha Stewart? They're available in an assortment of shapes, though this one is my fave! Go head and use the punch to "punch" circles from a long vertical pre-cut sheet of vellum/tracing paper. The vellum should be slightly smaller than the pattern paper beneath it. Watch carefully that you don't get too carried away with this step!! Three or four punches should suffice! Feel free to use the posted note as a guide! 

 

This is when I started changing my mind over and over again!! Laugh. I guess what's of most importance here is the additional "starburst circles" that were punched from the same pattern paper used as the backing for the note. Punch three of these circles from MME's "True Blue" pattern paper with Martha Stewart's "Starburst" punch and then layer them directly over the circle openings that were just created in the last step. I attached mine with Pop Dots. I also centered one within the confines of a heavily embellished area - it's outlined with a Hambly rub-on and Elle's Studio label that's been backed with pattern paper. Note that the "December" circle die-cut is Elle's Studio as well.

 

I felt the note required a large size accent to play against some of it's smaller decor items. I trimmed the center from a hefty size snowflake (Anna Griffon - retired) and then further trimmed it to fit as shown.

 

Border stickers are wonderful, aren't they?! Oh my gosh, I just love'em!! KI Memories didn't disappoint with their latest border stickers - they're housed on a 12"x 12" sheet, meaning there's quite a few of them to play around with if you so feel like it! I downsized one of their border stickers and threw it on top the photo of myself. If pulls out the pink of the We R' Memory Keeper's "Yellow bell" sticker (Season's Greetings collection). 

 

Isn't this flower just blooming with color galore? It's an actual Sandy Lion 3-D Embellishment sticker that's been layered over three or four other items, including a peppermint candy sticker from OA and black/cream circle die-cut from Elle's Studio. 

 

There are other fine features I didn't point out, but referencing to these final images might be of some help if you're thinking of reproducing the note. 

 

Well, it's back to the library for me! Yes, I'm typing this post while at the library!! Laugh. I have a nice size stash of crafty books next to me as well that will more than likely be following me home! Love the library for this very reason...books = happiness + knowledge.

Note Eight is finished - have plans to post it tomorrow! So for now, I'll see you then! Take care and watch out for the snow (those of you in the Midwest!) :)

Splendid Christmas Notes :: Part Six

Three down and one to go! This is in reference to school finals of course! Yes, I'm that close to living out a four week break and I've already started enlisting plans for it, including afternoons spent solely on scrapbooking and extra hours with the kiddo! The pressure of finals week is no longer as apparent as it was earlier this week. With only the math exam remaining, there's a sea of calm developing and for the first time in a long time, I have zero reason to rush through life. Tonight, I cleaned the house with enthusiasm! There wasn't the pressure to "get it done" so that I could move on to the next thing. Instead, it felt like I had all the time in world to do whatever it was I wanted..I could clean at a snails pace without the hassle of the clock. I picture Monday afternoon will bring me further relief - I've made special arrangements for myself to visit my favorite local boutique shop, Patinas, on Monday. Thereafter, I'll peruse the fabric shop on Grand and then maybe stop off for a delicious bite to eat at one of the local eateries. It'll be a divine experience..I'm certain. No homework. No exams. Nothing...pure heaven. :)

So, how about the status of the wreath? What do you think of it so far? I'm especially fond of it after having added a couple of more notes this afternoon. The detailing is quite substantial now that I'm seeing it as "a whole". It's going to be of a significant size after all the notes are attached and displayed. I picture it will take me another week to finish the project, though my ultimate goal is to have it done before the week's end. With no school on the horizon, I just might be able to pull it off! We'll see...

 

Before I was a scrapbook convert, I was a quilter and fabric dyer. If you've not acquainted yourself with quilting or "sewing" before, then you're probably not aware of the similarities between quilting and scrapbooking. Both entail obsessions with needless supplies like patterned fabric/papers, thread/ribbon, fabric dye/paints, cutting instruments, books/magazines, etc. I used to collect fabric like it was going out of existence. I'd scourer my fabric stores for the latest and greatest fabrics! Besides the sharing of supplies, scrapbooking and quilting both entail the knowledge of basic design principles such as color theory and composition development. It's in having quilted that my passion for color and design blossomed exponentially! I learned a great deal about my personal design style while experimenting with fabrics. Eventually, my quilting habit resigned and was replaced by paper - I still carry with me though bits and pieces of my quilting days. It's from an actual quilting book that this latest note was inspired - the book is from Japan and is one of many that I have from my international quilt book collection:

Inside this book is a feast of textiles set about with colors and patterns of every style & theme imaginable that are combined in the most seamless of fashion. What isn't obvious is so perfectly paired that it makes for a wonderful surprise to the reader! I highly recommend this book to anyone! I took out the book this afternoon before beginning today's note. While paging through it, I ran into an old friend - a common quilt pattern called "log cabin". Have you heard of it before? It's extremely easy to implement - it's impervious to error. I thought it a simple enough pattern to create with paper, so I chose to use it for the note. Here's my paper interpretation of "Log Cabin":

 

First, trim any ol' sheet of cardstock in the shape of a square (this one is 3.75" x 3.75"). Adhere a a small square photo to the center of the square. 

 

Carefully and selectively, starting from the center while moving outwards, trim and layer a series of "oblong" shaped paper strips/stickers/ribbon/borders. Did you catch all that?! Essentially, the strips can be made out of anything - fabric, paper, sticker material, etc. Lay down the strips around the photo while over/underlapping each one on top/below their neighboring strip. Don't adhere anything at this point. Play around with the size/placement of each strip as you create a log pattern around your photo.

 

For added detailing to your log cabin design, tuck tiny border strips beneath one or two of the larger strips. Also, think to add typography elements from word phrase stickers and/or vintage paraphernalia. The letters lend to the contrast of the varying strips. 

Lastly, think in terms of color as well. Note that I've echoed red and yellow a couple of times - this emphasizes "flow" and unity amongst the strips.

Lastly, mix-up your patterns! Don't go all "polka-dots" or "solids" - the whole point is to create something eclectic and fun!

 

Once you feel good about the overall location of each of the strips, adhere them in place with wet adhesive. Trim any excess overhang from the square cardstock's edges. Lastly, layer the finished "log cabin" square on top a piece of solid color cardstock (Vanilla) and trim around the square with a pair of Fiskars Scallop scissors. You should now have a "log cabin" background to coordinate embellishments on top of and to further finish your note. 

 

My embellishments for this note are pretty straight forward. I decided that since the background was already well busy, it'd probably be best to keep the embellishments at a minimum. So, I took a couple of "candy-cane" circle rub-ons (Cosmo Cricket), applied them to vanilla cardstock and trimmed them out with a scissors. I then layered them with dark brown cardstock before finally adhering thin strips of vanilla cardstock to their backsides. The overall look is that of "candy-cane snowflakes"! Cute, eh?! I love'em!

 

Following the shape of a triangle, add the snowflakes to the note in three separate locations. You should now have a completed base in which to finish the rest of the note! I went ahead and added an adorable snow man from K & Company (Peppermint Twist or Swell Noel?). I then poked holes through the snowflake's and added pearl brads.

 

This pretty much concludes the post! I have another note to present, though will wait 'til Sunday to share it with you! It's design and color is slightly different from those notes I've been working on the last couple of weeks. I almost thought to not include it as part of the wreath, but decided to just go with it and *heart* it's uniqueness. Not everything has to look identical!! :) So, I'll return Sunday with a whole 'nother brand new post! For now, it's time to say good-bye and enjoy the weekend! I hope you enjoy yours as well! Thanks for visiting - Take Care! 

Woops, almost forgot - look what landed in my inbox this morning: 

Northridge Publishing has included my last year's Christmas mini album in their latest December issue of Scrapbook Trends! It's also been noted on their blog today with this week's newsletter!! Find it at the "Create" blog! :)) Just wanted to share...super excited about this!!

Splendid Christmas Notes :: Part Five + Winner!

So technically, we've not reached the 25th yet and good thing, because I've not even begun my Christmas shopping! I've intentionally been putting it off because of school. I seriously can't focus on both things at the same time. As soon as I finish the last final though, I plan to get in my car and drive straight way to the mall! Actually, I'm one of those diehard boutique shoppers, especially around the holidays. I can't fathom buying a present that isn't radically unique in some small way. Whether it's a gift for my mom or the next store neighbor, there just has to be something special about it. Presently, I'm knitting a hand-dyed scarf for my sibling (won't say who!), though it's taken to the back burner temporarily 'til school is over. It's super chunky and fun! I'll post a pic when it's done! Anyway, enough about gift buying - let's chat about today's note or as some have started referring to them as, "Mini Layouts". This particular note is pretty simple, though it entails a couple of details you'll probably opt to take with you when you leave here. Let me talk about'em...

 

First and foremost, I want to pass along credit to the idea that will be coinciding with today's note - I'm sure most of you are already well familiar with her work, but if not, then now would be the perfect opportunity to add her blog to your blog feed. Her name is Kaori and her work is far more detailed than mine and is beautiful beyond words. I absolutely love everything this girl does! Just recently, she developed a new technique that quickly caught my fancy - transparency windows! Above is a sample of one of these windows from this latest project (photo credit: Kaori Watanabe). Well, I had to try this idea out for myself, but because I'm without chipboard frames, I used these instead:

 

And wouldn't you know it, they were 25% off at Archivers last week! Found'em in the clearance section! Also available based on this same design concept were circles, though I left those at the store. It turns out, the die-cuts are a perfect substitute for the chipboard square frames I'm without and because I finally invested in the big shot, I had to have them!!

 

Now I'll openly admit, Kaori's transparency window is much cooler than mine! Laugh. Mine feels sort of plain, but it should give you a general idea of what's involved in creating these types of windows. If you're without both the chipboard frames and referring die-cut set, you should still be able to pull off this technique. Simple hand-trim the frame from cardstock using either a scissors or multi-size square punches. 

I thought it a genius idea to go along with Kaori's cream/white color frame as any color transparency design matches well with either cream & white! Find a transparency (or create one using transparency and rub-ons) design to sit beneath your frame. Trace the outline of the frame onto the transparency and trim the traced area accordingly. Adhere the frame and transparency together using liquid adhesive. 

 

My photographs today aren't all that fabulous - I apologize for this! The lighting here has been miserable thanks to a record breaking blizzard that's been hanging over us the last twenty-four hours. I worked on the note this afternoon while housebound..joy.

As you can tell from the picture above, I went ahead and backed my framed transparency with vanilla cardstock. I did it because the card that I used for the background of the note (Elle's Studio) is still fairly dark in color. My preference was that the transparency "stand-out" and be noticed! Adding the vanilla backing to the transparency helped to create this effect..feel free to do the same if you think it'll benefit your design as well! 

 

Select both a background journaling card and a location for your framed transparency. Mark the location with a pencil and then adhere the frame as marked. Carefully trim off all excess frame from the card's edge.

 

It's time to focus on building the Christmas tree and gift scene. Find an appropriate size Christmas tree (Echo Park - Everybody Loves Christmas stickers) and pre-made gift collection (K & Company - Brenda Walton Peppermint Twist icon grand adhesions) similar to mine for embellishing the left side of the note. Spot it's location to move forward in creating a "star topper" for the tree!

 

Here comes another one of my circle concoctions!! Laugh. Is it really feasible for me to put together a tutorial without including at least one circle something-or-other?! Um, not really. So, gather a bunch of corresponding circles and adhere them on top of each other in the appropriate order. My last two smaller circles + brad were adhered after the application of the tree and with pop dots. 

{Star Topper Recipe :: Elle's Studio Vanilla/Black journal circle, Jillibean Green journaling sprout, 1" Fuchsia/Red punched circle, .75" Dark Brown hand-trimmed circle & Sassafras Razzle Dazzle paper whimsies circle} 

 

Again, don't add the final layers of the star topper 'til after the tree & gifts have found a home. Once they're all cozy and finalized, then go ahead and finish the topper. Feel free to apply a few small snowflake rub-ons near and around the tree for added "winter impact"! 

 

Trim the note nearly in-half. Mark the trim line with a ruler/pencil first before making the cut! Finally, layer the right edge of the note with a strip of dark brown cardstock and lime green pattern paper (Jillibean - Grandmas Christmas Soup). Round the top and bottom corner of the note using a medium size corner rounder punch. Place the numbers 2 & 5 (American Crafts - Dear Lizzy)as shown...

 

Before I sneak away beneath layers of warm blankets and to rest my head for the night, I have a prize to award to one of you! There's a mini kit seeking a new home and after following the link to Debra's comment, I found a couple stationary items for the ol' Chris gift list! Thanks Debra! Check out her link...

 

Debra said...

Although her blog isn't scrapbook related, I love the art on here, and it totally inspires me to scrapbook. Her colors and art can be translated into scrapbooking easily I think. Love her birdhouse with the book roof! What a great idea...http://blogdelanine.blogspot.com/

How about sending me your info Debra so that I may ship you your prize..email it to retrospection30@gmail.com - thank you for sharing the link! And thanks to all that mentioned their most current fave projects!

Have a lovely weekend y'all! Be back with another card around mid-week and then beginning the following week, expect regular updates from me 'til mid-January (School break is almost in session!!). Six more days and counting....

Splendid Christmas Note Wreath :: Part IV + Giveaway!!

So, I'm right in the middle of finals about now..well, almost. They don't officially begin 'til next week, but my professors have been throwing assignments at us in preparation for next week's festivities and let me tell you, I'm not looking forward to them! Laugh. I'm about halfway into a ten page paper (take home exam) and another two pager is about to follow. I just finished a gigantic speech and as luck would have it, there's a mega-math exam tomorrow! I'm a lucky gal, I tell ya! Laugh. And as to how I manage to stay afloat, I've not a single clue! Liven' my life day to day...speaking of which, looksie at what I have for you today!! It's note "4" folks! Candy canes, pretty ribbon, yummy glossy stickers and more...it's another nibbler. So, let me present it before another round of homework finds me!! 

 

By chance, have you seen these lil' folders yet from KI Memories? I believe they're available in two different sizes and a multitude of colors. I think they're the cutest things ever, which is reason for my playing with them recently. The white ledger pockets are the most ideal for this project since I'm working with quite a bit of color. Color really "pops" when set against a white background! If you're without these, go run and pick some up for yourself! Not only are they usable in the context of a large size project such as this one, but they're also a nice item for dressing up layouts. Another idea I thought of when I saw these was how great they'd be for creating a mini album. Simply bind them together via a binder ring and maybe mix in a few papers while you're at it! Super duper cute!! 

 

I began this note with the intention of focusing solely on building a pocket something-or-other. Laugh. Eventually, after covering the thing up with a mountain of embellishments, it's kinda impossible to tell that the end project is still a pocket. Believe me you guys, it's a pocket!! I swear! Now, find yourself a mini photo and tuck it inside the pocket. Don't adhere it in place yet cause we're going to move it around a whole bunch of times!! It takes me a while to make up my mind about the location of things...

 

This floral graphic tag is an American Crafts, Enchanted, journaling card. They're available by the box - each box comes with two of each design, so they're perfect for sharing with friends! I still have some to hand off to Jing Jing (Jing Jing, remind me to bring them to you!!) Cover the note with a section of hand-trimmed vintage written pattern paper (Seven Gypsies). 

 

Apply the phrase "Very Merry" (Cosmo Cricket - Jolly By Golly rub-ons) on top an adequately sized label sticker (October Afternoon - Very Merry label stickers) and then layer it with Kraft cardstock. Next, layer the top edge of your creation with a snippet of KI Memories scallop border sticker (Quick Strips). Adhere this to the top section of note as shown. Now tuck this baby into your pocket!! 

 

Oh my goodness, finally managed to mend the white balance on the camera here...laugh. I realized I hadn't calibrated my white balance on my camera 'til this point of the project. Sort of obvious, don't you think? I should stick some kind of sign on my camera that states, "white balance first!". Jeez. Moving on...We're going to start wrapping the pocket like a Christmas present. Opt for at least a 1" wide ribbon and tie it around your card as I've done. I decided to change the color of the ribbon after finishing the note, so ignore it. Tie a single knot and trim the ends of the ribbon at an angle.

 Beneath the ribbon, tuck a decorate length of scallop border (We R Memory Keepers - Merry and Bright stickers). Consider tilting it an an angle for that "imperfect" look! 

 

Tuck some more items beneath your ribbon, though this time, go the route of gigantic candy-canes!! These yummy concoctions are from October Afternoon's latest Christmas collection, Very Merry. I love this particular sheet of stickers from them, though the gingerbread men are kind of scary...Laugh. Actually, anything OA creates is bound to be adorable. They're so very talented over there, wouldn't you say? Wink. Wink.

Oh, when tucking your candy-canes in the pocket, note that one of them sits behind the pocket. In setting it up this way, you'll have to remove as much of the stickiness from the sticker as possible to keep it from sticking to your fingers and desk. Some have suggested coating the back of the sticker with some type of powder..though I don't recall the details on this.  

 

And because my camera battery stopped functioning on me at this point, I'll quickly provide a briefing about how to create the rest of the note. Cut a large snowflake sticker or die-cut in-half. Trim the top half a little larger than the bottom half. Apply the larger half to the center/top area of the note (see first image of this post). 

Optional: Feel free to add a layered fuschia/brown circle just behind the snowflake before adhering it to the note. 

Apply a layered circle epoxy sticker (KI Memories - Elsie epoxy sticker - retired) onto the snowflake.

 

And finally, Feel free to throw in some "phrase" stickers (Making Memories) and swirly border stickers (Doodlebug) in and around the snowflake and candy-canes. One thing I probably should of mentioned earlier on and I'm guessing that at this point, You haven't yet started your note, so mark this down!! I rarely permanently adhere anything down until I have a general idea of the overall design of something. Note how the embellishments overlap one another - some sit above & some sit below! It's all part of my meticulous nature. I'm a pro at moving stuff around!!

Here are some of the other remaining images of the pocket note..now tell me what you think! Because I'm feeling extra holiday-ish, and cause it's been a while since having last done a giveaway, I'm arranging one today! I'll send a bundle of scrappy lil' goods to one person with my next post (later this weekend!)..it'll be a mini kit from me! Leave a comment telling me what projects inspire you right now and of course, don't forget to leave a link to the project! Don't have a link? Then leave a detailed description...thanks and best of luck to ya! 

MINI KIT GIVEAWAY!! DETAILS ABOVE! Just incase you didn't notice....see you this weekend! 

Splendid Christmas Note Wreath :: Part III

Working some more on the wreath project this weekend. I grabbed an image of it this afternoon after locating a spot for it on my living room wall. I figure that even though it's not technically finished per say, it's shouldn't go unnoticed. So, I punched a few holes in the wall and put it up! What do you think? I wish I could of captured a better image of it..this photo simply doesn't do it justice. Blame it on the not so great lighting situation we have here in the house. If I had the option, I knock a wall down and build me one big window! Then all my photography problems would be solved! 

 Peeking at the wreath at this point should give you a general idea of where I'm going with it. Eventually, it'll house a total of sixteen "mini layouts" or "notes". They'll be interspersed and layered amongst each other. There's some tweaking that you'll have to do each time you add a new note. Pay attention to how the note is angled and how it interacts with it's neighboring note. Rearranging is essential in maintaining symmetry - move the notes around 'til you feel confident about their placement. 

 

Today's note is extra easy, though it still houses a host of artsy, quirky details. Because it's quick to be made, I put together a step-by-step set of instructions for you to read and follow if interested in creating your own. 

This particular design demands rummaging through your scrapbook stash so that you're able to find an assortment of small wares to add to your note like I've done. A visit to the "junk drawer" may be required - think in terms of tiny chipboard pieces, misc. buttons, ignored stickers, cute lil' jelly pieces, etc. You should have more than enough to keep you busy here..laugh. I have numerous drawers brimming with smaller items that often go ignored because I never think to use them when scrapbooking. This is one of those moments when the "lil stuff" takes center stage - dig it out and see what you come up with! 

 

Remember my mentioning Elle's Studio a few days ago? Well, this is one of those moments when I fall in love with her vintage phrase cards all over again!! This "ho, ho, ho" card is irresistibly cute, so I took it out and brainstormed various ways in which to coordinate a design around it. I finally decided on starburst circles trimmed from multiple, different colored pattern papers.

In starting this note, seek out a narrow, long background for the placement of eight, 1" circles. Layer the background with ledger pattern paper. Trim the circles with either a regular 1" circle punch or Martha Stewart's 1" Starburst punch. Adhere the circles as I've done to the background card as shown. 

 

From your pre-selected "small embellishment" stash, adhere bits and pieces of decor to each of the circles - while doing this, watch for color matching. Some of my small items match perfectly with their partnered circles (christmas tree, bird, brad, etc), though one or two are echos of nearby circles (heart, jelly flower). This creates unification between both the circles and small embellishments. 

 Once you've managed the circles/embellishments, layer the fully completed section with dark green pattern paper/cardstock.

 

Tuck a red/Dark Pink strip beneath the lower edge of the note - trim it wide and then adhere it in place so that just a smidgen of it peeks through the bottom. 

 

And finally (see, I told you this card was super duper easy!), tuck an additional layer of pink scallop sticker/border beneath the red strip you that you just so patiently placed. I chose a pink scallop border sticker for the bottom portion of the note - it's from Doodlebug! Love Doodlebugs border stickers..versatile and heavily textured! 

 So there you have it! I brand new note needing clipping! What's funny about this note is that it's one of my favorites thus far, yet it doesn't entail a whole lot to create it. With this large size wreath, I decided that it didn't make a whole lot of sense for me to go over-the-top detailed with each note. What's the point, really?! I don't think I'd finish the wreath on time if I were to spend four or more hours on each note, which I've done already. Holiday's often call for practical use of one's time and this holiday is no exception! 

Here's an extra look at the note...

Ah, sweet birdie - I do say I love the thing! It's a stamped image from Martha Stewart's 2009 Christmas collection. I stamped it out in "bright poppy red" ink and propped it up with pop dots. It's so folksy!! Makes me want to break out the banjo and sing you a tune! 

 

A softly spoken brad takes the note back a few decades - amazingly, it sits well on top a punched snowflake that suddenly appears flower-like with the added brad (My Mind's Eye). 

 

This is the backside of the note - I'm showing you this to demonstrate the layering behind the bottom portion of the note. Very rarely are the back of my notes without a few bumps and lumps. 

Another note from the line-up of this weekend's crafting frenzy will find it's way to my blog in the next day or two. Hope I'm not going to fast with this...let me know if I am! Hope all of you are partaking in a nice leisurely weekend! Do enjoy what remains of it! Take care!

Splendid Christmas Notes :: Note II

Oh Winter, yes you have arrived. I swear, walking the four to six blocks to school is enough to make me turn back to my car and drive back home. A zero degree crisp leads one's legs to feel num after only a block or so. If I could extend the jacket over my ankles, I would and I really don't care if it would make me look like a legless woman. I can't bare the cold my friends and this is especially the case when having to walk long distances in the stuff. So, it's true, Winter is officially upon us (for us folks in Minnesota anyway) - which leads me to this next note...

Stripes. Love'em or hate'em, it's still a classic pattern you can't go wrong in meddling with. I recently came across a brightly striped rug in one of my savory home decor magazines and thought to myself, "I'd love to see that on a layout!" Well, some five days later, I was still thinking about them stripes. As I sat down to create this note, I finally implemented them, but not in any sort of traditional sense of course. Instead of simply chopping up printed striped paper and adhering it down (too easy!), I made my own stripes and popped a few forward with pop dots for added impact. Here's how it all went down:

Now, the best way to take on this technique is to utilize your scrap stash. Being that I'm ultra-picky about combining patterns, I felt entirely ok about digging into my 12" x 12" pattern paper collection for this. Whatever route you decide to go, be aware that very little paper is needed in producing a striped effect on a small size project like this. 

To begin, search your stash for a neutral ledger journal card that you think might be well suited for framing thin strips of various pattern paper styles. The key here is to keep the background neutral! Since we're working with patterns galore, a nice neutral background will make mixing and layering the patterns easier. The stripes will also "pop" off the card more noticeably. My chosen journal card is torn from Jenni Bowlin's Red Memo Book.

Once you have an assortment of papers and a background card chosen, select a color and stripe width you think would best fit the important role of "First Stripe". This stripe will sit at the bottom and be first in line, so choose carefully! Trim the stripe to size and lay it down on top your card. 

Now find a second stripe to accommodate the first. Trim it to size and again, lay it on top your card. Continue on with this process until your card is 3/4's covered with stripes:

Adhere them in place with either wet adhesive (a tape runner won't do you any favors in this type of situation - use Quick Dry adhesive or a treasured, solid working wet adhesive instead!!) or pop-dots. Ensure that at least two or three sit on pop-dots. Leave enough room for a small size photo placement. Note the location of my photo - it sits between two "popped" stripes:

This should be your final product (above). Note: Slim sections of the background card should peek through - consider the card's design elements when designing your stripes! Think about the parts of the card you'd like covered and which of those you don't want covered.

Another little hint here is to not be afraid to over tuck or under tuck your strips of paper while building your striping. Overlapping often gives perspective and insists upon a peek-a-boo effect that I love a great deal! It's also the most effective means in creating barely noticeable thin lines. It's something I do on all my projects with the intent of making my life easier...thin scraps of paper can be a real challenge to deal with. Go big and take advantage of the "tuck" technique!

 

So, now the background is all taken care of, jump into embellishing. Because the striped background is already pretty busy, I recommend sticking with large size embellishments. I'll admit, I experimented quite a bit with small embellishments and quickly realized that they just weren't going to work. What ended up working was a large size modern Christmas Tree sticker from We R Memory Keepers (Merry & Bright), a petite layered snowflake and a vintage bingo card number (hand-trimmed from a vintage bingo card). I further enhanced the tree with 3-D Scribble Paint (JoAnns or Michaels). Give the paint at least twelve hours to dry!! Boy, did I learn my lesson here..laugh. Finally, add a title to the bottom of the card. 

Embellishments: Tree {We R Memory Keepers}, Snowflake {MLYB}, Cream Flower {SEI}, Brad {Sassafras}, Alpha Stickers {Doodlebug}, "Let it Snow" Sticker {October Afternoon}

A final take on the card, including detailed images:

Someone commented about having this project available as a kit..I wish I could realistically provide this project as a kit, but could you fathom the product load this would have to include? Talk about what an amazing kit it would be..I'd probably be the first in line to buy it!! Laugh. Maybe next year I'll recreate the wreath in "kit form"? Something to think about..or how about a class? Christmas in July would be an option. I'll have to brainstorm an idea or two for you. Thanks to the person whom mentioned the topic! Appreciate your feedback :)

One last mention - I've been informed that Elle's Studio is now available in digital format at "Jessica Sprague.com"! A handful of items from the wreath are of Elle's designs, including these. If wanting to skip out on the shipping bit and feel confident in printing your own embellishments, go digital! I regularly print out my own stuff as it's super economical and saves me lots and lots of time!! And lord knows I don't have much of it these days....

Thanks for keeping track of this latest project you guys! I'll return with a brand new set of cards after the weekend is over - I plan to scrap most the weekend (evenings at least)..we'll see what I'm capable of outputting in the two days. Should be interesting...Have a great weekend everyone!

 

Splendid Christmas Notes :: Part I

I'm reminded when looking upon this wreath of sweet, delicious candies tucked away in stockings for the morning after following Santa's arrival. The wreath's color palette alone must to be to blame for this as it's far from traditional compared to other Christmas color arrangements. I love working with bright, saturated color, especially around the holidays. If you feel the same, then this wreath is going to be right up your alley! I'll have oodles of it to share in the next couple of weeks along with a host of savoring scrapbook techniques for you to try out on your very own holiday projects. If you'd like to re-create this wreath for yourself, well, I welcome you to do so! Even though this semi-tutorial will not include step-by-step instructions for each of the cards mentioned here, they're relatively easy to copy. For quick and easy reference, print out an image of each card and store them away in a folder or binder. Feel free to print out the suggested techniques as well! Most importantly, enjoy the presentation...it's my present to you! Happy Holidays!

 

The basics for creating the wreath are simple. First, find a stash of various size journaling/note cards to use as the backing for the "mini layouts" or "photo notes" you'll be adding to your wreath. Make sure to mix-it-up a little! Go big and small here! I put together a small sampling of some of the cards I'll be using on my project - peek above!

 

Speaking of cards, Elle's Studio is one of my prime sources for purchasing beautifully crafted card packs. The cards themselves are of a substantial weight and are available in a host of different sizes and styles. Her Christmas collections always amaze me! She recently released a bunch of new items for the upcoming season - find them here. The Elle's Studio cards I own are from last year's (note above) holiday release, though similar ones are still readily available! 

 

After you've selected a nice size pile of cards, take a moment to rummage through the thousands (Is this an adequate guess?) of small paper/chipboard embellishments you more than likely have on hand and select and set aside those that coordinate with the color palette of your wreath. I have this cute lil' bowl sitting on my desk which is stocked heavily with misc. embellishments. I plan to add more to it in the very near future..you can never have too many embellishments as far as I'm concerned! 

Hint: For practical purposes, consider storing small misc. embellishments like this in drawers coordinated by color. Keep the drawers on top your work surface and within reach. I routinely seek out small size items when working on my projects - they're absolutely necessary in my accomplishing detailed layouts. 

 

And lastly, coordinate a nice selection of regular embellishments, pattern papers and cardstock. Just so I'm able to find them quickly, I tuck away Christmas themed scrapbook supplies in large 12"x 12"x 4" containers that are then kept under the bed during most the year. I pull them out around November when I know I'm going to use the product. Because of this, my wreath is constructed predominantly of Christmas themed items!

 

In not really realizing where I was going with the project after having begun it, I hadn't taken many photos while making this first card. So, with this post, I'll focus mostly on introductory stuff folks! My plan is to summarize some of my favorite features of the card and then explain in greater detail how I went about creating them!

The true highlight of this first official card resulted from a Christmas present I bought for myself not too long ago. Remember my mentioning being without a die-cut machine? Well, I ran out and bought one at the local scrapbook store a few weeks ago!! I'm finally the proud owner of a Big Shot - gosh, I sound like a newbie, don't I?! Actually, when it comes to die-cut machines, I still have much to learn. It's an industry all it's own and I know little about it! Thankfully, the machine is super easy to orchestrate and sure enough, I went out and bought a sizable selection of die-cuts as well following the "big purchase". With the help of a Spellbinder's Floral die-cut, I carefully pieced together a multi-layered flower for adding to my card. Here's what it entails:

 

One Large and Small Size Mint Green Felt Flower
Trimmed with Spellbinders "Blossom" Nestabilities

A Green/Gold Circle Journaling Spot
(K & Company - Retired Product)

A Large Size Silver Snowflake
(Anna Griffin - Retired Product)

A Petite Yellow Floral
(SEI "Moonrise" Gleaming Pearl Die-Cut Accents) 

Two Hand-Trimmed Layered Circles
(Red/Vanilla)

Berries and Leaves Sticker
(We R Memory Keepers "Merry & Bright" Embossed Stickers)

 

A significant portion of the flower is adhered together with Scotch Quick Dry Tacky Adhesive. The last addition (berry sticker) is adhered via pop dots. Here's a look at the flower from it's side:

What makes this flower remarkably fun for me is the wool felt! I'm not normally inclined to mix paper and wool felt together on a single blossom. Turns out, the two are nearly best friends! The flower takes on a whole different feel when combined with the felt's soft and organic texture! It becomes it's own "little art project", really! I'm definitely wanting to work with this material again in the near future!

 Besides the flower, there are other details worth noting about the card, including this sweet lil' epoxy snowflake below:

It never fails, I can't go without an epoxy sticker or two when scrapbooking. I love the extra "sheen" they provide and also, the thickness of the material in which they're made from. They have sort of a roundish, clear dome that magnifies the image beneath it. I typically layer epoxy stickers with other things because they're predictably small - mostly with cardstock, buttons, stickers, etc. This one I just added on top a "fresh yellow mint" sticker (We R Memory Keepers "Merry & Bright") w/pop dots and a layer Hot Pink cardstock.

How about it, do you think you'll be able to master today's card? Just incase you're thinking about it and are curious what the background paper might be, note that it's from the ever-popular October Afternoon's release, "Modern Homemaker". Cute stuff, isn't it?! The phrase "December" is of Echo Park's latest Christmas collection, "Everybody Loves Christmas". And lastly, Mr. Green/White button is vintage - he's not for sale folks, though you'll find an ample availability of vintage buttons on Ebay at major bargain prices!! Check them out there if you haven't already!

Thank-you for joining me in this first rate holiday adventure everyone! I appreciate you following along! The second "Splendid Christmas Note" installment has been assigned to this Friday. The photos are nearly ready and I have a brand new technique idea to go along with them! Think stripes!