JB2620: The Stockings Were Hung

If you've already guessed that this fortnight at Jingle Belles we want to see cards which feature Christmas Stockings, then HOORAY you're right! If you're feeling ambitious, you could make a stocking-shaped card, for which we've found you some fun templates. But I elected to go with a journal card that has a stocking on it... and then I collaged lots of fun stuff around it. See?

That's an Authentique journal card from a year or two ago, and as soon as I saw it in my journal card stash, I was already pulling the colors and the vibes out for a little collage. I've got some nicely patina-ed sheet music; a page from an old Ideals Christmas magazine plus some poinsettias from another page (backed with cardstock and adorned with Sunflower Stickles in the centers); some text paper; a little border strip with the days of the week; a Graphic 45 sentiment; some miscellaneous holiday washi and a few super-skinny red mats. 

JB2620: The Stockings Were Hung runs until 6pm (Eastern) on Wednesday, October 7th. Visit Jingle Belles today to see Stephanie's inspiring card; then start planning your own Stocking-centric masterpiece!

Hello, Fall!

Fall has officially arrived in the Northern Hemisphere, so here's a card that celebrates some autumnal favorites, in Eyelet Outlet Brad form. There are quite a few different brad styles here, so please jump down to the Handy Shopping List for direct links to each one. Just a reminder that the Clearance Event has now been in progress for a few months, so apologies if any of these have gone out of stock. There are still loads of bargains to be had though... stock up on your favorites today!

Handy Shopping List:

Mini Leaf Brads

Lawn Mower and Rake Brads

Leaf Brads

Sketched Owl Brads

Apple Brads

Scarecrow Brads

Book Brads

Tractor Brads

Squirrel and Acorn Brads

Coffee Brads

Pumpkin Brads

Wishing you an autumn that is full of all YOUR favorite things!

SOS583: Chicken!

This fortnight at Shopping Our Stash, we're celebrating National Chicken Month in the United States, and thus asking you to create a card that features a chicken. Like this:

I found this cute chicken in one of the old, falling-apart, children's books I keep for collage. The sentiment is one I've used before and it always makes me chuckle. This time, I used my Dymo Labeler and some colorful alphabet stickers... on gridded paper so I would be able to place things neatly without measuring. I've adorned the background with Eyelet Outlet Egg Brads and as a serendipitously fab finishing touch, wouldja believe I found half a sheet of chicken wire patterned paper lurking in my stash?

SOS583: Chicken! runs until the evening of Monday, October 5th at Shopping Our Stash.

A New Use for Coloring Books

What's Black and White and super-swirly all over? Today's Mandala Monday Journal Page. Recently, I've been given several absolutely gorgeous adult coloring books with all-over or repeating patterns, and my new favorite thing to do with them is cut out the identical black and white shapes, then build them into mandala designs; like this:

   

I strongly wish I had photographed the constituent  pieces before I started so you could instantly see what is what... but, alas... I didn't do that, so I'll just list the parts of which this mandala consists: 

The large circle with spokes which I cut about 70/30 and paced at opposite ends

Medium flower in the center of the circle

Black enamel hearts inside the spokes

Crocus-like flowers studding the edges of the large circles

Tiny half circles and rub-on flowers between the crocus flowers

Butterflies placed outside the crocus flowers

Dots between butterfly antennae

and finally

Charcoal grey marker shadows around the outer edges

I had a lot of fun composing and building this mandala, so I'm pretty confident this will be the first of a continuing series! Meanwhile I wish you a very happy first full week of autumn here in the Northern Hemisphere; or spring if you're in the Southern Hemisphere.

CASE-ing Xmas (Week 2)

At Jingle Belles this is our second week to CASE (Copy and Selectively Edit) any of the cards that Stephanie or I have made for any of the previous Jingle Belles prompts. You don't need to make a card exactly like the one you choose as your target (the acronym CASE does contain the words "Selectively Edit" after all) just be sure we can see "the bones" so to speak; and remember to tell us which card inspired yours!

This week I chose a card of Stephanie's from our Jingle Belles' prompt last February called Red Christmas; which looked a bit like this... ok technically, it looked exactly like this lol:

Now here's my version:

Once again, I was attracted by the perfect balance and bold simplicity of Stephanie's card; but also... honestly... knowing I had ingredients which were fairly close to the same vibe definitely makes the job easier. I had a journal card with a similar Doodlebug Santa; I had two coordinating red patterned papers: one texty, one not; I added skinny black mats between my layers; and I had a red sentiment with "believe" in it... though rather than stamping, I used a Tim Holtz Sticker. I think this captures the vibe of Stephanie's card pretty well and obviously I have consider it a big bonus that its flat, lightweight design is strong in the mail-ability genre!

JB2619: CASE-ing Christmas runs until next Wednesday evening, September 25th. Come join the fun at Jingle Belles!

Smooth Sailing

Cardmaking is smooth sailing with Eyelet Outlet Boat and Lighthouse Brads. In this design, our Sun and Clouds Brads highlight the sentiment, with Sea Shore and Shell Brads in the foreground; giving this sweet beach scene (made with Simon Hurley create Treescapes backdrop, Watercolor sky, and Smooth Sailing sentiment) lots of texture and interest.

Smooth Sailing Seascape Shopping List:

Boat and Lighthouse Brads

Sun and Clouds Brads

Sea Shore Brads 

Shell Brads

Visit the Eyelet Outlet Store and stock up on your favorite brads, bling, enamels and flowers... while supplies last!  

So Cute It's Almost Scarry

Even before I learned to read, Richard Scarry's "What Do People Do All Day" was one of my favorite books, because there were SO MANY illustrations that you could basically figure out the action, even without being able to decipher the words. Also, it was open-ended, with every double-page spread featuring a new world or concept, so you could randomly flick through and seemingly always discover something new. Also, the "people" in the book were actually adorable animals, all of whom had names, clothing, jobs, pastimes, family and friends; rendered in a very detailed style that I still enjoy to this day. Because YES, I still own my childhood copy; and NO, I don't cut out the illustrations from that copy to make art. But...

...I've seldom been to a book sale or a garage sale that doesn't have a few Richard Scarry books (and/or pretty much any other beloved childhood fave) which are literally falling apart, have been torn and scribbled in, have missing pages, etc etc. And if you'd like to start using original illustrations in your art, I highly recommend treating yourself to a few seriously distressed books, like the one below, which is where I got all the sweet little bits to adorn my mandala. Including, but not limited to, Lowly Worm in his apple car, my very very favorite Scarr-achter!

Wishing you a wonderful, whimsical week!