'Twas the 12 Days of Cardstock

Over at Jingle Belles, Stephanie and I are still celebrating Cardstock Christmas by making holiday cards with absolutely no designer/patterned paper. (Yikes!)

Not only is this card entirely free of patterned paper, I've used mostly scraps and leftovers! When I was making the Dressed to Chill kits last week, I made a few different versions of the sign and the happy snowperson from Simon Hurley's Spellbinders North Pole Sentiments Die Set; the white-embossed watercolor panel (made with Hero Arts' Christmas Rose cover stamp) was made probably a year ago and (mysteriously?!) never used; the sparkly snowflakes were in my diecut organizer; and the background is made of thin, random-width strips of coordinating pink cardstock, stuck to an adhesive sheet and stitched around the edges.

JB2518: Cardstock Christmas runs until next Wednesday evening, September 10th, so there's still time to join the fun!

An Old-Fashioned Xmas

At Jingle Belles we're heading into the second week of The Spirit of Christmas Past, which means we're still creating cards with a vintage or retro feeling. That could mean incorporating actual vintage elements, using new products that have a vintage style, or using stamps or images that convey a vintage vibe; whatever says vintage/retro to you. 

To add a little extra incentive to your endeavors, this fortnight we're sponsored by my very own Etsy Shop, Just Enough Stuff, so there's a Deluxe Christmas Ephemera Assortment of vintage holiday goodies for one lucky card member who links-up their vintage-inspired design.

This week I've got a background comprised of actual vintage bits (the vintage poinsettia illustration from an old Christmas Ideals Magazine, book paper, sheet music, etc) with a few images cut from Tim Holtz/Idea-ology Pocket Cards, a couple of golden rub-on transfers, some wordfetti stickers and coordinating washi tape. The frame is also TH/Idea-ology and it's surrounding a little vignette from Ideals. I inked the edges and machine-stitched the whole collage to a white 5.5" square card. 

Be sure to check out Stephanie's card at Jingle Belles and take a look at the vintage holiday ephemera pack that one lucky random cardmaker will score this fortnight... just for linking up with us! JB2517: The Spirit of Christmas Past runs until the evening of Wednesday, August 27th.  

JB2517: The Spirit of Christmas Past

The new challenge at Jingle Belles is called The Spirit of Christmas Past, which means we're creating cards with a vintage or retro feeling. That could mean incorporating actual vintage elements, using new products that have a vintage style, or using stamps or images that convey a vintage vibe; whatever says vintage/retro to you. 

To add a little extra incentive to your endeavors, this fortnight we're sponsored by my very own Etsy Shop, Just Enough Stuff, so there's a Deluxe Christmas Ephemera Assortment of vintage holiday goodies for one lucky card member who links-up their vintage-inspired design.

This week I chose to use only commercial products to make my vintage collage, but the absence of actual OLD stuff didn't slow me down at all! I raided my stash of Tim Holtz/Idea-ology Pocket Cards, matted them on red shimmer paper and arranged them into an interestingly stacked compilation. A trimmed down TH Vignette Box Cover frames a beautiful Authentique vintage-style Santa journal card as focal image. I added everything to a background of older Ciao Bella plaid patterned paper, and finally affixed the whole thing onto a brushed gold A7 card. 

In December, this card will either be given in person or added into a holiday package, because it weighs about a pound and would be fairly expensive to mail!

Be sure to check out Stephanie's beautiful vintage collage card at Jingle Belles and take a look at the vintage holiday ephemera pack that one lucky random cardmaker will score this fortngiht... just for linking up with us! JB2517: The Spirit of Christmas Past runs until the evening of Wednesday, August 27th. 

Merry SKETCH-mas

At Jingle Belles we're still getting SKETCH-y this week; here's a reminder of Stephanie's FAB sketch:

And here's my card:

This week I raided my stash of holiday cuuuuuteness, including some adorable Doodlebug stickers and papers, plus some coordinating items from Elle's Studio, Carta Bella and Pebbles. My card is all about Santa getting ready for the holidays at the North Pole and I've been about as faithful to the sketch as I could possibly be! (Of course *YOU* do not need be as literal as this; feel free to swap shapes; flip, rotate or stretch the sketch; just so long as we can see "the bones"!)

JB2516: 'Twas the Sketch Before Xmas runs until next Wednesday evening, August 13th.

'Twas the Sketch Before Xmas

...and all through the blog, we're busy making new holiday cards based on this clever and inspiring layout by our own Jingle Belles Sketch Diva, Stephanie! 

As always, you can interpret the sketch using any colors, stamps, papers or supplies; and you can flip, rotate, stretch or smoosh it; even swap the circle for a different shape... just make sure we can see "the bones" of the sketch in your design! 

And here's my card:

As you can see, I flipped the sketch upside down (unintentionally!) and I shifted things (on purpose) a bit to the righthand side to accommodate my square card format, but otherwise I was quite faithful to Stephanie's beautiful sketch. Unusually for me, ALL of my items not only come from one manufacturer (49 & Market) but from one collection, "Christmas Spectacular" with which I am a bit obsessed. I used parts of three patterned papers and built my focal collage from the "cut outs" sheet that's included with the papers.

There's a sweet little prize for one randomly selected cardmaker who links up with us this time. JB2516: 'Twas the Sketch Before Christmas runs until the evening of Wednesday, August 13th.

JB2515: Tic-Tac-TWO!

It's the second week of our crafty Tic-Tac-Toe game at Jingle Belles so here's a reminder of the board:

And here's what I made this week:

My stash of classic Basic Grey holiday papers is dwindling, but being a top-notch hoarder, I do still have some medium-sized pieces (from which my two background pieces hail) and lots of little scraps (from which I diecut all of the shapes to paper-piece these adorable Impression Obsession Retro Ornaments. By which you may well have already deduced that this week I chose to work the middle row of Diecuts + Paper Piercing or Piecing + Ornaments.

JB2515: Tic-Tac-Toe runs until next Wednesday evening, July 30th. Check out the original post at Jingle Belles for all the info and the Linky tool to add your own creations!

Treeskirt Tic-Tac-Toe

This fortnight at Jingle Belles, we're playing Tree Skirt Tic-Tac-Toe, which is kind of like "Beach Blanket Bingo"...but Christmassy... and with a lot more embellishments! We'd love for you to join us; all you have to do is pick a row (horizontal, vertical or diagonal) and create a lovely new holiday card featuring all three elements in that row. 

and here's my card:

I chose the left-hand column, which gave me: Animal + Diecut + Red, so I went with the sweet bunny (plus a couple of trees) from Pretty Pink Posh's Holiday Pals stamp set; Diecuts in the form of Penny Black's Trees and Hills in the background and MFT's Happy Holidays frame; and three different patterned papers (plus a mat) in Red. 

I'm joining the Christmas in July fun at Addicted to Stamps and More, which runs until July 29th if you'd like to, as well!

JB2515: Tree Skirt Tic-Tac-Toe runs until the evening of Wednesday, July 30th. Join us today at Jingle Belles!

Additional Poinsettia Perfection

It's week two of "Poinsettia Perfection" at Jingle Belles. As you may recall, we are making holiday cards that feature poinsettias OR other holiday blooms, plants or greens, such as mistletoe, holly and pine. Here's what I made this week:

Way back in February, for the "Midnight Clear" prompt, I had made a card built on a well-hoarded, super-sturdy Hambly Screen Prints transparency base, which reminded me how much I love those AND generated an interesting idea involving washi tape which I've finally gotten around to right here! As you can see, I just added strips of red and green washi dangling down from the topfold of the card. I've wrapped them around to the back as well, but trimmed those edges slightly shorter than the ones on the front so that they don't show. I was on the point of attaching some poinsettia diecuts when this hand-painted, machine-stitched poinsettia (which I made a while ago but for some reason didn't use) literally fell out of an envelope full of crafty "leftovers" which seemed like a pretty clear SIGN, so of course I used it, lol.

JB2514: Poinsettia Perfection runs until Wednesday evening, July 16th. Hop over to Jingle Belles to see Stephanie's card and to link up your own bloomin' beauties.

JB2514: Poinsettia Perfection

We're attempting "Poinsettia Perfection" this fortnight at Jingle Belles, for which we're making holiday cards that feature... (as you may have guessed, lol) ...poinsettias; but other holiday blooms, plants or greens are also included, such as mistletoe, holly and pine. Here's my card:

I have a few choices for holiday foliage and flowers, but one of my favorite options is the Christmas Add-On set for Wendy Vecchi's Essential Envelope dies from Spellbinders. I used the triple holly leaf die on two shades of glimmery yellow/gold cardstock to build double-layer poinsettias, which the set's  feathery foliage die complements beautifully. I broke out Wendy's Studio 490 Perfectly Plaid stamp to use as the background (embossed in Ranger's Vintage Pearl powder) and again on a Statements Chippie (in Marigold powder). A sage green mat and some WV Washi Tape complete the design of my 5.5" square card.

Check out Stephanie's card at Jingle Belles and then start thinking of what sort of festive foliage you'll use to make a card. Link up with JB2514: Poinsettia Perfection by 6pm (Eastern) on Wednesday, July 16th.

JB2513: Festive Frames

Over at Jingle Belles we're still making cards that incorporate at least one frame as part of the design. This week my fancy frame dies helped me to rescue a beautiful-but-damaged vintage postcard!

A few years ago I purchased a set of holiday postcards that were not in good condition, but since I wanted to use them on Christmas cards, that was fine with me. This one was the most battered of the lot:  it had several very large creases and was entirely missing its lower righthand corner. But luckily, by finding two frame dies of just the right size, I was able to select the nicest bits, frame them up, and showcase them in a collage of Tim Holtz/Idea-ology Pocket Cards, 7 Gypsies velvet holly leaves and assorted festive washi tape in coordinating colors.

Be sure to check out Stephanie's card at Jingle Belles, where you will also find all the info you need to link up your own Framed masterpieces! This challenge runs until next Wednesday evening, July 2nd.

Festive Frames: Gnomes for the Holidays

This fortnight at Jingle Belles we'd like to see cards that incorporate at least one Festive Frame as part of the design. Not to be an over-achiever, but I've got five! 

With my Hero Arts Circle Infinity Dies, it was simple to make four different sizes of circle frames (I used the smallest twice); I then used the same circle dies on some very fun Photoplay holiday gnomes journal cards. I clustered the frames, added a sentiment and some ancient coordinating circle brads, and my 5.5" square card was complete.

Be sure to check out Stephanie's gorgeous card at Jingle Belles, where you will also find all the info you need to link up your own Framed masterpieces!

Fa-La-La-La-La (Week 2)

It's the second week of our music-inspired challenge at Jingle Belles, so once again we're asking to see cards that incorporate sheet music, instruments or holiday song lyrics.  

This week I raided my stash of vintage sheet music and I chose a nicely patina-ed page to coordinate with this fun (ancient!) Basic Grey flower sticker. I added a few strips of washi tape, some inked edges, a chipboard sentiment and a shimmery red mat et voila!

JB2512: Fa-La-La-La-La runs until next Wednesday evening, June 18th. Link up your music-inspired cards at Jingle Belles.

JB2512: Fa-La-La-La-La

It's time for a brand new prompt at Jingle Belles, for which we are incorporating one of our all-time favorite holiday themes: Christmas Music! Thus, we're asking you to create a card that incorporates music, a musical instrument, or a holiday song title or lyrics. Here's my card:

Having decided I wanted to use musical patterned paper (as opposed to actual sheet music, of which I have MUCH lol) for this card, I was pretty excited to find a few half-sheets of absolutely ancient Love Elsie holiday papers from American Crafts! It turns out they paired really well with my fave Doodlebug character stickers and a chipboard sentiment I found in the Big Box of Miscellaneous Items! 

JB2512: Fa-La-La-La-La runs until 6pm (Eastern) on Wednesday, June 18th. Link your Musical Masterpiece card(s) at Jingle Belles!

Calling All Christmas Critters!

It's the second week of Animal Antics at Jingle Belles and we'd love for you to join us. Just make a card with one or more animals having some holiday fun... like this one:

Lawn Fawn's Critters in the Arctic set is probably ten years old and yet, I still find it every bit as adorable and whimsical as the first time I saw it; I'm guessing others do too as it's still available. I love coloring or (as in this case) paper-piecing those happy arctic pals; and I'm especially happy with the floral moose! I went a little more wintery than xmas, with a neutral diecut sentiment from Elizabeth Craft Designs' Winter Wishes set (also ancient and I believe out of print) since not everyone celebrates Christmas and it's nice to have a selection of cards on hand.

JB2511: Animal Antics runs until next Wednesday evening, June 4th.

Bells and Belles

 Over at Jingle Belles we're still creating holiday cards featuring Bells this week. Here's what I made:

This holiday bell sticker was the last in a pack from... ok, I confess it's so old I don't know WHERE it came from, but it was perfect to pair with this bell-themed Simple Stories journal card plus papers from Basic Grey and Authentique. There are some Eyelet Outlet Poinsettia and Holly Brads to add texture and interest; plus those golden mats are a bit shimmery in real life!

Remember, you have until 6pm EST on Wednesday (5/21) to link-up and join the fun; there's even a little prize for one lucky random cardmaker, you should probably check it out! ;)

Christmas Bells, Those Christmas Bells

This fortnight at Jingle Belles we're asking you to break out your Bells for the Belles and create a card that includes some sort of bell. Here's what I made:

I got out my Impression Obsession Retro Ornaments die set (because one of the ornaments is bell-shaped) as well as my tan/gold/neutral scraps folder and had a lot of fun putting together a set of sparkly ornaments, dangling from pearl bling. And what could be a better background for a bell-themed card than a re-sized color copy of the sheet music for "Jingle Bells"?!

Be sure to check out Stephanie's beautiful Bell card at Jingle Belles, as well as the appropriately Bell-related prize that one lucky cardmaker is going to score, just for linking up with us this fortnight. JB2510: Christmas Bells, Those Christmas Bells runs until the evening of Wednesday, May 21st.

JB2509: Week 2

It's the second week of our Ornamental Color Challenge at Jingle Belles, and here's a reminder of the palette; of which we'd like to see you use three (or more!) colors:

And here's my card:

This week, I was inspired by the inspiration photo itself, so I made an ink-blended background using Distress Oxide Inks in the shades closest (imo) to the top three colors in the palette: Uncharted Mariner, Broken China and Speckled Egg. Then I embossed the panel using Spellbinders' Forevergreen e/f and flicked some watered down Liquid Pearls (in White Opal and Gold Pearl) on top. I made a large snowflake stack to stand in for the fancy bauble in the photo and finished the whole thing with some clear gems that look a bit like the bokeh fairy lights.

Check out Stephanie's card and the little prize one lucky random cardmaker will score by linking up with us at Jingle Belles this fortnight. JB2509: Ornamental Color Challenge runs until the evening of Wednesday, May 7th.

JB2509: Ornamental Color Challenge

It's time for a festive color challenge at Jingle Belles and thus we present a lovely and inspiring palette. This fortnight we'd like to see cards which incorporate at least three of these five colors:

Your card can be of any style, shape or holiday theme, you just need to work with some... (or all, if you're feeling brave?!) ...of these shades! Here's what I made:

As I was puzzling over what I wanted to make, it suddenly occurred to me that one of the things I liked in the inspiration pic is the sidebar with the colors stacked together. I was pretty sure I had scraps of cardstock in all of those colors, and sure enough I did! I found the sentiment on a mini journal card and diecut a Hero Arts Snowflake Cluster from glossy white cardstock to emphasize the winter/holiday aspect.

Be sure to visit Jingle Belles to see Stephanie's beautiful card and check out the little prize that one lucky random cardmaker will score this fortnight. JB2509: Ornamental Color Challenge runs until the evening of Wednesday, May 7th.

Trash to Treasure... Holiday Style

It's the second week of our Earth Day Special at Jingle Belles; for which we are making new holiday cards that include at least one re-used, re-cycled or up-cycled element. Here's what I made this week:

And now for a shocking true confession that will be no surprise to most of my fellow crafties: If someone hands me a present wrapped in beautiful paper which has a smooth, un-wrinkled, un-taped area that's card-sized or larger, I will be saving that giftwrap! I like to immediately back it with lightweight cardstock (I use my Xyron or a good gluestick for all-over coverage) trim it to size and then store it with my regular patterned paper. This card has two such saves from this past Xmas: the white snowflake background piece and the torn tan snowflake piece. The snowglobe is a dimensional sticker which was part of a gift tag; I *think* it was on the package wrapped in the white snowflake paper. In addition to these recycled items, I've got a scrap of lace, a bit of washi tape, part of an embossed snowflake panel and a couple of diecut snowflakes. The "joy" sentiment was cut from a larger (and frankly kind of ugly, imo) dimensional embellishment, because it was the perfect size, color and vibe for this card.

JB2508: Peace on EARTH DAY will run at Jingle Belles until the evening of Wednesday, April 23rd. Why not find some trash YOU could treasure and join the fun!

Peace on EARTH DAY

It's time for one of the Jingle Belles' favorite holidays (apart from Christmas, obviously!) which is: Earth Day!

Each year, our EARTH DAY prompt each year is all about RECYCLING, so we'd like you to create a holiday card that features re-cycled, re-used or up-cycled elements. We know you've got that stash of things that you saved because they were just too pretty to throw away: pretty packaging, old holiday cards and tags, etc etc; it's time to break them out and create with them! In the past we've used everything from Kleenex Boxes & Soda Cans to Gift Wrap and we *always* have a lot of fun making our own cards and admiring yours!

Here's how I recycled this time:

In December, we received an advertising mailer from a local bank that was about 5x9", made of sturdy cardstock, and bright teal with beautifully dimensional-looking snowflakes on it; so OF COURSE I saved it. Later that month, a second and third mailer arrived and I put those aside too. And here they are, trimmed down and paired with a plaid from Dare 2B Artzy's Snow Much Fun collection. I added strips of foil washi tape, the last two sentiment stickers in a pack bought circa 1998 (ok they may not be that old; but they're OLD!) plus some red metallic poinsettias and TA-DA! A pair of mini slimline greetings that I don't think anyone will know are partially composed of recycled advertising postcards.

JB2508: Peace on EARTH DAY will run until 6pm (Eastern) on Wednesday, April 23rd. Link your newly made holiday card(s) featuring at least one re-cycled, re-used or up-cycled element at Jingle Belles!