A Very HEART-y Mandala Monday

Practicing shading with my Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Pencils from Ranger. I love that if you start out fairly dark at the edges and pull the color inwards, this method basically does both shading and outlining for you! I was debating what additional details to add when I spotted half a jar of pink sequins on my worktable; I dumped a few onto the page with the intention of arranging them neatly around the edge, but then I thought, "Nope, I like them scattered" so I just grabbed the adhesive and stuck them on. This mandala created in my Dina Wakley Media Blue Journal which has denim and burlap pages as well as the sturdiest and most wonderful DWM Heavyweight Watercolor Paper, which is truly luxurious to work upon.

My Sweet Embossable You

It's time for another new prompt at Jingle Belles and also for the brand new February Holiday Jumpstart Card Kit at Paper Anthology. This time (as you may have guessed from the title) we're embracing EMBOSSING... either via stamps and powders, or my particular favorite, embossing folders!

I used Sunny Studio's Cable Knit Embossing Folder on some older peacock blue Tim Holtz Kraft Core cardstock, then softly sanded the design to create even more visual interest. The sentiment is from Taylored Expressions' Flip the Snowflake stamp set, stamped on light kraft in Wendy Vecchi's Night Sky Archival Ink. The diecuts are Impression Obsession Primitive Snowflakes Die Set and the whole thing is set atop a lovely dark Grocer's Kraft A2 card. 

February's Holiday Jumpstart Kit: Warm Winter Wishes is now available in-store (and YES, it's there right now!) and online at Paper Anthology.

The "My Sweet Embossable You" challenge at Jingle Belles will run until Wednesday evening, February 22nd. Hop over to read all about it, see Stephanie's beautiful embossed card and get a look at the fun little prize one random cardmaker will score, just for linking up with us this fortnight!

Totally Tangential PS: When heading to the Paper Anthology Website to grab links, I accidentally hit the enter key a bit fast and stumbled upon a surprising variety of Paper ANTS! I've linked the phrase in case that would be of use to anyone, lol...

Wendy Vecchi Floral Valentine

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, so I'm getting extra inky using Wendy Vecchi's Flower Pot and Let's Shop Stamp, Die and Stencil Sets with a rainbow of pink and orange Archival Inks on a variety of Ranger specialty paper styles, to create a floral celebration perfect for any loved one. I hope you'll head over to the Ranger Project Page and read all about it!

Make a Wish

If you wished for some brand new Eyelet Outlet Brads in the next couple of weeks, then you're in luck because we have some beauties coming out, including these gorgeous Rose Brads!

Rose Brads would be a beautiful addition to just about any card, tag or journal page; they'd be lovely in a vase, climbing up a fence or pretty much ANYWHERE you'd care to place them, but I have to say that I'm pretty pleased with how they look on top of the cake from Wendy Vecchi's Doodle Celebration Stamp Set! I've also used the "Make a Wish" sentiment from Wendy's Birthday Bash Stamp, Die and Stencil Set, and four gorgeous Eyelet Outlet Washi Tape Styles: Pink Checked, Green Pattern Tape, Wood Washi and Heart Tape from our Valentine Washi Set. I've also framed up my little tableau with some Green Pearl Strips and added a Candle Brad to boot. 

Stay tuned to the Eyelet Outlet Blog to see how our amazing Design Team are using all of the fabulous new brads, coming mid-month to the Eyelet Outlet Store!

Distinctly Doodle-y Mandala Monday

The other night I came across this circle adorned with curvy slices of five patterned papers... each enhanced with my own pen doodles... in my box of odds and ends to use later. I have no recollection of assembling it (and, for that matter, no idea why I didn't use it after assembly?) but there it was, and I thought it would make a nice center for a mandala. I added a few layers of petals around the edge, colored them to match the patterned papers, and even added a few clouds, stripes and dots to coordinate. Definitely a more unusual mandala design, but I like it!

Stuck on Stickers

We're still celebrating stickers at Jingle Belles, a pursuit I could happily do every single week, since stickers have been one of my favorite things to collect (and craft with!) since childhood.

This time I've got some beautiful small stickers based on vintage postcards, which came from an older Tim Holtz/Idea-ology Sticker Book, as well as a nearly new Photoplay sticker sentiment, and some puffy holly-shaped Thickers. All of these are layered on top of Prima graphed patterned paper, some torn sheet music, and strip of White Lace Tape, as well as a few solid mats that pick up various colors in the design.

Our "Stuck on You" sticker challenge runs at Jingle Belles through next Wednesday evening, February 8th, so you have plenty of time to join the fun. First, though, head on over to see what Stephanie has made this week!

On Point with NEW Brads!

Later this month there are some fabulous new brad styles coming to Eyelet Outlet, so here's a little sneak peek at our Cactus Brads. They are wonderful all on their own, but even better when paired with Cactus Tape, Brick Washi and Wood Tape to make a little scene, filled in with the cactus and sentiment from Lawn Fawn's Year Ten Mini Stamp Set. There's also a yellow lily from our Frog Brad Set, a small red Heart and a Mini Ladybug Brad getting in on the action.

Stay tuned for previews of these adorable Cactus Brads from the other Design Team members, as well as two additional styles coming soon to the Eyelet Outlet Store!