Friday, November 29, 2019

Christmas for You - Weihnachten für Dich Blog Hop with Alexandra Renke

Hello everyone,

Welcome to the "Weihnachten für Dich" (Christmas for You) Blog Hop! You should have arrived here from Ulla's blog, but you'll find the whole blog hop list at the end of this post for your convenience.

Our goal with this project was, to pay it forward, to say thank you, to show our gratitude to a person that did a good deed for us, helped us, made our lives better in some way this year. Maybe a nurse, a postal clerk, what have you.  Basically a random act of kindness. When thinking about who that extra special person is that I'd like to create a gift for, who I am  especially grateful for this year, one name stood out. She came into my life at the right moment earlier this year. She says I came into hers at the right moment too. It might be destiny, I don't know. Our paths crossed because of "business", if you can call my health/well-being business, but I feel like we became so much more. She has been helping me deal with issues that block me from being my true self. She has her work cut out for her, that's for sure. But she hasn't given up on me even if I drive her crazy sometimes :D. Sooo I thought I'd surprise her with a little something. I tried to think of something that is not only pretty but serves some purpose too - which she will laugh about, because we just had a discussion about how I consider things useless that are just pretty but have no particular purpose. It's a long story :).

Anyway, I remembered how much I enjoyed creating calendars for friends last year, I thought she could maybe, just maybe, use one hehe! 

So without further ado, here's my project!


I had a color scheme on my mind for this project but ended up adding in some other colors too because Alexandra's papers are THAT gorgeous. I had to use them!


All pages are 4.25x5.5". I first cut white card stock to this size, then I glued the same size patterned paper on top, so that the pages are sturdy. Then I started working on the different designs.


I will include a supply list down below, in case you like any of the awesome products I've used!


For January I stamped a snowflake background onto a light pink woodgrain paper. This is a turnabout set from Concord & 9th, if you know these sets, they are super clever - you can use up to 4 colors of ink to stamp backgrounds. Here I used 3 inks and an embossing powder. 


For February I created a panel with paper weaving technique. I know there was logic to how I put down the paper strips (as in which arrangement) but once it was woven, there was no rhyme or reason anymore. I've done this many times and I could never figure it out. So, random pattern it is, ha!



For March I used the Botanical Beauty die to create a textured background. I embossed a piece of paper ages ago so I thought I'd finally use it since it was the right color. I die cut the month as well as one of the branches. This never happened to me before but some of the embossing just peeled off the letters, maybe it's to do with the fact that I embossed it a long time ago? I have no idea.  I didn't bother redoing them though, embracing imperfections and all.


For April I created a dimensional, floral number - this paper is just out of this world beautiful! I had a hard time cutting into it!



I decided to make a wreath for May - for this I used a part of the Eucalyptus wreath die set and die cut the branch several times from 2 different pink papers.


June - hexagons! Don't you just love hexagons? I only started paper crafting in 2015 but I remember one of my first scrapbook layouts had hexagons on it. I can't get tired of them! I love these dies especially because they also cut an outline shape.



Next up July! I cut a 4.25x5.5" size panel from this gorgeous floral paper, then die cut the letters from it. I die cute the letters from white card stock too, about 4-5 times, then layered them up, glued the patterned paper die cut on top (a bit offset so the white is a bit visible) and placed them back into place. Using some branches from the Just Because stamp set, I added some embossing here and there as well. Some fussy cut flowers on top, done.


For August I fussy cut some tiny bows from one of the patterned papers and glued them on this navy striped paper. I love this paper so much, I had to order it in all sorts of colors haha!



I went old school on the next two pages because I didn't have the right dies :). For September I fussy cut a bunch of simple leaf shapes, added some embossing, layered them up, stitched them down in the middle and bent up the sides for some dimension. 


I did pretty much the same with October, only with pumpkins. This was actually the last page I made because all I could think of in relation to October was pumpkins and I don't have a pumpkin die hehe.  Not sure why I didn't realise sooner that I can just draw some and cut them out...



I kept November simple because I wanted that pine cone paper to shine, it's so gorgeous! The 12x12 paper actually has "Baby it's cold outside" written on it and I would have loved to use it, but could not fit it on this background somehow.


Another thing I really had to use, one of the cardinals from one of the patterned papers. I love cardinals! I actually have never seen one in real life, only on TV and in photos - but their gorgeous red color always fascinated me. So beautiful!


SUPPLIES:

I also made a bonus project to thank Alexandra for her generosity and overall kindness! I made it simple, I used some of my favorite ideas/designs from the calendar project and turned them into cards. 


I also made a box for them, just so they are more suitable as a gift :)






This hexagon card was inspired by one of Lea Lawson's cards, that was so beautiful, I had to case it!



Same snowflake background as before, different colors. Same leaves as before, different arrangement :).


The dry embossing on the navy circle is a total fail BUT I actually loved the white bits peaking through, I thought it looked interesting, so I just left it as is.



SUPPLIES (as above, plus):
I hope I didn't forget anything - should you have any questions, leave me a comment and I'l get back to you!

That's it! I hope I could inspire you in some small way! Since I'm the last stop in the blog hop, you'll return to Alexandra's blog.

Thank you for stopping by today! Have a wonderful day!

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BLOG HOP LIST:

Friday, November 22, 2019

Belgian waffles are the best - DT layout for Paige Evans

Hello there crafters,

I'm stopping by today to share a new layout I've created for the Paige Evans Design Team, using the awesome Truly Grateful collection!

My Cameo is not working at the moment (ever since the latest software update, go figure) so I had to come up with a layout without a cut file. The obvious choice was using the flower die cut pack, quick and easy! And I haven't used them yet so win win!


I arranged the flowers at the top and the bottom of my page. I used the ones with the white edge for the bottom layer and added a bunch of single blooms with foam tape. Some of these are part of the die cut pack, others are fussy cut from one of the patterned papers. I had these left from a previous project. I'm always happy when I have fussy cut elements ready to go! By the way, should you be interested, I used almost 2 pack of die cuts.


I layered some tissue paper behind my photo and glued it all in place. I tucked some labels behind it too, for some color. Using foam tape, I also added a bunch of word stickers off to the right.


I wanted to add a long title, so I didn't use the alphas from Truly Grateful, since those are big. Instead I went with the foam mini alphas from the Whimsical collection. I love that they are so colorful, the font is simple so it fits everything and the size is perfect! I glued down my title off to the left and wrote my journaling next to it.

I added a few wooden buttons on top of some of the flowers, for texture, dimension and interest. Last but not least, I splattered some white paint on the floral borders. 


That's it! Quick and easy, like I said! I hope I could inspire you to use your flower die cut packs, I know I've been hoarding them!

Thank you for stopping by today!

Have a great day!

X

SUPPLY LIST:
Whimsical collection: Foam Mini Thickers


Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Floral cards - DT project for Pinkfresh Studio

Hello there Pinkfresh fans,

I'm back today with some new card inspirations! This time I focused on flowers and using stamps I haven't used before (well, mostly!). 

On today's cards I've used the new Pinkfresh Premium Dye ink pads as watercolor. To do this, I simply stamped some color on my acrylic stamping block and added some water.


I started with the Flower Garden stamp set: I embossed the image with rose gold embossing powder. I then colored in the images using the following colors:


Once the flowers were dry, I loosely painted the background too, using the same green colors as above. I stamped and embossed a sentiment from the Delicate Wreath stamp set on white card stock. I trimmed it down and popped it up on my card. To finish this off, I added some copper twine at the top.

For my next card I created a striped background. I used washi tape to mask off the areas I didn't want  to paint, one stripe at a time. I added water first, then dropped in some color. Once it was dry, I stamped and embossed the wreath from the Delicate Wreath stamp set in rose gold. 

I didn't like the look without any white space in between the stripes plus I don't like when there's just no dimension to my cards. So I decided to try another design before throwing this panel away. I cut some white strips of papers and glued them down in between the colors, to separate them. I didn't mind that this came on top of the embossed wreath because I was going to add a die cut wreath on top anyway. So I embossed another wreath, die cut it, then using 3d adhesive I glued it down on top of the other one, but taking care that it was turned in a different direction, so the bottom wreath could still peek through. Finally, I added an embossed sentiment, some copper twine and a little clothespin (because it was on my desk and I was too lazy to put it back into its box haha!). 


For my third card I stamped a colorful floral pattern using the Lovely Blossoms stamp set and the same ink pads as before. Beside die cutting patterned papers, this is my most favorite thing to do: creating my own patterns with my own color combos. It's so fun!
I didn't want to cover up the stamped background so I kept the rest of the card simple. I die cut two labels with the Essentials Basic Label Frames dies. I layered them up, then added two bronze(ish) eyelets and threaded copper twine through them. I glued down the ends of the twine on the back of this panel. I adhered the whole panel to an A2 top folding card base. 


I painted a piece of paper with Coral Reef, Passion Fruit and Regal Kiss colors and die cut XO from it. Just so I have watercolor on all three cards hehe! I embossed another piece of paper with rose gold embossing powder and die cut the same letters again - I then mixed and matched the two, so that the fill is the watercolor paper, the outline is the embossed one. Last but not least I added a ribbon bow.
 

That's it for today! I hope I could inspire you in some small way!

Thanks for stopping by, I wish you an awesome day!

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