For the past three years, I have been a fan of the “One Little Word” idea.  If you aren’t familiar with the concept, the idea is to select a word – yep, just one word – and let it be your guide/inspiration for the coming year.  I love doing something new with the New Year.  So this is a small thing to do  that you can keep to yourself or share publicly.  It’s really up to you how you use it.  For more information on the topic, check out Allie Ewards’ blog here.

As I said, this will be my third year to pick a word (or perhaps it is that the word picked me).  My words so far:

2008: Glorify

2009: Joy

2010: Hope

It is sometimes helpful to find something to remind you of your word.  Last year I found this cool not-so-little word block JOY on sale at Fred Meyer.  It was even 50% off since it was part of their after Christmas sale.

2009 one little word

Now as the year draws to a close, I plan to do some piece of art that expresses what I have learned about Joy this year.  I’m thinking a scrapbook page but more to come as I complete that project.  But for now I just want to encourage you to check out this idea and see if it might not be something you want to try this year.

And here is by “reminder” item for my 2010 word.

the higher our hopes the brigher our days

Where are your tags??

Well, it was a decidedly crazy and fun time making Tim’s 12 tags of Christmas 2009.   Fun to play with all those new techniques with some of the best friends a girl can have.  But crazy trying to get all the cool supplies in and all that with Christmas fast approaching.  So what I want to know is, what have you done with your tags?  I got this great idea from Dottie; she even gave me the swag.  I put the swag over the bar in my house as it  seems that all of our windows have shades that need to be pulled down when the sun hits that side of the house (yes, even though we live in Oregon we do occasionally see the sun). I think they look great hanging on the greenery.  Plus they are on display for everyone else to see and enjoy.

Here’s a close up:

oh pretty little tags

So tell me, where have you put your tags?  Take a picture if you can.  And thanks, Dottie, for the great idea.

Great Impressions Poinsettia

For those of you who like poinsettia cards, here is a beautiful layered one.  This card uses the Great Impressions poinsettia K40.  First stamp it on green using a watermark pad.  Next, stamp it twice on red shimmer card stock and once on red vellum.  Emboss one of the red shimmer poinsettias using Red Chili Pepper embossing powder.  Emboss the other two using Butter Rum opaque embossing glitter.   All embossing powders are by PK Glitz.  Cut out all three of the embossed poinsettias and layer them on top of each other.  For the  bottom layer, I cut out all of the flowers, but  for the top I cut out only some of the petals. The top two layers are adhered with foam mounting squares for some added dimension.  The Merry Christmas is an outline sticker.  We finally got in quite a few packages of these.  As a final “extra” I added some red rhinestones to the holly berries and outlined the leaf veins using a glitter pen.

As always, you can find all the supplies to make this card at Creating Lasting Memories.

Cards on display at the Chetco library

Creating Lasting Memories is this month’s guest artist at the Chetco library.  Stop by the display in the lobby and check out the featured cards, scrapbooks and altered books.  I included a lot of typed information about the hobby along with the samples.  So far, the feedback has been very positive.  Let me know what you think.

Scrapbooks on display at the Chetco library

Here’s a great card by Chris Liles, one of our fantastic, creative volunteers at Creating Lasting Memories.  She works on Fridays if you want to stop by and say, “Hi.” This card was made using pearlescent embossing paste and Dreamweaver stencil LJ896 (that lovely big flourish).  The card stock is Prism Classic Red.  You will need an 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 for the base and one 4 x 5 1/4 for the top.  It is layered to Prism white cut 4 1/8  x 5  3/8.  The sentiment is Cornish Heritage Farms ML7008FUM Christmas Traditions.  This unmounted cling set has a bunch of seasonal sayings.  Chris stamped it and embossed with Red Chili Pepper embossable glitter from PKGlitz.  It was die cut with Spellbinders labels 3.  If I was making a lot of these cards, I would cut all the red top cardstock pieces at once, then emboss them all and leave overnight to dry.  But if you hate to wait for things to dry (I know how that feels too) Chris said it worked just fine to hit it with the heat gun briefly.  If you want to add a little more bling, put some clear or silver rhinestones on some of those dots and tie a sheer ribbon around the top.

As with all of these cards we will be featuring on the blog this month, you can find all the supplies she used at the store.  Happy holidays!

Halloween tags in the window

Aren’t these tags just too darn cute for words?  This is what Dottie made me.  And this is what you see in the window looking in from the outside.  each tag has a letter on it to say “Halloween.”

now for the inside….

Each one is different and so stinking cute.  I feel so blessed to have a friends who support the store like this.  I think Dottie needs to teach some classes, don’t you?

Yum!

We made these bag toppers at the free demo on Thursday.  We used the “Get Rollin’ ” wheel.  This clever roller has an adhesive strip that allows you to stick any clear stamps on the surface and make your own wheeled design.  Well, of course, they need to be small enough to fit.   I used a Hero Arts leaf set but wouldn’t this work great with flowers, or butterflies, or snowflakes, or…check out your clear sets and see what you have.  I love a new product that uses what I already have, don’t you?  This project is easy enough for kids to do.  Pick out two or three colors of dye ink and get rollin’!  For the snack, I used caramel corn and Crunch n Munch but I bet chocolate candy would be good too.  And if it was wrapped, you could give it away as a “treat” on Halloween.

Wait ’til you see what Dottie made for me.  I’ll take photos today and post it tonight.  And to think I don’t even like Halloween.

Three Wise Men

Our final card from World Card Making Day was designed by Allene Fewell.  The primary techniques were masking & coloring.  I personally liked the nice use of Stickles and the embellishments (especially the star).

The supply list:

3 Wise Men stamp set from Our Daily Bread

Bazzill navy cardstock, Prism white card stock, small scrap of gold card stock for star

Krylon gold pen

Stickles: golden rod, Xmas red, magenta, lime green, green

7″ sheer 1/4″ wide ribbon

1 small rhinestone (for star center)

4×6 post it for mask

Stazon timber brown ink, Brilliance pearlescent sky blue, Colorbox Catseyes: 2-3 browns, medium blue, and yellow-gold

Instructions:

1. Punch a 3 1/2″ circle from a post-it to create a mask. You will need both pieces (the circle and the outside of the circle).

2. On white 4 x 5 1/4 card stock, place outside circle mask and use a dauber to color moon using the Catseye yellow-gold.

3. Remove mask and stamp the Wise Men using Timber brown stazon

4. Now place the circle mask over the moon and use daubers to color the sky using Brilliance sky blue.  Lightly blend the Catseye medium blue around the edges of the sky.

5.  Using Catseyes, color the sand using the browns.

6. Color the wise men and the camels using watercolor pencils or markers.

7. Use the Krylon marker to add a gold border.  Tie sheer ribbon to bottom. Adhere to navy card stock base (8 1/2 x 5 1/2).

8. Stamp saying on a 1 x 2 1/4″ piece of white card stock with brown ink.  Color edges with Brilliance sky blue. Adhere to card front with pop ups.  Optional: Add two scrolls – these are from a Spellbinder die and cut with a Cuttlebug.

9. Stamp star on gold scrap using Stazon brown. Cut out and add small rhinestone to the center.  Adhere to card front with pop up.

10. Add stickles to star and wise men.

I hope you have enjoyed having these cards posted on the blog so you can make them (if you were unable to be with us on World Card Making Day) or make some more (if you were there).  It was a super fun day and I so appreciate each teacher who took the time to design and then teach a card.  You are wonderful!

embossed glittered tree

Linda Morgan came up with another fantastic looking card that is quick and easy to create.  You need a Cuttlebug to make this card.  The base is white 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 card stock.  Cut a mat 5 1/4 x 4 and emboss it in the Cuttlebug using the snowflake embossing folder.  Next, use your Spellbinder die to cut a rectangle and scallop rectangle, also out of white card stock.  The tree is from the Forest of Trees set by Flourishes.  Stamp the rectangle with clear pigment ink or a watermark pad and emboss with PK Glitz Azure opaque embossing glitter.  This stuff is incredible.  Looks like glitter yet embosses like embossing powder.  We carry it in about 20 different colors at Creating Lasting Memories.  Add a few crystal gems.  The “merry & bright” is from a Hero Arts Christmas clear set.  Stamp and emboss using the regular Azure embossing powder. Punch an oval and a scallop oval out of white or use a Spellbinder die.  A blue satin ribbon completes the look.  I’m sure the photo doesn’t show how much this card shimmers. It really is gorgeous.  Thanks Linda for a your beautiful card.

Glittery shimmery snowflake card

I love this card that Marti Arrell created and taught on World Card Making Day.  I’m not sure the photo does justice to the shimmer.  It really is just beautiful in person.  And it looks complicated but it really wasn’t too hard to do.  That’s the benefit of a great design.  Marti has a lot experience teaching classes so she knows just what to include to make the card stunning yet teachable to a dozen or so.  She even typed up all the supplies & instructions for me.  Bless you, Marti!

Supplies:

Dark blue card – A2 size

Lavender card stock 2 5/8” x 5 ½”

Medium blue card stock 2” x 5 ½”

White card stock 2 ¼” x 5 ½”

Lavender card stock for larger snowflake 3” x 3”

Medium Blue card stock for smaller snowflake 2 ½” x 2 ½”

1 white snowflake brad

Zig chisel tip glue pen

Art Institute Crystal glitter

Marvy Uchida Blue snowflake punch

Marvy Uchida Pink snowflake punch

EK Success snowflake border punch

Adirondack “Stonewashed” ink pad

Brilliance White ink pad

Clear gemstones

Tattered Angels Pearl Mist

Cuttlebug embossing folder “Snowflakes”

Hero Arts Clear set CL234 “Winter’s Butterfly”

Instructions:

Fold the dark blue card in half.  Run the front of the card thru the Cuttlebug with the Snowflake embossing folder.  Using the Brilliance white ink pad, swipe over the front of the card and distress the edges of the card.  Adhere the medium strip of card stock onto the lavender strip of card stock.  Using the snowflake border punch, punch both of the long edges on the white strip.  Using the Stonewashed ink stamp “a snowflake is winter’s butterfly” and a snowflake on the white strip of cardstock.  Using the snowflake punches stamp out the 2 snowflakes.  Cover each of the snowflakes with Zig Glue from the Zig glue pen.  Sprinkle with the crystal glitter.  Set aside to dry for a few minutes.  Once dry, hold both snowflakes on top of each other and punch a 1/8” hole in the center.  Add the while snowflake brad, but do not spread the “wings” of the brad”.  Lay the layered snowflake onto the 3 layered strips of card stock and punch a hole thru the strips of cardstock where you want to mount the snowflake.  Run the brad thru all the layers of the cardstock and spread the “wings” of the brad.  Adhere the strips of card stock to the center of the card.  Place clear gemstones in the center of some of the snowflakes on the card.  Using a very, very light mist, spray the front of the card with Tattered Angels Pearl mist.