Scrapping Everyday Miracles Challenge #24

I finally was able to find some time to scrap and I got a challenge done (just in time!) for Scrapping Everyday Miracles. Their January challenge was to scrap a sad moment. I chose Jon and his infamous "pickle face" as the subject. The tag on the bottom also pulls out and has more hidden journaling on it about the challenges we're facing with him. For a twist we had to include a bird somewhere in the layout. I used a "birds on the wire" stamp with a faux batik resist technique. Go check out the scrap challenge and see all the great DT examples and what others have linked up there!

It's the last challenge…

of the Compendium of Curiosities challenge over at Linda's blog, Studio L3. It has been so much fun even though I didn't get to complete as many challenges as I would have liked to. For the grand finale, we could use any techniques we wanted to from Tim Holtz's Compendium of Curiosities books and make him a birthday card (today is his birthday!) Here is my take on it and I used all sorts of messy and fun techniques:

Thanks Linda for being the greatest challenge hostess and I have so enjoyed all the challenges and opportunities to get creative. =)

Wait! I'm not done yet…

Ack, I can't believe that December is almost over. I still have so many Christmas crafty ideas that I wanted to do. Apparently I need to get started in August to get it all done! Well, here is a last little decor piece that I just finished.

 I made the insert part unattached to the glass base so I can switch it out for other seasons (oh, the wheels are turning…) The Thimble Domes come in a set of three and are from Willow House. If you want to get some, don't wait because Willow House is closing out it's home decor line and will only be selling jewelry in the future. I used the Tim Holtz tattered pinecone die and lots of glitter. Everything is better with glitter, especially Christmas decorations. Well, enjoy the rest of the year and welcome 2013!! See you in January unless I manage to sneak some more crafty time in. ;-)

More Christmas project fun

An online creative group I'm a member of had a little contest where you had to create a Christmas tag. The theme could be anything, it just had to be a #8 size tag as a base. The winners were just announced and I didn't win anything but it was a great excuse to make a fun project. I decided to go with a steampunk theme and created a "mechanical" tag. The graphics wheel with the snow fairies does turn but with finger power and not by the gears. That would have been quite the card engineering feat and I didn't have time for that. But I think it looks cool. ;-)

I'd go into details about how I constructed all this but I need to go wrap some presents - haven't done any yet! yikes! Merry Christmas everyone!

Compendium of Curiousities 2 challenge #33

I got a chance to do another challenge over at Linda's Studio L3 blog. I can't believe that the CC2 challenge is winding down! It's been so much fun. Every week Linda posts a challenge to use one of the techniques shown in the book A Compendium of Curiosities, Vol. 2 by Tim Holtz. This week you needed to use Tissue Tape as shown on page 36. I added a pleated strip to the bottom of the card on the left. I love that stuff!

Be sure to go check out the blog to see all the other art people are linking up. This week there is a prize offered by Simon Says Stamp. Thanks to them for their sponsorship!

It's feeling a lot like Christmas…

We now have all our Christmas decorations up and it is feeling quite festive around here! I am so thankful for this time of year. We have so many blessings and the joy of the season to celebrate. I love pulling out all the Christmas music and focusing on the greatest blessing - the birth of a special baby 2000 years ago! It can be hard not to get caught up in the rush of the month but I encourage you to take time to think about why we celebrate Christmas and the love that God showed us by sending his only Son to us to be our Savior. I like to make projects that help me to remember that. I've had this project in mind for quite some time. I love to make scenes and I think this one came together well. I did a Halloween version back in October but this is the one I was originally thinking of (and it got done in time for THIS Christmas! Score!)

The container is a candle holder from Target. Of course I used lots of wonderful Tim Holtz dies on the parts inside. The house is based on a Christmas tag he did a few years ago. I used a lot of shimmery mists and glitter on the parts so it really sparkles. I'm entering this in the Inspiration Emporium blog's December challenge which is to create a project that has the word "joy" in it. I'm also entering this in the Simon Says Stamp and Show blog house rules challenge. Thank you for looking and Merry Christmas!

Dies Used:
Sizzix - Mover & Shaper, Mini Reindeer & 25

Sizzix - Pine Tree (retired)

Sizzix - Mover & Shaper, Mini Pine Tree & Holly

Sizzix - Rickety House (retired)

Sizzix - On the Edge Die, On the Fence (retired)

Sizzix Texture Fade Embossing Folder Set - Collage & Notebook

Sizzix & Simon Says Stamp links in this post are affiliate links which do not affect the price you pay but allow me to earn a small percentage of a sale. Thanks! (My husband also thanks you!)

Happy Thanksgiving!!

It is almost upon us, the family gathered around the table and loads of yummy food! I am so thankful for my family and all the blessings we have. Life can be awfully hard but I have so much to be thankful for. One of the things I'm thankful for is my paper crafting hobby!! Last year Tim Holtz had these great Quirky Turkeys on his blog and I didn't have time to make them (or the die I think). This year however I got some done! My hope is to make some more to decorate the table tomorrow (and give to those family members who would care to have them), but at least I have three done. =)

I also used this technique to make the leaves, although I didn't do the gilded part. The alcohol ink on the glassine works great though. I am also entering these in the November Inspiration Emporium challenge. Go check out the great projects they have linked up there! Happy Thanksgiving everyone and remember to count your blessings.

Dies Used:
Sizzix - Tattered Leaves

Sizzix - Strip Die, Mini Paper Rosettes

Sizzix - Strip Die, Paper Rosette

Sizzix - Movers & Shapers Mini Acorn & Pumpkin Set

Other:
Idea-ology Memo Pins

Sizzix & Simon Says Stamp links in this post are affiliate links which do not affect the price you pay but allow me to earn a small percentage of a sale. Thanks! (My husband also thanks you!)