Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Happy! Happy! Happy!

Hi

Today is one of those days that I'm not pressured with deadlines to meet so thought I would take advantage of it with a fun card.  A while back I downloaded the Happy song by Pharrnell Williams and I love it.  It makes me feel good each time I hear it.  Of course it goes along with those crazy Minions from "Despicable Me", I love to watch their clips on YouTube, so that is the theme for today.


I used the Karen Burniston Spiral Circle Pull Card die for the base and rounded the top edges.  Here is the front of my card when it is held closed by the tabs.
 

Here he is with the card completely open.  I had to add the phrase "I Only Have Eyes For You" because that's my idea of humor. I don't have a tutorial for you today since I was just having some fun.

Have a safe and fun New Year celebration!

Thursday, December 25, 2014

Ring out the old, ring in the new.

Hello fellow travelers,

Today we are beginning a new leg of our Vintage Journey with our host, the talented, Brenda.  Her challenge to us is to use this poem by Alfred Tennyson.
 
“Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.”      
Alfred Tennyson
 
Focus on these key words from the poem - old, new, bells, snow, year and
interpret one or more of them in anyway you like. 
 
Here is my interpretation:
 
 
 This project actually turned out to cover several lines in the poem.  Back in October I posted a Halloween project using Tim's Assemblage Clock.  Shown below.  As crafters we like to make all sorts of things and I like to make things for challenges. The problem is, what to do with them when you're done?  This time around I decided to
upcycle the Assemblage Clock.   I took it all apart, covered it with gesso and then added a thick layer of Silver Stickles.  The purple came through in a softer, lovelier shade.   I rather liked it.  Ring out the old, ring in the new.


After digging around in my studio I found the glass that I had previously removed and glued it on the front of the clock on the outside.  Next I cut out a ring for the front to cover my glue line.   I found some bells at the dollar store that were perfect for this project and filled the inside of the clock.  Ring, happy bells, across the snow.
 

 


Next I cut the XII from the Weathered Clock Die and added it to the top of the clock.
I used some of Tim's Type Charms .  After cutting off the loop on top and filing them down I added the numbers using my electronic cutter.  I brushed on some Silver Stickles before adding the epoxy dots.  On each side of the XII I added the years 2014 & 2015.  The year is going, let him go.
 
I filled in the back with a picture of an hour glass. 
My original thought for the top of the clock was to use a wire edge ribbon to add a large bow.  After giving that some thought I decided to use curling ribbon so I could add streamers like you see on New Year's Eve.  Ring out the false, ring in the true.
 
 
 Here's wishing you a "safe" and happy new year celebration.  Best wishes for the coming year.

S@ndy

 

Monday, December 22, 2014

Warm Heart

Hi All-

Just stopping by to share a card I made for our son and daughter-in-law.  Connie loves penguins (sorry Mike) and when I saw this stamp, just had to get it. 
 
The stamp is from Art Impressions.  I've been playing with my new Chameleon Pens.  I still have some work to do but feel ok since this is only my second go at it. 


Hope this warms your heart.  Merry Christmas!
 

Friday, December 19, 2014

December T!m Tag

Hi All-

Well here it is the end of  December already and the final Tim tag of 2014.  The year has really gone by fast.  I am always inspired by Tim and this month when I saw his tutorial on how to use the Frosted I thought of a photo of me with Santa - so had to use it.  This tag will also fit in nicely with the Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge where "Anything Goes"


I used all the methods he showed to make the tag but used vellum in place of the Frosted that I didn't have.  I even sewed the edge of my tag, I haven't use the sewing machine for a very long time but thought if Tim can do it, I can do it. 
It was actually kinda fun. 
 
I used the Holiday Wreath Die and then added a few more leaves and topped it off with some red ribbon.  I used my electronic cutter for word "Believe".  Then came one of Tim's small crystal stars over the i.  I made my tag upside down so I could hang some charms from the hole.
 
That's it for today, hope you have a creative weekend!
 

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Happy Hanukkah

Well, after doing some research and asking my friend, who is my authority on all things Jewish, I decided to post a second card for this month's challenge with Karen Burniston.

To all my Jewish friends - HAPPY HANUKKAH

 
I used the Accordion Fancy Label Die 771 set for this one along with some things cut with my electronic cutter.
 
Here's how I did it!
 
 
I cut my five panels from solid blue card stock , Stampin Up - Brilliant Blue, and lined them all up with the tabs going in the same direction. Next I joined all the panels together.
 
 
I had two 12 X 12 pieces of Hanukkah paper from American Crafts.  I carefully lined my die up with the words making sure I got ten panels with the full word Hanukkah on them.
 

I cut all my edges with Fancy Frame Edges 774 then adhered them and added my inside panels.  After training each section the way I wanted it to go, not gluing them together yet, I laid it all out flat again


Next came the symbols I wanted to decorate with.

 
You can see that there isn't much left of the paper but I got what I wanted.
 

I glued all the panels together as shown on the directions and I was done.

 
Here is how it looks from the front.
 
I had great fun making this card and I learned some things along the way.
 
Enjoy
 
 
 

Monday, December 15, 2014

Okay, Light the Candles!!!!

IT'S OFFICIAL!!  I'M INSANE - I got this idea a couple weeks ago and since I couldn't shake it, decided to run with it.  My friend, Susie, is having a BIG birthday.  I'm sharing the card I made for her.
 
This month I'm playing along again with Karen Burniston's monthly challenge.  The theme this time is for the team to show a card for each month of the year.  I decided to go with a card that could be used for any month,  "Birthday".
 
 
 

 I used the Katie Label Accordion Die but needed more real estate since I had to
add 70 candles.

Here's how I did it!
 
Don't ya just love this stamp from Art Impressions?  She is priceless.  I colored her with Chameleon Markers. The card base, trim papers & ribbon are all from
Stampin Up, Baja Breeze and Rich Razzleberry along with various colors and papers from my scrap stash.
 
I mixed and matched my KB die sets getting the shapes & sizes I wanted.

Here are the dies I used -

Katie Label Accordion 903
Katie Label Pivot Card 768
Agatha Edges 782
Outdoor Edges 914
Happy Birthday PopUp 947
Candles 732
 
Karen is so good at sharing tips and tricks for using her dies in different ways and I love that.  She has shown how to double the accordion albums but I didn't want more space on the accordion, I needed it around the outside.
 
Because each panel is finished at 41/4" wide with a 1/2" tab, I cut my panels just under 4 3/4" X 81/2".  I then marked each panel lightly with a pencil at 1/2" from the top and 1" from the top.
Since I made my lines so faint on the blue, I made a white one just for this tutorial.
 
 
 
Next I lined my die up on the 1" mark. The die will straddle the paper.


I taped my die down with tape so it could not move.

 
  Next I used a narrow cutting pad that I cut down from a larger one that I got from Sizzix, these pads can be cut to any size you need.  I then placed the pad on the die avoiding all the outside cutting edges, this way I only got the crease mark and inside section of the die. I used the Big Shot Pro and had a pad that worked but you can do this with a regular Big Shot by cutting your pad small enough to go through.

 
I then placed the panel on the score board and continued the crease line to the top and bottom and then cut the tab at an angle.
 
 
Because I wanted a fancy edge, I took the Agatha Edge die and placed it in the center along the 1/2" line and ran it through the machine again to get the edge I wanted.


After erasing the lines I have a great panel - now I did this 3 more times.
 

I now have 4 panels that look like this. 
 

 
Of course I needed a special phrase for this one so I printed what I wanted on the computer and then cut the words out using the dies.
 

For the top edges, I used another Agatha Edge and cut it down to fit.


Next came the candles - 70 no less.

 
Now the hard work is done, I added all the finishing touches and was good to go. 
For the front flap I used a panel that was 81/2" by 41/2" with an additional 1/2" tab (total of 5" wide) so it would cover the card completely.
 
I hope you have enjoyed my moment of insanity - I have already given Susie her card and she loved it!!
 
Have a great week and don't forget to stop by at  Elizabeth Craft Designs on Wednesday to see what the design team made.
 

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Vintage Journey Creative Guide - Secret Santa Reveal

Hi everyone,

Today we are revealing our Creative Guide Secret Santa gifts at A Vintage Journey.  A few months ago Brenda had her hubby draw names for this fun exchange.  Our gift was to be made of paper or cardstock as we had to mail many of them to other countries.

Over at the Vintage Journey Blog - some lovely prizes are being offered for you to win.  You can see all the details and fabulous prizes by clicking here.

Here is a list for you to hop around and visit- don't forget to leave a comment.

Alison
Anne
Annie
Astrid
Brenda
Chris
Jennie
Jenny
Jools
Julia
Julie
Nikki
S@ndy (you're here)

I was so excited when I saw that I got Chris Warner's name.  Chris has been so helpful and kind to me as I've found my way around being a Creative Guide for the team. I have already received a lovely thank you from her and I am delighted that she liked what I made for her.

Here is the gift I made for Chris, it is lit with three battery operated candles and gives off a soft glow.  I'm sorry I didn't get a photo of it with the candles lit.  Since we are a Tim inspired blog I, of course, used many of his products.


I used a Graphic 45 Box that I altered a little.  The front, back and sides are covered with snowflake embossed paper.  The ribbon goes all the way around and is held in place with the knob.  Tim legs and pinecones made with the tattered pinecone die.  Vellum is covering the opening.   Below is a photo of how it opens to insert the candles.



Since I used blue and white and snowflakes, I made a card to match.  I did post the card here on my blog but didn't reveal the recipient at that time. 

When my gift arrived - it was truly a treasure chest of goodies.  From Annie of Curious & Crafty Treasures I received a beautiful card made with Tim's papers with a lovely greeting on the back.  Also included was a fabulous mixed media canvas, signed and dated by the artist.  Here they are:


 
There were also some goodies in the package that I will use later, hopefully in an upcoming challenge.  When I use them I will be sure to tell you about them.
 
This was great fun and I hope not too much work for Brenda to organize.  Wishing you good luck in the drawing and  Happy Holidays.
 

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Let's Celebrate!

Hi to all you Vintage Journey travelers - today the theme is Let's Celebrate!
 
December is a VERY BUSY time at our house, within a 10 day period both Mac and I have birthdays with Christmas stuck right in the middle.  Sometimes it's hard to celebrate all of these occasions and still keep them separate.
 
I decided to go with a card for this challenge and combine both Christmas and birthday into one.  So for all of you who celebrate Christmas and have a birthday in December -
 
MERRY BIRTHDAY!



I used elements from two of my favorite designers, Tim Holtz and Karen Burniston.

The front of the card is clearly influenced by Tim with his Carved Ornaments Die with Movers and Shapers inserts.  Two of his embossing folders, the Snowflake and the Stars.  All finished off with one of his On The Edge Dies.

The inside of the card is Karen all the way with her Happy Birthday Die using elements from her Accordion Ring Album Die and finishing off with some candles from Elizabeth Craft Designs.

Our lovely sponsor here at A Vintage Journey, Country View Crafts, carries all of these brands.

HERE'S HOW I DID IT!


I chose my paper, using some glittered red paper from Core'dinations along with some fun Star Birthday Paper from DCWV.  The stars were just perfect for the inside of this card.  I then cut the papers the size I needed, I made this card 6" X 6".  Next I cut the inside piece with the die - placing the center nubs of the die on the fold.


I then cut the inside section 1/2" shorter on the top and bottom so I would have a red border at each end. 


I lined up the bottom edges of both sections and placed some Tissue Tape to hold them together.  Be sure to line up the bottom edges - with the inside section already 1/2" shorter this will create an equal border at both ends of the card.


Place the taped ends on the die and cut all four pieces at once.  By doing this you get a perfectly centered card.
Attach the two pieces, if you are not familiar with the way to do this, you can see Karen's great videos on YouTube. 

Now all you need to do is decorate!


I used vellum for the front panel, I used two of Tim's embossing folders on one piece with the stars on top and the snowflakes on the bottom.


I placed the vellum on a piece of Handsome Hunter cardstock from Stampin Up and attached it with matching brads.


I love this glittered paper but it is very difficult to glue something to the front so I used hot glue.  You can see that the heat made the vellum buckle a bit but once I add the rest of the decorations it will be fine.  Note to self,  place your hot glue where you know it will be covered by the decorations.

Hope you have enjoyed - and to all those December babies out there ---


Have a crafty weekend!

S@ndy
 

Friday, December 5, 2014

Snow Globe Card

Hi

I'm just stopping in for a quick post to share a Christmas card I made for my grandson.  It is already the 5th so I need to get this in the mail today.
 
I got some new dies from Top Dog Dies, very fun with lots of detailed pieces.  I used the Snowman Globe Die Set for this one along with the Merry Christmas Die Set!
You can see them here.  
 

I don't have a full tutorial for you today but I do have a couple pictures to share of the process. 
 
I used Fun Foam (without the adhesive backing) to get the demention.  The dies cut through it just beautifully.  I also used Fun Foam for the snowman. 
 

Here is the view from the back.
 
 
Here are the three sections before the glue.
 
 
Hope you have enjoyed - I'm off the mailbox!!!
S@ndy