Cookies for Friends

I went to a gathering of friends from Fond Memories todqy after work. What fun to chat, laugh and eat. Lots of good food!

I put together some bags of Spritz cookies to share. These were quick! Well, the cookies took some time to bake! The tags were quick!




I used small manilla tags as my base. I stamped small poinsettias (from a Penny Black set) with Antique Linen ink on the tag. Then I added the verse (from JustRite's Sparky the Snowman stamp set). I cut poinettias using Spellbinders S5-055 Layered Poinsettia. The veins are inked with Aged Mahogany ink. The center is Craftworkscards Candi. Some bakers twine fastens them to the cookie bags.





Posted by Judy using BlogPress

Hello!

How time flies!  Tis the season to be busy!   There is just not enough time in the day it seems, especially to play and create!

Since I haven't created anything new for the blog, I went searching through my photos.  I found this cute layout I did for Spellbinders.

When I saw this photo, I knew I had to make a page with it!!!  What a cutie! 

This is an 8 x 8" layout.  I used papers from My Mind's Eye Lost and Found Christmas.  The colors are perfect with Brecken's shirt!  The title "all BOY" and stars with circles were all cut with Spellbinder™ Presto Punch™
and punch templates.  The letters were cut with PT-F01 and PT-F02 Plain Jane Capital and Lower Case alphabets.  The stars are P3-006, Circles - P3-001.  I also used P3-009 Labels B to cut the mat under his name.  The date and his name are Cosmo Cricket Tiny Type alpabet stickers.  I copied the style to print "Doesn't that smile just say...".  A little sanding exposes the white paper core for some highlights.   This is really quite a simple layout.  I love how it turned out!!!Or is it just the photo of that cute little boy that I love?!!!  Thanks Vicki for letting me use it!

The big annoucement..........

I imagine many of you have already heard that Spellbinders announced the first round qualifiers for their 2012 Design Team today.  I made the cut!!!!  HOORAY!  Yep, I'm trying out again!  I love working with Spellbinders!  They have a fabulous group of people working for them!  I love their product!  They have an incredible current DT!!!!  Awesome designers! Love you all, ladies!!!   I could go on and on.......  
Next step is a project for Round 2 due January 4th.  I'll be putting some serious thought into that project.  THe competition is really tough!

I hope to post something again soon.  No promises though.  I have lots to do yet for Christmas!  Plus a few Spellbinders projects to complete! 

On a weather note!!!!   Can you believe it rained here all day?   It's December in Minnesota!  We rarely get rain this time of year!  It's usually white stuff!!!!  We sure need the rain as it's been over 4 months since we've had more than a tenth or two.  I'm hoping all the roads are dry in the morning so I don't have to drive on ice!

Take care everyone!  Thanks for stopping!!!
-judy

Happy Christmas Card

Good Morning all!

Today I have a monochromatic Christmas card to share!

All images on this card are from Artistic Outpost's Snowy Woods.  I love all the vintage images in this collection!
Here, I've stamped all my images with Ranger Adirondack Raisin ink.  To the larger St Nick, I've added a touch of color to his face with Copic markers and completely colored his coat.   He is cut out and mounted over the smaller background St. Nick  with toys.  I originally tried a collage with these two images.  It seemed too flat so I cut it apart and made it work this way! 
I added the greeting on one of the tags from Spellbinders Fancy Tags Three.  I stamped and embossed the verse first, then cut it out.  That way I could get the verse centered perfectly by aligning it in the opening on the die template. A little tape to hold it place for cutting and perfect alignment!  I trimmed off the top decorative element because it seemed to distract from my St Nick.  I added Distress inks, of course!  Antique Linen, Vintage Photo and a touch of the Raisin ink. 
The twigs were cut with a die template from Spellbinders Foliage.  I added Distress ink and Distress Antique Linen Stickles.  Distress Stickles isn't as shiny as regular Stickles and works well with my vintage images.  Little dots of dimensional cream paint are on each branch tip, Viva Paper Pen. 
The dark red mat is stamped with the fern branch from Snowy Woods, again with Raisin ink.  It adds some texture interest. 
Both St Nick and the greeting are popped up with foam tape.

Have a creative weekend!
-judy

Supplies:

Artistic Outpost Snowy Woods

Spellbinders Fancy Tags Three

Spellbinders Foliage

Ranger Adirondack Raisin ink

Distress Antique Linen, Vintage Photo inks

Distress Antique Linen Stickles

Copic markers: E00, C1, R59

Viva Cream Paper Pen

Cream, white, dark red cardstock

Foam tape

Tea Cup Gratitude Card

Hello all!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  We sure did!  I even did a little Black Friday shopping with my daugher!  Spending time with her was the fun part!

It's a really, really busy week for me!  Lots of commitments due!  Besides that our church has a cookie walk on Saturday.  I usually bake from 50-80 dozen cookies for that.  It's not looking good for getting that many done this time! 

I'm taking a little break to post this card. 

I put this together awhile back when I created my "Let your light shine" card using the Spellbinders™ Tea Cup as a lamp shade.  You can see that post here!

This is a little more traditional use of the Tea Cup shape.  I used the same Flourishes stamp only colored it differently.  This one has a more oriental look.  It reminds me of some tea cups my Grandma gave to me from her collection.  They all have flowers on them!  For years we gave her one every Christmas!

I'm not going to give directions today.  All the supplies are listed below.  Email me if you have any questions!

Supplies:
Spellbinders™ S4-350 Tea Cups
Spellbinders™ S5-062 Lace Doily Accents
Spellbinders™ S4-346 Labels Twenty-Two
Spellbinders™ S5-023 Mega Ovals
Spellbinders™ LF-161 Grand Labels One
Spellbinders™ S4-324 Ribbon Banners
Flourishes Beauty Within stamp set
Flourishes Country Charm Labels
Graphic 45 papers
Gold Metallic paper
Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L - 3D Foam Squares
White Card Stock
Copic Markers
Gold EP
Distress inks: Tumbled Glass, Antique Linen
Gold Cord

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing you all a blessed Thanksgiving!

Let Your Light Shine Card

Did you see Spellbinders' new Nested Tea Cups die templates released on Wednesday???  You can read more details on the Spellbinders Blog and find some awesome projects using this set.

I often see things a little differently!!!  Outside the box at times!!!   When I first saw this set, I imagined the tea cup as a lamp shade!   Check out my card to see how it looks!!

To create my stained glass lampshade, I stamped a stained glass image from Flourishes Beauty Within on white card stock with Black Onyx ink and clear heat embossed it.  I cut it out with the medium tea cup die template.  I used Copic markers to color it.  I had a note with the colors but I think I threw it away when I cleaned my work table. Sorry.   I used a fine tip black marker to trace along the embossed edge at the top and bottom of the shade. 
The lamp base is 2 of the biggest handle cut from black card stock.  I flipped one to get mirror images and glued them together.  I free hand cut a piece of white card stock to fit behind.  I colored it with several shades of green Copic markers. 
I cut 2 strips of brown DP to create a "shelf" for the lamp.  I chose a background paper that looked like wallpaper.   I shaded it with Distress inks to give the illusion of a lighted lamp!  The edges are cut with Spellbinders E8-002 Classic Bracket Edgeabilities™. 
The verse was stamped on ivory card stock.  I traced the opening of one of Spellbinders S4-322 Grommet Tags around the verse and free hand cut it out.  I cut the Grommet Tag from black cardstock.  I glued the verse strip to it. It's mounted with foam tape and I'ved added 2 black brads.
The lamp shade is shaped and mounted with 3D Foam Squares for dimension.
  

I hope I've inspired you to look at your Spellbinders die templates in a different way!  This set of Nested Tea Cups makes cute tea cups!!!  Besides that, you can use them for a lamp and Kimberly used them to cut Lily of the Valley flowers!!!  Check it out here!  How versatile is that?!!!

Thanks for visiting!
-judy

Artistic Outpost French Flight Release

Today is the release of Artistic Outpost’s new stamp set French Flight!

French Flight is the newest addition to Artistic Outpost's catalogue of unique vintage inspired stamp collections.
In the late 1700's , two French brothers, Joseph and Etienne Montgolfier launched the first manned ballon from the from the center of Paris and flew for a period of 20 minutes.  In 1793, Jean Pierre Blanchard became the first to fly a hot air balloon in North America, yet another French adventurer!
This stamp collection pays homage to these adventurers. Fun, quirky, with a little bit of steampunk thrown in for good measure, French Flight is pure creative delight.
Collection available in both unmounted rubber sheets or pre-mounted on EZMount cling foam and hand trimmed on a clear cling storage card!

As most Artistic Outpost stamp sets do, this set coordinates well with many of the other sets, especially Paris Expo. 

I created this collage with most of the stamps from French Flight.  They all work so well together.  The hot air balloon is from Paris Exposition.

My base for the collage is glassine paper, a paper with a waxy coating.  It just naturally makes the stamping look vintage.  It was my first time using it.  I really like the effect.  I simply stamped all the images with Ranger Archival Jet Black ink, no Distress ink at all!  That’s amazing, huh?  I almost always use some Distress ink.  The beauty of this paper is that it has a vintage color already.
This is a very simple collage to do.  I started with a piece of glassine paper that’s 3 3/8” x 4 1/8”.  I stamped the 3 gentlemen first.  Then I stamped them again on text weight (printer/copy) paper to make a mask. I cut it out.   I used repositionable tape to stick it over my stamped image.  Then I stamped the other images starting with the balloon (Paris Expo) and adding images from French Flight.  I stamped the title at the bottom and filled in with  script.  Remove the mask and “ta da!”, a great collage!  Easy!!
For the card, the collage is mounted on a piece of ivory card stock.  I did use Vintage Photo Distress ink on the edges of that!  Both are layered onto a black mat.  Then I added black brads at each corner. The card base is actually Kraft color.  I rubbed Distress inks along the edges until it blended well with my collage.   I kept the card very simple to focus attention on the collage.

You’ll find lots more  inspiration showcasing French Flight at these designers’ blogs!!!

· Gerrie Johnnic

· Lisa Somerville

· Judy Hayes - you are here already!!!

· Lynn Stevens

· Barbara Washington

· Stephanie Severin

· Suzanne Czosek

· Louise Granlund

Thank you so much for stopping!!!
-judy

Spellbinders and Crafters Home Fall Sneak Peak Blog Hop - Day 2

Check out Day 2 of the Spellbinders™ and Crafters Home Fall Sneak Peak Blog Hop!
Go to Spellbinders Blog for today's details!

These Designers are showing projects created with the new S5-068 Dress Forms:

Latisha Yoast

Holly Simoni

Gloria Stengel

Becca Feeken

Tina McDonald

Fall Sneak Peek Blog Hop for Crafters Home Day One

Join Spellbinders™ Paper Arts and Crafters Home

as we celebrate a Fall Sneak Peek!

Spellbinders and participating stores in the Crafters Home Buying Group are excited to introduce three new die template sets sold exclusively through Crafters Home stores through January!  You’ll have to wait until February to find these die template designs in non-member stores.
These new dies are in stock! Get yours now at a participating Crafters Home store!  See the Spellbinders Blog for the list of participating stores
Visit the Spellbinders Blog November 14 - 16 to see a new Spellbinders die template revealed each day! Visit designer blogs to enter the daily contests and see inspiring projects using the new releases. Comments on Designers Blogs and the Spellbinders Blog count as entries into daily drawings. Daily winners receive all three of the new designs!

Today's new die template is S4-341 Wavy Rectangles


Dimensions:
1: 3/8 x ½”
2: 1 1/8 x 1 ¼”
3: 1 7/8 x 2 1/8”
4: 2 ¾ x 3 1/8”
5. 3 5/8 x 4 ¼”




Now, that you’ve seen the new Wavy Rectangles die templates, you want to see the project, right?!!  

I created a double photo frame perfect for wallet size photos!  Great for school photos.  This frame could easily be adapted with more frames for any number of photos. A simple and easy gift for grandparents, aunts and uncles, friends!

Each individual frame consists of 2 – S4-341 Wavy Rectangles #5 (#1 being the smallest) cut from red stripe Echo Park Dots and Stripes paper, 1 – Wavy Rectangles #3 nested in #5 cut from teal stripe, and 1 piece of adhesive backed white fun foam cut with Wavy Rectangles #5.  The Fun Foam adds thickness and is easily cut with Spellbinders die templates.  I like the white edge, too!



  This photo shows all the cut pieces as well as the die templates used for the double frame.  Only 1 of each of the small pieces is needed.  I realized that when it was too late to take another photo!!!










I cut the frame by nesting Wavy Rectangles #3 inside #5.

Here’s a tip I use for centering 2 die templates to cut a frame.  
I use another die template, in this case Wavy Rectangles #4 to help me center my smaller die template.  Yes, I use a ruler sometimes, too, but usually I just visually center it.  It’s easier to see the alignment on a small distance.  For this frame, I taped Wavy Rectangles #5 to the paper.  I nested both #3 and #4 Wavy Rectangles inside #5.   Then I aligned Wavy Rectangles #4 evenly spaced and centered.  I aligned #3 evenly spaced and centered in #4 and taped it in place.  I carefully removed #4 before cutting the frame.



After cutting the frame, I cut the row of holes with E8-001 Classic Scallop Edgeabilities™ which just fits the Wavy Rectangle to cut the holes within the frame.   Once the holes were cut, I placed the frame back into Wavy Rectangles #5 and #3 to emboss.  The embossed edges would have been flattened when I cut the holes had I embossed it earlier. 


Here you see the frame with Wavy Rectangles #5 and #3 in place ready to run through my Grand Calibur™ machine to emboss the edges.








I sanded all the edges of the frame front and back as well as the connecting Wavy Rectangle.

To assemble, I adhered 1 red Wavy Rectangle (not sanded as it won’t show) to the adhesive side of the Fun Foam.  I applied adhesive to another red Wavy Rectangle (sanded) with my Xyron and applied it to the other side of the Fun Foam.  It’s amazing how much the paper stiffens the Fun Foam!   (Tip: After applying adhesive with the Xyron and before removing the clear sheet and backing, run it through the Grand Calibur™ machine with embossing mat.  The adhesive is pressed onto the paper and won’t be left in the holes or along the edges!) 
To apply the frame to the front, I needed to leave a pocket for the photo.  I decided the easiest way to get adhesive along all the wavy edges and around the holes was to use my Xyron again.  I cut a scrap piece of cardstock about 1/8” wider than the photo and long enough to extend beyond the top where the photo will be inserted as well as below the frame opening..


 The scrap white cardstock is centered on the back of frame covering the opening. 

 I applied adhesive to this side with my Xyron. Then I peeled off the clear cover and discarded it.   I gently lifted the frame at the top edge from the non stick backing.  I didn’t take it off completely.  I slid out the scrap cardstock and discarded it.  I pressed the frame back onto the non stick backing.  I placed it on my base plate with a piece of text paper over it and the embossing mat and plate.  I ran it through my Grand Calibur™ machine.  Any extra adhesive on the edges stuck to the text paper as well as the adhesive in the holes!  

I removed the frame fromt he backing and placed it on the front of my Fun Foam sandwiched with red paper.  

For the double frame, I made 2 frames. 

To make the connection, I used one of the cutouts from a teal frame and cut another one from red paper(Wavy Rectangles #3).  I adhered them together with teal on one side and red on the other.  I used my Scor-Pal to make 2 score lines 1/8” from center, then folded each one.  I used Scor-Tape to adhere it to the back of the 2 frames butting each frame just to a fold line.  The frame can be easily folded to mail or give as a gift!




I added 3 little buttons with Glue Dots to each frame.











I hope you’ve enjoyed this project!
Be sure to check out all the other fabulous projects using S4-341 Wavy Rectangles! 

Visit these Designers Today!

Tonya Dirk

Heidi Blankenship
Shanna Vineyard

AJ Otto

Judy Hayes – You are here!

Contest Details
Participants wishing to be included in the daily drawing for the Spellbinders Fall Sneak Peek contest must adhere to all of the following rules.

• The Fall Sneak Peek starts November 14, and ends November 16, 2011. It consists of three individual contests, one each day.
• Each Fall Sneak Peek Bog will accept comments as entries from 12:00 am until 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time, on its scheduled day.
• Each comment counts as one entry. One entry per person, per blog please.
• One winner each day will receive the three new die templates available exclusively at Crafters Home stores.
• All three winners will be announced on the Spellbinders Blog on November 17. The winners will have 48 hours to respond to the email address on the winning post to claim their prize. If a winner fails to respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.
• By entering, you allow Spellbinders to publish your first name, city, state, and country of residence and a quote from you, on the Spellbinders Blog, website, and in promotional materials.
• Spellbinders Designers, contractors, employees and immediate family members are not eligible to win.
• The invitation to the Fall Sneak Peek Blog Hop is extended to all, we are happy to ship prizes worldwide.

Any questions regarding this contest should be sent to ContestQuestions@Spellbinders.us

Thank you for visiting!
-judy

Christmas Tree Card

Today, I have an easy Christmas card to share! 

All you need is some Christmas background paper ( I used Cosmo Cricket Thumpity Thump Thump), a 3 5/8" x 8 1/2" card base, 3 shades of green cardstock ( I used Bazzill), a scrap of brown and a scrap of white cardstock, a verse stamp (I used erry Christmas from JustRite Christmas Mini Sentiments Set), a button, red and white bakers twine and Spellbinders™ S5-028 Nested Pennants and E8-003 Classic Triple Scallop!  Oh, and I've used a little Antique Linen Distress ink around the edges of the card!

First, I cut the DP and adhered it to the card base.  I rubbed Distress Antique Linen ink around the edges.

 Next, I cut the tree pieces.  The trunk is cut with the long narrow banner from Spellbinders Nested Pennants.  You can see it adhered to my card base in the photo.

 For the tree, I cut one of each of the pennants from 3 shades of green card stock.  So easy to do with Spellbinders Grand Calibur machine because all 3 can be cut at one time! Then I used the Spellbinders Classic Triple Scallop Edgeabilities™ to cut the edge of each pennant. Two can be cut at the same time aligning the pennants next to each other and then taping the Edgeabilities in place over both. Such a great edge for a pine tree!

To assemble the tree, I added Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L - 3D Foam Squares along the bottom edge and regular adhesive at the top.   I placed the trunk and then added each layer using 3D Foam Squares on each one.

I cut another banner for the verse from white cardstock and stamped the verse in red. I trimmed the banner to fit the verse.  I added it to the top of the tree and placed a button with bakers twie over it.   I added the bakers twine garland to the tree after assembly.  It would be much easier to add it to each layer!

To make this card more mailable, simple cut a small circle of card stock to replace the button.  That will be much flatter.  The thickness of the button makes the card non -machinable and requires more postage! 

Happy Creating!!!

-judy