Blog Shout Out for November

Thought I would give a shout out to a wonderful blog I cam across called "The Craft Barn" and they are holding a HUGE blog candy giveaway....and who doesnt like a little candy? Pop over and check them out they have all kinds of fun things for the paper crafter in us all!

Can you imagine winning all these goodies?

They also have challenges, ideas, classes you name it. So I invite everyone to pop ove and say hi to them!

Small Business Saturday....Support your local Scrapbook stores!

I wanted to take a moment and challenge all my followers to take part in the national event "Small Business Saturday" on November 26th. Just what is this event? well in a nut shell; First there was Black Friday, then Cyber Monday. Now, there's the 2nd annual Small Business Saturday, the day people support small businesses. Pledge to Shop Small on Nov 26th. If millions of Americans shop small, it will be huge. So how can we as scrapbookers and paper crafters do our part? By supporting our local scrapbook stores! So here is what I would like everyone to do leave a comment here and tell us about a local scrapbook store you support give the address if you can this will help everyone get to know about shops in their areas...or if they are travling to spend the holidays else where they know about great shops to visit.
What do you get for leaving this info? The knowledge that you helped out your local stores, plus I will draw one name who will win an exclusive holiday ephemera sheet!
So here are my shout outs to my favorite local stores

STAMP ANTONIO ARTS
5139 North Loop 1604 W, #108
San Antonio TX 78249
210-764-7900
HOURS: Tuesday through Saturday 10 - 6 
Wednesdays 10 - 9
Sunday 12 - 4

I will be there on the 26th doing an entire day of make and takes. Every hour we will be doing a prize giveaway!

Stamp Antonio

Journal Make & Take

Ornament Make and Take

Mini Book make and Take

SCRAPBOOK N MORE

Market Place Shopping Cntr
(West side of IH 35)651 N. Bus. IH 35
Suite 410
New Braunfels, TX 78130(830) 214-1690

Monday - Saturday
9:30am -5:30pm
Sunday
12:30 pm - 5:00 pm
 We will be there on Sunday 27th doing a FREE make and take from 1-2 and then a alcohol inked ornament class from 2-5


Novel Approach

607 S. Friendswood Drive #15
Friendswood, Texas 77546
Phone: (281) 992-3137

They are having a big After Thanksgiving sale on Saturday the 26th!


By Design Scrapbook Boutique
 1131 Clear Lake City Blvd.
Houston, TX 77062
(281)488-9100

New Store Hours: Monday, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Friday 10:00 - 7:00
Saturday 10:00 - 6:00
Sunday Closed

They have new owners but the same wonderful atmosphere. This is a scrappers dream shop!


So if you can go out and support the indapendent companies help them make it through the rough times! Show what they mean to you!
And dont forget share your stores to win a prize!

 

Silver and Gold Christmas Challenge

Hi Everyone

I got to thinking about Christmas because really it is just a month away after all and thought back to my favorite things about the holidays and I have to admit that one of my favorite things is to send and recive cards especially if they are hand made, the ideas that my crafting and artist friends come up with are just breath taking and it takes me back to when I was a child and opening gifts...there is a bit of magic to opening that first Christmas card of the season.
One of my favorite looks is when people use metalics to make their cards. I love working with metalic shimmer papers, stickles, embossing powders and metalic colored ribbons, it is a elegant way to create cards. So I was thinking not only will I share a few of my designs with you but thought it might be fun to hold a challenge and see what you all come up with. So all you have to do is create a card using metalic colors i.e. Gold, silver, copper, pewter...you get it and place a link to this posting so we can all see you design. then on December 15th one lucky person will win a stocking full of Blog Candy....including some of my favoite things like Authentique papers, Viva Pearl pen, stickles, B & J Stamping embossing powder, Gecko Galz Digital Stamp Disc, flowers from Flying Unicorn, and ribbons and lace galore. So start dreaming of a silver and gold Chistmas for a chance to WIN!
Please enjoy my cards and the free images for you to play with...who knows maybe the free ephemera images will inspire you to make a card...or tag...or gift card holder...

MY DESIGNS

Mother Mary Card

To make this card I used silver shimmer paper for my card base, reflective gold paper torn to create the belly band (I got this paper at JoAnnes, Gold and Silver pearl pens (you can get these from Scrappy Land), Metalic Antique Gold acrylic paint from Hobby Lobby that I distressed the edges of the ephemera edges, and finished it with a piece of Gold organza ribbon from May Arts (which Gecko Galz will be selling soon).

OVER THE RIVER CARD

I started with an Antique Gold shimmer card stock for the base and embossed it using the Sizzex Christmas embossing folder (you can get it at Hobby Lobby it is a two pack) and embossed the top of my card base. then I took a ephemera piece and pop dotted it to the center of the card and place decorative silver and gold ribbon at the top and bottom (I got this at Hobby Lobby). I finished it off by adding silver pearl pen to the center of the embossed flowers and gold stickles to the frame around the house scene (you can get stickles at scrapbook.com).

LET IT SNOW CARD

So for this card I started with silver shimmer card stock and using Versa Mark Ink I stamped snow flakes all over the front of the card (I used Gecko Galz Garden Mandela Clear Stamp Set for my snow flakes and center madallion) then using Rangers Ultra fine silver embossing powder I embossed the snow flakes then I took a 4"x4" square of gold shimmer paper and embossed the large snowflake using the ultra fine gold embossing powder. I cut it out and using pop dots put it on the top of my card then used silver and gold pearl pens to decorate the inside. I wanted to tell you a little trick for the pearl pens make sure you hold them at an angle like you would a pencil and squeeze lightly for small pearl shapes, the harder you squeeze the larger the pearl. Then I took Paper Studios large adhesive pearls and put them on the circles along the outside. You can add a piece of ribbon if you like but I thought it distracted from the center piece.

REINDEER GAMES CARD

I started with Antique Gold shimmer card stock as my card base and took my star hole punch (I got mine at Hobby Lobby) and punch stars on the right side edge randomly. Then I took the reindeer digi stamp from Gecko Galz and using Wild Honey Distress ink by ranger and my inking tool I cover the stamp image then I ink the edge with red radiant rain ink in Hot Cinnamon. Then I layered image on a piece of cool steel shimmer card stock and gold. Then place on left side of stamped area. Then I used the same cool steel and cut a piece to go behind stars. I finished it off with some gold and silver  ribbon I found at JoAnnes. Last add silver pearl pen in between the stars.

SIMPLE JOYS CARD

Start this card with silver shimmer card stock and emboss it using the other Sizzex embossing folder from the Christmas set. Then take your brushed metal card stock (I got this at JoAnnes) and cut a 2.5" strip to place down center of card front. Then take your Joy Domino image (this is a Stamp Antonio exclusive set by Gecko Galz) and using pop dots adhere to center of silver piece. Then using your gold pearl pen add pearls down each side of the silver strip and on the crown.  Then tie around the a piece of decorative ribbon around scroed edge and tie in knot.

ANGEL OF PEACE

Start with gold shimmer card stock for your base and your angel image (I used a piece from Gecko Galz "Angels" set ) and using antique gold acrylic paint (I got mine at Hobby Lobby) and a bristle paint brush and distress your edges with the paint and streak in down image, this will create a vintage freso look. Then take a piece of cool steel shimmer paper and streak it with the gold paint as well then adhere to left side of card. Take a piece of sliver organza ribbon and using glue dots (or gloobers) and string across the card base then ties a bow out of the same ribbon and place on right side of card with a glue dot. Cut a gold and silver mat to place behind the angel and place it in the center of your card. then using your silver pearl pen and place pearls around the right side of image.

I hope you enjoyed my cards and here are some fun images for you to create your own wonderful designs!

Have a happy scrappy day
Leanne

Here comes the Holidays!

So It is hard to believe that Christmas is right around the corner and I thought I would share with everyone  some fun little cards using Gecko Galz Collage images. If you are like me I hate doing tonz of the same cards for people on my holiday card list....my list is HUGE and the idea of doing 100 of the same card is a burden so I do a number of different cards each year (this makes the ADD side of my brain happy). So the first group I always make cards for are my whimsical friends and these are the cards I came up with this year;

Christmas Diva Card

To make this card I started with red Card stock, Gecko Galz In Vogue collage Set, red stickles, red jewelry wire, red jingle bell, black card stock to make the belly band, pop dots, star hole punch and the Christmas  banner (I added it below if you wish to make this card). Just cut out all the ephemera, score your 8x5.5 red cardstock base and layer on using pop dots to adhere the lady and word banner.

Santa Clause Card

For this card I used a 8x5.5 white card base, two manila colored tags, bakers twine, Gecko Galz St. Nicholas Collage Set, Gold UTEE by B & J Stamps, May Arts Ribbon, A music background stamp, Radiant Rain in red, Pine Needles Distress ink, Versa Mark Ink, pop dots, holiday buttons I got at Hobby Lobby, Wild Honey Distress ink and ink blending tool.

score the card base then on the front use the radiant rain to edge. With Vesa Mark ink distress the Santa mandala you cut out and then sprinkle with UTEE and using embossing gun heat until it looks like molten metal. Stamp your tag with red ink and your background stamp then ink the edges with the pine needles ink. Also using your ink blending tool cover the front of your card with the wild honey ink then layer on all you embellishments using pop dots on the mandala.

Santas Secret Doorway Card

Start with a 8x5.5 card base then cut another white piece that is 4.5x5.5 with a half inch score line on the left side  (this will form the third layer which is the door) then cut 2 panels that are 1.5x 2  and 2 panels that are 1.5x1.5 that will be the door embellishments. You will also need the wreath from below and the little envelope that reads merry christmas as well as Gecko Galz "On the cover of a magazine" collage set for the santa and boy, one small christmas button, christmas flower soft, red satin ribbon,red bling, pop dots, Glossy Accents,red line tape, and red stickles to decorate the wreath.

Use you red line tape to adhere the 1/2 score area of your 4.5x5.5 card to your card base to form door then layer on your panels and wreath. After that you are ready to do the inside take your Santa image and using an exacto knife cut a slit in santas sack going around the ball image and when you adhere to card leave small pocket area so you can slip in the "Merry Christmas" tag with piece of red ribbon as handle. Finish with flower soft by adding a stream of Glossy accents under feet and press on pinch of flower soft.

Snow Baby Card

Start with 8x5.5 red card stock base and add Gecko Galz "All the Trimmings" collage set for baby and poinsettia, also flocked green mesh ribbon, a 5 1/4" x 2" white card stock embossed with Sizzx christmas embossing folder, may arts duel satin ribbon in red and green, and gold & red stickles, liquid applique for your poinsettia , glue dots, and pop dots.

Layer on all the embellishments and take your liquid applique and paint it on your poinsettia then heat with your head gun until it puffs up (do not heat to long or it will burn and turn brown).

Here are your FREE embellishments if you want to try your hand at making the cards above.

Happy Crafting to all

Leanne