CCC #5: Noel Wall Art

The theme for our fifth two-week Creative Cutting Challenge is "Christmas - Not a Card".  Click here to join the challenge.  Even if you don't use SVG files, be sure to check out the creative inspiration from our Design Team...these are some talented ladies!

For my design team project, I created a Christmas collage on an 8 x 10 canvas using The Creative Pointe's "Christmas Headings" SVG set.  It combines some of my favorite things...glitter, vintage images, and lace...yum!

The Details:

• Noel is cut from recycled cereal box cardboard and glittered with two colors of red for depth.  

• I just LOVE vintage images (as if you haven't noticed)!  A gentler, artistic, more beautiful time in advertising...not like today!  I layered up an angel and a winter scene perfume ad along with a glittery felt snowflake and holly cut from Christmas scraps.

• The holly leaves were accented with Distress Inks and frosted with chunky crystal glitter.  The berries have a layer of Glossy Accents and are accented with Fired Brick Distress and Platinum Stickles.

• The whole piece has spatterings of Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint and chunky crystal glitter for an  overall icy effect.  The edges especially have heavy layers of paint and glitter...so frosty!  Pieces of lace and vintage buttons tied with baker's twine accent one corner.

Other Challenges:

Eclectic Ellapu: Challenge # 4 - It's a Vintage Thing

Pile It On: #45 - Make It Sparkle

BasicGrey Challenges: #80 - Anything Goes

Crazy 4 Challenges: C4C161 Anything But a Card

Crafty Ribbons Challenge: #31 - Christmas

Happy Campers: Challenge #3 - Shabby Chic

Anything But a Card: Challenge #5

Supplies:
Patterned Paper:	Basic Grey Figgy Pudding ‘Festive’, ‘Glee’; scraps
SVG:	The Creative Pointe ‘Christmas Headings’
Image:	Crafty Secrets; Vintage Feedsacks ‘Vintage Perfume Labels’
Inks:	Distress Ink ‘Barn Door’, ‘Iced Spruce’, ‘Crushed Olive’, ‘Old Paper’, ‘Frayed Burlap’; Distress Stain ‘Bundled Sage’, ‘Pumice Stone’; Distress Crackle Paint ‘Clear Rock Candy’
Embellishments:	Glitter; buttons; K&Co. border stickers; Hobby Lobby lace; Darice baker’s twine ‘Red / White’; Glossy Accents; Distress Stickles ‘Fired Brick’; Stickles ‘Platinum’; doily; Make It Christmas ‘Glitter Snowflake’; JoAnn glitter ‘Crystal’
Tools:	Foam brush; Tim Holtz paper distresser; SCAL; Cricut Expression; spray adhesive; Glue Dots
Misc:	8x10 canvas

Autumn Gobbler

Halloween's over, so repeat after me...gobble, gobble!

Nothing quite says "Thanksgiving" like a vintage turkey image!  I especially love this one because of the baskets of fruit he carries on his back.  Such a beautiful image. 

 

A Couple Details:

• The turkey is fussy cut and mounted on cardstock that has been woodgrain embossed.  After it was embossed, I stained it with several colors of Distress Stain and then hit the high areas with Walnut Stain Distress Ink and a foam blender.  The effect is like weathered barn wood.  The perfect background for barnyard poultry.  :-)  
• I've really been focusing on using up old supplies lately.  The berry spray is a sticker that I have had FOREVER.  There's still a few stickers left on the sheet, but I'm closing in!

Challenges:
Heck of a Challenge: 50 Shades of Autumn
Celebrate the Occasion: Challenge #86 - Fall
Splendiferous Creations: Bloggers Challenge - Give Thanks

Supplies:
Cardstock:	Papertrey Ink ‘Kraft’
Patterned Paper:	My Mind’s Eye Stella and Rose ‘Mabel’ 6x6
Image:	Vintage Feedsacks ‘Vintage Turkey’
Stamps:	JoAnn, Stampin’ Up! ‘Handstitched’
Inks:	Distress Ink ‘Old Paper’, ‘Walnut Stain’; SU! craft ‘Creamy Caramel’; Distress Stain ‘Rusty Hinge’, ‘Bundled Sage’, ‘Tumbled Glass’, ‘Brushed Corduroy’, ‘Pumice Stone’; VersaMark
Embellishments:	Buttons; Me & My Big Ideas ‘Fall Stickers’; PTI rustic button twine
Tools:	Scallop scissors; Sizzix Texture Boutique; Tim Holtz embossing folder ‘Woodgrain’, paper distresser; SU! punch ‘1-1/4” Square’; Glue Dots; foam ink blender

Cherish

My sister lost her English bulldog, Millie, this week.  She was nearly eleven (pretty old for a bully) and had failed quickly...she's now at the Rainbow Bridge with her brothers Mack and Louie. We must cherish the time we have with our pets, for they are always gone too soon.  I pray I have several more years with my boys, but I know the time will come.

I sent Cindy this card to bring just a speck of comfort.

A Few Details:

• In my mind, this sweet little bluebird looked like he was carrying a message from heaven.  A message of love from Millie to my sister.  :-)  I used a pink rub-on heart from a Valentine's Day set to embellish the envelop.
• Rock Candy Distress Stickles add some heavenly sparkle to the little birdie, heart, and surrounding foliage.

• The patterned papers are of course from My Mind's Eye.  The "Cherish" greeting was cut from a collage page and accented with a little Old Paper Distress Stickles.  It's mounted on foam tape for a bit of dimension.

Supplies:
Cardstock:	Papertrey Ink Kraft
Patterned Paper:	My Mind’s Eye Miss Caroline ‘Fiddlesticks’ 6x6
Image:	Graphics Fairy ‘Bluebird with Cherry Blossoms’
Inks:	Distress Ink ‘Old Paper’; Perfect Pearls Mist ‘Heirloom Gold’; Glaze gel pen ‘White’
Embellishments:	Distress Stickles ‘Rock Candy’, ‘Old Paper’; Hug Snug seam binding ‘Ivory’; vintage button; Paper Studio rub-on ‘Seasonal Valentine 2009’
Tools:	3M foam tape; Glue Dots; Tim Holtz paper distresser

Pumpkin Bingo Pocket

Happy Halloween!

I just love when a project can be altered to accommodate various seasons.  Here's another Halloween version of the toilet paper roll pocket stuffed with a hank of burlap and some fall foliage.

Some Details:

• My empty TP roll is covered with patterned paper from the My Mind's Eye Spider's Web collection and stitched the bottom together with black and white gingham ribbon.  The ribbon creates a cute effect along the bottom edge.
• For that little something extra, I stamped a spider onto grunge paper, fussy cut, then hung him from the bottom of the pocket with black thread.  A itsy bitsy spooky accent.  J
• Bingo card images always seem to be the perfect layering element.  This one is from Percy & Bloom.

Challenges:

Crazy Amigo Challenge: Halloween

Rogue Redhead Designs: Rebel Challenge #16 - Go Dotty

Inspiration Emporium: October Monthly Challenge - Spooktacular Decorations

Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Simon Says...Autumn Leaves

Home for Christmas

'Cause no matter how far away you roam

If you want to be happy in a million ways

For the holidays you can't beat home, sweet home!

I know it seems a little early, but in our busy worlds, it's never too early to start on your handmade Christmas cards.  And, this week's theme at Card A Day Blog is...you guessed it...Home for Christmas!  Yet again, I was inspired by a wonderful vintage image found online.  I think it was the quaint, fairy tale nature of the house and the starry night sky.  It also has a 1970's-ish color scheme which was a fun challenge in itself.

 

Some Details:

• Just for something a bit different, I embossed my striped background paper with Swiss Dot embossing folder, distressed the edges, then inked the edges and the embossed dots with a bit of Walnut Stain Distress Ink.
• My printer was running out of colored ink when it got to this image so the color was a bit uneven. Distress Markers to the rescue!  I touched things up with DMs and evened the light areas out with Old Paper DI...good to go.
• On a starry, starry Christmas night, you HAVE to have some sparkly snow and glowing windows!  I used Frosted Lace Stickles on the snow and Icicle for the windows and lantern.  This really gives the card that "something special".

• The fluffy seam binding is hand-dyed with Barn Door and a touch of Aged Mahogany Distress Stains. To pump up the red, I also added in some Festive Berries DI as my second layer of ink.  I wish you could see it in person...it looks washed out in the close-up, but it's not...it's actually soooo rich and pretty.
• And of course, since we'll be home with bells on, I had to pin some jingle bells to the bow and add in a couple holly leaves.

• Tip for making your own holly leaves:  I have to give my sister credit for this idea.  I was wondering aloud why I ever bought a bulk package of some truly ugly floral leaves.  They are dark green and shiny.  My sister suggested cutting them like holly leaves and using them for Christmas projects.  Is that genius or what!

Challenges:
Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog: #77 - Christmas in October
Crafty Ribbons Challenge: #31 - Christmas
ABC Christmas Challenge: U for Up to You

Supplies:
Cardstock:	Papertrey Ink ‘Pure Poppy’
Patterned Paper:	My Mind’s Eye Lost & Found ‘Christmas’ 6x6
Image:	Catnip Studio Collage ‘Starry Night Christmas Card’
Inks:	Distress Ink ‘Old Paper’, ‘Walnut Stain’, ‘Festive Berries’; Distress Stain ‘Barn Door’, ‘Aged Mahogany’; Perfect Pearls Mist ‘Heirloom Gold’; Alcohol Ink ‘Mushroom’; Distress Markers
Embellishments:	Hug Snug seam binding ‘Ivory’; trinket pin; jingle bells; floral leaves; Stickles ‘Frosted Lace’, ‘Icicle’
Tools:	3M foam tape; Tim Holtz paper distresser; heat gun; Zots; decorative edge scissors; mister; foam ink blender; Cuttlebug embossing folder ‘Swiss Dot’; Sizzix Texture Boutique