Layout for Creative Embellishments

You know, layouts are my favorite thing, and I don't do nearly enough of them these days.  I have photos from our trip to Alaska last summer that need to be scrapped and this is one of them, taken in downtown Anchorage.  I loved this blue bear and that, along with all the beautiful flowers, makes Anchorage so colorful in the summer.  Its certainly a change from the dirty snow and ice of winter!

I used several chipboard pieces from Creative Embellishments on this layout.  Underneath the photo I used the Harlequin Circle but I cut the harlequins out of the circle.  I painted all the chipboard pieces roughly with white paint, purposely not covering the chipboard 100%.

I used Stamperia's Blue Land papers which is such a beautiful line with many mixed media appearing details.  You really don't need to do much!  I did stencil on the background using the ledger stencil and this lightly touching the stencil marks with Vintage Photo Distress ink.  I also added a piece of  printed paper underneath the photo that I lightly inked. 

Stemming out from the flowers on the left is a vintage flourish that I cut into two pieces so it could extend from both the top and the bottom.

This is a Distressed Chevron Piece, I needed a little balance down in that corner.

Creative Embellishments has so many great words and word sets that make great titles.  This is from Travel Word Set 1. I cut some really narrow foam tape and popped it up.

Supplies from Creative Embellishments

Harlequin Circle

Travel Word Set 1

Distressed Chevron Pieces

Vintage Flourish 3

Ledger Stencil

Creative Embellishments Challenge

I hope you'll enter our monthly challenge; it's always the first post on the Creative Embellishments Blog.  You could win a great gift certificate to the store!  Here are the rules:

• Create a NEW project layout, mini album, tag, card, canvas, etc. of  the 1st of each month, 2020.
• It is required that you mention in your blog post that you are playing along at Creative Embellishments together with a link back to our blog page. Please make sure to reference our challenge. Please, no old projects. (meaning projects from previous months that may fit the challenge) Please share only new projects.
• Please add your entry to the inlinkz tool below to be eligible for the prize. You have until the last day of each month 11:55 pm eastern time to enter.
• Simply add a link to your FB photo (if you do not have a blog) featuring your challenge entry. Let us know how you were inspired by the photo.
• Combining with other challenges is permitted.
• We would love to see you USE AT LEAST 1 OF CE products on your projects but it isn’t required to play along.
• WINNERS will have 2 weeks to claim their prize. The winner will be announced on this post the day after the challenge ends. Keep an eye out to see if you are a winner.

Thanks for stopping by, I do appreciate it!  

xoxo Maggi

Eileen Hull Designs New Mitten Die

Eileen Hull's new mitten die is so darn cute and versatile!  I made a little mini book out of it and it was so easy to do.

To make the covers, cover two pieces of matboard 5" x 6" on both sides with your selected paper.  Lay the covered matboard with the front face down on the die and run through your die-cutting machine.  Cut your pages for the mini using the same die, and bonus, you can cut several pages at a time.

To bind the pages together I used an older Eileen die, the Movers & Shapers Magnetic Book Binding Die which makes book binding a snap. (Here's a tutorial that explains in detail how to use the Book Binding Die.)  Die cut your pages, insert the rings, and that's all, your book is ready to use.  

This mini is great for using up your scraps of Christmas papers!

I created a little pocket on one of the pages and tucked in a cut-apart that could be used for journaling.

You can place a photo on each page or write a note.

Eileen Hull Designs Products Used

Sizzix ScoreBoards L Die - Box, Mitten

Sizzix Making Essential - Mat Board, 6" x 13"

Eileen Hull Easy Cut Adhesive Sheets

Sizzix Movers & Shapers Magnetic Die - Book Binding (no longer available at Sizzix but I did see it at Amazon and Scrapbook.com)

Graphic 45 St. Nicholas Paper Collection

Thanks for stopping by today.  Be sure to check out Eileen Hull's blog where you can see lots of fabulous projects with this Mitten die AND the new Snowman die.

Creative Embellishments July Challenge

Time for a new challenge at the Creative Embellishments Blog.  Here's the mood board, something will surely inspire you!  This twist this month is to use a birthday theme.

My Take on the Challenge

It's pretty obvious where the inspiration for this card came from as you can see one of the photos on the mood board is lilacs, and so, I chose Stamperia's Lilac Flowers collection to make this card.  

I use a pretty photo corner in the upper left to anchor my lovely Little Birdie Crafts flowers.  The sentiment is from Small Sentiment Words set.  I used Stampendous Aged Wine Embossing Enamel to color both pieces of chipboard.  Then I just diecut several layers for the front.

I did a simple pop up on the inside using the pretty papers to make layers.

Step Card

The 2nd card is a step card that will stand up so prettily all on its own.  

  I used a Scribble Frame to group and highlight my chose embellishments.  It looks so nice on the center pane of the card.  I treated the frame with Stampendous Shabby Chic White Embossing Enamel.

I thought the pink polka dotted paper insdie was so pretty, I just left it as is and added the words from the Birthday Word set also heat embossed with Stampendous Shabby Chic White Embossing Enamel.

How to enter the challenge

The monthly challenge is always the first post on the Creative Embellishments Blog.  Be sure to check it out, you could win a great gift certificate to the store!  Here are the rules:

• Create a NEW project layout, mini album, tag, card, canvas, etc….as of  July 1st, 2020.
• It is required that you mention in your blog post that you are playing along at Creative Embellishments together with a link back to our blog page. Please make sure to reference our challenge. Please, no old projects. (meaning projects from previous months that may fit the challenge) Please share only new projects.
• Please add your entry to the inlinkz tool below to be eligible for the prize. You have until the last day of each month 11:55 pm eastern time to enter.
• Simply add a link to your FB photo (if you do not have a blog) featuring your challenge entry. Let us know how you were inspired by the photo.
• Combining with other challenges is permitted.
• We would love to see you USE AT LEAST 1 OF CE products on your projects but it isn’t required to play along.
• WINNERS will have 2 weeks to claim their prize. The winner will be announced on this post the day after the challenge ends. Keep an eye out to see if you are a winner.

Creative Embellishments Chipboard Used:

Small Sentiment Words

Photo or Page Corners Set 2

Birthday Word Set

Scribble Frames 1

Eileen Hull Designs Blog Hop Introducing the New Snowman and Mitten Dies

Thanks for coming to the Eileen Hull/Sizzix Chapter 3 Release Party Blog Hop! Check out the creative ways the Inspiration and Education Teams have used the Mitten and Snowman dies! We hope that you will be inspired too and share how you use the dies in the Eileen Hull Fan Club.

The hop starts at Eileen's blog, and then:

Madeline Arendt

Julia Aston

Jennie Atkinson

Debbie Bankston

Karen Bearse

Susie Bentz

Pam Bray

Sue Eldred

Anna-Karin Evaldsson

Annette Green

Maggi Harding

Lisa Hoel

Anita Houston

Sarah Lizzie

JennyMarples

Elizabeth Robinson

TonyaTrantham

Cheryl Waters

Mitsyana Wright

Nicole Wright

But wait- there’s more- the Release Party continues! You won’t want to miss the Facebook Live at Eileen Hull Designs at 12:00 noon Eastern time on Wednesday, July 1! Join the chat- and a random commenter will win the Snowman die. We are so glad you joined us to celebrate the Chapter 3 release.

Please hop with us through all of the projects and leave comments on the different designers' blogs. A lucky commenter will win the Mitten Box die…

New Dies!

These dies are just adorable!  Be sure to hop a long and see all the fun ways that the design team used these dies.  Both dies make up as cute little boxes that would work great for party favors, candy boxes, gift boxes, you are only limited by your imagination.

My Snowman Projects

For my first project, I decided to go traditional and make a snowman box.  I think he is so adorable with the plaid scarf!

Assembling this box is really easy.  Cut two of the snowman and all his parts and one box base from chip or mat board.  I first covered my mat board with white cardstock before die-cutting. Then I die cut all the little pieces from different pieces of cardstock that I taped onto the die so that I could cut several shapes at once.

Napkin Rings

I love to set a pretty table and I thought these little snowmen would make great napkin rings and look so festive on the table.   

 To make the rings cut a piece of paper 2 1/2" x 5" and score at 5/8" on each verticle side.  Fold at the scorelines and glue.  Then join the ends, overlapping 1/2" so that you've formed a ring.  Then assemble your snowman and adhere to the ring at the seam.

Eileen Hull Designs Dies Used

Sizzix ScoreBoards L Die - Box, Mitten

Sizzix ScoreBoards L Die - Box, Snowman

Be sure to hop along and visit all the designer's blogs, there's so much to see!!

The Funkie Junkie Saturday Showcase - Stamperia's House of Roses

Sadly, this is my last post for The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog.  I find that life is demanding more of me and  I don't have the crafting time that I used to have.  It has been a real pleasure to serve with this design team and Linda, the owner.

For this Saturday Showcase, all the designers have designed a tag to share so be sure to visit the blog to see all the designers' creations.  I've used Stamperia's House of Roses paper collection on my tag.  This is such a gorgeous collection of pinks.

I decided to go simple with this as the cut apart I used really doesn't need anything else other than the simple white woodgrain background,

To create the background, I first painted a Graphic 45 large tag with white gesso.  Then I stenciled on a woodgrain pattern using a Tim Holtz stencil and texture paste.

After the texture paste was really dry, I inked with Hickory Smoke Distress Ink to give the appearance of aged bleached out wood. 

Next I put a thick layer of Ranger Crackle Accents all over the cut apart and let that dry.  Then I rubbed Hickory Smoke ink over the surface so that the crack in the surface would show. 

Then it was a simple matter of assembly.  I diecut  couple of corner vines to place underneath the pretty Little Birdie flowers.   I also used Lindy's Ponderosa Pines Olive and Frosty Forest Green to color the leaves to give them a more natural appearance.

At the bottom I added die-cut paper lace.

A pretty bow and butterfly complete this simple but effective tag.  I can see this on a white wrapped package. It would be the perfect thing to turn an ordinary package into a masterpiece.

Supplies from The Funkie Junkie Boutique

Stamperia - House of Roses 12x12 Paper Pad
Graphic 45 - Large Tag Album - Ivory
Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Layering Stencils - Woodgrain
Ranger Inkssentials Crackle Accents
Dina Wakley Media Mediums - White Gesso
Ranger Texture Paste Opaque Matte
Sizzix Chapter 2 Tim Holtz Thinlits Crochet
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Hickory Smoke

A Floral Canvas with Little Birdie Flowers and Papers

Sharing a Little Birdie Crafts floral canvas with you today featuring their gorgeous roses. I've used an 8" x 8" art panel from the Little Birdie store as my base.

I first covered the panel with paper from the Shabby Chic Bouquet collection.  I applied an adhesive backing sheet to the paper so that the paper could not bubble when mixed media was applied.   After inking the paper edges I painted it with clear gesso.  I allowed that to dry and then used a floral stencil to mask the flowers in the left corner.  Then I used a sea sponge to sponge on some watered down white gesso.  This is the result.

Next I prepared these two chipboard pieces by heat embossing them with Stampendous White Shabby Chic embossing enamel.  Then I glued the frame around a cut-apart from the Shabby Chic Bouquet collection.  Don't worry about the bottom of the tag hanging outside the frame.  It'll be covered with flowers.

After fussy cutting the clock and the birds that you see in the photos, I started putting the piece together.  I used several layers of dimensional foam tape to pop up the cut-apart and clock.  

Now just tuck the flowers in and around the focal point cut-apart.  Be sure and put some behind the cut-apart for a natural appearance.

Tuck the floral chippie beneath the cut-apart and place some smaller flowers across the top and add a jute bow.

Here you can see how I tucked flowers under the edges of the cut-apart.

Supplies From the Little Birdie Crafts Store

Paper Pack Shabby Chic Bouquet- 12in x 12in,12 Sheet, 12 Designs
Watercolor Art Panel 8in X 8in 2Pc
Stencil
White Gesso
Mixed Media Paste White
Rosalind Celebrate Life 21pc
Elira Celebrate Life 40pc
Chipboard and Floral Scroll

Color Splash- Berry Blast

Jute Braided Flat Twine 7Ply Natural

Thanks so much for joining me today.  Remember that you can now order from Little Birdie's US based warehouse.  Shipping is fast and economical and there is no minimum purchase requirement.

Cattywampus Challenge at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog

The Challenge
Sara Emily is hosting this fun challenge called Cattywampus.  As a fellow southerner I know all about cattywampus.  In case you don't know what cattywampus means Sara Emily tells you all about it in desribing her challenge. "Cattywampus is a funny sounding southern slag term I hear a lot around the house. According to the On Line Slang Dictionary it has several meanings including "appearing off center, diagonal from, crooked or not level, appearing askew, tilted or lopsided". Taking inspiration from any one of these definitions, include something cattywampus in your vintage or shabby chic project. Be sure to tell us what that cattywampus thing is; we might miss it!'"

My Take on the Challenge

I think I am a bit cattywampus myself, 😅!  If I don't use a ruler most things I do are apt to be just a wee bit cattywampus so I love to make things that are purposely tilted, or cattywampus! 

This card has two cattywampus layers, and don't they look just so pretty?

I used the beautiful Ciao Bella Sicilia Collection to make this card.  I love the yellows and blues.  I die-cut a blue payer to put under the top layer and focal point.  When I select my layers, I like to used contrasting colors so that each layer stands out on its own.

I used a "Thanks" stamp from the new Graphic 45 Sentiment Stamps collection along with a new Graphic 45 die.  Here I've nestled 3-D flowers in with the flowers printed on the papers to create a colorful garden.

Of course, no project is complete for me until I've added lots of pretty blooms!

Supplies from The Funkie Junkie Boutique

Ciao Bella - Sicilia 12x12 Paper Pad

Graphic 45 Staples - Sentiment Stamps

Graphic 45 Staples - Policy and Decorative Dies

Ranger Archival Ink Pad - Cobalt

Dina Wakley Media Mediums - White Gesso

Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Layering Stencil - Burst

Ranger Texture Paste Opaque Matte

How to Enter The Funkie Junkie Blog Challenge

Create a vintage or shabby chic project and link it up to The Funkie Junkie Challenge Blog Challenge, Cattywampus, by 11:55 PM EDST June  9th.  The Design Team will choose their top four picks, with the winner being invited to be a guest designer in one of our Funkie Junkie Challenges. The other three winners will receive Top 3 badges to display on their blogs. Everyone who enters and follows the rules will be entered into a draw to have the chance to win a $25 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique.

The guidelines for entering are simple; create a new vintage or shabby chic project following the challenge theme, link to your post (not just your blog) and also include a link back to this challenge in your post. You can combine our challenge with up to 10 challenges (including this one) to be in with a chance of winning. If you are entering through a public forum (such as Instagram) you'll need to include the words 'Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge'. Also, please be sure to turn off your Word Verification so our Design Team can leave comments on your blogs. Make sure you follow these rules as unfortunately, we have had to eliminate entrants from the prize draws in the past.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Tag for the Guys for Creative Embellishments

I made this fun tag for my husband using a large tag from Creative Embellishments. At 5 1/2" x 10", they are the perfect size for most any project. He's a real grease monkey and loves nothing better than to play with old broken down cars and trucks. He really is quite talented as he is able to take a pile of "junk" and turn it into a street legal, street rod.

Ciao Bella's Start Your Engines paper collection is so perfect for doing projects for my hubby!  The background of the tag is a paper that looks like metal plating.  Then I added some black stenciling using CE's metal plate stencil.

I used two distressed checker pieces to go along with the racetrack checkered flags.  How did I get them so nicely black and white?  Easy, just paint the checker pieces with white paint and then glue to black paper.  Then trim off the excess black paper and you've got a black and white checkered piece.

Of course I had to include some rusty gears.  I used rust colored embossing powders to get the effect.

Had to add the old jalopy of course!  I used some gray and brown ink to dull the "black" of the paper.  After all, it's an old jalopy and the paint has long since faded!

You know I put flowers on everything so I added this rosette, I figured the hubby would not "see" it as a flower.

Products from Creative Embellishments

Large Tags

Gear Set 2 Large

Distressed Checker Pieces

Metal Stencil

Other Products

Ciao Bella Start Your Engine paper collection

Mix'd Media Truffle Embossing Powder

Emeral Creek Baked Texture Chunky Rust

Tim Holtz Rosette Die

Tim Holtz Old Jalopy Die

Wendy Vecchi Studio 490 Black Embossing Paste

Creative Embellishments Challenge

I hope you'll enter our monthly challenge; it's always the first post on the Creative Embellishments Blog.  You could win a great gift certificate to the store!  Here are the rules:

• Create a NEW project layout, mini album, tag, card, canvas, etc. of  the 1st of each month, 2020.
• It is required that you mention in your blog post that you are playing along at Creative Embellishments together with a link back to our blog page. Please make sure to reference our challenge. Please, no old projects. (meaning projects from previous months that may fit the challenge) Please share only new projects.
• Please add your entry to the inlinkz tool below to be eligible for the prize. You have until the last day of each month 11:55 pm eastern time to enter.
• Simply add a link to your FB photo (if you do not have a blog) featuring your challenge entry. Let us know how you were inspired by the photo.
• Combining with other challenges is permitted.
• We would love to see you USE AT LEAST 1 OF CE products on your projects but it isn’t required to play along.
• WINNERS will have 2 weeks to claim their prize. The winner will be announced on this post the day after the challenge ends. Keep an eye out to see if you are a winner.