Layout for Creative Embellishments

Here's another layout that I made for an 8 x 8 scrapbook.   It was supposed to be a Christmas gift, well thinking Christmas 2021 now, as I didn't get it done for 2020!

Creative Embellishments has some great quotes and I've used one on this layout.  Perfect for a new baby!  I heat embossed it with Stampendous Aged Ivory Embossing Enamel.

Sometimes I get carried away and throw everything but the kitchen sink on a layout but I tell myself that simple can be good and effective.  I think this layout accomplishes that goal; it is simple but effect.  Two great photos of a beautiful baby and a preciou sentiment!

From the Creative Embellishments Store - 

10 little ..quote

HOW TO ENTER THE CHALLENGE

Be sure to check ou the monthly challenge on the Creative Embellishments Blog because you could win a great gift certificate to the store! To find the monthly challenges just click on the pink search icon on the upper right side of the page and enter “challenge” in the search box and the challenges will pop up. Here are the rules:
Create a NEW project layout, mini album, tag, card, canvas, etc….as of December 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.

Thanks so much for visiting, I appreciate it!

Snarky Tag for Creative Embellishments

You know there are THOSE times when you wish you  had said what you were really thinking!  Ha ha, I just love the Big Talk Stickers from Tim Holtz.   So even though I didn't say it out loud, at least I got it off my chest by saying it creatively!  So, for this tag for Creative Embellishments (CE), I chose two of those stickers and used them on this great large CE tag.  There's nothing like a pretty tag with a bit of sarcasm thrown in, right?

CE's large tags are 5.5" x 10".  I love these big tags as there is plenty of room for being creative and embellishing.

I first adhered a piece of yellow dotted design paper to the tag.  Then I adhered a strip of striped paper down the center.  Next I used the Distressed Pattern Stencil and white moulding paste to mask the background with random designs.

I used 2 Postage Stamp Frames that I heat embossed to frame two ephemera cards.

I colored 2 washi tape clusters with Lindy's mist and they dry brused on a little paint and used them as bases for the Big Talk labels.  

Add some flowers and ribbons and that's it!  A lovely tag with a hint of sarcasm!  What will I do with this tag?  I'll probably just keep it and hang it in my studio.  Or I might share it with someone who understands my brand of humor!

PRODUCTS FROM CREATIVE EMBELLISHMENTS

Rectangle Stamp Frames

Washi Tape Shape Clusters

Washi Tape Clusters

Distressed Patterns Stencil

Other Products

Graphic 45 Ephemera Queen

American Crafts Zing Embossing Powder- - Mustard

White Gesso

Tim Holtz Big Talk

Distress Ink - Antique Linen, Vintage Photo

Lindy's Edelweiss Moss Green Mist

HOW TO ENTER THE CHALLENGE

• Be sure to check ou the monthly challenge on the Creative Embellishments Blog because you could win a great gift certificate to the store! To find the monthly challenges just click on the pink search icon on the upper right side of the page and enter "challenge" in the search box and the challenges will pop up. Here are the rules:
• Create a NEW project layout, mini album, tag, card, canvas, etc….as of December 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.

Thanks so much for visiting, I appreciate it! 

Maggi xoxo

New Thinlits Dies from Eileen Hull!

I was so excited to see these great new dies from Eillen Hull Designs by Sizzix. I used two new thinlit sets, The Mandala and Folio Page, Pockets & Flowers to make this spring card from Graphic 45's Epemera Queen collection.

The Mandala die:

The Folio Page, Pockets & Flowers die set:

My Card

There's a pocket in the right lower corner where I have inserted an ephemera card.  Here you can see that beautiful mandala with the ephemera card removed from the pocket.  Tip:  Before die-cutting the mandala, adhere the paper to an adhesive sheet, then die-cut.  That way your die-cut can be securely adhered to your surface.  Otherwise, it is hard to apply glue to these type of cuts.

The flowers are made with dies from the new thinlit set, Folio Page.

Here's how the card came together.  First I cut a piece of cardstock that is 11" x 5.5", scored in the center and folded to creat the blue card base.  Then I cut a yellow piece of design paper that is 5.25" x 5.25".  I used the folio page thinlit die to cut the next piece  (floral print), it is 5" square.   The mandala is cut from blue design paper and at the bottom, cut from floral design paper, is the pocket.  

To assemble, adhere the yellow striped paper to the blue base, centering.  Adhere the floral piece over the yellow piece.  Then adherethe mandala slightly off center to the left.  

Fold the flaps to the back of the corner die-cut and put a thin line of glue on the flaps and adhere to the bottom right corner.  (Sorry I forgot to photo this before I added the flowers.)

Now let's make a flower.  From the Folio Page, Pocket & Flowers die set, cut two of the largest flower.  cut in between each of the flower petals so that it is easier to shape the flower and give it dimension.  Use tweezers to give each petal a twist.

Die-cut two of the starburst shapes and fold them around the end of a paintbrush or something similar to give them shape.

Now stack and glue the two flowers together being sure that the flowers petals on the top are opposing the bottom layer. 

Glue one sunburst insde the other and adhere in the center of the flower.  That's it, easy peasy!

To make the other flower, cut one large flower and one of the small flower.  Cut the petals and twist the larger flower as we did above.  Twist the smaller flower but don't cut.  Glue the two together and then with tweezers, lift the inner petals on the small flower forming a center.    Die-cut some leaves, use a stylus to score a vein down the center of each petal and pinch together.  Glue the flowers and leaves to the right  corner of the card over the pocket but be sure you don't glue over the pocket opening!  Insert the epehmera card into the pocket and you are done!

Eileen Hull Designs by Sizzix Dies

Sizzix Thinlits Die - Mandala

Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 12PK - Folio Page, Pocket & Flowers

Other Products:

Graphic 45 Epehmera Queen

Thanks for visiting today!  Be sure to stop by Eileen's blog and see all the goodness from the design team!  This month we're featuring cards using Eileen's dies; there will be lots of great ideas for sure!

Maggi xoxo

 

Happy New Year! January Challenge for Creative Embellishments

New Year, new challenge!  Here's the inspiration photo and the twist is to use lace or fabric on your project.

My take on the challenge...

This is my adorable great niece framed with a CE baby frame.  Aren't those little feet just the cutest?  I painted the frame white and added a pinch of peach paint to color the feet.

The frame is about 3.5 x 5.5" so it works nicely with my 9" x 8" page.

Love this banner!  I heat embossed it with Stampendous Aged Ivory Embossing Enamel and fitted it right under the framed photo so that it all works together.

Creative Embellishments Chipboard

Baby Frame Set

Family Banners

Other

Graphic 45 Little Darlings Collection

White Paint

Stampendous Aged Ivory Embossing Enamel

HOW TO ENTER THE CHALLENGE

 Be sure to check ou the monthly challenge on the Creative Embellishments Blog because  you could win a great gift certificate to the store!  To find the monthly challenges just click on the pink search icon on the upper right side of the page and enter "challenge" in the search box and the challenges will pop up.  Here are the rules:

• Create a NEW project layout, mini album, tag, card, canvas, etc….as of  November 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.

Happy New Year friends,  I hope this year is filled with good health and happiness for you.  
Thanks so much for visiting, I appreciate it!

Maggi xoxo

 

Snowy Layout for Creative Embellishments

It's my last project for the year and I have to tell you, I sure hope 2021 is a big improvement over 2020!  Wow, what a disasterous start to this new decade!

I created this layout for Creative Embellishments (CE) featuring my first two standard poodles, Chena and Chili.  They were quite the pair and loved to play in the snow.  I think they would have stayed outside all day long if I had let them!

To create my snowy scene I started with paper from the Stamperia Blue Land collection and stenciled snowflakes on the background with a CE stencil.  Next I painted a large floral frame with blue and white paint, muddling the colors together.  I created some paper layers and topped with my photo that is popped up with cardboard to add dimension to the layout.

I use a paw print frame, painted white, to accentuate the photo.

I used pine cone clusters as the base for my floral clusters.  They were first colored with Lindy's mists and after the mists dried, I dry brushed with white paint.  I like to use mist as a coloring agent because it does not fill in the etched lines on the chipboard and doesn't cover the design elements.  I topped the clusters with flowers that have also been dry brushed with white paint.

To add to the snowy look, I randomly added white painted snowflakes around the layout.

Products from Creative Embellishments

Floral Frame Large

Paws Frame

Pine Cone Clusters

Pine Cone Branch

Chipboard Snowflakes 

Snowflake Stencil

HOW TO ENTER THE CHALLENGE

 Be sure to check ou the monthly challenge on the Creative Embellishments Blog because  you could win a great gift certificate to the store!  To find the monthly challenges just click on the pink search icon on the upper right side of the page and enter "challenge" in the search box and the challenges will pop up.  Here are the rules:

• Create a NEW project layout, mini album, tag, card, canvas, etc….as of  December 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.

Thanks so much for visiting, I appreciate it!  Wishing you a very Happy New Year!

Maggi xoxo

Eileen Hull Designs Roundup of My Favorite 2020 Projects

This month Eileen's Design Team is doing a roundup of their favorite projects for 2020.  While it is great fun to go back and look at these projects, picking out a few favorites is hard!

I'll start with this Gift Box that is perfectly sized to hold a teacup.  Picking out my most favorite project wasn't too hard, this Teacup Gift Box is the clear winner.  After that I love them all the same!  Kinda like kids, you love them all but sometimes for different reasons! Click on the link below for all the details!

Teacup Gift Box

I love this Trinket Box because it is so feminine and you know I'm a sucker for flowers, lots of flowers!  Click on the link to discover a little trick that makes this go together really well.

Trinket Box

I love making Halloween anything and this Pocket Journal was loads of fun.  In the tutorial I show you how to make pages and pockets.

Halloween Journal and Page Ideas

I really, really, love Eileen's Pocket Notebook die because it's such a great size.  Here's a nature themed journal and that photo of the bear on the front?  I took that picture in Katmai National Park.  Click on the link below for all the details and some more bear pictures.

Nature Themed Pocket Notebook

Although 2020 has been the year that should not have been, at least Eileen has brought us much joy with her new dies!  Stay tuned for 2021, it's gotta be better.  And best of all, new dies are coming!!

xoxo Maggi

Kitchen Decor with Creative Embellishments

Creative Embellishments has added some great home decor products like this 6.7" x 11.9" mason jar.  It's made from 3/16" thick plywood and is laser cut.

I painted the jar with black chalkboard paint thinking that I could use this as a menu board or just to write little notes.  You could put a magnet on the back and attach it to the fridge! 

I love this chipboard title because the cook always needs an appreciative kiss or two, right? It's colored with Stampendous Aged Hunter Embossing Enamel.

 I colored the lid with Prima Metallique Wax - Old Silver.  I wanted to be sure that the detail etching in the lid was still visible after coloring so I didn't want to use paint as paint usually fills in the etchings.  Mist might have worked also but I really like how the wax worked with the wood.

Add a gingham checked ribbon and a flower to complete this country look!

Products from Creative Embellishments

Mason Jar

Kiss the Cook

HOW TO ENTER THE CHALLENGE

 Be sure to check ou the monthly challenge on the Creative Embellishments Blog because  you could win a great gift certificate to the store!  To find the monthly challenges just click on the pink search icon on the upper right side of the page and enter "challenge" in the search box and the challenges will pop up.  Here are the rules:

• Create a NEW project layout, mini album, tag, card, canvas, etc….as of  December 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.

Thanks so much for visiting, I appreciate it!

Maggi xoxo

December Challenge at Creative Embellishments

Time for the last challenge of 2020 at Creative Embellishments!  The biggest challenge of the year has just been getting through it, but I guess that's another story...

Anyway, here's the inspiration photo for the challenge and the twist is anything goes!

My Take on the Challenge

I'm stil working on that mini album and I admit that I am not so sure it's going to get finished in time.  There's always next year right??  Again, I used a large frame on this 8 x 8 page.  I love big frames; they seem to pull everything together. I used white embossing powder on the frame as I usually do.

The words are heat embossed with Stampendous Red Tinsel embossing powder.  Love how that gives the words a sparkly effect.

Thanks for stopping by!

Creative Embellishments Chipboard

Large Filigree Frames

Magical Moments

Moments Word Set

HOW TO ENTER THE CHALLENGE

 Be sure to check ou the monthly challenge on the Creative Embellishments Blog because  you could win a great gift certificate to the store!  To find the monthly challenges just click on the pink search icon on the upper right side of the page and enter "challenge" in the search box and the challenges will pop up.  Here are the rules:

• Create a NEW project layout, mini album, tag, card, canvas, etc….as of  November 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.

Thanks so much for visiting, I appreciate it!

Maggi xoxo

 

Comfort & Joy - Journal the Holidays with Eileen Hull and her Design Team

Comfort & Joy

Join Eileen Hull, the design and educator teams on the Facebook Eileen Hull Facebook Fan Club page for fun and inspiration all during December!  It's time for some Comfort & Joy after this crazy depressing year!

Thankfully 2020 is rapidly winding down right?  I imagine that for many of us, the holidays will be different and maybe a little lonely.  I will be missing my family and the gatherings that we usually have at Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I'm used to cooking big holiday meals and this year I'm cooking for just two.  🙍

We need some fun in our lives so all of us at Eileen Hull Designs put our heads together and came up with an event that you can participate in as much or as little as you'd like. It's a challenge of sorts and we'd like to see you to make a Holiday Journal for this season using any of Eileen Hull Design's book dies.  Your journal could include activities, photos, recipes, shopping lists, daily thoughts, etc.  Really, it can include anything you want; after all, it's your journal!

Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday between November 27th and December 23rd there will be a post in the Eileen Hull Fan Club from one of Eileen's team members with a prompt for a journal page.  These prompts are meant to get your creative thoughts flowing and give you page ideas for your Holiday Journal.  It might be in the form of a blog post, Facebook Live, recorded quick video, or a Facebook post in the group.  It's up to you to take it from there and we can't wait to see what you come up with, so please share your covers and pages with us in the Eileen Hull Fan Club.

My Journal Cover

I used Eileen's Pocket Notebook die and an older Graphic 45 collection, St. Nicholas  to create my journal.  I'm not much for ink, stamps and mixed media.  I am a paper person and I love to mix patterned papers.

I chose a black base pattern for the outer covers and a red patterned paper for the inside.  Then I added more patterned paper layers.  On the front I added a green layer and then a fussy cut of Santa from the collection.  

I added 3 labels to the cover, Memories, Traditions, and Moments.  I cut them on my Cameo and they are easier to read in real but just didn't photo all that well, sorry.   I placed the words on a strip of solid paper and then popped it up so that the words would stand out.

Some Tips for Assembling Your Notebook:

1. Begin by cutting matboard slightly larger than the size of your chosen notebook covers.
2. Select your papers, cut the same size as in step 1 and place adhesive to the back of the papers.  I like to use Eileen's adhesive sheets for this.  Peel the back off the adhesive and adhere the paper to the matboard.  Do the same for both sides of the matboard.  I find that putting the adhesive on the paper rather than the matboard works better.
3. Place the side down on the journal die that you want for the front cover and run the paper covered matboard through your die-cutting machine.  You will need to cut a front and a back journal cover.  If you are using directional paper, pay attention to the direction.
4. Now start adding paper layers and embellishments to your covers!

I hope to see you on the Facebook Eileen Hull Fan Club page!  Thanks for stopping by my blog today!