Santa Claus...

...is Comin' to Town! Metaphorically speaking, that is, this fortnight at Jingle Belles; as we continue our celebration of "The Man With the Bag"! Here's what I made this week:

I treated myself to a couple of 49 and Market paper packs, including Christmas Spectacular 2023 from which came all of the papers above. I had to force myself to stop at four layers, lol! The frame around that Authentique Santa journal card is from a set of Tim Holtz Idea-ology Vignette Covers which I bought specifically to use as frames on cards. The burlap poinsettia is the last of a pack from Petaloo. I may have gone a teeny bit overboard in terms of both distressing and machine stitching but... nahhhhhhh... I love it! :)

This challenge runs at Jingle Belles through next Wednesday, May 8th, so you still have time to join our Santa-centric fun, which I hope you will!

Bloomin' Beauties

I'm constantly inspired by Wendy Vecchi and Cassie Lynch, especially when it comes to the building of "flat layers" by which I mean adding lots of inking, stamping and stenciling in a "collagey" style... thereby achieving the appearance of dimension and texture WITHOUT the bulk or weight of physical layers. I'm still practicing at this skill, but I think today's background is pretty good!

I "smooshed" several shades of Wendy's Archival Inks from Ranger (Bluebird and Prickly Pear to be precise) onto the Craft Mat attached to the back of my MAKE ART Stay-tion, spritzed with rubbing alcohol, then picked up the result with a panel of cardstock. When it was dry (which is nearly immediate using alcohol and Archivals) I added a cascade of stamped leaves in Leaf Green; some text in Night Sky and a few stenciled dots in Bluebird. When my flat background was complete, I added a few torn strips of Wendy's Washi Tape, and added flowers from the Spellbinders' Vintage Florals Die Set, which I stamped Perfectly Plaid in Tea Rose and added some Sunflower Ink on top. I started out with leaves and centers that were Fern Green and Bluebird, respectively, but at the last minute I swapped them for plain which which somehow simultaneously made them blend in AND stand out better?!

If you are not following @wendyvecchi and @mk_knits on Instagram you are missing some VERY good stuff, I tell ya! Additionally, Facebook users will enjoy the Make Art with Wendy Vecchi Group, where you can get lots of ideas and inspiration from fellow Vecchians, as well as post your own Wendy-centric creations. Either way, be sure to catch Tip Tuesdays which are absolutely always full of beauty and practical tips!

Happy Birdie

Eyelet Outlet Bird Brads of a feather flock together to make the sunniest and happiest of birthday cards! Our Bluebird and Robin Brads share the stage with a handsome Profile Cardinal on stacked backgrounds of Wide Sky Washi and Music Note Tape. Yellow Colored Daisy Brads provide a nice snack for a Mini Ladybug, while a Mini Bee Brad heads home to his hive.

The Birds and the Bees.. not to mention Ladybugs, Dragonflies and LOTS of other critters can be found in the Eyelet Outlet Store!

Celebrating MOM!

Here in the USA we'll celebrate Mother's Day on Sunday, May 12th; so this is the time to go all-out for our favorite ladies! Today I'm up on the Ranger Project Page using bold and beautiful Ranger Archival Ink shades with Dina Wakley Pocket Circle Stamps, Simon Hurley Sunrays Layering Stencils and Letter It Sentiment Stamps in STARRING roles, I'd love for you to head over there and see the full tutorial!

Magic Pencil Mandala Monday

A few years ago, Stephanie gave me this amazing set of @kohinoor_hardtmuth Tri-Tone Pencils, which I don't use nearrrrrrrly enough, but when I do, it's always a lot of fun. I like to combine them with my original Koh-i-noor Magic Pencil and I often pop in a little more structure by adding outlines with my Letter It Fineliners from Ranger. This creation is in my Dina Wakley 6x6 Kraft Journal which I love for its sturdy, square pages!

Hey, Santa Claus!*

Everybody’s waitin' for the man with the bag** this fortnight at Jingle Belles, as we celebrate Santa Claus, aka Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, Pere Noel... ok, you get the idea, lol. Here’s what I made:

I've said this before, but it bears repeating: Doodlebug has really never made a collection I didn’t love; and that goes double for Christmas! I’ve combined a bunch of different Doodlebug elements: the Santa, tree and a few presents are cut from journal cards; the presents and candies are stickers; the sentiment is from a the super-useful page full of tags and sentiments that most D-bug collections come with. The red text paper is Elle's Studio... I think... it’s ancient, and was in the scrap box so I'm not positive. The blue graph paper is Photoplay. There are Eyelet Outlet Enamel Dots and an Enamel Star on the cute Christmas tree and a Matte Dot on Santa's hat.

This challenge runs until May 8th. Hop over to Jingle Belles to see what Stephanie’s made and start planning your own Santa-centric masterpiece. 

*Hey, Santa Claus by the Moonglows is a cool R&B holiday song that I really love. Just sayin'... ♥

**For the record The Chenille Sisters do my favorite version of The Man with the Bag in case you need a little extra mojo.

Garden Trio

Spring has emphatically sprung in the Northeastern United States, so luckily there are Eyelet Outlet Brads (& Washi Tape!) to celebrate all of the best aspects of this bloomin' beautiful season!

To "BEE Happy" it helps to have Mini Bee Brads, Colored Daisies and a Heart Brad; with a background of diagonally arranged Flower Washi.

Life IS a Garden, and to DIG it, Garden Tool Brads come in especially handy. Here they're paired with green Leaf Brads and a Ladybug as well as a Mini Ladybug, set atop bold daisy Flower Washi Tape.

As a matter of fact. my favorite color is RAINBOW... but sunshine is also quite wonderful. Sun and Cloud Brads have teamed up with a rainbow from the Unicorn and Rainbow set; and a pair of stylish Sunglasses is perfect for checking out the fab Flamingo. Pink Checked Tape, arranged in an offset pattern, sets the scene.

Whatever YOUR favorite color, style or theme, Eyelet Outlet has the perfect embellishments to create a card that celebrates the season!