Dot & Whimsy

Team-up time again here at

The Papered Cottage

and today we're doing it up right with

 When deciding on the theme for my mini album, I was immediately

drawn to the Chipboard Gears by Basically Bare and how cute they

 would be dressed up as snowflakes!

I began by painting the kraft side of each gear with a white acrylic paint.

I then glittered the fronts with a coarse marble glitter. 

I found it best to use Glue Dots when attaching the desired pieces to the top of the glitter.

 Using the Basically Bare Hipster Album, I began plotting out how

best to display the different 'snowflakes' on the different pages...

I wanted them to create a nice backdrop or a vision of snowflakes falling from the sky.

To dress up the various envelope-style pages, I layered two different patterned

papers from the Christmas Wish Collection by Bella Blvd.

The base papers were cut to a 7.75"W x 3.75"H; 

the inner papers were cut to 7"W x 3"H.  I then machine stitched all of

the base and inner pages together.

 I adore house shapes, so the Happy Little Houses were a must have on one of the pages!

I simply traced the shape onto a Christmas Wish paper and cut to size.

I then dressed up the outside with a happy door trimmed in baker's twine and a

few punched snowflakes with pearl centers.

 At the ends of each page I added tabs using the corner stickers 

from the Alpha+Bits (I had two sheets of these stickers, so I was able to line

the backs of each sticker with a matching one...you could also use a piece of scrap paper). 

ether with a zig-zag stitch.

 The pockets make the ideal storage for journaling cards, extra photos or mementos.

I kept the backs of the envelope pages simple by adding different

Just Write Journaling Stickers...these ARE just write for this!

The inner-most page of the Hipster Album is a clear acrylic sheet.

So many things can be done to decorate these!

I simply went with a strip of Designer Tape that I neatly wrapped around the page.

Next, I matched up two sticker borders and applied them to both sides.  

You could also stamp onto the acrylic sheet using a Staz-On ink.

In finishing, I tied on bright matching ribbons to the comb of the album.  Voila!

I loved layering the pieces from Basically Bare along with Bella Blvd's

stickers, buttons, Designer Tapes and Ciao Chip...it's Merry & Bright dontcha think?? :)

Have a wonderful weekend, friends

I'm very excited to share that I have been 

invited to be a part of the 

for 

Blog: http://theserendipitousscrapper.blogspot.com/

CarrieAnn DeLoach is a long-time crafter and lover of handmade goodies!

Her shop is filled to the BRIM with deliciousness

and many of the items are made by her own hands ♥

I will have the pleasure of creating with fabulous finds such as these:

These are just a couple of the adorable things that you can find in 

the shop.  Curtsey Boutique also carries packaging pieces like

glassine bags, embossed sacks, gift boxes, as well as unique party

supplies, favors and so much more!

We'll begin sharing our Curtsey Boutique projects in January...

what a fun way to start the New Year!

Thanks for dropping by today :)

A good Thursday to you!

Welcome to the 

Today, I'm using a couple of brand new stamps.

First, Snowflake Kisses

I.love.this.set.

 (click on the photo to add to your shopping cart)

In preparing my card, I decided to include a few step-out

photos for you :)




 A 2" circle punch works just wonderfully for cutting out your
finished snowflake.  I distressed the edges with a walnut ink.


 Layer onto your card with foam dots.
Patterned papers by Echo Park Paper
Flat adhesive pearls by Queen & Co.
Pointy Border Punch by Fiskars.

Next up is the most gorgeously detailed stamp from the upcoming
DECEMBER KIT OF THE MONTH

Patterned papers and embellishments by My Mind's Eye.
This kit will be going on sale SOON!
Check out the details --here-- on becoming a KOTM member
if you're not all ready.
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**Let's hop on over to Shilo Miles' Blog now**
 and see what she has stamped up for us :)
 AND
don't forget to comment as you hop!
THREE $20 Unity Gift Certificates will be given away to lucky commenters
Happy Stamping!

Hello, Friends!

I have a couple of paper-crafty team-ups to share today.

Let's begin with:

Baubles and fobs...so many looks can be created with Epiphany products.

  My portion of today's blog hop: a quick and easy Holiday Key Fob and Winter Layout.

  Both projects have included Simple Stories' Handmade Holiday Collection

  and Epiphany's Round 25 Punch Tool, Bubble Caps and Round Metal Charms.

To begin, let's start with quick and easy:

 Not only can you dress up a key-chain to celebrate the season, but also

 a necklace, bracelet or work badge.  For mine, I used the snowman image from

 the 6x6 Handmade Holidays Paper Pad, the Round Tool, Bubble Cap and Round Charm

  (all in size 25).
 I attached the Bubble Cap to the Metal Charm with a permanent
and high-tack Glue-Dot. Slip onto a small ring, tie on a little
ribbon and attach to a key-ring.

For my layout, I wanted to keep things neutral and
 non-Christmas as this photo was taken in January.

  I used the same Bubble Caps and Tool for this project.

Simple Stories' Tis The Season paper from Handmade Holiday
has the perfect sized round snowflakes to match the Round 25 Punch Tool!
  I punched out three different snowflakes and topped each with a Bubble Dome.
 I knew that I wanted to use the felt snowflakes that I found at Hobby Lobby,
 but the Bubbles seemed to get lost.  So, I punched three 1.5" circles from 
Red Dot/Santa's List paper, attached them to the felt with a dab of fabric
glue and then stitched an X over the tops with crochet thread.  Using two squares of foam dots,
 I attached the Bubble Snowflake to the Red Dot paper.

 A medium sized pearl adhesive was added to the center of each Bubble Snowflake.
  In keeping with the round, lacy theme of the layout, I used a doily die-cut (by MFTStamps.com)
to make a background for each of the felt snowflakes.
 Because I used the Green Holly/Notebook paper, I was able to use one of the
 doily shapes for a journal spot!

Layers of Handmade Holiday papers, a sticker border and snowflake stickers
completed the clean-and-simple page!
Supplies:
Handmade Holiday- Green Holly/Notebook Paper; Red Dot/Santa's List Paper;
Tis the Season Paper; Holiday Cheer Paper; Fundamental Cardstock Stickers
 and Expression Cardstock Stickers
Epiphany- Round 25 Punch Tool; Round 25 Bubble Caps; Round 25 Metal Charms


PRIZES PRIZES PRIZESSimple Stories and Epiphany Crafts will be giving away prizes at the end of the week!

Leave a comment on the Simple Stories blog and like the facebook page for
 your chance to win a Simple Stories Prize Pack!

Also visit the Epiphany Crafts blog for a chance to win!
Leave a comment and like the Ephiphany Crafts facebook page and
you might just be a lucky winner of an Epiphany Crafts Prize Pack!
GOOD LUCK

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AUTHENTIQUE PAPER & HELMAR BLOG HOP

To start, cut six pieces of 4x6 papers (three from each pattern).

You may want to practice on scratch paper beforehand or use a template. 

I don't have a lot of experience in the art of collage, 

so when I was sent the 

as part of my Design Team assignment

I wasn't quite sure how I was going to go about it.

Maybe I'm just a little too structured to ever be a master collager,

but boy did I have fun makin' this!

In beginning, I took the 12x12 canvas (included in the Mixed Media Kit) and painted it a light blue.

I then followed than with a bit of clear glitter and washi tape around the edge.

Next, I took two sheets of cardstock (trimming one down so that it was a little smaller)

and machine-stitched the two together.  Taking several of the patterned papers from the 

City Sidewalks 8x8 paper pack, I cut 25- 2.75" squares and applied them to 

the cardstock.  Wanting a 'quilted' look, I used a piercing tool to make a 

border of holes around each square.

After that, I focused on building my collage.  I started that process with

two lace doilies that I die-cut with Lifestyle Craft's Lace Nesting Dies.

The fun began when I started arranging different elements from the 

City Sidewalks Ephemera pack!  I love all of the sweet vintage-styled die-cuts.

Enlist fun punches like snowflakes, ornaments, etc.  Tying in with the base of

the canvas, I glittered just a couple of the snowflakes.

You will also find a set of cool clear stamps in the kit...I made the 'fabulous' banner and stamped the

heart from the stamp set.  

Gotta have swag!  So I made a washi tape banner (also in kit) and used the cute little

sticker alphas from the November Scrapbook Kit!

 Hand-tied buttons and swirls of baker's twine softens the collage.

I'm now finished and I love it!

I all ready have it displayed amongst some of my vintage goodies...

it looks perfect :)

Now, I do believe at this time there are a few of the November Kits remaining,

but I wouldn't wait too long to grab what you need before they're gone!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Good Afternoon!

Shellye here with a card that I'm so excited about sharing on this

I love, love finding photos of inspiration throughout the 

blog-o-sphere, but most especially on Pinterest.

In search of the perfect inspo piece for today's post, I found

this beautiful picture of vintage ball ornaments that were showcased

in a shadowbox frame...(I would like to try this too!)

Photo pinned from countryliving.com

Here is my card created from this inspiration:

I used the snowflake stamp from the October Unity Kit-of-the-Month,

as well as the holly leaves.

First, I stamped the snowflakes onto a dark red cardstock with an

Alabaster Fluid Ink by Colorbox...I love the way this goes on and looks on

darker cardstock papers.

I used a 2.5" circle punch to cut out the snowflakes.

I then layered the circles onto a dark blue ornament punch (by Fiskars)

You could use any type of punch that creates a cool top for your ornament!

Before attaching my ornaments to the blue background, I drew two lines

in which my ornaments would 'hang' from.  Just measure out the same distance

from the sides...you could also machine stitch over the line or even use baker's

twine.  

Next, I stamped the holly leaves onto a bright green cardstock and

cut out.  

Finally, I attached my ornaments to the cardfront with foam squares and

added a small adhesive pearl to the center of each.  Using a fine-point glue pen,

I added on a border of red and white baker's twine around the perimeter!

This turned out to be such a fun, yet simple card to put together!

Perfect for those quick Christmas cards that you may need to whip up this year :)

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I hope to have enough time later on to post my Mixed Media Collage
that I did for The Paper Bakery...just in case I don't, I hope you all have a
wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!