ScrapThat! Kit Club January Reveal & Blog Hop

Welcome to the ScrapThat! January Kit Reveal and Blog Hop!! 

I am very excited to be Guest Designer for the January kit, which is filled with wonderful Bo Bunny papers and products, plus fantastic embellishments!  The "Powder Mountain" collection combines shades of blue, white and grey into beautiful frosty wintery papers.

Here are 3 layouts I created....

"Ice Cold Winter"

I pulled out some older photos of my children playing outside and scrapped them for these first two layouts.

"Snow Bunny"

When my teenagers were young children, it was so easy to get a shovel into their hands...and they even thought clearing the driveway after a big snowfall was fun!

My last layout features a photo of my youngest daughter, which I took during our first blizzard of this winter, a couple of months ago.  I just love it when those huge snowflakes drift down from the sky. I used Amarylis's wonderful sketch for this design.

"Winter Beauty"

Later in January, I will share all of the details and techniques in these layouts with you over at the Scrap That! Blog.

If you came here from Scrap That!

then you are on the right track!

If you want to start at the beginning, here is the order:

Scrap That!

Kelly Klapstein

BoBunny

Sandi C.

Amarilys Doria

ScrapThat! Facebook Page

Tracey Gregory

Sarah Routledge

Tracey Sabella

Sandi Smith

Scrap That!

Don't forget to check my secret word at the bottom of this post!  

Not only does this kit feature the beautiful "Powder Mountain" line by BoBunny,

but BoBunny is also joining us on our blog hop this month!!

Leave a comment on their blog post for a chance to win a

BoBunny prize package!

~ January Kit Reveal ~ "Flakes of Snow"

Featuring BoBunny's "Powder Mountain" line, this kit matches crisp whites and blues with the earthiness of warm browns. When you open the box, the sparkles and textures just long to be played with!

Included are flowers from Prima and leaves from WOC, jewels and buttons from BoBunny, multiple ribbons from May Arts and more! Don't just think winter, as our DT will show you, this kit offers myriad layout possibilities!

Main Kit

Embellishment Add-On

Flower Add-On

 

Paper Add-On

More details on this sparkling Collection can be seen here: ScrapThat! Store

We are currently accepting new
Kit Club Members.

For more information,

complete the form on the link below:

New Subscriber

Look what Amarilys created for January's sketch challenge!

See details about the challenge here: Sketch Challenges

Everyone is welcome to participate, all entries due by January 15^th

Our Blog Hop features 11 fantastic blogs including our Design Team.

We have been scrapping away and are so excited to show you our  creations!

Our SPECTACULAR January Blog Hop Prize

is a ScrapThat! July Main Kit,

 "Summer in My Garden", featuring Fabscrap's Organic Collection:

To qualify for this month's FABULOUS Prize you must complete the following:

* Visit each blog listed on the hop to see what each designer has created using this month's kit and sketch (comments are very much appreciated).

* Each designer's blog hop post will feature a word to make up a secret sentence, collect these

words along the way.

* You must become a FOLLOWER of each blog along the way and LIKE us on our Facebook Page!

* Post the ScrapThat! Blinkie on your blog.

* For you last stop on our Blog Hop return here to the ScrapThat! Chat Blog.

Leave a comment letting us know you have

completed the hop.

(Please do NOT include the secret sentence in your comments.)

*Email the secret sentence to Tracey Sabella: tracey@scrapthat.ca

The Blog Hop ends Sunday, December 30 at Midnight EST

The prize MUST be claimed within 3 days of the forum announcement which will also be made on the ScrapThat! Blog.

~ If left unclaimed a NEW winner will be chosen ~

**Winner will pay actual shipping costs for sending the kit from Canada.**

Shipping costs will be invoiced via PayPal unless you are a kit member, then your prize will be shipped with your monthly kit.

Prizes won during the month will be mailed out the first week of the following month.

Due to Customs clearance, International mailings sometimes take 30-75 days to receive.

My secret word is: LOVE

Next hop over to

BoBunny

For your final stop, return to the ScrapThat! Blog to let us know you have completed the hop.

Remember ~ only send the secret sentence to tracey@scrapthat.ca

All of us at ScrapThat! wish you and your families a Happy New Year!

We are looking forward to seeing a whole host of new layouts!

Let the scrapping begin!

We can't wait to see what you create!

A Merry Christmas to All!

This is my last blog post before Christmas.  I waited until today because I wasn't sure if the world was ending or not.  Looks like we're good to go!  I guess the Mayans weren't great at making calendars after all.

I thought I would share some Christmas projects I designed for Canadian Scrapbooker.

First up....here are 3 cards I created for the Winter issue 2012 using Bo Bunny's Mistletoe collection.

Love these bright cute papers!

I added Robin's Nest Dew Drops as ornaments on this tree.

Aside from some lace and pom pom ribbon, I didn't do much else except cut the papers.  Their adorable Christmas images are perfect for simple cards.

On December 11, I had a blog post over at Canadian Scrapbooker about a Christmas card I made with Stampin' Up! products.  

Here is the card....

The tree is made with folded doilies cut with a Stampin Up Sizzix die.

Click HERE to visit the Canadian Scrapbooker blog post with the details and photos of  how I made my card.

Right now there is a HUGE contest over at Canadian Scrapbooker called "12 Days of Giving".  Every day you can enter to win a prize package from a different sponsor!  Click HERE to check it out.

I designed two Christmas projects for this contest, using Fancy Pants "Home for Christmas" and My Little Shoebox "Winter Wonderland".

I made Christmas crackers with the Fancy Pants papers for Day 3 of the contest....

They are super simple to make....

Cut an empty paper towel roll in half.  Measure and cut your patterned paper to fit around it.

Put SookWang double sided adhesive tape (1/4") at top and bottom edges of the paper.  Put a second strip of adhesive tape under the top strip (this will hold the tissue paper in place).

Remove the backing from the second piece of tape along the top.Cut a wider piece of tissue paper that extends about 4 inches past each side of the paper/roll.

 Centre the tissue paper edge on that exposed adhesive strip.

Now remove the remaining top and bottom adhesive strips and wrap paper with tissue around your empty roll.

Almost done....just tie one end with twine, fill with prizes and goodies, tie the other end and decorate the top!

For my second project on Day 4 of 12 Days of Giving, I designed an Advent Garland using My Little Shoebox "Winter Wonderland" collection. 

I bought the pretty iridescent silver garland at Canadian Tire, and I found the clothespins in Hobby Lobby in the States.

Each pocket is basically a rectangular piece of patterned paper, folded in two places for the body and the top envelope part. 

One of the pieces of MLS papers had all of the numbers 1 - 25, which I cut out and adhered to the front of the pocket envelopes.  I added stickers from their sticker sheet to decorate them a bit more.

On the back side of the pocket envelopes, I put small doilies (cut with the same Stampin' Up doily die I used for the tree "Joy" card).  In the centre of each doily I put an alphabet letter sticker, so the entire banner in reverse spells "Have a Merry Christmas!"

In the pockets I put chocolate gold coins....but I think my teenagers would prefer the real thing! 

It's not too late to win a prize package over at Canadian Scrapbooker!  Stop by there and check out all the fabulous projects made by the rest of the Design Team using all of the papers and products from contest sponsors!  Click HERE and enter to win yourself a Christmas present.

I'd like to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas! May you be blessed with a peaceful and joyous holiday season :)

Christmas with Carta Bella

Our monthly staff challenge and December kit at The Urban Scrapbook features wonderful papers from Carta Bella's "Merry and Bright" collection.

I love the non-traditional colour palette that has pink and pale turquoise!  So cute!

Here is Lynette's sketch and my layout...

"Made with Love"

There is a story behind these photos of BoyGenius at Age 2, his second Christmas.

While I was pregnant, I knit that sweater for my baby's first Christmas.  Well, it turned out a little on the BIG side, so it ended up fitting him for his second Christmas.

I was SO excited about my baby boy wearing something that I had knit.  I'm actually not much of a knitter, and when I look at these photos, I think, "Huh?  How the heck did I ever knit that?" 

Christmas day arrived and I gave BoyGenius his precious sweater, with camera in hand.  Of course, there was NO WAY he was going to wear it.  He refused to put it on.  [To say that BG is a strong-willed spirited child is an understatement]  

Did I mention I was 9 months pregnant with his sister at the time...and she was due on Christmas Day?  I gave up trying to convince him and left the room in tears.

Moments later, Daddy and BG came to find me and he was wearing the sweater!  Ok, so it was only for 15 minutes, and a few snapshots later he pulled it off, never to be worn again.  It wasn't the Hallmark moment I was imagining, but at least I have a scrapbook page now. ha ha!

Now back to the page design and this kit...

These raw chipboard letters were cut with a  Sizzix alphabet die.  I painted them red and covered them with Glossy Accents.

I used the Prima Metal Trinket Typo Bulb as a template and traced more bulbs for my banner on American Crafts glitter paper.  The silver tops of the bulbs are cut from silver glitter ribbon.

There were 2 large flowers in the kit. I cut the petals off my green flower to make my Christmas tree.  I simply adhered the petals to a triangular piece of green card stock.

I used the petals from my red flower to make the 3 hearts.  The border is a Martha Stewart edge/corner punch set.

I tucked a journaling tag under the photo, with the story of this Christmas Sweater

This sweater pretty much ended my knitting career, and I haven't knit anything since.  

But I have it carefully stored away, and when BoyGenius has his first child, you can bet Grandma is going to be wrapping up a very special sweater for Christmas! 

To see what the rest of the Urban Design Team has created with this kit, please click HERE.

December Sketchy Challenge

Winter might not be my favourite season, but I do love designing winter layouts! 

Here is the December sketch by Sue Sykes for the Canadian Scrapbooker Sketchy Challenge...

You can also participate in the Sketchy Challenge on Sue's blog HERE

And here is my layout, featuring Bo Bunny's "Snow Day" collection and photos of BabyOfThe Family playing outside about 8 years ago...

"Let it Snow" 

Now it seems the kids hardly ever go outside in the winter, unless it's to ski or to shovel (begrudgingly). 

I loved going to the park with my children in winter, where we would toboggan, make snow angels and forts.  I miss those rosy cheeks and lips and snowy good times!

Actually, BoyGenius and a huge group of friends went tobogganing one Friday night not too long ago.  I thought "Yay! He's 17 and still plays outside!"  Until his friends' neighbours called the cops because they were being too loud.  Sigh.  

For my layout, I used my Big Shot and a fantastic Spellbinders die set, as well as a Tim Holtz Sizzix die,  the new accordion snowflake....

This die set of snowflakes is AWESOME! 

I used the Sizzix die for my title, and added a little sparkle with American Crafts Wow! Glitter...

Harmonie Mosaic Tiles are glued along the edges of the title...

I punched holes and threaded May Arts ribbon along the top of my large banner background...

The ribbon is also tied into a bow on my journaling tag...

I think this Bo Bunny collection has a wonderfully unique colour palette....the surprising yellow and green look awesome with the teal, blue and cream.

I don't think I've ever made a winter page with a green background, but I'm glad I did!  

I hope you're going to play along with this month's Sketchy Challenge!  Click HERE to visit the gallery for lots of inspiration!

Hope you're enjoying the snow a little in your part of the world :)

Graphic 45 Nutcracker Sweet Christmas Cards

I don't design very many card classes, but last year when I began teaching at The Urban Scrapbook, my first class was Christmas cards, using Graphic 45's "Christmas Emporium" collection.  Click HERE to see the blog post about those cards.

Before their 2012 collections were released, I already knew there was a good chance I would be working on G45 cards again this time of year.  When I saw "Nutcracker Sweet" I swooned.  Those lovely ballerinas.....so elegant and beautiful!

Well, the whole ballet theme took hold in my brain and I came up with 5 cards, 4 of them featuring ballerinas!

Here are some close-ups and details about each card...

"The Nutcracker" 

Yeah, he looks a little too serious to be nestled in white and pink chiffon. ha ha!

The base of this card is Tim Holtz Black Kraft Core Coredinations, which I embossed with the Sizzix wood grain embossing folder. I also embossed the green polka dot piece for the card's interior with the Christmas words folder.

Using my craft knife and ruler, I cut a window into the front of the card.

I adhered the embossed green paper inside.

I cut out the Nutcracker and adhered him inside so his head would appear in the window.

Using this Martha Stewart branch punch, I created some greenery below the window.

I coloured seam binding with Fired Brick Distress Stain, crumpled and let dry.  Then tied a bow and adhered with liquid glue.

 "Winter Wonderland"

The background is Bazzill "Pansy" purple card stock stamped with snowflakes, then glittered with "Lavender" glitter using Ranger's new Sticky Embossing powder.

This is the first time I used this Sticky Embossing powder and it's awesome!  But you  have to work fast because it cools quickly and then loses its stickiness.

I cut this American Crafts glitter paper to look like snowy hills.

Diamond Stickles came in handy for adding sparkle to the blue ballerinas...

I also added stickles to the Winter Wonderland tag

These dancers are popped up onto foam squares.

Yes, I know this card does not reflect reality and our ballerinas here in Canada do not dance in the snow like this! [But I do wish our snowflakes were purple!]

"Sugar Plum Fairy"

I cut the mini music sheets from the "Enchanted Journey" patterned paper.

The edges are sparkling with chunky clear glitter

 Here is how I created those glittery edges...

Add Glossy Accents or other clear drying adhesive along the edges of the mini music sheets.

Pour chunky glitter over the wet Glossy Accents.  Let dry for about half an hour.

I fussy cut the Sugar Plum Fairy and adhered her with foam squares, then added Clear Diamond Stickles to her wings and shoes.

Pink tulle is threaded through 2 punched holes in the bottom corners and tied in a bow.

 
"Clara and the Mouse King"

All images are cut from the "Holiday Magic" patterned paper.

To make the little vintage storybook, I cut apart the small book pages from the "Enchanted Journey" paper, misted them with water, crumpled, uncrumpled and then let dry. 

[Why oh why does Blogger insist on rotating my photos???]

After inking the edges with brown chalk ink, I layered the mini book pages using Sookwang adhesive tape.

 The top pages of this book are actually cut out together as one piece, then folded in the centre so it appears to look more like a book. 

I punched lacy borders along the bottom with a Martha Stewart edge punch.

I also misted Clara and the mini book with Perfect Pearls "Biscotti" spray to give them a pretty glimmer.

"The Blue Ballerina"

I used a scalloped edge punch around a piece of glitter card stock, then attached tulle to it before adhering the blue ballerina.  

 

The doily in the background is also misted with Biscotti Perfect Pearls spray. Plus, I added clear Stickles to her headband, skirt and shoes.  

Actually, this blue ballerina card could also serve as a birthday card for a little girl (or a big girl!)

 So tell me, which card is your favourite? I'm having a hard time picking mine! 

Hope you enjoyed looking at my Graphic 45 Christmas cards....I really enjoyed designing them :)