Be Inspired # 59 - Add Glitter or Bling Challenge

Cuttlebug Challenge blog is giving away four, (yes, 4) Oh My Crafts! Christmas embossing folders this week. Want a chance to win? Link your sparkly card here...and you have TWO weeks to do so! I love the look of embossing, and I especially love Core'dinations card stock when it is embossed. The white wash collection reminds me of shining snow. I used the Candy Cane embossing folder and lightly sanded. I punched 6 squares @ 1 1/4" of white wash and 6 squares of BasicGrey Eskimo Kisses (I really only needed 5, since my image covers one up; oh well!) I also used SU pink pirouette and old olive card stock, copic markers, BasicGrey buttons, Nesties, and ribbon from my stash. I purchased that adorable snowman (Inkadinkado) at JoAnn online.

Thank you, Grandma!

When I purchased my 6x6 pad of BasicGrey Nook & Pantry, I knew I wanted to use it to make cards for my grandmothers. Last Friday two twin size quilts arrived in the mail for Julia and Kathryn. My grandma has made each of her grandchildren (12 total) a quilt when we each married and then a baby quilt for each of her great-grandchildren (10), then a quilt for each great-grandchild. Here are J&Ks second quilts! I still have my twin size quilt her mother made for me ("Mamaw") out of squares from old draperies and clothing. It is one of my most prized possessions.

I needed to make a thank you note for Grandma, and out came the BG paper :) I am still battling this cold or whatever, so I needed some serious mojo. I found it here at dougnat diaries.

I'll be back tomorrow with a new card for Cuttlebug Challenges!

Festival of Lights - Spotlight on Shimmerz

Here is a sneak peak at my Christmas Memories mini book I made for the Festival of Lights blog hop celebration at Cuttlebug Challenge blog. I used Core'dinations card stock and Shimmerz paints. I am lovin' the Shimmerz! I have tried other similar products over the years, but the sparkle from Shimmerz is exquisite. See the entire tutorial here, but leave a comment here too :)

Festival of Lights - Gifts From the Kitchen

My tutorial for today is to continue our Festival of Lights celebration at Cuttlebug Challenge blog and to spotlight Core'dinations papers. Fun for me! I am quickly becoming a Core'dinations addict; it works perfectly with Cuttlebug embossing folders like chocolate and peanut butter...yummy results. For a couple of more pictures and a detailed supply list, click here. I used Core'dinations papers, punches, and dies to create the caroling reindeer and the two Vixens. I used my new Candy Cane Cuttlebug embossing folder to create the caroler's song book.

Notice that I carried the Festival of Lights theme into these projects by adding tiny light bulb ribbon to the top of the tin canister and the jar...aren't I clever? I found the paint can tin on clearance at JoAnn. I wrapped with paper I found at Michael's in the open stock section of 12x12 (the manufacturer is Carol Wilson Fine Arts, Inc.) I love that it had purples, browns, reds and greens. The paint can holds tea biscuits, the tin has mint tea, and the jar is a chocolate chip bar recipe I found online.

For more details, you can find my tutorial here. Later in the day, my DT sisters, Amber and Ellen, will be posting their gifts from the kitchen using Core'dinations. Don't forget to leave comments on all links to increase your chances of winning the $30 gift card to Peachy Keen stamps!

Be Inspired #58- Festival of Lights Premier

Our Cuttlebug Challenge this week is to create something with lights. My favorite part of the holidays are the lights: hanging from eaves, candles lit in windows, or bushes and trees strung with lights. I also like lighting candles in my home all year long; occasionally at dinner or when I have a chance to soak in the bath tub...I light candles and turn out the lights. The lantern I made for today's post will be displayed in my craft room. My lantern has a wood base and a small light bulb in the center. First I stamped a dragonfly and floral image in various inks on mulberry paper. Then I covered 4 chipboard frames with the stamped mulberry paper. I used my crop-a-dile and jump rings to join the four sides.

Come back tomorrow for my tutorial on Gifts From the Kitchen. I have a few quick and easy gifts to showcase tomorrow :)

Welcome to our first ever Festival of Lights from the fabulous team at the Cuttlebug Challenge Blog!

The party kicked off over on the Cuttlebug Challenge Blog with a map of the participating Design Team , if you get lost on the way no worries, just check the DT off the map.

In addition to the fabulous projects, we have decided to make this party the most fun ever, by hiding 2 treasures along the hop!

Two selected Designers will draw a random winner from the comments left on her blog in the hop, but it wouldn’t be a treasure hunt if you knew which blog is hiding the treasure, right?

The winner will receive a $30 gift certificate to Peachy Keen Stamps!

You will also get a free year subscription to Technique Junkie Sponsored by Pat Huntoon.

So as you hop, make sure you leave comments on every post so you have a chance to win, and add the Cuttlebug blinkie to your blog!! (Click here to download a list of all 16 DT.
P.S. the more comments you leave the better chances you have at winning Leave me comment before you hop away :)

Festival of Lights- Don't miss this!

This is going to be a very exciting 5 day celebration. You don't want to miss one single day of the Festival of Lights Celebration over at Cuttlebug Challenge.

Tomorrow, beginning at 7am east coast time, we will begin our own Festival of Lights and bring 16 wonderful ideas for celebrating with lights. You start with this map, and take a walk in the park, among the twinkling, lighted trees, and see all of the amazing and wonderful things. Leave comments all along the way, and you could win awesome prizes! You don't have to go in any particular order, just download your map, so you can circle the places that you've been, and you have until Sunday night to get everywhere. Please include our Festival of Lights blinkie (top of my right-hand side bar) and leave a comment over at Cuttlebug Challenge blog and on all 16 DT member posts to be eligible for a $30 gift certificate to Peachy Keen stamps.

Please come back tomorrow morning to see my bright idea :) For today, please go over to Cuttlebug Challenge blog for Betty's video tutorials on using copic markers (Cuttlebug University - Copic Intermediate Classes 7am, noon and 6pm today.) There are some great prizes over there...free digital images for five winners, and one winner will receive a set of 12 Sketch Copics from Hallmark Scrapbooks. WAHOO!!!!

Cuttlebug Challenge Christmas Planner Tutorial

I created this envelope book for Cuttlebug Challenge blog. You can see all the inside pages here.

Supplies:
4 envelopes @ 7 3/16" x 5 1/16"
BasicGrey Blitzen papers cut 6 @ 7" x 4 7/8"
Inserts (inside envelopes): 4 @ 4 1/2" x 6 7/8"
4 tabs glued to insert pages (I used a Stampin' Up! punch)
2 (or 3) binder rings
scraps of ribbon
decorate as desired (I used a QuicKutz font for "2009", a CTMH sticker, some wire, and an A Muse sentiment stamp)

Step 1: Glue the envelope flaps inside each envelope to create a pocket.
Step 2: Be careful to apply adhesive to the outside of the envelope and not to the original envelope flap (your "pockets" would be sealed shut!)
Step 3: Decorate all pages/insert pages.
Step 4: Computer generate calendars and check lists.
Step 5: Document your holiday fun!

I'd love to hear YOUR ideas for a holiday planner.