nichol magouirk

Blog Hop | Welcome Lila Grace

Hello crafting friends!

Today we're celebrating Jennifer McGuire's new daughter, Lila Grace! Please go to Jana Millen's blog HERE to see all the cards for Lila, Jennifer and family. :)

It took me forever to come up with a card design for Lila. I don't know what my problem was but I started and discarded multiple cards before settling on this one. I think it's the fact that I haven't even touched my craft room in well over a week so it took me some time to work out the kinks and find my groove. Once I picked out this adorable hedgehog baby stamp the card came together fast. :)

Even though there is a lot going on with this card it is still fairly flat and is easy to send through the mail. Love that. 

I used my favorite MME 6x6 Paper Pad (see supplies below) for the background of my card and distressed with Studio Calico Mister Huey mists. The label was created with Papertrey Ink stamp and dies and I stamped, colored with Copics, cut out and pieced the Penny Black hedgehog image together on top of the label. Stamped greetings, punched flowers and a little glitter pen here and there finish this sweet little card. :)

Welcome Lila Grace! I can't wait to meet you!

SUPPLIES (click on photos for links):

InLinkz.com

Be sure to check out all the baby cards HERE on Jana Millen's blog. 

Lawn Fawn + Glue Arts Blog Week (video)

Lawn Fawn and Glue Arts teamed up this week to share projects showcasing stamping + great adhesive!

Here is a fun reindeer card I created:

I wanted to create a vintage-y distressed looking card but with the fun whimsical look that Lawn Fawn is known for.

I created the 4.25" square card from cardstock, stamping the background with a Hero Arts background stamp and adding distressing with Distress Ink and spray mists.

I die cut this reindeer silhouette on my Cameo:

deer_jumping_card_overlay_C01237_19547 

I added a light layer of SC White Mister Huey and Shine to the reindeer so that it wasn't such a stark contrast to the card base.

I love the look of reindeer decorations with wreaths around their necks. I used the wreath from Lawn Fawn's Bows & Holly stamp set for my card. I stamped it with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored the image in with Copics before cutting it out. I cut through the top of the wreath (hidden behind the reindeer) to easily cut the inside piece of the wreath out. I added gems for the holly berries and silk and twine with a colorful button for the bow.

HOW TO

 

SUPPLIES (click on photos for links):

InLinkz.com

Be sure to leave a comment HERE on the Lawn Fawn blog for a chance to win a prize package from Glue Arts including a Glue Glider Pro and a Lawn Fawn set of your choice!

Click HERE to see today's projects on the Lawn Fawn blog.

Don't forget to check out all the projects featuring Lawn Fawn and Glue Arts this week!

2012 Hero Arts Catalog Blog Hop

Welcome to the 2012 Hero Arts Catalog Blog Hop!

I have a lot going on here on the blog today, if you're looking for last minute gift giving projects featuring Kerri Bradford + Lori Whitlock designs (and a GIVEAWAY), click HERE. Otherwise, read on for the Hero Arts 2012 Catalog Blog Hop!

The new Hero Arts catalog is always my favorite to peruse each year and I am so tickled to share with you a couple of card samples featuring a few of the new 2012 stamps!

First, how about a gorgeous new floral stamp all colored in with Copic Markers and distressed with Tim Holtz Distress Inks? I chose colors of markers to compliment the patterned papers and I love how this gorgeous flower turned out!

Card How To:

1. Trim patterned papers and punch borders and assemble background as shown. Add distressing with Studio Calico White Mister Huey Ink. Set aside to dry.
2. Die cut a Tim Holtz Styled Label from Neenah Solar White Cardstock using a Sizzix Big Shot.
3. Stamp the new Classic Tea Flower stamp on the label using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink.
4. Color in the flower with the base color R14 Light Rouge.

    5. Add shading to the flower with R17 Lipstick Orange, R35 Coral and R37 Carmine.

    6. Blend together with R14 to even out colors.

    7. Color in leaves and stem of flower with base color YG21 Anise.

    8. Add shading to the stem and leaves with YG23 New Leaf and YG25 Celadon Green.

    9. Stamp over the entire design with the Hero Arts Thank You Definition using Antique Linen Distress Ink.

  10. Use the ink blending tool to add Antique Linen Distress Ink over the edges of the label.

    11. Use Ink Blending Tool to add Frayed Burlap Distress Ink to the edges of the label for more definition.

    12. Adhere label to card base with foam adhesive.

    13. Adhere twine bow to label and adhere button over the center of bow using a glue dot.

    14. Stamp greeting from Hero Arts stamp set and cut out. Distress greeting with SC Clover and Clay Mister Huey Inks. Adhere to card with foam adhesive.

SUPPLIES for Thank You So Much Card:

InLinkz.com

My next card is a completely different look, very clean and modern. I chose bright colors on a white backround and I used one of the exclamation points from the stamp set to create "sun rays". I cut the buildings from the Hero Arts Newspaper Skyline background stamp and used foam adhesive to add a dimensional look to my card.

Card How To:

1. Stamp greeting from Hero Arts This Is Big stamp set using SU Daffodil Delight Ink on notecard made frrom Neenah Solar White cardstock.
2. Use exclamation point from the same stamp set to create sun "rays". I used the stamped greeting as a "guide" for stamping the "rays". 
3. Stamp the greeting again on scrap paper and punch out with a 1.25" circle punch. Set aside.

    4. Emboss the font of the card to give the background some texture. I purposely stamped the sun rays first so that I got a nice clean impression.

    5. Stamp Hero Arts Newspaper Skyline Background Stamp on Neenah Solar White cardstock using bright and colorful inks. Cut out buildings and adhere to card as shown using foam adhesive behind some of the buildings.

    6. Adhere punched circle greeting directly over image on card background using foam adhesive.

    7. Wrap ribbon around one of the buildings and tie in a bow. Secure with a dab of Glossy Accents.

    8. Punch a small heart and glue to center of bow. Secure a clear heart button over punched heart with a dab of Glossy Accents.

    9. Round the top right corner using 1/2" corner rounder.

SUPPLIES for You Can Do It Card:

InLinkz.com

Be sure to leave a comment on this blog post as Hero Arts will be giving away five prize packs that include brand new 2012 Catalog stamps. The five winners will be randomly chosen from ALL of the blog hop comments received by midnight PST on Monday, December 12, and will be announced on the Hero Arts blog shortly thereafter. 

The next destination on the blog hop is...

HERO ARTS!!! 

You will want to be sure to check out Hero Arts' post as they are revealing the 2012 Catalog Cover and showing off all the stamps seen throughout the hop!

Lawn Fawn | Love N' Breakfast (Day 2)

The Lawn Fawn Design Team is featuring the Love 'N Breakfast stamp set again today.

I chose a very simple, almost single layer card, featuring the cute little muffin/cupcake image from the set, the tiny, tiny heart and the greeting.

Card How To:

1. Stamp a Hero Arts notecard with the Hero Arts Envelope Pattern background stamp using Stampin' Up Pure Poppy ink.
2. Stamp the notecard again, this time using the Hero Arts Magical background stamp with Colorbox Frost White Ink. I love creating interesting backgrounds when creating simple card like this. So much more fun than a solid background.
3. Stamp greeting on card using SU Basic Gray Ink.
4. Stamp tiny, tiny heart using SU Basic Gray Ink and color in hearts with Uni-ball White pen.
5. Stamp muffin on Neenah Solar White Cardstock and color in with Copics. I used several Copic Spica Glitter pens for added sparkle and shine in real life. Cut out muffin and adhere to card with foam adhesive.
6. Scatter gems as shown.
7. Round corners with 1/2" corner rounder.

SUPPLIES:

InLinkz.com

Click HERE to view all the samples the Design Team created using Love 'n Breakfast. Also leave a comment on the Lawn Fawn blog for a chance to win this stamp set!

Lawn Fawn | Love N' Breakfast

Lawn Fawn has a new stamp set this month, Love 'N Breakfast. This adorable stamp set has all kinds of adorable images great for any occassion and fun greetings to match!

Here is my card featuring Love 'N Breakfast:

Card How To:

1. Paper piece background using papers from Lilybee's Memorandum and MME's Lost & Found Too 6x6 Paper pads. Punch some scallop borders to soften the background and to match the vintage/floral look.
2. Punch a 2.25" circle from the ledger paper and hand draw stitching lines around it. 
3. Stamp greeting using Memories Black Ink.
4. Stamp toaster and toast on Neenah Solar White cardstock and color in with copics. I used colors that complimented and coordinated with my background patterned papers.
5. Cut out images and use a craft knife to cut a sllit in the toaster to slip the bread in. Adhere pieces to card.
6. Thread buttons with string and adhere to card with glue dots.

SUPPLIES (click on photos for links):

InLinkz.com

Be sure to check out all the Design Team samples using Love N Breakfast right HERE. And leave a comment on the Lawn Fawn Blog for a chance to win this stamp set!

Lawn Fawn + May Arts = Blog Week Fun!

I admit it.

I am a ribbon junkie.

I love all the colors it comes in.

I love all the textures, the widths it's available in.

And I especially love the texture it adds to a project.

A touch of ribbon adds that finishing touch to any project, card or layout that instantly adds soft texture that is perfection.

I am so happy that Lawn Fawn and May Arts have joined forces this week. Here is a fun ribbon stocking ornament I whipped up that is sure to color to our Christmas tree and a smile to our faces for many years to come!

To create the ornament:

I first selected a bunch of May Arts ribbons that I thought I might use for the stocking. 

Next, cut a piece of cardstock big enough to die cut the stocking.

Cover the entire surface of the cardstock with a very sticky strong adhesive. You don't want any of the ribbons falling off.

Starting at the top or bottom (I started from the bottom) start layering on ribbon...

... until you've covered the entire surface of the cardstock.

I added some extra frills and lace over the top using a Craft Glue Adhesive.

Once the glue is dry, die cut the stocking. You will want to be sure and use a steel rule die (i.e. Sizzix dies) for this project so that you ensure the die will cut through the many layers of ribbon easily.

How cute is this?!!!!

For the stamping portion of this project I grabbed a couple colors of green ink and layered them to stamp some branches from the Lawn Fawn Ornate Ornaments Stamp Set.

Then I stamped a branch from the Lawn Fawn Bows & Holly set and colored it in with Copics before cutting it out.

I also stamped a tag and greeting from the Bows & Holly stamp set on kraft cardstock, distressing it with Studio Calico Mister Huey White Ink.

I die cut the remaining pieces of the stocking, plus another stocking from off-white felt and stitched the whole thing together.

Trinket pins, a die cut felt poinsettia and Doodlebug button complete the ornament!

SUPPLIES (click on photos for links):

InLinkz.com

Be sure to head on over to the Lawn Fawn blog for a chance to win some May Arts Ribbon and a LF Stamp Set of your choice HERE.

 

Lawn Fawn | A Very Fawny Holiday Day 4

With the holidays right around the corner, it's time to start making my cards and tags and things now so that I can enjoy the holiday season. One thing I am always in need of during the Christmas season is gift card holders for those gift cards I give each year.

My entire gift card centered around the greeting "have a cozy christmas" (assembled from the stamps in Lawn Fawn's Cozy Christmas stamp set). I thought the greeting would be perfect when giving a gift card to a clothing store. The idea of the puppy (from Critters in the Burbs) with the stocking (Cozy Christmas) hanging out of it's mouth popped into my head and I ran with it. The santa hat (Hats Off To You) completes the look. 

I also added some stamping/embossing to the inside of the card to finish it off. It's all ready for gift giving now!

Card How To:

1. Use Papertrey Ink Gift Card die to die cut card from Stampin' Up Wild Wasabi cardstock.
2. Fold card and stamp front with Hero Arts Large Plaid Pattern stamp using SU Wild Wasabi ink.
3. Stamp greeting (Cozy Christmas) using Versamark Ink. Emboss with Rouge and White American Crafts Zing Embossing Powder.
4. Sew button to gift card flap and tie bow as shown.
5. Trim patterned papers and adhere along card's right side as shown.
6. Stamp puppy (Critters in the Burbs), stocking (Cozy Christmas) and hat (Hats Off To You) on Neenah smooth white cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink. Color in with Copics and cut out.
7. Assemble images on card as shown, cutting a slit under the dog's mouth and slipping one corner of the stocking in so that it appears to be in the puppy's mouth. 
8. Add Diamond Stickles to the santa hat and Black Spica Glitter Pen to the dog's eyes and nose.
9. Stamp "to/from" (Bows and Holly) inside gift card using Versmark and emboss with Rouge emboossing powder.

SUPPLIES (click on photos for links):

InLinkz.com

Check out the design team's projects using Cozy Christmas, Ornate Ornaments and Pa-Rum-Pa-Pa-Pum HERE. Leave a comment on THIS blog post for a chance to win all three sets featured today!

Paper Smooches | Scooting By To Say Hi Card & GIVEAWAY

Here is my third and final card showcasing Paper Smooches stamps for the week. And, as promised, I have a little giveaway. Read on to find out more...

I have been creating more an more single layer (or close to single layer cards) here lately. They are easier to mail and with a few simple additions of glitter glue/pen or glossy accents you can dress them up without adding any bulk.

Card How To:

1. Stamp card front with Hero Arts Scattered Dots background stamp using Stampin' Up Sahara Sand ink. Color in dots with white Uniball Pen. Add Glossy Accents over each dot. Let dry.
2. Stamp scooter on card using black ink. Stamp flag and greeting as well.
3. Stamp scooter and flag on Neenah White Cardstock. Color in with Copics and cut out. Add detail with star stamp. Adhere to card as shown.
4. Round corners of card with Corner Chomper.

SUPPLIES (click on photos for links):

InLinkz.com

Paper Smooches ***GIVEAWAY***

Now for the fun part! Kim at Paper Smooches is offering up a stamp set for one of my lucky blog readers. Leave a comment on this blog post for a chance to win the Paper Smooches stamp set of your choice. Click HERE or HERE to see all the Paper Smooches Stamps. Leave your comment by Wednesday, November 9th, 2011, 12:00 p.m. CST.

Good luck!

This giveaway is now closed.

Don't forget about these other giveaways and deals:

• Leave a comment HERE for a chance to win Jane's Doodles Vintage Christmas stamp set.
• Leave a comment on THIS blog post for a chance to win free registration to Kelly Purkey's new SketchPad Class.
• Remember you can get THIS new eBook at Ella Publishing at a discounted price until November 7th. 

• If you weren't able to attend The Spawn of True Scrap live but would like to take part now, you can purchase the event and watch, listen and learn at your leisure. Click HERE to learn more. And if you do purchase the event through my link I will send you a link to my exclusive bonus class, Confessions of a B Side Scrapper. An additional 30-45 minute video, pdf handout and more! Click HERE to read all about it.
• If you like journaling based classes, check out Lain Ehmann's new Your Story Matters class. The premise of this class is capturing those stories from our loved ones before they aren't able to tell them anymore. I love that. Read all about it HERE. Good, good stuff.

Paper Smooches | Let The Good Times Roll Card

I have another card featuring Paper Smooches stamps today. This one combines images from both the Perpetual Bliss Stamp Set and Falling For You Stamp Set.

I used Copic Spica Glitter Pens over the greeting, music notes and microphone for a subtle infusion of glittery goodness.

Wouldn't this be a cute card to give an iTunes gift card in?

Card How To:

1. Paper piece the background of card using patterned papers from 6x6 paper pads.
2. Stamp microphone from Perpetual Bliss Stamp Set on text background using black ink. Trace over microphone with black Spica Glitter Pen.
3. Stamp greeting and music notes from Perpetual Bliss Stamp Set on text background using colorful inks. Color over inked title with coordinating Spica Glitter Pens.
4. Stamp monster from Falling For You Stamp Set on Neenah Solar White Paper. Color in with Copics and cut out. Adhere to card. Add detail to monster with white pen. 
5. Add googly eyes.
6. Wrap ribbon around card and tie in a bow.

Close up of glitter pen over microphone stamped image:

SUPPLIES (click on photos for links):

InLinkz.com

Don't forget about these giveaways and deals:

• Leave a comment HERE for a chance to win Jane's Doodles Vintage Christmas stamp set.
• Leave a comment on THIS blog post for a chance to win free registration to Kelly Purkey's new SketchPad Class.
• Remember you can get THIS new eBook at Ella Publishing at a discounted price until November 7th. 

Jane's Doodles Vintage Christmas Blog Hop

Welcome to the Jane's Doodles Blog Hop featuring the Vintage Christmas Stamp Set!

You should be arriving here from Courtney Kelley's blog.

I love creating Christmas cards and it was a real treat to play with these stamps hand drawn by Jane herself (Jane hand draws all the Jane's Doodles stamps)!

For my first card, I created this cute snowman scene using five stamps from the Vintage Christmas set.

Card How To:

1. Trim patterned paper from Lilybee Jingle 6x6 pad to 4x5.25" and adhere to base of card.
2. Trim stripe pattern from same paper pad to 1x4" and adhere along bottom edge of card.
3. Trim brown cardstock, round top two corners and adhere to card  as shown.
4. Tirm kraft cardstock, round top two corners and stamp with Hero Arts Envelope Pattern stamp using Stampin' Up Crumb Cake ink.
5. Stamp over evenlope pattern with Hero Arts Tiny Flakes background stamp using Colorbox Frost White Ink.
6. Stamp Vintage Christmas snowman on Neenah Solar White Cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink. Color in snowman with Copics (listed below in supplies). Cut out snowman.
7. Stamp snowman on stamped background and adhere cut out snowman on top.
8. Tear "snow drifts" from Studio Calico paper and adhere as shown.
9. Stamp snowflakes from Vintage Christmas set using Versmark Ink. Emboss with white embossing powder. Adorn with pearl gems.
10. Wrap ribbon around cardstock layer and tie in a bow. Create bow with rustic twine and secure resin flower on top.

A peek at the inisde of the card showcasing one of the greetings from this set.

SUPPLIES  (click on photos for links):

InLinkz.com

I'm  a sucker for vintage santa's and this one is perfect for cards, tags, etc. Simple Copic coloring and an elegant background make for a stunning presentation.

Card How To:

1. Trim gray cardstock to 4x5.25" and adhere to card base.
2. Trim white cardstock to 3.5x4.75" and stamp with Hero Arts Flourish stamp using Versamark Ink. Emboss with Holographic Embossing Powder. Mist over design using Studio Calico Clay Mister Huey and Shine Mister Huey. The embossed image will resist the mist ink. Gently wipe ink off embossed image with a dry rag.
3. Distress edges with edge distresser and wrap ribbon around piece and tie in a bow. Cut shank off decorative button and adhere over knot in bow with foam adhesive. Adhere piece to card base.
4. Punch a tag from white cardstock and stamp with a greeting from the Vintage Christmas set. Add string and "hang" from ribbon/button.
5. Stamp santa on Neenah Solar White cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink. Color with Copics and cut out image. Add Diamond Stickles to the Santa hat and let dry. Adhere piece to card with foam adhesive.
6. Finish card with gems.

 SUPPLIES (click on photos for links):

InLinkz.com

***GIVEAWAY***

Jane's Doodles is giving away a Vintage Christmas stamp set to one lucky commenter so please be sure to leave a comment on this blog post (and the other participants of this blog hop) for a chance to win!

The next stop on the blog hop is the incredible...

BETSY VELDMAN

Enjoy the blog hop!