Friday 7 December 2012

Creative Inspirations Debut

Hello, my friends!
I'm really excited about this post...and I confess I'm a little bit nervous too! This is my first project and my first post as a designer for Creative Inspirations! I shared with you all a little while ago about this great online store and all the reasons I like it. You can read that post HERE if you'd like a reminder. I'm so pleased to be creating for Sue and her shop, and I'd be very happy if you would all go visit the store! Under the link in my sidebar I also have a link to Sue's blog. You must pop in there too and see her fabulous work! Thank you, Sue, for giving me this opportunity! :o)
My first project is this sweet little layered Christmas Tree Mini Album that Sue cut for me using mat board and the Cosmo Cricket "Be Good" collection. There are quite a few photos and a long product list. One list will contain all the items that are available at Creative Inspirations, the other will be a list of things from my stash!
Here is the cover. After adhering all the papers, I went around both sides of each piece with the gold paint dabber. I also made my first swivel clasp charm to hang from the binding ring.

Here are pages 1 and 2. I decided to decorate all the back pages "upside-down" so that when you flip them over they are actually right side up! lol  On page 1 there is a ticket stamped with the date. 
Page 2 has a little swivel ornament set. It's actually some diecut tags. 
These are just the right side to document special seasonal events.

Page 3 had two ribbon bands that hold an assortment of stamped tags. 
There's also another ticket stamped with "Merry Christmas!"


Page 4 holds a stamped label. It opens up and has lines with a heading that says "Dear Santa". 
A wonderful little spot to list all the gifts received for Christmas. 
The bottom of the page also holds one poinsettia and a gold painted chipboard bird on a branch.


Here is a close-up of the pretty poinsettias that I made. I was totally inspired by my friend Jann and her wonderful video. You can watch it HERE. I didn't have the all the supplies that Jann used but I was able to work with what I had. Sue sent me some wonderful embossed Core'dination papers. I cut out five petal flowers using my Slice, and then snipped and shaped the flowers until they looked right. I inked them up, painted them with Rock Candy Crackle paint and sprinkled them with fine glitter. They are so pretty! For some reason the centers look like little globs, but they're actually individual little circles that I made using liquid pearls. I also used some white liquid pearls to create the snow.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful technique, Jann! :o)


Page 5 holds a large label that has pine cone branches stamped around the edge. 
A few pine branch punches with buttons creates a nice embellishment. 


Page 6 holds another mat that's been stamped with snowflakes, and two more of the poinsettias.


Page 7 is another Baroque mat page. This one has been stamped with a tree.


Page 8 has a seam binding band that holds a little booklet of  the Baroque die. These are large enough to add photos on the front and the back. There's also a little dangly charm set hanging from the binding ring. These charms are also made from tags and have sweet star eyelets.


Here is the back cover. The seam binding from the previous page is tied in a bow. 
I've glued on a sweet little Christmas wreath and a banner that says Merry Christmas. 
Another ticket filled out with my info is adhered to the bottom.


Here is a close-up of my swivel clasp charm. It holds buttons, mini ornaments, and some jingle bells. 
At the bottom is more stamped tags that look like ornaments. The only jump rings I had were a bright silver. So I turned them red with the help of some alcohol ink.


Well...there you have my Christmas Tree Mini Album, and my first DT project for Creative Inspirations!
Thank you so much for looking at this long post!
Please let me know if you have any questions. Also, make sure you stop by the store!
There are some great sale items, and a fabulous free gift with a $60.00 purchase!
Sue is always happy to answer any questions! 

Hope your weekend is full of JOY and LAUGHTER! :o)

* * * * * 
Materials Used and Available at Creative Inspirations:
Papers: Cosmo Cricket - Be Good Collection,
Core'dinations Core Impressions - Cosmo Cricket Classics Collection:
Dies: Tim Holtz Alterations - Base Tray, Tiny Tabs & Tags,
Tattered Pinecone, Bird Branch, Regal Crest,
Movers & Shapers - Baroque Mini, Ornamental Mini, Styled Labels;
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Inks - Walnut Stain, Forrest Moss, Festive Berries;
Stamps: Basic Grey - North Pole, 7gypsies Oval Stamps - naked & scroll,
Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous - Odds & Ends, Mini Holidays 3;
Additional Ranger Products: Distress Crackle Paint - Clear Rock Candy,
Adirondack Paint Dabber - Gold, Adirondack Alcohol Ink - Watermelon.

Items From My Stash:
Papers: Recollection - Cardstock;
Die: MM Slice Design Card - Basic Shapes 2;
Plus: Darice Bells and Mini Ornaments; Offray Ribbon;
Unknown Pearls, Brads and Eyelets;
American Crafts WOW Glitter - White.

* * * * *




27 comments:

Dunja Trautmann said...

oh my.... can not find words. your creation is incredible Nancy. I love it!!! Pretty Papers and wonderful Arrangements. Wow, Wow, Wow!

Biggest Hugs and Blessings
Dunja

Marilyn said...

OMGood grief! This is a book... I didn't realize it at first - I thought it was gorgeous before but now that I've had some time and looked at it close... geez Nancy... this is freakin' gorgeous! This is an amazing, just amazing project and I love it!

Sue Fraser said...

Nancy!!
What can I say? You did a beautiful job with the album and I am so happy to have you in my Design Team. Loving it!!
Sue
Creative Inspirations

alexandra s.m. said...

Hello Nancy!
Oh my! YOur mini is delightful!
I love how you've bonded everything together so well with the distress ink and so many yummy details!
Well done my Friend!!

Geri said...

Congratulations, Nancy!!! And what a wonderful 1st project! It's beautiful! I LOVE your color/pattern combo, and all your beautiful embellishments and matting!!! Wow!!! And the little charms...adorable!!! Well done, my dear!

Cindy Haffner said...

Oh I LOVE LOVE LOVE this!!~

Gemiel said...

WOW Nancy, I'm speechless!!! This is absolutely gorgeous!!!! Love all the details. Thanks for the link to the tutorial on the poinsettias. I just watched it and picked up so many creative tips.

Jann Gray said...

Nancy...WOW!!!! What a great project! I'm so excited about you being on Sue's design team...your work is DELIGHTFUL and INSPIRING!

LOVE your poinsettias - the coordinations card stock works perfectly! I love how you took a five petal flower and and snipped it...super adaptation! I love that saying "necessity is the mother of invention!" I think some of the best creative ideas come to us when we try to figure out how to do something with what we have! Love the way your mind thinks!

Really enjoyed the whole project! Fantabulous!

Merry Christmas!

Hugs,
Jann

Debbie Buckland said...

Wonderfully done... Such a beautiful project with great choice of techniques and embellishments.

Congrats once again on the DT position.... You have now been opened to the wonderful world of advertising!

Jonia said...

Wow is about all I can say about this. Just beautiful and congrats Nancy.

Anonymous said...

Okay....what can I add that has not been said by the other commenters?! AWESOME! I don't think I saw one of those ;-)

Congratulations on being THE designer for Creative Inspirations! Totally awesome way of showing your purchases from their shop :D

Love you - Leslie

J. Stacey- QuillingFun said...

Nancy this is so awesome! I too did not realize that it was a book until I kept reading! I love all the attention to detail! Great job and I'm so excited for you in your new position...have fun! :)

Tracy said...

I LOVE THIS SOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!!! You hit it our of the park with this one Nancy girl. Total gorgeousness on each and every page and those poinsettias are stunning. Beautiful, beautiful artwork my friend! Hugs!

Sybil B. said...

Hi there friend~what a beautiful project, it is simply wonderful and captures the joy of this blessed season! Congrats on being the designer for the store, that is so cool.
Merry Christmas and God Bless,
Sybil

Creations by Shirl said...

Oh my word Nancy~ I think you saved the best for the last... How darn gorgeous, every tab is done with perfection.. Love all the details to it..... Great job on your first DT posting... You should enter this on some challenges, I bet you would get tons of replies on this project..
TFS - Fantastic job!

Holly said...

just stopping by to give you a virtual hug....thinkin' of you and will write more....eventually!
Muaah!

~Tammy~ said...

Wow Nancy this is totally amazing! I am just speechless~ You are so very talented!

Inkypinkydelights said...

OMWord! Nancy this is a beauty! I just love it! And you even made your own charm too! How clever is that! Congrats are due too! Judy x

Sandy Hentzel said...

WOW NANCY! You go girl! This is just awesome and the details are just unreal. Love it!!!

Susan M said...

Another masterpiece Nancy ! Love the poinsettias, they are so beautiful. So much attention to detail on every page. The papers are gorgeous too. Your clips are beautiful , EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL ! Can't wait for your next project!

Rosmarie said...

OMG Nancy, this is simply amazing! So beautiful papers and arrangements! And all those gorgeous details and this pretty little chain... a really great creation!!!

Rosi x

Unknown said...

Wow Nancy, that is just sooooo beautiful! Love your use of those fine papers and how you've embellished the entire album, just so very very special. Thanks for your lovely comment on my blog AND for becoming a new follower; love to follow you back ;-) Happy Holidays, take care, Ira xox
irascreacorner.blogspot.nl

mamawcindy said...

Oh, I Love It!

undertheshuswapsun said...

Fabulous creations Nancy! How have you been? I've kinda been MIA lately. I haven't had much time off work and all the umph in me is just gone!! lol I'm surviving carpal tunnel surgery but still in pain. Long long healing process. Thanks for visiting my blog! I had a hard time getting out from under the tree. I love your sense of humor Nancy!!! giggles all the way around!! May your Christmas be filled with Love, Kindness, Joy and lots and lots of loot!!! JK!! Peace my friend...
~Christina

gracescraps@gmail.com said...

Wow, what an amazing, stunning card with loads of gorgeous details. Thanks for sharing the details. I'm a new follower. ~ Blessings, Tracey

http://gracescraps.blogspot.com/

Embellishments said...

OH WOW WOW Nancy!!! This is so sweet, I LOVE it and you have no reason to be nervous. This is lovely, congrats on being a Desogner for Creative Inspirations :-)
Hugs, Steff

Sara said...

This is gorgeous! I love it!

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