Ephemera's Vintage Garden - Enchanted Rose #1

Hello, my friends!

I'm here today to share with you my very first official Ephemera's Vintage Garden DT project. The last EVG project I shared was my introduction. :o)

I have occasionally used digital images for projects, but this is my first experience with a digital kit...and I am hooked! I am using the Enchanted Rose Kit, and Debbie has loaded this kit up with pretty goodness! This kit is so versatile for any type of paper crafting project but as soon as I printed it out, I knew that I would start with a mini album. It's been a while since I've made a chipboard album, so I decided to use that as my base. I've also added three black cardstock envelopes that I made with my WRMK Envelope Punch Board. They hold the lined album pages. It's a great spot to write some private thoughts. I also used black cardstock to mat all the tags and journaling cards. The kit makes a 4" X 6" album but because of the way I constructed mine, it measures 4 1/2" X 6". Other then the beautiful kit, the only embellishments I added were some ribbons, buttons, paperclips and bling. That's it!

Now, before we get started on the mini itself, I just have a couple more things to say. I don't have a fancy printer. It's just a regular inkjet printer. I also didn't use any fancy kind of paper. These images are all printed on inexpensive white Recollections cardstock from Michaels. I think the results are fabulous! I just hit print, and cut them all out. The images didn't even need any inking to distress them because it's all there already. I did do a very quick inking of all the edges with black ink just to color the white edges.What that means is that anyone can do this...and have lots of fun doing it too!

Let's get to the mini album...
I chose this page for my front cover because it's my favorite! I used one of the pink pages to punch out all the flowers and the fronds. I fussy cut two of the butterflies, folded up the wings, and adhered just the body. It's a lovely dimensional embellishment! I added a little flower over the flower on the dress, and then two black pearl flourishes. On the binding I added some ribbon and a pretty butterfly charm.

The image on the right is raised up on pop dots so that I can slip tags in behind it.

For the page on the right I made a pocket using one of the journaling tags. I added a ribbon to the top of a double-sided tag.

On the left I added a pearl embellishment. The right page is one of the three cardstock envelopes. The hinge at the top is one of the paper embellishments. I added a journaling flap between the pages. The envelope flap is held shut with a mini velcro tab, and a button added on top.

The left side page is one of the pretty tags with the other side of the hinge wrapped over it. Before adhering the tag, I wrapped it with a ribbon bow. Then I matted two tags and slipped them in. Another little double-sided tag flap between the two pages, and a journaling tag adhered to the top of the right-hand page.

The left side has another journaling pocket with two tags. The right side is a ticket pocket and two more pretty tags with ribbons.

The left page is another envelope page. I punched out a scalloped circle from one of the tags, then fussy cut a butterfly and adhered just the body on top of the punch. The envelope flap slips behind the button to close. The right side is a beautiful library pocket that holds two larger journaling cards. I added a ribbon bow and a paperclip with another ribbon bow. 

I didn't feel this left page needed anything because it's so pretty. On the right is another envelope page. This time I cut the flap off so you can see the top of the large journaling tag inside it. The button is exactly the same color as the papers, although it doesn't look that way in this photo. On the right side page is another library pocket that holds a small journaling card. I added just a few rhinestones to the bottom. 

The left side is another smaller library pocket and a beautiful butterfly tag. A strip of ribbon and some black rhinestones were added.  On the right side I popped up this lovely image and added another rhinestone. 

Aren't these papers lovely? There's another sewing machine under the tag flap, so I added just a few pink buttons to the bottom of the page. Another ribbon paper clip on the flap.

One last photo of the front and back cover, and the embellishment of the binding.

Finally, here is a photo of all of the tags I used in my mini. Can you believe there were even more in the kit that I didn't use?

Materials Used:

Digital Journal Kit: Ephemera's Vintage Garden - Enchanted Rose Kit;

Book Base: Black Chipboard, Bind-It-All and O-Wires,

Recollections - Black and White Cardstock;

Ink: Distress Ink - Black Soot;

Bling: Prima - Pearls, Unknown - Rhinestones;

Ribbon: Celebrate It - Sheer Ribbon;

Punches: Stampin' Up - Scallop Circle Punch,

EK Success - Flower Punches, Fiskars - Corner Punch;

Stapler: Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher and Staples;

Buttons and Paperclips: My Stash.

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There you have it...my first project using the Enchanted Rose Journal Kit!

I will be back again soon to share another project using the same kit! That's one of the joys of using a digital kit, once you have it, you can use it over and over again! 

Debbie has MANY beautiful kits to play with, including one that was just released yesterday. Please visit her store HERE to take a look. Also, head on over to her blog HERE. Join the blog and sign up for the newsletter so that you can receive all the beautiful freebies that Debbie generously shares!

If any of you pick up the Enchanted Rose Kit, and would like to make a mini just like mine, I'd be happy to share some more details on the actual construction! 

EnJOY your weekend! :o)

Jellypark Friends Challenge - New Beginnings

Hello, my friends!

It's time for a new challenge over at Jellypark Friends! We had such an incredible response to our month long Christmas challenge, with well over 200 participants! We hope to see you all join us again!

The new challenge theme is "New Beginnings" which is very appropriate as we begin a brand new year. This challenge will run for two weeks. For my card I have used a brand new Jellypark release called "New Home House Keys." I started by coloring the keys with my Versa Marker, and then heat embossed them in silver and bronze. I colored the rest of the image and then fussy cut it. Now, what to put it on? A door immediately came to mind. I LOVE old doors. I used to have one, you know. Just a battered old door with the most gorgeous crackling paint and a rusty old door knob. I didn't really have a place to put it, and it took up a lot of room, but I just couldn't bear to part with it! So we cut it in half and I only kept one half! lol Some day I hope to get a hold of that fabulous Bo Bunny collection called Avenues. So many beautiful doors to play with! Well, that's a bunch of useless information for all of you. Doors excite me and start me rambling! ;o)

Back to my card...and how I made the door. I used my Stampin' Up Woodgrain stamp on kraft cardstock twice using brown and the black ink. I cut around the stamping and then cut it into 3/4" strips. I then inked around each strip of "wood", and adhered them to a kraft base, alternating the brown and black. The hinges and keyhole were adhered, and a embellished with bronze brads. I added the image to the door. I printed out a second image and colored the heart and tag, fussy cut them, and added them on top of the first using dimensionals. Finally, I added pearls for the chain. It was a super fun image to play around with! 

A closer look at the embossed keys and pearl chain:

Materials Used:

Papers: Recollections - Kraft Cardstock;

Image: Jellypark - New Home House Keys;

Prismacolor Pencils and OMS;

Embossing Powder: Stampendous - Black, Bronze;

Ink: Stampin' Up - Basic Black, Basic Brown, Versa Marker,

Distress Ink - Walnut Stain;

Maker: American Crafts - Metallic Silver;

Stamp: Stampin' Up - Woodgrain;

Die: Tim Holtz Alterations - Hardware Findings;

Brads and Pearls: My Stash.

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So come on over to Jellypark Friends and join us in our "New Beginnings" challenge! 

Lia Stampz - Challenge #56 - Monochrome

Hello, my friends!

Welcome to my last post of 2013! Can you believe another year will begin in just a couple of hours? What a year it has been!  Before I get into my post I want to wish each of you a Very Happy New Year full of Blessings! :o)

It's also time for a new challenge to begin over at Lia Stampz. This time the theme is "monochrome" and you have until January 15th to link up a project. I made my card using a fun image that is very appropriately called "Happy New Year." It can be found at Whimsy Stamps right HERE. My colour inspiration was the Pantone Color of the Year 2014 - Radiant Orchid. I've included the photo farther down in the post.

Materials Used:

Papers: Recollections - Cardstock;

Image: Lia Stampz - Happy New Year,

Prismacolor Pencils and OMS;

Dies: Just Rite Custom Dies;

Spellbinders Nestabilities - Labels Fourteen;

Punches: WRMK Mini 8 Punch - Doily;

Sentiment: Unknown;

Ink: Martha Stewart - Lilac;

Pen: Micron Pigma Pen - Black;

Ribbons: Offray;

Bling: Kaiser Scrapbook Rhinestones.

Pantone Photo:

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Head on over to Lia Stampz and join in the fun! :o)

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Now, for those of you that are interested, I'll share my 2014 Design Team schedule.

Jellypark Friends Friday Challenges - New challenge post every other Friday beginning on January 3rd.

All Dressed Up - New challenge post the 2nd day of every month, as well as an inspirational post on the 17th of each month. This will begin in February because there is something special planned for January.

Lia Stampz - New challenge post the last day of each month, also on the 15th as time permits.

Ephemera's Vintage Garden - A new project 1-2 times per month. No set dates at this time but maybe I'll pick one.

For fun I plan to continue with:

Scripture Lessons and Lyrics 2014 - The new Scripture Challenge will be posted every two weeks beginning January 11th.  

Scrapping Every Day Miracles - I really enjoy their monthly challenge and plan to participate. I hear they have some fun new challenges in the works too.

There you have it! My upcoming schedule of fun and play! I do hope that you will continue to join me! :o)

Hymn and Scripture Challenge #21 and #22.- Last of the 2013 Challenge

Hello, my dear friends!

I hope you have all been enjoying a wonderful time of celebration! Things have almost returned to normal around here! :o)

Today I am posting my last two Hymn and Scripture Challenge pages together. I want to get them both in before the end of the year. Since one of them is rather seasonal, I thought I should post it right away. I will try not to ramble too much but this might be a long post! 

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Challenge #21 is for "Lord, Speak to Me That I May Speak" and it's a beautiful song.  I included three Scripture verses on my page. The second part of the verse found in Psalm 81:10 really speaks to me. It says...

"Open wide your mouth and I will fill it." 

Isn't that great? If only I had the discipline to actually allow the Lord to give me my words every time I opened my mouth. There certainly wouldn't ever be a need for me to pull my foot out of my mouth, would there? lol This verse is also very encouraging for those times when you just don't know what to say to someone. They may be suffering terrible loss or pain and loving words of comfort fail to come to us. God will give us the words to say...the words that He wants them to hear. However, we do have to stop blabbing our own words in order to hear His words! :o)

My page is quite simple. I just had some fun with some punches, and used some of the punched out bits to decorate. A little stamping, punching, shaping and gluing for the flowers. Finally, a little shimmer was added with Liquid Pearls. 

Materials Used:

Papers: Recollections - Cardstock;

Punches: Stampin' Up - Boho Blossoms,

Martha Stewart - Flower Box Punch Around the Page:

Dies: Spellbinders Nestabilities - Beaded Circles,

Standard Circles (LG), Sizzix - Scribbles & Swirls,

Tim Holtz Alterations - Elegant Flourishes;

Stamp: Stampin' Up - Language of Friendship;

Ink: Martha Stewart - Melon, Memento - Tuxedo Black;

Ranger Liquid Pearls - White Opal.

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Here is a very traditional version that includes all the words:

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The final Hymn and Scripture Challenge for 2013 is "Joy to the World." I love this beautiful song and think that we should be singing it throughout the year...not just at Christmas time. I've used two Scripture verses on this page. The second one is found in Psalm 98:4. It says:

"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, 

burst into jubilant song with music."

What a beautiful sound it is to hear voices raised in joyful song! It's even more beautiful when those voices are raised in joyful song for the Lord!  Voices full of gratitude and praise and worship for all the "marvelous things" He has done for us! :o)

I had fun with my page. I die-cut the carolers out of the music sheet. Then I backed it with black cardstock. I cut the "JOY" out with my Slice, and used my Label Buddy for the rest of the song title. I wrote out the Scripture verses and cut it into a banner. I wrapped some baker's twine around the page, and added some flowers.

Materials Used:

Papers: Recollections - Cardstock;

MM Slice Design Card: Noel;

Dies: Tim Holtz Alterations - Victorian Carolers;

Ink: Distress Ink - Vintage Photo;

Flowers: Prima - Poinsettias;

Brads: Recollections;

Baker's Twine: Stampin' Up - Cherry Cobbler;

Label Buddy.

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You can read Patter's devotionals on both of these Hymns HERE and HERE.

Patter has just announced that she will be hosting  

Scripture Lessons and Lyrics Challenge 2014.

I am excited to continue participating. 

I haven't yet decided the format I will use. 
The first Challenge will be on January 11th.

I have added the button in my sidebar with a link to all the details.

Everyone is welcome to join! :o)

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A Merry Christmas Layout for All of You!

Hello my lovely friends!

Today I was in desperate need of some crafty therapy! So I set my long "to do" list aside, headed to my studio, turned up some fabulous worship music, and got busy! :o)

I had intended to post this project for all of you on the 24th...as my special Christmas card to each of you! However, the challenge that I want to enter at Scrapping Every Day Miracles ends in two days. I hope you don't mind if your card is early! lol

To each and every one of you...A Very Merry Christmas!! Your wonderful encouragement means so much to me! All your words of kindness are a treasure and a blessing! Those of you that come and visit but don't leave a comment are also very much appreciated. My numbers keep going up day after day, so I know that you are there, and it means a lot to me! I thank you all very much, and I wish you a season of JOY and LAUGHTER and LOVE! :o)

I got a very good response to all the details I shared with my last layout. So I have a number of photos, and a number of words for you this time too. I started by stamping on my background paper. I used a music note stamp, a shattered glass stamp, and a little round container. Then I added some spatters using a Glimmer Mist that was similar in color to the ink I used. I began to assemble things according to the December sketch from C'est Magnifique (shown below). I used my Cricut to cut out the wreath and the broken circles. For the paper strips I used a piece of vellum. IRL it is actually looks more sheer than it appears in the photo. I stayed quite true to the sketch, although I did substitute the flowers with some lovely red glittered ornaments. I also added a second piece of Washi tape. The beautiful image is another wonderful freebie from Ephemera's Vintage Garden. You can find it right HERE.

This cluster is made of red and white flowers. The ribbon ones were taken out of my sewing stash. There's one of the red ornaments, and even a little clock just like in the sketch. I punched out some greenery and tucked it in. You can see some of the music notes stamped in the upper right corner.

This cluster is very similar to the other, with the addition of this dangly bead that I attached to the page using a brad. Then I added a little white satin bow above it. 

This is the lower right corner; more stamping, ornament, bead and bow. I have also adhered various sequins around the page. I just sprinkled a few on the page and glued them where they landed. This also gives you a close-up peek of the beautiful doily. It was a gift from a friend.

Here you can see more of the layering and the sentiments. I just have to add a Bible verse to a Christmas page. To me...Christmas is all about the birth of my Savior...Jesus Christ! :o)

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Linking Up To:

Scrapping Every Day Miracles - Christmas Challenge

C'est Magnifique - December Sketch Challenge

This is the great sketch:

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Materials Used:

Papers: DCWV - Haberdash Stash, 

Recollections - Holiday Shimmer Cardstock;

Image: Ephemera's Vintage Garden; 

Cricut Cartridges: Essentials, Holiday Cakes;

Punches: Martha Stewart - Holly, Branch;

Ink: Stampin' Up - Soft Suede;

Stamps: Tim Holtz - Joyful Song, Mini Holidays;

Charm: Blue Moon - Clock Face;

Tim Holtz - Mini Paper Clip;

Glimmer Mist: Partridge in a Pear Tree;

Flowers: Prima and Imaginisce;

Doily: Gift from Bonnie;

Beads: From My Bead Stash;

Ribbon Flowers and Sequins: From My Sewing Stash.

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A Die for a Sketch - Challenge Reminder

Hello, my friends!

Today is my very last post at A Die for a Sketch. Someone has just stepped in to take over the Challenge blog in the new year. However, since I have now made prior commitments I will not be continuing. I would like to thank Dunja, and the rest of the DT, for all of the fun! :o)

For this final month we are sponsored by Kathryne at StampArt Design by Kathryne! I want to thank Kathryne for all her generosity to us at ADFAS. Kathryne, it has been a joy to work with you and to play with all your lovely images!

A gift of five images to one lucky winner!

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Here is the wonderful sketch by Dunja. For my project I turned it on it's side, like this:

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For my card I used the sweet image called "Alannah", and you can find her at Whimsy Stamps right HERE. Isn't she sweet? She comes with several images, including the sweet bird and the wonderful sentiment. I made up some pine cones, added a bow and some bling.

Materials Used:

Papers: K & Company - Elizabeth Brownd Designer Mat Pad,

Colorbok - Textured Cardstock;

Images: StampArt Design by Kathryne - Alannah;

Prismacolor Pencils and OMS;

Dies: Tim Holtz Alterations - Bird Branch, Tattered Pinecone,

Fiskars Shape Cutter and Oval Template;

Punches: Stampin' Up - Scalloped Circle, Martha Stewart - Branch;

Stamp: Unknown - Prize Win;

Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black, Distress Ink - Walnut Stain;

Ribbon: Celebrate It;

Pearls: My Stash.

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So head on over to A Die for a Sketch and join in our last challenge! 

Your chances of winning the prize are pretty good right now! :o)

All Dressed Up - Inspiration Post

Good morning!

It's the 17th so that means I have another All Dressed Up inspiration post for you! This time I used one of the super sweet "Three Little Autumn Girls" from the image available HERE. I printed her out on 8 1/2 X 11 fit to page. I colored her up with my pencils and just tore around the image, leaving a white border. Then I set her aside and prepared my canvas.

I inked all the edges of a 12 X 12 canvas. I chose my paper and punched around it. This particular punch makes holes that are crying out for stitching, so I added some stitching in several spots. I then punched some other borders out of a different paper and adhered them between the layers. I also added some stamping here, there, and everywhere. Then I used a stencil and added a bit of paint. Finally, it was time to adhere the image. 

All that is left to do now is a little embellishing. I punched out some flowers and die-cut some leaves, I inked them all and added them to the page. Then I cut some rosette trim and layered it along the bottom...and one in her hair as well. The final step was to write out my words and add them. 

It was a super fun piece to make, and I hope it inspires you to create something too! Wendy has so many images that are fun to play with. You can find them all in the All Dressed Up Etsy Shop!

A happy day to you all! :o)

A close-up of the flowers and stitching:

A closer look at the sweet image:

Materials Used:

Papers: GCD Studios - Melody Ross - Soul Food;

Image: All Dressed Up - Three Little Autumn Girls,

Prismacolor Pencils and OMS;

Punches: Martha Stewart - Punch Around the Page - Cherish,

Doily Lace Border Punch, EK Success - Daisy,

Stamin' Up - Punch Blossom, Blossom Petals;

Die: Sizzix - Leaves;

Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black, Distress Ink - Walnut Stain;

Stencil: Heidi Swapp;

Stamps: Inkadinkado - Clings Lace Doilies,

Bo Bunny - Wall to Wall Textures, Recollections - Script,

Autumn Leaves - Doodle Bloom;

Claudine Hellmuth - Multi-Matte Medium,

Adirondak Paint Dabber - Snow Cap.