Sabrina

Before I get to my creation this year, I just wanted to mention that our newest illustrator, Fairydoodler in addition to this weeks image, she is offering not one, but two FREEBIES!!!!

Love the clown image—perfect for the artistic type on your list and we always need images that are good for teen boys.  So got get yours now!!!

Fairydoodler Freebie Set

Snow Angel

 

The card I made for you today is of Solocosmo’s Sabrina image.  I love these sweet little ladies that Jessica draws.

 

Sabrina

 

Santa Boy

Be sure to check out the samples by the rest of the Design Team!

Bonnie, Carolyn, Christine, Kristine, Michelle, Sue

Blessings,

Christine

Deets:
Medium-Copics; Image-McMahon Five Designs Solocosmo; Paper-DCWV; Cuttlebug-Nestabillities; Other from stash-pearls.

Challenges:
City Crafter--kraft

Are Ya’ Tired of Tags Yet

I’m actually getting a little tired of them but I’m pushing through.  I really want to get them all made because I know that I won’t finish them up if I set them aside.  I’m actually close to finishing.  I have nine tags done and parts of the remaining three.  Yay!!!

So, without further adieu (I really dislike when people use that phrase), tag 7.

It seems that everyday the tag that Tim put on his blog was my favorite tag.  This one remained one of my top favorites.  I just don’t know where Tim pulls his ideas from but I just can’t believe how creative this one is.  This poinsettia is actually made from his Tattered Floral die.  He had us cut the petals apart and then basically crimp the top part of the petal and glue that part down onto the tag, leaving the middle pointy part as the petals.

Once again, I made some changes from Tim’s original tag.  He used a wood grain embossing folder which I don’t have but probably wouldn’t have used anyway.  I chose to use another of Tim’s folders to give more of the shabby feel that I like.  I cut the “Joyful” out with my Cricut.

I have scheduled a post for tomorrow with the card for my Paper Maniac Inspiration blog post so check back for that, okay?

I hope your week is going well so far!!!!

Blessings,

Christine N

I almost for got…

2nd Post!

Paper Maniac is having a sale for this weekend.  Since I was gone all day, I didn’t find out about it until this afternoon!!!

They are having a blizzard at Patti’s house so if you use the coupon code SNOW_Day, you will get 15% of your entire order!!!  Be sure to check of the deal of the day while you’re there!!!!

My Least Favorite

of the Tim Holtz tags—well so far anyway.

But I think it might be salvageable.  I’ve tried really hard through this process to stick to the “spirit” of Tim’s tags which, to me, is the techniques that he teaches with each tag.  Since I didn’t have the products, or even similar products, that he used, I went with making it look about the time.

Tim used a Tim Holtz embossing folder for the trees and used his die (of course) to cut the deer out.  I have neither of these.  I really like how it turned out until the deer.  I cut the deer (and trees) out with my Cricut and it just didn’t turn out to be the right size.  However, there’s another deer that I will be able to cut out and use instead of this deer.  I figured that out after I got this card finished.  I’ll probably cut a new one to replace this poor little guy!!!

Of course, Tim has all 12 tags finished now.  I’ve got four more to go and will be working on those  tonight and tomorrow!

I had such a great day yesterday.  My sister and niece came over and helped me get some Christmas stuff out and then we all went shopping.  We stopped at the Salvation Army thrift store to drop off the toys we had purchased for needy children but didn’t find much there to purchase.   Then we headed out for some fun shopping—even going to the mall.  Yes, our town of over 300,000 has ONE mall!!!  I try very hard to stay away from that neck of the woods at Christmas time.

I have some really WONDERFUL news to share with you.  Do you remember my niece’s wedding I blogged all about in August 2009?  She’s pregnant.  I think she’s only eight weeks along and we are all so very excited for her!!!  We’ll have another baby in the house at Christmas next year!  I’m an over-the-top excited!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Another Tim Tag (5)

Yes, another one! 

I’m loving making these tags, not only because they are beautiful and fun to make, but Tim is teaching us so many techniques along the way.  Some of the techniques from today’s tag I have already learned from the Compendium of Curiosities challenge.

This is the tag where I realized that my tags weren’t the correct size.  I didn’t have Tim’s label die so used a smaller on from PTI and it didn’t even fit.  I had to cut it down a lot.  I also changed the colors on this tag to better fit my style.  I colored Santa’s face with Copics.  I also added a little homemade flower soft to his hat!

I’ll be posting number 6 pretty soon but I need to get going on 7, 8, 9 and 10.  Whew!!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Tim Tag 4

I’m finally getting caught up with Tim Holtz’ tags.  I’ve got 6 done now and Tim is posting number 10 in about 20 minutes!

I finally figured out (with tag 5) that I’m using the wrong size of tag!  Why I’m saying this now, is to explain why the swirls are all so close to Santa’s head.  But I was able to keep them off his face!!!

The technique Tim taught with this tag is facets.  I didn’t have any facets but I think that the fragments charms worked great as well.  I didn’t get the technique quite right.  He did a kind of stamp resist technique on the charm but I’ll be trying this technique again.

I’ve altered some of the tags to give them more of a soft shabby look but, other than the size, I followed Tim’s pretty close with the only change being items that I don’t own.

Tomorrow is Friday—it’s Friday everyday for me!!!  I’m going to work on Tim tags again.  My fingers are an ugly shade of green right now—I wonder what color they will be tomorrow!!!

It took me long enough to write this post that Tim might have his tag posted by now!!!  I’m going to take a look and then go to bed!!!

Have a good Friday!!!

Blessings,

Christine

What New?

A lot is new at McMahon Five Designs—that’s what!!!  But more on that later.  In the meantime, so sorry I’m late today.  I worked on my Tim tags way to late yesterday and by the time I got my Scrapbook Royalty post made, I totally forgot to post the M5D release!!!

When I saw this image, I new I had to go retro!!!  It just screams 60s doesn’t it! (DP is Cosmo Cricket and ribbon/buttons are PTI.)

Now on to the new release!!!  I am so in love with our new illustrator.  I can’t wait to see what else she creates!

We are again excited to announce to you...

a New Illustrator has joined us!

Please welcome...Fairydoodler!

Mr. Snowy Snowman

Santa's Satchel

Oh Christmas Tree

Kai The Snowball King

Akira

Winter Accessory Kit

12 Days of Christmas

*Available Individually or as a Complete Collection

Note from Christine!!!  These 12 Days of Christmas images are adorable and so tongue in cheek.  The two turtle doves has two doves in a cage sitting on a turtle.  I haven’t seen them all but I’m going over to the store soon to see them!!!

 

For those of you who know Jess, she's the proud Momma to Juneau Lynn!  Juneau was born a few weeks early but Momma and Baby are doing very well!

Congrats Jess!

New this week...

Retro Ornaments

Retro Birds

3 individual bird files plus this complete image

 

New this week...

Dragon Heart

New this week...

Santa's Sleigh

Be sure to check out the samples by the rest of the Design Team!

Bonnie, Carolyn, Christine, Kristine, Michelle, Sue

The snow is almost melted in my yard!  Yay!  I loose my little Cloe in the snow since she is all white and tiny (she only ways 6 pounds), especially at night!!!  It’s supposed to rain some more this weekend so then it will be all gone.  Now what to do with the big chunks of mud that the backhoe left in my yard last week.  Now I realize it would have been easier to remove them while the snow was still under them.  I was thinking they would dry up but they aren’t going to anytime soon!!!

I truly hope you are having a great week.  Do something nice for someone today, okay!  Let’s make someone else’s day today!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Tim Tag 3

I had what Tim used this time (with minor substitutions), except the tree stamp.  However, I wanted to put a real branch (off of my butterfly bush) on my tag for the birds to sit on so I didn’t need the tree stamp!!!  I also added a little chipboard bird from GCD Studios.

Instead of using a sticker, I had to use a piece I cut out of the Holiday stack.  Weird, but I ended up using the exact same design, however, the paper is bigger than the sticker so I had to cut it down a bit.

I really need to get caught up (he just posted tag 8 and I love it!) so I’m going to try my hardest to get at least two tags done tomorrow.  I’ve got my M5D card made for Thursday’s release so I can really concentrate on the tags.  Plus, I really need to get back to my ornament making. 

I’m kind of waiting for things to dry up a bit outside so I can go out to the shed to get my tree and stuff but it doesn’t look like it’s going to.  Maybe my sis will come over and help me out on Saturday.  We can spread out a tarp in case we have to take some boxes out to get what we need.  It’s pretty crowded in there!!!

So, I’ll be in my studio ALL DAY tomorrow.  How fun is that!!!  I might take a side trip to Archivers because I need some supplies for Tim’s tags.

I’ll be back tomorrow!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Believe in Christmas

It’s my turn on the Paper Maniac Inspirations blog today! I love collage type images because they lend so well to water coloring. It’s been a long time since I’ve used my watercolors and it was so much fun to break them out today!

The stamp is Memory Box Believe Poinsettia Collage and I used this beautiful Memory Box Mistletoe paper pack. There are some gorgeous papers in this collection, not to mention the design that has some cute little birdies and wrapped up in scarves and hats.

This week we are sharing our tips for Christmas décor.  Being “A Woman of a Certain Age,” I have collected a LOT of ornaments over the years.  Plus, I’ve been told (or maybe accused) that my home looks like a Macy’s store window.  I have really learned to pare down.  It’s more important to spend the time with your family than to have the perfectly decorated home!

This year, I’m only decorating my studio.  I spend 90% of my waking hours in my studio, and since few people come over, I’m decorating just for me this year!!!  The part where I’m NOT paring down however, is that I’m making ALL of my ornaments!!!  MAYBE I’ll get them all done by Christmas!!!

See ya’ next week!

Blessings,

Christine

Deets:
Medium-watercolor; Image-Memory Box; Ink-Stazon; Paper-Memory Box; Other from stash-gems, ribbon, button.

Challenges:
A Spoon Full of Sugar--Christmas
City Crafter--Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow
Creative Card Crew--Anything goes

Tim Tag 2

As promised, here’s tag 2 of Tim Holtz 12 tags of Christmas.

I didn’t have the stamps or embellishments that Tim used on his tag so I had to go with what I had in my stash.  The pine cones are a Crafty Secrets stamp, the background text is Inkadinkado (I think) and the pine bows and flourishes are Tim Holtz stamps.  Tim did a great technique using reinkers for his pine cones/boughs but I only have two reinkers so I had to stamp and emboss separately but it all worked out great anyway!

I’m scheduling this to post at noon on Monday.  (I saved the draft but didn’t schedule it—oops!)  I’ll come back and add challenges later.  I want to go to the store as soon as I get up to get the things I need to finish my ornaments.  We’re supposed to have rain/snow tomorrow but on Tuesday the weather supposed to be good so I’m going to head out to my shed to get the things to decorate for Christmas. 

I’m only going to decorate my studio this year.  That’s where I spend most of my time anyway and it just takes so much energy that I don’t have to decorate the whole house.  Not to mention taking it all down.  Last year my family had an intervention In February to help me take down my Christmas decorations!!!

I’m going to work on another Tim tag tonight and then tomorrow I need to work on my post for Paper Maniac.  I’m breaking out the watercolors again!!!  It’s been along time.

McMahon Five Designs is having a huge release this week with a new illustrator.  I’m really excited about that.  If you’re interested, M5D is having a design team call.  We have a lot of images that come out every week so you would have a lot of stuff to play with.  Check it out on Sue’s McMahon Five Designs blog. 

That’s it for now!  I’ll talk to you later!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Tim’s Tags–Day 1

I finally made a chance to work on Tim Holtz tags.  I was planning on going to the store to get some supplies for my Christmas ornaments but then I woke up with a migraine.  Since I had to take some pain killers, I couldn’t go to the store.  Working on Tim’s tags even took my headache away!!! Yay!

Here’s my version.  I don’t have the dies that he used so I cut out my own house, used a wooden fence from my stash.  I made what was supposed to be a tree using the Martha Stewart fern leaf punch and then made a cute little bow with real vintage bias tape—the bright green.  Then I put a little bow on it!!! 

Love this tag.  I love things with houses (that’s a Brave Girl thing) and my life word (I just made up that term) is “BELIEVE.”  Just love it!!!

I got two of them done today.  I’ll be scheduling the 2nd one to post tomorrow.  I’m hoping to get the 3rd one today—it’s my favorite one so far.

I hope you had a wonderful weekend.  I’ll see you tomorrow!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Challenges:
Kaboodle Doodles--Tag your it
Creative Belli--Anything with an “R” embellishments (ribbon)
Dutch Dare--Christmas card, tag or ornament
Stamp Something--Christmas color combo
Fussy and Fancy--Anything but a card
Paper Sundaes--gift packaging, a tag or a perhaps hand-made gift

Christmas Shopping

Do you have your Christmas shopping done?

It looks this young lady does!  At least she had a good day!!!  My family draws names for the adults and then we each buy a small gift for the young’uns.  It really works out well that way.  We don’t spend to much and it’s always fun to shop for the kids!!!

Anyway, this is a new image from the McMahon Five Designs digi line.  We’re releasing a few more images today.  The sentiment is from a set being released today as well.  There is a nice Christmas set and then a more religious set with Christmas carol and scripture references.

Warning: a little complaining below—read at your own risk!

I figure I had about 8 inches of snow overnight.  There was a lot of melting today with temps above freezing.  It’s supposed rain tonight and tomorrow.  I’m glad it is warm enough for rain instead of snow.  As I said before, It Doesn’t Snow In Boise!!!

It's been kind of a rough week.  There were some plumbing problems in my neighborhood, they drove through my yard to access the problems plus we were without water for most of 24 hours.  I let it get to me a little more than I should have. 

I tried to pull out my Brave Girl training but it just wasn’t working.  But by last night I had decided that I’m going on no matter what the plumbers are doing.  I called my sis to see if I could come over for a shower if I didn’t have any water today.  I really wanted to go to Hobby Lobby so I could buy the supplies I need for my Christmas tree decorations.   I had water when I got up so I went on with my day! 

I went to Hobby Lobby to get the stuff I needed.  They had everything I wanted except angel hair.  I’ll go out later to see if I can find that.  If not, I have those snow blanket things that will work just fine!!!

Now, on to the new release!!!  Check out these wonderful images!!!

 

New this week...

Jess is also offering with these 2 images

a colored version with each download!!!

Christmas Dreamer

Christmas Shopper

New this week...

Oak Tree in Winter

New this week...

The Wreath

New This Week...

Christmas Buttons

Christian Christmas Buttons

Be sure to check out the samples by the rest of the Design Team!

Bonnie, Carolyn, me, Kristine, Michelle, Sue

Blessings,

Christine

Deets:
Medium-Copics; Image and Sentiment-McMahon Five Designs; Paper-Basic Grey; Punch-Marvy, Paper Shapers; Cuttlebug-Sizzix Tim Holtz swirls die; Other from stash-ribbon, buttons.

Challenges:
Simon Says--sketch
My Time to Craft--Vintage
One Stop Craft--Christmas cuties

My Favorite Things

The theme at the Paper Maniac Inspiration blog this week is “Favorite Things.”  We were to use three of our favorite products from the Paper Maniac store to use on our creation! 

Since I’ve been shopping with Patti almost since they opened, this was easy.  My very favorite thing that Patti carries are my Copic markers.  I love them almost as much as Paper Maniac!!!  I buy the Copic Kit Club every month (I think it’s 14 months now) so I now have quite a selection and it was a lot easier on the budget than trying to buy them in sets. 

My other favorite things are the beautiful stamp from the Unity June store kit and the stunning Crate Paper Restoration DP.  Plus, you all know that butterflies are one of my very favorite things?  Love them!

I have told you before, that I live in the “banana belt” of Idaho.  Our weather is usually warmer and dryer than the rest of the state.  If we get snow, it usually melts by mid afternoon.  That’s part of the reason I live here.

Well, we’ve had snow on the ground for over a week now!!!  Then it snowed on and off all afternoon with a 90% chance of precipitation through tomorrow and still a smaller chance of rain through the week.  IT DOESN’T SNOW HERE!!!  However, tomorrow is supposed to be in the high 30s so maybe some will melt.

Okay, now that I’ve gotten that off my chest, maybe I’ll feel better.  It has been a bad day here at the Fairy Studio (that’s what I’ve decided to call my studio—I have a few fairy dolls hanging to help keep my muse going).  They are working on the plumbing next door so I was without water ALL DAY.  They turned it on again and while it was on, I had a phone call that they are shutting it off in 1/2 hour until tomorrow when they get done fixing stuff over there.  Ugh!!!

For the next few days, I’m going to work on making ornaments for my Christmas tree that I can’t get out of my shed until the weather gets better.  (There I am complaining again—sorry).  I have a white feather tree and I’m making some vintage style ornaments to decorate it!  I can’t wait to show them to you as I create and to get my tree set up and decorated!!! 

Maybe I can get out tomorrow to purchase some of the things I need.  I’m not going  out after dark because they are having slide-offs everywhere!!!

I’m breaking my mood now and I hope you have as good day!

Blessings,

Christine

Deets:
Pearls-Gems; Cuttlebug-Nestabillities; Other from stash-ribbon.

Challenges:
Card Positioning System--sketch
Gingerloft Challenge--bows

Grace’s Glow

Tonight I have another image from Thursdays McMahon Vintage release.

Grace’s Glow.  Isn’t she a sweetie.  I keep saying that about McMahon Vintage images, but they are!!!

The snowflakes were a bit of trial and error.  I cut them out of velum with Nestabillities colored the edges silver and added a fine clear glitter.  That really didn’t work at all.  So then I added clear glitter glue (just the cheap kids kind) all over them.  After that, they had to dry a LONG time so I put the rest of the card together.  Still not dry so I put some glitter glue on a couple of roses and went to bed!!!

I added a little Copic clear Spica an her wings and around the flame.

I’ll be back later with another card!

That’s about it!!! 

Blessings,

Christine

Deets:
Medium-Copics; Image-McMahon Vintage; Paper-K&Co.; Flowers-Wild Orchid Crafts; Ribbon-PTI; Cuttlebug-Spellbinders Snowflakes; Other from stash-.

Challenges:
Cupcake Craft--candle
A Spoon Full of Sugar--Anything goes
Everybody Art Challenge--Use shapes
Papertake Weekly--Cut it out--punch or die cut
Digital Tuesday--Let it snow
Crafty Creations--Christmas
Color Create--Robin egg blue, sea foam green, cream--optional winter
Dutch Dare--sketch
Stampin’ for the Weekend--Winter
Friday Sketchers--sketch
Just Us Girls--3-D holiday embellishments

Doubly Distressed

How was your Thanksgiving?  Did you eat too much?  I ate more than usual but didn’t stuff myself.  My sil brought a yummy squash dish that I’m hoping to make tomorrow.  I need some squash.  I’ll share it with you when I get it made!

The challenge at the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge is the double distress technique.  Loved it!!!  As usual, I’ve been making a tag for the challenge.

Beautiful, huh?  Glitter and distress!!!  As I said before, I love doing tags because I just kinda’ fly by the seat of pants in putting them together!!!

Talk to you tomorrow!  I have another card using a new image from McMahon Vintage that I’ll post tomorrow.

Blessings,

Christine

Deets:
Medium-Distress Inks; Sentiment-Tim Holtz; Ink-Distress Ink, Palette; Paper-Tim Holtz Holiday and grungepaper; Flowers-Making Memories; Other from stash-ribbon.

Challenges:
Simon Says Stamp and Show--distress ink
Compendium of Curiosities Challenge at Studio L3--double distress
My Time to Craft--Tag along
The Stampman Challenge--Christmas with anything Tim Holtz

Let’s Spread Brave Girl Encouragement

With the hustle and bustle of the holidays before us, it’s always good to step back and see the good things of the season.  This is a great way to take an afternoon, you and your family, and spread some goodness and encouragement in your corner of the world.

The following was published on the Brave Girls blog.  Click here to be directed to that post.

Hi Guys!!! TOMORROW WE ARE STARTING!!! We will be handing out kind messages to people on the day after Thanksgiving, all through the holidays. For everyone all over the world who is going to join us in the BGC Holiday Challenge…..here’s a PDF to download 3 pages of messages…so now all you have to do is print them out, cut them out and pass them out….if you want to go a step further, you can pass them out with hot chocolate and cookies!!! Make sure you videotape it or at least take some photos and we will include you in our video in early January.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE MESSAGES

if the link doesn’t work, just copy and paste this address into your browser…http://bravegirlsclub.com/pdfs/RWOK-BGC-HOLIDAY.pdf

Don’t know what I’m talking about? Well, watch this little video and we will explain!!! (you can see it much bigger a few posts down from here….)

WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US!!! Read all about the challenge HERE

THIS IS GOING TO BE SOOOO GREAT!!!!

MAKE SURE YOU WATCH THE VIDEO IN THE POST RIGHT BEFORE THIS ONE!!!!

A PERFECT LITTLE MOVIE TO WATCH WITH YOUR FAMILY!!! YOU WILL LOOOVE IT!!

100 AWESOME THINGS!!! You might SEE YOURSELF in the movie!!!

see it??? RIGHT DOWN THERE??

If ya can’t see it…..CLICK HERE YOU WILL LOVE IT!!!!!

I’m going to print these out, cut them apart and keep them in an envelope in my purse.  What a great way to spread the cheer at the end of the year!