January 1st Reveal Two Scrapbook Friends

Happy New Year!

For this month's DT reveal for Two Scrapbook Friends, I worked with the Mix and Mend line from Sassafrass. My DT package included patterned paper, stickers, canvas pieces, three flowers and some electric green Stickles!

I was a bit stumped at first with the papers being pre-printed with amazing shabby chic designs featuring sewing remnants. Once I wrapped my mind around the fact that I wouldn't cut the papers, I chose some coordinating card stock and embellished away with things to echo the pre-printed designs such as trim, crochet flowers, battenburg lace, buttons and wool for stitching. I really like the results!

I made a few pages featuring photos of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi which we visted in August 2009. The dazzling blue sky and the striking white marble were a perfect complement to the papers. I added the measuring tape pp by K&Co., blue chipboard letters by Bisous, mini alpha stickers by MLS, kaiser pearls, a Prima paper flower, wool for stitching, some trim and a crochet flower made by my mom.

To this one I added trim, crochet flower, chipboard letters by MME, and mini alpha stickers by MM.

Here I added a large paper doilie, a bird from Prima, chipboard letters by MME and mini alpha stickers by MLS.

This final layout of the mosque features lace, trim, crochet flower, wool for stitching, pp by K&Cp., mini alpha stickers by MLS and chipboard letters by Bisous.

Then I made two more layouts, this time of our trip to the German cathedral town of Worms that same year. I added trim, clear buttons, brads, Doodlebug alpha stickers, MLS mini alpha stickers and wool for stitching.

I found this battenburg lace doilie while working on this month's DT layouts so it was a perfect fit here! I also added trim, wool for stitching and MLS alpha stickers.

I really enjoyed working with these papers since they were so different from what I usually do. Be sure to check out what the other DT ladies have done this month in the TSF gallery!

Winter themed card challenge

It is my turn for another card challenge over at Two Scrapbook Friends.

With this blast of snow and cold, I thought, why not a winter-themed card? I know I always need some non-Christmas cards this time of year as well. Here's one I made with BoBunny and one of my favourite sentiment stamps!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Well, I guess winter is here?

Sugar Cookie Cutouts

Last night I thought I would take a little break from marking and start my holiday baking. Every year I make a few traditional cookies. These sugar cutouts are always a hit with my dad and father-in-law. And they are fun to package up to give away.

Here's the recipe:

1 c. butter or half butter half shortening, softened
1 c. sugar
1 egg
2 1/2 c. flour
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking powder

Combine butter, sugar and egg until creamy. Add flour, orange juice, baking powder and vanilla to form a dough. Divide in thirds and wrap in Saran. Chill for at least two hours or overnight. Bring to room temp. Roll out to 1/4 inch thickness and cut with your favourite holiday cookie cutters. Decorate with coloured sugars.

Bake 6-8 minutes in 400 degree oven or until edges light brown.


And here they are all done!

Happy baking!

Friendzy Friday Funnel Folded Flowers

I saw these cool flowers in the March/April 2010 issue of CK magazine and fiddled around until I figured out how to make them. I thought they would feel like a bit of spring on a snowy December day!

Start with some double sided paper. Small prints and solids work best. You can even do it with scraps since you don't need a lot of one print. You also need a circle punch. I used my one inch punch, but you could do this with any size. And also a button to finish off the flower.

Punch 6 circles all the same size.



With all circles facing the same way up, fold two edges of each circle up to form a kind of funnel.

Cut a slightly larger circle out of scrap paper. Adhere each of your funnels to the scrap circle so that they each meet in the middle. This is the fiddly part. If there are some gaps, you can gently refold your funnels until they match up nicely. If there is as gap in the middle, it is OK since your button will hide that.

When you are happy with your flower, adhere the button with liquid adhesive.

And here's mine finished.

I used these on one of my August DT layouts using the great Echo Park papers.

Give these a try...they are fun and so pretty!

Thanks for looking!

DT December Reveal

I had a blast working with the "Merry Christams" line from Echo Park for the TSF Design Team reveal this month. I also had some ribbon, a Queen and Co. bling tree and snowflake buttons to play with.

First I made these two layouts of our "New Christmas Trees" of "fan palm and norfolk pine." The non-traditional photos really go with these gorgeous papers. I embossed flourishes on the white card stock with versa mark for a cool effect and also used iridescent Maya Mist on the large doilie. I made some rolled felt flowers too. Nothing says Christmas like felt! From my stash I added BoBunny trim flowers, Scenic Route chipboard letters, MLS mini alpha stickers, Prima pearl flourishes, twine, brads and a buckle. Oh and I did some messy sewing too!

Here's a detail shot of the embossed flourishes.

Then I really wanted to make something special to capture "Our Merry Christmas Traditions." So I grabbed a naked 6x6 chipboard album I have had forever. I inked the edges of the front and back cover (where the metal grommets are) and sealed it with clear acrylic paint. Then I covered each page with some of the amazing Echo Park paper. I added a few things throughout such as trim, more rolled felt flowers, buttons, twine, ric rac, and MLS mini alpha stickers.

Here's an inside page of "friends" and special holiday decorations.

Our wintery view and a favourite tree ornament.

Christmas morning traditions of a special brunch and photos by the tree.

Special times with our families.

Our stockings are hung by the chimney with care...

The tree all trimmed!

Holiday baking!

And finally I made a card with one of my favourite sentiment stamps. I added twine and trim!

Thanks for looking and be sure to check out what the other DT ladies have crafted!!