A Flip-it Card

Well, the holidays are coming to an end, but there are always other occasions to celebrate.  Here's a card created with Stephanie Barnard's Triple Square Flip-its set by Sizzix.

This set comes with 10 framelit dies, six of them are different sizes of small squares.  Three of those have little tiny dots around the edges that cut out, just like the one I used behind my butterflies.  Love these, I think these can be used for so many different projects.  I used Kaiser's new collection, "Violet Crush" for my card.

With my Sizzix Magnetic platform, I cut out one card base from white cardstock.  After folding along the creased edges, I adhered my card pieces that I also cut out with the platform and patterned paper.

I know I've said this many times but, using that platform makes cutting out wafer thin dies so much easier.  They do not move, so if you need an exact spot that you need to cut out, this makes it super easy.  After my squares were cut out and adhered, I applied Violet Crush butterflies on top with pop-dots.  The inside of the card is a journaling card and a few cut out flowers from paper.

I also cut out two sizes of squares, one out of patterned paper, the other cardstock as a mat, three times.  See how I was able to position my paper so that a small flower was in the center of the square?  Using the platform makes this so easy.  I adhered these to the inside of my card front.

A very easy and fast card to make!

The holidays aren't quite over for Sizzix!  For those of you living in the US and Canada, Sizzix has extended their $250 Gift Card Giveaway to January 12th, 2014.  Check out the details here and make sure you enter!
Thanks for stopping by,

Jan

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Christmas Centerpiece

I don't know about you, but I'm starting to panic!  How can it be Christmas next week?!  There is so much I have to get done and the days are just flying by.  If you are one of the lucky ones and are ready for Christmas, you might want to check this out.  I have a tutorial on the Sizzix blog today on how I made this Christmas centerpiece:

I was going to make a few of them for my Christmas table, but so far, this is the only one!  Oh well, maybe next year!

Thanks for stopping by,

Jan

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Decorating for Christmas

I have a short tutorial on the Sizzix Blog today, featuring this project:

You will be surprised as to what die I used to make my lantern!  Hope you visit me there!

Thanks for stopping by,

Jan

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Countdown to Creativity

I have a special preview for everyone today!  I'm sharing a canvas that I created using three new Sizzix Tim Holtz dies that are being pre-released before CHA in January.  I know that a lot of you will want these dies, they are amazing!  I created this 16 x 20 canvas:

One of the dies is a Bigz XL die called, "Jumbo Tattered Florals(659441)".  Yes, that's right, your favourite tattered flowers but jumbo!  The largest flower measures 5" in diameter, and there are three other flowers, along with two leaves.  The other two dies are Garden Greens(bigz die 659436) and Spring Greenery(decorative strip 659573).  I see a lot of fabric cutting in the future!

Here's how I created my canvas:

First I took my 16 x 20 linen canvas (it came already primed with a clear gesso) and using black crackle paint, painted the center area.  Then with Tim Holtz Bubble and Dot Fade stencils, I painted randomly around the edges.

After my canvas was dry, I added in a few places, leaves with black crackle paint that was tinted with Primary Elements pigment powders. I used a  stencil I made with acrylic and the Garden Greens bigz die.  That's the beauty of bigz dies, you can use acrylic to make your own stencils.  After my paint dried, I used my Dot Fade, Bubble and Splattered stencils and green Tim Holtz Distress paint to add a bit of colour in random areas. I also used a bit of Lindy's starburst spray.  Set this aside to dry.

For my flowers, I used a combination of burlap, Tim Holtz "Eclectic Elements" fabric and paper.  After I cut out my larger burlap flower, I used a very fine wire and machine zigzagged it to my flower.  I wanted to be  able to shape my flower so it was more dimensional.  I then layered a fabric die cut flower over top with a hot glue gun.  

I cut out various flowers and leaves out of the different materials.  For the large paper flower, I embossed it with Sizzix's Tim Holtz Springtime (657491) embossing folder.  The smaller flower was fabric and burlap pieces glue gunned together.  

Glue these altogether and add a Tim Holtz compass coin in the middle.  When I was working with the burlap, I found it came apart easy.  I ended up painting a layer of Ranger's Matte Medium on one side which held the piece together and it dried transparent.

For the greenery, I cut these out of various patterned papers.  I always cut out quite a few, as sometimes I like to cut them apart.

I adhered a 12 x 12 fabric piece from Tim Holtz elements with a clear thick gel molding paste.  For my various die-cut pieces, I applied Tim Holtz clear rock candy crackle paint generously to the area and then laid down the die cut and applied more crackle paint.  Some of the pieces, I didn't glue down the entire piece.

I added in my flowers, more die-cut greenery, my photos (inserted into Tim Holtz Cabinet Card Frames), my title, and a small quote on a die-cut piece of paper.  When I was searching for photos, I realized I don't have very many recent photos of my kids!  I have to resort to using what I can find on Facebook or Instagram!  

 I love using different types of greenery dies in my layouts and cards, I know these dies will be well used! Make sure you let your local scrapbook store about these dies, I know The Urban Scrapbook will definitely be preordering these.  To learn more about these dies, visit the Sizzix website or visit Tim's blog.  

To help get you inspired, the Sizzix Design Team has created projects using these dies.  Throughout the month, the Sizzix blog will be sharing a link to one of the designer's blogs featuring their fabulous project.

Thanks for stopping by,

Jan

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Christmas Card Inspiration

Just a short post today, for some Christmas Card inspiration.

I created this card using Sizzix's Tim Holtz Framed Silhouettes Framelit Set and BoBunny's Silver & Gold collection.

These framelits are so easy to use, especially with Sizzix's new Magnetic platform.  Love, love this platform, your dies do not move!  First I stamped my images on my paper and embossed (I used Stampendous Aged Green Embossing Enamel).  Then I placed my paper on my platform, lined up the framelit and ran it through my machine.  I highlighted some of the flower centres and the snowflake with Stickles, then adhered them to my card.  How easy is that?!

Thanks for stopping by,

Jan

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Merry Christmas Layout

It's time again for the monthly challenge at Urban Scrapbook.  This month our kits were filled with papers and embellishments from Heidi Swapp's "Believe" collection.  Here's my layout:

Once again the girls on the Urban Design Team created some amazing layouts.  Make sure you check them out!  Kits are also for sale at the store.

Thanks for stopping by,

Jan

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Christmas Configurations Book

Today I have a tutorial on the Sizzix Blog.  I hope you visit me there to see how I created this Christmas Configurations Book:

There's lots of Sizzix inspiration inside too!

Thanks for stopping by,

Jan

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A Frosty Shoe

I've been creating some Christmas cards for Urban Scrapbook's display, and found myself at a creative standstill.  I decided just to make a Christmas shoe like the Halloween one from Sizzix's Brenda Walton  Slipper die that I made here, to get those creative juices flowing again.  I think I'm hooked on these shoes, they are so fun and easy to create.  One of our customers at the store thought these would make great party favours for women, with a bottle of nail polish tucked inside.  But one of the staff came up with an even better idea, one of those little tiny bottles of liquor!  Everyone agreed, and the nail polish was quickly forgotten!

I used Echo Parks, "Tis the Season" paper, white cardstock and vellum for my shoe.  The snowflake rosette is from Sizzix's Tim Holtz Mini Two Rosette Snowflake Decorative Strip die and the vellum bits on the heel are cut out from Sizzix's Tim Holtz Festive Greenery Decorative strip die.  Once I had my shoe and rosette constructed and the greenery cut out, I applied glossy accents to all of these and poured on Tim Holtz Rock Candy Glitter.  I love using this stuff on everything Christmas!

I added a strip of tinsel across the top of the shoe before adhering my rosette.  The small jewel in the middle of the rosette is from Maya Road.
Sorry, these aren't the greatest photos.  I took lots, but for some reason these were the only two that weren't as blurry.  I don't know what I did wrong there!

It did help me, I went on to making more cards!  I also can't wait to make more shoes!

Thanks for stopping by,

Jan

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Christmas Pop 'N Cuts Cards

With so many wonderful Christmas paper collections out this year, it doesn't take much to create some great cards.  Even dies that aren't Christmas specific, can work so well with seasonal papers.  I used this new Sizzix Pop 'n Cuts House die insert and the Thinlit House Die set to create two very different Christmas cards.

First up is this card created with Webster's collection, "A Christmas Story".

First off, I die cut my card base with the house insert.

I usually cut out an outside base, a little larger than the inside die-cut base and adhere this to the inside base.  I like a sturdy card!

With the thinlit house set, I die-cut the house, chimney and window pieces in white cardstock and the other parts in pale gold glitter paper.  For the front of my card, I used my Sizzix Tim Holtz Poinsettia die and matching Poinsettia Embossing Folder with light pink cardstock.  I love that this die has a matching embossing folder, it adds so much dimension to it.

I also used this Sizzix Labels and Stitched Frames framelit by Karen Burniston for the inside of my cards.   I love the stitched effect!

For the poinsettia, I lightly swiped white Tim Holtz Distress paint to give it a more frosty pink look.  After drying, I spread a layer of glossy accents on top and then poured Rock Candy Glitter over, and shook off the excess.  Let this dry and then assemble your flower.  I added in some hand cut paper pieces underneath, some gold bling swirls on my base and my front was finished.

For my house, I lightly inked the edges and embossed areas and adhered to the house card base. Adhere all of the house parts and again apply glossy accents.  I didn't do it to the entire area of the house and trim, just random areas.  Apply the Rock Candy Glitter as done to the poinsettia.  I used a small section of Tim Holtz Silver Tinsel Twine, coloured it with pink alcohol ink and made it into a small wreath for the door.  I added in my stitched label and Webster's elements.  

Here is another version of the exact same Pop 'N Cuts card:

I used Bazzill's new Christmas Line, "Nordic Pines" for this card.  The letters are by Tim Holtz and the snowflakes are die-cut with black chipboard from Sizzix's Tim Holtz mini snowflakes die.

Isn't it amazing how different the two cards look, just by changing up the papers?

This is such a versatile die too.

I'm off to create more cards, thanks for stopping by!

Jan

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"Recorded" layout

I have a short tutorial on the Sizzix blog today, featuring this layout and their new Shabby Chic dies:

Hope you visit me there!

Jan

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Urban's November Layout

Hi everyone,  it's that time again for Urban Scrapbook's monthly Design Team Challenge.

This month our kits included paper and embellishments from Echo Park's line called, "Reflections" designed by Lori Whitlock.  Love this collection, and they have added a Christmas line by Lori this year too.

I had a bit of fun playing with my Lindy's sprays and embossing powders and also Viva's Ferro Metallic paste on the background.

  

I used my Sizzix Christmas Cardinal Die for the bird, I just cut off the pointed part of his head.  It was cut from the burgundy cardstock and embossed with Lindy's Midnight Copper Obsidian embossing powder and while still hot, a rubber stamp pressed into the bird's body.  I highlighted a few areas with Viva Gold Copper paste. Some hand-cut leaves and dragonfly from patterned paper, my stamped and embossed wood circle, wood altered frames, a altered embossed burlap flower, and buttons were added.  The stencils I used were from Prima and Tim Holtz.

My husband and I were in Vancouver this summer and decided to spend the day at the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park.  I am a little afraid of heights but I decided to conquer my fear!  I didn't do too bad, even walked across the cliff walk!  The frame in my photo is actually a giant frame that everyone posed behind for photos.  I remember going there once as a kid and being terrified, so I'm glad I went again.  I would highly recommend it if you are ever in Vancouver!

The layouts are on display at the store and up on Urban's blog, make sure you check out our talented team of designers!

Thanks for stopping by,

Jan

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HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

A tag using techniques from Tim Holtz's Chemistry 102 class!

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Who Are You?

Sizzix is having a great contest! 

To enter the contest, you need to share a picture of yourself, your favourite Sizzix creation, and three words that best describe you. You can learn all about it here. Click here to enter.

The Grand Prize Winner wins a trip to Sizzix for her/him and a friend.  The top 12 entrants win $100.00 Sizzix gift cards.  The top 12 will be chosen by January 15, 2014 and the Grand Prize Winner will be announced February 2014.

The Sizzix Design Team have been asked to play along, so here goes it:

Here's me at work, surrounded by lots of creativity at The Urban Scrapbook!

Three words to describe me:

CREATIVE

I've been creating things ever since I can remember.  I sewed my first piece of clothing when I was in grade five (a skirt) and haven't stopped.  Although most of the time lately, I seem to be sewing paper.  Every time I see Amy Friend's and Ebony Love's Sizzix quilting projects, I am so tempted to work on fabric again!  Besides sewing, I've dabbled in oil, water-colour painting, and just about every other medium, so scrapbooking is just an extension of all my hobbies.

COLLECTOR

I call myself a collector, it sounds nicer.  I love vintage things, they have a story to tell and unfortunately my little house is getting overrun with lots of stories!  I work in a scrapbook store, "The Urban Scrapbook" and it's hard not to collect scrapbook supplies.  My scrapbook room is small and it is getting harder to find a place for everything.  

READER

I've always loved reading.  I can remember getting into trouble as a kid, for not getting my chores done, because I couldn't put my book down!  I always have a book on the go.  I just finished, "The 100 Year Old Man Who Ran Away and Disappeared" and highly recommend it!

My favourite Sizzix project is, and this was hard to choose:

Tutorial for this Dressform Gift box is here.

I hope you will check out the contest and play along.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!

Jan

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Trick or Treat

Today I have a tutorial on the Sizzix blog.  Hope you join me there and check out how I created this layout:

I know I've used this photo a number of times, but Roxy looks just too darn cute!

Thanks for stopping by!

Jan

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Halloween Projects

This month at Urban Scrapbook, our theme was Halloween for the October challenge.  I created this layout on a wood canvas with my kit:

It looks pretty flat from this angle, but there's a lot of dimension here.  I used Sizzix's Brenda Walton Shadow box die for the striped box and filled it with apothecary bottles and chipboard embellishments.

I pop dotted the skeleton chipboard die cut and adhered his arm to the tulle ribbon, so it looks like he's carrying the box.

My sides of the wood canvas were quite wide, so I covered them with Tim Holtz black Shattered card stock, then crackled with clear crackle paint, and to highlight the cracks, added Viva Gold paint.
The orange border was cut from one of my patterned papers.  This collection of papers and embellishments were from My Minds Eye.

I've had this Brenda Walton ballroom slipper die for awhile, but just haven't had a chance to use it.  I decided to make a halloween slipper.  I had so much fun making this, I can see I'm going to be making a few more!

It's so easy, just die cut the shoe parts and paste together.  I added a Tim Holtz Sizzix Mini Rosette die to the top of the shoe, with a Tim Holtz halloween charm.  On the heel of the shoe is a section of Sizzix's Ironwork Gate Sizzlit die.  The paper is from Teresa Collins.

And lastly, I just wanted to share a tag I made from Tim Holtz's Creative Chemistry 102 Online class.  It's the only one I've managed to complete so far, the Eroded Metallic Technique and Coloured Crackle. The leaves are Sizzix's Tim Holtz Leaf Blueprint die & Stamp Set.  If you haven't taken any of his classes, I highly recommend them.  You learn so much about his products and how to use them.  

Hope you have all had a great long weekend, and thanks for stopping by!

Jan

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Halloween Shadow Box

Today I have a tutorial on the Sizzix blog, hope you visit me there!

Thanks for stopping by,

Jan

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Pop 'n Cuts Cards

Well, October has arrived and with it, the colder weather.  Of course, I haven't started any clean up in my flower beds, as the weather was so beautiful.  So now I will have to work on them in the cooler temperatures.
I haven't been around here much lately.  Unfortunately, we have been going through a very sad and unexpected family illness.  My mother-in-law was diagnosed unexpectedly with stage four pancreatic cancer in August.  As my in-laws live about an hour out of town, we have had them stay at our house, so we could look after them both better. It was nice that the whole family could be closer to her during her illness.  It turned out to be a very aggressive cancer and sadly mom passed away last week.  We are all still in shock, as she was a very healthy person up until then.
Gwyn was a very vibrant, happy person who will be missed greatly by all those who have known her.  She was so unselfish, her family meant everything to her, and was determined to make every person she met, smile and feel like they were the highlight of her day.  I have great memories of my time with her and will miss her a lot.
She always loved the cards I made for her and displayed them proudly in her china cabinet. So, today I'm going to share a few of my Sizzix pop-up cards that I have made.  Some of them are on display at the store and some of them I have given away.  I love giving away pop-up cards, they are always a nice surprise when opened!

To make these pop-up cards, I used Sizzix's Karen Burniston Pop 'n Cuts Bigz XL base die and different magnetic inserts you can change out.  If you would like to learn more about these dies and lots of inspiration, check out Karen's blog, "I am not left-handed."  She even has video tutorials on how to make spinners inside the cards, as I did on my halloween one.  When opened, the skeleton moves from behind the gravestone!

Hope you have a great day, and maybe this post will inspire you to make someone special in your life, a card.  Why wait for a special occasion, just send one to let them know they are important to you.

Until next time,

Jan

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