Christmas Swap Full Card Photo Reveal

These swaps have gone postal so it's time to reveal the full card photos. Here they are with the creator's name in the order of swap out.

Heather Neidig

Susan McDonald

Melanie Doornbox
Marjorie Gibson

Anna Crossley

Maria Oppenheim

Andrea Bennett

Wanda Dodds

Ann Wood

Jamie Zreick MiRan Bigrigg

Ann Dumas

Renee LavictoireLisa Hilts

Folded Embossing Folders Technique

One of the swaps in my Quick Christmas Swap (done by Ann Wood) uses the Crimped Over the Top Technique (see tutorial HERE).

I really like the look of this and decided to experiment a bit using this technique and a Cuttlebug Folder.

Ok the truth is I could not find my crimper so I tried this out instead.

I haven't seen this done anywhere else - am I the first?

This is what I came up with using the Cuttlebug Forest Branches embossing folder.

It's very easy - just fold your base piece anyway you like and then put it in the embossing folder. Run it through your Big Shot and use it as your base mat layer.

There are so many techniques - tried and true - that have been around for ages. With the progress in papercraft supplies/tools it makes me wonder what other techniques can be tweaked and modified a bit to come up with NEW techniques?

COPIC Colour Booklet

Have you ever bought the same COPIC marker twice?

I have - that is until I made myself this handy dandy little booklet:

Edtited to Add: For those of you looking to download a copy of this for yourselves please go to Shelly's Popsicle Toes Card Creations blog by clicking HERE

MORE Christmas Swap Sneak Peeks

Here are some more sneak peek photos from my Quick Turnaround Christmas Card Front Swap!

Anna Crossley:Jamie Zreick:

MiRan Bigrigg:Heather Neidig:Wanda Dodds:Melanie Doornbos:Ann Dumas:Andrea Bennett: Maria Oppenheim:

Susan MacDonald:

Quick Christmas Sneak Peeks

I'm hosting a Quick Turnaround Christmas card front swap!

Even though the due date is not until November 6th I've received some swaps already!

Here are a few sneak peeks:

Heather Neidig - love the layers & her ribbon is tied perfectly!

Marjorie Gibson - just a punch of red gloss!


Ann Wood - I have no idea how she did this but I'm going to ask her!

Another peek from Ann Wood - love the glitter and the paper piecing!

Please stay tuned - full card photos will be shared here once the swap closes!

TIP: Colouring in Embellishments like Ribbon with COPICS

I know it's been a long time since I posted.

I have some health issues to deal with and a severe case of "missing mojo".

Today I was blurfing and came across something that got my creative wheels going and so I wanted to share some tips with you.

I hope you don't mind me sharing the occasional Tip with you....

If you would like to add a tip or link to this post please feel free to add it to the comments!

My tip today is meant to inspire you to use your Copics on more than just paper.

Have you used your Copic markers to make your own custom embellishments - like ribbon, twill, hardware, buttons etc ?

You probably already know that you can colour in pretty much anything with your Copics.

Most of you I'm sure have coloured in ribbon before - use white or ivory grosgrain, silk, or organdy ribbon - and colour with copic markers to get matchy matchy results for your coloured images and patterned paper. You just colour straight on or use the air brush system to do this.

Click HERE to see how Sharon Harnist coloured in her ribbon to match her card project.

What about colouring in your old black/white gingham with a bright green or orange for Halloween? It's super easy and MONEY SAVING!!

Another easy idea is to stamp and twill and use your Copics to colour on accents.
Click HERE but scroll way down to the photo where Michelle stamps the ribbon and then adds stripes with E43 Dull Ivory.

I had an idea to make my own Copic Christmas ribbon using twill after seeing THIS ribbon Sleigh Bells Ribbon from Stampin' Up!

Just the idea so far I've not actually gotten around to making it myself yet!

But I have coloured embellishments to match or try to match a project - I started with the Stampin' Up! Hodgepodge Hardware in Very Vanilla - click HERE to see the post on my blog.

Buttons are another embellishment that you can colour quite eaily with Copic markers or the air brush system:

What about these little Kaiser pearls - click HERE if you don't know what these are -
there are so many colours but why bother with them when you can use the white pearl and colour in your own to perfectly match your project. Not to mention saving on the storage and trying to find the right colour!

These are just a few ideas to get you inspired. I hope you like them and if you come up with some others please share your ideas or links in my comments.

Thanks a bunch!

Last Friday I had mastectomy surgery and have been homebound "recovering".

It's been hard for me to not do anything but rest & recover but until I get back full mobility (my left arm has been affected) I'm forced to take time off from stamping and crafting (not to mention laundry, dishes, driving etc..).

During this past week I've had some great friends drop by with coffee, feed me and take me out.

As well I've had some deliveries of flowers, magazines, chocolate and other special gifts! Even dog food (thanks Claire!).

I want to thank everyone for their kind support and thoughtfulness! THANKS A BUNCH!

From Heather and Aly:From Jim:

From Zona & Gerry:

From Claire:
From Shelley & the ScrapArts Chicks (Naomi & Dee):

From Betty:

Card Redo

My youngest sister and niece (from ON) were just visiting me (in BC) and the time flew by.

It was a relaxing visit with some hanging out and a bit of sight seeing but I had hoped that we could do some Christmas cards while she was here.

Unfortunately we ran out of time and the only stamping that got done was making birthday cards (the kids made some for each other) and my sister and I worked on the 4x4 technique swap I was hosting.

I did show her a few of my previous cards and she offered some "constructive critism" - you know like a good sister can do! LOL!

She thinks my cards are too plain - I personally like the "clean & simple" look.

But I agree some of them look "unfinished". She tells me that I need to sponge and add more finishing touches.

I guess she's into that kind of thing right now...

Anyway one of the cards I showed her was this one from a previous LRI Design Team post:

I know it was left kind of plain and I had an idea to finish it but didn't have the time...

until now:

I sponged the circle focal point and card base with Pretty in Pink ink and added a Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware frame. I coloured the frame with COPIC markers and added sparkly white brads to it.

The greeting is handwritten by me - I thought it matched the drawing style of the stamped image? I'm not totally happy with the placement of the frame but I'm trying to get away from my habit of "right hand bottom" placement from greetings!

I think it looks more "finished" now - don't you?

In Colour Ribbon "Trick"

Maybe you've already figured this one out but for me it was like a light bulb went on in my head!

I love the new Stampin' Up! In Colour Polka Dotted ribbons but sometimes the dots aren't always appropriate for the "feel" of the card.

I know - hard to think that dots might not be appropriate. But maybe there might be an occasion for no-dots?

If you're using In Colour inks and paper you want to coordinate right? What to do....

TURN IT OVER!!!

The back side is a lovely grosgrain that will coordinate perfectly with your paper & inks WITHOUT THE DOTS!!

ps. I know it doesn't work for bows but with some well placed mini dots it could work for knots!