Sending Smiles

Hi there,

I made this card to try coloring on Kraft card with alcohol ink markers and honestly, I felt like coloring without trying to shadow or die cut.  I think this is a beautiful background stamp and perfect for this sort of technique. 

What I Used to Make my Card:
Kraft Card Base
Simon Says Stamp Spring Flowers Background, #SSS102281
Simon Says Stamp Sending Smiles Die, #SSSD112179
Simon Says Stamp Fine White Embossing Powder
Alcohol Ink Markers
Vellum
Purple Shimmer Paper

This was an easy card to make; my only wish was that the white heat embossing came out cleaner but I guess when you have a bunch of animals their hair really does get everywhere!  The first step was stamping and embossing the background stamp {I love this stamp and it was about time I used it!}. Once that had cooled, I colored in the flowers and leaves with alcohol ink markers and set the card aside to explore how {and if} I was going to add a sentiment. I decided to use the sending smiles die, which I cut from purple shimmer paper and glued onto some vellum.  I trimmed the vellum into a strip and glued it onto the inside of the card so the adhesive wouldn't show.  There you have it! Despite the embossing I love the look  of this card.

Thank you so much for stopping by and taking a look at my card! I hope all is well with you; I'm happy to report things are calming down from the move {I'm still not settled but I can see improvement} and looking up here at my house.  Hope to see you very soon! 

Fondly, 

Christi

I am happily entering my card in the following challenges I found at Challenges for Days :)
NBUS, #26 - Anything Goes this is New {background stamp and die are brand new!}
Sisterhood of Snarky Crafters, #186 - K is for Kraft
Cut it Up, #226 - Nature
My Time to Craft, #458 - Floral
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Flowers as the Focus {hope this counts!}
Frilly & Funkie - Anything Goes
The House that Stamps Built, #2621 - Embossing, wet or dry
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Little Red Wagon, #603 - Say it with Flowers

 

Plane and Simple

I get a huge kick out of a good play on words {almost as much as a good snarky sentiment} and this card just makes me smile!  It's difficult for me to make a sweet card that isn't too feminine looking - with all that pink and hearts and stuff.  But this year I am determined to make a "manly" lovey card for Valentine's Day; I think I did a good job, what do you think?

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
DCWV Maps, Text and Ledgers 8" x 8" Stack, #CS-019-00018
Lawn Fawn Plane and Simple stamps, #LF1409
Lawn Fawn Plane and Simple dies, #LF1410
Lawn Fawn Candy Hearts, #LF1827
Tutti Designs Scalloped Stitched Nesting Circles, #TUTTI-419
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
VersaMark Ink
Simon Says Stamp White Fine Detail Embossing Powder

Watercolor Paper {I use this}

Zig Clean Color Brush Markers
White & Red scrap card
Vellum

I started by making a collage with a bunch of the papers from DCWV.  I ripped up some of the maps and collaged them on scrap white paper.  Then I trimmed the panel down and attached it to a white card base.  I didn't want anything to be recognizable on the map and ripping up the papers and mixing them up worked beautifully to get the background I wanted.

Although this is an older stamp set, this is the first time I've used it.  What better occasion than Valentine's Day or even just an every day "I love you" card to break out a some new goodies?  I love the planes and the puffy clouds, especially the puffy heart exhaust.  I think this set is perfect for a masculine card as it gets the point across without being too frilly and girly; plus you can always raise the cuteness factor by giving your clouds one of those adorable smiley faces that are included in the set.  Once all the images were stamped, colored, and cut, I realized I

Another Peek

had a dilemma.  How to add all the elements without covering up the map? I suppose I could have made a larger card but I am so used to designing for an A2 {4 1/4" x 5 1/2"} size card that I honestly didn't even think of making a larger card until I was faced with the placement of the pieces.  After some thought, I chose to use vellum to act as a buffer between the map and the components of the card.   I just bought some new Tutti Designs dies {and I HAD to try them out!} so I used the scalloped circle die for the vellum.  I attached the vellum to the card, hiding the adhesive under the clouds, plane, and heart.  I embossed part of the sentiment with white embossing powder and added the heart with white scrap layered behind it to finish it off.

And there is my "manly" love card.  I am pleased with the design and I think the recipient is going to enjoy it as well.  What do you use to design a masculine card?  I'd love to hear your tips and tricks.  Just leave me a comment and be sure to leave your contact information so I can visit you back.  Thanks for stopping by and I hope to see you soon! Fondly, Christi

I am entering my Plane and Simple card in the following challenges:
Lawn Fawnatics - #45, Lots of Love {graphic below}
Unicorn Challenge -M, #39, Things with Wings
Cardz for Guyz - #211, Trains, Planes & Automobiles
Work it Wednesday - Something New {the stamp & dies are new to me}
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Have a Heart
Southern Girls Challenge - Love is in the Air 
Moving Along with the Times - Have a Heart
Dies R Us - Anything New {the stamp & dies are new to me}

Let it Snow

Another snowflake card; sorry to those who are getting snowed under!  We had a bit of snow yesterday, but most of it is already gone.  We are due for a good snowstorm!

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Tim Holtz/Sizzix Mini Paper Snowflakes Die, #661599
Lawn Fawn Let it Snow Border Die, #LF992
Tim Holtz Mini Swirly Snowflakes Stamps, #CMS320
Simon Says Stamp Embossing Powder, Detail White
Embossing Ink
Vellum
Pale Gold Card
Homemade White Brads

This card started out with stamping the snowflakes on vellum with embossing ink and then embossing them with detail white embossing powder; I had no plan for the vellum, I just love the way white embossing looks and I wanted to play.  I made this panel at the same time I made the panel used in my Simple Snowflake Cards.

When I went to adhere the vellum panel to the card base I realized I had no white brads {yes, I found some later, which is always the case for me}.  So, I made some.  I've done it before and it is so simple; just dip the head of your brad into some embossing ink, then the embossing powder, heat, and repeat until you are satisfied with the results.  Easy!  Once the brads were made, I set them aside to cool down and set about making the embellishments for the card. I cut the sentiment out of the same card as the snowflakes {choosing which  

snowflakes to use out of the set was the most difficult part of making this card!}, a luscious pale gold that I've had for years.  Once the vellum was

Another Look

attached to the card base, I glued the sentiment and the snowflakes I'd chosen to the card.

It really is so pretty in person! I am absolutely fascinated with white embossing, as you may have noticed lately.  It just looks so fresh and clean to me.  Have you jumped on this craze as well?  If so, I'd love to stop by and see your creations, just leave me your information in the comments.  And, since you are already here, I'd be grateful if you'd consider becoming a follower.  It took me a very long time to get the guts to share my art and now that I'm an old pro at sharing, I'd be honored to continue sharing it with you.  Thanks so much and I hope to see you soon! Christi

I would like to enter my Let it Snow card in the following challenges:
Use Your Stuff - #295, Monochromatic
A Snowflakes Promise - M, #47, Anything Goes
Artistic Stamper - M, #1, Anything Goes
Crop Stop Challenge - M, Anything Goes (#2)
Card Mania - M, #100, Monochromatic
Get Creative With Stamps - M, #22, Snowflakes

Serene Winter Scene

For those celebrating Christmas, tonight is the BIG night.  You only have about 6 hours until the children wake up & you had better have put everything together! My parents used to hold a HUGE open house on Christmas Eve - upwards of 200 people in, out, and around the house.  I woke up many a Christmas Day with strange people sleeping on the living room couch - it might sound weird but it was fun.  My family always collected strays - be it people or animals.  My mother tells of the time I woke up at 6 am to get my gifts and she had literally laid her head down 15 minutes prior - hehehehehehe! Enough nostalgia; but that is what this card brings out in me.  A feeling of times before the insanity of social media, the craziness of Black Friday and before everything became a contest to keep up with the Jones'.  I hope you & yours have a splendid holiday season! So, on to my card:

 

What I Used to Make This Card:
White Card Base
Stitched Circle Trees, Memory Box, #99843 {or, Stitched Circle Cabin}
Stitched Village, Memory Box, #99891 {or Stitched Cabin, Stitched Tree}
Nesting Circle, Darice, #2014-74 {Tutti has plenty of Nesting Circles}
"Cloudy" Vellum
White Glitter Card
Pale Blue Card

The card is very easy to make, not so easy to photograph, but carry on.  The first thing I did was cut the Stitched Circle Tree out of white glitter card.  I then cut it out again using the Nested circles, so I had an actual circle instead of just a die cut on paper.  After putting the cut on my card blank, I really felt it needed just a smidge more something.  I think the cloudy vellum adds a softness to the card; of course, you can use anything you choose - I just didn't want the background to compete in any way with the trees.  The vellum was cut with the same circle I used to cut the stitched die out of the glitter white card.

If you click this pic, you can see the
dimension and the sparkle

I attached the vellum to the cut and,  while it certainly looked serene {the look I was going for - after all, it is Christmas Eve!},  I still felt it was too blah.  I love white on white cards and I just don't seem to able to mix whites effectively.  My cards never look like their cards do! Ah, maybe someday - I'll keep at it! Back to my card.  To add just a weeny little something, I cut out the three houses from the Stitched Village die; first I used white card, too dull, then Kraft card, too obvious, then this very pale blue I found.  Perfect! The little house nestled perfectly where I wanted it.  I truly adore this little CAS card, I hope you like it as well.

Another Look

Here is another look - just click on the image and it should pop open to full size {please let me know if it doesn't!} 

I hope you and yours are having a WONDERFUL Holiday Season and all of us here wish you continued health & happiness ~ 

Fondly, Christi

Don't forget to join in on all the fun at the Dies R Us Challenge Blog.  

There's  a new challenge theme offered on the 1st and 15th of each month

 and one lucky  randomly drawn winner will receive a gift voucher prize to 

the Dies R Us Store.  For your convenience, all the important Dies R Us 

links are provided below.

click below for:

STORE
CHALLENGE BLOG
FACEBOOK
INSPIRATION BLOG

                          FRIENDS OF DIES R US PINTEREST PAGE

I am entering my Serene Winter Scene card in the following challenges:
Double D Challenges - Baby, it's Cold Outside! {Winter} - mood board below
Scrappy Land - #80, Anything Goes {second entry}
CAS-ual Fridays - CFC #189, I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas
Die Cuttin' Divas - #348, Christmas
Die Cut Diva's - Winter Time {second entry}
CropStop - #35

Double D Mood Board

~*~*~* HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE *~*~*~

A Little Romance ~

I am once again delving into the abyss of abandoned papers that I have, specifically my vellums.  I am sure I got this vellum when a girlfriend of mine went through her crafty stash and sent me all her goodies - stuff too good to throw out, but that she didn't feel like selling.  Needless to say, I have had this vellum for years, honestly, I was sort of hoarding it because it really is beautiful and I was saving  it.  For what you ask? Apparently right now!

How I Made My Card:
Pink Card Base
Patterned Vellum
Colorbox Alchemy Petal Point Pad 
Silver Cardstock
Lovers Stamp from Renaissance Art, now Stamp Francisco
Pink Panel & square
Silver Brads
Pop Dots

When I decided to use this vellum, my first concern was how was I going to show people how pretty this vellum is? Knowing how much FUN it was to photograph vellum, I decided to mat it on a pink panel to hopefully pick up and bring out the pink flowers in the pattern. So I cut a panel of cardstock to mount onto a card and attached the vellum to it with silver brads.

You can see the pattern here, but it isn't sparkly

I then stamped the couples stamp on a square of that same pink card, using the silver ink pad from the Alchemy Petal Point.  I matted the pink square on a silver one and set it aside.  In retrospect I should of used a white card base, but, since I had the pink on my desk, I made the card base out of the same pink as the panel.  No biggie, I just attached the small square to the panel using pop dots, and then attached the panel to the card base.

I truly wish I could show all of you this card in person - it is much prettier than the photos show.  It is SO difficult to capture shimmer, couple that with the delicate vellum pattern, and it's like photographing a vampire.  If you'd like a closer look, just click on the photo and it should get bigger (if it doesn't please let me know!).  I sincerely hope you enjoyed my tutorial and the fact that I actually used pink ~ fondly, Christi

This picture shows the sparkle more

I would like to enter my A Little Romance card into the following challenges:
Addicted to Stamps and More - #173 Anything Goes
In The Pink - #85, Anything Goes w/ Pink
Allsorts - #346, Girly & Sparkly
Glitter 'n Sparkle - #171, Monochrome
Crafting for all Seasons - #117, Monochrome
Avenue 613 - #159, Anything Goes w/ a twist of Stylish and Elegant card
The Artistic Stamper - (M) - Anything Goes
DL ART - (M) January Linky Party Anything Goes
One Crazy Stamper - (M) Anything Goes

Let it Snow!

This card was born out of an experiment.  I have TONS of vellum (I even have some left from when I was a Stampin' Up! <SU!> demonstrator and that was over 17 years ago!) and I really want to try to use some of it up, so as I was brainstorming ways to use it, I thought about a window, then snow, and the rest is history!

What I Used to Make my Card:
Black Card Base
Black Cardstock
White Cardstock
SU! Set, Trees Three (Discontinued, sorry, I don't have the part number)
Embossing Fluid
Black Embossing Powder
Simon Says Stamp White Embossing Powder, fine
Vellum (regular weight)
Let it Snow sentiment was cut using Silhouette Cameo
White Card Window panel was cut using Silhouette Cameo

First. using one of those swipey pads to control the embossing powder, I swiped a sheet of vellum. On one side of the 8 1/2 x 11" (top) sheet I stamped the trees and embossed them with black powder; on the other side (bottom) I used the snow stamp to make a flurry of snowflakes and embossed them in white. I am not the best with white embossing powder - it typically ends up all over what ever I am making, mostly in spots I don't want it to. After seeing how beautifully it came out on the vellum you can be I'll be doing this much more! I then measured the trees and decided to cut out a 3" x 3" window for the trees and snow to show through. Using my Silhouette Cameo I cut the window out of white cardstock and cut the lettering out of black cardstock.

I chose the snowiest part of the vellum that I had embossed with the snow and trimmed it down.  I glued it onto the trees, and then when that was dry, trimmed the 2 vellum pieces down to fit in the window.  I glued the vellum trees and snow onto the window, and then glued the window onto the black card base, attaching the words finished the card off.  I constructed the card this way on purpose as I have yet to find an adhesive that truly doesn't show through vellum - if you have a good one I'd be grateful if you'd share it with me!

This card could easily been made without the Silhouette, after all, we used to hand cut before the invention of these cutting machines.  I remember wrestling with the Exacto knife in many a class - thank goodness these machines make creating so much easier! Making this card has brought back my muse and I am already thinking of other color and shape combinations to use to make this type of card again.  Maybe a circle window instead of a square? Some spring flowers behind a gauzy curtain? Regardless, I hope you enjoyed my little how to and that perhaps my creation inspired you to get out some of your old supplies and play ~ Christi

Another Look

I would like to enter my "Let it Snow" card in the following challenges:
QKR Stampede - #171, Snowmen or Snowflakes
DRS Designs - #206, Tis the Season
Crafty Creations - #305, Anything Goes
Paperminutes - Snow
A Snowflakes Promise - #12, Anything Christmas/Winter
Creative Card Crew - #103, Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Winter Wonderland
Crafty Cardmakers - #154, Snow
Classy Cards n Such - #117, Let it Snow

Valentine with Quietfire Designs

First, let me say that if you have never been to Quietfire Designs, click on the link once, choose "open in another tab" from the dropdown menu you will get another tab and open the store up so you can go there as soon as you are done reading.  Suzanne is the owner & operator and I have been in love with her stamps (and now her cut files at the Silhouette Store!) sine I started to rubber stamp.  Even if you aren't a huge calligraphy fan she has the best quotes and sets to choose from, I dare you to not find something you fall in love with. I just got an order I placed and this stamp screamed to me the moment I opened the package.

 What I Used to Make my Card
White Cardstock Base
Twinkling H20's in Fairy Plum, Pink Crocus & Purple Sage
Watercolor paper
Archival Ink by Ranger in Jet Black
Pink Cardstock
Quietfire Designs, #6304, The Heart has it's Reasons stamp
Tattered Angels Iridescent Gold Glimmer Mist
Vellum (embossed with Darice Embossing Folder Damask)

The Sparkle!!

This is a fairly straight forward card.  I had already embossed the vellum as I was going to use it on a Christmas card (in fact, it has little snowflakes on it, but you can't see them due to the embossing) but never did - a heads up, if you have older vellum, I have vellum that I have had for 15 plus years, embossing folders can cause the vellum to crack in spots, so be gentle.  And don't use any more shims in the die cut machine than you need - I have a metal plate that helps dies cut better when I used it with an embossing folder and some vellum  it embossed so hard the vellum literally broke. I used a Darice embossing folder, called Damask when I embossed the vellum.  Anyway, what you want to do first is get out your Twinkling H20's, drip a bit of water in them and let them sit so they get nice and creamy.  I use an old dropper to put water in mine in mine.  Once they were ready, take your watercolor paper and your lightest color and just swish the H20 all around

Close up of the sentiment

your paper.  Let that dry a bit and then swish your middle color, let that dry a bit and finish with your darkest color.  The screen does not due justice when it comes to the beauty of H20's.  I set that aside to fully dry and when it was I spritzed the iridescent  gold mist lightly to give it an extra boost of sparkle.  Then I stamped my sentiment with the Jet Black ink and cut it to size.  I found a

piece of pink cardstock that matched the H20 colors, trimmed that down and glued it to the card base.  Then I attached the vellum, followed by the sentiment.  The hardest part was finding the right shade of pink to match the colors I made with the Twinkling H20's. I love the sentiment because it can be used on so many different cards!

Thanks for stopping by and reading my short tutorial - I hope this inspires you to make something, be it a card, or anything else ~ Christi

A last look - tell me I am not the only one who takes a TON of pictures of each project!!

I would like to enter my Valentine with Quitefire Designs card in the following challenge:
The Pink Elephant Challenge - #283, Anything Goes
The Cheerful Stamp Pad - Valentine Challenge
Time Out Challenge - #23, Valentine's Day with option twist of Hearts
Red Rubber Designs - #204, Focus on Stamping, Anything Goes
Die Cut Divas - January Challenge, Anything Goes (embossing folder)

Gltzy Gold Merry Christmas Card

My name is Christi and I am a paper hoarder.  I love beautiful papers.  I have some papers that are so lovely, I can't cut them - but, I have made a pledge to start to use some of my more beautiful papers, so this card was born.  The paper I used is Italian, I think it is supposed to be used used as gift wrap.  I can't recall where I purchased it from (it's at least 12 years old) but the detail is amazing! I tried to capture the richness of the paper the best I could.  I hope you get inspired to dig out some of your favorite papers & play a bit!  

What I Used to Make my Card:
Italian Paper
Vanilla Base Card
Ornamental Script Stamp from Penny Black, 3995F
Piece of Vellum
Piece of Mirror Gold Paper
Embossing Fluid
Vintage Gold Embossing Enamel from Globecraft & Piccolo
Krylon Gold Leafing Pen
2 Gold Brads
Sparkle Gold Tape from the Dollar Tree

You really need to click this!

While there are a lot of ingredients, this card was easy to make. First thing I did was match the gold in the Italian paper since that was my focal point.  I had also found this scrap of mirror gold cardstock (it was ALL the rage years ago) so I tossed that into the mix. The mirror gold caught the gold in the paper.    I took the vanilla base and outlined it with the Krylon Gold Leafing Pen and set it aside.  I then took the piece of vellum and stamped the Ornamental Script stamp on it in embossing fluid and embossed the saying in Vintage Gold Embossing Enamel. 

The embossed sentiment, attached to mirror gold card

I trimmed the sentiment to sit on the mirror gold cardstock and I used 2 gold brads to hold it in place.  Nice, but it needed a bit more pizazz.  So I used a piece of the Sparkle Gold tape at the very top.  Easy!!

Another view - complete with cat hair!

I have a few more cards to share with you so I'll be back soon.  I also want to wish you and yours a FANTASTIC Holiday Season! Thank you for taking the time out of your schedule to pop by and read my blog - without all of your comments & encouragement this blog wouldn't exist! Blessings ~ Christi

I would like to enter my card in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenge - Winter Inspiration 
Crafty Card Maker - #129, Christmas
Cute Card Thursday - #352, Add Some Sparkle
Red Rubber Inspirational - #151, Christmas Cheer
Creative Inspirations - #294, Christmas/New Year
Penny Black & More - December Challenge, Special Occasions

Glitter "Putz" House

I grew up with these cute little sparkly houses that would get set up on top of the television at Christmas time with bulbs in the back of them to light them up and that angel hair stuff as snow.  I loved these houses and I loved to play with them.  I don’t know where they disappeared to (probably hanging out with the elves somewhere) but I don’t have any of them.  So I was so happy to discover many patterns for little houses available in the Silhouette store; one of them caught my eye as it really looked like the little glitter houses from my childhood.  It was called a “Putz” house – I had no idea there was a name for these houses let alone collectors and websites that helped you restore them.   After more research and many patterns I decided that I would try to make one of these houses for my Mom for Christmas, hoping it brings back good memories for her as they do me.  So I made the Putz house, which is designed by  Samantha Walker.  There are even instructions on her site, which I didn’t find until I was almost done (of course), but they are very good directions and every easy to follow.  So please join me on this journey to create a glittery Putz house ~

Ta da! I had originally neglected to put the vellum in the windows - but it makes a HUGE difference!

What I Used to Make my House:

Silhouette CAMEO Machine
Glitter Putz House cut file by Samantha Walker (Silhouette Store)
12 x 12 piece of medium weight chipboard
Loose glitter in Hot Kiss by The Art Institute
Loose glitter in Dazzling Diamonds by Stampin’ Up!
Glitter Glue (the bottle is blank so I have no idea who made it)
The Crafters Pick “The Ultimate” glue
Spray Adhesive by 3M
Glitter Paper by Core’dinations “Glitter Silk”
Ranger Wendy Vecchi Ink in Potting Soil and Red Geranium
 

Gessoing the chipboard

OK, I never even thought about using glitter paper until I couldn’t get an even coat of glitter on the house.  I cut all of the pieces using one piece of chipboard and put everything to the side except for the main house.  I spread the glue all over it and dumped the glitter all around the glue and it never dawned on me that I would have an issue with the glitter.  Well, I did.  Not only did I get glitter in places that should NEVER be glittered, the color of the glitter was uneven.

Uneven glitter :(

  There were parts of the house that were darker than others because of the unevenness of the glue.  Finally I thought if maybe I used spray adhesive I could get the glitter to be nice and cover evenly.  Luckily, that worked well enough for me, because if it didn’t this post would never have been written.  I used the Hot Kiss glitter for the body of the house and when it came time to glitter all the little windows and the door I realized how much easier the process would have been had I used glitter paper instead of loose glitter. So I used a different color of the glitter paper, I guess you’d call it a pink, for the

The construction

windows and the door and cut out the hanging snow in I guess what you’d call white.  I set them aside to tackle the roof and the chimney.

The roof was inked up using Wendy Vecchi’s Potting Soil.  I just wiped the ink pad all around the roof and then tried to do the same with the chimney using Red Geranium.  It worked wonderfully on the roof, but miserably with the chimney – I think because there were so many bends on the chimney I couldn’t get the ink pad close enough to the chipboard.  So I just put a few drops in a tiny cup and used a paint brush to finish the chimney off.  By now I had found the directions since I had no idea how to attach the chimney to the roof.

Once everything was dry, I adhered the windows and the door to the main

My snow & chimney drying

house and glittered the roof with the Dazzling Diamonds (before attaching it) – the glitter was supposed to look like snow, but too much of the brown showed through to get the look I wanted.  So I had to move on to the chimney since it was my plan to use the no name glitter glue on the roof to make it look more like icy snow but I needed to attach the chimney first.  Another hiccup – I could not get the little tabs on the chimney to attach to the roof the way it said to in the directions.  I ended up using masking tape and more glue (on the inside, where the chimney attached to the roof) than I should have, but it is attached now.  I put the hanging snow around the chimney and used a rubber band to keep it all inline (a loose rubber band – too tight and the chimney would be crushed and so would the house).  I let the house sit overnight.  I think we both needed a break.

Roof & chimney close up

Finally, the last step was to attach the hanging snow (I am not sure if it supposed to be icicles or snow; snow is easier to spell) onto the roof and the roof to the house.  At this point the roof still had the initial glitter “that should look like snow” on it and it was amazing how much glitter came off and once again ended up in the oddest places.  But I persisted.  I had to put the roof under a large book overnight because it warped so much, but it worked fairly well – there is one part that no matter what I did I could not get the hanging snow to completely adhere to the roof, but at this point I am just trying to get the house done so I can finally clean up all the glitter.  But I tried everything to get the dumb thing to stick – nope.  It’s ok; I know when I am beaten.  And the roof won

Roof "scallops"

that round. The last step was to make that icy snow on the roof – the rest of the house was all put together and holding its own, so I get the no name glitter glue and test it out.  Clogged.  I clear the nozzle.  Clogged. I cut the tip down a bit and begin to put the glitter glue in scallops all over the roof.  Didn’t matter that the glitter glue was coming out a tad fast, as the drips that occurred actually look better to me than the nice & neat scallops I tried to doodle with the glitter glue.  In retrospect I think if I had used my brain and the glittered cardstock, things would have gone much smoother.  But, Mom is going to love it and she won’t even notice all the glitter that ends up on her floor (hehe).  I hope to make one of these a year (at least) and eventually have a village for my Mom to enjoy!  Thanks for stopping by & I hope your holiday plans are going smoothly ~ Christi

Another view of the finished house

Difficult to get a good picture of it lit

I tried everything to get these pictures to stay even - they look fine in my view, but they get wonky in the "real" view - Sorry! 

I would like to enter my glitter "Putz" house in the following challenges:
Use Your Stuff Challenge Blog (2w) - #166, Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge (1w) - Anything Goes 
*That's Crafty Challenge Blog (1/2/15) - Anything Goes
Stuck on Us Sketches (2w) - Anything Christmas Die Cut Challenge
Crafts 4 Eternity - #206, Anything Goes Christmas
Decorate to Celebrate - #90, Anything Goes
*That Craft Place - Anything Goes, Christmas
Eclectic Ellapu (m)- purple team, Anything Christmas (not a card)(runs til 2/1/15)
*Silhouette Challenges (m) - #20, Anything Goes

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Where did I find these awesome challenges!?!? At Challenges for Days!! An easy to read, easy to understand list of challenges that is posted every day ~ check it out!!

Snowflake Votive Holder

I have wanted to do a 3D project since I got my Silhouette CAMEO and I thought this was a perfect opportunity.  I also get to showcase one of my absolute favorite accents sets from Globecraft & Piccolo - Bejeweled Snowflakes!

This post is a little photo heavy but I really wanted to showcase how I made the project.

Globecraft & Piccolo Items Used:

1 set of Bejeweled Snowflakes Accents, LA100 

Enamel & Embossing Powder Adhesive Fluid 

Embossing Enamel in Aged White 

3D Enamel Gel in Satin Gold

Other Items:

1 piece heavy cardstock, 12 x 12, white

1 piece heavy cardstock, approx 7 x 7, white (for top)

2 pieces of Denami Design Colored Cardstock in Iridescent Gold

4 pieces of regular Vellum, 2 ½” x 2 ½”

Krylon Gold Leafing Pen

Double Stick Tape

Glue

5 Gold Beads

Cutfile for a 4” x 4” box, with top (I put the 1 ¾” x 1 ¾” windows on myself)

Cutfile for the frame

1 Battery Operated Votive**

**DO NOT USE A Candle – it will burn & cause a fire!

The votive holder all cut and ready to go!

First thing I did was search for a lantern/votive holder cutfile that was fairly small knowing I wanted to use the Large Snowflakes in the Bejeweled Snowflakes Accents set as the focal point, but I couldn’t find any that suited my vision, so I made my own!  I used a regular cutfile of a small box with a lid and just added the windows to it.  Sounds easy but I am new at playing with files and it actually took me longer to get the right sized windows, and many, many votive holders cut, before I hit upon the right size.  Once I had the votive holder body and top cut out the real fun began.

Coloring the Snowflake Strips

I started by coloring the snowflake strips (after I cut them in two, 5 snowflakes each strip) with the Krylon Gold Leafing Pen.  After they dried, I dotted them with the 3D Enamel Gel in Satin Gold in the center of each snowflake. 

Adding the 3D Enamel Gel in Satin Gold

Then I turned my attention to the 4 large Snowflakes.  I coated them with the Enamel & EmbossingPowder Adhesive Fluid (IMPORTANT!! Do NOT Squeeze The Fluid – this will cause the top to pop off and you will create an amazing mess! All you need is to tap the fluid onto whatever you wish to emboss, the little dauber thing will refill naturally – and I am PROUD to say I haven’t popped my top!) and embossed them using Aged White Embossing Enamel (don’t forget to roll your enamel before you use it – that will ensure the colors are mixed properly). NOTE: Since the Snowflakes are very detailed the embossing enamel may clog some of the holes – just use a toothpick and poke it out!  

 

A close up of the Snowflake embossed

Showing some bling!

This color is fantastic! It has little bits of metallic goodness mixed in with the white powder and it really sparkles! I put the Large Snowflakes aside to cool.

I then cut my vellum and attached it to the inside of the windows in the box.  Since vellum is tricky to use glue with I used double stick tape, just the regular red kind.  It’s very important that nothing gets on the vellum because you will see it when the holder is lit (and I am sure if I tried to use glue I would get it on the vellum.  In fact, I even washed my hands and used a clean piece of scrap paper to ensure the vellum would stay clean).

 

The windows taped with the double stick tape

And the windows covered with the vellum

Then I attached the Large Snowflakes to the outside of the windows.  I lined them up so they would be the same no matter what window was looked at.

All the Embossed Snowflakes attached to the holder

 

Close Up of the attached Snowflake

The next step was to figure out what I wanted to add to the sides of the box, around the windows, because it looked very plain to me.  I used another cutfile to make frames out of thin (lightweight) metallic paper. Once I had the four frames cut I glued them to the sides using them to frame the snowflakes.  Be sure to keep one of the insides of the frame you use!  

The frame framing a Snowflake

I assembled the top and gathered my colored & dotted Snowflake Strips.  I put one strip on each side of the top and used one of the innies from the frame cutfile on the very top.  

Assembling the top

The Top with the Filled in Gold Bead and "innie"

I also used one of the gold beads to serve as a handle so you can open the holder without having to touch the top.  The bead I used had a hole in the center, which will be fine for the feet, but I didn’t like the look of it on the top since you could see the hole.  I solved this issue by putting a few drops of the 3D Enamel Gel in Satin Gold, letting it dry, then adding more.  I did this about four times to “fill” in the hole.

The final step is to assemble to actual box.  I used glue and hinge clips to hold the sides together and I put 2 sides together at a time. The same steps I used to put together the top.

**REMEMBER – DO NOT USE a candle in your creation – it WILL cause a fire.  Use a battery operated votive!

The bottom of the holder & the top

I put my battery operated votive in the holder and lit it up.  I think this came out amazingly well for my first 3D project and makes a lovely winter centerpiece or decoration.

 

The Finished Holder

   

All lit up!

A close up, lit but it's hard to tell

This reminds me of the paper bag luminaries that people would put out on their walkways and such back in the day.  I know people still use them, but I think the old ones were so beautiful!

 

I have 2 other projects to share that used the same Bejeweled Snowflake Accents set – three projects out of ONE set! Be on the look out!

Thanks for stopping by!  Don’t forget to bookmark the Globecraft & Piccolo blog and stop in daily to see more creative ways to use the Globecraft & Piccolo products!  Also, check out our sister company, Sweet Stamps, for some fabulous rubber stamps!

And here is a really good look at what the votive holder would look in the dark - I couldn't resist sharing this picture :)

 If you would like the cutfile I will happily send it to you - just leave a note in the comments section with your email.  The files will be sent to you in .STUDIO form as I don't know how to change files back to .SVG yet.

I would like to enter my Votive Holder into the following challenges:

Brown Sugar Challenge - #78, Embossing

Craftitude - #57, Anything Goes or I See Fluffy

Challenges and Candies - #26, Monochromatic

It's All About The Vintage - #60, Embossing

4 Crafty Chicks - #178, Bling 

Silhouette Challenges - #9, Anything Goes

Thank you for sticking with me on this longer than usual post ~ blessings to you & yours!