Cookie Sheet Advent Calendar

Just had to share this amazing cookie sheet advent calendar Shawna made for a class this month. It did not make it onto the Paper Pals blog - so I thought I would do a show & share on the DT blog!

Time to think about Christmas...

Gifts... Cards...

Here's a post that should help you with both!

Using the Memory Mixer software available at Paper Pals, I created a great gift as well as the christmas card I'm sending out this year.

Memory Mixer offers some premade templates for various uses, so I chose a christmas "album" designed by Jackie Eckles. I created it as a 6x6 (you can make it to be any square size) and made it a one-sided accordian album for display on a bookshelf or mantle. This was SO SIMPLE-- I just plugged in photos, printed it out and put it together! This is definitely something easy to create and send to relatives or friends as a personalized gift.

The card I created from scratch using some digital elements from a kit by Michelle Coleman called "Wonderful". It wasn't a christmas kit, but it was fun to challenge myself to make it work for the holidays. I also added a glittery "ornament" as the O in Joy and some embroidery floss making my cards hybrid versus just digital. My favorite part of this card is that I get to share so many different photos of my family on it. No one else will have one like it!

Hopefully these ideas will help inspire you as you begin working on your holiday projects!

New Kimberly Polson for Fiskers...

This new line by Kimberly Polson for Fiskers is so beautiful!

While I focused primarily on the flocked/butterfly paper, the brown/blue harlequin paper is simple and gorgeous as well! This whole line is so versatile!

Special techniques used here include:

Stickles, stickles and more stickles (this product is one of my new favorites)
Use distressing ink or chalk to tone down the color on ribbon (the brown/blue ribbon was too bright for the paper until I distressed it).
Pop Dots - (I love the dimension they provide to any layout or card)
Circle punch (an old tool, dusted off and used again :)
Cover chipboard letters (or anything else) with paper for a "perfectly matched" look)

Enjoy!

Enchanted Autumn line...

This is the coolest paper...the new "Enchanted Autumn" line from Reminisce! It has all the perfect colors for your fall layouts, plus coordinating stickers...love it!! It was perfect for the new pictures of my very favorite subject to scrapbook....they truly are "5 wishes come true!"

Creating Your Family Legacy with Pebbles Inc. Paper

This paper from Pebbles Inc. is absolutely beautiful. It is the perfect paper to work on all those heritage pages that you have or make beautiful cards to send to those loved ones on anniversaries or for the up coming holidays. I kept the layouts very simple as to bring highlight to the photos and journaling that tells about who they are and why they are so special. So don't hesitate get into Paper Pals and get some of this paper before it is all sold out.

Holiday Home Decor!

I wanted to make something cool from my scrap club kit from Paper Pals. The large letters are monogram letters colored with ranger Mahogany ink. For the smaller letters I used the red Thickers that are at the store right now. I used my ink to darken them up and then I covered all the letters with my Judi kins Diamond glaze covering them not only makes them shine but it keeps the ink on the foam letters and thickens up the paper monograms. Make sure you give things covered in the diamond glaze time to dry before working with them. I inked up a tree and a candy cane Bazzill chip and used them to decorate. The little holly leaves are made from the sparkly Bazzill paper and Hero arts gems colored red. I tied it all together with a really cute red ribbon that was on the Paper Pals ribbon rack and hung it up. Thanks for looking!

Crafty Secrets Chipboard Houses!

I was so excited to get one of these cute little chipboard houses. They have little window shutters, a door and many other pieces to embellish the house. I wanted to make a little Christmas house with the new My Minds Eye Christmas papers and die cut sheet. Covering the house was simple because it lays out flat. You can decorate the inside of the house also and use it like a little album or do like I did and make a little scene inside. I inked up the edges and then used some Hero Arts gems colored red to decorate. I used Hero Arts mini pearls colored red to make a little door wreath. Then I used some Stickles around the edges and on top of the windows and doors to look like a little dusting of snow. I closed up the house with some ribbon on the side. You can do that even if you want to use it as an album, just tie a bow instead of a knot. On mine I cut out an opening for the window and used a small piece of acrylic that you can get at Paper Pals to make a clear window. Stop in and you can see the little tree and Kitten inside. My daughter made another one for our home. It is a great kids craft! Have fun!
Malinda

Skull Boy from Kaiser Kraft!

Challenge--"What Have You Done for {Me} Lately?"

I am working on a "birthday" album for Landen's 3rd birthday...something I have attempted to do for each of my grandchildren's birthdays. I am a little behind, and being # 5 Landen is way overdue for his birthday album!!! :0) (Please excuse the fuzzy pictures!)

Challenge--"What Have You Done for {Me} Lately?"

(Anyone singing the "classic" J.J. tune now???)

So, Design Team... I know you love spending a lot of time on projects specifically for Paper Pals, but what have you done for yourselves lately?

Here's an easy challenge. Post a pic of something creative you've been doing outside of your DT projects.

I'm sharing a photo of a bunch of layouts I just did at my favorite scrap getaway held each year at the Palouse Divide.You can get a better look at each individual layout on my personal blog, Mom-E-Memoirs.

These are "all paper" layouts... not digital or even hybrid! That's unusual for me. My goal for the layouts was to mix in some fun new product finds with old scrapping supplies I've had for a long time and just want to use up.

What have you done? Share, please!