Monday, December 31, 2007

Gifts for Pay it Forward



I am so excited to have finished these books to give to Rosie, Adrienne & Trish, who signed up on my blog for the Pay if Forward game. I'm having lots of fun using my Zutter, and wanted to make little books with images and art quotes. Then in December, Trish posted some gorgeous vintage photos on Next-Generation-Stampers Yahoo group as an Advent Image Challenge. I printed these images to use in this booklet. Then when I opened my gifts for the 12 Days of Christmas Swap, I got a lovely little book from Fiona, which had pages to hold ATCs. So I decided to use her idea, to turn my art quote book into an ATC holder. I used card stock for my pages, which makes the booklet stand open. So now, I think, I've created a star book ATC holder. I hope they like these books (they are essentially the same).


I have placed the pictures from the finished book in this slide show, and show some photos of how I made the book below.
I took 3 different types of card stock that were slightly colored or decorated (like confetti paper) and on one side I played to create fun backgrounds. Sometimes I used water colors and/or color mist sprays. I just had a fun play day, sticking with a blue, yellow & green theme. I left one side of the paper blank, so when I created the flaps to hold ATCs, there would be a nice contrast between the front holder section and the back of the page. I cut the card stock into pages that measure 6" x 7". I folded each page so there were 4 sections. The main part of the page measuring 6" x 3-3/4".

On the bottom section, I trimmed off the corners to create a V shape.

The bottom section was folded up, the page folded in half and placed in the Zutter to punch the binding holes. Because the pages were thick, I punched them one at a time. Next step was to stamp and decorate the pages, once I knew where the holes were placed.

For the cover, I used paper from a shopping bag that I liked the colors.

I made a wash of gel medium and gold acrylic paint to give a shimmer to the paper.

After the paper dried, I embossed it in the Cuttlebug and added a little of Brilliance copper ink to tone down the gold look, just a tad here and there.

For the medallion on the front of the book, I cut some beautiful copper colored paper that was given to me into 2" squares and embossed them in the Cuttlebug.

I ran some Brilliance copper ink over the raised areas, but didn't think there was enough contrast for the look I was going for.

I rubbed some gold Perfect Pearls over the surface, and again ran the Brilliance copper over the top.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Merry Christmas

*
feliz Natal
god jul * jénwèl
bo Nadal * 圣诞快乐
bon Nadal * häid jõule
miilaad majiid * bon Natale
* gleðileg jól * milied hieni * glædelig jul *
즐거운 성탄 * Joyeux Noël
Feliz Navidad
sretan Božic * hyvää joulua
Eguberri on * Nollaig shona
selamat Natal * veselé Vánoce
Nollaig shona * Веселое Рождество
Z Rizdvom Hrystovym * Nedeleg laouen
* un Crãciun fericit * jwaye nowel * sreken Bozik *
Vasel Koleda * ia manuia le Kerisimasi
Καλά Χριστούγεννα
su Kaledoms * Nollaig chridheil * vesel božic
eydet mobârak * vrolijk Kerstfeest * dobro dedek
subho baradin * Christmas Alegre * djoyeus Noyé
Noeliniz kultu olsun * Frohe Weihnachten * meri Kirihimete
* souksan van Christmas * Wesolych Swiat * gëzuar Krishtlindja *
tratry ny Krismasy * boldog Karácsonyt * gleckika Wïanachta
メリークリスマス
priecigus Ziemassvetkus * buon Natale
Krismas ki subhkamna * bona paschixedda * maligayang pasko
Suksan Wan Christmas! * geseënde Kersfees * felix dies Nativitatis
* srecan bozic * vesele vianoce * assegass amegass * schéi Chrëschtdeeg *
krisimas yakanaka * Shuldyr Ymuston * Nadolig llawen
vrolik Kersfees * Noela we pîroz be * Chuc Mung Giang Sinh!
Christmas nay hma mue pyaw pa
bona pasca’e Nadale
gojan Kristnaskon

And the angel said unto them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:10-11

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Christmas Recipe Tag Swap

Back in October, I made some Christmas recipe tags for a swap, and today they arrived from Australia. I'm so glad I signed up for both groups. The tags are all gorgeous. They've given me many great ideas & inspiration. Plus all the recipes look yummy.

Sorry, this time of year is too busy for me to photograph each individual tag, upload them and post them. So you just get a glimpse from these fanned out photos.

Monday, December 17, 2007

Beautiful Views

Woke up Sunday morning to see these eagles perched on top of our neighbors tree.

We went up to Leavenworth in the central Cascade mountain range for a short overnight trip. Had snow overnight and snapped this picture on the way home.

Friday, December 7, 2007

12 Days of Christmas Swap Report

I received my box of return swaps/presents in the mail today. Since I signed up twice I have received 24 gifts. On the outside of the package was included a beautiful slide mount ornament made by our very organized, creative and thoughtful hostess: Sweetpea!
When I opened up the package there was a gorgeous Christmas card done by Sweetpea. Sorry, I was so excited, the picture is blurry.
Here are the gifts, are gorgeously wrapped, waiting to be opened. I have not yet decorated my home for the holidays, so this is definitely getting me in the mood. Since the package came with a present attached, I'm counting that as the first gift I've opened. I will be opening one (or more) each day and adding them to this post until they are all opened.
12/8: First day of gift opening. I love a mystery and this shiny red present has no gift tag on it. So I "had" to open it to find out who it was from.....

I didn't find a name on the inside, maybe the label fell off in transit, or I dropped it in my excitement to drool over all the lovely packages. Never mind the gift is wonderful. A tag transformed into a beautiful key chain. Love the antique feel of the key hole. I think it's done from a mold, something new to try...... And I love the metallic gold paper and stamped image on the back. A big Thank you to my mystery gift giver! No longer a mystery: Chris Bennett is the artist, she lives and creates in Australia.

12/9: Second day of opening, deciding which gift to open is harder than I imagined, I want to open them all!!! As we were leaving church this morning, there was a very light flurry of snow flakes coming down. So I picked this appropriate package from Trish Latimer. This present has come all the way from the United Kingdom.

What fun to find it wrapped in this lovely shimmery bag & purple tissue paper. More unwrapping fun.

What joy to find this gorgeous necklace inside. I love the colors and it is surprisingly very light weight. I have it on and feel very festive! Thank you Trish for this beautiful necklace.

12/10: For day's 3 gift I choose this intriguing little package with chickadees on it. It comes form Tamara Spredemann in Wisconsin. I love seeing chickadees in the winter.

Inside was this beautifully decorated matchbox. I love the special message she included.

12:11 For day 4's gift, I choose this delicious package from Annie Mackay in the United Kingdom. The photo doesn't do the shimmer justice. I can't wait until everyone has opened all their gifts and I can find out how Annie made the paper and tag.

Inside were these gorgeous stamped sachets and I love the embellishment, which was on top, but I moved to the side to get a better photo. Thank you Annie, you have give me many great ideas.

12/12: Day 5's gift was chosen because I've been eyeing these luscious fibers since I first opened the box last week. This gift comes from Chrissy Bornfleth in Wisconsin.

This is so fantastic for an avid crafter: 6 decorated tags with a description on who she made the backgrounds on the back AND permissiion to alter/embellish them and use in other art work of give as gifts. Thank you Chrissy for this generous gift of your talents & creativity & permission to use.

12/13: Day 6's gift is the fun package from Autumn Labbe-Renault in California. Love the elongated sour cream tube shape and the festive bubbles & swirls stamping. And the shimmer on the tag is unbelievable - love it!

Sorry about the photo quality, but it is a very gray day today and I had to use the flash. No natural light today.
The gift is this gorgeous necklace Autumn made and she has a post on her blog about it here. Very glittery and yummy colors.

12/14: Day 7's gift is from Debbie Reid in California. I love the bright red wrapping on this present. Plus it is big & her tag has the comment: "Have an Artful Christmas!".

In the folds of wrapping paper were two paint brushes and this lovely batik fabric was wrapped inside.

A beautifully hand made carry case for paint brushes and other art supplies, complete with brushes. Love it! What a fantastic gift! Thanks Debbie for this creative & extremely useful gift.

12/15: Day 8's gift is this gorgeous snowy gift bag from Margaret Rogers in California.

She made this incredibly beautiful art journal. There is so much I love about it. I need to learn what techniques she used. Acrylic paints??? Love the image transfer.
Here is the inside cover: fantastic! This will be used for Art projects in 2008. Thanks Margaret for a gift every artist would & will love.

12/16: Day 9's gift is this shimmery package from Pauline Hampson from the United Kingdom. I have to find out how she created this glitzy paper.

I love this altered metal treasure box, complete with chocolates! I will enjoy the chocolates and keep some embellishments in here, to have them handy on my craft table and keep this treasure box in view. Thank you Pauline, your gift is a treasure to me!

12/17: Day 10's gifts are from Kathy Beringer in Wisconsin. (In order to finish opening by Christmas morning, I will opening 2 gifts a day). I love these gift bags, so glitzy and reusable.

The colors and textures on this necklace are fabulous.

A delightful altered tin full of surprises. I have never seen one open like this before, took me a little while to figure it out. More fun! Then it was full of lovely embellishments. I can do lots of creating with these. Thank you Kathy for two fabulous and inspirational gifts.

12/18: Day 11's gifts are from Trish B in the United Kingdom. I love how the gift tag on one of the presents is an ATC by Trish.

This tag book calendar is so scrumptious. My photos can't do it justice. Love the colors, glimmer and metallic sheen. Trish tells how she made these on her blog and has photos of the individual tags.

Love this Christmas key ring and it's attached to another gorgeous ATC by Trish. Check out her blog for more info. Thanks Trish for the fantastic & creative gifts. So glad I got two of the gifts you created.

12/19: Day 12's gifts are from Maggie Grabowski in Wisconsin. I love this box that looks like a large matchbox, and blue is my favorite color.

Maggie made a beautiful pendant that comes with a pin back that can be used as a pin or for a necklace. And she made this beautiful altered wall walling. Thank you Maggie for two delightful gifts.


12/20: Day 13's gift is from Priscilla Hill in North Carolina. I was intrigued with this package. I love how she used a colorful map from Asheville to wrap her gift.

Her gift tag is this lovely booklet, throughout the pages you read: "As you, journey through life, choose your destinations well...But do not hurry there, it will arrive soon enough wander the back roads, and forgotten paths keeping your destination in sight like the fixed point of a compass seek out new voices, strange sights & ideas foreign to your own. Such things are riches for the soul. And if upon arrival you find that your destination is not exactly as you had dreamed, do not be disappointed think of all you would have missed but 4 the journey there and know that the true worth of your travels, lies not where you came to be at journey's end, but in who you came to be along the way!" I love how she used a variety of fonts and how she spaced it out.

And inside the map was a delightfully decorated door sign she made. Thank you Priscilla for the booklet and this creative and fun door sign.

12/21: Day 14's gifts are from Adrienne Goodenough in Wales (left package) and Barbara Stapleton in Massachusetts (right package). I went for the pink ones today.

Adrienne's gift is this gorgeous necklace. I had received one from her when we met up at Art & Soul in Portland last October, so it's great to get one of another style. These are so scrumptious, you wouldn't know the base was a formica sample chip. For more samples of these check out her blog.Thanks Adrienne, I love all your art work and am thrilled to have this necklace.

Barbara also sent a gorgeous necklace made from a bamboo tile. I love the design and the embellishments she choose. Thank you Barbara for this beautiful necklace.

12/22: Day 15's gifts are from Fiona Davis in the Uhited Kingdom (left package) and Linda Strawn in Idaho (right package). Love these purple packages.

Fiona made this delightful mini art journal. Some of the pages have diagonal folded flaps to add enclosures. This will be fun to fill up. Thank you Fiona for this beautiful little book.

Linda created this beautiful domino necklace. I love how she stamped and decorated it. Thank you Linda, this necklace is gorgeous.

12/23: Day 16's gifts are from Rena Sawatski in Canada (left package) and Denise Rand in Connecticut (right package). Love these purple packages. Rena added a decorated glass pebble to a green paper clip to attach her gift tag, very clever.

Rena sent this beautiful miniature canvas with an image of a Quhatka Indian Girl, complete with how she made it on the back. Thank you for this gorgeous canvas Rena, I love the quote also.

Denise made this delightful magnetic book mark. I love the altered slide and the saying, as I enjoy mysteries. Thank you Denise for this beautiful book mark. It will get a lot of use.

12/24: Final day of gift opening. These beautiful packages are from Paula Hill in Florida (left package) and Leah Weber in Idaho (right package). Love these purple packages. Paula made and decorated this beautiful package. Leah added some lovely green fibers to her tag, they will be fun to add to projects.

Paula created a gorgeous mini fabric tote, and placed a sachet inside. The gift card reads "I hope you enjoy this gift & fill it with childhood memories or quiet places." This is so beautiful, I love the image, the colors and the flowers are so fantastic! Thank you Paula for this wonderful gift.


Leah altered a journal to create this masterpiece. It brings back so many wonderful memories of my trip to Paris last May. I love the images, the variety of fabulous embellishments and the colors, so evokative of Paris. Thank you Leah for this priceless gift I need to know how you decorated the "P".

What a delightful experience this swap has been. I loved making gifts to give out, and was overwhelmed with the fabulous gifts I received. I hope to do this again next year.
To everyone a Very Merry Christmas filled with love & joy.