An Elf's Handbook and A Giveaway!!!!

I recently got to play with the new Holly Jolly Christmas SVG collection at The Digi Bistro and here is what I made with it - a handbook for an elf!  All elves must have a handbook to make all of those toys and cookies, right?  ;)  Check the bottom of this post to see how you can enter to win this SVG collection right here on my blog!

When I saw the elves in this SVG collection, I instantly knew I needed to make them - aren't they sooooooooo cute!!!  I used the tree and the wrapped gifts from this collection too.

To make the handbook, I first found a book in my pile of stuff for a future garage sale (new use for something old!).  Then I made a book cover using a brown grocery bag - this took me back to my school days when I covered all of my books this way!  :)

I created the title for the handbook using Sure Cuts A Lot (SCAL) and fonts from Lettering Delights.  The fonts I used are LD Woodland and Lollihop.  Also, I used SCAL to create the background of the front cover and to design the cover!  I have a tutorial on how to use SCAL to design a layout here.  Designing in SCAL helps me visualize a project before using my materials and it usually saves me from cutting SVGs in a size that is less than ideal for my project.

The paper and accessories I used are by October Afternoon.  I purchased these goodies at the October Afternoon Warehouse Sale a couple weeks ago!  I just love the vintage/retro feel to October Afternoon's products and they worked perfectly for this handbook!  The patterned papers, trims, and tin pins come from the Holiday Style and Cakewalk collections.  I also used "Playtime" Sticky Keys Stickers and a button from the Sasparilla collection.

Other materials used:
Cardstock and Rhinestones by Recollections (Michael's brand)
Stampin' Up Embossing Folder - Elegant Lines
Stampin' Up Punch and Stamp Set - Tiny Tags (to embellish the gifts)
Scalloped Frame Die by Spellbinders
Rustic Jute Twine by Papertrey Ink
Stampin' Up Scalloped Circle Punch and 1 3/8" Circle Punch
Ranger Distress Ink in Tye Dye
Ballerina Pink chalk ink by Inkadinkado (to give the elve's rosy cheeks)

Here are some close-ups of my handbook!  Hoping you fall in love with it and make one of your own!

I added a little something to the back cover of the book too......to make it official.  :)

The Holly Jolly Christmas SVG collection is being released in The Digi Bistro store today and lucky for you, I am giving away one of these collections right here on my blog, courtesy of Cher at The Digi Bistro, along with a 12 Days of Christmas paper kit by My Mind's Eye, courtesy of My Mind's Eye!!!!!  Awesome right!!!!! 

  

All you have to do to enter this giveaway is:

Follow my blog and leave me a comment on this post.  Giveaway ends Saturday, November 24th at Midnight!

If you love the new set, make sure to let Cher know by visiting the new The Digi Bistro blog too (this is not required for the giveaway, just a nice gesture if you like the set).

I am linking up this project in the following challenges:
Paper Issues - Any Holiday Project
DL.ART Thankful Thursday Linky Party

Mel

Christmas Cards for The Kids!

I was so excited when Cher at The Digi Bistro asked me to make something using the Christmas SVG collections she released last year.  Cher's SVGs are so adorable and so fun to play with.  I decided to make simple cards using the cute Christmas characters from the "A Very Penguin Christmas" collection and the "Reindeer Games Christmas" collection.

I made these cards for my nieces and nephews so I decided to have the focus be on the character with the sentiments inside.  To make these cards, first I cut each character out and pieced/glued them together.  Then, I decided how I wanted to place them on the front of card and glued them down.  Last, I cut off the parts of the character that extended past the card using my paper trimmer.  I thought this added a unique touch and think it turned out really well.  Note:  When you do this, make sure you don't cut the card itself, especially on the crease of the card.

To add a little extra touch to a couple of the cards, I added some snow using white Flower Soft.  Also, I added pink chalk to all of the character's cheeks.  They are outside and cold, right!  And, it adds a touch of cuteness too!

I made a total of 7 cards - I would have made more if I didn't have other things I need to do!  :)  Below are close-ups of each card.

Would love to hear from you on which card is your favorite.  I think my favorite is the Santa card.  He took the longest to put together, and was well worth it.  He is so adorable!!!  I love them all though!

I am entering these cards into the following challenges:
Christmas Card Challenge #50 - Use a Snowman
DL.ART Thankful Thursday - Anything Goes Linky Party
Everyday is an Occasion - Linky Party

A little birdy told me there may be a new SVG collection coming out at The Digi Bistro......Can't wait to see it!!!!!  :)

Mel

Cute Owl Card

Hi there!  I am back sharing another card!!!!  I am on fire and have been pumping out the cards!  I made this adorable spooky card featuring owls.  I love owls and the owl with the witch's hat is a brand new SVG from The Digi Bistro.  This owl is part of the Spooky Halloween Collection - You have to get this SVG collection, I am in love with it!!!! 

For fun, I added some details to the owl SVG. I used glimmer mist in Haunted Shadow, black inking of the edges, glittery brads for the eyes, and some twine. 

The little owls stamped onto circle punches are from the 'Precious Little One' stamp set by Unity Stamps and Simple Stories.  The papers for the card are from my scrap pile (good way to get use out of them!).  Papers are by Stampin Up (witch hat) and My Mind's Eye Lost and Found Halloween (background papers). The flair is by Paper Play Studio and the Happy Halloween stamp is by My Thoughts Exactly.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
WCMD Unity Challenge #1 Shaped Card (5 WCMD challenges down, 3 more to go!)
ScrapFit Challenge -  Step Class #9 Paper Piecing
Paper Playtime - Trick or Treat + Die Cut/Punches
Sunday Funday #2 - Link up Party
Little Scrap Pieces Fun Friday - Any Halloween Project
The Kraft Journal - Reuse/Recycle

Melanie

Fa-BOO-lous Challenge - Entry #2

More fun playing with ghosts for the challenge going on as part of the FA-BOO-LOUS Halloween week at Happy Life Crafty Wife!  This time, I decided to have a ghost that is peeking from the inside of the card.  Isn't he so cute!  If you want to see my 1st entry into the challenge, check out the cuteness HERE.

 

For my second card, I wanted to cut out a portion of the front of the card so it looks like a window.  I used my circle Sizzix dies to cut the circle out of the front of the card and for the border around the circle.

 

To make it look like a window, I put a spooky tree in the background and of course, I had to include a ghost as well!  Both the tree and the ghost are SVGs from the Halloween Town SVG Collection at The Digi Bistro.  I used to design for this company and just love, love, love the cute SVGs that Cher creates.

 

To create the front of the card, I created a collage using papers from the awesome My Mind's Eye Lost & Found Halloween collection.  The 'Happy Halloween' die cut is from this collection as well!  To dress it up a bit more, I added some twine by The Twinery.  I just love all of the neutrals colors with the pop of orange.  So pretty and spooky!

The eyes on the ghost were stamped using the Fright Nights Friends stamp set at My Thoughts Exactly, then I added some gems to make them pop.  Isn't this ghost so cute!  Okay, I apologize for bringing him up again, but isn't he cute???  :)

I have been enjoying all of the Halloween inspiration at Happy Life Crafty Wife this week.  Make sure to check it out too!  Who doesn't love Halloween?  I do!

Mel

Halloween Gift Box Challenge!

I decided to enter the halloween gift box challenge over at Happy Life, Crafty Wife, for a couple reasons.  One, I absolutely love these boxes created by Lori Whitlock, and two, I felt inspired after seeing some really fabulous boxes made using these files.  So, here I am sharing the box I made when I should be getting some Z's!  :)

I love the spider web on the top of the box!  To compliment the spider web, I put a piece of paper just under the top (adhered using foam squares) so the web looks 3D.  Also, I added this adorable spider from the Halloween Town SVG set by The Digi Bistro.  He is hanging by some twine (from The Twinery) and sits on the top of the box quite nicely in the grooves of the spider web.  I made him all fuzzy using flocking powder and I used different sized pearls for his eyes. Also, I wanted to add texture to the box, so I layered 3 different ribbons around the trim of the top of the box.

I hope you have enjoyed my project!  Have a crafty week!

Whimsical Wednesday Blog Hop is HERE!!!

Welcome to my blog!  I am so glad you are here for the Whimsical Wednesday blog hop!  There is lots of spooky fun and prizes along the way!  You should have started at the Whimsical Wednesday Blog.  If you started here first, make sure to go to the beginning so you don't miss any of the fun and prizes!  Otherwise you should have arrived from Glora's blog.
I made a spooky home decor item for this hop and I hope you like it - I know I do!!!!  Below are the deets!

I used a paper-mache hat and covered it in spooky fabric, ribbon (including Prairie Bird Boutique crinkle ribbon!), and some sparkly twigs!  The hat illuminates too!  I have a flameless candle inside and you can see the light thru the holes I made in the hat. 



I added cut files from The Digi Bistro!  I design for this company and just love their SVGs!  The word spooky comes from the Halloween Town SVG set.  The bat, label with frame, and the witch's feet come from the Pick Your Poision SVG set.  To embellish the cuts, I used glow-in-the-dark glitter on the word Spooky and the shoe buckles.  Also, I used stickles to enhance the bats and label frame and I added mod podge to the shoes to make them shine!  I hope you have enjoyed my project!!!

Here is a list of our sponsors:

1. Trendy Twine: http://trendytwine.bigcartel.com/ Original Sample Pack
2. Trade Fish Designs: http://tradefishdesigns.com/  'Rest In Peace' Stamp Set
3. Prairie Bird Boutique: http://www.etsy.com/shop/PrairieBirdBoutique one bundle of Shabby Crinkle   Ribbon - you get to choose the bundle.  Love this ribbon!!!

The GRAND PRIZE is from PSA Essentials. It is a stamp package, MSRP is $75.00, and it includes the Stamper Body, A Peal and Stick Stamp Set, one customized stamp, and an Orange/Black Inker.

In order to be eligible for the blog candy you must leave a comment on each blog and then go back to Whimsical Wednesday at the end of the hop and leave a comment.

I HAVE A GIVEAWAY TOO!!!  I am giving away the Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous cling stamp set shown below!  Please leave a comment on this post and I will pick a random winner on Monday!  I would love it if you follow my blog, but it is not required to win. 

The next stop on the hop is Cathryn!

Tag It! - The Digi Bistro This to That Challenge!

Hi everyone!  I have missed blogging over the last couple weeks.  I have had a lot of personal things to deal with and just haven't been able to craft or blog.  I will be back commenting on blogs soon (I miss all of your creations)!  Below is a fun spooky card I made for this week's The Digi Bistro This to That Tuesday Challenge.  The challenge is to use a tag on your card/project. 

Here are pictures of my card:

I used mini tags to create the banner on my card.  The tags are from The Digi Bistro Tag It! SVG collection.  I also used the haunted house and fence from the Halloween Town SVG collection and a bat from the Pick Your Poision SVG collection.  I just love The Digi Bistro SVGs!  Make sure to stop by The Digi Bistro store and check out all of the wonderful SVGs available for purchase. 

To make the haunted house into a shaped card, I combined two of the houses together along with a small rectangle using the Union function in SCAL (anyone interested in a tutorial?)  To give the haunted house some creepy texture, I used some fabric I had on hand.  You can't tell from the picture, but it has some glitter in it.  I like how the fabric softens the clean lines and makes it spookier.

I hope you join us for the challenge if you are able!  All you need is a tag on your card somewhere - anything you already have on hand will do!  Also, make sure to stop by The Digi Bistro blog to see what the other design team members' creations!

The Count! This to That Digi Bistro Challenge #4 - Use a Tag

Today I have a fun project to share that I made for The Digi Bistro "This to That" Tuesday Challenge #4.  The challenge is to create a tag using any halloween cricut cut or SVGs that you already have - you do NOT need to use SVGs from The Digi Bistro.

I used 'The Count" from The Digi Bistro's newest Halloween set called "Pick Your Poison" which will be released on Friday, September 9th.  Also, I used a tag from the new Tag It! set.



I have fallen in love with the Count and hope you have too!  Cher makes such wonderful SVGs, doesn't she!!!!  You can check out The Digi Bistro store HERE, challenge blog HERE, and Facebook page HERE!

Mel

The Digi Bistro "This to That" Tuesday Challenge #2 - Step Card

This week's challenge at Cher's Studio (The Digi Bistro blog) is to create a step card.  Each of the The Digi Bistro designers created a step card using a different Digi Bistro SVG set so you can see the versatility of all of the sets.  By the way, there were more design team members added, so please stop by Cher's Studio to welcome them and see their work!

I used the Flower Frenzy set to make this card.  I love all of the flowers in the set and I had fun making them in different colors and layering and crinkling them up to add dimension.

 

Here is a picture of the Flower Frenzy set which is available for purchase at The Digi Bistro store:

This is the first step card I have made and it was much easier than I expected.  There are loads of tutorials on the Internet.  I used the tutorial linked HERE.  All you need is a paper cutter, ruler, and a score board.  I don't have a score board so I just took out the blade on my cutter and used a bone folder in it's place - it worked perfectly!!!!

To enter the challenge, create your own step card using your Cricut and/or the SVGs you have already, go to Cher's Studio and link your project by 11:59 pm on 8/29/11.  There will be 3 prizes up for grabs - gift certificates to The Digi Bistro store!!! 

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you enjoyed my project!

Mel

The Digi Bistro - "This to That" Challenge Project

I am a little late to the party in sharing my creation for the "This to That" color challenge at The Digi Bistro blog.  This week's color challenge was used to announce The Digi Bistro Design Team (there will be more designers to be announced soon) and to provide inspiration.  Next Tuesday will be the start of the very first challenge open to everyone. 

I am so so so excited to share my first project as a Design Team member of The Digi Bistro.  I had so much fun playing with these SVGs and hope you are able to check out the store to see all of the wonderful SVGs available to play with.

The super adorable bird with the swirly feathers is from the Birds of a Feather collection and the scalloped frame in the background is from the Stylish Edges collection.  This frame can be purchased separately as well.

Here is a close-up of the bird.  Isn't he the cutest!!!  He was so easy to cut - all of the layers fit perfectly, no trimming or adjustments in SCAL needed!  :)

Make sure to check out the adorable projects created by the super talented design team HERE. 

Mel

So Excited! Some Fun News to Share!!!

I hope everyone is enjoying their week so far.  I am so excited to announce that I am joining The Digi Bistro Design Team!  I AM SO EXCITED!!!  :)   If you aren't familiar with The Digi Bistro, it is a new and wonderful place to get extremely cute SVG files to use with Sure Cuts A Lot or Make-The-Cut software and your die-cutting machine.  You can check out The Digi Bistro's Store HERE and Facebook page HERE! 

The Digi Bistro Design Team: 

Laura

Corri 

Lauren 

Melanie (me)
Sandra
Cher (SVG Designer and Store Owner)

I am so impressed by this team's talent!  Seriously, I am a bit intimidated by the talent.  Let's hope I can keep up!  :)  Check out the wonderful DT's creations using The Digi Bistro's SVGs and the color combo below (see their individual blogs linked above for their creations).  I don't have a project yet - I hope to share one soon!

In the near future, there will be weekly challenges on Tuesday that you can particpate in.  The DT will be creating projects for inspiration each week.  I am a part-time designer, so I will only have a project to share once or twice a month.  I hope you will participate in the future challenges if you are able to.

Thanks for stopping by today!