Friday, April 24, 2015

We Wish You a Merry SKETCH-mas

This week we've got a Sketch to inspire you (someday I'll learn how to make fancy digital sketches ... but for now, a ruler & black sharpie are my tools).  The circle can be any shape ... have fun with it.



Here's what we created:



Stephanie says, "I knew I wanted one of my dimensional, glittery gift tags to be my focal image, so I build my panels around it ... I used solid blue, *Merry Christmas* embossed red and glittery white to frame my Christmas Owl.  I finished with an SRM Sticker sentiment."


Lauren says, "At the moment I'm pretty addicted to watercolor paints and hand lettering, so I thought I'd try to incorporate that into my card. Thanks to the awesomely segmented design, I was able to work the sentiment on a separate piece of watercolor paper... just in case it didn't come out well on the first try. :) I also had fun painting a bunch of multi-colored holly leaves; and slightly less fun cutting all of them out, lol, but I *love* the dimension they give to the finished card!"

Can't wait to see what you create with my sketch.  The link-up ends at 6pm (EST) on May 6th. Keyword for galleries and Flickr is JB:15:09. ♥

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Heaven on Earth(Day)!

There's a reason this is always one of our favorite JINGLE BELLES challenges, and it's because we know that every single one of you will *ROCK* the recycling! Of course this year was no exception, as these three cards help to prove pretty conclusively:



...rescued that pretty ribbon, then recycled (and ironed!) some super-festive tissue paper to create a uniquely wonderful background!


...up-cycled the beautiful sentiment panel from a Christmas card she received last year and used it to create her own very elegant greeting!


...not only made *TWO* gorgeous cards this year (be sure to check out the other one on her blog!) but is also the clever and creative cardmaker who suggested the recycling theme for our very first Earth Day, back in 2011! (Thanks, Miss Kathe!)  

Many Earth-friendly thanks to everyone who shared their creative recycling skills, and an extra-big, extra-festive THANK YOU our very lovely and talented friend Lorraine of Paper Vernissage for helping us celebrate this fortnight! We'll be back at midnight with a brand new prompt that's more than a little sketchy... Just sayin'... :)

Friday, April 17, 2015

Joy to the EARTH

In honor of Earth Day, we're still making holiday cards which utilize re-cycled, re-used and up-cycled elements. Here's what we made this week:


Lorraine says, "I recycled the paper covering a box of Godiva chocolates I was given as a gift. The sparkles are embedded in the paper and have a holographic look. The two-toned gold bow was trimmed away from a Starbuck's gift card holder (another gift). The jeweled ribbon was something I snagged at Dollar Tree."


Stephanie says, "I found a stash of Green Stamp books at a local vintage store that I couldn't resist bringing home ... I shared some with Lauren, but have been hoarding my stash.  I thought Earth Day was the perfect opportunity to use some ... the green & red seemed perfect for a holiday card design.  I also incorporated a piece of corrugated packaging that I had saved for just such an occasion.  I finished with a Spellbinders large poinsettia on a bunch of paper scraps (hence the various shades of red) and a Hero Arts sentiment."


Lauren says, "I've got two recycled elements this time, but I'm not sure how "visible" they are... (certainly not as AWESOMELY so as those fab vintage green stamps!!!) ...I flattened a nice thin chipboard box which previously held band aids, covered it in strips of red patterned washi tapes, and diecut the result to make my funky poinsettia. I used a garage-sale-acquired heart shaped earring in place of brad by sliding it through all the layers and then getting my lovely husband to bend it flat. I've used the sketch and flowery elements of Kirsty's card to play along with the current City Crafter Challenge."

There's still plenty of time for you to join our re-cycling and up-cycling fun, and we surely hope you will!

Friday, April 10, 2015

Let There be Peace on EARTH (day)

If you've played along with us at ♥JINGLE BELLES♥ over the last few years, you already know there are two prompts that never change: at the beginning of October we honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month with "Pink Christmas"; and the end of April we celebrate Earth Day by making holiday cards that feature re-cycled, re-used or up-cycled elements. It's time for the latter, and this year we're thrilled to have a very special lovely guest star along with us, as winner of the Guest Designer spot from our "Lucky Day" giveaway in March. Please meet (and be sure to go visit!) our very talented friend and fellow Belle, Lorraine of Paper Vernissage:

"What fun to be chosen as a guest designer for one of my favorite annual Jingle Belles Challenges. Not only do I get to use up some of the “stuff” I’ve been hoping to repurpose over the years, but I get to make a Christmas card out of it which makes it all the more fun. The very first “art class” I took was during a summer program many moons ago (like in the 60’s before Earth Day was born) and one of the projects that we worked on involved, even at that time, using things that would normally go into the trash in our project. I actually won a prize for my creation (sorry no pics) – a book entitled “Making Something From Nothing”. Seeing how people take everyday trash and turn it into treasure fascinates and inspires me and I can’t wait to see what everyone will reuse and recycle in their creations for this challenge."

Here's what we made this week:


Lorraine says, "My goal was to use as much “rescued” materials as possible on this card and I think I did pretty good. The only recently purchased item is the crocheted lace. The cardstock is a retired color and the printed panel is part of a printed paper bag. The corrugated materials came from packaging and from one of those fast food coffee sleeves and I just swiped them with some gesso. The ribbon was on a Christmas gift and the ornament is an embossed foil covered cardboard tartlet base (you know those cardboard bases that they put cakes and pies on in the bakery, just smaller with that tab). I scrunched up some brass pot scrubber with a gold foil twist tie for the ornament decoration. So it’s got a little bit of sparkle with a rustic feel."


Stephanie says, "These gorgeous metallic opalescent trees were recycled from a Christmas card that I received last year ... they were just too pretty not to have a second-life.  I trimmed the panel from the front of the card, added a wrap of Not Quite Navy ribbon and an SRM Sticker sentiment before attaching to the navy card base with foam tape for dimension using this week's Deconstructed Tall &  Skinny Sketch (flipped on its side).  I was able to trim the back of the card and use the blank space for the inside of the card."


Lauren says, "This intricately cut leafy panel was part of the holiday card sent us at Christmas by my brother-in-law, who freely admits he chooses cards that have interesting bits I might like to re-use... and he's usually right! :) In the original card, that pretty frame surrounded a little poem/sentiment, but I've opted instead for some light-colored vintage sheet music to show off the lacy branches, and a reindeer I diecut from a scrap of wood veneer leftover from a different project. (If you look really closely, you'll see that his legs are not full-length... because the scrap was too small!)"

Now it's your turn: grab those lovely old Christmas cards, hoarded bits of gift wrap, cool magazine pictures, bits of pretty packaging... and re-use them creatively as brand new hand-made holiday masterpieces! Appropriately enough, this link-up ends at 6pm (EST) on Earth Day, April 22nd. Keyword for galleries and Flickr is JB:15:08.

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Sweet Sounds of the Season

With so many gorgeous cards that featured music or were inspired by holiday songs, you made it really hard for us to choose, ♥JINGLE BELLES♥, but here are three that struck just the right note with us:


Proves that there's nothing more festive than singing sheep!
(Bonus points for the awesome sentiment!) :)


Combined a super-sweet Santa with music paper, notes, and the perfect pop of red!


Made two fab musical cards, but this one, with it's subtle sentiment based on a "twisted" holiday song, made us chuckle for a very long time! :)

Many thanks to all who played along! We'll be back at midnight with a brand new prompt and an especially lovely guest star! 

Friday, April 3, 2015

Caroling, Caroling Now We Go

We're still celebrating a little Fa-la-la-la-la at Jingle Belles this week by creating cards that:

  • incorporate music
  • are inspired by a holiday song or
  • include a holiday song title

Here's what we created this week.


Stephanie says, "While my image is a bit more *We Three Kings*, but I thought that *O Holy Night* worked better for the overall card design.  I featured a Penny Black sticker inspired by this week's Muse Challenge."


Lauren says, "This time I backed a rather fragile piece of vintage sheet music with thin cardstock that had been run through my Xyron adhesive machine, then used some ancient chipboard letters (by Basic Grey) as templates to cut out my letters. A few festive rub-ons and a big velvetty poinsettia standing in for the letter "O" complete the look."


Link up your newly made holiday card-- or cards-- that feature our musical theme between now and 6pm (EST) on Wednesday, April 8th. Keyword for galleries and Flickr is JB:15:07.