Dec 29, 2008

Happy New Year card!!!!

Just wanted to share a new Year card I made using the sketch this week at card positioning system along with the fabulous December kit here at Label Tulip!!!

Experience 2009.
patterned paper- Luxe, Amercian Crafts
stamps- Label Tulip
stickers- Heidi Swapp
transparency- unknown
chipboard-Cosmo Cricket

Buttons, Buttons & MORE Buttons...

Hi everyone! Leslie here...
I thought I'd share a little tiny tutorial on the button balls
I've created lately...

All you need is:
1. styrofoam ball of any size (I used both 2.5 inch & 3 inch balls)
2. buttons!
3. pins (any color...)

and these are optional..
if you want to hang your balls (for an ornament) you'll need:
4. paper clip
5. ribbon

Let's get started:


It's so easy...

Just take your styrofoam ball and start pinning buttons.
I started in a circle going around my ball. Then I just added layers among layers of buttons.
You need to make sure your buttons you're using have at least 2 holes.


Here's a few I did for my Christmas tree this year:



and how cute are they in a bowl? I have them sitting in a mini collander on my scrap desk...

Here's one I made for an ornament swap I was in at Label Tulip!
So the possibilities are ENDLESS!!
You can make them year round. They don't necessarily have to be for Christmas!
Also - you can put buttons ALL the way around with no ribbon...
That would be SO CUTE for a table centerpiece!!
Happy Button making...
thanks for letting me share,
Have a great day!
~Leslie

Dec 21, 2008

How About A Year-Long Project?

As we creep towards 2009, you might be thinking that now is the good time to get involved in a year-long crafty project. I have to agree. Here are some ideas that might interest you...

Project 365: A Photo a Day

As the title suggests, the goal is to take a photo every day and post it online with absolutely no photo editing. I did this in 2008. Or, rather I tried to do this in 2008. I did manage to take a photo almost every day, but the printing and keeping track of it kind of fell by the wayside. But, Creating Keepsakes Magazine has come up with a genius kit-of-the-month to take care of that problem. I'm truly tempted to try it again using this kit. It's a two-page spread for every week done with slip-in page protectors. So smart and so easy and so tempting!

The Diary Project

An artist named Kirsty Hall spent 2007 working on this. Essentially, she wrote a note on piece of paper, placed it in an envelope, drew on the envelope, and mailed it to herself every single day. I'm kind of charmed by the idea of sending it out into the universe and getting it back again.

A Life Well Crafted

Kolette and Jason Hall of Colorbök fame are running a year long course through the online classroom, "Big Picture Scrapbooking." I'll admit that I'm a little fuzzy on the details, but it looks like Jason and Kolette will spend the year inspiring you to take risks and create a better life through crafting. Intriguing and you can either buy a month-by-month "membership" or the whole year-long shebang.

Project 365: Draw the Line

The link above goes to George G's blog. He draws something - from a portrait to a doodle - every single day and posts it to his blog. I'm not a particularly good draw-er, but they say practice makes perfect.

The Journal Quilt Project

This one has been going on and on for ages. Basically, you create an 8.5x11" quilt once a week (or once a month). In addition, you're meant to keep a diary of your thoughts on doing the project. There's a great book that pulls from the first five years of the project called, Creative Quilting. It's a huge book full of inspiration!

Project Fifty-Two

Finally, this is my own project for 2009. The idea is to get a year of your life recorded in some way. Every week for one year, participants will create something inspired by an event, a thought, or an emotion from that week. And since I dabble in lots of different things, I wanted to make sure that other people who dabble could participate. So, what you create doesn't have to be consistent. You can create an art journal page one week and a quilt the next. Or you could stay consistent and make fifty-two scrapbook layouts.

Why not try out a year-long project as part of your 2009?!

In review...

Now that the December gallery has been posted in all its beauty, I thought I would do a little review of my favorites this month. First up, Alexis's "Well Documented." I love how she used papers that weren't necessarily intended for the holidays to complete this gorgeous Santa layout. The big circle, all of the layering, and the way she used the little wooden tag... GORGEOUS!



Amanda blew me away with the tone-on-tone use of her rub-ons against the neutral paper. I never would have thought to do that, but it totally works! What's not to love about her "Mark the Moose" page?!? It's so cute, and I love how all of her elements came together.



I absolutely adore Charity's mini-book. Simple, yet so very pretty! ANd, I love how she used the American Crafts transparent accent stickers... brilliant!





I'm so thrilled that we had Gigi Kennedy as our guest designer this month! I've always been a huge fan of her work, and she certainly did not disappoint! Her "Seriously Adorable" page is, well, seriously adorable! Her lollipop flowers are to die for, and I love how the colors played off the other elements so well.



Our resident technique girl, Julie, always amazes me with her out-of-the ordinary uses for products every month, and December was no exception. I think the way she made the hearts from the Amy Butler fabric is fantastic! Such a clever idea.



"Look at You" is my favorite layout from Leslie this month. I love the grey and green together, and the picture of her daughter is gorgeous!



Last, but certainly not least, Sasha's "The Part I Missed." I always have a hard time picking my favorites from Sasha because everything she does is so amazing! She always has such great combinations of bright colors on her pages. I love all of the different circular elements on this page... the buttons, patterned paper, flowers. What a gorgeous page!!!



The Tulip Girls all did such a fabulous job this month, especially considering how busy we all are with the holidays! I hope that you have enjoyed this month's gallery as much as I have. And, let me be the first to wish you Happy Holidays from everyone at Label Tulip!

Dec 19, 2008

Peek-A-Boo

Whew! That was absolutely, hands down, the fastest I have ever scrapped! Thanks to the fabulous postal system losing my kit for a few days, and then the typical insanity of the holidays... I only had one day to work on my pages for December. And, I'm a sloooooow scrapper, so one day was quite a pinch! So how about a couple of peeks to tide you over until tomorrow night's reveal? Don't forget to meet us at the LT gallery tomorrow, December 20th at 6pm PST to see all of the gorgeous projects that the Tulip Girls have created for your viewing pleasure this month!







Dec 12, 2008

December Kit Sneak Peeks!




You saw the sneaks on the site, but I wanted to share a few sneaks of the first three layouts I've made using these kits!

Dec 9, 2008

How to make a paper flower!

I really love making little paper flowers from any patterned paper I have. I used this technique on my tea for two layout to make the pink rose-looking flowers.


So, Here's a how-to using different patterned paper and a larger size so you can see the details...
1.Cut patterned paper into a swirl ...


2.Push the center back down into the swirl, making sure the side of the paper showing is the patterned side.

3.Hold on to the center with two fingers then begin to twist the paper around the center to form the flower.
When you're near the end just tuck the end thru a layer of the flower to the back and adhere.

Dec 7, 2008

Put this on your Christmas wish list!

Are you hard to shop for? My hubby says I am... So, here's a fabulous gift that would be so fun! Ask your friend, hubby or significant other to get you a sub to Label Tulip kits! How cool would that be as a gift-each month getting a scrumptious batch of scrappy goodness!!!

or... what about getting a sub for your hard to buy for, scrappy pal!

How bout a sneak peek at the new, December Label Tulip kits!!! They will be available for sale December 15th!!! I cannot wait to get my kits! I ordered both add-on kits this month!
First, a peek at the main kit called Coffee Breaker....


Then, add-on number 1: Cocktail Party!


And.. add-on number 2: Afternoon Tea!

Dec 2, 2008

Creative Mess.. *WINNER* Announced!

G'mornin' all!  Sasha has asked me to announce the winner of her very cool contest and who will be receiving that VERY cool prize pack!  I loved checking out the giveaway thread and seeing everyone's scrap spaces... no matter what condition they were in! :D  Thanks to everyone who participated and shared their pictures, and just know that we've ALL been there, and don't believe anyone who says they haven't. ;)  ha ha!

Here we go.... the winner is... du da dahhhhhhh........ Staci!!  YAY Staci, please pm Cathy your addy so she can get your prize in the mail to you!  Congrats girl!!

And just because I feel like I cannot make a post without including some kind of picture, I've pulled a few of my favorite exclusive LT stamps that are for sale now until Dec 10th in the LT Boutique!



                     



Have a great day! :)

Dec 1, 2008

Label Tulip boutique and sale!!!!




Here is a link to the BOUTIQUE. and here is the link for the SALE. enjoy!