Authentique Guest Designer - Festive Trees, Tags and even a Card

Happy 12.12.12 at 12:12 PM Day!

A couple of months ago, I won a Show Us Your Mustache contest from Authentique. I guess they liked my work that they saw on my blog because sweet Miss Emily invited me to be a guest designer this month. I LOVE working with Authentique products so I jumped at the chance.

I created a set of 3 Christmas trees with a photo tutorial, an interactive card and some fun tags using their Festive collection. I'll start with the card and tags and end with the Christmas tree tutorial. ;)

Merry & Bright Card

This card is a bit unique in that it starts out looking like a matchbook. I cut it using my CAMEO and a Lori Whitlock cutting file. The front is decorated with a simple sentiment, ribbon, poinsettia and bling.

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The front flap is tucked in and when you pull it out, it reveals a pocket on the inside. I added some burlap under the Hope sticker but it didn’t pop off the cream pocket so I went back and added green paint. 

 You can add a gift card or a note. I chose to add a note…

Christmas Tags

I created these tags to be the focal point for several gifts I will be giving this year. After cutting the tags, I used mists and paint to dress up the base of the tags. I then used a combination of fibers, paper and stickers to create little “scenes” for each card. The papers and stickers in this collection did all the work and demonstrate the reason for the season on their own.

Merry Christmas Tag

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I cut this tag straight from the paper. I just love the music sheet and cardinal. I added some white feathers, twine and the sentiment and voila!

Let Your Heart Be Light Tag

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I was trying to go for a glowing light effect with this card, like when you see lights on a tree from a distance. I simply dripped mist on it by removing the spray nozzle and tapping it to the top of the card. The mist dripped down to give this effect. I added some red paint to the base once dried. I topped it off with paper, a sticker frame, burlap and then I addedred canvas ribbon around the sticker and a black bow to make the sentiment pop.

Merry Christmas Tag

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This is a simpler card but it’s one of my favorites. I just added some paint to the base and then I cut strips of the candy cane looking paper from the 6x6 pad and alternated the pattern to give it a chevron feel. I topped it off with the sticker sentiment wrapped in red/white striped twine.

Magic of Christmas Tag

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The paper from the 6x6 paper pad did most of the work for me on this tag. The winter scene and December calendar is my focal point with the Santa sticker. We all know the real meaning of Christmas but Santa is a good reflection of the Magic of Christmas.

Christmas Trees

I decided that I needed a new set of Christmas trees for my mantle this year and I asked (begged) my hubby to help me out with them this year. He cut 8”, 10” and 12” trees out of particle board for me and I went to town decorating them. First, I painted the tree trunks with walnut ink and then I tore paper strips and layered them over each other, starting at the bottom of the tree. I then cut poinsettias with my CAMEO and added popped up stickers to the centers that say Peace, Joy and Noel. I topped off the trees with accordion flowers. Ribbon and more stickers from this collection. 

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I have gotten so many compliments on these trees and they were so easy to make! Here's a quick Christmas Tree Tutorial so you can make your own.

Step 1: Buy wooden Christmas trees at your local hobby store or get your hubby to cut you some! Mine are 8", 10" and 12".

Step 2: Gather your supplies. I used Mod Podge, ribbon, twine, green paint and walnut ink, 3 different sheets of pattern paper for the trees, plus additional coordinating papers to make the poinsettias, rosettes and sticker bases. Oh and speaking of stickers, you'll need those too.

Step 3: Paint the edges of your tree green in case it shows through any paper gaps. Paint the tree trunks brown.

Step 4: Tear your paper into strips (shown above and below) and start layers them over each other, leaving lots of paper over the edges so you can eventually fold them over to cover the sides of your tree, Don't worry about covering the back of your trees, unless you're putting them somewhere someone will see them.

Step 5: Fold the edged over the side for a nice, clean finish.

Step 6: "Trim your tree" however it suits your fancy. I added rosettes at the top and poinsettias at the bottom.

Step 7: Display in your home and get ready for oohs and ahhs from your guests.

Thanks for stopping by today. Make sure to visit the Authentique blog and say hi to me over there too as well as check out what their design team is up to!

I Mustache You a Question...

Did you see the post on the Authentique blog where their DT donned mustaches? Too cute. I thought I'd show some photos of me and my fam with our 'staches at my cousin's baby shower! I cannot wait to meet our newest family member...it's a BOY!

 These are all the crazy ladies in my family (minus Rheagan who was performing in a play that weekend)! And by crazy I mean muy loco!!! The mommy-to-be, aka Kimberlee, is the pretty one in green! Who am I kidding, they are all a bunch of beauties! Then it's my mom in lime, my cousin Veronica (VJ or Veej) in the back, Reese, me and my Aunt/Grandma-to-be, Yolie. I can really see our resemblance in this photo!

 Awww, me and my baby girl!

 My cousin Chris, who is more like a brother to me, and Reese. Kim is a Train Master, ya know like in the movie Unstoppable, hence the conductor hats.

She may be little but she can hold her own!

Mwuah!

Thanks for the fun, Authentique!

It's Cookie Time

Yep, it's that time a year again. Time for the Girl Scouts to be out in full force knocking on doors and accosting you as you enter AND leave the store.  Well there's no avoiding it so you might as well order some from my little Brownie so she can earn a sleepover at the Aquarium!!!

We spent a couple of hours last week knocking on our neighbors' doors. We only made it down the cul-de-sac and over one small street and she sold 20 something boxes. Not too bad! I was so proud of her, politely asking, figuring out the check/cash/change thing and thanking them, whether they bought or did not buy. Yes, there was someone who turned her down but she just smiled and moved on. Of course I took pics of her doing her thing.

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I am just loving these Authentique papers included in this month's Birds of a Feather kit. I think Amy might have a few left! Thanks for stopping by today!

My Girl...and Her Dog

This month marks the end of my term on the Birds of a Feather design team.  It was great to be on Amy's inaugural team and the decision not to reapply was a hard one but I love the community over there so I'm not going anywhere.  If you've never seen her kits you should definitely check them out.  And this coming design team is sure to inspire you!

Here's a a couple of the layouts I've made from this kit. 

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Supplies: Bo Bunny Double Dot "Chiffon Journal" and "Shitake", Authentique Gathering "Harmony", "Together", "Grow", "Bloom", Classic Type Alphas Item #SCC002; Making Memories “Paper Reverie Brun Antique” Lacy Stripe Artisan Die-cut paper; Kaiser Craft Fozz Fontz "Fonzo Alphabet Set" in Teal; Color-Me-Crazy Velvet Butterflies (misted bonny blue); Creative Impressions Twill - Caramel; Not in Kit - ADORNit Buckaroo alphas; Studio Calico Mr Huey Mists in 3 colors: Orchard, Pony, Bonny Blue; misc brown thread, Glue Arts Glue Glider Pro, Zig Marker .5 mm Black

The photo above was actually taken while my hubby and daughter were playing around.  We were on the hayride at the Pumpkin Patch and she was making crazy faces and he would just reach the camera out and click, not knowing if he was even getting her in the shot.  Most of them came out blurry but there were a few jewels in there.  This was one of them.

This next layout is of the day we met our new dog, Spot.  I was dead-set on adopting a dog that needed rescuing. I really owe the awareness of the importance of adoption to Pets Alive in NY, of which my favorite singer/songwriter, Rob Thomas and his wife, Marisol (and her family) support through volunteer work as well as through their Sidewalk Angels Foundation. I started following their Tweets (PA & SWA) and get their emails and it really took my heart.  So back to Spot, we found her on PetFinder.com.  We immediately fell in love with her (look at that face) and hoped that she was still available and also that she'd be a good fit for us. I love it that so many organizations post their animals (of all types) to it and you can look at most of those that are available for adoption and it takes you directly to the rescue facility. Spot came from Twyla's Friends and she was 7 months old when we got her.  She's such a wonderful little pup. She's a mix but I found lots of full bred babies and adult dogs (they need a home too) so the next time you are looking at adding a new "furr-ever" family member, please consider adopting!!!! Thanks for reading through my PSA!

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Supplies: Authentique Gathering "Harmony", "Together", "Grow", "Bloom", Classic Type Alphas Item #SCC002; Bo Bunny Double Dot "Shitake"; Kaiser Craft Fozz Fontz "Fonzo Alphabet Set" in Chocolate; Studio Calico Classic Calico Chip Shapes Assortment~Butterflies, Studio Calico "Classic Calico" Die-cut Cardstock Pieces - Tags; FabScraps Die-Cut Chipboard Embellishment – Fleur Frame; Clearsnap Smooch Pearlized Ink – Ocean Soul; Creative Impressions Twill - Caramel; Not in Kit - ADORNit Buckaroo alphas; Studio Calico Mr Huey Mists in Piglet & Orchard; My Little Shoebox small alphas pink(?), misc button; misc pink thread, Glue Arts Glue Glider Pro, Zig Marker .5 mm Chocolate


So apparently I was in a banner type state of mind when I put these together.  I know banners have been around a while but they're still "in", especially if you can find clever ways to mix it up.

Thanks for stopping by today!