These could quite possibly be the 
This card started it off. The patterned paper got a little bling with some Diamond Sparkles. I applied it where the grid lines intersected. I added a strip of contrasting patterned paper then layered a center "medallion" with dark gray cardstock, silver metallic cardstock, then a lighter gray center (the back of one of the patterned papers). The double-sided insect sticker got stuck right in the center and I then applied black metallic glitter. 
These Martha Stewart Crafts insect stickers are so cool! I got them on clearance last year and I couldn't wait to put them to use...but did...until now. They are super detailed, yet very sturdy and easy to remove from the sheet. They have adhesive on both sides, so that you can add sand, glitter or beads to embellish. The card was finished off with two adhesive "pearls." Creepy with class.
Now for this one. The patterned paper got the same Stickles treatment, but I added a center piece of acetate (transparency) leftover from this card. I stamped on it and inked the edges using black StazOn ink. I applied another sticker, this time a spider, and gave him a dose of black glitter. The acetate piece was tied with a white organza ribbon before adhering it (strategically) to the card base. Ghostly Glam.
There you go...another craft experimentation in my laboratory (insert creepy laugh here).
Supplies:Stamps: Swirls v:1 Rhonna Farrer by Autumn Leaves, Trick or Treat by Memory Box
Ink: Black StazOn
Patterned Paper: Tiara and Tulle by American Crafts
Cardstock: Basic Gray by SU!, metallic silver
Tools: 1 1/4, 1 3/8, and scallop circle punches by SU!
Ribbon: white organza
Other: acetate, adhesive pearls by K&Company, double-sided insect stickers by Martha Stewart Crafts, black metallic glitter by Glick Crafts, foam tape by 3M
So I must apologize for not taking more pictures of how I constructed this card. I really wasn't sure that it was going to be a "keeper." It's either a great vintage Christmas card or just a plain big ol' mess. Can't decide.
To finish it off, I added a little tag that I die cut using the Tiny Tags die for the Cuttlebug. I distressed the edges with a little of the Dark Chocolate ink. I then used brads to attach it to the patterned paper/chocolate layer, then adhered the whole thing to the card base. I adhered the large owl to the card then adhered the small owl with a little foam mounting tape so that he would stand out from the larger owl. And one last thing. I cut out a few flowers from the patterned paper and adhered them to the card with foam tape to make them stand out, too. The whole card then got a little distressed around the edges. I should add that I inked the card base itself before I added the other layers. The Barely Banana was just looking too "clean" to me. Well, that's number two for the owls, but you know they will be back!
I can't tell you how excited I am about my first ever Blog Hop Challenge! Papertrey Ink does this every month, and since this is the first month I've had a blog...I'm in! The challenge was to create something using vellum. Now, it's been a long time since I've used vellum, but I had an idea in the back of my head that's been there for a long time. And that was to create a family recipe collection that incorporates not only the recipes, but old family pictures, too. Last year I scanned in a bunch of my aunt's old photos for a Christmas project I made for my Mom. I'm so grateful that I have these old photos now! I can pull them out and use them for a multitude of purposes. Not to mention it's great to have a part of your history.
The recipe collection started with a CD tin to hold the recipe cards and photos. I used some cardstock and patterned paper to partially cover the front of the tin. I cut the paper very close to the width of the tin, to minimize sanding. While I like to sand to get a neat clean edge, if you over sand on tin it will look scratched.
I covered a scalloped chipboard frame using a small piece of the reverse side of my patterned paper (love double-sided paper). After cutting as close to the edge as possible, I sanded the chipboard. This left a white edge which I liked so much, I left as is. I tied a piece of ribbon around the corner of the frame. My title was printed on the linen vellum from Papertrey Ink and cut out to fit the frame. To do this, I measured my opening and made a square text box in Microsoft Word just barely larger than the opening. Once printed, I cut it out and adhered it to the back of the frame, adding extra glue to adhere the whole thing to the cover of the tin.
I love that you can see the patterned coming through the vellum:
And now on to the recipe cards and photos! I printed each card on white cardstock then stamped around the edges and in the white space using one of the stamps from my Always stamp set from Stampin' Up! The stamp repeated part of the design from the patterned paper. I kept it simple, using Dark Chocolate Palette ink.
And now this is where more vellum comes in! I applied a sephia effect on all of my photos and printed them on the linen vellum. I just love the look - it almost looks like the photos are printed on canvas and gives it a slight worn look...perfect for these old photos.
And even though the vellum has a nice weight to it, it is still slightly transparent. Here's what the tin looks like opened, with a photo on top and the recipe "peeking" through.
One more special part of this collection. My aunt had a few of these recipes written in my grandmother's own handwriting. I printed one on vellum and included it in the tin, along with the printed version.
Again, just nice to have a part of your history with you. And speaking of being with you...I can't wait to see what the rest of you have created for the Blog Hop Challenge. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you come back!
I scalloped a contrasting piece of pattered paper using my slit punch from Stampin' Up! If you haven't tried this technique, you really should! Just turn the punch over so that it creates a scalloped shape along the edge of your paper. Punch once, move it over, punch again, and keep punching until you've moved down the entire length of your paper. You want to try to get the punches as close together as possible, so that the effect is cleaner and you can easily remove the paper when you are done. (The previous punched scallop will serve as your guide when placing the next one.) Practice on some scrap paper a few times until you get the hang of it. Once you've got it, you won't want to stop! I also like to punch holes in each scallop when I'm done, as I did here:
All the patterned paper layers were inked along the edges before being adhered to the card base. I love distressing my cards when I use Basic Grey paper, I think it just calls for it. I also added a few Stickles here and there. It adds a nice snow-like sparkle on Christmas cards and is a great contrast to the distressing. Okay, so one Christmas card down...
Next it was time to build the owl! This set comes with all the pieces you need: eyes, beaks, wings, bellies, etc. Even though the owl eyes will end up white, I went ahead and stamped the eyes on the kraft cardstock as a "place holder" for later. I punched the owl out using my circle punch. To make sure I got the whole owl to fit in the circle, I turned the punch upside down to see what I was doing. 
I punched a scallop circle out of the Spring Moss and glued the owl on top. I then stamped the eyes on white, cut them out, and glued them to the owl. The final step (for now) was to color my owl. I used my blender pen and pad to do the coloring. To do this, you just squeeze the stamp pad lid against the pad, open it up, and on the lid is enough ink to use with the blender pen. 
I didn't want to over do it, so I just colored the beak and belly, and then added light coloring to the rest of the owl. I then glued the whole thing down to my card base and added the saying at the bottom right of the card. But wait, there's more...
Warning: When I get something new, I tend to use it over, and over, and over again. So the owl will be back!!!
Pssst...hey, you! How about subscribing to my blog? You'll get updates emailed to you automatically, and it's free! Go ahead, do it...look for the envelope up there, on the right hand side of my blog.
I filled a cellophane bag with gummy worms. I placed my gift card inside of a glassine envelope (to keep it from getting sticky) and placed that inside of the bag of worms. 
I tied the bag with some ribbon and attached the tag. Now what little boy wouldn't love that???
Now, when it comes time to give this gift, I had two thoughts on how I could present it. The first idea was to put the tin inside of a cellophane bag. I mostly wanted to do that so I could use some coordinating ribbon that just so happened to go perfectly with the paper I was using (love it when that happens...love coordination). I also liked the idea of adding the tag. Not to mention, with this look, the person you are giving this to will never guess it's a gift card inside!
Now, having said all that, I think I may like it without the bag just as much. Because I liked using the same tag, but in a different way:
See what I mean? It's a gift within a gift, with a little card inside (the tag). Decisions, decisions. By the way, because I am a little nutsy, I made my own shreds out of the same paper I used on the cover of the tin (again...coordination!). It's another unexpected touch, but it also makes getting the card out of the tin a little easier!
