Christmas Time Again!

Busy with your preparations for Christmas? I've managed to check making and mailing the Christmas cards off my list! It was said to be the busiest day at the post office today, our local branch certainly had the lines zipping away!

 

This year I found several different ideas I wanted to use each one for a different group of people that I send or give cards.

This first one has gone out to family and friends. It is the first of several A-6 size cards I did this year specifically to accommodate the 4x6 photos I send of the kids (and now grand children) to family members around the world.

 

I used an Impression Obsession die of a snowy town scene. The white on white panel is accented by a teal dotted pattern paper, and teal stamped greeting. 

 

 

 

This next card is the standard half sheet card on teal. A Paper Smooches die "Cityscape 1" in black, a stamped and gemmed star and Bible verse adorn the front side, while another stamped scene of the wise men approaching the town is on the inside. This is the card I will use for the neighbors and friends we deliver cookies to each year. 

 

 

Also on teal, at an A-6 size there is a white panel with a stamped church scene and a Merry Christmas in white embossed powder. This was the card for al of our church family. We all have church mailboxes to get all the latest news and at this time of year, we get to be our own mailmen delivering cards! 

 

This last card, also in A-6 periwinkle blue and white embossed swirls, has a Spellbinders snowflake in the same periwinkle as the base. I also used a circle die to trim a section of the IO die (above) to frame the section with the churched. This is attached with a single glue dot and has a string of metallic floss for a hanger to make this an ornament for the recipient, in this case, the ladies in my Bible Study Fellowship discussion group.

It may have taken me longer to get things done this year considering my goal was to design a new one each month to have twelve by December, but I'm pleased with this grouping. With so many ideas still running around in my head, I may just get a head start on 2015!!

 

 

thanks so much for stopping by...

andrea



December Tips and Techniques for a Memorable Christmas

Looking for ideas for Christmas countdowns? Be sure to stop HERE for all the details.

 

 

 

 

 

The December Literary Challenge was Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol.

 

 

This was my take on it and you can find the whole story and the details on all the extras on the page HERE.

 

 

The final Christmas layout is featuring a Christmas recipe showing off some of the step-by-steps to make it and patterned papers for holiday color! Check HERE for the details and recipe info.

 

 

 

 

 

 

thanks for stopping in...

andrea

 

 

Fall Flourishes II



In the previous post I shared some ideas and techniques I've shared on the Mosaic Moments website for adding fall flourishes to your fall scrapbook pages. Today I'd like to include one that I did not demonstrate there, but have saved to do here.

One of the distinctions of Mosaic Moments are the grids. Our tiles are precise and can be filled not just with photos, but various tiles and embellishments as well. For this demonstration I am using a white 2 1/8" square tile to stamp and emboss. This tile will fit over four squares of the grid, (but can be adapted to any size and also be used on cards!) Tami Potter has a line of clear rubber stamps from Impression Obsession made especially for using with the grid system and I have chosen a square word block stamp for today's sample from the Autumn Seals. I will also use a fall garland spray from a set by Inkadinkado called Foliage Trails.

I have used several inks for coloring (as seen in the photos), clear embossing ink, clear embossing powder and ink daubers for applying the ink.

Let's get started!

 I stamped the word block in brown,

then using a clear embossing pad to stamp the leaves randomly around the block

then top with clear embossing powder.

 

Heat to set the image.

 

Beginning with the lightest color you will use, rub ink into the image.

Be sure the corners and edges are well inked too.

Apply a little bit or add some pressure and ink for darker sections in this first shade before a secondary color application.

 

With your next shade the clear embossed image will begin to be defined.

 

A final color is added to the block.

(and this time I did mix dye and pigment inks in this sample)

 

 

For this second block I began by stamping and embossing the

word block in clear embossing powder.

Then with the antique linen I inked the entire square.

Next with the terra cotta pigment ink and clear embossing powder the leaf spray layer went down.

 

The final layer for this tile was applying butterscotch to areas around the block.

 

These are just two ways I thought I could add a little interest to my scrapbook pages. I tried many samples and many colors. Why not experiment a bit with colors and stamps that you have?

 

Keep scrolling to see the previous post Fall is in the Air! or if you'd like to see the Fall Flourishes post on Mosaic Moments HERE! 

You will find lots of Tips &Techniques for Scrapbooking your fall memories so be sure to stop in and see them. For fall photos tips you'll want to see this post HERE, and our Snapncrop Pinterest boards and ideas HERE and HERE.

 

 

Thanks for stopping by...

 

andrea

Fall is in the Air!

Yes, Fall is in the air and now that you are shooting those annual photos of the family or out capturing nature in all her splendor when it comes to scrapping those memories, I have a few tips to add a new embellishment or two for a beautiful page.

Are you looking for ideas for taking photos this fall? Be sure to check out our Pinterest Pin Boards, The Scavenger Hunt Challenge and Great Photo Ideas for Mosaic Moments Pages for lots of ideas!

Sequins are trending in the card world and now into the scrapbook world as well. This border adds interest and color and is easily customized for your layouts!

More details on the how to can be seen on the Mosaic Moments website HERE.

Another border idea you may like came from a roll of burlap ribbon at the crafts store that I really liked. I took some of the elements, a leather cord, paper punched leaves, wooden beads and colorful cording to create a banner for the top edge of my page.

 

 

 

Details for making this garland are on the Mosaic Moments website HERE. Step by step photos will show you the how-to for each project.

Because the Mosaic Moments Grid System involves 100-1" squares for photos you have a lot of options for the design you put together. I love quilts, so I often incorporate elements of basic quilt squares in my designs. This is why I have two borders anchored with a Mosaic Moments Cornerstone Tile, one an apple and one a leaf! Here's how I dressed up the apple cornerstone.

I changed out the background tile and replaced it with patterned paper (Doodlebug Design) and green cardstock. The tile itself was white and to fit into the color palette I had planned I inked it with Tim Holtz Antique Linen.

The second border involved some of those quilt tiles. These were made using a Crafty Cutts Die that makes a cathedral square quilt square, a perfect spot to add a paper tile or 1" patterned paper tile.

I have an additional technique used on a cornerstone tile that I did not use on this layout, but the full page and techniques can be found HERE.

Come and stop in and see the full post and see how you can dress up your fall layouts with a few fall flourishes!

andrea

A Girl and Her Dog...the series begins

 

Just a few more breaks from the routine, going digital!

 

 

and of course the latest of Mr. Munch...yes, Bowties are cool!

 

for that matter...so are babies!!

 

Fall Family Photos Mini Album

It's officially Autumn. Cooler weather is preparing us for the fall foliage concert of colors. It also ushers in our annual family photos. Here's a quick idea using RTC Grid paper in orange now available on sale at snap-n-crop this week. This is the 6x6 size and is easily folded to create a mini album that makes a great gift idea or an annual look at the best of shots taken each year!

Now to see all the details on how to and the cover grid embellishment you can find it all on the Mosaic Moments Tips & Techniques section HERE.

The RTC paper in Deep Dream Orange is now on sale.

  

As always, all your Mosaic Moments products can be purchased at this link:

Click here to visit Wish in the Wind, LLC

Cherish

Was taking a few minutes to download some of the photos my daughter has been taking of her daughter that randomly show up on FB from time to time and thought I'd try to do a real quickie layout for this photo. It is a digital layout, a bit of a break away from my usual mosaic style.

I have used kits by Kimeric Kreations both Moody Blues and Market Under the Bridge, and both can be found at the Digichick.

thanks for stopping by...
andrea

Inspiration: A Very Hungry Caterpillar

The Mosaic Moments Literary Challenge for September is

Eric Carle's A Very Hungry Caterpillar.

 

My youngest granddaughter has just begun to eat baby food, and the occasional food from everyone's plate...or hand if she can manage it. She loves to eat! She has been wonderful trying new foods, so most of these photos have her smiling away. Of course, she seemed to be the perfect subject for this challenge. 

 

 

 

I used a melted crayon technique for the date block.

 

 

I have created some painted paper tiles to mimic Carle's style and then punched a hole into each of the tiles. Did you know that it was a hole punch that inspired Eric Carle for this story? Yes!

 

 

I took additional sections and punched the segments for the caterpillar.

 

You can catch more details, techniques and ideas for incorporating this children's classic into a scrapbook layout on the Mosaic Moments Tips & Techniques section HERE.

 

Well, before you know it we will be posting all the fall tips and ideas, so see you then!

thanks for stopping in...

 

 

andrea

Back to School and more!!

Yes, people are gearing up for that fateful day when the kids venture out to school...or maybe...stay home.

Anyway...no matter where you learn there's always an official point in time where new books and clothes and activities fill our lives. Taking a photo or two to commemorate the event deserves to have a page or two scrapped to document "this year."

To that end, I have written a piece on the Tip & Techniques section of the Mosaic Moments web site with ideas of what photos to take, planning, and finished projects! Please head over to Back to School to get all the details and suggestions for that first day of school. Here's one of the layouts you'll find!

For a smaller project, that's very versatile, very colorful, and oh, so, easy to do...click HERE. for this treat!!

Now I've got one more project to share, this just up on www.journella.com for our final Design Team Challenge for 2014.

Yes, sadly, the Design Team is taking an early finish this year. It's been fun to be apart of the team for three years now, but sometimes, things need to change and at Mosaic Moments there are so many new things coming to the store, new products, new website...you will have to stop in to see it all!!

If you haven't already seen the promos, we will be carrying a whole new series of Spellbinders dies specifically designed for our grids!! No longer will you have to use only the paper tiles, you can choose your own cardstock colors and patterned papers to complete your layouts. Not enough pieces of the right size? No longer a problem, cut as many as you need!! So check in here and see it all!!







Click here to visit Wish in the Wind, LLC

 

So, now to the final challenge TEXTURE!!

 

For this project, you will have to go and see it for yourself. The details for each section has all the how to-s and plenty of close ups too!

 

 

 

and a few teasers!

 

 

 

 

The Team may be coming to an end for this year, but I'll be continuing to post new projects on the new web site www.MosaicMoments.com and you'll find my work under the Tips & Techniques section. DT member Candy Spiegel will also be making an appearance or two on the new site, so stop in for a visit!  The Literary Challenges will continue through the end of the year so be sure to check in and get your inspiration and do a page to share with us! We'd love to see your work!!

 

There will be an upcoming post with tips for shooting fall photos to scrap, so you'll want to drop in for that colorful presentation.

 

Well, that's going to be my updates for today, I hope you'll continue stop by, visit the store and try your hand at our terrific products!!

 

I'm eager to work on some Christmas cards, so you just might see my next post as a Christmas themed one! Remember, they are predicting an early winter with another polar vortex coming in for the fall.

 

 

thanks for stopping in...

andrea

 

 

 

 



 



Crayons!

For an upcoming post at Mosaic Moments I tried out a few ideas for incorporating one of the latest trends in crafts...melted crayons!

What better time of year to give this a go when the Back to School sales are on and crayons are going for $.50 a box? Or perhaps all the old crayons from years past are taking up space and you'd like to trim your collection. Either way, give it go!

The first attempt I made was to get splatters of crayons on my one inch tiles to resemble something I saw on Pinterest. It didn't go exactly the way I hoped for, but it was passable.

The second method was in shavings applied to the top of the tiles. Placed between wax paper layers and ironed to melt. I liked the results better with this method. Really old school, I know, but for what I wanted to accomplish to cover 1" tiles, it allowed the right amount of control.

The final method, I have to say, worked the best. I took four 1" tiles and placed them on a beverage hot plate. I held each color on the paper until it melted enough to be swirled around to create a larger circle. I repeated with the colors I wanted until the surface was covered.

A variation of this technique was to apply a number sticker to the center of each tile and then apply the crayon on the tile, covering as much as you want, and over the number. Then remove the sticker to reveal the white tile below.

Each sample may have worked in the layout for the theme presented but I chose the third method. This is how it looked for the layout. The colors are the back drop for the date tiles to pop off of and blend with the overall layout!

The experiments were all in preparation for the September Literary challenge, The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. The post will be showing up on Mosaic Moments in our Tips and Techniques section, keep your eyes open!!

Meanwhile...here's a sneak peek!!

Thanks for stopping in...

andrea