Welcome to the relaunch of the blog!

I've put this off a long time but I think the time is right to start again. With the new Five Pines Designs Facebook page I'm finding I need a way to give a few more details about how to create some of these wonderful Mosaic Moments projects than just posting a few pictures and hope everyone "gets it". 

Today I'm going to give a few quick tips for creating an Advent Calendar for Christmas a bit different than you may have used before! I will be using the Mosaic Moments Nested Pocket Dies, the Basic Nested Dies and the number set from Alphabet 4 Die Set. All of these products can be purchased at Snapncrop through my affiliate link.

Ten Quick Steps

1.Let's begin with the middle size of the Nested Pocket Dies and cut out 25 in your choice of cardstock, I chose black because I wanted something neutral for the various colors of patterned papers I will be using. Plus this year the on-trend color combination is black, white and red!

2. Then I selected the 4.375" x 3.25" die from Mosaic Moments Set C for the backing, cutting 25 from black cardstock.

3. Then I cut each of these backings with We R Memory Keepers Tag Board for tabs right, center and left. After assembling them all, I decided this was an unnecessary step, but that's up to you how you'd like to make it. Next time I'd leave it solid with no tabs.

4. Now if you want to add a thumb notch this is the time to do it. I didn't because I planned on adding an insert into the pocket that would be higher than the front edge of the pocket. 

5. Score the pocket's marked sides, a bone folder will get a nice crisp edge.

 

6. Use a strong adhesive like Scor-Tape on the three side flaps of the pocket. Putting cards in and out of the pocket requires a good seal to hold up to the use.

7. Now the fun part. Pull a variety of patterned Christmas papers together and cut 25-3x3" squares to place on the front of the pockets. This is a great way to use up scraps or to coordinate a particular color theme. 

8. Prepare 25-1" circles to add the numbers to in whatever color combo you want. 

9. Now you will want to work on cutting out your numbers or maybe use stickers or even a hand-drawn fancy script number. Attach the numbers. The numbers can be attached directly to the pocket top or to tags inside the pocket. 

You may even want to add a little bit of glimmer with

 a Wink of Stella clear gimmer. 

10. The final step is to create the tags for each pocket. These don't have to be fancy, and it will depend on what you plan to write on each tag, will it be an activity and project to do or a devotional text for family worship time? They can be layered or not. On white cardstock or black and use a gel pen to write on. Finish them any way that suits your family the best!

I'm storing these for now in a small photo box I picked up at Hobby Lobby, but watch the Mosaic Moments Blog in December and I'll show you the box I worked on showing off several MM dies that also makes a perfect spot for these pockets and a few treats too! 

Thanks so much for stopping by, hope you'll come back soon!

         Andrea 

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



Nine Cards for Christmas

Recently, I participated in Bazzil Basics Paper Card Swap with their Believe papers. I recieved nine cards in return. I thought I'd showcase those cards here for some fun, and try to get the holiday card inspiration going.



Karen W. from Arizona feature Nov 6 on Bazzill's FB page

Pamela H. from Minnesota

 

Margarita Y. from Colorado--November 5

Gina Z. From Arizona--Nov 2

Lee Ann V. From Arizona---Nov 5

Betty K.

Sabrina W.

Teri B from California--Nov 5

 

Barbara D. from Texas--October 30

As I searched Bazill's FB page to try to get dates to track back to if you'd like to see more, I realize not all the cards are still up there. So sorry, however, you can see what a nice collection I recevied in return. Below is my card:

 

 

Hope you enjoyed seeing some new designers cards and maybe you too will find inspiration to get those cards going!

We are nearing the end of the first week of Advent...the week of Hope...when the world awaited the coming of the Christ child.

What are your hopes for the new year??

Enjoy this season with your families and the memories you'll make! 

thanks for stopping by...

andrea

A Nordic Theme

22 Days and Counting...

A quick post today, the days are passing quicker than anticipated and I don't want to get lost in the hustle of the lists of things to do.

I was picking up paper for my daughter's Christmas cards the other day and was once again drawn to these two shades of blue, Soft Loyal Blue and Nordic Blue. A few days earlier I had been  rummaging through a storage bin of baby clothes that I hope to pass on for the grandchildren someday and one of the sweater outfits my Aunt Jean made caught my eye. It had the same Nordic feel with stitches that formed a beautiful wintery pattern and I knew I had to take that inspiration and get it into a card.

So taking a break from the traditional Christmas reds and greens, I offer today a Nordic blue and cream snowflake card.

So quick list of what's here:
Cardstock-Soft Cream,  Nordic Blue and Soft Loyal Blue (Hollo's)
Ink: Dew Drop Versa Magic Aegean Blue
Punch: Martha Stewart snowflake punch
Mica D'Lights-Blue Topaz
Swarovski crystals: Sage, Chrysolite,and Chrysolite Moonlight Hot Fix
Stamp: made in Norway by Ladybug and Friends

The Gift Card

23 days and counting...

The fruit of the Spirit is

 love, joy, peace,

patience, kindness, goodness,

faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;

against such things there is no law.

 Galatians 5:22,23

Maybe not a verse you associate with Christmas, but this stamp by Inkadinkado  "Joy, Peace, Love mini" does just that. How appropriate to celebrate Love come down to earth in the gift of a Savior, the Joy that that gift brings and then Peace...what He will ultimately bring the World as Prince of Peace.

This stamp has hearts and holly forming a  pretty snowflake. I think it would make a very nice ornament, too. On this card I've used it to accent my 'package' like a bow. Stamped with Brilliance Graphite Black.  I've used Prismacolor pencils to color and Martha Stewart marble glitter to highlight a few areas. Red gingham ribbon (JoAnn's) on white felt cardstock(Hollo's) , embossed with Sizzix's (Powdered Sugar and Snow Globe set) holly embossing folder, then mounted on green cardstock (Hollo's)

and a close-up

Spellbinders Standard Circles and Classic Scallop Circles were used to cut this out of Brilliant White and Red Basketweave (Hollo's), white gel pen used to dot each of the scallops. Mounted with Glue Dots Pop-dots.

Well, that's the card for today.

...thanks so very much for stopping by...

andrea

Card Countdown to Christmas

Welcome to December!

24 days and counting

As we count down to Christmas I thought I'd attempt to post a new Christmas card each day until Christmas day. I also thought I'd try to showcase my new line up for 2012.

I'm beginning with a fairly simple design to get started. This card features some of the names we associate with Jesus, especially this time of year.

On green cardstock base

The Paper Company's Artic Snow Metallic cardstock

cut and embossed with Spellbinders Labels 18,

trimmed in metallic gold Prismacolor premier marker

Stamp from Unity Stamp Company

embossed in Pirate's Gold from Stampendous 

gold and green ribbon 'All the Trimmings' for JoAnn Stores

mounted on Elmer's Craft Bond Foam mounting tape

While we are talking about the names of Christ, I recently came across an idea for something new this year. A name search. We know the reference in Isaiah 9:6 that gives us the proclamation "...and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace."  but did you know there are many more names that Jesus is known by?  I've copied a page from the small Advent booklet Messiah Come and Behold Him  (and it's very affordable $1.79 too) with many of the names...all you need to do is look up the references for reading during the coming days. One book suggested making a wreath of stars with a name on each star...so I'm going to see what I can come up with, so check back a little later in the month to see if anything interesting came of it, meanwhile, why not see if you can come up with an idea or two!

from Thomas Nelson Inc.: Messiah Come and Behold Him

The Christmas trees are up and trimmed, lights shining brightly and we even had a few snowflakes to wake up to this morning. It's time to get back to the cards I'm supposed to be sending out...painted, assembled, signed, sealed, and stamped. Oh yes, and the family photo!

Thanks for stopping by for a look,
andrea