Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  I made this card especially for you, because I am thankful for you.

Supplies:

Altered Pages AP-2250 Collage Sheet - Thanksgiving Placecards

5" x 7" kraft card

Tim Coffee Cottage Garden print papers & embellishments (K & Company)

Sizzix thinlits die - Border, Label, Medallion & Key

Chipboard

Vintage Photo distress ink

It is a very simple card, so I have very little instructions.  Here are the parts for the base of my card.  

I cut the die cut in half diagonally, as shown, and adhered to the reverse of the collage image, which I had adhered to a scrap of chipboard for strength and dimension.

Roll two opposite corners and add a few flowers on pop dots to disguise your cut die piece. (See photo of finished card above).

And that is it.  

Thanks for stopping by.  

I wish everyone a very  happy, fun-filled, and blesssed day today, and every day.  

Barbara

Christmas Triptych with Altered Pages Instructions

Hi everyone, Barbara here with one of my favorite art forms, the triptych.  With the Christmas holidays fast approaching, I wanted to make a Christmas triptych.  If you missed my post earlier this week, I did not give any instructions for how I made this.  So, I thought I would post them for you here today.  I hope you enjoy it and are inspired to give these beautiful art forms a try.

So,  some of you have asked, what is a triptych?  Wikipedia defines it:  

A triptych (/ˈtrɪptɪk/ trip-tik; from the Greek adjective τρίπτυχον ("three-fold"), from tri, i.e. "three" and ptysso, i.e. "to fold" or ptyx, i.e. "fold")^[1][2] is a work of art (usually a panel painting) that is divided into three sections, or three carved panels which are hinged together and can be folded shut or displayed open. It is therefore a type of polyptych, the term for all multi-panel works. The middle panel is typically the largest and it is flanked by two smaller related works, although there are triptychs of equal-sized panels.

Side 1 - Vintage Christmas

Side 2 - Traditional Christmas

Supplies used:

Altered Pages collage sheets:  Happy Holidays (AP-505), Holiday Postcards (AP-1155), Ivory Angels (AP 2090), 
Christmas Emporium 8x8 paper pad (Graphic 45)
Graphic 45 Coredinations Cardstock
Vintage Text Paper
Faber-Castell Big Brush Pen (Brown)
German Scrap
4x6 chipboard pennants (Paper Accents) (3)
Hinges (Tim Holtz)
Distress Stain:  Old Paper (Tim Holtz)
Copper Metallic acrylic paint
Ink Pads:  Dark Moss Chalk (Colorbox)
Doily die (My Favorite Things)
Ornate Frame die (Tim Holtz)
Mini Rosettes die (Tim Holtz)
Botanicals, decorative brads, bling

Directions:

Cover one side of three pieces.  This will be the front side of the triptych.

Attach hinges, as shown.  

 

Reverse side - brads holding hinges show

Cover the remaining sides of the three pieces, covering the brads that hold the hinges on.

Die cut ornate frame from Christmas Emporium red print paper and chipboard, adhere together.
Center holly flower girl (AP-1155) in center of frame and trim to fit inside opening.  Use brown big brush pen to finish off the frame edges.

Adhere to center panel with foam dots.  (see photo below)


Die cut one doily from Astroparche paper, distress edges with Vintage Photo, and cut in half.

Cut out two half circle poinsettia images (AP-505) and adhere to each half of the doily die.  

Adhere to both side panels, as shown.

Die cut two mini rosettes from vintage text paper.  Add a strip of washi tape to back of rosettes to give this fragile paper more strength.  

Form into rosettes following directions on die.

Stamp a "2" and a "5" onto a scrap piece of the vintage text paper with moss chalk ink.  Punch out with   1/2" circle punch, adhere each to center of rosettes.  Add 1/2" epoxy circle to center.

Add oval centers (removed from center of ornate frame die cut) and add to both outer panels, as shown.

Trim "Angels" image from AP-2090.  Adhere images to ovals, add botanicals and gem flourishes, as shown.  

close-up of decorative brad covering ends of botanicals

For reverse side, trim and distress edges of Climbing Santa, Merry Christmas Santa, and two ivy spray (AP-505-Happy Holidays), Santa with child  (AP-1155-Holiday Postcards).  Add Old Paper distress stain to edges and adhere to coredinations cardstock cut slightly larger than image.  Adhere to reverse side of triptych, as shown.

Adhere a strip of German scrap to the bottom of each panel.  If you want to tone down the bright gold color, you can apply a thin coat of a black metallic cream or black archival ink and wipe off excess.

A few close-ups of the botanicals and embellishments.

I hope you have enjoyed my Christmas Triptych and directions for making it.  These are very easy to make and are so beautiful as stand alone decorations for any occasion.

You can get all your supplies to make this at www.alteredpages.com.  And don't forget to stop by the Altered Pages Monthly Challenge Page to see all the inspiration from the design team, and go vote for your favorite in the side bar.

Thanks for stopping by.  Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Barbara

Christmas Triptych with Altered Pages

Hi everyone, Barbara here with one of my favorite art forms, the triptych.  With the Christmas holidays fast approaching, I wanted to make a Christmas triptych.

So,  some of you have asked, what is a triptych?  Wikipedia defines it:  

A triptych (/ˈtrɪptɪk/ trip-tik; from the Greek adjective τρίπτυχον ("three-fold"), from tri, i.e. "three" and ptysso, i.e. "to fold" or ptyx, i.e. "fold")^[1][2] is a work of art (usually a panel painting) that is divided into three sections, or three carved panels which are hinged together and can be folded shut or displayed open. It is therefore a type of polyptych, the term for all multi-panel works. The middle panel is typically the largest and it is flanked by two smaller related works, although there are triptychs of equal-sized panels.

Side 1 - Vintage Christmas

Side 2 - Traditional Christmas

Supplies used:

Altered Pages collage sheets:  Happy Holidays (AP-505), Holiday Postcards (AP-1155), Ivory Angels (AP 2090), 
Christmas Emporium 8x8 paper pad (Graphic 45)
Graphic 45 Coredinations Cardstock
Vintage Text Paper
Faber-Castell Big Brush Pen (Brown)
German Scrap
4x6 chipboard pennants 
Old Paper Distress Stain
Copper Metallic acrylic paint
Ink Pads:  Dark Moss Chalk 
Dies: Doily, Ornate Frame, Mini Rosettes
Botanicals, decorative brads, bling

I made this by first covering chipboard pieces with Graphic 45 paper and adding hinges to hold it together.  I used die cuts and collage images for the focal points on each panel.  Mini rosettes were made from vintage text papers, while botanicals and bling were added for extra appeal.

What I love about this particular piece is that I have made one side of my triptych very vintage, while the opposite side is more traditional.  So, you can change your piece to suit your mood simply by turning it to one side or the other.

I hope you like my Christmas decoration.  I think it will make a lovely display piece for the holidays.

Thanks for stopping by, and have a very wonderful, blessed Thanksgiving.

Barbara

Another Duo of Christmas Cards, Part Deux

Hello everyone!  I am so glad you stopped by today.  I have another duo of Christmas cards to share with you today using the Robin's Nest red and black Christmas Collection, along with Tonic punches and dies from Purple Cows, our sponsor this month. And best of all, the Christmas collection is 20% off this month.  So, if you are looking for some beautiful papers for your Christmas projects, I know you are going to love these.

Supplies used:

The Robin's Nest:  Hunter Classic Glitter with Gold Glitter CS, Red Glitter Stripe CS, Red Snowflakes CS, Christmas Glitter Words CS, Red Distressed CS, Silver Glitter on Creme Swirl CS, Ruby Red diamond drops, Champagne dew drops
Tonic Studio Daisy Circle Die, Daisy Border Punch (Purple Cows)

Winter Snow corner punch, Winter Snow border punch (Martha Stewart)

Mini Snowflake Rosette die (Sizzix)

Cherry Cobbler ribbon (Stampin Up)
Diamond Stickles 

Directions:

Trim a sheet of Hunter Classic Glitter with Gold Glitter CS to 7" x 10".  Fold in half to make a base card measuring 7" x 5".  Cut a piece of the Red Snowflakes CS slightly smaller than card front (6-3/4" x 4-3/4"), punch corners with snowflake corner punch, adhere reverse (red) side to card base.

 Cut two strips of Red Snowflakes CS and adhere along edge, as shown.  

Die cut a scrap of Hunter Classic Glitter with Gold Glitter CS using the Daisy Circle Die.  Then cut out the center with a 1-3/4" scallop die.  

I found this copyright free image of candy canes online.  

Cut out one cane and trace onto Red Glitter Stripe CS, reversing one so you have a a cane going in both directions.  I also traced onto the right side of the paper only to ensure my stripes were going diagonally.  Erase any pencil marks left.

Insert both candy canes through daisy circle die cut before adhering to card base.  Cut out "Merry Christmas" words from Christmas Glitter Words CS.  Adhere to card front with pop dots, as shown.

I needed a little more glitter, so I added a light coat of Diamond stickles to the snowflake borders, and Champagne dew drops, as shown.  The stickles do not show up well in the photo, but they really add to the whole piece.

For my second card, trim Red Distressed CS to 4-1/2" x 12", fold in half to make top folded base card that measures 4-1/2" x 6".  Distress edges and apply Old Paper distress stain.  (NOTE:  If you are making lots of these, you can certainly skip this step).

I trimmed a sheet of Red Snowflakes CS to 4" x 6" and applied Old Paper distress stain.  It has a green undertone, perfect for Christmas.  Punch around the page with the snowflake punches and adhere to card base.

Trim a scrap of Hunter Classic Glitter with Gold Glitter CS to 1-3/8" x 3-3/4" and adhere to center.

Add the little green daisies (from the die cut used in the card above) to various snowflakes, as shown.

Die cut a mini snowflake rosette from Silver Glitter on Creme Swirl CS.  Add Ruby Red diamond drops to center of rosette.  Adhere to center portion of card with two small pieces of red ribbon.

There you have it.  Another duo of Christmas cards that I hope have inspired you and helped get those juices flowing to make some yourself.  As I've said before,  this collection makes it is so easy to make beautiful, quick and easy cards for the holidays.  And since they are on sale this month, I hope you will take a moment to check out the Robin's Nest online store for more of their matching products to make your holiday cards fabulous.  And don't forget to visit the Robin's Nest blog for tons more inspiration this month using this versatile collection.

Have a wonderful week, and a very safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

Barbara Rankin

http://blackholeartstudio.blogspot.com

Give Thanks Card

Hello everyone!  So glad you stopped by!  If you are looking for The Robin's Nest & Smoothfoam Ornament Blog Hop, you can click this link here.

I am really getting into the mood for Thanksgiving.   I feel so blessed for my wonderful life, friends, and family,  and so I wanted to make a card to show my gratitude.

Supplies used:

Sin City Stamps:  Rosette Hearts (Background); Art Journaling with Terri Sproul 2 (swirl); Pam Bray's Fall Collection (leaves)
5x7 pre-folded kraft card
Wine card stock (CS) scrap
Timeless Type 8x8 pad (DCWV)
Versamark ink pad
Memories Art Print Brown ink pad
Distress inks:  Forest Moss, Dried Marigold, Vintage Photo, Peeled Paint, Rusty Hinge, Scattered Straw
Gold detail embossing powder

Directions:

Trim piece of word print paper to 4-3/4" x 6-3/4".   Apply distress inks to paper and edge with Vintage Photo.

Stamp swirl randomly onto paper with brown ink.  Adhere to card front.

Stamp background onto wine CS with Versamark ink, gold emboss.  Cut out and distress edges.  Adhere to front at at an angle.

Distress and ink edges of journaling ticket with Vintage Photo.   Adhere to card front.  Cut out alphabet letters to spell "Give Thanks" and adhere to ticket.

Stamp "Good friends..." phrase onto journaling card with brown ink.  Adhere to card inside.

Good friends are hard to find,

Harder to leave &

Impossible to forget.

 Stamp three leaves onto scrap of print paper with brown ink.  Sponge each with distress inks in Peeled Paint, Dried Marigold, and Scattered Straw.  Fussy cut out and adhere to card front.

 I hope you enjoyed my card project today, and that I have inspired you to make a card to commemorate something, or someone, you are grateful for.  And while you are here, I hope you will visit the Sin City Stamps online store to see all of the new products soon to be available, and take advantage of their huge sale going on this month.

Have a wonderful weekend, and happy creating!

Barbara

The Robin's Nest & Smoothfoam Blog Hop

Hello everyone, and welcome to the Robin's Nest & Smoothfoam Ornament blog hop, with our co-sponsor, Smoothfoam, who sent us these awesome ornaments to decorate for Christmas.  These two products work very well together, and I really enjoyed playing with them this month.  I opted to make a frame to hold this photo of my brother and me sitting on Santa's lap.  I do not like many pictures of myself, but I think we were a couple of cute kids, nonetheless.  This is one of my favorite Christmas photos.

Supplies used:

The Robin's Nest:  Black and White Glitter PIne Tree CS,  Christmas Trees Glitter CS, Red Distressed CS, Snow Covered Glitter Trees CS, Gold Glitter Swirl on Creme CS, Classified Mini Dew Drops (silver), Metallic Silver Dew Drops, Gum Drops Tear Dew Drops, Jade Diamond Dew Drops, Indigo Diamond Dew Drops, Aquatic Green Mini Dew Drops, 
Snowflake ornament, Wreath ornament, Tree (Smoothfoam)
Bookbinding or white glue
Chipboard Frame
White gesso
Metallic Garnet Red, Metallic Peridot acrylic paint (Folk Art)
Holly punch (McGill)
Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls Mist (Ranger)
Metallic Green Maya Mist
Fresh Lime Dylusions spray ink

Directions:

Cover chipboard frame with Black and White Glitter PIne Tree.

Lay frame, right side down, onto reverse side of paper

Miter corners & wrap excess around to back of frame

To finish off the inside frame, cut an "X" through the paper.

Cut an "X" on the paper inside the center of  the frame

 Trim and turn the edges inward.

Back of Frame

Front of frame

Paint Smoothfoam wreath ornament with white gesso, allow to dry.  Paint ornament with red and green metallic paints.

Cut out Red Distressed CS in shapes similar to those in photo to make a bow.  Glue to bow portion of wreath.

Punch approximately 20-25 holly leaves from reverse (green) side of Black and White Glitter PIne Tree CS.  Glue around top portion of wreath.

Add  Metallic Silver Dew Drops and a few silver botanicals, as shown.  Spray gold mist over the entire wreath and allow to dry.  Dry brush Metallic Peridot and Metallic Red over holly leaves and bow.

The tree ornament I turned into a free-standing piece to place with my frame.

Smoothfoam tree ornament

I first sprayed a piece of the Snow Covered Glitter Trees CS with lime, metallic green, and gold sprays.  When dry, I die cut three rosette strips, accordion folded, and attached to each layer of the tree.  Simple as that.

Here is a close-up of the tree.  

If you want to make your ornament removable, as I did, you can either use removable glue dots or adhere a velcro dot to both the frame and wreath and attach to frame.  When you want to change it out, it is real simple.

I made a second ornament (snowflake) to change out as my mood suits me, or if my photograph changes.

Tap gesso over snowflake for texture and let dry.  Spray with lime and metallic green mists.  Apply a watered down bit of gesso over all and dab off excess with paper towel.  This allows the texture to show up.

Apply dew drops and diamond shaped dew drops, as shown.  Attach to frame with removable glue dots or velcro.

I hope you enjoyed my projects today.  There are so many things you can make with both the beautiful papers and dew drops from The Robin's Nest and Smoothfoam ornaments.


The blog hop today is going to work a bit differently than the usual blog hop.  It is more like a link up because we are joining the Smoothfoam design team, as well. You can win a $100 Christmas gift from the Robin's Nest and some Smoothfoam products, as well.  To enter, you will need to leave a comment and follow each blog.  This will automatically enter you for a chance to win this awesome prize.  Just click on each link shown on The Robin's Nest blog to visit each participating blog. 

Have a wonderful weekend, and enjoy the rest of the hop.

Barbara