Holly the Christmas Fairy at Fashionista

A hearty August Welcome to you, my blogging friends, and my newest followers - Lindsay, Kim, Gery, Jackie, Mimi, Marie, Judith, Pooja (of Quilling) - and my newest friends from Bloglovin and other Readers!

This month the Fashionista Challenge is featuring those "sweet pretties" in Christmas Motif (be sure to upload your Christmas creation for a chance at a prize or badge!)

Focusing on All that is typically "seasonal" -- like...

  Joy, 
     Family, 
        Peace, 
           Friends, 
               Kindness, 
                    Harmony, 
                        Love, 
                           Happiness -- 

this Sparkle N Sprinkle Stamp says it all. Holly the Christmas Friendship Fairy is gentle and sweet. If you are a "digi" person, click here for the digital image.

Glitter - Sparkle - more Glitter!

The Path of Positivity Challenge this month is all about OPTIMISM.

Because Holly sees Beauty in all, her sweetness is evident as she tenderly greets each soul as a special gift. To soothe "ruffled feathers" her lovingkindness pours forth.

Optimism is like that.

Despite what others may say or do,
       despite the hardships or circumstances which come into our lives,
                despite our emotional reactions at situations,

our Souls can rise above. 

Some call it Hope,
     or Optimism,
           or the Silver Lining - ability to see the good in everything,

Some call it "The Peace That Passes Understanding",
        and others call it a knowledge that we can bring Love, Peace, Joy, Harmony
                (or whatever is necessary), by simply "being our true selves".

It has been said that Optimism is the "ultimate survival tool". It is filled with Hope and a certain expectation that in the end, all will not be "merely" well, but it will be beautiful, in its own way.





Not quite ready to move into full traditional Christmas Colors, I selected royal colors instead - purple, magenta, a "distressed" golden hue, and a surprise hint of pale turquoise.

Check out the glittery embossing powder below (it will never come off and is acid-free)

The Memory Box Christmas Tree has been in my stash for over a year, and never used.

The image was stamped twice on white cardstock. One image was oval cut, and the other with Labels 23. The oval was distressed, lightly "painted" with Brushable Glue, coated with Concord and Mulberry EPs and heat set. The other white was cut with Labels 23, so that the framed line in the Oval matches the framed line in the layer below. The outside area around the black line in the bottom panel was "colored" with VersaMarker and embossed with Cappuccino EP. The Panel below the "white" panel was also smooshed with VersaMark and embossed with Mulberry EP around the edges. 

The oval panel is adhered to the panel below with dimensionals.

Holly's furry white cuff, belt and hem are quite fluffy with special dimensional glue and glittery flocking powder.

Snowy coated branches glisten with more glitter that has a touch of lavender in it.

The snowflakes and Swirly Christmas Tree are die cut in advance, smooshed with VersaMark ink, and then dredged with three colors of glittery embossing powder (listed below). SO SPARKLY, with a touch of added creaminess from the EP.

TIP: The smaller snowflakes were done differently. This technique is perfect for punches.

Using scrap paper/card stock, smoosh VersaMark all over the piece. Dredge with glittery embossing powder and heat set. Keep these smaller pre-embossed papers on hand for punches.

Great for punching butterflies and flowers as needed to cover up boo-boos on our cards.
(My boo-boo is shown below.)

See how glittery the snowflakes and swirly tree look? 

(laughing here, because our German Shepherd is just as glittery)

As promised, here is my boo-boo -- 

A MAJOR hole in the metallic lavender layer on the right side, covered up by the layered snowflakes. (you can see the "accidental 3-inch black hole" if you look through the gold snowflake on the right side. The sentiment covers the rest of it up)

Thought you might enjoy that (smile)

Even our traditional "New Years Greetings" are full of Optimism. 

This oh-so-glittery card has been submitted to the following fabuloso challenges!

1. Christmas Cards All Year Long - Fussy and Fancy - (M,P1)
2. Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes - (M,P1)
3. Path of Positivity Challenge - #5 Optimism (M -Aug)
4. Card and Scrap - #59 Anything Goes (M P1)
5. Sunshine Mail - Anything Goes (ends Sept 1)
6. Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - #9 Winter Animals (birds enjoying the snow covered branches) (ends 9-10)
7. Holly Jolly Christmas - "Gimme Glitter-lots of glitter!" - Glitter everywhere! (W-Tues)
8. Crafts and Me - #139 Anything Goes - (ends 8-21)
9. Divas by Design - Christmas in August - (W-W)
10. Christmas Card Challenges - #38 - Non Traditional Christmas Image (W-Sun, Winners ann'd 1st Challenge of month)

Products Used:
Sparkle N Sprinkle rubber stamp set Christmas Friendship Fairy
Embossing Powder, Glitter, Flocking:
  SNS Mulberry STAR EP427
  SNS Concord STAR EP431
  SNS Cappuccino STAR EP434
  SNS Mediterranean STAR EP429
  SNS Lavender Iris Glitter G1061 (on snow)
  SNS Twinkling Clouds Sparkle N Soft flocking SS107
Ink: Memento Black Tuxedo, Brilliance Orchid Pearlescent, Memento LuLu Lavender, VersaMark
Copics: BV00, V17, V12, E35, 0, W3, R0000, W1, E53, B05
SNS Brushable Glue
SNS Dimensional Glue
Lifestyle Sticky Thumb Dimensionals
Paper: Neenah White, Purple, White, DCWV metallics
Dies and Punches:
Spellbinders:
  Grand Oval Nesties
  Grand Labels 23
  Labels 23
  Gold Labels 4
MS Himalayan Snowflake Large Punch
IO Triple Snowflake Die
Memory Box Wonderland Tree

Warm Hugs Always,

Fashionista's Winged Challenge

Note: Last call for my July Christmas blog candy - click here and scroll down for details. (you do not need to be a follower to play)

A big welcome to you, My Dear Blogging Friends, and to my newest followers. Hope you are enjoying a wonderful crafting week!

This month at Fashionista Challenges it is all about WINGS! Anything with wings - images, punches, die cuts, embellishments, graphics. Just enter your pretty card in the challenge for a chance to win a prize, or earn a pretty badge for your blog! You still have a week to submit your artwork!

Featuring the Wee Winged Tiplets!

These are no ordinary triplets. They are fraternal, not identical, but they love coordinating themselves, right down to their hair color and wings.

These sweet little Winged Wonders are from a single digi image found at Scrapbook Stamp Society.

Soooo darling!

Love the Grand Decorative One Labels from Spellbinders. The folded portion is actually the purple area. The Turquoise layer in the back is a single layer.

There are little "wings" attached to the heart. The MS Enchanted Heart Punch was done with white cardstock, Pool Dye ink, Sparkle Embossing Powder, and Tender Leaves die cut in mulberry paper.

The Craft Concepts 5x7 embossing folder (Secret Garden) does not show up very much, but in person, the details are very clear. Princess Rose EP was used on top of the dry embossing to match the other layers and bring a little bling to the layer.

The little fairies are so cute! They are actually fraternal triplets, can you tell? Though they are not identical, they do have the same coloring, same hair shade and same color eyes! They are, after all, sisters!

It's always fun coloring these darling big-eyed darlings!

Products Used:

Stamp Credits:
  Wee Winged Ones Besties Stamp

  Sparkle N Sprinkle - Heart With Wings

Craft Concepts: Secret Garden Embossing Folder
Martha Stewart: Enchanted Heart Punch
Spellbinders:
 Grand Labels Four
 Grand Labels One and Grand Decorative One
 Decorative Labels Eight
 Labels Nineteen
Memory Box:
  Tender Leaves
  Fuchsia Sprig
Ink: Cool Peri Dye, Pink Sherbet Dye, Pool Dye, VersaMarker, VersaMark
Copic Markers
Embossing Powder:
  Sparkle embossing powder (around the edges of the image, on heart)
  Princess Rose embossing powder (on embossed portion of panel)

Cardstock: Neenah White, SU (lavenders, old color aqua), aqua Mulberry paper

This cute little card has been entered in the following wonderful challenges:

1. Creative Creations - #15 Anything Goes (2W 7-22) 
2. Challenges 4 Everybody - #25 - Anything Goes (2W 7-22)
3. A Gem of a Challenge - #89 - Anything but a Square Card (W-Sat)
4. Colour Me Creative - #73 - Anything Goes Using Copic Markers (fairies colored with Copics) (2W-ends 8-2)
5. Inspire Me Fridays - Anything Goes #112

thanks for stopping by!

hugs,

"Milk and Coffee" is at Fashionista this Month!

June's blog candy is here.

This month at Fashionista Challenges we are celebrating birthdays and weddings with sponsor Milk and Coffee! For a chance to win some wonderful images, pop on over with your birthday or wedding related card and play with us!

And I also have a very special tip - 

Just for you! 

Sponsored by fumble fingers herself!

This darling little image of Charlotte with her friendly butterfly is available from Milk and Coffee images here.

In my card, the image has been flipped, and a second butterfly added.

TIP: To add the second butterfly, open your image, do a "SAVE AS" and rename this image to "butterfly only". Crop as needed and place your butterfly into the image, or print separately to fussy cut and layer on top.


Here is my special tip:

Make your pretty "button medallions" with delicate mulberry paper (it really is pretty). But then, let your fumble fingers drop the finished Medallion. Be sure you roll over it with your chair and smash it while looking on the floor for it. Then try to fix it suitably for the card. It looks especially endearing all smashed up. 

Here is how it is supposed to look:

And here it is all smashed after being rolled over (not once, but twice):

Quite an interesting look, wouldn't you say? hahaha

(I love sharing my boo-boos with you!)

Lots of glitter and glitter-fied embossing powders were used, of course!

The Happy Little Flying Bird is from the Spellbinders Presto Punch Template "Bird" Set.

Both "By The Lake" EP and "Waterfall" glitter were used on the bird

(links shown below in product grocery list)

The "wish" sentiment on the top panel is tied with tiny satin ribbon, bedecked with a heart charm, and glitter-fied on the edges using a Quickie Glue Pen.

The bottom sentiment is by Great Impressions:

The same tiny ribbon has been laced in and out of the lace edging, and finally tied in a bow. The vellum Fantastic Flourish has been "cut in half" and placed on each side of the panel. The bottom turquoise panel is also covered with VersaMark and heat set with "Sparkle" EP for a very glittery effect.

the Path of Positivity Challenge 

Have you checked out the Path of Positivity Challenge yet? This month's theme is Strength - increasing our personal strength of character. The Birthday sentiment on my card is how I usually derive Strength -

"I wish you time for joy and laughter,

peace and reflection...

but most of all, I wish you Love."

In times of hardship I require moments of peaceful reflection - regardless of where I am, what is happening, the circumstances which present themselves to me, it is remembering/reflecting that true Love will bring Peace to my soul. And my Soul flies to that Love. Strength allows me to "rise" higher than the pain and limitations of my body. Strength allows me to see the good in all people, regardless of what they may say or do. Little fears can become big fears, unless I reflect, allow Peace to pervade, and Love to bloom. For me, Love is not so much an "emotion" or something I "feel", but rather, a

State of Being

Once we realize our Strength is directly related to the Love and Peace saturating our very being, we can:

•  care deeply about all things without becoming embroiled in them; 
•  we can overcome hurdles by taking those "baby steps" rather than noticeably giant leaps; 
•  and we can grow stronger and stronger by recognizing that Strength is not always something which Shouts Itself Known, but rather, something of Beauty, which is of recognized in the quietness of soul after reflecting on what is truly within our control, and that which is not.

Check out the wonderful submissions to the Path of Positivity Challenge for a little inspiration in your day. A lovely person, blog owner Lisa shares from her heart, and has created a "space" where we can share something from our own hearts as well.

NOW...

Let's hear it for the beautiful SMASHED mulberry medallion - 

big grin 

(I am SO proud!) hahaha

Products used:

Images:
   Milk and Coffee Charlotte and Butterfly

   Stampin' Up! "Wish" image
   Great Impressions "Birthday" image

Punches and Die Cuts:
  Life Style Nesting Hearts
  Life Style Nesting Lace Hearts
  Martha Stewart Vintage Floral Punch Around the Page
  Cheery Lynn Tropical Flourish
  Cuttlebug Dotted Swiss embossing folder
  Spellbinders Curved Rectangles
  Spellbinders Shapeabilities Die D-Lites S2-010 Fantastic Flourish One
  Spellbinders BIRDS P5-006
  Stampin' Up! Oval and Scallop Oval punches
Glitters and Embossing Powders:
   Sparkle N Sprinkle "Sparkle" embossing powder
   Sparkle N Sprinkle "By the Lake" Cosmic embossing powder
   Sparkle N Sprinkle "Waterfall" G1071 Glitter
Lace, Recollections bling
Ribbons, Pearls (from my late mom' stash -smile)
Inks:

  Tumbled Glass dye ink

  Cloudy Blue dye ink

  Old Paper dye ink

  VersaMarker, VersaMark Ink

  Versafine Pigment Deep Lagoon

Copic Markers

Adhesives: Alleen's Quick Dry Tacky Glue, Sakura Quickie Glue Pen, Dimensionals
Cardstock: White, Turquoise, Coral-Pink, aqua mulberry paper, vellum

This sweet card is entered in the following fun challenges! 
(thank you, Challenge Hosts)!

1. Path of Positivity #3 - Strength (M) - please see my paragraph just above the bottom photo.
2. Die Cuttin' Divas - #121 Birthday (W) with 3 Embellishments (6 dies are listed in products used) (embellies are ribbons, Pearls, Lace, bling, charm
3. Addicted to Stamps - #59 - Gorgeous Lace (trimmed around heart and base sentiment, and also paper lace with the punch around the page.)
4. Country View Challenges - #4 - June Die Cuts (M) - (6 dies are listed in products used)
5. Really Reasonable Ribbons - #74 Seeing Dots and Ribbon - (2WP15) - tiny Satin ribbon for the charm on top panel, and woven ribbon around base - dotted swiss embossed background, dotted ink spots around image)
6. Craft Your Passion - #168 - In the Garden (image and card design are garden)
7. IncyWincy Designs - Tic Tac Toe (frame it-emboss it-2 or more stamps)
8. Shabby Tea Room - #172 Summer Breeze - (colors, nature, clean outdoors)
9. Great Impressions - "A Little Sparkle" (M)(glitter everywhere! even under the sentiment)
10. Totally Gorjuss Challenges - #189 (Happy Birthday!) sentiment is birthday wish

Always loving hugs,

Tilda is at Fashionista this month! (blog candy awarded)

Hi! Welcome to my newest followers (Dorothy, Elena, Charlotte, Barbara, Cindy, Betty, Divinity) - and I have so much to share with you all, dear blog friends.

First, thank you for your prayers and good wishes. I can sit up for brief periods of time now, and hope to craft a little and to resume visiting more blogs each day.

Second, before this "icky stuff" attacked my body, I had the good fortune of joining the incredible artists on the Fashionista Design Team! 

This is my first card for Fashionista, and also my first card ever using a Magnolia stamp! (hanging head in shame as everyone clicks their tongues in disbelief) smile...

The Challenge at Fashionista this month is titled "Terrific Tilda - Anything Goes!"

Because Florida rains have arrived early, this little Drip Drop Tilda image seemed perfect - and who wants to use an umbrella when the weather is as Gorgeous as Florida's?

 Besides, I LOVE running through the rain! (though these days it may not be called "running" haha)

Besides, it is perfect for this month's Path of Positivity Challenge which is about Strength and Courage.

The motivational quote is, "You never know how strong you are, until being strong is the only choice you have." by Cayla Mills

Shown in my card - After the Storm come Sunshine, Flowers and Butterflies. Those three hopeful things represent a number of Wonders which contribute to our lives each day. To me, Strength and Courage include:

• Having the courage and strength to forge and enjoy life under any circumstances
• Finding the Beauty in Life during those "difficult times"
• Possessing a Loving Heart despite what appears to be happening around us
• Doing what is right because we know it to be right

It is these things which perhaps prove our strength of character, and we need prove that only to ourselves, right?

That Special Inner Courage and Strength also guides us to constantly strive to higher "planes" than we otherwise would have explored.

Little "Drip Drop Tilda" is enjoying the rain, and egging Mr. Sun to appear so that her friends in the garden of life can enjoy themselves more fully. She is colored with Copic Markers (via very shaky hands), and mostly adorned with die cuts and layers.

The tulle was dyed with Memento Summer Sky and Danube Blue inks and woven through the Martha Stewart punch around the page.

The glitter is applied around the rhinestones where otherwise that clear adhesive would show. Instead of using clear, Electric Blue Glitter was used for a wee bit of drama.

May Blog Candy Winner

Finally, I want to award the May Blog Candy. Thank you for being so patient. Jack has pulled the winner's name out of the basket, and it is.... KAREN LADD - Congratulations, Karen! (As promised, Karen has been notified via e-mail). Karen has her choice of three Sparkle N Sprinkle Flocking Colors.


Submitted to these wonderful challenges:

1. Path of Positivity Challenge - #3 - Strength and Courage (featured above in 4 paragraphs)
2. You Me and Magnolia - #14 Anything Goes (unable to upload)
3. Created With Love - #44 Anything Goes
4. Tammy's Scrapin Corner - #65 Add Extra Texture (woven tulle, embellishments, fabric rick rack, folded sun)
5. Inky Chicks - #5 - Use a Magnolia stamp (Drip Drop Tilda)

Products used:

• Magnolia's "Drip Drop Tilda" (darling little rainy-day image) [if interested in this special edition image, please click here, and then enter "drip drop" in the search engine. It is currently only available for export from Europe]
• Sparkle N Sprinkle Blue Lightning Glitter G1008
• Spellbinders S4-117 Petite Scallop Circles
• Spellbinders A2 Curved Borders One
• Spellbinders Butterflies and Dragonflies shapeabilities - retired
• Spellbinders Carnation Creations
• Cottage Cutz Button Flower
• Memory Box Elegant Scrollwork
• Martha Stewart Scalloped Teardrop PAP
• Cheery Lynn Tropical Flourish
• Cheery Lynn Fanciful Flourish
• Recollections flowers and rhinestone flourish
• Tulle (white dyed with blue Memento), yellow rick rack
• Papers: SU blues and yellows, DCWV old old pad blues and yellows,
• Copics, Memento Summer Sky and Danube Blue
• Adhesives: Aileen's Quick Dry Tacky Glue, Dimensionals

As always, the warmest of hugs to you,