Swirlydoos December Kit Blog Hop

Welcome to Swirlydoos' December Kit Reveal

and Blog Hop Block Party!

If you came here from LuminArte's blog, then you are on the right track. If not, go back to Swirlydoos' blog and start from there. We have some amazing projects for you to see today. We have 3 manufacturers hopping and 3 designers from Webster's pages too! Also, as an extra special twist, 2 of our designers are hiding secret prizes on their blogs. Make sure to leave a comment on all of the blogs for a chance to win. Check out Swirlydoos on Facebook and Like Us too!

To kick things off I am sharing a layout made entirely with the "Believe" main kit contents (no add-ons or items from my stash at all) and a tutorial is posted here on the Swirlydoos Forum on how to make it from start to finish! This is a picture of my boys a few years ago. I love preschool pictures, before kids lose their baby fat and all their teeth.

Click on images to see larger.

Here is a close-up of the flowers and awesome zipper.

This is a giant gift topper "layout". Sometimes the box is just too big to wrap but this will look pretty on it instead of just a big bow. I added a doily and some ribbon from my stash.

Look at the gorgeous flower and berry spray from the add-on kit!

This layout started out with inspiration from the kit sketch and took on a life of it's own, LOL. I added some Dusty Attic trees from my stash (painted and added glitter snow-tex on them, then inked over top). Around the pictures, those are layered snowflake die cuts made from plain white cardstock. I've always liked this picture of my boys as babies taken at sundown but found it dark. I never found the right winter paper to scrap it - until now! Love the antique look of this paper and the pretty flowers from the add-on kit to match.

This is a Dusty Attic chipboard piece in the main kit. I primed it with gesso, painted it with the "ice" Silks glaze that's included in the main kit and lastly, I added plain white snow-tex (from Michael's Crafts) randomly with my finger. BTW - Silks are a new favorite of mine, gotta collect them all!

Here is the gorgeous kit sketch to get your creative mojo going! i know, mine ended up looking nothing like this, hee, hee... but it gave me the idea to use the chipboard trees that were collecting dust in scrappy stash.

Lastly today, I have a simple cone. I like the elegance of simple projects at Christmas time since the colors are so rich. A variety of flowers from the main kit and add-on kit were used for this project. Just fill the cone with chocolates or candies and then top with flowers to decorate. Makes a great teacher gift!

I've just gotta say... Kaisercraft has really fantastic Christmas collections this year and Swirlydoos combined a few of them so perfectly well in this amazing kit. Click here to become a Swirlydoos Subscriber!

You have until midnight, eastern time, on Friday, 12/14 to complete the hop. Winners will be announced on the Swirlydoos Blog on Saturday 12/15. In order to qualify to win here is what you need to do:

1: Visit all of the blogs and leave a comment on each. This way we know you were there. Become a follower if you're not already. Take your time. There are REALLY beautiful things to see along the way.

2: Before you leave each blog, look for the “special” words and write it down. 

Once you have visited all the blogs and collected all the special words, they will create a sentence.

3: Finally, go back to the Swirlydoos blog and leave a comment letting us know how much fun you had, tell us the sentence that was created with all of the special words you collected. Can't wait to hear from you!

My special words: A CHILD

The party ends over at Swirlydoos' blog.
It's a special lucky day for the hop 12/12/12.
Two weeks until Christmas :)

NOTE: These projects were created with the special help of Helmar Adhesives - especially my favorites: the Premium Craft glue for paper and 450 Quick Dry for flowers and embellishments. I also used the fantastic acid-free glue for the chipboard too!

New DA chipboard in my shop!

Christmas came early! I re-stocked my Etsy shop this morning (http://www.etsy.com/shop/vickyalberto) with Dusty Attic chipboard - including many of the newest releases. I had listed over 120 styles and in just a few hours my stock has drastically depleted and quantities on some items are now down to 1 left. But no fear... lots more Dusty Attic to come this Winter with awesome new product releases and exciting news.



Also, you can now follow my blog via e-mail (see right sidebar to subscribe) and never miss an update. Thanks so much everyone for all your support in my crafting and retail as well. I really do read and appreciate every comment you leave me. Unfortunately with working part-time, having 3 kids, being on design teams and life in general... I don't always have the time to leave as much love in the galleries and on individual blogs as I wish (maybe one day when I am retired with an "empty nest", LOL).

Peace Layout (Pion Design/Helmar)

I will be teaching this wintery layout with two handmade flowers (tucked into the tears) on January 26th for Paper and Lace. The class will be all about shabby techniques with distressing and paints. I used several beautiful papers from Pion Design's Silent Night collection and tons of gorgeous embellishments from the LSS store. The pretty picture is also from Pion Design. I like to do display layouts for my mantle at Christmas (or to give as gifts).

Here is a close-up of the handmade flowers. I used Helmar's premium craft glue to hold everything in place for this entire layout including the handmade flowers. It's really my favorite glue on the market!

Christmas Ornaments (Pion Design / Helmar)

Every year I like to make one set of either 5 or 7 (I like odd numbers) handmade ornaments for my Christmas tree. This year, I used the Pion Design Silent Night collection and some handmade chipboard (cut by my dear friend Bonnie with a Tim Holtz die). The very light pink paper is called "Angels Choir" and has a pale snowflake design.

Please click on images for larger view.

Here is a close-up of the Prima and Green Tara embellishments I used. I kept the decor clean and simple. I used Helmar's acid-free glue for the chipboard and paper and the 450 quick dry to adhere the lace and flowers.

I can't seem to find the right decorations for my Christmas tree... so now I make them! Last year, I made these balls out of crochet doilies and still love them. I had found 8 white doilies on clearance at Michael's Crafts for 50 cents each! Oh I wish they had more. I still have 2 left.

Meg's Garden blog hop WINNERS!

Drum roll please... here are the Meg's Garden DT blog hop winners. If you have won, please e-mail info@megsgarden.com with your address so she can ship your prize to you! Congrats to all the winners and THANK-YOU for joining us for this around the world blog hop!

Adriana = Wendy Mac

Chantal = Irina Kittsteiner

Heather = Buffy Esser 

Denise = Jane Stirling

Jenny = little place of scrapbooking

Evgenia = Kitikas

Sylvie = Scrapadyne

Ulrika = Gittescrap

Elena = Sveta Albert

Stephanie = Michelle Mc

Vicky = Tone-lill (MY BLOG WINNER, lucky #13)

Sandrine = Karen Shady

Shell = Svetoforik

Gayle = Gillian

Grand Prize (from Meg's Garden) = Ava G.

Congrats toTone-lill - she won this prize that I chose from http://megsgarden.com...

OUAS Dec. Challenge (with Swirlydoos + Helmar adhesives)

(For Meg's Garden Blog hop see next post - 15 PRIZES)

Today is the reveal day for the Once Upon a Sketch (OUAS) challenge for December and my last post using the gorgeous November Swirlydoos "Nouveau" kit. I adored the beautiful Kaisercraft papers and flowers in this kit! I used the teal Silks paint (included in the main kit) on the title and bird in the birdcage. I am in love with this brand of paint/glaze. Also included in the main kit is a cute stamp set - I used the hot air balloon and stamped in grey to match the birds in the bottom left of the paper.

The picture is hubby and I on a boat cruise with our tour guides.

The theme is "December" for the OUAS challenge  - so why did I do a tropical layout? Because my wedding anniversary is December 1st... and I was married in the Bahamas. I hate the winter so when the snow starts to fall I start dreaming of the ocean and the beach. Don't get me wrong I love Christmas - just wish I was decorating palm trees instead of spruce trees.

Hidden journaling reads: One fine day we will be living the best of both worlds, Summer and Fall in Canada and then become snow birds for Winter and Spring. I love the fact that December always starts with fabulous memories of our tropical wedding (before we get knee deep in snow).

Here is a close-up of my handmade flower from my recent DIY "mistable" flower tutorial.

Here is a peek at the current OUAS challenge. I hope you can play along this month! Check out the amazing DT reveal this month and the terrific prizes up for grabs! Thank you Imaginarium Designs for sponsoring the chipboard on my layout (corners, title and fence).

This project was created with the special help of Helmar Adhesives - especially my two favorites: the Premium Craft glue for paper and 450 Quick Dry for flowers and embellishments. I also used the acid-free glue for the chipboard too!

Meg's Garden Blog Hop - 15 PRIZES!!!

Welcome to the Meg’s Garden Design Team Blog Hop!

If you arrived here from Stephanie’s blog (http://scrappers-heavencanada.blogspot.ca) you are on the right path.

We are circling the globe this weekend. We start in the Adelaide Hills at Meg’s Garden in Hahndorf, South Australia & then head down the hill to Adelaide to visit Adriana, Heather, Chantal and Denise. We then hop almost all the way across Australia to Ashby, Western Australia to Jen. After a long hop across the ocean to South Africa we visit Evgenia. Then North to Sylvie in France, Lill in Sweden, and Elena in Belarus. Another log hop across another ocean to Canada where we pop in to Stephanie and Vicky. Back downunder again to Sandrine in Queensland, Shell in Victoria, then to Victor Harbor to blog at Gayle’s in South Australia and then up the hill back to Meg’s Garden.

How many time zones is that?

Each blog hop will have an Eye Candy especially chosen by that blogger from Meg’s Garden.

These will be shown on www.megsgarden.com and also on that Design Team member’s blog. Here is my prize to be won by a lucky blog hop participant:

My "cardmaker's dream" prize pack details:

MINI PAPERS PACK - A Musical Christmas Pack

A4 PAPER - Victorian Santas

VELVET FLOWERS - Forget me not - garnet

TASSELS - Pale green & gold tassel

LACE - Lace - off white 1.6cm

CHARM - Clock - sm fancy

Meg’s Garden is also giving away one goodies package to one lucky winner chosen from those who survived the oceans, desert and maybe some snow! 

Soooo... 15 prizes in total!

All you have to do is become a follower of the Meg’s Garden Blog and “like us” on Facebook, as well as visit each participating blog, become of follower of those blogs and leave a comment on each blog.

Her is a little celebratory birthday cupcake shaped gift box - in honour of Meg's Birthday. I used the new "A Musical Chrismas" collection and handmade the topping using my recent DIY mistable flower tutorial.

Here is a peek of all the cupcake box components before assembling. I used the amazing template from  The Digi Chick for this cute little box.

When you have visited everyone return to the Meg’s Garden blog and leave us a comment letting us know how much fun you had! If you post about this blog hop on your own blog you will be entered into the drawing twice for an extra chance to win!

We are sure you will be inspired by our talented design team! There are lots of goodies to win and you won’t want to miss out on one. The blog hop is, of course, open to international entries. The hop will start on 30th November, 2012 at 5pm and you have until Monday 3rd December, 2012 at 5pm SA time (Central Summer Time South Australia) to complete the hop.The winner will be announced on the Meg’s Garden blog on 5th December (Meg’s birthday!). Be sure to check back on that day to see if you have won…Have Fun! Meg’s Garden – http://www.megsgarden.com

The blog hop order:

Meg’s Garden – Australia – http://megsgardenblog.blogspot.com

Adriana Bolzon – Australia - http://abinspirations.blogspot.com.au

Heather Jacob – Australia – http://heatherartandlife.blogspot.com.au

Chantal VanDenberg – Australia - http://girlsjustwannascrapbook.blogspot.com.au

Denise Boddey – Australia - http://passionscrapping.blogspot.com

Jenny Burns – Australia - http://burns900.blogspot.com.au

Evgenia Petzer – South Africa - http://evgeniapetzer.blogspot.com

Sylvie Peixoto - France - http://scrapdream.canalblog.com

Ulrika Blomfelt - Sweden - http://lillblommanskapar.blogspot.com.au

Elena Olinivech – Belarus - http://eleele-handmade.blogspot.com

Stephanie Dinnell - Canada - http://scrappers-heavencanada.blogspot.ca

Vicky Alberto – Canada - http://simplypaperandcreativity.blogspot.ca (you are here!)

Sandrine Dawes – Australia - http://sandrinedawes10.blogspot.com.au

Shell Carmen – Australia - http://www.anotherscrappyday.blogspot.com

Gayle Price – Australia – http://blissandgesso.blogspot.com

Meg's Garden blog hop on FRIDAY!

Mark your calendars for the...

Meg’s Garden Design Team Blog Hop! 

Make sure you complete the list – become a follower, like us on FB and leave a comment – at each blog. There will be Eye Candy at each blog and a PRIZE WINNER at the end FOR EACH BLOG! Starts November 29th 2012 for 3 days at 11:30 pm on Thursday on my blog (MST) = 5:00 p.m. Australia on Nov 30th.

One of the longest Blog Hops ever done – around the World.

From Wikipedia: ‘Phileas Fogg is the main fictional character in the 1873 Jules Verne novel ‘Around the World in Eighty Days’.Fogg attempts to circumnavigate the late Victorian world in eighty days, or less, for a wager of £20,000 with members of London’s Reform Club. He takes the wager and leaves with Passepartout, vowing to return by 8:45 pm on Saturday 21 December 1872. Under suspicion of robbing the Bank of England, he is followed by a detective named Fix. Fogg has no idea about Fix's true intentions and Fix (wanting to get Fogg back to England so that he can arrest him) works with Fogg in the last half of the book.While in India he saves a widowed princess, named Aouda from Suttee during her husband's funeral. Passepartout rescues her and she accompanies Fogg for the rest of his journey. She and Fogg eventually fall in love and marry at the end of the book. Fix, who is really supposed to arrest Fogg, attempts to sabotage him by putting him in prison near the end of the book but he is quickly released. Fogg, who has been careful to keep track of every day in his diary, believes that he arrives home on Sunday and that he has lost his bet. However, he discovers, almost too late, that he has forgotten to adjust his timekeeping for having crossed the International Date Line and he wins his bet after all.’Phileas Fogg had 80 days to circle the globe - we are allowing 4 days only but we have an advantage over his modes of travel – he had to catch trains, ride an elephant, an air balloon and more...

See you on Thursday night!

Advent Calendar (Helmar)

Well, it is really beginning to look like Christmas! Next weekend I will officially be starting to fill the boxes in my new advent calendar. I altered the Dusty Attic chipboard advent calendar with a lot of various distress inks and metallic stains to give it an antiqued look.

My trusted Helmar's 450 quick dry came to the rescue to hold all of the the boxes together and the Premium craft glue was very helpul too with the paper "layout" insert and embellishments. The papers are Fabscraps' gorgeous new Christmas line.

Here is another view. I used Helmar's decoupage paste to adhere the paper to the front of the boxes and sanded the edges before assembling them. I wanted to reveal all the grooves for a rustic feel - instead of simply covering the entire square surface with paper.


A close-up of the left - it really shimmers in real light. I used a mix of Dusty Attic and Fabscraps chipboard pieces on here.


A close-up of the right - I just love how perfectly the Fabscraps lamp post fits!


All together this was about a 10-hour project to complete (but worth it!). I even taught an 8-hour workshop for Paper and Lace on this project (mind you the frames were pre-built and the box numbers had to be adhered after the class). Thanks again to all the wonderful ladies who attended (and some even drove from far away in the snow!).

New Pion Collection!

Play Time is a newly released Pion Design collection - love the retro look of these papers!

For capturing the sunniest of memories, Pion Design is now releasing the paper collection Play Time. This irresistible collection features 12 patterned papers in a fun-filled design that will bring back childhood memories for all of us.

There is nothing sweeter than the sound of laughter and play, and with the sophisticated sweetness of this adorable collection you will all be able to capture some of those magic childhood moments. Cars, airplanes and paper dolls are just a few of the images, and the subtle shades are accented with brighter hints of red, blue, green and yellow. With its playful colors and images, Play Time will surely brighten your day and offer you plenty of crafting occasions.

Play Time consists of 12 double sided papers in the size 12x12” as well as 6x6” and is ready for immediate shipping.

Christmas Display (Meg's Garden/ 2Crafty/Helmar)

With Remembrance day past, I am now in full Christmas swing! Here is a bracket shaped display I made that I will hang with a ribbon on the inside of one of my doors (instead of a wreath this year). I used an older paper line from Meg's Garden - A Vintage Christmas (specifically the sheet of paper "Santa's Garden"). Using Helmar decoupage paste, I adhered the beautiful paper to a cardboard bracket shape that I had traced.

Next, I added a 2Crafty chipboard baroque corner and some Green Tara flowers and sprays using Helmar 450 quick dry glue. Meg's Garden carries a variety of gorgeous embellishment products.

On both the corner and the title chipboard I inked the chipboard grey and then roughly covered it with gesso but letting some of the grey uncovered. I used Clearsnap chalk ink on the chipboard and also an the edges of the bracket shape.

I wanted to let this pretty paper shine without covering it up too much. It is truly my favorite paper from the "A Vintage Christmas" paper line!

Helmar sketch contest!

Don't forget to enter Helmar's November challenge! Create any type of project based on this sketch and post your creation at http://www.flickr.com/groups/helmarlive to be entered to win some amazing glue!

Here is a layout I had made based on this sketch (I used the sketch upside down).

This project was created with the special help of Helmar Adhesives - my two favorites: the Premium Craft glue for paper and 450 Quick Dry for embellishments.

Good luck to all that enter the contest!

Pion Design - sketch contest!

Pion design is hosting this fabulous sketch contest on their blog based on this beautiful sketch using Pion papers. You have until Sunday, November 25th to enter for a chance to win some gorgeous papers. Create and card or a layout and post it on their blog HERE!

Good luck to all that enter!

Swirlydoos November Kit Blog Hop

Welcome to Swirlydoos' November "Nouveau" Kit
Reveal and Blog Hop Block Party!

If you came here from Lisa Gregory's blog, then you are on the right track. If not, go back to Swirlydoos' blog and start from there. We have some amazing projects for you to see today. Also, as an extra special twist, one of our designers is also hiding a secret prize on their blog too! Make sure to leave a comment on all of the blogs for a chance to win. Check out Swirlydoos on Facebook and Like Us too!

Today I begin by sharing a layout about my grandfather (my dad's father). He immigrated to Canada from Portugal when my dad was 7. He sent my grandma, my dad and my aunt a year before and sent money for them to live with relatives until he could join them. I adore this Creative Imaginations IOD collection!

Please click on images for larger views.

Here is a close-up of the gorgeous kit flowers and 2Crafty chipboard (chipboard from my stash - title and flourishes). On the chipboard I used the gorgeous teal Silks paint in the main kit and gesso.

Next up is a wedding picture of yours truly and my hubby almost 11 years ago! The Dusty Attic chipboard (frame/flourish) is in the kit and the Fabscraps title chippy is from last month's kit (I didn't get a chance to use then). The large handmade flower is part of my tutorial in the next post. Such pretty Kaisercraft paper in this kit!

Here is a close-up. On the chipboard I simply stippled on white acrylic paint - that's all!

This wedding layout was inspired by the amazing kit sketch this month.

I have been saving the little brown kraft envelopes that Krissy sends my Swirlydoos flowers in each month and decided to turn them into generic "unisex" gift bags (for those gift-giving moments that sneak up and you).

 I did some different background stamping on each bag and easily embellished.

Don't you just love these IOD papers? - so so so gorgeous!

Here is a peek at the main kit but there are so many gorgeous add-ons too that you need to check out over at Swirlydoos!

You have until midnight, eastern time, on Wednesday, 11/14 to complete the hop. Winners will be announced on the Swirlydoos Blog on Thursday 11/15. In order to qualify to win here is what you need to do:

1: Visit all of the blogs and leave a comment on each. This way we know you were there. Become a follower if you're not already. Take your time. There are REALLY beautiful things to see along the way.

2: Before you leave each blog, look for the “special” words and write it down. Once you have visited all the blogs and collected all the special words, they will create a sentence. 

3: Finally, go back to the Swirlydoos blog and leave a comment letting us know how much fun you had, tell us the sentence that was created with all of the special words you collected. Can't wait to hear from you.

My special word is : Spirituality

The party ends back over at the Swirlydoos blog. Have fun!

Tutorial: DIY paint or mistable fabric flowers

It's been a while since I've posted a new flower tutorial. I have had this one sitting in my head for a while... making your own fabric "mistable" flowers (like the Pink Paislee ones) that you can mist, paint, ink, use gelatos, etc. Best of all - NO SEWING REQUIRED!

Supplies needed: 

- 4 squares of fabric (I used old heavy cotton IKEA drapes but old tea towels work great too)

- a button (or a penny)

- small fabric covered elastic (white is best)

- mist, paint, ink or gelatos (I used a pink gelato by Faber-Castell and a peach mist)

- a water mister

- strong, fast drying adhesive (I used Helmar's 450 quick dry)

Here is what the flower would look like if you don't paint/mist it (reminds me of the Pink Paislee mistable flowers).

Step 1: Hand-cut or use a die cutting machine to get 2 large, 1 medium and 1 smaller flower. Mine are about 5-inches for the large and 4-inch and 3-inch for the others. You can use this simple kirigami technique to hand-cut your flowers like I did.

Step 2: I created a paste by smearing a pink gelato into a plate and spritzing some peach mist into a plate.

Step 3: I dragged the flower edges in the paste, lightly misted the fabric with water to disperse the "paint" and crumpled the fabric to work the color in and make the edges shabby. I put less color on the 2 small ones (middle of flower). Let the petals dry now.

Step 4: I layered my dry flowers petals and put a thin dab of Helmar glue in the middle of each layer (off setting the petals) and adhered a button to the middle of the top layer.

Step 5: I gathered the layers and fastened the elastic to the bottom and put some 450 quick dry glue over it to keep it in place and let it dry.

Step 6: I flipped it over and ruffled into place.

Here are a few more I made with different fabrics by adding more water to my paste and creating a mist with my gelato mixture. Dryer sheets definitely soak up the mixture more than fabric does, and cream canvas and linen made it look much darker than white cotton.

Let me know what you think of these flowers!
Here is one of them on used on a layout...