A New Adventure begins!

I just love happy emails! :) Don't you?
These past few years have been so amazing! I have been blessed beyond belief!! I have had the opportunity to work for some amazing companies! I've also gotten to know some AMAZING people and work with some of the VERY BEST product available on the papercrafting market! I am SO grateful for that!!
This past year I have had the chance to work with Spellbinders. Wow! Talk about an exciting ride! I have LOVED every minute of it... paper work and all! LOL! And in this last year I have finished up working with some amazing companies... Helmar, Simply Renee: Clip It up ... and more! So I thought it was about time to look for a new creative adventure! Nothing like something new to get the creativity flowing!!
So today I'm SUPER excited to share with you that I have FOUND that new adventure!!!
Some of you may have seen this call on the Twopeas website... I did and was intrigued!! So, I applied! And yes, you guessed it! I got an exciting email last night saying that I was accepted to be a part of this team!!
This is a new company to North America, but it has been around in the UK for quite a while! It deals in Embossing Powders and stamps... but for now I can not share with you the name... that will be coming soon though! :) I can however, share with you the rest of the team! I am MORE than honored to be designing with some of the top names in the business...

LEADS:
*Tricia Wilson--lead
*Gina Lideros--lead
*Jen Deal--lead
*Angel Bartonico--lead
*Erin Payne--lead

DESIGN MEMBERS:
1.Sesil Cratin, Utah
2. Ilene Tell, Delaware
3. Lara Scott, Utah
4. Amy Sotolongo, California
5. Diana McGraw, California
6. Jeannie DeGruccio, California
7. Jennifer Matott, New York
8. Anne Brown, Texas
9. Sherrie Suttles, Ohio
10. Linda Abadie, Virginia
11. Jamie Cripps, Michigan
12. Jenifer Cowles, idaho
13. Tanisha Long, New Jersey
14. Jan Hennings, Iowa
15. Patti Hamilton, Georgia
16. Gini Williams, North Carolina
17. Tina McDonald, Canada <----- That's Lil' ole' me! :)
18. Donna O'Leary, New Zealand
19. Benedicte Raphalen, France
20. Amy Prior, Australia
21. Irit Shalom, Israel
22. Jennifer Roach, Canada
23. Erika Taylor, Canada
24. Iris Uy, Philippines
25. Katarina Damm-Blomberg, Finland
26. Birgit Koopsen, Netherlands

This opportunity will partner so well with Spellbinders products! I am SO excited to work with these two amazing companies! And fingers crossed... I hope to be able to stay on with Spellbinders through the 2012 year as well... but that is yet to be determined! LOL!

Thanks SO much for stopping by! And I hope that you will follow me along on this new and exciting journey!
If you are interested in me teaching a class at your LSS, crop or retreat, please feel free to contact me for details!! :) I will be doing classes and demo's using these "new" products in the coming year!! Exciting times!!

So,until next time...
Happy Scrapping!
~TINA~

Looking for handmade gift ideas?

I know it's about the time when many people are looking for those quick ideas that they can create for those special people on their list! I have one of those projects to share with you today! SO quick, but SO beautiful!!
Spellbinders Supplies:
S4-136 Classic Hear
tS4-348 Postage Stamps
S5-044 Banner Basics One
S5-061 Daisy Flower Topper
Spellbinders™ Grand Calibur™ Die Cutting Machine

Other Supplies:
Quietfire Design: Gentle Thoughts Stamp
My Mind's Eye, Lost & Found Christmas Holly, Peace Patterned Paper
Graphic 45, An ABC Primer Happy Go Lucky, Games and Play Time Patterned Paper, Staples Cream Trim Lace
Clearsnap, ColorBox Dark Brown Fluid Chalk Ink
Buttons Galore And More, Cream Buttons
Jillibean Soup, Brown Twine
Scor-Pal, Scor-Tape
Ranger Distress ink (Frayed Burlap
Pink Paislee Brown Letter Stickers
Helmar Liquid Scrap Dots, Premium Craft Glue
Frame

This is a cheap wooden frame that I purchased from Michaels for $1.50. Yes, for real!! I stained it using Cosmic Shimmers shimmer spray in BRONZE BLUSH. I applied it with a cloth and rubbed it in good. it gave it a beautiful stain!
Next, I covered the front in patterned paper and cut out the center using a craft knife. Sand and ink edges.
I used several Spellbinders die templates on this frame. The fun part about this is that you can create ANY themed frame! Think baby, Family, party, girl, boy, Mom, Dad... the possibilities are endless! There are so many die templates available thru Spellbinders that you are sure to find what you are looking for!
For me, I wanted to create a country charm look... which I achieved with the addition of the gingham print and the lace. This beautiful photo is of my sister and her hubby...
So if you have a special photo that you would like to give as a gift, try altering a frame for it! You'd be amazed by the personal touch it adds!

Have you remembered that Spellbinders is having a design team call? The deadline is Dec 9th for the first round!! Yep, my project is submitted! :)

Until Next Time...
Happy Scrapping!
~TINA~

In the Christmas spirit!

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!"

WOHOO! First snow day of the year... school is canceled and the kids are home! It's just beginning to snow... but it sure does put me in the Christmas spirit! I am determined to start early this year so that it's not such a rush! I absolutely love the season, but get frustrated by all I put into it to make it so much less enjoyable. So this year I'm cutting back... cutting back on the shopping (we need more stuff like we need a hole in the head! ;) ), cutting back on my expectations of myself to make everything perfect. This year I want to enjoy MORE time... more time with my family, more time in peace and quiet, more time thanking God for sending His Son to this world... for me. More time just taking it all in. More time thinking about how we can be a blessing to others... not just all about us. That is what I am praying for this holiday season.I pray that you will find balance this season as well. Take time for the things that are important... and enjoy EVERY minute!! :)
While I'm here, I would like to share a few Christmas projects that I've been creating. I've been doing lots of creating... Spellbinders new Winter CHA prototypes are rolling in and I'm knee deep in creating... and LOVING every minute of it!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS Gift Set

This first set is a card/gift tin that I created. My Mom is doing a table at a craft sale and asked me to contribute some goodies! So Of course I'm happy to do so! This is one of my favorite things that I've been doing for the Holidays... cards and tins. The tins hold a gift card. So many people love to give a gift card but don't like how impersonal they feel. So give it a personal touch, with a handmade set!
This set was created using Spellbinders LF-132 Grand Rectangles, S4-114 Standard Circles LG, and S5-057 Holly Motifs and S5-056 Holly Accents. This gorgeous paper is My Minds Eye Holly Jolly collection... which I ADORE! This card was SO easy to make... I created the gift tin in the same way so that made it even simpler! The stamp is by Just Right stampers... ADORE that doily stamp!!

The second gift set that I created is also a very simple one.

Reindeer Gift Set

This set uses Bo Bunny paper, and makes full use of the festive scenes! The die cutting is less obvious in the photo's on this set. I used the Spellbinders LF-132 Grand Rectangles again... they help to give a little bit of definition to the papers rather than just having them cut flat. Which of course adds to the beauty of them! Top them off with a bow and the beautiful charms that Bo Bunny has to match their papers! I added a touch of stickles to make the snow look real and this card is finished! SO simple!
The gift tin is even simpler! No time at all and this set was complete!! Paper, glitter ribbon and a charm!
One more little project to share today... a gift box! I LOVE the gift boxes that Spellbinders released a the last CHA! This box was created using the LF 010 Square Bracket Edge Box.

Golden Gift Box

Here's how I created this one...

1. Using a small amount of tape, adhere box bottom die template (LF 010 Square Bracket Edge Box) to cream cardstock.
2. Take cream cardstock and stamp Just Right Stampers doily stamp in several positions using Watermark Ink (Clear Snap). Sprinkle with embossing powder. (Cosmic Shimmers bronze blush) Heat with heating gun. Next, cover entire area with gold ink. Using a cloth, wipe cardstock to remove ink from embossed images. This creates a resist! Then tape die template(box cover) to cardstock. Cut and emboss with piece from step 1. Assemble box pieces.
3. Cut/emboss S5-067 Anemone Flower Topper onto gold paper (Anna Griffin), excluding the flower center and the largest flower. Adhere together and curl petals. Adhere to box top.
4. Create rose using S5-050 Rose Creations and cream cardstock. I used the smaller sized die templates, curling them towards the center. The larger layers were curled outwards. I believe I used 2 layers of each size (I did not use the largest templates, as I wanted a smaller sized flower)
Adhere to center of Anemone flower topper! And you are done! Glitter, stickles, anything else can be added!!

I am working on a video of this to share with you! Hoping to have it completed soon! :)

These are SO simple and there are SOOO many uses for them, and ways to make them your own! The possibilities are endless! Think truffles, candy, jewelry... see what I mean? Never ending possibilities!
Well, I will leave you with that today! I hope that I have put you in the Christmas spirit, just a little bit! I know my American friends are getting ready to celebrate Thanksgiving... so I'm a bit ahead of the game for you! LOL! I hope you all have a wonderful holiday and are able to spend it with your loved ones!
Stop in again soon and view the video I am creating for this adorable box!! :)

Until Next time...
Happy Scrapping!!
~TINA~

Fall Sneak Peek Blog Hop for Crafters Home Day Two

Join Spellbinders™ Paper Arts and Crafters Home
as we celebrate a Fall Sneak Peek!

Spellbinders and participating stores in the Crafters Home Buying Group are excited to introduce three new die template sets sold exclusively through Crafters Home stores through January! You’ll have to wait until February to find these die template designs in non-member stores.
These new dies are in stock! Get yours now at a participating Crafters Home store! See full list of stores here. Visit the Spellbinders Blog November 14 - 16 to see a new Spellbinders die template revealed each day! Visit designer blogs to enter the daily contests and see inspiring projects using the new releases. Comment on Designers Blogs and the Spellbinders Blog count as entries into daily drawings. Daily winners receive all three of the new designs!

Today's new die is S5-068 Dress Forms


Price: $19.99

Dimensions:

Lattice Dress: 1 7/8 x 2 ¼”

Scalloped Hem Dress: 2 1/8 x 2 5/8”

Plain Dress Form: 1 ¾ x 3 1/8”

Swirled Dress: 1 ¾ x 3 1/8”

My Sister My Friend

For my project today, I created a simple card for you. I have created several other projects already using these die templates. I just love using them! They are so elegant and full of possibilities! For this card I used the plain dress form. I just loved adding all the bling from Want2Scrap. I also was careful with the placement of the template on my patterned paper. This made it so that the design on the top of the form looks like it's part of the design! Love that!!

Besides the Dress Forms, I also used the following Spellbinders Die Templates:

LF-110 Grand Ovals
S4-314 Lacey Ovals
S4-110 Classic Ovals Lg
S4-310 Labels Eighteen

I added a border along the bottom of the card by using the following Edgabilities templates as well.
E8-003 Classic Triple Scallop (Edger)
E8-002 Classic Bracket (Decorative Insert)
E8-006 Classic Petal (Decorative Insert)
Supplies:
Spellbinders Die Templates (as listed above)
Spellbinders Grand Calibur
Bo Bunny Snowfall Collection Patterned paper
Recollections Cardstock
StampingScrapping Tag Accents stamp
Just Rite Stampers Family Garden stamp
Want2Scrap Bling and Nestabling (Oval)
Ranger Stickles
ClearSnap ink (Deep Brown)
Ranger distress ink (frayed burlap)
ribbon (unknown)
Foam Tape
Helmar Premium Craft Glue and Liquid Scrap Dots

The possibilities are endless, as I'm sure you are seeing on this fabulous hop! I will not keep you any longer... continue hopping along and being inspired by these amazing designers!

Visit these Designers Today!

Latisha Yoast
Holly Simoni
Gloria Stengel
Becca Feeken
Tina McDonald <----- You Are Here!

Contest Details

Participants wishing to be included in the daily drawing for the Spellbinders Fall Sneak Peek contests adhere to all of the following rules.
The Fall Sneak Peek starts November 14, and ends November 16, 2011. It consists of three individual contests, one each day.
Each Fall Sneak Peek Bog will accept comments as entries from 12:00 am until 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time, on its scheduled day.
Each comment counts as one entry. One entry per person, per blog please.
One winner each day will receive the three new die templates available exclusively at Crafters Home stores.
All three winners will be announced on the Spellbinders Blog on November 17. The winners will have 48 hours to respond to the email address on the winning post to claim their prize. If a winner fails to respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.
By entering, you allow Spellbinders to publish your first name, city, state, and country of residence and a quote from you, on the Spellbinders Blog, website, and in promotional materials.
Spellbinders Designers, contractors, employees and immediate family members are not eligible to win.
The invitation to the Fall Sneak Peek Blog Hop is extended to all, we are happy to ship prizes worldwide.
Any questions regarding this contest should be sent to ContestQuestions@Spellbinders.us

Thanks for stopping by!!
Until Next Time,
Happy Scrapping!!
~TINA~

Simply Renee's "Trash to Treasure"contest

Taken from the Simply Renee blog...

We're having a contest to start the

Holiday Season Off!!!

Here is what you need to do. A local TV station called

Studio 5 and Renee's niece does a segment called

"Trash to Treasures". They will be showing Renee's newly redecorated bathrooms,

and some other areas in her home. It will air on Friday, November 4th at 11am.

Watch it if you can if not we will have a link to it on our website, plus

pictures.(keep checking back with us) Then leave comments on our

website www.clipitup.com ,blog and facebook. You can comment at least once a

day on all the sites (for a better chance to win) through Monday 7th. We will pick

one winner on Tuesday morning!!!Hope you enjoy seeing what Renee does when

she's not running the business! She is so very talented.