This Is Family Set of Birthday Cards - Pebbles

Hello blogging friends!

This week for Pebbles the designers were challenged to create a project using only 4 things. I decided to create a set of birthday cards. It seems I am always in need of one and the new This Is Family collection had fun ephemera die cuts that were perfect for birthdays. My 4 things are paper, a cut file, ephemera die cuts, and a sentiment stamp.

Some of my favorite die cut ephemera pieces from the This Is Family collection are the bears riding bicycles. They are too cute! They add a fun, whimsical feel to this card set. This first card I am sharing didn't need a stamped sentiment. That Happy Birthday banner is one of the die cut ephemera pieces.

By keeping the design relatively the same, these cards came together pretty fast. I only had to choose which papers I wanted to use. I love that the This Is Family collection has colors suitable for boys and girls.

and Mamas and Papas.

Would you love to receive one of these?


Supplies:
340272 Sticky Thumb Adhesive Foam Dots
71793 Smooth Cardstock White
734182 This Is Family Patterned Paper Fridge Art 
734168 This Is Family Patterned Paper We Are Family 
734163 This Is Family Patterned Paper Snail Mail 
734169 This Is Family Patterned Paper Celebration 
734174 This Is Family Patterned Paper Flower Patch 
734173 This Is Family Patterned Paper Family Life 
734183 This Is Family Patterned Paper Tag You’re It 
734184 This Is Family Patterned Paper Bits & Pieces
734190 This Is Family Ephemera


Thanks so much for stopping by. Have a great weekend!!
~Marcia

Have A Blast | My Favorite Things

Hello blogging friends,

A quick blog post today.  I created a birthday card for the latest sketch challenge for My Favorite Things. Here is the sketch...

I thought a Space Explorer and an alcohol ink background would let me play with techniques I haven't used in a while and practice my coloring. Here is my card...

Enjoy your weekend!

~Marcia

Birthday Cards - My Favorite Things

Hello friends!

I indulged myself after Christmas and bought this Adorable Elephants stamp set from My Favorite Things. I haven't done a lot of Copic coloring, but thought this set would be a good one to start practicing with. I decided to try my hand with their Sketch Challenge ...

Here is my take using some pattern papers from the Pebbles Happy Hooray birthday collection...

I struggled with the elephant ears ... I think I need to get a new Copic marker, something lighter pink RV0000 or R0000.

Copic Markers used: C1, C3, R24, R29, RV10, E50

and also their Color Challenge ...

Copic Markers used: C1, C3, RV10, E50, Y11, Y15, Y17, YG03, YG63

My clouds need a little work, lol.

Thanks for stopping by.

~Marcia

Tickled Pink - Paper Issues

Hello blogging friends!

It's try it Tuesday on the Paper Issues blog. This month is called: Tape It Up! Use any type of tape (masking, washi, cello etc) in a new and inventive way to create interest, texture, shape, form on your project. I had so much fun creating my washi tape layout last week, that I thought it would be fun to try the same design on a card. I layered washi tape all down the side of my card to create interest. Then used a My Favorite Things stamp for my sentiment, and added that fabulous inflated flamingo from the Amy Tangerine On A Whim collection. I love how it turned out!!

That flamingo though 😍😍😍!

Can't wait to see what you create for this! Have a great week!

~Marcia

Top 15 of 2015 and a Giveaway!

Hello blogging friends! It's that time of year again where I am reflecting upon my year.... what I loved, what didn't work out so well, so I can make those New Year's Resolutions.

Today, I am participating in a blog hop to showcase the top projects of several very talented designers. Here is the blog hop order so you can be sure not to miss any inspiration.

Blog Hop List 2015

Christine Meyer 

Mendi Yoshikawa 

Cathy Harper 

Nicole Nowosad 

Chantalle McDaniel 

Becki Adams 

Wendy Antenucci 

Jen Matott 

Katrina Hunt 

Michele Kovack 

Kelly Holbrook 

Rhonda Van Ginkel 

Jennie McGarvey 

Suzanna Lee 

Monique Liedtke 

Jennifer Haggerty 

Marcia Dehn Nix 

Rebecca Keppel

Kelly Jean Guzlas 

Melissa Elsner 

Shannon Morgan 

Juliana Michaels 

Audrey Yeager 

We have pooled our resources to offer one lucky blog hop participate an $80 (US Dollars) gift card to the on-line scrappy store of their choosing. This way my Aussie friends, or Russian friends, (or where ever you are from) can choose an on-line store in their country and not have to pay international shipping. To enter just leave a comment on each blog by 11:59 pm CST on January 3. In addition, I am giving away an Echo Park Teacher's Pet Kit (12 sheets of pattern paper plus 2 sticker sheets). To win, follow my blog and leave a comment telling me which project of mine is your favorite. I will announce the winner on Monday, January 4th. Good luck!

Grab yourself a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy!

Yes, I know this was suppose to be the top 10 projects of 2015, but that is like asking me to pick which of my kids is my favorite. so ... Here are my top 15 projects according to Marcia. Yup, the ones I liked the most, in no particular order ....

1.  I LOVE these photos of my daughter and I (Thank you Amanda Plucker Photography). I used the February Clique Kit featuring the Dear Lizzy Serendipity collection. Those sequin vellum pockets and the splatters of ink make me swoon.

2. If you follow my blog you will have noticed that I had a love affair with box cards this year. This mailbox Valentine I made for Imaginisce with the Baby Mine collection and my Xyron adhesives was published in Scrapbook and Cards Today! I use a cut file from SVGcuts.

3.  My favorites list would not be complete without this Carousel Cupcake Holder! I created this using the Cocoa Vanilla Studios Sugar & Spice collection. I am the luckiest girl to be able to design with this Australian Scrapbook Manufacturer. You may think so too when you reach the end of my favorites list ;) You are going to see lots of Cocoa Vanilla Studios products! This is another SVGcuts file.

4.  The June Clique Kit was one of my favorite kits this past year featuring the Crate Paper Journey collection. It was so hard to choose a favorite layout that I created with this kit to include in my top 15! I used a gold metallic sketch pen in my Silhouette for this one. Lacey, from Clique Kits created that gorgeous background file. 

5.  Another Summer favorite was the Pink Paislee Atlas collection. Here I paired it with the On An Adventure JustNick Studios digital cut file. I wish I could say this photo was from my vacation, but sadly, no. My daughter Colette backpacked across Europe this past summer. This was one of her favorite places Hallstatt, Austria.

6.  Xyron and My Favorite Things Teamed up this past summer and I fell in love with these Penguins. I used some older Imaginisce papers from my stash for this and another SVGcuts file. And look.... I colored with my Copics !!! and I LOVED it!!!  Susan Opel even featured my pineapple on the My Favorite Things blog!

7.  Xyron and Top Dog Dies teamed up with Simple Stories this summer too. I was so excited to be able to play with the Summer Vibes collection. I created this layout using some fun JustNick Studios digital cut files....

8.  I really enjoyed the Imaginisce Heartland Farm collection too. I love gardening. I created this layout about starting my blueberry garden ...

9.  I swooned over the Pink Paislee Citrus Bliss collection this summer too. It was featured in the August Clique Kit. I used some JustNick Studios cut files with it here for this layout of my hubby posing with this Jamaican lady. This pic is about 25 years old ... did those pink shorts make you smile?

10.  I love this picture of my girls! I showcased it well, don't you think, using the September Clique Kit featuring the Cocoa Vanilla Studios Hello Lovely collection. I use a silver metallic sketch pen in my Silhouette to create those spirals from the Clique digital cut file.

11.  Life Is Beautiful by Cocoa Vanilla Studios was another fabulous collection. I just love the floral patterns that Zoe includes in her collections. I used some fabulous JustNick Studios cut files on this layout and went crazy stitching in circles.

12.  I scrapped lots of wedding photos this year.... Here is another wedding layout using the November Clique Kit featuring the We R Memory Keepers Wildflower collection. I modified the cut file, welding four of the squares together, and really love the Art Deco feel the layout has....

13.  Another box card from SVGcuts,,,, this time using the gorgeous Cocoa Vanilla Studios Tis The Season collection and my Xyron adhesives.

14.  Here is a layout I created with the same gorgeous collection, Tis The Season. Surprisingly, I used no cut files on this one!

15. I am currently playing with the new Fancy Pants Designs Happy Place collection in my January Clique Kit. I created the positive background with another JustNick Studios cut file, using it as a stencil for applying  some modeling paste. I love how this one turned out... my daughter with her dog. 

Thanks so much for stopping by. Do you have a favorite? Let me know which one of my projects you like best for a chance to win that Teacher's Pet prize or that $80 gift card.

Your next stop is the very talented Rebecca Keppel!

~Marcia

You're the Coolest and Let's Chill - Xyron and My Favorite Things

Hello blogging friends. Xyron and My Favorite Things are having a blog share all week long.

Today, I am sharing what I created. I got to work with the new My Favorite Things Penguins in Paradise stamps and coordinating dies.

I LOVE these little penguins!! Aren't they adorable. I went tropical for my first project and created a Pineapple Gift Box using my new Xyron 9" Creative Station, the Fruity Fiesta cut file from SVGcuts and papers from the Imaginisce Endless Summer and Childhood Memories collections.

Here's how I did it...

Step 1. Cut out the pineapple parts using your electronic die cutter (Silhouette Cameo or other). Ink the edges of your cuts (optional).

Step 2. Run the pineapple outer pieces through the new Xyron 9" Creative Station.

Step 3. Adhere the outer pineapple die cut pieces to the cardstock die cuts, peeling back the rounded cuts so that they stick out a little. Pineapples are dimensional after all. Assemble the pineapple.

Step 4. Switch out the 9" adhesive in the Xyron Creative Station and put in the 5" permanent adhesive. Run the tag parts through after stamping "You're the COOLEST" onto the tag.

Switching out the adhesive is so easy to do. Open the lid.. Pull out the 9" roll. Flip up the green 5" guide and insert the 5" roll. Close the lid. 

Step 5. Die cut, stamp, and color your penguin. I used Copic markers to color mine.

Step 6. Assemble the tag, I decided to use some foam tape here to give it some dimension.

But I was having too much fun coloring these cute penguins, I wanted to make a card too...

I used the same SVGcuts Fruity Fiesta cut file for my card and matching envelope. I thought it was perfect for the penguin holding the popsicle.

Here is how I created my card.

Step 1. Die cut the card pieces using an electronic die cutting machine (Silhouette Cameo or other) and run the card parts through the new Xyron 9" Creative Station with the 5" permanent adhesive loaded.

Step 2.  Die cut, stamp, and color your penguin and a palm tree, I used Copics to color mine, Stamp "Let's Chill" onto white cardstock and die cut using the My Favorite Things Fishtail Flags STAX Die-namics die.

Step 3. Assemble your card using the Xyron Mega Runner and some foam adhesive.

Step 4.  Assemble the envelope using  Xyron Double-sided Tape. You only need a few strips.

and there you have it...

 Thanks for stopping by today. Now hop over to the My Favorite Things blog to see what their design ers created with Xyron products. Be sure to check back all week long to see what the other designers have created too. Xyron designer projects can all be viewed from their Facebook page here.

~Marcia