Tree Trimming Tuesday

Greetings Everyone!
Here we are, another week closer to the holidays.
Can you believe it?

I thought I would show you something that I created
for my holiday decorating.
I made an ornament for my Christmas tree. 
One that would have special meaning to me.
I chose to use "Belles Carols" for this ornament,
partly because of my own musical background,
and the other part, because she represents my being
chosen to be part of this awesome design team this year.
I truly am blessed to be a part of such a wonderful team.

I took a couple of pictures, so that you could see more detail.
But before I show you, I thought I'd dress up my
display a little, so that my ornament gets to be shown
in it's proper surroundings. LOL

I bought one of those cheap little office style Christmas trees
and then made tiny ornaments to decorate it with.
It would have been nice to have mini lights, but I couldn't
find any at the time, so we'll have to deal with just the little ornaments.
Do you recognize anyone on these little ornaments?

The mini ornaments were simply punched with
some circle and scallop punches, nothing fancy,
but I thought it would be a nicer way to show off
the actual ornament that I made.

Here is a closer view

I can tell you, I once saw a picture of a card made to look
like an open book, and I've never forgotten it.
I just had to sit down and figure out just how to make
something like that.  I started to doodle on paper, making a pattern,
and finally I came up with a book shape that would work.
BUT....
How on earth would I get the layers,
and the bowed or arched effect that I wanted?
So my mind whirled and whirled,
and I ended up creating 3 different book templates,
and layered 2 of the larger ones, using the 3rd one for a decoration.

For the base of this book ornament, I used a piece of scrap
lightweight cardboard.  Actually, I think it was the
backing from a paper stack.
I inked it, then embossed it in green. 
This made it even more firm, as well as added a nice gloss finish.

Next I added my 2nd book shape, and decorated that.
Once that was done, I added my colored image.
I used some chalks to blend the white parts of the paper
with the paper that was behind her, so that the edges of the
white cardstock didn't stick out like a sore thumb!

Some glitter and some ribbon were added,
and then my smallest book, which I hand stitched the edges in gold
for a more defined look.
In order to get the arch that I wanted, I used a lot of
silicone glue and some pop dots.  It worked perfectly!

I used a punched flower and trimmed the flower petals, in order
to get the pointed petals like a poinsettia flower. 
Little jingle bells were added, as the finishing touch.

Here is another view

Once everything was exactly the way I wanted it,
I coated both the front and back, as well as all the
ribbons and details with Modge Podge.
This added yet another thing to help this book ornament
keep it's form. I love the stiffness and the high gloss that
the modge podge provides. 
Even my ribbons are hardened, to keep their shape!

I appologize for the long post, but you know, I just HAD to tell
all about my new Christmas ornament. 
I can't wait until I can put it on my Christmas tree this year!

REMEMBER to make sure you mark your calendars for Nov. 23rd.
Belles 'n Whistles will be having another Blog Hop
We'll be showing off the new releases for December.
I promise that you are going to love them!

Are You Featured?

Happy Monday! Today I thought I'd share with you some of the cards from the gallery that have to do with the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday! There are so many of you talented crafters it was very hard to choose.

This first card is made by Mina.

This card is made by Lia.

This one was made by 3 Page Princess.

We'd love to feature your card, so keep those creations coming to the gallery! Have a great day and stop by to see what's going on for tomorrow.

Rocking Friday

Hej!

Just wanted to wish you a wonderful weekend and show you this little card with Rockin' Around! Isn't she just supercute? This card is not going to be a X-mas card - but a card for my niece Julia - who turns 1 end of November. She's a cutie too ;-)

Coloured the image with my copics. DPs are Basic Grey and I went for - as always these days - a clean layout. Chalked around the edges with pine cone.

Added the heart charm, Country Elegance flowers and some blings ;-)
You can find all the DPs and the embellies here.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend! And also - I would love it if you would link to your card/project where you've used one of the BnW stamps. Please leave the link with your comment below.

Kram - Anki

Winter Sleigh Rides.....

Good Morning!! I am so happy to be here showing you a card featuring this adorable image ~ Jingle Bells. This is another one of those images that just pulls at my heartstrings! I absolutely adore the old-fashioned feel to it and the compassion that it shows!! So sweet!How cute is that ~ that helpful little elf getting the reindeer all nourished for a long night of flying! Love the whole idea of this image!!
I have decided to go a little vintagey on this one. I have inked all the edges with vintage photo distress ink and went around the image with brushed corduroy to help to achieve the look. Bronze embellishments finish it off! I thought the sentiment Jingle all the way was appropriate as well!!

Thanks so much for stopping by to see some more Belles and Whistles creations ~ my first as a Guest DT so it is especially special and official for me!! LOL
Have a great day!!!
:)Kathy

Heart Warming Wednesday

Hello sweet stampin´ friends! I am sending out a light to all of you because it´s St. Martin´s day here in Germany. Martin was a roman soldier and lived in the 4th century and was the first one who became a saint not because of him dying as a martyr but because of all the good things he did in his life. The story all german kids get taught is the story of him being out on his horse in a cold winter night when he met a poor man without any clothes. He stopped, took his coat and cut it apart to share it with this man. When the people heard of this they wanted to thank him but Martin hid in a stall. So the people were walking through the streets with lanterns to find him. So each year on the 11th of november, when the dark has come, the german kids walk through the town together, holding self made "lanterns" and singing songs about St. Martin. Sometimes also a horse with someone dressed as Martin is going on top of the row. That´s only a little part of the legend, but it´s enough to explain my project of the day. I thought I´d create a lantern myself to show you today:



I used "Gingerbread Love" from the Christmas Collection I for my lantern so I will also be able to put on the table during christmas time. Aren´t these two too cute? I love seeing them sitting there, sharing their love for sweets... I carefully stamped the image on tissue paper not using too much pressure because the color may bleed into the paper. I then colored them using some "normal" color pencils.
To make it look nice also during the days I used some brown cardstock and put some shimmer golden embossing powder on it. For the window I put the image behind I used my scalloped oval Nestabilities and added some yellow transparent paper (cut out circle) to frame the image. As decoration I went with some lace, flowers and swirls.



I am wishing all of you a happy St. Martin´s day!

Thankful Tuesday

Hi All!!

How are my favourite bloggers out there!! Yes I'm speaking to you, lovely BnW fans :))

Have you recieved your Christmas BnW stamps yet? I hope that our fab gallery will be filled with more cuteness from all of you soon! I'm dying to see what you come up with! :) I'm having fun with them! Well I'm here again with more cuties from ur BnW fans.. these came from the galley! I stealed them!! Shhh.. don't tell on me! lol

Leave them some love here, and go and visit their lovely blogs :) You won't be disappointed :) If you'd like to see your cards here someday as well, don't forget to purchase your BnW stamps, and upload your creations in our fabulous gallery!

Here comes today's gor-geous picks from me!:






From Simone






From Vicky
(AngelDrummer)





and also from talented Kim


Thank you lovely ladies for sharing your awesome talent with us!! Keep them comin'!! :)

Merry Monday with A Little Gingerbread Love

Merry Monday everyone!

I hope you all had the time to spend crafting
over the weekend.  I wish I did! LOL
I thought I would post a quick card
to show off one of our newest releases.
So I created a card using the
"Gingerbread Love" stamp.
I think these guys are just the cutest!
It makes me wish I was the one eating those
delicious looking gingerbread men!

I hate to admit this, but I just have to!!!
I am normally always prepared for a post.
I arrived home from a trip, and realized
that it was my turn to post something.
I had nothing prepared!
I thought I would lose my mind!
I went right into panic mode, but took a
deep breath and got right to work and decided
that I would make a cute, but simple card!

Thankfully I had such an adorable image to use.

This was one of those cards that you just sort of start placing
papers, and wait to see how it looks.
Totally random, and definitely different! LOL

So, I apologize for my quick post today.
I hope you all have been enjoying the different cards our
wonderful design team have been making for you.

If you've ordered any of these stamps I'm sure you will
be getting them any day now! 
Isn't that exciting?
I know that we can't wait to see what you are
all creating!
Don't forget to show us, by adding your creations to
the Belles 'n Whistles Gallary!

Wishing you all a Merry & Crafty Monday!