Decoration Design: Christmas Continues with Nicecrane Designs

Hello on this lovely Wednesday evening.  It is time to share my latest Nicecrane Designs creation with you all.  I've been on a bit of a 'Christmas in July' kick this month and it continues with today's creation.

Ignacio has these wonderful pyramid style ornaments and I decided I would try my hand at putting one together.  This one uses a sweet vintage image from the Funny Christmas Ball I collection. 

Now I have to warn you that it didn't turn out very well at all.  In fact, this post is going to serve as...

 

A Cautionary Tale on What NOT to Do

1. The first thing I learned is that you really shouldn't print out the template on ordinary copy paper.  I thought I'd be brilliant and save some of my cardstock.  WRONG DECISION.  Printing on anything other than cardstock just makes your pieces too flimsy.
2. Invest in a good pair of eyes and a steady hand OR have someone else cut the circles for you.  Yeah, I wouldn't exactly call the shapes I ended up with as being circular.
3. Don't be skimpy with your pop dots.  I only had a few pop dots left (actually I still haven't been able to get anymore as of yet) so I thought that I would conserve them by cutting them into four.  WRONG DECISION.   Of course, it might also have to do with the fact that the paper is so flimsy but all the pieces have definitely warped a bit.
4. Be sure to line up the midpoint of the top of the built up pyramid with the hole that is going to serve as the top.  Right now the kids are on a bit of lean and the whole thing looks off kilter.
5. Finally, don't leave your completed ornament anywhere near where your cat prowls.  REALLY WRONG DECISION.  Now the ornament looks even more warped and battered than it did before.  Oy vey!

So apologies to Ignacio for doing such a poor job with this ornament.  However, I hope it provides you, my readers, with a list of things NOT TO DO when you decide to make one of your own.  

Once I finally get the chance to purchase more pop dots, I will be trying again.  I will definitely not be repeating these same mistakes.


OVERALL
Digital Image Details: 

• Funny Christmas Ball I:  This set features two wonderful templates for creating your own ornament.  For this decoration I used the image you see in the top right hand corner of the preview below.  Click on the name or the watermark below to take you to its location in the store.

Paper Products:  

• Decoration base: Michael's Recollection's Cardstock.
• Image base:  Standard Photocopy paper (A BIG NO-NO). 

Ribbon:

• Crafts brand, purchased at Dollarama.

Before I go... 
Perhaps I can entice you into checking out another of the pyramid balls?!  This one is called Christmas Ball by Bowyle.  I have plans for it as well and I'm praying I will do a much better job with it. (click on image below to head to its location).

Don't forget, to stay current on ALL the latest releases and to check out the fabulous inspiration from my fellow DT members, be sure to head over to the Nicecrane Designs blog.
 
Thanks for popping in and checking out my latest creation even if it wasn't all that good.

Stay cool my friends if you are experiencing summer where you are.  I'll see you all again very soon with another creation. 

Until next time,

Scribbles Designs Challenge #24 Midway Point

HAPPY, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Can you believe it?!  The new year is here and what better way to kick start it on my blog, than with the midway for the latest Scribbles Designs Challenge. 

There are two whole weeks left for you to come on over and enter. In case you've missed it, the theme this time around for Challenge #24, is 'Tis the Season!.  Even though the holidays are coming to an end, it is still a great time for continuing with our holiday inspired picture inspiration challenge. The great thing about pictures is that one person can be moved by one aspect and another individual may see something totally different. So, whether you are inspired by the colours, the shapes, or the objects themselves within this particular picture, it doesn't matter. This challenge it is all in the eye of the beholder.

Photo credit Petr Kratochvil of PublicDomainPictures.net
(http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=13064&picture=christmas-shop)

Entering is super simple!  You do not need to use a Scribbles Designs image; however, if you do, your name gets entered into the draw twice.  You can purchase your Scribbles Designs images HERE or you can also find one for a limited time on the challenge blog HERE.  Also, be sure to check out our special Freebie Friday posts as it is another great way to build your Scribbles Designs collection.  You can find the rest of the rules and information regarding winners in the sidebar on the challenge blog.  You have until 9pm PST on January 14th to come over and play with us.
 
General Information: 

• For the midway, I thought I would show you a decoration that I made, using one of my favourite SD sentiments.  The front and back are designed the exact same way.

 
FRONT and BACK

Digital Sentiment Details:

• Season's Greetings Quote:  This great sentiment is actually part of a set.  You can find it in the store by clicking on the name of the image or the watermark below.  This sentiment was re-coloured digitally and printed out twice.

Embellishments:

• The green hanging ribbon, the green metallic stars, the white gemstone star and the felt items are all Crafts brand and were purchased at Dollarama. 

Cricut Cartridge:

• The base for the decoration (two copies) was cut using the Elegant Edges cartridge.

Paper Products:  

• Sentiment base: Michael's Recollection's Cardstock, white.
• Decoration base: Michael's Recollection's Cardstock, red.

Digital Paper Products:  

• I didn't want to just print the sentiment on white so I layered it right on top of one of my papers before printing.  I chose something with a subtle pattern so that the sentiment would stand out.  Unfortunately, the detail of the paper didn't photograph all that well; although, you can see it better in the top picture.  

Here is a shot of it in a more natural environment.  Unfortunately the flash washed it out a bit which is why I also included the pic of it above...

 Challenges I am hoping to enter... 

***Please note that if the word verification appears, ignore it and simply click the 'publish' button***

• http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.ca/ (5E)-- Anything Goes 
• more to be added later...

So put on those thinking caps and design a project that fits our 'Tis the Season theme. If you need some images to help you out, you can check out all wonderful ones that are in the Scribbles store (you can click the image above to head there now).  Remember there is still two weeks left to enter at the Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog, so I hope to see you there. If you have some time, I invite you to go and check out the wonderful inspiration offered up from my colleagues on the DT.  With so many possible projects to create, the ideas are boundless. We always look forward to seeing what you come up with for each month's theme!

Until next time,

Ornament Design and a freebie...courtesy of Nicecrane Designs

Christmas in July is a prevalent theme this month on many blogs and challenges and so it is fitting that I use this month to show you one of the gifts I made for my momma last Christmas.  While the project has been previously made, this is the first time it is appearing on my blog.  It is a paper ornament based on a template from Nicecrane Designs. 

Check it out... 

General Information: 

• I've included a picture of each side of the ornament as it hung from my parent's Christmas tree.  Clicking on the image to bring it up in the lightbox will enlarge it to help you see the detail a bit better.

Digital Image Details:

• Victorian Vintage Xmas Ornament:  You get the coloured template along with easy to understand instructions.  It really makes for a unique, handmade gift.

Paper Products: 

• Base: Michael's Recollection's Cardstock, white.

Challenges I am hoping to enter...

• http://thegloryofchristmaschallenge.blogspot.de/ (max 10) -- Anything Goes:  Christmas
• http://funwithshapesandmore.blogspot.ca/ -- Vintage/Shabby (the ornament itself was cut out)
• http://artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ -- Anything Goes
• http://craftingfromtheheartchallengeblog.blogspot.ca/  -- Anything Goes
• http://craftcreatoins.blogspot.ca/p/new-challenge.html  -- Anything Goes
• http://craftspotbykimberly.blogspot.ca/ -- Anything Goes But a Card
• http://suzysmarty1.blogspot.co.uk/ -- Anything Goes:  Christmas

 Now for the Freebie Part...

Ignacio currently has this ornament template on the blog as a freebie and he has given me permission to share the direct link with all of you.  So if you can see yourself making one of these Victorian Vintage Xmas Ornament for yourself or someone you know, please click on the watermark below to take you to the FREE DOWNLOAD location.

Now just before you go, please note that the Nicecrane Designs store is currently closed for maintenance but will hopefully be opened up again very soon.  When it does reopen, I have another special treat planned for you but you're going to have to be patient because I'm not giving any hints.  Hee, hee.  You'll just have to keep checking in with me to find out what the surprise is all about.

Now while the store isn't open, the blog is still up and running and providing awesome inspiration; so, be sure to head over to the Nicecrane Designs Blog when you can.  If you love vintage, you won't be disappointed.   

Well, it is now just coming up on the 7:35 p.m. mark.  Time for me to take a break before I get crafty, later on this evening.  So many cards and digital ideas in the pipeline.  Just a matter of getting to them all.

Have a great evening and day ahead! 

Until next time,