Create with a cookie (almost)...

At our house, the day after Thanksgiving is reserved for decorating the house for Christmas.  This year, I created something new for the kitchen, and it LOOKS good enough to eat...

but DON'T (unless you want splinters in your teeth)!

Using these adorable gingerbread ornaments from Unique Laser Designs, I made a simple garland with just some ribbon, wooden beads, and twine.

First, I covered the gingerbread men with clear VersaMark ink and then bathed them in embossing powder (Espresso from Adirondack).  When I heated them up with the heat gun, I was mesmerized as they developed this great texture that even turned a little white around the edges.  Once cooled, I added just a bit of Stickles (rock candy) on the edges to give them just a little sparkle.

I strung some painted wooden beads on some twine and then hot glued the gingerbread men on, separating them with some gingham ribbon scraps.

These guys are ready for hanging in the kitchen.  One decoration down, about 512 more to go!

My term on the Unique Laser Design Team is coming to a close, and I have truly LOVED these wood shapes.  I will keep coming back to get more with each new reveal.   

And, just for you shoppers, here is a DEAL!  35% of the whole ULD store through Monday (enter the code THANKS35 at checkout).  Stuff your stockings!


Don't forget, show us your true colors over at the Scrap It Girl blog...we want to see your projects with COLOR (paint, watercolors, gelatos) by tomorrow (Sunday).

~Kelly

Create what fools the eye...

Who says that you can't celebrate April Fools Day during the whole month of April?  Over at the Chicagoland Scrapbooker blog today, I am fooling everyone with this faux-leather technique.  

It is easy peasy.  All you need is cardstock, ink, and plastic wrap.  I told you it was easy!  Squish up your plastic wrap, dab it on your ink pad, and then stamp it onto your cardstock.  The card on the left is Iced Spruce Distress Ink on gray cardstock and the card on the right is Chocolate Chip Ink from Stampin' Up on brown Kraft paper. I created the shading just by adding more or less ink and varying the pressure when I stamped.

This adorable bike is from Unique Laser Designs.  I just pushed the bike into an ink pad to get some distressed color on it.

Since I needed a masculine birthday card, I decided to hide the basket behind the cutout on my card window.  I added a clock stamp and the sentiment "time for another birthday?"...inside it says "enjoy the ride".

Have you checked out the Unique Laser Designs website yet? What are you waiting for?  Also, there is a challenge for the month of April.  You can play whether or not you have ordered from them yet?  Just show us your creation with a wood or chipboard embellishment.  You can find all of the information HERE.

Enjoy the ride!

~Kelly