AWDML Design Team Blog

Thank Someone!

Hey everyone...Happy "Black" Friday!  I know some of you are out shopping the great deals, working retail like I will be later *ahhhhh!!!!) or recovering from full bellies :)  All around it sounds like fun!

Like Liza said, we will soon be kicking off our 12 days of Christmas here at A Walk Down Memory Lane!  I can't wait to get in on the fun and games and I have some great challenges for you guys as well to really kick off the holiday season! 

Before we begin in all the festivities, though, I just wanted to celebrate Thanksgiving for one more day ;)  I have SO much to be thankful for this year that one day doesn't ever seem to be enough!  I made this card for a girlfriend of mine who I know i can always count on for a great chat, cheering up, or a listening ear.    Anyway, I have MANY thank you's I should be sending in the mail and this is just one of several I wanted to share with you.

I hope you all had a wonderful day and that this post encourages you to create a card to thank someone...we have so much to be grateful for!  I'm thankful to be getting to know all of you, too!  -Jessica :)

A few more days...

and we will be celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas Crop at A Walk Down Memory Lane!

Loads of exciting classes, games and challenges are lined-up from December 1 - Decembe 12.  That's 12 days full of scrappy projects and scrappy thoughts for everyone.  I'm still preparing for my class as well as the challenges.  I have 3 more days until the start and I'm all excited.

For my classes, I'll be creating something that you can display on your table and will sure inspire you.  Plus, there's also some ornaments that we can work on for display on your tree.

So head on over to the forum on December 1 and let's kick off the Christmas celebration with a bang!  ~~ Liza

Have you heard?

We have a very exciting event planned over at A Walk Down Memory Lane!  It is the 12 Days of Scrapping Crop!  Every day from December 1 to December 12 there will be a new game, a new challenge, and a new class!  That's 12 games, 12 challenges, and 12 classes!  Imagine all the gifts, cards, and projects you can get done!  For my first class on Dec. 2, we will be making something to help you keep yourself organized throughout the holidays.  And here's a little sneak peek of my class on Dec. 9!  Here's a hint: it makes a great gift for the little girls on your list!

Check back here for some more sneak peeks from the rest of the design team and we'll see you December 1 for some holiday fun!  Have a terrific Tuesday! *Lynn*

Terrific Tiles...

Hey everyone!  I'm back with another quick and easy Holiday gift idea!  TILE COASTERS!

Have you ever tried these?  You can get these ceramic tiles for next to nothing at Menards or Home Depot.  You will also need:

*Pigment Ink (Brilliance or SU Kraft Pads work very well)

*Ceramic Tiles

*Krylon or another acrylic finish spray, (matte or glossy is fine)

Here are a few simple instructions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  You will need to "bake" tiles to set the ink for only about 5 or 10 minutes. 

Stamp tiles and place on a cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for above said time.  DO NOT try to remove them until cool, which will take a while because the tiles really absorb the heat.

Once cooled, spray a fair layer of Krylon onto each tile in a well ventilated area. 

In addition to the above supplies, it is optional to find the self-adhesive felt "feet" for the bottoms of the coasters.  These add a nice touch and make them a little more furniture friendly :) 

SOUND EASY ENOUGH?  Yep, that's it!   Choose your favorite stamped images or monogram them like i did for my children's teachers last year.  I did their last name initials and they LOVED it!

Can't wait to see what you create!       ~Jessica :)

Everyday Nonsense

The Everyday Nonsense November Kit from AWDML have been launched mid-month and let me just share how much I love it!  The mix of orange and brown in the We R Memory Keepers and American Crafts papers are just awesome.  The contrast of colors really pop out and brighten up your layouts and projects.

 

Look at what I created from this wonderful kit - my very own scrappy "Piggy Bank!"  I altered an ice cream tub with leftover papers from my layouts and created this cute little piggy bank for myself.  See that oval chipboard, slide that and you'll see a hidden slit I made.  I added some buttons on the patterned paper as well for extra dimension.  Don't forget to cover with Mod Podge to seal the materials and for extra protection. 

This is now placed near my dresser.  Great motivation to really save up for the coming Christmas Season!  ~~ Liza

New Challenges for the Month Are Up!

Need a little motivation/inspiration to get you scrappin?  The DT has posted some great new challenges for the month.  I've listed them below.  Once you have your challenge complete, upload to the AWDML Gallery then link your project back to the appropriate challenge thread!  Have your projects completed by Dec. 14th for a chance to win a goodie!  Have FUN!-Angie

Jessica's November Cardmaking Challenge: "A CHIP off the old...CARD!"

Make a card using CHIPBOARD as the main focal point of your card. You can embellish it/decorate it anyway you'd like.

Some ideas for decorating plain chipboard are:

Glitter/stickles
Scrapbook paint/pigment ink
Embossing Powder
Covering w/ DP and trimming off excess w/ a craft knife
Distressing

Angie's November Challenge: HOLIDAY CARD SUITE
I would like you to create a suite of 3 Holiday Cards! With the festive season right around the corner I thought this may give you a chance to start creating some cards.

Here is the the hitch....

*** I'm going to stretch your imagination a bit and 1 of the 3 cards has to be a shape. Meaning it cant be the standard rectangle/square.

*** At least 1 of the cards has to have a bit of glitz on it.

*** At least 1 of the cards has to have ribbon!

Lucy's November Challenge: AD Challenge
We are going to do an ad challenge and would love to see fall colors in your layout...any theme.
Check out the AD here.

Monday Sketch Challenge

I know its Tuesday but I feel asleep right after DWTS..lol

Here is your second sketch for November


Sketch 11/10 is Here

We will have 3 weeks of sketches to post on Mondays and the deadline for all of them is November 30th and winner will be announced on Dec 1st.

Artsy-licious!

Have you seen this new Chatterbox line?  There are 7 colors: alabaster, kohl, peacock, ruby, bloom, willow, and chocolate.  Each color has patterned paper that is tone on tone, buttons, ribbon, brads and frames.  The papers come flocked, engraved, tinseled and more!  Even though it is not Christmas paper, I think many of the colors would make great Christmas cards or gift tags!  I can't wait to get some of the frames too.  They have great shapes!  Looking forward to putting this in my shopping cart for my next order!  Here are some examples from the A Walk Down Memory Lane store in the color peacock...love how vivid this turquoise is!

Happy shopping and have a terrific Tuesday!  *Lynn* 

Quick and Easy Notecards

Hey everyone...

If you ordered the kits this past month, I hope you are enjoying my newsletter article included that was all about stretching your supplies.   I used to throw out SO many scraps, but once I developed a system to use  them I realized how wasteful I was being and unless it's teeny, tiny, I hang onto it for projects such as these!

With school, work, and everything in between, I often find myself needed to shuttle notes back and forth to my kids' teachers, etc.  I find a handwritten note is still nicer and more effective than email, esp. with some of my children's teachers.

These little notecards work out so well for me and I hope you'll give them a try too!  In addition to being great for your own correspondence, they make GREAT GIFTS!!  With the holidays fast approaching, you can whip up a cute 8 or 12 pack of these w/ some envelopes and tie some pretty ribbon around it and you're set! 

If you have a monogram stamp or the like, you can even personalize your notecards to give it the perfect touch!   You make them by cutting a standard A2 size card (5 1/2 by 4 1/4) and they can be cut like a postcard.  You can get FOUR from one 8 1/2 by 11 sheet of paper so they're economical, too!

Have fun with these and if you make some, give me a holler so I can see them!  Take care!

Jessica :)

Then and Now

I know most of you know I'm a Maya Road Sheer Fan, I have a few boxes in my collection.  Of course I'm always looking to expand that.  When I saw the sheer that had a "then and now" I knew I had the perfect pictures to scrap.  I had taken pics of my son playing with the very same wind whirly gig two years in a row.  It's up at the summer cabin my parents have.  This sheer worked out fabulously but then I used Scenic Route Diecut Arrows to highlight which photo was which!  Love their colorful paper line!  Once I was finished I was amazed to actually see the difference of how much he grew.  I would love to see your "then and now" layouts.  Upload them to the AWDML gallery! -Angie

Are you ready for Christmas?

I know, I know...it is only November 11.  But are you thinking ahead?  Do you make gifts?  Cards?  A Walk Down Memory Lane has everything you need to make those gifts!  I have already started (which is VERY early for me!) and I wanted to share some super simple and fun to make gift tags with you.  The first ones I made with the Marvy Uchida Punches.  I simply used my giga scallop punch then layered a mega circle punch on top.  The fun part of these is embellishing!  Stickles are a cheap choice that add a big bang! 

The second tags I made with my cricut.  I cut out this fun label shape, embellished, stamped and voila!  A gift tag!  These simple solutions are a great way to get the creative juices flowing and they're easy to do while watching all your favorite shows! LOL   

Put on some Christmas music to get in the holiday spirit and get crafting!  Come over to the mb and tell us what you are making and post your creations in the gallery so we can all oooh and ahhh over what you made!  Have a terrific Tuesday! *Lynn*

{Monthly Sketch Challenge} 11/10

Hello everyone

We are here for another month full of sketch challenges to give to you :)

We will have 3 weeks of sketches to post on Mondays and the deadline for all of them is November 30th and winner will be announced on Dec 1st.

Then...starting December 1 our online Design Team will be starting the 12 days of Holiday Ideas.  Every day starting on Monday the 1st we'll post a new card idea, holiday decor project, sketch, layout, challenge, etc to make your Holidays more scrappy.  With this tough economic times, we can all use a little handmade love, right?

Watch this blog, the Design Team blog, and the Message Board for more information!

New sketch for this week..............

Winner for October's Sketch Blog CHallebge is Ladybugchristine. You Can check the thread HERE