Amazing Paper Grace: Introducing the Cascade Christmas Collection with Holiday Waterfall Card

We all love interactive and kinetic cards! Introducing the Christmas Cascade Collection!

This holiday collection allows you to make a Cascading Card inside of a Shadowbox Frame, mounted on a card base, or unmounted. Don't worry, these motifs make great conventional cards as well.

 

We listened to you, and we heard loud and clear that our community loves dynamic and purposeful cards. In previous collections, we gave you 3D Vignettes in a Christmas way.  Now we've found a way to merge a Collection favorite, Shadowbox Vignettes, in a new format.   

 

Becca Feeken with Amazing Paper Grace sent me these lovely dies to start my Christmas Cardmaking!

Hi there, today our Creative Team is sharing our makes from the Christmas Cascade Collection.  Let's take a second to sort this out...

What's a Christmas Cascade?

Amazing Paper Grace takes a spin on Christmas by building a new collection around something you already have in your stash - the Shadowbox Dies.  Becca loves building upon what you already have and making it new again. 

Christmas Cascade is made up of sets of 3" motif dies where each set has 3 motifs.  That's enough for each leaf of your waterfall but again, you could make them the center of your A2 or your A7 card. These, paired with the Waterfall base will allow you to use any dies to make your next Waterfall Card.

 

The Inspiration behind Christmas Cascade

The inspiration for Christmas Cascade was to produce a motif to use from an enclosure card all the way up to full A7 card with background layers.  This "cardlet" size has been a favorite in our stash because the elements can easily transition into all of the Amazing Paper Grace Collections and to all size cards.  Hint:  This is not the last time you will see "Cardlets"

 

Each of our Creative Team members will show you how to make a Christmas Cascade Card that is a waterfall card and a Christmas Cascade Card that is a flat card.

 

My Projects For Today

First up is my From our Family Waterfall Card using S5-428 Holly Frame Gala, GLP-194 Elegant Holiday Glimmer Sentiment Hot Foil Plates, S4-960 Cinch and Go Poinsettia, S5-399 Candlewick Rectangle, and S6-166 Christmas Cascade Card Base.

 

Here is what the dies look like:

S5-428 Holly Frame Gala

GLP-194 Elegant Holiday Glimmer Sentiment Hot Foil Plates

S4-960 Cinch and Go Poinsettia

S5-399 Candlewick Rectangle

S6-166 Christmas Cascade Card Base

I used a combination of navy, white, silver, red, and green colors in my two projects. The Holly frame inspired me to do an inlay technique in the front cover of the waterfall card. I embossed the die into the front panel. Using the same die, I cut a green frame and insert it into the embossed area for a perfect fit. In the center, I added a Poinsettia blossom using the Cinch and Go Poinsettia.

The sentiments were all foiled with the Elegant Holiday Glimmer Sentiment Hot Foil Plates. I love the look! These pages came together so easily in one wonderful set! Pictured below are all the pages are shown before assembling the waterfall to be adhered on to the Candlewick Rectangle card.

My Second Project

My flat card features the Holly Frame Gala. It is a sweet shaped notecard measuring 3". But it packs a punch inside with a beautiful foiled sentiment from the Elegant Glimmer Sentiment. 

The holly leaf die cuts and berries were placed around the Holly Frame. I love the embossed details of the leaves. Striking against the navy background! Plus all those die cuts give the front interest and dimension. Used the Cinch and Go Poinsettia in the center with a brad to secure all the layers and accented with glitter on top of it. 

Designer Tip: Use your thin metal dies not only to cut paper but to emboss into the paper for a deep impression. Next, die-cut with that same die and a piece of cardstock. Adhere the cut shape into the embossed paper for an inlay technique. 

Here is the Spellbinders video showing amazing new samples as well as a tutorial showing you how to put the Cascade Card together:

Christmas Cascade Availability:

These dies and plates are available from Spellbinders right now! Click here: Amazing Paper Grace Cascading Christmas.

 

Christmas Cascade Inspiration Hop!

Click on the links to each member to be inspired across a broad range of talent:

Visit Beatriz Jennings
Visit Joanna Wisniewska

Visit Tara Brown

Visit Kate Skonieczna

Visit Beth Pingry

Visit Margie Higuchi {{You Are Here!}}

Visit Becca Feeken at Amazing Paper Grace

 

Giveaway!  

You could win an Amazing Paper Grace Die of the Month! Enter to win on our new Instagram Account https://www.instagram.com/amazingpapergrace_creates/. All the entry details are there - just look for this image below:

 

Supplies:

Etched Dies: Amazing Paper Grace by Becca Feeken from Spellbinders Paper Arts (S5-428 Holly Frame Gala, GLP-194 Elegant Holiday Glimmer Sentiment Hot Foil Plates, S4-960 Cinch and Go Poinsettia, S5-399 Candlewick Rectangle, and S6-166 Christmas Cascade Card Base), Glimmer Hot Foil System and Platinum 6 Machine

Other: Glitter: Ranger Ink (Stickles in Lime Green and Candy Cane); Adhesives: Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L (E-Z Runner Grand Ultra Strong, E-Z Runner Grand Permanent Dots, Adhesive Dots 3D, 3D Foam Strips, Metallic Transfer Foil Sheets Holographic Colors, and Dual Tip Glue Pen); Red, Green, Navy, White, and Silver Mirror Cardstock; Brads

 

I love your comments! Tell me what kinds of holiday cards you like to create? 

Thanks for stopping by! 

MargieH

 

Paper Hearts Challenge: My Hearts :)

I have been a fan of Courtney Walsh even BEFORE she authored five books! LOL!! Before committing to become an author, she was also well known in the Craft Industry from being an uber talented designer to authoring an inspirational idea book to a former public relations front person for Webster's Pages. Just love her!

Photo taken from Courtney Walsh Blog

Her last published book Paper Hearts is about...(summary from Amazon.com):

Abigail Pressman would never have guessed that love notes penned on paper hearts by an anonymous couple could restore her belief in love. As a business owner in a quaint town at the base of the Rockies, she’s poured everything into dreams of expansion . . . and resisting the matchmaking efforts of the Valentine Volunteers, who gather in her store to continue Loves Park’s tradition of stamping mail with the city’s romantic postmark.

When Abigail is unwillingly drafted into the Volunteers, she encounters the paper hearts, a distraction that couldn’t come at a worse time. A hard-to-read doctor has become Abigail’s new landlord, and he’s threatening to end her lease to expand his practice.

As she fights a growing attraction to this handsome man crushing her dreams, Abigail is inspired to string the hearts in her store, sparking a citywide infatuation with the artsy trend. But when a new batch of hearts reaches the Volunteers, it appears something tragic has happened to the couple. Will uncovering their story confirm Abigail’s doubts about love, or could it rescue her dreams . . . and her heart?

A couple of weeks ago, Author Courtney challenged people to a Paper Hearts Challenge and how perfect - right before Valentines! Take a look at her Paper Hearts promo video on the book (so cute & quirky!)...



"Maybe you haven't been writing paper hearts all year, like the mystery couple in "Paper Hearts", but today is the PERFECT day to start, leading up to Valentine's Day! And it's so easy:

1. Cut paper or cardstock in to hearts or go to the Target dollar bin and pick up some pre-cut ones.
2. Write one thing you love about your spouse, significant other, child or friend every day leading up to Valentine's Day.
3. On the 14th, bombard your people with LOVE. You can string them up, tape them to the bathroom mirror, hide them around the house or stick them all over their bedroom door... there's no right or wrong here!
4. Share a picture on your FB page or Instagram with the hashtag ‪#‎shareyourheart‬ and you'll be entered to win signed copies of BOTH Paper Hearts and my newest novel Change of Heart!"

So I took her up on the challenge or I should say parts of it (hard to keep up - lol!):

Here's Day 1 of my Paper Hearts Challenge: it's a GOLDen kind of heart! Using Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L® 3D Foam Hearts with Pigment Powder Gold, wrote in Design Memory Craft® Metallic PITT® Artist Pen Gold on top of Spellbinders® Creative Arts Classic Heart die cut #shareyourheart

Day 2: I love our happy hour chats of our day. #IntlBanking #Crafting #HTMLcoding #DrinksBeforeDinnerAtHome Used Spellbinders Tool 'n One™ to take out Fonts One - Uppercase & Pierced Hearts die cuts and adhering with Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L® Adhesive Sheet. Used Pigment Powder Wine mixed with Girlie Grunge Art Medium to colors CHATS

Day 5: you make my heart flutter! Used this beautiful Webster's Pages patterned paper to make a 3D heart using Spellbinders® Classic Heart die and adhered all together with Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L® Dual Tip Glue and Dodz™ Small behind the banner. For a finished edge, I inked them with ClearSnap ColorBox Chalk. I think one of my favorite hearts!

Day 12: how he moves my heart with his smile :) Being clever and using fringe - lol!! Hope it works! Used Donna Salazar with Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L® Girlie Grunge Art Medium to adhere three strips of fringed patterned paper (cut with Martha Stewarts' Fringe Scissors on DoodleBug paper) and then cut with Spellbinders® Classic Heart die template.

Put them all together (the plain hearts have notes in the back) and I created this banner! SO FUN!! Click on images for a closer look. Thanks, Courtney, for the challenge!

Next book for Courtney is Change of Heart - I just got the book a couple of days ago and hope to read it REAL SOON!! Interested click here (not affiliated): Change of Heart by Courtney Walsh to purchase your copy!

Have a HEART-FULL DAY!!
MargieH

CHA (Craft & Hobby Assoc) Mega Trade Show - Winter 2016 (Part 1)

What can I say about this annual event? It's exciting, fun and exhausting! LOL! I have been fortunate to attend for several years and it never gets old.

On Friday, January 8th, flying out to Orange County (CA) Airport took forever as my plane didn't show up until 40 mins later! Weather in Chicago was perfect - figures! HA! But lucky me, hubby gave me a pass to the United Lounge = SCORE!

When I finally got to the Anaheim Convention Center, I rushed up to Girlie Grunge Mixed Media Canvas Class by Donna Salazar with Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L®. It was so nice to see everyone creating a wonderful project. Donna is an amazing artist - LOVE HER!!

Afterwards, there was the CHA Mega Block Party outside which was a bit chilly for LA but still a lot of fun and caught up with industry friends! Finally was able to hang out with my roomie :)

The next day (1/9) was the first day of CHA! But first we got our vitamin C fizzy drinks ON to start the day - CHEERS :)

We made it! Excited to see everyONE and everyTHING! Can't believe how big this sign is - LOL!!

This is my wonderful roommate, Betsy Burnett, who has put up with me for three years - LOVE HER!! She gets me! LOL!! She also has a HUGE HEART coming here to bring awareness to her cause and passion - Operation Christmas Child (#CrazyShoeBoxLady). I admire and respect her for all she is doing and for the Craft Industry that has embraced her with support! LOVE this industry!! GO BETSY!

I walked the floor to see every thing but was so overwhelmed with product and talking to friends. Didn't take much pictures. BUT here are some fun pictures - you may recognize my crazy friends (Top: Susan Opel, Middle: Susan Opel & Julie Comstock, Bottom: HeeSun Kim & Eun Young both from S. Korea)! HA!

This booth - Lion Brand Yarn had the most striking booth. I literally stopped in my tracks to take a look at the detailed knit work. They won the Critics' Choice Booth Award - just amazing! It is awarded to one exhibitor that best represents the creative spirit of the industry. What do you think?

I was invited by Offray to try their newest tool called the Bow Genius™, a bow making tool. It was nominated CHA 2016 Hot Product Award for the General Craft and Floral Craft Categories. So I went to the scheduled make 'n take to create a Pomander project and had SO MUCH FUN!! I hope to do a review about this tool in the very near future :)

After meeting up with Betsy, she and I went back to the hotel to put our feet up to talk about the day (we went our separate ways most of the time) and got ready for Prime/FaveCraft Bloggers Network Event at the Hilton. Great to see friends and meet new ones!

Wonderful conversations with manufacturers who want to work with bloggers on how to get brand awareness out to the market place. LOVE talking about marketing - I am in my element. Thanks to the hard working crew at Prime Publishing/FaveCraft!!

So that concludes Education Day and Day One of CHA! Stay tuned for more - coming SOON!

Thanks for visiting :)
MargieH

Tuesday Trigger: Finesse the Dress Challenge

Hi, all!

Thought I'd try my hand at Paper Crafts' Tuesday Trigger. Today I created a card based on this beautiful dress...

The pattern of skirt and the scalloped edge caught my eye. LOVE the color combination and immediately thought of Authentique's Journey Collection! So this is my take on the challenge.

Wonder by Margie Higuchi
Supplies Cardstock: The Paper Company; Patterned Papers and Die Cut: Authentique Paper; Stamp: Unity Stamp Company (Authentique); Ink: Clearsnap; Die Cuts: Spellbinders™ Paper Arts (S4-314 Lacey Ovals, S4-110 Classic Ovals LG, E8-003 Classic Triple Scallop); Tool: ScorPal; Flower: Prima; Adhesive: ScraPerfect (The Best Glue Ever); Other: Pearl and Foam Tape

So what do you think? My favorite part is the double layers of scallops from Spellbinders Edgeabilities® die template called Triple Scallop. Isn't gorgeous?! Love my Edgeabilities dies!

ETA: Where can you purchase these great die templates? I have a favorite online store, Scrap-Mart, and they offer FREE SHIP along with a discount on some of their items. Here is the page on Spellbinders Edgeabilities die templates! Just sayin'

Also a personal note...I received word that my aunt had passed away in Japan today. She was my father's big sister and lived a full life of 90 years! Although I didn't see much of her, she had always lent an ear when I needed it. I will miss her - this card is for her! Rest in peace, dear Aunt MINAKATA and hug my father for me! xo