'Twas the Night Before Christmas (Blue Fern Studios DT Reveal 2 & CSI 219)

My next project as part of my DT reveal for Blue Fern Studios is another layout using the gorgeous Vintage Christmas collections, this time documenting a very special Christmas wish.

This layout was inspired by Major Case File No. 219 from CSI: Color, Stories, Inspiration.

Let's take a closer look at this Case File!  You can also see it HERE on the CSI blog.

The SCENE inspired me to scrapbook one of my favorite Christmas pictures, and quite obviously, make my page as festive as possible with holly, red gems and lots of gold, glitz and glitter. I incorporated the SCHEME and based myself on the SKETCH provided in the case file.  As for the EVIDENCE, I opted for : PLAID patterned paper, candy cane STRIPES, lots of HOLIDAY STUFF, TWINE, TAGS, STARS and a TREE on my photo.  My TESTIMONY consists of a bit of journaling in which I use the word WISH.

Before I met Yves, I had spent many a Holiday season surrounded by family and friends, but still somewhat lonely, wishing for true love, the kind of love that lasts a lifetime. My wish came true in 2006 and, since then, I get to spend every Christmas with my life partner, my soulmate, my best friend.  

This picture was taken on Christmas eve a couple years ago. That is why I chose the Blue Fern Studios title 'Twas the Night Before Christmas as the title, on which I used the new Santa's Suit embossing powder.  It's red and glittery and perfect for any Christmas project!

 On my background, I used the Weathered Doilies stamp with the Ebony powder. I added Holly Springs, covered with Sage and Santa's Suit, to my flower cluster and bits of Mixed Chains, covered in 14Karat, along the top and bottom of my picture.

Here you see a piece of the Holiday Vine, all decorated in gold.

And a final close-up of my Christmas wish come true!

Blue Fern Studios products used:

Patterned Papers: Vintage Christmas 1 (Magical, Greeting Cards)

Vintage Christmas 2 ('Twas the Night, Jolly)

Chipboard: 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, Holiday Vine, Holly Sprigs, Mixed Chains

Flowers: Christmas Blooms, Soft Blossoms

Stamp: Weathered Doilies

Imagine Ink: Embossing Powders (14Karat, Ebony, Santa's Suit, Sage)

A Wonderful & Cozy Life (Blue Fern Studios DT Reveal 1 & some challenges)

What a bittersweet post this is for me, as after a year of being on this wonderful team, this is the 1st of my last 3 posts as DT member on the Blue Fern Studios blog.

Through the year, I have been blessed with wonderful scrappy friends, fabulous quality products from generous owner Leslie and inspiration galore.  I am forever grateful of having been given this amazing opportunity and will forever hold a special place in my heart for Blue Fern Studios.

Let's start off this series of farewell posts with this Winter-y creation featuring the gorgeous Vintage Christmas collections 1 & 2.

To create this layout, I was inspired by this stunning mood board from Berry71bleu.
To learn more about this fabulous challenge, click HERE.

I am also playing along to one of my very first DT's dating back quite a few years,

Scrap It with a Song which is a wonderful challenge blog inspired by music!

Click HERE to find out more about their December challenge.

Their rock song inspiration this month is Hammerfall's Send Me a Sign.  I had never heard that song and found the melody to be quite soft and romantic, very beautiful, but with very sad lyrics.  It reminded me of how I used to feel about Winter before I met Yves... it was a truly sad and depressing time for me. I kept wishing for a sign of true love.  Now, each day spent with him is a testament that life can be wonderful and some things are truly worth waiting for. 

Now let's take a closer look at my page...

The Blue Fern Studios' Vintage Christmas collections not only offer beautiful Christmas patterns, 

but also include lots of papers that are perfect for Winter-themed layouts like this plaid print.  

To go along with it, I chose several Winter chipboard pieces including the Snow Medley board, covered in Snow embossing powder with a touch of glitter dust, and these adorable mittens from the Cozy Christmas set on which I used It's a Girl and Blue Sky. 

You see below the Dangled Flake piece which I cut in half as I wanted to save some of it for another project. I added several flowers from the new kits, Christmas Blooms and Soft Blossoms.  I sprinkled lots of silver microbeads throughout my page.

I chose A Wonderful Life, covered in Snow, as the title to which I added the word Cozy which I 'stole' from the Cozy Christmas piece, as that is exactly the word that comes to mind when I look at this picture of Yves and I cozying up to each other for a selfie during a Winter stroll.

Blue Fern Studios products used:

Patterned Papers: Vintage Christmas 1 (Greeting Cards); 

Vintage Christmas 2 (Let It Snow, 'Twas the Night, Holiday Cards)

Chipboard: A Wonderful Life, Snow Medley, Cozy Christmas, Dangled Flake

Flowers: Christmas Blooms, Soft Blossoms

Imagine Ink: Embossing Powders (Snow, Blue Sky, It's a Girl)

Winner of My Creative Scrappers Blog Hop Giveaway

First of all, thank you to all of you who have blog hopped with us at Creative Scrappers for the December 1st reveal.

As promised, here is the lucky winner of Kristine Davidson's fabulous Creating with Sketches Volume 4 sketchbook... 

REBECCA K.

Congratulations Rebecca!!  Please email me at nicutopia(at)hotmail(dot)com to get your free digital copy with LOADS of sketchy inspiration!!!

Sweet Life (Creative Scrappers December Reveal BLOG HOP)

I have published 2 wonderful posts today so...
To view my More Than Words December DT reveal post, click HERE!
And for the Creative Scrappers' Blog Hop, continue reading...


Hello everyone and, for all you newcomers, welcome to the Scrap-Utopia blog!

Creative Scrappers is hosting a BLOG HOP today in conjunction with the reveal for sketch 301 and their December sponsor, Spiegelmom Scraps.  I hope you can take a few minutes from your busy, and hopefully creative, day to join us!

Here is the layout that I created, inspired by sketch 301 and featuring some very nifty products that I (along with the rest of the DT) received from Spiegelmom Scraps!!  These include dainty little doilies, lots of cork stars, vellum pockets and 1001 pretty sequins (No, I didn't count them but I'm sure there were that many - ha!)

This is sketch #301 - I am sure you will agree that it is fabulous!

You can click HERE for more information on Creative Scrappers and their challenge.

To participate in the Blog Hop, you are asked to hop from one blog to the next, starting on the CS blog right HERE and get inspired by all the Creative Scrappers' designers' take on this sketch. Read to the end for a link to your next stop!!

For the occasion, Spiegelmom Scraps graciously offers you a 20% discount coupon on your next purchase from their shop right HERE.  On December 15th, the Creative Scrappers blog will host another Blog Hop with the Spiegelmom Scraps DT.

Here are some close-ups of my layout and Spiegelmom Scraps products used:

For this special occasion, I have a giveaway for you!  Just leave a comment on this blog post before you hop away to the next designer's blog and you could win your very own digital copy of Creative with Sketches, Volume 4!  I would also really appreciate it if you would also become a follower! You have until end of day Saturday, December 3rd to participate, and I will announce the winner on December 4th.  Good luck!!

Thank you so much for visiting!

Your next stop on hop is right HERE on Rachel Lowe's blog!!

In case you get lost, here's the complete order for today's hop!

Anne Keller

Ashley Smith

Audrey Yeager

Caroli Schulz

Christine Beuzit

Jinny Newlin

Joefil Cate

Kristine Davidson 

Majken Pullin

Marielle LeBlanc

Nicole Doiron

Rachel Lowe

Sarah King

Suzanna Lee

Valérie Ouellet

Vivian Lake

Yvette Weber

Dear Santa Wish (More Than Words DT Reveal)

I have published 2 wonderful posts today so...
To view my Creative Scrappers & Spiegelmom Scraps Blog Hop post, click HERE!

It's December!!  Where has the year gone?

And with December, of course, come many Christmas-themed projects, starting with this one!

This layout was inspired by the December Main Challenge at More Than Words!

Word Inspiration - TRADITIONS

Creative Challenge - HANDMADE

You can view more details on this challenge right HERE on the More Than Words blog

and at the same time see loads of beautiful DT inspiration and amazing prizes up for grabs.

Now I thought long and hard about the word inspiration this month as I was inspired to create a Christmas layout, but then several holiday traditions came to mind.  Looking through my pictures, I found this old gem of 'mini me' and Santa, and it made me reminisce about this famous TRADITION of visiting with Santa just before Christmas.  A lot of you will be able to relate and tons of these same type of photos in your albums, I'm sure.

For the creative challenge, I decided to HAND MAKE all the flowers used on my page.

The poinsettias and the little burlap flowers were created using a die and the glittery red flowers were made with a punch.

I also made the bow myself with my wooden bow maker which was a handmade gift from a scrappy friend (her husband made it!) which has proven very useful to make beautiful looking bows.

The papers and most products used are from a My Mind's Eye collection which I was lucky enough to win a few years back called Joyous.  I got everything from alpha stickers, die cuts, brads to washi tape.

I wish I could remember what was on my wish list that year (1977)... and if Santa came through. hehe

Now, it's your turn!  What does the word TRADITION inspire to create?  And what HANDMADE embellishments will you add to your project?   I can't wait to see!