The Hens Den: January 2013

Thursday, January 31, 2013

My Minds Eye All is Bright Christmas card by Janet Bagnall

My Minds Eye All Is Bright Christmas Collection

Christmas Card 2013 resolution

Hey there everyone. Can you believe today is the last day of January? I surely can't - it has flown by. I have been working on my New Year resolutions and am happy to say that so far they are doing okay, especially since none of them deal with exercise or diet :) One of my resolutions is to create at least one Christmas card every month so when December rolls around, I won't be upset with myself because no cards are available to mail out. So on this 31st day of January, I am posting my first Christmas card for 2013.

My card is using the My Minds Eye All is Bright Christmas Collection, which you can purchase from The Hens' Den, which is now having a huge sale to make room for some new stuff Charlie purchased at CHA recently. I so enjoyed using these papers and elements that came with it - I love it when everything works together. By adding the May Arts lace and Tim Holtz Christmas Adornment as a few of my final touches, my card turned out even better.

I had originally placed the wreath adornment without anything under it, but it was just too plain, so went through my paper pad and found this Christmas tree and thought it looked great. To me, it gives it that extra Christmas effect.

I used two challenges to created this card and they were the Sunday Sketch & Stamp and Merry Monday over at Always Playing with Paper blog, in which you were to use a tic-tac-toe procedure. I took the bottom line on the tic-tac-toe card, which was designer paper, red & green and ribbon (does this mean I win? - LOL).

I hope you can join me in this one resolution and create a Christmas card once a month so you will be ready to go when that time comes :) If you love the All is Bright Christmas Collection from My Minds Eye as much as I do, head over to The Hens' Den and see what else the store offers (you'll be glad you did, it's packed full of wonderful stuff).

Have a great one.

Supplies:

Bazzill Green and Red cardstock

My Minds Eye All is Bright 6x6 paper pad

My Minds Eye All is Bright Christmas Layered Stickers

My Minds Eye All is Bright Christmas Rhinestones

May Arts Crochet Trim - 1 inch
Tim Holtz idea-ology Christmas Adornments

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Bo Bunny- Serenity- True Beauty Card- Moriah Macdonald

Bo Bunny- Serenity- True Beauty - Card

Created by: Moriah Macdonald

Hi Everyone! Anyone spending oodles of time on Pinterest lately? This past weekend found me googly eyed from too much screen time. Why do I mention this? The inspiration! I saw so many uber gorgeous cards with luscious layers that I've been itching to make a really layered card!

The Bo Bunny goodies that Charlie sent me are perfect for layers! There is such depth to the patterning of the papers and such rich colors that all I needed to do was cut and paste. You are looking at a 10 minute card that looks like it took hours. Jackpot! Is that too excited sounding for a line called Serenity?!? LOL!

The base of the card is some kraft cardstock with all the layers getting 1/8" border, although mostly the borders are freehand. The sentiment is from the Serenity Cardstock Stickers. I adhered it to some black cardstock and freehand cut the border. The border gives it that extra pop! I used the same black cardstock on the Tomoko paper. The bunting was freehand cut from Serenity scraps. I curled the edges up for extra dimension.

What wonderful creations can you create with this zen inspiring line? Get yours at The Hen's Den and show us on our FB page!

The goodies from The Hen's Den that helped create this goodie:
Bo Bunny- Serenity- Inspiration Cardstock Stickers
Bo Bunny- Serenity- Jewels
Bo Bunny- Serenity- Trinkets
Bo Bunny- Serenity- Tomoko
Bo Bunny- Serenity- Luck
Bo Bunny- Serenity- Serenity

Monday, January 28, 2013

Generations by Simple Stories

Generations Collection by Simple Stories

Serving Tray

Created by Charlie LaBonte

I love snooping around in collectible/antique stores. You can find some of the most wonderful stuff and then ideas spring to life. I was in on of our local stores, Pole Barn Primitives, and found this really cool serving tray. It was pretty ratty, as the felt under the glass had rotted away and in the process discolored the glass. I took it home, dismantled it and scrub the glass real good and tore out all that ratty material. Now all that is it is missing are the pictures. (you won't be serving coffee with this now)

All the paper is under the glass. Once I had the layout completed, I put it all back together and then added my embellishments to the top side of the glass.

Here is a close up of the corner cluster. You can also see that I left the paint in it "Old" condition. I love playing with this stuff, makes my heart sing.

Products used:

Simple Stories Generations collection

Petaloo Canterbury Spray Collection

Petaloo Darjeeling Mini Mix

Maya Road Small Organza Roses Ribbon

I hope you like my inspiration project and that it opens your eyes to other possibilities. Please keep The Hens Den in mind for your shopping needs.

Friday, January 25, 2013

Just Remember I love you

Just Remember I love you pocket Valentine

by Lori McClellan

sentimentalxpressions.blogspot.com

featuring Teresa Collins, Tim Holtz, and Petaloo

I have to admit, I love making Valentines. This is one of my favorite things to do with my kids. It has become tradition to mass produce the class valentines on Super Bowl sunday. While the guys watch the football game, the girls craft the night away. In my opinion, it is a total win-win situation!

So as the big day approaches, I am starting to plan out some Valentine ideas, and I thought I would share with you. If you order supplies from The Hens Den, with their super fast shipping you can have all your supplies you need in time for a Super Bowl scrap-fest of your own.

Start by gathering your supplies.

Teresa Collins Houndstooth cardstock

Tim Holtz Idea-Ology Journaling tickets

Petaloo CAnterbury Collection Magnolia Blossoms

May Arts Red Burlap ribbon

Adhesive

Sewing machine (optional)

Circle punch

Create your pocket by folding a cardstock rectangle in half. Sew around 3 sides, leaving one for an opening. Use the circle punch to cut the tab at the top. Tie the burlap ribbon on the side.

The base is a Tim Holtz journaling tag. The Teresa Collins, I love you sticker, is popped up on the tag. And to finish it off, I used a petaloo flower. Add some adhesive to the back and stick the tag to the pocket.

All that's left is to add your name in the blank space on the tag, fill it with treats and give it someone you love.

Thanks for stopping by. Remember to check out The Hens' den What's on Sale page to find some great deals on supplies to make your own Valentines.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

My Mind's Eye All is Bright Collection-Family Layout - Nicolle Kramer

Family Layout

Featuring: My Mind's Eye All is Bright

These are the goodies I got to create with this month.

What would the holidays be without family? To me the Christmas Holiday is all about family and coming together. So I created a scrapbook page with one of the family pictures I took at Christmas. My mom, sis, nieces, hubby, sons and daughters. I am in there too. Mike's mother took the photo for me. it turned out to be a nice time.

A few techniques I used on this layout are layering, distressing, die cutting and misting. For inspiration I use a sketch to help me get started on a layout.

Below is a close up of the awesome Petaloo Magnolia and Flower pick. I knew when I saw this in my kit I had to pick a special photo to go along with such a beautiful embellishment.

Below is a close up of the cluster at the bottom of the layout. I used the Chipboard Elements and Buttons from the All is Bright Collection.

Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget there is a sale going on at The Hen's Den store to make room for the new products featured at winter CHA.

Supplies:

My Minds Eye - All is Bright Collection

All is Bright- Christmas Bright Paper

All is Bright- Christmas Joy Paper

All is Bright- Christmas Linen Paper

All is Bright- Christmas Chipboard Elements

All is Bright- Christmas Decorative Tape

All is Bright- Christmas Decorative Buttons

Petaloo Canterbury Collection

May Arts Sheer Woven Rosettes- Burgundy

May Arts Lace Ivory

Bazzill papers- Ivory and Pomegranate

Misc items- Mist and red and gold flowers

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Give away Tuesday at The Hens Den

Today's Challenge:

Refer 5 friends

We are going to give 2 lucky people a Chic Album for referring friends to The Hens Den. Here is what you and your friends must do to be eligible-

Refer 5 new friends to The Hens' Den Facebook page and they must "like" us on FB and leave us a comment that you sent them. Then they come here to the blog and leave us a comment here as well that they liked us on FB and that you sent them.

On Wednesday morning, we will randomly draw a name from the referring person list and then a name from your list of friends and both you and your friend will win a Chic Album. It is that easy!

So get your friends excited!

Monday, January 21, 2013

Patrick's Santa Hat

Featuring: My Minds Eye All is Bright Christmas collection
By Janet Bagnall
Life Full of Sunflowers

Well, can you believe your eyes? I have finally created a Christmas layout :) It's been way too long since I have actually put a scrapbook layout together. I have been dabbling in digital scrapbooking for a few months, but it has been almost a year since I did a traditional layout and boy, have I missed it.

I have decided to take a good friend's advise this year, which is to grab a picture and make a layout right then. There's no need for organizing them (which is always a problem for me because I tend to look at the pictures more than organizing them - too many memories) you just grab and create. Thanks Gina for this great idea.

I came across some old holiday photos from 2010 and got started there. I am once again using My Mind's Eye All is Bright Christmas collection - I love this collection. Patrick has always loved wearing his Santa hat during the whole month of December so it is a great place to start :)

A few months back, I was trying to locate some great scrapbook sketches and came across Page Maps and have fallen in love with their sketches, both cards and layouts. When I was pursuing their blog, they had a tab that intrigued me because it was something I hadn't seen before, "half-maps" so I wanted to give it a try. After I completed the half page, I just wasn't happy with it because I'm still a traditional type girl, I suppose and had to put that half page on the full 12x12 paper :) I'm going to have to work on this traditional stuff this year :)

The collection has some of the cutest paper and when Patrick saw the one that had both a library card and music on it, knew I would have to use it somewhere because he loves to read and music is a very big part of who he is. I really enjoyed putting this together and am looking forward to making another one soon.

Enjoy your day and hope you will head over to The Hens' Den to see the other great products the store carries - Charlie and Stephanie went to CHA last week and Charlie has some awesome products headed our way. I can't wait to see them.

Supplies:

Bazzill Green, Red and Off-White cardstock

My Minds Eye All is Bright 6x6 paper pad

My Minds Eye All is Bright Christmas Layered Stickers

My Minds Eye All is Bright Christmas Decorative Buttons

Tim Holtz idea-ology Christmas Adornments

Real red ink

Friday, January 18, 2013

My Mind's Eye - All is Bright Layout by Carolyn Lontin

Joy Layout

(http://carolynlontin.blogspot.com/)

Featuring: My Mind's Eye - All is Bright

Look at all of this Christmas goodness!! You can find this collection in the Hens' Den Store!

Each year we take our family Christmas card photo on Thanksgiving Day before we head out to spend time with our families. I love to keep a copy of the card we send each year. Here is our 2012 Christmas card - what a perfect match it was for My Mind's Eye's All is Bright collection!!

Products used:

Cardstock

My Mind's Eye - All is Bright - Christmas Collage Paper

My Mind's Eye - All is Bright - Christmas Chevron Paper

My Mind's Eye - All is Bright - Christmas Merry Paper

My Mind's Eye - All is Bright - Christmas Decorative Brads

My Mind's Eye - All is Bright - Christmas Layered Stickers

My Mind's Eye - All is Bright - Christmas 12x12 Stickers

Ranger Distress Ink - Old Paper

Prima Marketing - Ingvild Bolme - Rasp Tool

Tim Holtz - Idea-Ology - Tiny Attacher Stapler
May Arts - Lace Ivory 1.5 inch

Thanks for stoppin' by!

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Heating Up in the Cold

Good Morning Folks, Moriah here with a hot idea on a chilly winter's day! It's been a snowy time here in New England and there's nothing like some snow to give me a good excuse to pull out my hot cocoa. :) I love me some cocoa when the white stuff is flying- of course I love it most when I can watch the stuff fall from inside whilst sitting by the fire, but I digress...

The hot cocoa I was sipping also got me thinking about Valentine's Day. See in February my fellow teachers and I celebrate Curious Cupid (think Secret Santa valentine-style). It's been a tradition at my school since way before I started there and I LOVE it! Curious Cupid makes for a fun lead up to the holiday and makes for a cheery distraction from the snow for all of us teachers. So why did the cocoa make me think of it?

Well we have 3 mini gift days and then the Big Reveal day. The first 3 days we are only supposed to spend $5 or less and the big day isn't supposed to be more than $15. That isn't an easy feat to begin with, never mind in New England where things can get expensive quickly. So last year at around this time I was thinking "wouldn't cocoa be a fun inexpensive treat", but then I thought "how to I make it pretty & special vs. plain & boring"? A quick search of Pinterest and I came across this cute packaging idea. :)

Basically the paper is a wrap for the cocoa and the ribbon is a pull-tab to get the cocoa packet out. I cut the first layer of paper 8"X 5.5" and then cut an additional paper about 8"X 3.5". I layered the smaller on top of the larger and scored one of the narrow edges at .5" and then again at 4.25". Everything got folded and the smaller tab gets some adhesive. Glue together and voila! You have a pocket to slide your cocoa packet- but wait! Se where the ribbon is at the top of both packets? You'll need to punch a hole through the top of both side of the pocket and feed ribbon through the holes. The cocoa packet will rest on the ribbon inside the pocket, so once you have enough ribbon sticking out of both sides, slide your cocoa into the pocket and tie a bow. When that special recipient wants to break into their cocoa all they have to do is pull the ribbon up and the packet slides out. :) Cool huh! Don't forget to embellish with a tag so your cocoa buddy remembers you and smiles while enjoying their hot cup of yummy chocolate goodness.

I hope this has warmed you up (couldn't help it, I had to pun it) to the idea of giving some valentine love to friends and family this year. You have plenty of time and these are super quick when you get on a roll. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave them in the comments and I will make sure to get you an answer!

Happy Thursday!!!

Wanna make your own that look like the ones above? Check out The Hen's Den supplies used here:
Petaloo Mulberry Daisies
May Arts Pink & Brown Ribbon
May Arts Ivory & Pink Check Ribbon
Simple Stories All About Me
Simple Stories Brown Damask
Simple Stories Journaling Card Elements #1
Bo Bunny Garden Brads
Bo Bunny Love
My Minds Eye Christmas Rhinestones
Ranger 1/4" Wondertape

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Inspire Joy The Hens' Den Featuring Teresa Collins Vintage Finds Collection

Inspire Joy Card

Featuring Teresa Collins Vintage Finds Collection

Well it is 2013 and with a New Year comes thoughts of things we would like to change about ourselves. When I saw this lovely paper line by Teresa Collins I was touched by the clocks as I feel that time is flying by way too fast for my liking. My son has completed three of his five years of college and my daughter just finished her first semester of college. I want to devote my change to inspiring joy in the time that I do have with those I love and cherish. To savor every minute and not worry about what is coming around the next corner. I am a worrier by nature so I will try to let that go. I'll keep you posted on how I am doing.

The Hens' Den Store

The Hen's Den Blog

Project Materials:
Teresa Collins Vintage Finds 6X6 Paper Pad (There are lots of lovely individual sheets including Vintage Finds Clocks)
Teresa Collins Vintage Finds Sticker Sheet #2
Ranger Distress Ink Black Soot
May Arts Crocheted Ribbon Black (The black seems to have sold out, but here is a link to the brown, which would be lovely on this card as well.)
Die from My Favorite Things
Brad from personal stash
Hugs,

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Introducing Chic Sketches by The Hens Den

Introducing "Chic Sketches"

exclusive to The Hens' Den

by Lori McClellan

Ever wish you had a starting place when you sit down to scrap? I know that I do, and having a sketch makes it SO much easier to get started. This year I will be developing sketches to help us over some of our scrapping hurdles.

Today I have a sketch for all of you to play with. I know that most of us have a box or drawer full of pictures that are waiting to be preserved. This sketch has places for multiple pictures. Getting more than one picture on the page is a great way to get started.

Does this sketch look familiar? When I was preparing my post for the blog, I found myself stumped and turned to this sketch. I wanted a layout I could use several pictures on. Also I had this beautiful line from Teresa Collins and it begged to become a Christmas layout.

The Hens' Den has so many beautiful product lines that this sketch comes together with 3-5 sheets of coordinating papers and a couple of embellishments to complete the theme your page takes on.

I would LOVE to see all the different takes on this sketch. Remember to post a picture in the Hens' Den gallery for a chance to win a "Chic" chipboard album

Also as I will be designing a lot more sketches to come, please let me know some of the types of sketches you want to see. I love feedback and will try to develop sketches to help you fill your albums this year.

Thanks for stopping by and Be Scrappy!