Monday, December 22

Celebrate the Season

I really enjoyed creating these cards and will probably make a few more before the year comes to a close.
 

I started off by tearing some white cardstock and layering it at the bottom of the card to form snow drifts.  I used a dauber and some bright yellow ink to add the "lamp glow" directly on to the base cardstock.  At first it looked mottled and horrible but after a few minutes it dried beautiful and smooth.  Next was the stamped sentiment followed by the lamppost die cut, which was fixed to the card with double-sided foam tape to give it a bit of dimension.  I glued the ribbon bow and sprigs of pine to the lamp and finished by adding a few snowflakes with an opaque white pen.

Friday, December 19

Happy Christmas

Okay, this is the last poinsettia card for the year... I promise.
 

Wednesday, December 17

New Release: In The Christmas Garden

For my final set of digital stamps for the year I decided to combine two of my favourite Christmas images - snowmen and poinsettias. 
 

Renee's Card
 
Gail's Card
 
Ilaria's Card
 
Christine's Card
 
Susan's Card

Tuesday, December 16

Holly Sprig

My Mum bought me a packet of beautiful die cut holly sprigs the last time we went shopping.  If you look closely at the holly you can see it's layered onto gold cardstock and also has some red glitter on the berries.
 

For those who live in the Brisbane area, the holly sprig was from Calligraphic Arts at Moorooka... it's an Aladdin's Cave of treasures for card-makers!
 
(I am not affiliated with Calligraphic Arts in any way... but I do love to shop there!)

Sunday, December 14

New Release: Finn in the Snow

There's nothing quite like dancing around outside in the elements.  Whether it's rain or snow, there's a particular kind of joy that comes with being so close to nature.
 

Susan's Card
 
Ilaria's Card
 
Gail's Card
 
Renee's Card
 
Christine's Card

Saturday, December 13

Poinsettias

These cards were made from off-cuts of red and green patterned paper that's been accumulating in my scrap box over the past month or so.  I used the gorgeous Tattered Poinsettia die from Sizzix, which cuts multiple sized petals that are easy to assemble into beautiful layered flowers.  There's an embossing folder that matches it perfectly... hopefully I've been a good girl so Santa leaves one in my stocking!
 

Thursday, December 11

New Release: Winter Stanley

My favourite little bear is back... all bundled up and ready for a long walk in the snow.  This digital stamp set has Stanley all wrapped up in his striped scarf and cuddly beanie, just as the snow begins to fall.
 

Two cards from Christine
 
Three cards from Gail
 
Ilaria's Card
 
Renee's Card
 
Susan's Card

Wednesday, December 10

Freebie - Bobbie


Original artwork by Beccy Muir, all rights reserved. Images are for personal use and must not be copied, electronically swapped, electronically shared, resold or mass produced without the express written permission of the artist.

Saturday, December 6

Magic of the Season

I have a clean and simple Christmas card to share with you today using the free Stanley image I posted last month.  I coloured him with copic markers, fussy cut around the edges and then used some foam tape to secure him to the front of my embossed card.  Easy!
 

Thursday, December 4

Jim The Snowman


Original artwork by Beccy Muir, all rights reserved.
Images are for personal use and must not be copied, swapped, shared, resold or mass produced without the express written permission of the artist.

Wednesday, December 3

The Winners - A Month of Holiday Cards

A hearty congratulations to the final five random winners of the November challenge!
 
Suze
 
Dorothy S.
 
Cora
(Card called Geborduurd)
 
Suzana
(Floare de Colt)
 
Carla Aerts
 
Please visit my online store to select five sets of digital stamps and email your choices to me at beccymuir@yahoo.com.

Tuesday, December 2

December New Releases

It's all about Christmas and winter this month!
 
In the Christmas Garden
 

Finn in the Snow


Winter Stanley
 

Check out the Beccy's Place Facebook page for January sneak peeks!

Monday, December 1

Thank You

What an amazing month it's been!
Thank you so much to everyone who participated in the Christmas Card challenge this year, I had a fabulous time visiting blogs and looking through the wonderful cards and tags that were created.  I feel super inspired right now and have so many great ideas bouncing around in my head for next year.
 
I'm very pleased to report that all my Christmas cards went in the post box this morning... what a great feeling!  I hope you're all finishing the last of your cards too and will soon have them packaged up and ready for posting.

Comment Winner - Day 30

Congratulations Trees!
Your comment has won you an individual, digital image of your choice.
Please visit my online store to select an image and email your choice to me at beccymuir@yahoo.com.

What a "snoesje"! (is cutie or little darling in Dutch).Especially the robins. The snow looks very real!
Cheers, Trees

Sunday, November 30

Comment Winner - Day 29

Congratulations Dorothy S!
Your comment has won you an individual, digital image of your choice.
Please visit my online store to select an image and email your choice to me at beccymuir@yahoo.com.
 
I agree with all of the above - what a WOW card! Need my thinking hat on to decide what dies to use! And the month is almost over - where does the time go?

Day 30 - Do What You Love

Last year I ended the Month of Holiday Cards challenge in the same way - "Do What You Love".  Use the stamps you love using, colour with the mediums you enjoy and design the cards that you would like to receive yourself.  You'll find the task of creating Christmas greetings for family and friends an enjoyable holiday pastime.
 

YOUR TURN: Show me the cards you love to create!
Upload your card here.

Saturday, November 29

Saturday Weekly Winners 4

Congratulations to our fourth and last group of Saturday weekly winners, and because it's the last Saturday in the month I thought I should throw in a few more winners!
Jacee (card 68)
Crafty (card 203)
Angela (card 238)
Loz (card 285)
Deloris (card 299)
Debi (card 304)
Please visit my online store to select either one full set of digital stamps or three individual images and email your choice to me at beccymuir@yahoo.com.

Comment Winner - Day 28

Congratulations Suzana Miu!
Your comment has won you an individual, digital image of your choice.
Please visit my online store to select an image and email your choice to me at beccymuir@yahoo.com.
 
Beautiful wreath! We have also this arrangement but from branches of Christmas tree with cones and shiny ornaments. We can also put it on the Christmas table, together with a Christmas candle. Beautiful moments, indeed, when the whole family is together and feel the joy of this Celebration.
Cheers,
Suzana

Day 29 - Die Cut Delirium

I dragged out all my Christmas themed dies and some white card stock and spent an hour cutting and embossing lots of wonderful Christmassy shapes.  Most of them didn't make it on to my card, but I'm certainly in the spirit of the season and have lots of left over cuts for even more cards!
 

YOUR TURN:  Go nuts with die cuts!
Upload your creation here.

Friday, November 28

Comment Winner - Day 27

Congratulations BAstelfeti!
Your comment has won you an individual, digital image of your choice.
Please visit my online store to select an image and email your choice to me at beccymuir@yahoo.com.
 
You are Aussie Wreath is very very nice.
Here in Germany its cold to Christmas and somtime withe.
Greeting BAstelfeti

Day 28 - Construct A Card

These days card makers have access to a wonderful range of pre-coloured images and card making kits.  Lots of patterned paper is made with images that are easy to cut out with scissors and reconstruct on a card.  There are also several companies who make and sell paper tole kits and pre-cut images for cards and scrapbooks.  I created this card using some pre-printed die cuts from Kaisercraft.  It was fun to mix and match the images to come up with this little Christmas scene. 
 
 
YOUR TURN: Create a card using pre-coloured cut outs, printables or purchased kits.
Upload your creation here.

Thursday, November 27

Comment Winner - Day 26

Congratulations Suze!
Your comment has won you an individual, digital image of your choice.
Please visit my online store to select an image and email your choice to me at beccymuir@yahoo.com.

I think I'm going to enjoy this one! I have one artist whose cards I always love seeing as I love the style of them. Love the scene you have created with your card Beccy.

Day 27 - Create Something Regional

Here in Australia, Christmas is celebrated in summertime.  There are no snowmen, warm scarves, sleigh rides or roaring fires, instead we have the beach, seafood platters, cricket in the backyard, and often, an afternoon thunderstorm.  All over the world, Christmas is celebrated with different foods, activities and traditions and often the cards we make reflect the things that are special to us.
 
For today's card I used a pre-coloured digital stamp called "Aussie Wreath".  It contains gum leaves, blooming gumnuts and Australian flannel flowers finished with a big red bow.
 
 
YOUR TURN: Create a card that reflects the region where you live
or the traditions that are important to your family.
Upload your card here.

Wednesday, November 26

Comment Winner - Day 25

Congratulations SweetDee!
Your comment has won you an individual, digital image of your choice.
Please visit my online store to select an image and email your choice to me at beccymuir@yahoo.com.
 
A white card always has this simplistic beauty but when you had gold or silver metallic paper you just made that even more elegant. And, you can never have to much paper!

Day 26 - What's Your Style?

Lots of card artists develop a creative "style" that can become quite recognisable.  They might be known for their colour combinations, their skill with colouring or their creative use of textiles.
Today I've created a card in the style of Kittie Caracciolo, who makes the most amazing cards using a wide variety of die cuts and inks.  After making this card I certainly have a new appreciation for all the hard work that Kittie does to create her masterpieces!
 
 
YOUR TURN: Create a card based on the style of a card artist you admire.
(You are not recreating a particular card they have done,
you are using their general style as inspiration.)
Upload your creation here.

Tuesday, November 25

Some Tuesday Winners...

I'm really enjoying all the amazing cards, bookmarks, tags and paper creations being submitted this month, the inspiration has been fabulous!  Well done to everyone!
Now... let's have a few more winners:

Irena (card 65)
Nana Connie (card 86)
Deloris T. (card 131)
Donna R. (card 163)
Jackie C. (card 233)

Please visit my online store and select a set of digital stamps.  Email your choice to me at beccymuir@yahoo.com.

Comment Winner - Day 24

Congratulations Jacee!
Your comment has won you an individual, digital image of your choice.
Please visit my online store to select an image and email your choice to me at beccymuir@yahoo.com.
 
How fabulous Becky, I adore that cute snowman with his scarf round tight, ahhh so cute!
hugs Jacee

Day 25 - Baubles

Baubles are a popular motif for Christmas cards and there are countless ways of adding them to your creations.  I have seen bauble stamps, punches, dies and stickers as well as cards featuring baubles made from fabric, buttons, patterned paper, burlap, twine, rhinestones and glitter.  There are bauble stencils, embossing folders and masks as well as patterns for painting and drawing baubles.  Creative card artists make baubles from other stamps as well.  All it takes is a string, a little bow and a loop to turn your bird, car or horse stamp into a fabulous Christmas decoration.
 
Stamps by: Sparkle N Sprinkle and Stamp-It Australia
 
YOUR TURN: Create a card featuring Christmas baubles.
Upload your creation here.

Monday, November 24

Comment Winner - Day 23

Congratulations Karin!
Your comment has won you a digital image of your choice.
Please visit my online store to select an image and email your choice to me at beccymuir@yahoo.com.
 
Beccy, thanks for all the tips you gave us. I'll try them out. And I love the cards you've created, they're all so cute.

Day 24 - A Touch of Gold

I was looking through my local newsagent recently and was amazed by the variety of metallic cardstock that was on sale, particularly gold and silver.  There were sheets that were so glossy I could see my reflection, right through to pieces that looked as though they were brushed metal.  Naturally I had to buy some... much more than I will ever use in my lifetime, but at least I'm prepared for any eventuality!
 
 
YOUR TURN:  Create a card with a touch of gold.
Upload your creation here.

Sunday, November 23

Friends of Stanley!

It's about time I gave out some more random prizes... this time I'm giving them to those people who used the Stanley freebie from Day 5.  Please visit my online store and select a set of digital stamps.  Email your choice to me at beccymuir@yahoo.com.
 
Granmargaret (card 26)
Suzana (card 30)
Debi B. (card 37)
Suze (card 167)

Comment Winner - Day 22

Congratulations Vic!
Your comment has won you a digital image of your choice.
Please visit my online store to select an image and email your choice to me at beccymuir@yahoo.com.
 
what a perfect, lush wreath - just love it!! x

Day 23 - Do It Differently

It's great to find a product or technique that's easy to use and looks fabulous, but it's all too easy to get stuck in a creative rut as the same item gets used in the same way over and over again.  Sometimes it just takes a different colour or a different medium to get those creative juices flowing again, and to breathe new life into an item that might be feeling a little stale.
 
Here are some ideas:
Instead of always using black ink for stamping, try grey, dark brown or green.
Heat emboss in white onto a dark background.
Use your stamps as watermarks by stamping in the same colour as your cardstock.
Colour with pencils, markers, watercolours or paints.
Stamp multiple images, cut them out and piece together to build a 3D image.
Stamp directly onto patterned paper.
Stamp onto wide pieces of ribbon with oil-based inks.
Use a monochromatic colour scheme.
Colour in black and white.
Try masking.
 
 

 
YOUR TURN: Dig out a much used item and do something different with it.
Upload your creation here.

Saturday, November 22

New Release: Aussie Wreath Set

This Christmas wreath features some very well-known Australian foliage - eucalyptus leaves, flowering gumnuts and little white flannel flowers.  These plants are more familiar to Aussies at Christmastime than all the beautiful holly, mistletoe and poinsettias that grow in the northern hemisphere.
I'm going to use this image on some of the cards I send overseas to my husband's family, and I'm pretty sure some of my overseas friends will be using the image on cards they send back here to wish their Aussie mates a happy Christmas!
 
Aussie Wreath Set
 
Susan's Card
 
Renee's Card
 
Ilaria's Card
 
Gail S's Card
 
Two cards from Gail K
 
Christine's Card