Winner of Belles 'n Whistles Lantern and Card!!

I would like to thank everyone who participated in this Sweet Stuff and for coming by my blog during the busiest of times!! The winner was selected by random.org AND...

CONGRATULATIONS to.....


Kim who said...
WOW WOW WOW! Another stunning creation hun! Absolutely ADORABLE! Your creations blow me away Jacque! Amazing work hun...thanks so much for the chance to win this beauty! Wishing you and your family a VERY Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy, and joyful new year!
Big Hugs~ Kim

Kim, please send me your address before Friday, January 1, so that I can get this mailed out to you. Congratulations again!!!

Friday Sketchers Christmas Blog Hop and Some Sweet Stuff, Too!!!!

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND WELCOME to the FRIDAY SKETCHERS Christmas Blog Hop. I hope that you are having a magnificent Christmas Day and that the remainder of your holiday season will be filled with much happiness, many smiles, and a stocking FULL of crafting items...smile. The DT members at Friday Sketchers would like to thank each of you for your continuing support of our challenge blog each week. Seeing all of your creations is such an inspiration!!!!

If you have arrived here from Tanja's blog then you are right on track. If you arrived here first, you will need to start HERE at the beginning.

The sketch we are using for the Christmas Blog Hop was designed by the amazingly talented Claudia and I hope you enjoy working with it as much as I did!! We would love to see your interpretation of Claudia's wonderful sketch. All instructions are on the FS blog but basically to be eligible for the prize from The Stamp Shoppe you will need to link your card with Mr Linky on the FS blog before January 8 when the winners will be announced.

I would love to show you the card I made for this fun occasion and also offer a little bit of Christmas Sweet Stuff for you to win here.



I have used Webster's Pages for the DP and little New Year's Tilda from Magnolia-licious.

Each of the Design Team Members has posted their sample card on their blog and each one of us has a little gift to give away. Just follow along on the Blog Hop and leave comments on each DT's blog for a chance to win their prize.

For Sweet Stuff I am offering Tilda with Tag, 60's Tilda, and Tilda Holding Heart, a 6X6 pack of Basic Grey Indian Summer, and a pack of MS pearls. All you need to do is leave a comment for me and please make sure all of your blogging friends know about the hop and the possibility of winning prizes!!


Thank you so much for dropping by to see me!!! I appreciate your visit so much!! Your next stop on the Hop is the unbelievably talented and creative Carole of England!! Have fun and a VERY HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON TO EVERYONE!!!!!

Two Turtle Doves at Belles 'n Whistles and a bit of Sweet Stuff!!!!

Happy Thursday everyone and GOSH!!! Happy Christmas Eve, too!!! I hope that everyone is prepared for that plump, jolly man's arrival!!!

I also hope you have been visiting the Belles 'n Whistles blog every day this month because Summer has already given out some unbelievable surprises EVERY SINGLE DAY!!! The very end of the Advent Calendar at Belles 'n Whistles will be on Christmas Day so you better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, I'm telling you why----Summer has a magnificent surprise for all of us on Christmas Day!!!!!!!

For my card I have used Two Turtle Doves "On the second day of Christmas my true love sent to me, two turtle doves..." and oh my, if she isn't the most precious little thing!!!! I have used Webster's Pages DP, Bazzill for the base, and SU for all matting...She is colored with Copics and propped up for dimension...Isn't she darling???

To match the card I have made a candle lantern shown below:




Although the holidays are almost over (or will be by the time you receive this card and lantern) I would love to send this set to someone just to say thanks for visiting my blog and just to ask you to visit the Belles 'n Whistles blog today and tomorrow!!! I know you will be very happy that you did!!! I will select someone using Random.org on Sunday, December 27 at Noon EST. Remember to leave a comment here and also visit the BnW Blog today and tomorrow. I would love for you to tell all of your followers about my giveaway AND about the Belles 'n Whistles opportunity!!!

Thank you so much for your visit and I don't have the words to properly tell you just how much I appreciate your visits and comments. May you and yours have a most blessed holiday season! Merry Christmas and hugs to each of you!!!

AND just a bit of news: Over on Friday Sketchers on Christmas Day we are having a Blog Hop using a fabulous sketch by Claudia and I think you will find that each of the DT members who are participating will have a bit of sweet stuff for you to win as well as an overall FS bit of candy...So I hope you can hop along with us on Friday!!!! HUGS!!!!!

Whew!!! Finally out of the Snow Bank and Electrified!!!

Happy Tuesday everyone...Gosh!!! I have been missing in action!!! I had a terrible flu last week for 3 days and then when I finally felt better on Friday we had a wee snow storm which dumped more than a foot of that beautiful white stuff in my yard!! Since that was not nearly enough, I lost electricity until Monday. I do live in the Blue Ridge Mountains BUT we are just not accustomed to Wisconsin type of snow so we just don't have the snow plows and other equipment to take care of such a rare occurence...so they did not even scrape my street until late Monday. Enough said for White Christmases!!! This will be a quick post as I am so far behind in so many things!!!

This card is my DT Sample Card for Friday Sketchers using the wonderful sketch by the very talented Aud of Norway who is hosting this week. The prize this week is being offered by Inktegrity so I hope you will come right over and join with us this week!

For my card I used those lovely Magnolia papers and Unwrapped Tilda from the latest collection, all from Magnolia-licious. I promise to give more information in my next posting.



This card is my DT card for Just Magnolia using the marvelous sketch by the infinitely talented Mina. This challenge will run until Thursday, January 7 and the prize is any C.C. Designs stamp set of your choice from All The Scraps. So come on over and show us your interpretation of the sketch using one of your cute Maggies!!

I used Webster Pages DP and the darling Tilda as Christmas Angel from Magnolia-licious.

I hope you all are prepared for the happiest of seasons and have done so without the hurry and stress. Here is a pic looking from my back porch up to the garage in the back yard. AND this was taken before the snow got deep!!! For all of you who would love to have a white Christmas, I wish I could send this white stuff to each of you...lol


Thank you so much for dropping by to check on me and thanks for all of the emails expressing your concerns about my absence. I would love to know what you think about my Maggies. Until we meet again, be safe and big hugs for you!!

Winner of Gingerbread Sweet Stuff!!

The winner of the Gingerbread Corner Sweet Stuff, selected by Random.Org is:

Kelly Schelske who said...
What an awesome project Jacque!!

Your sweet stuff looks awesome! Going to put it on my sidebar now!

Thanks to eveyone who dropped by and CONGRATULATIONS to Kelly!! Kelly, please send your address to me before Thursday, Dec 17 so I can get your prize out to you right away!

Edwin has a Blast in the Snow at Friday Sketchers

Happy Friday evening! I hope that you are well prepared for a marvelous weekend and are not feeling all the stress that goes along with this time of year everywhere!!

This week at Friday Sketchers we are being hosted by the magnificently talented Carole of England who has given us a wonderful sketch to use. I hope that you will pay a visit to the Friday Sketchers blog to see all of the wonderful cards that the Design Team members have made using Carole's sketch. We would love for you to participate this week by showing us your interpretation of the sketch and perhaps you could be the winner of a wonderful prize.

For my card I used Bazzill for the base, the matting is Bazzill and blue glitter paper, and the DP is from BoBunny Tis the Season collection...thank you Suzan!! I have enjoyed these papers sooooo much!! I have stamped Edwin On Sledge from the Christmas collection at Magnolia-licious onto White Cryogen and colored him with Copics. I think this stamp may be out of stock for the moment but I'm sure if you contact Diana that she will make every attempt to get it for you. For the bit of sparkle of the snowflakes I have used Diamond Stickles. The front was finished with ball fringe and red grosgrain ribbon, a couple of twinklet snowflakes and some tiny red buttons.



For the inside of the card I repeated the square panels from the front, adding more twinklet snowflakes, red ribbon and a small silver sled (sledge) on the jotting spot.

I would like to thank each of you for coming by and for all of the support that you give me...it is so humbling to know that you visit and are so sweet and kind in your comments about my creations. I hope that you will return often! Please have a safe and fun weekend and until we meet again, great big old Maggie hugs for you!!

Christmas Morning and Sparkling Tilda at Just Magnolia

A very Happy Friday to Everyone and I hope the week has not been so stressful as you try to get everything done for the impending holidays. I'm sure many of you are still digging out from a snowbank...but at least those stay inside days give you some extra crafting time...smile

This is my Just Magnolia DT sample card this week and we were asked to make a Christmas card and I would love for all of you to come over and join with us this week so that we can see your lovely creations and perhaps you can win a very nice prize!! I have tried to make a very special Christmas card for a very special friend who is also a collector of key chains...AND who also happens to be the person who first introduced me to Magnolias and stamping and cardmaking ONE year ago...the rest is history!!! So you will have to let me know how I did, please!!!

For my card, I used Bazzill for the base and matting and all the DP is Magnolia's White Christmas Frosty Fir which I distressed with white acrylic paint around the cut edges. I then added tassel trim, picot lace, and braid for the oval frame. Christmas Morning Tilda from Magnolia-licious was stamped on Cryogen White and colored with Copics and touches of Spica. Glitter was added to her headband. I then added a bow and cascading organza ribbon to the frame along with a few mulberry roses.



The little gift box is just a papier mache box which I painted with acrylic paint and then covered with Tim Holtz Distress Crackle Paint in Old Paper. I then added the same trims as the card...you know, frou-frou and bunches of it...lol. For the top I stamped a Stempelglede Heart on Cryogen White, colored it with Shimmerz, and added matching pearls and a silver key. I then added the same cascading bow with roses to the top.



This side view of the box will perhaps give you a better idea of what the set looks like. Do you think she will like it?????

On the inside of the box lid I added Little Sparkling Tilda which I colored with Copics and added a touch of stickles for the halo and wings and finished it with the same braid used on the card.



And since she is a collector of key chains, I made her a special key chain to go into the box using images from her cards HERE. Using my photo editing program I reduced the size so they would fit in some Blue Moon picture frame charms. Aren't they something...Magnolias, a Papilio, and Hanglar, which by the way was REMARKABLE on Midnight Madness!!! Notice that I also added a heart and key to repeat the theme of the little box.



Thank you all so much for dropping by to see what's in store for you today and all of you Maggie Lovers remember to visit Just Magnolia to see the exquisitely lovely cards this week made by the design team members. We would love to see your Maggie Christmas card this week...no sketch, no color requirement, just a sweet Magnolia!!!!

I would love to know what you think about my special gift for a very special friend...If I have failed to explain something, please email me and I will be more than happy to answer your questions. May you all have a delightful weekend and until we meet again, big Maggie hugs for YOU!!!

Come On Over to Gingerbread Corner at Belles 'n Whistles and a wee touch of Sweet Stuff here!!!

Happy Thursday everyone!! I hope your week is going very well and without alot of the typical holiday stress. Gosh, and for those of you who are snowed in...just kick back, craft, and enjoy!!!

Today is my posting for Day 10 of the Belles 'n Whistles Advent Calendar event which continues every day through December 25. And each day there is a lovely giveaway for those who leave comments...so come on over!!!!

I made an easel card using the darling Gingerbread Corner which to me is very reminiscent of the years that I did tea parties and manners training for little ones at some of the resorts in the Southeast. It was always such a joy to have the tea parties in late November and early December either at the Grove Park Inn (where the National Gingerbread House Competition is held) or the Biltmore House and then follow up with taking the children on a tour of all of the gingerbread houses in competition. The MAGIC of the holidays was obvious in those twinkling eyes!! I'm sure some of you have seen this competition either on Food Network, HGTV, or in person so you know what MAGIC there is for sure!!!

For my 6X6 card I used Bazzill for the base, all double matting is PTI, and the DP is BoBunny Tis the Season and the check is PJK. Belle is stamped on Cryogen White and colored with Copics and I added some buttons and bows and a couple of charms...I also added a couple of the cutest gingerbread boys as the stops on the second panel.


To match the card, I made a 3 flameless candle set in a black tray that I trimmed with the same ribbon and buttons I used on the card...the short candles are wrapped in red ribbon with clay gingerbread houses affixed and the taller candle is another Belle colored on vellum.


AND NOW FOR A WEE BIT OF SWEET STUFF!!!!



I am so happy that you have visited me today and I would like to share some of the MAGIC and cheer of the season with you...For the Sweet Stuff I have also added some texture and decoration to a couple of Gingerbread Boy boxes from Michaels which I will fill with 2 sets of Clay gingerbread ornaments and a decorated Belle candle. All I am asking is that you leave a comment and I hope that you would mention the sweet stuff on your sidebar. Closing will be Sunday, December 13, at noon EST.

Thank you so much for coming by and I hope you will visit me often. I appreciate your kind comments so much. Hopefully the rest of your week will be joyful and until we meet again...Big hugs for you!!!

Thank You DIVINE INFLUENCE!!!

I am so thrilled and honored that I have been featured on the DIVINE INFLUENCE blog which showcases 'Divine' Crafty Creations from all parts of the globe! My sincere thanks to Jessica and all of the Divine Gals for selecting me for this honor!! I will proudly display the Divine Influence Badge on my blog!!

Little Frosty Catches a Snowflake

Happy Sunday evening!! I hope you have had a marvelous weekend are ready for a fun and exciting upcoming week. I tend to hide alot these days and take all roads around town. I am NOT a Christmas shopper unless you can buy it on-line...lol

Since we had some real live snow on Saturday, I just had to ink up this Frosty with Snowflake from Magnolia-licious. This cutie doesn't seem to be in stock at the moment but his two little brother snowmen are and they are precious too!!! This little cutie fits the challenge requirements over at Copic Creations too!!! I have to tell you that at one point Saturday looked like a blizzard but absolutely nothing remained on the ground after the sun popped out...thus, the end of the blizzard!!! yipppppppeeeeeeeee

I used Bazzill for the base, all matting is PTI, and the papers are BoBunny. Little Frosty was stamped twice on Cryogen White and one image was cut out...both were colored with Copics. For those of you who have asked, I use the cool grays, C00 and C0 to color Frosty before blending him completely with the blender. I used Diamond Stickles for the snowflake he is holding. After propping up one of the images I then outline the entire image with BG0000 and C00 on the ground. The corner snowflakes are punched MS Himalayan flakes covered with Twinklets and then adding Karen Foster red jewel centers. To finish the front I added several red Swarovski sparkles, some organza ribbon and silver cord, and a mitten charm.

The inside is just several chipboard glittery snowflakes with the same red sparkles, another red bow and a snowman charm for the jotting spot.

I would like to remind you that at Belles 'n Whistles we are starting the second week of our Advent Calendar and if you are not visiting everyday you are missing out on the opportunity to win some fantastic prizes...As a matter of fact there is a great prize EVERY day through the 25th!!! I will have a posting on Thursday, December 10 so I hope you can come by and see me as well as visiting the BnW blog...I might even have some sweet stuff too...wink!!!

Thank you so much for visiting Frosty and me today and I look forward to seeing you again real soon. Please let me know what you think of this little snowfolk. I love hearing from you!! Have a wonderful week and until we meet again...Bunches of Maggie Hugs!!!!

Tilda Decorates for Christmas at Friday Sketchers 81

Happy Saturday evening to everyone!! I hope your weekend is going well!! We had SNOW this morning and it looked like a blizzard BUT the sun came out and the snow left quickly!! Whew!!! I am NOT a snow and winter person at all!! How many days til Spring arrives????

I wanted to show you my DT sample card for Friday Sketchers 81 this week using a sketch of the very talented Bea of Germany who is hosting this week. She has secured some very nice prizes so I hope you will come over and use Bea's sketch and show us your interpretation of her sketch!!

For my card, I used Bazzill for the base, Prismatics for all matting, Imaginisce Polar Expressions for the DP (thank you so much Suzan...and for the wee lights as well!!) and the image is stamped on Cryogen White. I used Tilda with Christmas Tree from the new collection which is still available at Magnolia-licious. I'm sure you will notice that this is one of the very few times that I have not given Tilda alot of dimension but I did cut her little feet out before cutting her out with the Nestie...just slid the Nestie under her feet and let her prance around a little outside the circle. She was colored with Copics and a touch of Stickles and I shined her boots with Glossy Accents. For the corner flower treatment, I used little roses touched with stickles and a bit of bridal spray.

Several of you have emailed me about how I make the curlicues for the roses...well, I don't know how you are supposed to do them but I just take the stem of the rose, flatten it on the back and then wrap it around a toothpick all the way down and then slide the toothpick out and position the curlicue where I want it...that was too simple huh?

Since the front of the card was sooooo simple for my taste, I wanted the inside to be a bit more of a SURPRISE...so here ya go!!!!



I told you Little Tilda was decorating so I had to show you her Christmas Tree which is from last year's collection at Magnolia. It is decorated with rhinestones and pearls and a star button and of course she hasn't finished with the wee little lights yet!!!! I finished the inside with a couple of bows and a Christmas tree charm.

Thank you so much for dropping by to see us!! And we hope you will return often!! Please let me know what you think about my little Maggie and until we meet again...Maggie hugs for each of you!!!

Cozy Tilda at Just Magnolia

Happy Friday!! I hope you have had a wonderful week and are ready for a fun and enjoyable weekend. I am noticing way too much hustle and bustle for my liking!!! But that's what this season brings!!

This week at Just Magnolia Challenge Blog the design team members were asked to create a Christmas/holiday card for a very special person! I hope you will come over and check out the lovely cards made by the DT members and will join us this week in making your own card for a special person in your life! Please be sure that you have linked back to Just Magnolia on your blog posting. Also be sure that you are linking your posting with MrLinky rather than linking your blog. That way it makes it so much easier for us to find your card when we go to look at your creations.

For my card I have used Bazzill for the base, all matting is SU and PTI, and the DP is from the BG Eskimo Kisses Collection. This little Tilda is Cozy Tilda from the new Christmas Collection and the background for her is Snowy Circle and both are from Magnolia-licious. Gosh, it looks as though Cozy Tilda is a favorite...but if you would like her please give Diana a shout to let her know that you would like her and I am sure she will try to get her for you.

All main panels are machine stitched and on the front I used Bridal Tinsel EP for the Snowy Circle. Tilda was stamped twice, colored with Copics and propped up. I also used a bit of Liquid Applique, Diamond Stickles, and a gold bead for her button. The corner snowflakes are from MS punches, coated with white glue and dipped in Twinklets, and fastened with gem brads. To finish the front I added 2 types of ribbon, a cute little angel charm, and small dew drops on the corners.


For the inside I used several glitter silk snowflakes with pink gem centers, the same ribbon as the front and a little portrait of Cozy Tilda...she is just so darling with her little muff!!

AND NOW.....my sincere thanks to everyone who participated in my Just Magnolia Sweet Stuff with so many lovely comments and all of the links!! CONGRATULATIONS to the winner of the Sweet Stuff who was selected by Random.org:

Martha said...
Your cards always just blow me away! The colors, the DP, the coloring, the embellishments...every part is just so stunningly created. I have been following you for almost a year and you are 100% top drawer! Everyone sees it and knows it. Congrats on the new DT position at Just Magnolia and a chance to win your lovely christmas candy.

Martha, please contact me by email before Sunday, December 6, at noon EST or I will have to select another winner.


Thank you all so very much for dropping by to see what Tilda and I are up to today and I hope you will come back often!! I appreciate your visits and your comments so very much!! Have a wonderful weekend and until we meet again, please be safe!! Maggie hugs!!

Tilda with Cracker on a Scandinavian Woven Heart Basket

Happy December!! I hope that all of you are well and at least partially settled into the holiday season which is right upon us all!!! First off I would like to express my sincere thanks to Helena for featuring my blog on on Saturday, November 28. I am indeed so honored and so appreciative for all of the kind words. Thank you, Helena!!!

This month at Magnolia-licious the very talented Cheryl decided that, rather than a sketch, that all of the DT members would do a SHAPED card, meaning something rather than the ordinary square or rectangle...I hope that's what she meant..lol So the very first thing I thought about were the Scandinavian woven heart baskets since our beloved Maggies are from Sweden.

Affectionately known in Sweden as "Jhärtkorgar", the traditional whimsical Scandinavian Woven Heart Baskets were woven out of paper. The Danish fairytale writer – Hans Christian Andersen - created the very first woven heart in the mid 1800s. This original woven heart still exists today, exhibited in its home country for all to see; reminding us of the power of love. The tradition of making woven hearts was very much a Scandinavian secret. Families in Scandinavia would sit down and weave these lovely paper hearts in the days leading up to Christmas. The woven hearts would then be hung on their Christmas trees, with some bearing gifts of candies or cookies inside them to surprise their children.

And knowing that I only make 6X6 cards because often I use a presentation box, I had to formulate a heart that would be 6X6 (on its side), would fit in the box, and would have equal sized slats for me to weave...Not an easy task for a non-mathematical brain like me!!! Anyway, I used Bazzill for the base and two DPs from the New Magnolia Christmas Collection -- Lingonberry and Wrapped Plaid. On the front of the card/basket/ornament is the most darling Tilda with Christmas Cracker who has just arrived at Magnolia-licious and is waiting on you there!!! She was stamped twice on Cryogen White, colored with Copics and a touch of Spica, cut out and propped up on dimensional tape. I used a bit of Diamond Glaze on the ornament and Spica gold and silver on the cracker. I added a couple of leaves and a Prima poinsettia with a snowman dangle, a Hunter green organza bow and ribbon and finally distressed all edges of the heart with white acrylic paint. The back of the card is the jotting place to which I just added some snowflake and snowman buttons to repeat from the front.

Here are the front and back views of the heart basket and the presentation box:




All of the details on the box are actually buttons with the shanks removed...I also added a tiny bit of FlowerSoft, some Diamond Stickles on the snowflakes, and Liquid Applique on the trees (a last minute thought which you will note below).


This may give you a better idea of what the set looks like with the heart basket filled with peppermint sticks...of course any kind of little gift could be placed inside.


You can find all of the details for this December project over on the Magnolia-licious Highlites site so I hope you will join us.

Thank you so much for coming by to see me today and I hope you will let me know what you think of my SHAPED project. I don't know how many of the DT have their SHAPED cards up yet, but I do know that the quintessentially creative Claudia is posting her beauty today so be sure to hop over there and have a peek, too!!! And check back at the Magnolia-licious Highlites site over the coming days to see other examples. Please come back often and until we meet again, BIG Maggie hugs for you!!!