Have yourself a very elegant Christmas

Christmas cards and gift-giving is made all the easier this season with Meg's Garden 2019 Christmas collection. In elegant creams and vintage tones, Christmas cards this year will be something special.

I have made a series of four cards, each using elements from the Christmas collection and embellishments from Meg's Garden.

To the Cut & Create bauble, I added sequins, gold pearl bling, ribbons and flowers for a stylish almost real-to-touch bauble. 

Using a Vintage Journal Card and nesting dies, I layered each cut of the whimsical evocative image, two young children waiting for Santa. To keep the imagery the main focal point, embellishments are minimal in ribbons and gold leaves, paper flowers, stamens and bows.

What a stunning VJC image! Layering again with nesting dies, this time at an angle. The damask background is one of the elegant papers included with the Christmas collection. Minimally embellished, featuring a bow, beautiful crystal hat pins and bling.  

With so many choices from Meg's Garden Christmas collection, I have one final, more traditional, card to share.

Using four traditional "old world" Cut & Create images of St. Nicholas, I mounted each on papers in Christmas red, green and gold. Finishing with a fitting sentiment, again from the Cut & Create sheets and embellishing with bling, glitter flowers in gold.

Mary

Christmas Treasure Box

It's that special time of year - again! How quickly Christmas rolls around. 

Using Meg's latest Christmas collection, in delightful damask patterns and vintage tones, I created a treasure box to store all things Christmas in one convenient place. 

Inspiration came from an old box I found during a spring clean up, previously the home to a jigsaw puzzle. A quick light sanding and it was primed and ready for a new release of life.

The front, back and spine are Meg's beautiful damask papers and embellishments, perfect for Christmas or any occasion when a touch of elegance is required. 

A chipboard frame is the hero piece, painted gold with deep crackles adding to the aged vintage feel.

A fan of all things interactive, this box was not spared. Using another damask design, I created a pocket within the frame. Inside I have tucked a gift tag made from a Christmas Vintage Journal Card and embellished with beautiful elements from Meg's Garden. 

Just like Cut & Create collections past, the Christmas pages are stunning. Detailed, intricate and beautifully vintage.

With ample room inside, uses for the treasure box are endless. I have chosen to fill it with Christmas cards, and will pop in ribbons and Art Tags ready for Santa and his elves!

The gold Christmas ribbon embellishment and Cut & Create images inspired the colour scheme for this card, proving that colours and styles other than traditional are just as merry.

Make sure you have a stroll through Meg's Garden and pick up all your Christmas card making supplies, for a very merry handmade Christmas!

 Julia

Die Cut Duo

Another delivery from Meg's Garden, just like Christmas - full of surprises! 

A delight for paper crafters - I love the quality of paper plus the finished printed colour.

I am sharing two cards in this post, both use the same die cut, but different coloured cardstock. Each with their own unique look, suitable for any occasion.

The first card I teamed with a beautiful muted grey floral Vintage Journal Card, picking up the silver and lilac colours. I wrapped silver ribbon on opposite corners, and placed matt silver bling around the oval frame.

I placed the 'Love' sentiment from Cut & Create pages, then the final touch is the mulberry paper flower in the top corner.

The second card, even though using the same die, has an entirely different look and feel.

The demure lady with her over the shoulder pose inspired the lavender and amethyst colours. Using violet velvet ribbon, I again wrapped it around two corners.

Bunches of mini paper flowers and a bold flourish of magenta feathers complete the card.

Mary

Special Man

Once again, Meg has sourced some wonderful vintage images for her ever growing range of Vintage Journal Cards (VJC). 

Today, I am sharing a group of four cards I have made, suitable for a very special man in your life!

Inspiration for my cards came from the many evocative pictures within Meg's Vintage Journal Card collections. Each, not only giving you creative inspiration, but also memories of yesteryear. 

The bling embellishments with the VJC hot air balloon, not only looks stunning, but acts as the appearance of wind gusts, blowing the balloon along. 

You can never have "too much" bling! 

I also stamped the background in tonal colours, with travel images, and mounted up the VJC, keeping it it main focal feature.

For dimension, each card has a 3D decoration, including tassels and buttons. All in keeping with the style, vintage, and adding a textual element to the cards.

Drawing inspiration from the stack of books VJC, I designed the front of the card as if it were an open page of a book - complete with dog-eared corners and a book mark. 

Meg's collections include beautiful sentiments and quotations. For the "Captain Cook" vessel VJC - in full sail - what could be more suitable than "Life is a Journey"! 

Colouring the sentiment in sepia tones to match with the VJCs, and adding tweed ribbon finished off this card, ready for it to take its own journey to the lucky recipient.

Mary

Beauty

I have been thinking outside the square - so to speak - when I received the latest collection of Vintage Journal Cards.

I was taken with the exquisite image of a beautiful lady with such deep and soulful eyes from Meg's new Vintage Journal Card collection.

Loosely cut around the design edge, then inked and mounted on to antique gold paper for the frame backing, this image was the start of something special.

A string of faux pearls line the frame, with a cluster flourish of flowers, lace and ribbon, the final touching elements, making for a truly special and unique gift.

With all of the beautiful embellishments, and using the Vintage Journal Cards found in Meg's Garden shop, you too can find inspiration and create something "out of the square".

Mary 

Vintage Shadow Box

Hello Everyone,

How Meg's Vintage Journal Card collections conjure up different ways to use the beautiful images!

From something bland to something beautiful!

I have used a plain MDF wood shadow box, painted antique cream and edged in ribbon and pearls. 

Filling each shaped opening, I have an abundance of paper flowers, more pearls, a crochet square, and even a piece of jewellery. I am never one to shy away from all things Over The Top!

By far, the star of the shadow box is, without a doubt, the delicate lady with her mirror image, from Meg's collection. 

Edged in fine die cut swirls with bling accents, paired with one of Meg's framed wording sentiments to complete, the overall finish makes for an unusual but unique decorator piece. 

Mary

Whimsical 70

Using the new papers and imagery from Meg's latest collection of Vintage Journal Cards is a pleasure, especially when you have a special someone with a milestone birthday in mind.

I have used a beautiful blue wisteria paper from a previous collection as my background, drawing colours from the VJC as inspiration for the style of this card.

A die cut out of the demure lady sits atop in the corner, grabbing the recipients attention, teamed with shades of purple as my coordinating colours. And, as always, my go to decoration - bling!

Included in the many layers are delicate paper doilies, which suit any colour and theme. They are easy to recolour, or look stunning left as is.

As added embellishment to the shimmering 70 sentiment, sits a bunch of small paper flowers from Meg's Garden shop. For texture and something really special, I have feathers coming out from the flowers.

With wispy lavender ribbon as the closure to the card, it becomes another embellishment when done up in a beautiful bow, and the final element to my whimsical card for someone special.

  

If you enjoy working with particular colours, or simply your own favourite colour, you will find creating in tonal shades a wonderful experience with Meg's collections.

Mary

Bonita Rosa Card

Hello everyone,

I would like to share with you a card I have created using an image from the Vintage Journal Cards.  This is a new collection of papers available from Meg's Garden Paper Inspiration online store.

This is an elegant but simple card to create using the colours from this pretty image of red, black and white. I also added a touch of gold for a hint of glamour. A die cut shape, lace, a large white flower, pearl trim and gold fern leaves adorn this card.

Until next time.

Thank you so much for stopping by.

I hope you have a wonderful day & happy creating.

Leanne

Pretty in blue card

Hello everyone,

Today I would like to share with you a card that I have created with the latest release from Meg's Garden Paper Inspiration online store, Vintage Journals cards.

There is a wonderful range of vintage images in this collection, suitable for all styles of paper craft.

I chose this beautiful image to create my blue and white card.
This card has lots of layers using some background paper from Meg's Garden plus plain and coloured card stock. I have used a paper distressing tool, paper punches, an embossing folder and distress ink to add texture and interest to the paper pieces. I also added lace, pearl trim, ribbon, some glitter glue and a blue rose to embellish my card.

Until next time.

Thank you so much for stopping by.

Have a wonderful day & happy creating.

Leanne

Vintage Journal Cards

Hello Bloggers

Two more fabulous cards from our Guest Designer Rose Parker.

Both cards use the Vintage Journals Cards - Floral.

The 1st card:  Rose has picked up the green leaves on the VJC (Vintage Journal Card) with a many layered card. The 1st layer is a white cardstock floral diecut, next  a green cardstock strip which has a distressed edge, a green cardstock mat & then topped by a white cardstock strip pocket. The bottom of the card has another layer with a stitched curve over a white concertina fold piece.  The VJC is actually separate & is matted with white cardstock & tucked into the white strip pocket.

The pocket is embellished with green paper leaves, white satin & organza ribbon & a silk green flower.

  

The 2nd card also has several layers - a strip of lace down the right side, a piece of embossed white cardstock, a strip of concertina paper, a piece of blue cardstock, an oval frame, & a white diecut corner.  The blue VJC is first mounted on white cardstock, a blue ribbon loop is attached, a magnet is added underneath the ribbon & the whole is then mounted on a distressed-edged blue cardstock.  The opposite magnet is behind the layers on the card.

The VJC just tucks into the white corner pocket & stays in place by the magnets.

Embellishing is kept relatively simple - a vintage trinket with a pearl on the top right corner, an enamel dot on the VJC, a length of blue satin ribbon ties around the card, a floral bouquet of white diecut leaves, a white cherry blossom & blue paper petals.

Both cards are really well done & show how many layers of the same colour but different textures are so effective.  Just hints of colour are used to pick up the shades in the Vintage Journal Cards.

Bye for now Meg

Whimsical Wisteria

Hi All,

I normally do not work with blues, as you can tell by my previous cards in shades of pinks and creams!
But Meg's new Spring Flowers Collection papers are absolutely beautiful - inspiring me to work outside my comfort zone.

As the quote says - Colour is Food for the Soul!

Regards,
Mary

Simple & Elegant

Hello everyone,

I have created a simple yet elegant card using patterned papers from Meg's Garden online store.
The papers are from the Vintage Journal card series called Vintage Flowers. I have also used some A4 watercolour paper along with paper lace strips, organza ribbon, and trims.

My card is suitable for any occasion eg. Birthday, Engagement, Wedding, Anniversary or as a sympathy card.

To create my card I have distressed the paper edges using a distressing tool.

The edges were then inked using a shade of light brown ink.  I like how inking adds extra dimension to the distressed edges. 

Then the trims and papers were layered and added to my card base.

The flower journal card is adhered using 3D foam tape. 

To finish add an organza bow, self-adhesive pearls and a touch of glitter.

Until next time.

I hope you all have a wonderful day & happy creating.

Leanne

Vintage Ladies Journal Cards

Hello Bloggers

Some ideas for using the Vintage Journal Cards - Ladies

They are so wonderfully easy to work with. 

1. Pick one that appeals to you
2. If you are going to do layers, then choose 2 patterned papers that work with the Lay that you have chosen. Otherwise, choose a complimentary cardstock OR a contrasting cardstock to mat the Lady.
3. Choose the card pack colour - needs to work with the mat cardstock 
4. Add your embellishments &, of course, die cuts
5. The Vintage Ladies love flowers, lace, ribbons & pearls
6. DONE

Really only 3 steps

Vintage Journal Cards are 3x4" - 6 to an A4 paper - printed or digi.

Printed Journal Cards

Digital Journal Cards

Designs available:

Vintage Ladies

Grunge

Spring Flowers

Christmas

Cardmaking made easy!

Bye for now

Meg

www.megsgarden.com

Birthday Wishes and Butterfly Kisses

Hello Crafters,

The weather outside may be gloomy, but it's Spring over here in Meg's Garden! The new Spring Flowers Collection will brighten any day.

My absolute favourite from this collection is definitely the Butterfly Transparency Sheet. Thin and, textured like vellum, the colours are magnificent and create the perfect extra medium to your papers and embellishments.

The pastel colour palette of this collection is beautiful to work with. I have used the papers for the background and also die cuts for borders. I left embellishments to a minimum, having the butterflies and Vintage Journal Card sing in the centre.

I love the dimension they create, and the different texture against the papers. Just like they have flown onto my card, ready to explore the garden!

Happy Gardening,

Julia x