Eclips Heart Challenge. January 2021

We have a new Eclips/Ecal challenge going on...anything Heart  themed. I love our group of Sizzix Eclips Ecal Makers on Facebook. We all contribute and learn/share new techniques to this cutting machine that we love, but that unfortunately is no longer being sold.

I attempted to design a project altering a layered geometric heart, but it was a total failure, so I went a totally different direction. I guess my altering nodes technique needs a bit of work. So, here is what I finally came up with:

I ended up with a heart box made from two different SVG Cuts kits. The box itself comes from the Love Me Do SVG Kit. I chose to make the smallest heart shaped box.

Of course, I couldn't just leave it at that. I decided to add to the top and incorporate the raised heart from the "HUGS" bag from the All My Love SVG Kit. I reduced the size of this heart to about 2-3/4" tall, so that it would fit on the top of the small heart-shaped box.

I used digital paper from Creative Fabrica, called Watercolor Hearts. I think it's so pretty. 

I did a print2cut on the flower of the raised heart. After the heart was inserted into the top of the heart box, I took another copy of the raised edge portion, removed all of the nodes from all of the tabs, which left me with just the band. I filled that with the pattern of another digi paper, again from the Watercolor Hearts paper collection, and reduced the size to give it a look that popped a bit more. I used print-2-cut, inked it, and then placed it over the original edge. It really set it off nicely.

And, there you have it. I may still add something to the raised heart, but that's to be seen.

Ya Gotta Have Heart!

12 Days of Christmas Tags 2020

Another year of the Eclips Challenge Christmas Tags. Last year I was able to get only 5 done, but this year I managed to make all 12. Seriously, this is about my favorite challenge of the year, and I'm already thinking of what I want to do for 2021. Beginning on December 1, and continuing each day until December 12, we all make and post a tag of our choice. The challenges on our Facebook page (Eclips and eCal Users) encourage us to try new techniques using our Ecal software and cut using our Sizzix Eclips cutting machines.

The first tag has a retro feel, with digi paper from Carte Bella (A Very Merry Christmas). It has two layers, one popped out with foam squares. The candy jar is printed on the back panel, and the front panel has a cut-out so that it shows through. Used print-2-cut for this one.

Tag #2 is one where I designed the 2-layer background shape using circles from the shapes library. The snowman is a cut-2-print, and I freehand cut the hat and added some shimmer.

Tag #3 is made from a free cut file from Simply Crafty SVGs. It holds 6 Hershey kisses, and is so cute! You can click on the link and check it out!

Tag #4 is a simple one. I saw it on Pinterest, and recreated it. They were so simple that I whipped up six of them, and actually used them on gifts this year. You can see that the trunk of the trees is made up of the wording MERRY.

Tag #5 is one I made up myself. The snow globe and tree are made from basic shapes, and the houses and snowman are print-2-cut. Used glitter cardstock around the edge, and my shimmer brush on all of the snowflakes in the background.

Tag #6 is a fun one. I made some outlined snowflakes and an additional snowflake for dimension, then added a bit of bling. It's simple, but one of my favorites. Again, I think I got the idea for this one on Pinterest.

The base for Tag #7 came from SVG Cuts, and then I altered it to style it like Santa, and sized it down (it was originally a card). All glitter cardstock was used.

Tag #8 comes from a free pattern that I got when I first started out with my cutting machine in 2011. There was also a Christmas Tree (Tag #10). They were designed by Penny Duncan, and offered on a blog that doesn't even exist anymore that I am aware of. This one has gold metallic cardstock in the background, and some little gold bling accents. This was the first time I've made this one.

Tag #9 was another Pinterest-inspired one. The scalloped circle was made with basic shapes in Ecal3 (I cut using a Sizzix Eclips2). The deer is a print-2-cut from a digital element pack.

Tag #10 is another pattern from Penny Duncan Designs. It holds a special place in my heart, because it was one of the very first things I cut with my Eclips back in 2011. It was fun to make it again for this challenge. Also, Penny has always been so generous and kind when I have had exchanges with her.

Tag #11 is a cutie. I took these gnomes and the tree from Simply Crafty SVGs' Gnome Family Slimline Card, and grouped them for the tag. Love the way it turned out.

And, finally, Tag #12. This darling rocking horse came from a card by SVG Cuts. It's in the Home for Christmas Box Cards set. Mary's beautiful design is just lovely.

And, there you have it! Feeling accomplished during a time when I've been feeling overwhelmed with life and wonderful grandchildren that I spend a lot of time with. My daughter and fam lived out of state for five years, so during that time I had lots of free time to craft whenever I wanted. Now, they take much of my time, and I'm not sad at all about that! But, I do sometimes miss the freedom of having my crafty time.

Here are all of my tags together. If you're a tag addict, I have postings each year for the past four years, I believe, that we have been doing this challenge.

I hope your holidays were a blessing to you, and that you were able to have at least some snippets of time with family and friends.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!