Meet our December Guest Designer

We are so very pleased to have Romy Veul join us in December as our guest designer.  She has created some amazing layouts and tags with the December Kit, "Silent Night".   I'll let Romy tell you a little about herself, then show you a couple of her layouts.

My name is Romy Veul and I'm a 19-year-old scrapaholic from the Netherlands. I study Dutch language & linguistics in Amsterdam and when I'am not studying, I love to be creative in some way. Since primary school I have always had a creative hobby (making jewelry, 3D cards, flower arranging etc.), but after a while I always started looking for something new. That was until I was put in touch with scrapbooking. What a wonderful way to combine my love for creativity and my passion for photos. I am still hooked to creating both layouts and cards and photography has grown into a hobby too! I love to try different styles: from shabby chic & vintage to bold & colourful, though I tend to love the shabby chic/vintage style most lately. No matter what style I try, I almost always incorporate lots of layers and details in my work. I think they are my signature. I am currently designing for Bo Bunny, Once Upon a Sketch and Zeus&Zoe.  

You can find more of my work on my blog: www.scrapstuffandmore.blogspot.com

 

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 I dedicated this lay-out to my dad and titled it 'Rock'. My dad has a very strong personality: just like a rock, he will even stand steady during the heaviest storm.
The cream flower that I used on this lay-out was made from the beautiful Maya Road pleated ribbon, which is included in the main kit. I simply rolled up the ribbon and stitched through it to create the flower. 

 

 

I titled this lay-out 'Peace' as a note to self. I often tend to bite off more than I can chew and made this lay-out as a reminder to take some moment of rest, peace & quiet every once in a while.

 

 

Leave us a comment and welcome Romy to the C'est Magnifique family in December! 

Our December Kit

We have given you a few peeks at our December Kit "Silent Night" and it's finally time to show you this beautiful kit.  Our December kit includes the entire collection of the Pion Designs "Silent Night", a Kaisercraft alphabet, chipboard pieces from My Mind's Eye, some Pink Paislee snowflakes, Glitz Design paper layers, a resin piece from Melissa Frances, flowers from Green Tara and Manor House, some cream pleated ribbon, and a bottle of silver Stickles to add a little sparkle to your projects.

Take a look at how the Design Team used this kit:

"Angelic" by Beverly Sams

This little girl is so much fun to build a layout around~ She's just so photogenic and her mom dresses her in the cutest clothes! I added modeling paste and glitter to the chipboard wings to add extra dimension.

"Sweet Girl" by Valerie Serfozo

 I think it's so adorable when babies find something new. In this photo my niece had just discovered that everyone smiled when she put her hands on her head. I was so glad there was a little bit of pink in this kit! I misted the Manor House flowers to add a little bit of darker pink.

"Blissful Snow" by Erin Blegen

 If there's anything my kids love, it's playing in the snow! And good thing too, because we get a LOT of it where I live! I absolutely love the "wintery" options in this kit. I used a mask and some modeling paste, along with some glitter to add to the icy feel of this layout. 

"Jul" by Camilla Ekman

Once Upon A Sketch offers a beautiful sketch this month. You can choose whatever theme you want - I made one about what Christmas means to me. "Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas" - Calvin Coolidge.

We'll be back in a couple of days to introduce our Guest Designer and show you how she used the kit!

A Tutorial From Joyce

November is the last month that the very talented Joyce Lawrence will be on the design team.  She just completed her 4-month rotation, and it has been such a joy to work with her.  But she has promised not to leave us and we're so excited to see her in the Forums, because she has become such a part of C'est Magnifique.

Joyce really knows how to alter chipboard in some amazing ways.  Here is a tutorial that she created.  Prepare to be amazed at how she transforms a simple piece of chipboard into something awesome!

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This tutorial is a little wordy so don’t let that put you off, the process itself goes really quickly. I just wanted to break down each step for those that have never tried an ink resist on a chippie.

I. Paint the Chippie

Step One: Use white paint to cover your chippie and let the paint dry.

 

 II. Ink Resist Technique on Chippie:

Step One: Stamp your image with one of two stamps on your chippie (use an ink pad that is archival or doesn’t run if moist).

Step Two: Using your cornstarch pouch (if you don’t have one, you can add some cornstarch in a baby’s sock and sew or tie it off), pounce it on your chippie and blow off any excess powder. This process allows for a clean stamped image, otherwise your image will look blurry if you use this process on a larger piece of paper or chippie and the powder will travel to places you don’t want it to.

Step Three: Apply your second stamp into your embossing pad and apply stamp image on top of chippie.

Step Four: Quickly sprinkle clean embossing powder over the stamped image and shake the chippie to remove the excess powder.

Step Five: Warm your heat gun, and then apply the heat to the stamped image until all areas of the stamp are raised. It will be hard to see the raised areas because of the clear embossing powder but if your heat gun is hot, you will see some shiny images.

III. Applying Distress Ink (three colors) to the embossed stamped image:

Step Step One:  Use your lightest color ink and gently rub in with an applicator over various parts of the chippie; then use the next lightest color repeating the same process in areas that you did not apply the first color; and finally use the darker color very sparingly on other areas of the chippie as well. Sometimes I press in the color really firmly.

Note: The ink resist (the heat set clear embossing powder image) provides a barrier so that the original color of the chippie shows through. A large chippie with more chip space will lend a more dramatic look using the technique above.

IV. Adding Color Embossing Powder to the edges of the Chippie:

Step One: Using an embossing pen or a bottle of embossing fluid with a sponge applicator, add the embossing pen or fluid to the edges of the delicate chippie cut outs; sprinkle a color of embossing powder and set with your heat gun. In this example, I used two different colors to go with the green and brown theme paper I made. We’re not using the cornstarch pouch in this instance because we don’t want the lines to look clean or perfect. 

 

V. Add embellishments such as pearls, rhinestones, Liquid Pearls, or Stickles on the chippie to your liking.

VI. After you have placed your chippie on your page, you can add further drama by filling up some of the negative space around the chippie by adding a mixture of glitter and micro beads. In this case, I have made a concoction in a small container consisting of brown/green glitter and brown, gold and green micro beads. Martha Stewart has delicious colors of large glitter. 

I hope you give this a try and start dressing up your chippies for your journals, layouts and other applications.

Here is the final product. You know me, I just couldn’t photograph the dressed up chippie on a piece of plain paper for you. I created the background paper to give the chippie a home. I have to admit, I really love how that background came out. Maybe there’s a future tutorial if you like it too. 

It's Not All About Winter

Hope you enjoyed Thanksgiving and are ready for Black Friday.  How many of you went shopping today, or plan to do some shopping?   I'm not willing to stand in long lines and fight crowds, but I must admit that I did some online shopping. 

Our December Kit has a winter feel to it, but it's not all about snowflakes and the holidays.  The Silent Night collection by Pion Designs (12 double-sided papers), has many designs that are appropriate for everyday layouts, as well.  Here's how Leslie, the owner of C'est Magnifique, used the December kit to create this precious layout.

"Sarah" by Leslie Kammerdiener

I took this photo of this adorable little girl last night at our neighborhood's festival. I just kept envisioning all this pink and knew I had to use those pink roses with those fabulous Manor House flowers. This little Sarah is oh so cute!

Enjoy your weekend, everyone!

Sneak Peek #4

All of us at C'est Magnifique Kits wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and hope you have a wonderful day with family and friends. Right now my house is filled with the smell of pumpkin pies!  Don't forget to pull our your camera and capture some of those precious memories.

It's my turn to give you a peek at our upcoming December Kit.  

"Tis the Season" by Valerie Serfozo

 I just love the frosty look that can be achieved with this month's paper and embellishments. This little one is my niece Callie all dressed up in her Christmas coat last winter. I added a little white mist to the background, trying to keep this one clean and fresh. I love those angels watching over her.

From the Flower Add-on:
Prima Metalique: Silver
Prima Soprano: White

From the Embellishment Add-on:
Kaisercraft Tuttle Dove Ribbon
Prima Resin: La Coeur
Want2Scrap Bling Borders: Mardi Gras

From my Stash:
Distress Ink - Tumbled Glass, Pumice Stone
Memory Box Dies - Whimsical Flourish, Whimsy Circle
Mister Huey Opaque white mist

Let's Make Some Holiday Cards!

If you're planning to send some hand-made Christmas/Holiday cards this year, our December kit would be perfect!  Design team member, Erin, has created two stunning cards.  The Silent Night collection from Pion Designs would be a great start to creating some elegant holiday cards.  If you don't have a kit, you can purchase the paper HERE in our store.  The Glitz WhatNots Joyeux Noel die-cuts allow you to add a quick embellishment to cards or gift tags.  We have a few of these die cuts remaining in the store. If you are already scheduled to receive our sold-out December Embellishment Add-on, you will be receiving these die cuts as part of the add-on.  You will see that Erin has layered a couple of them on her first card.

Holiday Cards by Erin Blegen

We hope Erin has inspired you to create some hand made cards!

Sneak Peek #2

We have such a great design team!  Today's peek will show you how Beverly used an awesome winter photo with the December Kit.  The Silent Night Collection from Pion Designs features several sheets of paper with these beautiful snowflakes. 

"It's Not Too Cold" by Beverly Sams

A little cousin headed out to play in the snow. It reminds me of when we used to go out as kids insisting that it wasn't too cold to play out even though we ran in and out a dozen times to warm up and change clothes. Those were the days!

Flower Add-On:
Prima: Prelude: Vintage mix
Prima:Poppies & Peonies: Red/Cream
Prima: Soprano: White

Embellishment Add-On:
American Crafts: DIY Thickers
Kaisercraft: Crochet Doily: White

Other:
Distress Ink: vintage photo

A First Look at our December Kit

It's time to give you a preview of what's coming in our December kit.  I guess there is just no way to explain it other than to say, "Pion is Back!!"  We know how you all love the beautiful paper from Pion (and we do too!).  Our December kit will be filled with the "Silent Night' Collection.  We're not giving you just a few sheets of Pion, but the entire collection - all 12 sheets of gorgeousness!  Here's a look at the paper:

Okay, it's not so easy to see here, but let me tell you, the details are lovely!  If you'd like to have the paper only, we have it available in our store HERE. 

Take a look at how design team member Camilla Ekman used this kit:

"Sweet" by Camilla Ekman

I really love the colours of the December kit from C'est Magnifique. Here I have chosen the blue together with cream and silver flowers, to create a sweet page for a sweet girl.

Flower add-on:
Prima: Soprano: White
Prima: Metalique: Silver

Embellishment add-on:
Kaisercraft: Turtle Dove: Ribbon
Want2Scrap: Bling borders: Mardi Gras

Other: different dies, border punches, doilies, QK alpha dies

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Our add-ons went extremely fast this month, and both of them are sold out!  If you'd like to have the add-ons shipped to you automatically with each kit, please send us an e-mail and we will make sure you have one each month.  Here's a look at the add-ons we had available for December:

Our Flower Add-on:

Our Embellishment Add-on:

 

Look what Camillia has Created & Bits and Pieces Winner

We will be previewing our upcoming December kit in just a few days, but we've still got a couple of layouts using our November kit to share with you.  This one, by design team member Camilla Ekman, is just stunning.  In case you missed it, Camilla has posted a step-by-step for this layouts, showing you just how she went about creating it.  You can find it on her blog HERE. 

"Beauty" by Camilla Ekman

Now it's time to select the winner of our Bits & Pieces give-away.  

Thanks to all of you who entered this month!

And the lucky winner is..............

Entry 98 belongs to Stephanie G!!  Congratulations Stephanie.  Please e-mail Leslie[at]Cestmagnifiquekits.com and give her your mailing address, 

so she can get your package in the mail to you!

Erin Uses the November Kit

Thanks to all of you who have entered our Bits & Pieces Giveaway and to those who posted about it on your blogs.  If you haven't entered, you have a few more days.  The deadline is Nov. 12 (midnight US EST).

Today you can get another look at our November Kit "Between Sunrise and Sunset".  We still have a couple of these kits available in the store.  The paper packs and some individual items can also be found in the store.

Take a look at this amazing layout created by Erin.  She sure knows how to show off the beautiful colors in this "Domestic Goddess" line from 7 Dots Studio.

"Pirate" by Erin Blegen

I have the greatest book ever for toddlers that is just full of ideas for activities you can do 

with your child. From this book we found the "Paper Bag Pirate" idea. You create a vest 

out of a paper bag and then allow your child to color/decorate as he/she likes. 

Then use a fabric remnant for a bandana and make an eye patch and sword out of cardboard. My son Wyatt thought he was the coolest pirate around!

I love how the reddish/smoky paper really brings the energy to this layout. I used a 

basic design to keep the attention on my photo and even though I used red and pink flowers here, it doesn't feel feminine at all!

From the Flower Add-On:
Prima: Soubrette: Pink/Orange
Prima: Valentine Vine: Red
Prima: Serenade: Pink

From the Embellishment Add-On:
Want2Scrap: Fancy Tags
Prima: Romance Novel Alpha Stickers

November Bits & Pieces Giveaway

The past week has been filled with awesome giveaways, and today we are here with another one.  It's our monthly Bits & Pieces giveaway, where you have a chance to win Leslie's bits and pieces from the November Kit, "Between Sunrise and Sunset".  This prize package will contain some partial packages of embellishments and pieces of patterned paper - that's why we call it Bits & Pieces.

Now I'd like to show you how one of our Design Team members used this awesome kit:

"Holly" by Beverly Sams

The first day of school always brings about a sense of nostalgia. For me, it’s my own school 

days long ago, and my son’s which were not so long ago. This daughter of another cousin 

looks ready to jump right in! The Pink Paislee Artisan butterflies were spritzed with 

two shades of pink and edged with black ink.

Here's what you need to do for a chance to win:

1.  You must be a follower of our blog.  If you do not already follow us, just click on the 

"Join this site" button on the left sidebar and you'll be all set.  

The winner of this challenge must be a follower of our blog.

2.  Use the Inlinkz tool at the bottom of this post.

3.  We are giving you a chance to enter our giveaway twice!  Share this post on your blog (in a blog post, not your sidebar) and you can enter your name again using the Inlinkz tool below (just be sure to add the link to your blog post).  

The contest will close at midnight, November 12.  

The winner, selected by a random draw, will be announced November 13.  

Good luck to all of you!

Our October Sketch Challenge Winners!

I am back today with even more winners to announce!  This time we'd like to show you the winners of our October sketch challenge, and let you see the featured layouts.  Wow, we had some amazing layouts again this month.  The winner of the prize package is:

Entry #10 belongs to Lentochka from Russia!  Congratulations!  Please contact Leslie via e-mail at Leslie[at]cestmagnifiquekits.com and provide her with your full name and mailing address so she can get your prize package in the mail to you.  You will also have an opportunity to shop in our store and have your purchases sent with your prize package for no additional shipping.  Here is Lentochka's layout:

Our second winner is chosen from those of you who used a C'est Magnifique kit when creating your layout.  The winner, selected from a random draw is.............Helen Tilbury!   It seems that Helen has some sort of lucky streak going, because she was also the winner of one of our Blog Hop prizes!  Congratulations Helen!  You have won a $10 gift certificate to the C'est Magnifique store.  Leslie will be in contact with you to give the gift certificate details.  Take a look at Helen's  lovely layout:

We would also like to show you the five layouts that we are featuring this month.  It's always a difficult task, but we have narrowed it down to these five layouts (in no particular order). 

"Fall" by Andrea E

"She Believed" by Sandie Edwards

"1957" by Irit Shalom

"Beach Babe" by Angelica Astrom

"My Sweet Little Fairy" by Little Sunday

Thanks so much to all of you who participated in the sketch challenge.  You are so inspiring.  Our November sketch has been posted, and we sure hope you will play along again this month.  We have a new sketch designer and you're going to love her sketches!

Blog Hop Winners

It's Friday, and I promised that I'd be back today to announce the winners of our Blog Hop.  Some of the winners have been announced on the design team personal blogs, but we want to post all the lucky names here.

First, here are the winners of the 4 C'est Magnifique Kits (selected from a random draw):

1.  Linda Eggleton

2.  Irit Shalom

3.  Sandi Smith

4.  Beatrice Lawson

Congratulations!  

Please e-mail Leslie (leslie[at]cestmagnifiquekits.com) within 7 days

 and let her know your full name and mailing address.

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Other Winners include:

Jessica is the winner of Valerie's prize package 

Melissa is the winner of Erin's prize package

Jullene is the winner of Michele's gift certificate

Mandi is the winner of the Pink Paislee prize package

Sinikka is the winner of Camilla's prize package

Juliwan is the winner of Beverly's prize package

Tite-Punky is the winner of Joyce's gift certificate

LaQuette Akins is the winner of the ScrapFX prize package

Helen Tilbury is the winner of the Manor House prize package

 Kristal Barnwellis the winner of the 7 Dots prize package

Congratulations to all of you, as well.  If you are a winner and have not heard directly from the person awarding the prize, please send your name and mailing address to Leslie[at]cestmagnifiquekits.com

We still have one more prize to award - the one from our guest designer this month, Finnabair.  Check back - we will announce that winner soon.

November Sketch Challenge

This month we have a new sketch and we would also like to welcome our new sketch designer, Michele Singh.  You can find Michele at her blog, Design Honey.  Here is our November sketch:

Take a look at how our design team used the sketch:

"Sisters" by Joyce Lawrence

One is here the other is not. We lost a friend this year to skin cancer. She was too young to leave us so early. She was full of spirit and a loving person and will be missed.

What fun it was to piece this sketch together using a Design Honey Sketch this month. Her sketches are packed with details and this month’s kit was equally packed with lots of goodies to work with.

"Who Me?" by Leslie Kammerdiener

 This is my grandson about a year ago. I love the guilty look on his face and immediately knew how I wanted to title this one.

Now it's your turn to use this sketch as inspiration to create a layout for our challenge. 

This challenge is open to everyone.  You do not need to be a member of C'est Magnifique Kits to participate in the sketch challenge and you may use any supplies you wish.  

But, since we are a kit club, there is an added incentive to use one of our kits to create your sketch layout (which I will explain below).

We will be offering 2 prizes for our sketch challenge.  One winner from all entries (selected randomly) will receive a large prize package.   The winner will also be able to 

purchase anything from our Store and have it shipped free with their prize package - anywhere in the world!   

Here's a look at what the November prize package:

Because we are a kit club, our second prize is $10 gift certificate to the C'est Magnifique Store that will be randomly awarded to someone who obviously uses one of our kits to create their layout.  This is our way of saying "thank you" to our members.

We will also be "featuring" 5 layouts from the submissions for this sketch.

What do you have to do to enter our sketch challenge?

1.  You must become a follower of our blog.  If you're already a follower, we thank you!

It's easy to become follower -see the left sidebar.

2.  Create a layout using the sketch, and add it to our blog using the Inlinkz tool below.  Please link to the blog post where you have uploaded your layout 

(not your general blog address).

 Deadline for entering the sketch challenge is midnight, November 30 (US time).

Have fun!  We can't wait to see how you use or November sketch.