Art-Full Horizons Jolly Jumpstart Blog Hop!!

Welcome to the Art-Full Horizons 
Jolly Jumpstart Blog Hop!


Check out all of the fabulous holiday-themed projects, gift ideas, and more from our wonderful Blog Hop Contributors from around the world!!

1. Art-Full Horizons http://art-fullhorizons.blogspot.com
2. Tammy Inman http://tammyi.com
3. Nan Paturzo http://scrappynan.blogspot.com
4. Robyn Weatherspoon http://herebygrace.typepad.com/
5. Mykle Parker http://scrapbohemia.blogspot.com
6. Sherry Mendoza http://sherryscreations.typepad.com/
7. Robin Redd http://robinredd.typepad.com/west_coast_scrapper/
8. April Meeker www.suaviloquy.blogspot.com
9. Erin Bassett www.erinbassett.com
10. Jennifer Clark http://jenspartyof5.blogspot.com
11. Jennifer Edwardson http://frommypapercraftstudio.blogspot.com/

Here's how it works:

1. Hop through each of the blogs listed above to get fabulous holiday inspiration. If you are starting at a blog in the middle of the Hop, please start back at the Art-Full Horizons blog.  You should be arriving here from Erin's blog.
2. Leave a comment on each blog hop post in the list above between now and November 7, 2010.
3. Enter to win our giveaway by doing any of the following. For each thing you do, you will be entered into the drawing one more time:

• Leave a comment on the Art-Full Horizons blog hop post between now and November 7, 2010.
• Join the Art-full Horizons email list (fill out the form in the left hand column on the A-H blog).
• Become a follower of the Art-full Horizons blog! Just click the "Follow" button in the lower right column on the A-H blog.
• "Like" the Art-Full Horizons Facebook Page.
• Join the Art-Full Horizons Facebook Group.
• Share about this Blog Hop on your own blog, posting a link to the Art-full Horizons blog.
• Share about this Blog Hop on Facebook, posting a link to the Art-full Horizons blog.
• Share about this Blog Hop on a message board or forum, posting a link to the Art-full Horizons blog.
• U.S. entries only please

To let us know you've done these things, please return to the first Art-full Horizons Jolly Jumpstart Blog Hop post and leave a comment for each thing you did, i.e. one comment for posting on each blog, another comment for posting on facebook, and another comment for joining our email newsletter. Please note: if you post it all in one comment, it will only count as one entry, so be sure to post EACH ENTRY as a separate comment.

On November 8, 2010 we'll choose the winners using the Random Integer Generator from random.org. U.S. entries only please.

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Today, on Party of Five, I'm sharing with you a simple, beautiful holiday project using the new Tim Holtz Sizzix rosette die.  This die is all the rage right now (isn't EVERYTHING Tim all the rage?!), but I've seen many people with questions on how to use it...so I'm going to demonstrate not only how simple it is to use, but how you can create a wonderful garland of these gorgeous rosettes!  Keep in mind that while I used Christmas papers for mine, you could use ANY papers to make this garland, and it would jazz things up for any occasion - holidays, birthdays, baby showers, etc.

Start off by selecting several pieces of coordinating 12x12 cardstock.  Be sure to use double-sided cardstock, as the rosettes tend to twist and turn on the cord, so you will want both sides looking pretty!

Next, cut the cardstock into 2" wide strips.  I used my heavy-duty paper cutter to make this task quick.

Now you should have a stack of 2"x12" strips of cardstock.  Aren't they pretty?

Now you'll need your rosette die.

My die-cutting machine is a Sizzix Big Kick.  Depending on what machine you have, the "sandwich" may be slightly different than mine, so always check the specific instructions for your machine.  The rosette die is a long (13") Sizzlets die - i.e. it is a thin die - so for the Big Kick, I first need a 13" long spacer, then a 13" long cutting mat, then I place the die with the blades up, then I place a strip of cardstock on the die, and finally, I place the second cutting mat on top.  This is what it looks like from the side.

Next, run the "sandwich" through your machine, per your machine's instructions.  I found that with this particular set-up, the die tended to slide on my bottom cutting mat, so I used a bit of scotch tape to hold the die in place on the cutting mat. 

This is what you will have when it has run through the machine - one center piece, and a long strip with one scalloped edge, one straight edge, and perforations every 1/4 inch or so.

To assemble the rosette, start with one end of the long piece, and begin accordion-folding it, back and forth.  Be gentle - remember, there are perforations, which are basically small cuts, in the cardstock, so you don't want to be too rough.

After folding the entire piece, you will need to join the two ends together, to form a cylinder.  The die cuts the cardstock so that after folding, a valley will fit into a peak perfectly.  After making LOTS of these rosettes, I can say that Glossy Accents is my adhesive of choice for joining the ends together.  It dries quickly and holds very well.  

Before continuing the assembly process, you will need one additional piece of cardstock - a circle for the back of the rosette.  The die does not provide this for you, but any paper punch will work just fine.  I used a 1 1/4" circle punch and some solid red scraps of cardstock for my back pieces, but you could also use the same cardstock you are using for the rosettes.  You could even run small pieces through the die-cutting machine on the die, just placing the scrap over the center piece - and then your rosette would be completely reversible.

While Glossy Accents works GREAT for the first part of assembling the rosette - for the rest of assembly, you will need to pull out your...wait for it...you might have to go digging in your garage for it...HOT GLUE GUN!  Yes, that's right.  I know that for some of you, the hot glue gun is a thing of the WAAAY distant past...and you may not even know where yours is.  But I promise you, if you you want your rosettes to turn out well, and to stick the first time and STAY, you will need a hot glue gun.  (Note - even Tim Holtz himself has now said that the hot glue gun is the way to go for this part, so I'm not actually alone in my strong feelings about this. ;p)

So, now that you've found it, take your back circle of cardstock, and put a big glop of hot glue on it.  (Tip: I am working here on a craft sheet - if you don't own one, you NEED one!  Nothing sticks to them - you can pour paint right on them and use as a palette - they are heat resistant, so they are great for things like hot glue guns and melt art, and there are tons of fun inky things you can do with them.)

Next, you will put your cylinder of folded cardstock around your circle of hot glue, with the scalloped side DOWN.  With your fingers, gently squeeze on either side of the cylinder, gathering the folds, and push the entire center of the cylinder down onto the glop of hot glue.  Hold it down with your finger for a couple seconds to make sure the glue has grabbed onto the cardstock.  (Tip: If you find that you've pushed your rosette down, and it's wonky, or the back is WAY off center, you can use a heat gun on the back to re-melt the glue to give you some play-time, to move the backing around or re-arrange the folds.  Trust me.)

Next, apply some hot glue to the back of your center piece, and place it on the front of your rosette, and you now have a completed, beautiful rosette!

Lather, rinse, repeat...and you, too, can have a whole platter of beautiful rosettes!

Don't they just look so yummy?!  I LOVE them!  (Wait - did you notice what's UNDER the gold platter? Yes, that right there, my friends, is a copy of Donna Salazar's AWESOME Musical Memories.  WHAT?!  You don't know about Musical Memories?!  For shame!  Keep reading...and wait 'til we get to the prizes!)

That stripey rosette is one of my favorites, I think - I ended up with a lot of pictures of it!!

After making your rosettes, you can either leave them as they are, or you can choose to embellish them in any number of ways.  I chose to just add some highlights to a few rosettes - some got a touch of silver using my silver Adirondack Paint Dabber, and some got a bit of vintage shimmer with my Rock Candy Distress Stickles (one of my absolute faves!).  

Okay, next, after you've made oodles of rosettes and embellished them as you see fit...you'll need to decide how you plan to hang them.  There are plenty of ways to do so...and here are some of the things I considered...red hemp, red embroidery floss, natural hemp, white paper twine...but I eventually settled on silver cord.  It seemed the most festive to me, and added a bit of sparkle to the garland.  If I had gone with more grunge-looking rosettes, I would have chosen something different, probably.

In order to hang the rosettes, you'll need to punch two holes on each rosette, one on either side opposite each other.  I used a paper-punching mat and a paper-piercing tool to make my holes.  The Tim Holtz Retractable Craft Pick would work great for this as well.  A regular hole punch doesn't work so well, as it is difficult to get into the right place, and it sort of smooshes the folds in the rosette (I tried).

Then, string your cord through the front of one hole, and back up through the second hole, so that the cord goes behind the rosette.

At one end, after leaving a long enough tail to be able to use for hanging your garland (12-18 inches should be  good), tie a double knot, to prevent the rosettes from sliding off.  Then, start positioning your rosettes as close or far apart from each other as you desire.  I allowed about 1/2" of cord in between each of my rosettes. 

Once you start getting your rosettes positioned along the garland, you can choose to either let them be "free," (to slide around), or you can secure them in place.  I chose to add a small piece of transparent scotch tape to the backs of each of my rosettes, holding the rosette to the cord so they would not slide and would remain evenly spaced.  

Once your garland is as long as you'd like it to be, tie a knot at the other end, and remember to leave enough cord at that end for hanging, as well.  And...you're finished!  For my garland, I used 26 rosettes, and the garland is about 75" of rosettes, plus another 25" or so combined at the ends - making it perfect for a mantle or entry-way.  Here, I'm demonstrating on a railing...(as I obviously have no other Christmas decorations up yet...tee hee...).  

So there you have it - the Tim Holtz rosette garland!  I hope you've enjoyed this, and if you make one of your own, I'd love a link so I can see it!  

Now...I know you're wondering...

So what are the prizes?!?


10 Holiday Card Kit from Hydrangea Hippo


Vintage Christmas Embellishment Assortment from Hydrangea Hippo


A Handmade Journal by Donna Salazar 


A Musical Memories from Donna Salazar's paper collection (REMEMBER - I told you above that you'd see this again!)



An assortment of Glittered Chipboard Embellishments and Alphabets from Desert Scrappers Retreats

Just follow the instructions above to find out how to enter for your chance to win one of these great prizes from Art-full Horizons!!

***Additionally...here at Party of Five, I will also be having a giveaway at the end of the week!!  I will be posting throughout the week, from now through November 7, various posts about holiday projects, recipes, traditions, and memories.  On November 8, I will choose TWO winners of surprise grab bags filled with goodies to get you in the holiday spirit.  How do you enter?  Several ways!  You will get one entry for each comment you leave (one per blog post).  You will get another entry by becoming a follower of my blog (if you are already following, just let me know) and leaving a comment letting me know you are following.  You can get another entry by posting about this tutorial on YOUR blog, and leaving me a comment with a link to your blog.  Make sure you check back on November 8 to see if YOU are a winner!!***

Happy Hopping!!

The next blog on your hop will be Jennifer Edwardson http://frommypapercraftstudio.blogspot.com/.


Thank you for participating - comments have been disabled and winners will be announced soon!!