Sunflower Stamping!

Four Projects Using Frosty Day DSP: Days 3 & 4 Together!!

Well, with turkey day getting in the middle of my week of projects, I'll just give you both days 3 & 4 today! But first let me say that I hope you had a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving, and that today you're not as stuffed as you felt yesterday! My sister and her family brought the most delicious cakes and pies from a local restaurant in High Point NC that were to die for!!

OK - on to my last 2 projects:

 

Don't they look great all grouped together?! I think they're just adorable! (Am I allowed to say that about my own creations? I hope so, because I just did!)

I took the leftover scraps of DSP and used them on the last 2 items: a cello bag and topper, and a gift card holder. They were both so simple to make, and yet still look great. I think the biggest piece of DSP used on these is 4-1/4 x 1", which is the strip across the outside of the gift card holder.

   

As you can see, the gift card holder is as simple as a piece of cardstock with 2 folds! Mine is a 4-1/4 x 6" piece of Close To Cocoa scored at 2-1/2" and again at 5". Fold the little 1" strip up and adhere it with 2 brads. This will hold your gift card in place. I then adhered the larger strip of DSP to the outside, and another 1" x 4-1/4" piece to the inside flap (BEFORE inserting the brads, by the way!) Next, I just stamped the 'Enjoy' stamp from the Country Living Holiday Collection stamp set in Kiwi Kiss, tied the holder closed with Kiwi Kiss ribbon, and stuck the tag on with a dimensional. Couldn't be any simpler than that!

As for the cello bag, I simply took a 4x6" cellophane bag and cut a piece of 4x3" Tangerine Tango cardstock for the topper. Score it in half lengthwise and adhere a 3-1/2" x 1" strip of remaining DSP to the front. On top of that I layered another 'Enjoy' label stamped in Tangerine Tango and punched out with the 1-3/4" round punch. I adhered it with a dimensional so that I could loop the tag string around it easily. The tag uses one of the last bits of DSP: two 1/4" x 2" wide strips. The tag itself is cut from Bashful Blue, and measures 2-1/4 x 3-1/2", then is punched with the ticket punch on the top 2 corners. The stamp I used is from last year's 'Tags For All', which I just love, and can't believe it was retired! I stamped it in Bashful Blue, then cut it out and stuck it on the tag. After adding the DSP strips, I punched a 1/16" circle, then punched a 1/2" circle around that for the Tangerine Tango circle at the top where the metallic thread is threaded through.

 

As you can see, I STILL had some DSP remaining. I used one piece to wrap around a few sticks of chocolate stirring sticks (and stuck a few more candies in there just for the picture!), then cut the rest into tiny strips. I then ran the strips through my crimper, and voila! You've got instant "stuffing"!

Well, that's it - a whole set of matching gift holders! Hope this inspires you for the big Christmas wrapping and packaging season!

There's a Stampin' Up! SALE that just started, which I'll post tomorrow - see you then!

Four Projects Using One Sheet of Frosty Day DSP: Day 2!

Alright - it's day 2, and I've got a cute gift box and bow to match the cute snowman bag from yesterday. Let's just dive right in!

 

Here they are together - don't they look cute! The box is an origami box, about 4-1/2" square, and about 2" high. Plenty big enough to hold all kinds of things on MY wish list! :-) It's a good thing I found a tutorial to help you make one of these, because a friend in Houston showed me how to make them, and I'd never be able to tell you without showing you. The tutorial is a bit different from the way I make mine, but very close. I will try to tell you how I change up their instructions, but click here to get to the tutorial. Now, once you're there, follow along for my few differences: First, I use 2 sheets of 12 x 12" cardstock - I do not cut either the top or the bottom smaller, I simply fold one smaller to fit into the other. So, the next difference is under Step 1: I do NOT make the initial folds - they serve no purpose in the end, but are merely place markers. So, instead, I take a ruler and mark a small cross in pencil in the very center of the 12 x 12 piece of cardstock. Now follow the rest of the steps exactly as they are for ONE piece of the cardstock. This will be the smaller piece, or the bottom.

To make the box top, make the same changes as above: start with a 12 x 12 sheet of cardstock, and mark the centerin pencil instead of making the folds in Step 1. Now, complete Steps 1-3. In Step 4, however, you will make a smaller fold. To do this, you will not bring your fold to the center in Step 4. Where it says, "Fold the top of the square to middle of box, and the bottom of the square to the middle of the box", you will instead fold to within 1/4" of the middle with both the top and the bottom folds. Notice the photo in Step 5: you see a gap, but if you pressed the paper down in the photo, the gap would disappear, right? Well, when you fold it MY way, the gap will not disappear - it is supposed to remain because the top and bottom can't reach. Now complete the rest of the steps as written. I hope that makes sense! If not, just use their directions, and your box will simply be a bit smaller.

If you're keeping track of the sheet of DSP, then this is the project to start with, because the bow consumes most of the paper. So, if you decide to make all the projects from one 12x12" sheet of DSP, start with today's box, bow, and gift tag. The bow uses one half of the sheet of DSP. I'll tell you how to cut the cardstock as we go, but the main thing to keep in mind is to follow the directions to a "T" when cutting your paper for the bow. Those directions can be found here.  

The bow's simple to make - you just cut the half sheet into strips of a certain size, loop one end of each strip over the other, adhere the ends together, then assemble. Seriously, if you follow the directions in the link above, it really is easy - you'll be making all your own bows from now on!

 

After making the bow, I cut an 8-1/2 x 2-1/2" piece of the remaining half-sheet of DSP. I used it as you would ribbon, and wrapped it around the top and two sides of the box. I also adhered 1-3/4 x 4" "panels" of DSP to the other two sides just to brighten it up a bit.

  

The last thing I added was a cute little gift tag, made from a base of Close To Cocoa to match the box. After punching the top corners with the ticket punch, I adhered a 2-1/2 x 2-1/2" piece of DSP, folded in half. On the inside, I put a stamped tag with matching Tangerine Tango ink. Next, I punched the top with the slot punch, and threaded some Tangerine Tango striped ribbon through, fastening it with a brad.

Altogether, I think it's an adorable little gift box and I'd love to receive it as much as I'm going to love giving it!

Meet me back here tomorrow for the goodie bag!! See you then!

A Whole Week's Worth of Projects Using Frosty Day DSP: Day 1!

Yep - that's what I'm going to give you this week: one project each day from my upcoming "Bags, Tags, and Bows" gift packaging class. The whole class is based on the use of one full sheet of Frosty Day Designer Series Paper, and each is a gift package, not a gift in itself. There are 4 projects in all, including a gift box with matching tag and handmade bow, a cello bag with topper and tag for holding edible goodies, a simple-to-make gift card holder, and today's project, a gift bag with matching stamped tissue paper insert.

   

This cute bag is a CASE of an idea my upline made last Christmas with the great Christmas DSP, although the name escapes me at the moment!

 Isn't the snowman just adorable?!! He is a CASE from Charlene Monroe's website here. Charlene's snowman holds a peppermint pattie, which makes hers better! Not to mention the fact that she's far more clever than I because the snowman is her idea! Thanks, Charlene! I especially like the way she used the White Signo Pen to make the dots look like buttons on his... what would that be... his belly?!

I guessed at the punch sizes used, so if you want to know the sizes I used for my snowman, please email me. I mounted him on a tag and added a smal piece of Bashful Blue doulbe-striped grosgrain ribbon.

For this project, the only part of the sheet of DSP I used is the 1x8" strip across the center, behind the snowman. Remember, all of this week's projects are made from one 12x12" piece of Frosty Day DSP. I used Bashful Blue and Kiwi Kiss cardstock to match the DSP, and I think the colors are great for snow and snowmen!

To make this bag, the first thing I did was wheel across the bottom section of the bag. While I had the wheels out, I also wheeled the tissue paper. Next, I cut a couple pieces of cardstock the width of the gift bag, and layered them with the strip of DSP.

The bottom of the plain white gift bag is wheeted with 2 different (retired) wheels, in Bashful Blue and Kiwi Kiss. To match, I wheeled some white tissue paper the same.   

Hope you like it! I'll be back tomorrow with another of the pieces listed above, so stay tuned! See you then!

Snowflake Holiday Centerpiece Using the Holiday Collection Stamp Set

Happy Monday to everyone! I spent most of my weekend stamping furiously, trying to complete all my holiday class projects so that I can photograph them and get them going. (Better late than never, right?!)

Here's one I make for each holiday and seaon. It's a mini garden flag that I change out by cutting some cardboard to size, then embellishing it for the season or holiday. If you've followed my posts, I just did a Thanksgiving flag this past week, and one for Halloween in October. Instead of making a Christmas flag this time, I went with snowflakes because I'd gotten some white buckets with snowflakes on them at the Target Dollar Spot.

 

I just love the Cuttlebug Snowflake embossing folder, so I decided to use it on my flag. Behind it is Baja Breeze cardstock adhered to a piece of 3x5-1/2" cardboard. I used the corner rounder on the bottom corners, and used jumbo eyelets on top to use to hang it. The greeting is from the Country Living Holiday Kit, as are the large and small blue snowflakes. The white snowflake with the blue background is from the retired set 'Perfect Presentation'. After that's all put together with SNAIL and Dimensionals, it was hung on the flag post with the striped Baja Breeze grosgrain ribbon, and a piece of the 1" double-stitched ribbon was tied to the corner as decoration.

"Yeah, that's great Melinda, but where do I get a mini garden flag to start with?!" Well, I can't help you there. I got mine at the end of the summer at Dollar General, when they were on sale for fifty cents! You might try asking if they have any left in the back, or maybe just check around on the shelves!

Hope you're inspired - meet you back here tomorrow!

Look what one of you sweet viewers in blogland sent me!!

Isn't this the most beautiful notecard you've ever seen? I posted an antique-style skater card with the Winter Post set, and Gabriela in Virginia fell in love with it. After sending it to her, I received this beautiful thank-you in the mail this week:

 

 

 

I don't know if you can see the shimmery cardstock under the "Bonjour". There's so much detail, and it's so dainty; I just love it! Thank you so much, Gabriela!

Please visit Gabriela's blog (here) to check out her gorgeous photography of her life in Virginia, a little bit of stamping, and a little bit of the most delicious looking food! I swear, you can almost smell it and I drool everytime I look at it! But don't get any ideas: I've already invited myself to dinner, so you'll just have to wait your turn! :-)

I'm finalizing some classes this weekend, so I'll be stamping... how about you?

Crazy For Cupcakes - yum yum!

I'm posting an unfinished card for you tonight, so you can tell me how to embellish it! Well, truth be told, I'm hungry and tired, and I'm going to bed before I venture into the kitchen and eat too much!

My BIG SISTER'S birthday is coming up in early December, so I took a stab at a birthday card for her. Of course I had to use the cupcakes!! And of course again, I had to use my new Nestabilities. This time, I decided to make the cupcakes chocolate, because my family is an m&m's family. See, my Dad worked for m&m's most of my growing up years, and all 6 of us kids have first names that start with 'm'. So this one's for Maureen!

 

I'm thinking of using the Level I hostess set 'Occasions Collection' for the embellishment. I'm thinking about using the 'Happy Birthday' sentiment, then punching it with the word window punch - if it fits - and hanging it from the central medallion like a tag. Not sure, though. I thought a pink bow would look cute, but couldn't make it work quite right. Maybe I'm just too tired.

Let me know your thoughts! Back tomorrow... I'll post the finished card whenever it's finished! It'll definitely be by early December so I can get it in the mail on time!

A Winter Post Holiday Collection Card!

I just finished up a Christmas card with -- to quote a song -- "two of my fav-o-rite things": the Winter Post stamp set and Ski Slope Designer Series Paper. Aaaaaaah. I just love them. I also really like the Holiday Collection stamp set, don't get me wrong, but I'm not in love with it. I admit to my affair with Winter Post and Ski Slope. I thought I'd never get over my breakup with Soft Sky last August, but these two definitely have me saying, "Soft Sky WHO??". And I've got the ultimate revenge: I'm TWO-TIMING Soft Sky! Sweet.

 

Well, this may be plain to you, but I just don't like distracting from my Ski Slope DSP! OK, really it's just that it's after midnight, and I'm trying to hurry and get to bed! So, having said that, I'll give you the recipe and head off to la-la land! Nitey night!

Recipe -

Stamp Sets: Holiday Collection, Winter Post

Cardstock: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Ski Slope DSP

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red

Accessories: 5/8" Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon, Nestabilites oval die (shhhhhh - don't tell on me!! I'm a loyal Stampin' Up! Demonstrator!)

Ski Slope DSP Background on a Baja Breeze Christmas Card

For your viewing pleasure:

 

(shhhh! It's my first Nestabilities card!)

I think I love monochromatic cards just a little too much. Sorry if they bore you! For this one, I wanted to use a set from last year - actually, from the last Sellabration: 'So Many Scallops'. The other from last year is the little 'JOY' tag from the 'Perfect Presentation' set. I really just layered a bunch of scallops around the stamped image as a focal point, but then it still needed something, hence the hanging joy tag.

Here's the recipe:

Stamp Sets: So Many Scallops, 'Perfect Presentation

Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Ski Slope DSP

Ink: Baja Breeze

Accessories: Scallop punch, Nestabilities circle and scalloped circle dies, Baja Breeze double-stitched ribbon

 

Punch Art Christmas Tags

Happy Friday! Personally, I can't believe it's Friday already, but the rest of you out there are probably thinking it would never get here! I didn't have much time to stamp today, and I didn't want to just throw something together, so I'm going to give you a sneak peek of my upcoming punch art Christmas tags class project. These are so cute, and completely CASEd from the Stampin' Up! Demonstrator website, created by Mercedes Weber. I like her already; we share the same initials. Maybe some of her creativity will wear off on me...

 

Aren't they just the cutest?!! Very clever ideas. These are totally made with Stampin' Up! punches, with the exception of Rudolph's antlers. They are a bit time consuming, simply because the pieces are so tiny to work with, and adhering them to the tag itself is tricky.

      

Country Living's Holiday Collection Stamp Set

Today's card is my submission for this week's SCS challenge #202. I like the way it turned out!

 

Both the large and the small snowflakes as well as the sentiment are from the Country Living Ornament Kit. The stamp set is called 'A Holiday Collection'. This is the first card I've made with this set, and I love, love love the way the snowflakes look done up with glitter! And I don't think I need to tell you how I feel about Ski Slope DSP and that cool brown felt ribbon! Yummy!

Here's the recipe:

Stamp Sets: A Holiday Collection (Available through Stampin' Up! in conjunction with Country Living Magazine as an ornament kit, which is very neat!)

Inks: Chocolate Chip, Versamark

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Ski Slope DSP

Accessories: Heat & Stick Powder, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter,Alpine Originals Brown Felt Ribbon

BTW - the 3 squares at the bottom are too large to have used the punches, so I just cut them to size (1-1/2")

Hope you like and that you are headed off to your stamp room or stamp place or stamp corner to stamp your heart out. Enjoy!

Home for Christmas (in November!)

Here's the next of my uncomplicated cards for my upcoming Christmas card classes. See, I'm trying to create some cards that don't require too many steps or supplies for mass production in classes.

You must know - right up front - that I've cheated. Yes, I've cheated on Stampin' Up!. There. I said it. This past weekend, I actually bought a Martha Stewart punch for a specific purpose (reindeer antlers for my tags class), and I've gone and used it on this card. I feel so cheap. I'm going to have to place a super huge order with SU! to try to overcome my guilt. Yeah, that's it! I'll do it!

OK, here it is; don't say I didn't warn you...

 

See it? It's the little evergreen branches on the ribbon. Let's just pretend it's not there, and it'll just be our little secret. Oh, the shame of it all.

Anyway, the background cardstock is Cuttlebugged with Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, then the ribbon is attached to the back of the white embossed piece. Next, I stamped the image in Riding Hood Red, and mounted it on Always Artichoke cardstock. The sentiment's adhered at the top, and the infamous branches are held on with mini glue dots, then further held in place with a Build-a-Brad. The Build-a-Brad's got Riding Hood Red cardstock in it, that was punched out with the 1/2" punch.  

The sentiment on the inside is stamped in red onto Whisper White cardstock.
Sorry the picture's fuzzy :-)

That's it! Hope you enjoyed it and got some inspiration of your own!

A Holiday Collection To You and Yours

Say what? What kind of title is that?

The 'Holiday Collection' is the stamp set that comes with the new Country Living Magazine ornament and gift tag kit that's available this month through Stampin' Up! and Country Living Magazine. And 'To You and Yours' is a serene, peaceful wintery set in the current SU! catalog. Pair the two, and you get "A HOLIDAY COLLECTION TO YOU & YOURS"!

Here's mine in Ballet Blue:

 

*ALERT!*  *ALERT!* *NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART!!!*

Avert your eyes if you are as picky as I am about things being JUST SO, then PLEASE DO NOT LOOK AT THE CROOKED GREETING AT THE TOP OF THE CARD!! I DO apologize; I don't know what I was doing. And I don't know what I was thinking, just letting it slide and using it anyway! Geez. I think the reason it's crooked (here comes an excuse... wait for it; yep: here it is) is because I only inked up the top part of the stamp, and left the "peace joy love" off. That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it.

So I finally got to use my chunky glitter, and it is definitely chunky! It's like very thick snow, or maybe even an ice storm. My favorite ribbon is the 5/8" grosgrain, so I chose a color to stamp with that had coordinating ribbon. I adhered it with the Tombow glue, which made it thick and more dimensional than finer glitter.

I'd like to thank the creative person whose card I sorta CASEd; I think it was Mercedes, who put the greeting below the picture of the house in the punched oval. I love the look.

Here's the recipe -

Stamp Sets: To You & Yours, Holiday Collection

Cardstock: Ballet Blue, Whisper White

Ink: Ballet Blue

Accessories:  Ballet Blue 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Stampin' Glitter Chunky Essentials, sponge, Tombow Glue, medium oval punch, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder

Hope you enjoy!

Georgia Voter Pride

Here in Georgia, they handed out the cutest "I Voted" stickers last Tuesday. I just hated to throw mine away, so I of course had to stamp it and make something out of it! Maybe I'll hang it on my Christmas tree, haha!

Magazine Holder Tutorial

Remember this card holder from a few days ago?

I promised the dimensions and instructions, but couldn't seem to put them into words without pictures, so I've got a set of full pictorial instructions for you today! I adapted a mini magazine holder to hold regular 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" cards. Also, I intentionally made it from 81/2x11 carstock instead of 12x12. I made a couple of cards to go inside, and it looks adorable!

If this doesn't make sense, please let me know, as it was completely made up by me! You will probably find a much better, more convenient way to assemble it once you've made one, so remember this was my first try!

I made my magazine folder/card holder in 2 different colors, but you could just as easily make it all in one color and add some DSP too.

Recipe (for cards and holder) -

Stamp sets: Season of Friendship, Level I hostess set Best Yet

Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Tangerine Tango, Riding Hood Red, Pacific Point, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Summer Sun

Cardstock: *8-1/2x11* Kiwi Kiss, Tangerine Tango, Riding Hood Red, Pacific Point, Baja Breeze, Whisper White

Accessories: Kiwi Kiss, Tangerine Tango, Riding Hood Red, & Baja Breeze striped grosgrain ribbon, hemp twine, Whisper White medium envelopes, Circle punches: 3/4", 1", 1- 1-3/8", 1-3/4"; magazine holder template & dimensions

To make the magazine holder, I started with somebody else's template for a smaller magazine holder, but had to change it to fit 4-1/4"x5-1/2" cards. To keep from using 12x12" cardstock, I made the holder in 2 pieces instead, then made each piece from a separate color of cardstock. Basically, it's a box (the bottom portion I'll be making in Kiwi Kiss) with the angled piece sticking up out of the inside of the box (the Baja Breeze part). Starting with the top portion, I drew up a quick picture with the dimensions. Just click on it if you need to see it better.  

   

Simply cut a piece of cardstock that is 5-3/4" x 10-1/2".

Now score it 4-1/2" from each side, with the paper positioned LANDSCAPE. Use your bone folder to crease each scoreline.

With the creases down the center like an open book, you will measure and mark 1" to the left and right of the score lines at the TOP of the cardstock. 

Next, measure 2-1/2" from the bottom on the left and right sides, then draw a diagonal line to connect the two.  (If you look closely, you can see the diagonal pencil line on my cardstock.)

Cut along the diagonal lines.

This piece will fit into the box we'll create for the bottom.

To make the bottom, cut a piece of cardstock that is 6-1/2" x 9-1/2". Score 2-1/2" from all 4 sides. This will leave you with a 1-1/2" section in the middle, which is the finished width of the holder.

    

Crease with your bone folder. Cut the 2 vertical creases from the bottom up to the first horizontal fold, and again from the top down to the first horizontal fold. If this doesn't make sense, you can see the cuts in the next photo if you click on it. (Sorry; forgot to photograph that step!)

With the side that is to become the inside of the box facing up (the folds are like valleys), place strips of Sticky Strip as shown, with 4 on the left side and only 2 on the right.

Now flip the cardstock over, and place more Sticky Strip as shown: this time with 4 on the left and 4 on the right.

 

Flip the cardstock back over so the side with the uneven amount of Sticky Strip is facing up, and the side with only 2 strips is to the right. Peel the plastic off the 4 strips on the left, then position the upper piece in the center of the box bottom.

*It's a good idea to check the size of the upper piece before peeling the strips off, and trimming any parts that don't quite fit into the bottom correctly. 

Now just fold up the back parts and press the Sticky Strip to hold the pieces together.

Next, peel off the plastic from the 2 Sticky Strips on the right, along with one of the now vertical strips in the FRONT and one on the BACK (that can't be seen in this photo). If that doesn't make sense, look at the picture to see where the plastic is peeled off and copy it! :-) 

Fold up the flaps on the right over the ones you already folded on the left. It will now look like this on both the front and the back. Peel off the remaining plastic strips and fold the last 2 flaps up.

Embellish as desired! *Now that you know which parts show when complete and which don't, you'll know where to stamp if you want to stamp it before assembling.

 

OK, this was CRAZY long, and probably all backwards, but hopefully you get the idea and it will work for you. Be sure to let me know if it's wrong in places. I'm sure I'll end up rereading it later and correcting all sorts of things.

Be sure to email pictures of your creations!

p.s. - yes, I know my butcher block table needs to be refinished desperately! ;-)

Season of Thanks Decor Elements Holiday Project!

Have you seen this fabulous Stampin' Up! project yet?

 

Although it's difficult to photograph because of the glass front, it's beautiful in person!

This Decor Elements shadowbox was shown at Stampin' Up!'s annual convention a few months ago, and I finally got to make mine! I'm so excited about it, not only because I now have a beautiful multi-season decoration for my home, but also because it's the first I've worked with the Decor Elements, and I LOVE THEM! (I have to admit that I have not been a big fan of the Decor Elements, but with the addition of the holiday themes, I started getting more interested. And now that I've used them, I am thrilled with them!)

My version is made with a 12x12" shadowbox from Michael's that I got for 40% off this week. I chose brown to go with the brown Decor Elements, and I'd selected brown for the Decor Elements in keeping with a Fall color scheme. Note that this is a shadowbox, however, and the Fall elements can be traded out for other seasons: picture brown wording with pink Valentine hearts, or red Christmas items, etc. All you do is place the Decor Elements on the outside of the glass, then fill the inside of the shadowbox with whatever suits you! The size I used is the SMALL Season of Thanks.

The background of the shadowbox is cream colored fabric, which makes the lettering and the bright leaves stand out. Most of these that I've seen contain a section of a Fall garland, but I chose to cut off a few leaves and just include a few. I must say that I have not seen a single one on others' websites that I have not fallen in love with! This is so easy, you don't even have to be creative to make one that's stunning!

One thing I will point out to you is that the leaves and swirl to the left of the wording originally came on the bottom edge of the Season Of Thanks. Since my shadowbox was only 12x12, there wasn't enough room to include it on the bottom, so I cut it off and added it to the side instead. Just adapt yours to the size shadowbox you end up getting, and it'll look great no matter how you do it!

If you haven't already, I strongly suggest you try out the Decor Elements - especially the new line of holiday items - and you'll be impressed! I hope you're inspired to try them out!

Recipe -

Small (12" x 7-5/8"), Chocolate Season of Thanks Decor Elements $14.95 + S&H
12x12 Shadowbox from Michael's on sale for $18
Fall leaves garland from Michael's on sale for $2.99

So, depending on the price of your shadowbox, you can make a beautiful year-round decoration for your home for around $30! I'm thinking Christmas gifts...!

Mini Giveaway Winner!

And the winner is...

Wilma in Pueblo, Colorado!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your comments - I enjoyed each and every one of them! I wish everyone would always leave comments; they are truly fun to read!

Wilma, please email your address, and I'll send your pizza box and surprise!

 

To You & Yours New Christmas Set

Before posting today's card, I just want to tell you that I will post the winner of my mini giveaway later today, along with the directions for yesterday's cards & magazine card holder.

I tried my new set tonight for the first time. It's called 'To You & Yours', and it's got two images and 4 different sentiments. I made a quick card with it, so I kept it simple. A little too simple, I think! Anyway, here it is:

 

The dove is so wispy and graceful that it was just crying out for glitter!

 

I'm not sure if brown is much of a Christmasy color, but I wanted the card to be subdued. In keeping with that, I stamped off the dove before stamping the image I used (in Chocoate Chip), as well as the sentiment. The glitter was added by drawing the lines with my 2-way glue pen, then dousing it in Dazzling Diamonds. YES - I USED GLITTER ON A CARD AGAIN!! And speaking of which, I got somee of the chunky glitter in an order yesterday, and it looks so gorgeous in the jar that I can't wait to use it! I wish I'd had it for Halloween, because the black is really neat looking. The red is gorgeous! The reason I got it was for the clear, which looks very snow-like to me.

Let me know if the brown is all wrong for a holiday card; Also, is it too "wedding-y"?? I'm curious to know if I just have weird taste!

Here's the recipe - 

Stamp Sets: To You & Yours

Ink: Chocolate Chip 

Cardstock: Very Vanilla

Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, 2-way Glue Pen, Large and medium oval punches, 5/8" Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon, hemp twine, sponge, Cuttlebug embossing folders: Swiss Dots & Textile Texture 

Season of Friendship Cards and Magazine Holder

Boy, I'm in the doghouse for posting this so late, aren't I?!! Well, hopefully it won't disappoint!

Here's my magazine holder and cards made with my new Season of Friendship set:

 

Cute, huh? I adapted a mini magazine holder to regular 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" cards. I made a couple of cards to go inside, CASEing a few from online... sorry, I can't remember from where at the moment. (I'm in such a hurry to get this thing posted finally!) The magazine holder would look really cute with the bottom covered in DSP, then more on the cards to match. However, I was trying to keep these cards and the holder simple and with fewer supplies because it's for one of my Christmas classes.

 

I stamped the envelopes to make this more "gifty" (!) and because they will be seen while in the holder. I'll probably offer my stampers the option to make this quick-and-easy version, or one with two of each cards. They are pretty stamping-intensive, simply because you have to ink, cleanup, then re-ink with other colors quite frequently, due to all the leaves on the cards, holder and the envelopes.

I think it's  a reallly neat, colorful - and simple - project. Once I figured out the dimensions of the holder, it was really simple to put everything together. I'll come back and add the dimensions and instructions for the holder tomorrow; first, I've got to make some adjustments to this one, as it was the first try, and therefore not perfect! I'll also add instructions for the cards (which, by the way, are landscape, which doesn't seem to show up in the picture.)

Hope you like!

OK - here we go with the particulars I promised:

Recipe -

Stamp sets: Season of Friendship, Level I hostess set Best Yet

Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Tangerine Tango, Riding Hood Red, Pacific Point, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Summer Sun

Cardstock: Kiwi Kiss, Tangerine Tango, Riding Hood Red, Pacific Point, Baja Breeze, Whisper White

Accessories: Kiwi Kiss, Tangerine Tango, Riding Hood Red, & Baja Breeze striped grosgrain ribbon, hemp twine, Whisper White medium envelopes, Circle punches: 3/4", 1", 1- 1-3/8", 1-3/4"; magazine holder template

You know what? I'll never get through a how-to without visual aids.It would be like trying to teach someone how to tie their shoes without being able to show them.

For a tutorial with pictures, click here.