Week 10 of the 12 Weeks of Christmas

Here we are at Week 10 of the 12 weeks of Christmas.  It's hard to believe that there are just 10 days left until Christmas is here.  I am finding it especially difficult to keep track of the holidays while living in Florida because the weather usually dictates that the holidays are coming.  At home in Michigan, fall and the cooler weather means Halloween, then Thanksgiving, followed by Christmas.  When it is warm most every day, it's hard to keep track of the days.  Although, and I am certainly not complaining, since I know the weather back home in Michigan and other places has been much colder, it has been a bit chilly for Florida the last week.  Even the Manatees are sensing the cooler weather.  I'm going to check on them tomorrow, I'll report back next week. 

This week's Christmas project is a cute gift card holder for any of those last minute gifts that you need to purchase, or the ones that you have already purchased and you need a fun way to wrap them up.   This gift card pattern allows you to get three gift cards from each 8  1/2" x 11" sheet of cardstock.    Here are a few of the gift card holders I created:

 

Here's what I used to create each gift card:

• Gift card base cut from cardstock cut at 3 1/2" x 8 1/2".  Score at 2" & 6"
• Designer Paper cut at
• 3 1/4" x 3 3/4"
• 3 1/4" x 1 3/4'
• 3 1/4" x 2 1/4"
• white for inside tab cut at 3 1/4" x 1 3/4"
• Assorted stamps, inks and papers

Cut a gift card base at 3 1/2" x 8 1/2" and score on the long end at 2" and 6".   On the end with the shorter score line, use a corner rounder to round the corners.  I used the notch on the top of my  Envelope Punch Board (item #133774).  Round the corners of both the designer paper and white paper cut at 3 1/4" x 1 3/4" making sure that the design on your paper is aligned in the direction it will be placed onto the gift card holder.  Fold on all score lines and burnish with your bone folder. 

Apply adhesive onto the edges of 2 1/2" edge as shown below.  Here I used tear & tape but you could also use Multipurpose Liquid Glue or Fast Fuse.  Be sure to only apply adhesive along these edges or you will not be able to insert your gift card into the slot.  Remove the backing from the tape and fold inward, creating a pocket. 

Score on long end at 2" and 6"

Round corners on end that is 2".  Place adhesive on the edges of the end that is 2 1/2".

Attach designer paper pieces using fast fuse, snail or multipurpose glue.  Place the 3 1/4" x 3 3/4" piece onto the back of the holder, the 3 1/4" x 1 3/4" piece onto the front top tab, the white piece onto the front inside tab for to/from and the 3 1/4" x 2 1/4" piece onto the front pocket piece.   

I used assorted stamps sets, framelits and punches to create the  front decorations.  Attach these pieces onto the tab that flips open, making sure to only attach the top half as your gift card will be sealed shut permanently if you apply adhesive to the entire piece.   See image below.   Insert a gift card into the pocket as shown below.  Tie a ribbon around the top of the gift card holder to hold it closed. 

I hope that you are finding the holidays peaceful, and that you are having enough time to do all of the things that make you happy this season. 

If you need stamping supplies, I would love to be your demonstrator.   Please visit my store here. 

Happy Holiday Stamping,

Debbie

Christmas Ornament Exchange

This year I was invited to an ornament exchange by my friend Natalie.  The requirements of the exchange were to bring six wrapped ornaments.  Everyone would leave with six new ornaments.  The concept is similar to a cookie exchange.  But I also learned this year that there is such a thing as a wine exchange.  I'm totally organizing a wine exchange next year for sure.  If you want to be on the invite list, just let me know.  I have a feeling there's going to be lots of wine exchanging.  

These are the ornaments I selected.  I do love snowmen.  And I  hoped that everyone else would love them as much as I did.  Well, they did, except I was unaware of the rules of the ornament swap.  Bring 6 DIFFERENT ornaments.  No one seemed to mind, and I will know for next time. 

We all chose a number then made our ornament selections.  Did I mention that all of the ornaments were wrapped?  So we were selecting based on wrapping.  Some of them were wrapped in tissue paper, some in boxes and tins and some in super sparkly, glittery bags.  I really wanted to take all of the sparkly ones, but I chose several different ones.  The catch of this ornament exchange?  If the person with the number behind you wanted one of your ornaments, they had to take them ALL.  Thankfully, no one did that, but at the end, we each swapped with each other to get a few that better suited our Christmas tree needs. 

This year, being in Florida, and it also being my last Christmas living in Florida, I decided to go with a nautical theme.  I have decorated my tree with teal and white lights, mermaids, starfish,fish,  sea lions, sea horses and, of course, turtles.   My turtle tree topper, which is really an ornament posing as a tree topper, was sent to me by my dear friend, Elaine Brockhaus.  What a great surprise to receive it in the mail.   I am happy to say at my ornament exchange, I ended up with a few more ornaments to fit in with my nautical theme including a crab, a sparkly sand shell and a turtle. 

I actually have three trees this year, and they are all decorated with the same type of ornaments.    They are small and are part of a three piece alpine tree set.    Here is the biggest one:

I hope that by now, your tree is up and decorated (if you are choosing to put one up this year), and that you are enjoying the twinkling of the lights and the memories of each ornament that adorns it. 

Merry Christmas,

Debbie

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Gift Tags for your Christmas Gifts

 

 

How are you doing on time this year?  Do you have all of your Christmas shopping done?  This year I had to do a lot of my shopping online because of being away from home.  I have never done so much shopping online as I did this year.  I am not certain how I feel about it.  I don't mind going out for hours, scouring the stores for the perfect gift.  I do mind grouchy people who think they are the only ones in the store who are tired and worn out.  As I have mentioned before, I am always armed with handmade treats that I can give away to help these people to feel more happy.  It really does work. 

I mailed 60 Christmas cards out yesterday. I was feeling very thankful this year that I took my own advice and I purchased my postage stamps online and had them delivered right to my mailbox.  Did you know you can do that?  Just log into USPS.com and create an account.  They usually have a bigger selection of stamps through their online store.  What a great time saver.    The parking lot of the post office was packed.  I was able to find one of the last parking spots, walk in to the self service mail slot, insert my cards and walk out.  Then mark Christmas cards off of my list.

Now onto gift wrapping.  I like to create handmade tags for my gifts and the Stampin' Up! Scalloped Tag Topper punch makes this task super easy.  I selected a few stamp sets, pulled out my designer paper and cardstock and began the task of creating.  I was able to use up lots of my designer series paper scraps because the tags are just 2" wide.  I create a few whimsical ones with the reindeer and the snowman, and a few beautiful ones with the church, house, trees and stockings.   Here are a few of the tags I created:

 

 

 

Creating these tags didn't take long, and I had so much fun making them.  For each tag, I cut a piece of cardstock to 4 1/4" x 2", then inserted one end into the scalloped tag topper and punched.    I used pool party, garden green, whisper white and very vanilla, but you can really use whatever colors match your designer papers.  You will get 10 tags from each 8 1/2" x 11" piece of cardstock.  I used the tag topper to punch the top of the tags so that I could easily attach them to my gifts.   When I used a back ground piece, I cut it to 2" x 2". 

 

The Stampin' Up! Tag Topper punch makes creating tags so easy.

 

I used several stamp sets to create  my tags because I couldn't choose just one.  I used the Hang your Stockings stamp set with matching framelits.  This set was new to Stampin' Up! last year but is still available for purchase.  This is one of my favorites from last year.  

 

 

 

Here are the stamp sets used for creating the gift tags:

• Hang your stocking photopolymer stamp set (item #142114)
• Christmas stockings thinlits dies (item #141841)
• Tag Topper punch (item #133324)
• Hearts Come Home bundle (item #146068)
• Father Christmas Clear Mount Stamp Set (item #14215)
• Card Front Builder thinlits dies (item #144674)
• Merry Little Labels Clear Mount Stamp Set (item #144795)
• Seasonal Chums Clear Mount Bundle (item #146077)

 

I wish you peace and calmness this holiday season as you prepare to celebrate with your friends and family.   Make lists to keep track of tasks, and delegate when possible.  And remember, we still have 11 days  and 2 weekends before Christmas is here.

 

Happy Stamping,

 

Debbie



Stampin' Up! Year End Sales Event and Stamparatus Tool

Stampin' Up! has introduced a brand new placement tool.  Your stamping projects will never be the same.

This tool will help you perfectly align your stamping images, and will stamp multiples of the same project, saving you time.  This tool was created by stampers, for stampers, and will change the way you stamp.  Before long, you will wonder how you ever stamped without it. 

• Compatible with red rubber and photopolymer stamps
• 2 magnets to hold the paper in place
• rulers on 2 sides for quick measuring
• 2 open sides so you can use larger paper
• multiple hinges for more placement options
• 2 reversible plates for 4 sides to work with
• 1 foam mat for use with photopolymer stamps
• 1 base with grid
• magnet storage areas

You can view a demonstration of the Stamparatus tool here:  Stamparatus You Tube Video

I know you're going to want one, so here's the deal.  Stampin' Up! is taking reservations for this tool RIGHT NOW!!!  From December 5-30, you will make your reservation.  Shipping will begin March 19, 2018.  You will receive your tool in the order that reservations were placed.  You must have a Stampin' Up! online account.  If you don't have one currently, it is very easy to set up.  Once you make your reservation, you will need to enter your credit card information, however, your card will NOT be charged until your Stamparatus ships from the facility.   Click Here

HURRY!  Stampin' Up! is having a Year End Sales Event!  This sale runs from December 1 to January 2, 2018.  Discounts up to 25% off.  Retiring items are while supplies last only, so don't wait.  Your favorite items could be gone forever once stock is depleted.  Visit my store HERE.  Use hostess code 2JZPRHSB at checkout. 

Please let me know if you have any questions regarding these two special events.  I would be happy to help you.

Stop back tomorrow to see what I have been creating in my craft room. 

Happy Stamping,

Debbie

Week 9 of 12 Weeks of Christmas

Week 9 of the 12 weeks of Christmas

This week I am sharing a small treat box that holds a miniature Hershey bar or other small candy treat.  I have been looking for new ways to use my designer paper, and this project was a perfect way to display this fun paper.  I think this treat box would be a great surprise for your holiday guests.

Here's what I used to create this treat box:

• Be Merry Designer Series Paper (item #144111) cut at 6" x 2 1/4"
• Merry Mittens Framelits (item #144672)
• Silver 1/8" Ribbon (item #132137)
• multipurpose liquid glue (item #110755)
• Dimensionals
• Glue dots

Here's how I created the box:

• Score the designer paper on the short end at 1/2" on both ends.  Score on the long end at 2 3/4" and 3 1/4".
• Fold all score lines and burnish with your bone folder
• Cut up to the 1/2" score line on both sides where there is a small square (these will be the tabs to create your box)  See image below

• Fold the center tabs toward the center and apply adhesive to each one.  Bring the sides of the box up to the tab with the adhesive and secure. 
• Run adhesive along the remaining tab and secure to the back tab to form a box
• Your box will look like this:

• Cut two mittens using the Merry Mittens Framelits.  You will need one solid white mitten and one mitten cut from the framelit with the design (this one is placed on top of the white mitten).  I chose Cherry Cobbler cardstock for my top layer mitten.
• Attach the two mittens using multipurpose liquid glue
• attach the mittens to the box using a dimensional
• Tie a box with the 1/8" silver ribbon and attach using a glue dot
• place treat inside box and give to your favorite guests

If you liked this project, I hope that you will stop back tomorrow to see what else I have been creating.  If you need supplies to create this, or any other project, I would love to be your demonstrator.  Please visit my store by clicking HERE.  Please use hostess code 2JZPRHSB at checkout. 

Happy Stamping,

Debbie