Ornament Parade

As promised, it's Christmas Ornament Parade time, so over the next few days I'll be sharing with you some of the beautiful ornaments both myself and the girls have been making.  Today I'll start with my favourite traditional ornament which is almost exactly true to the ornament featured on the Christmas Holiday catalogue.

Isn't it beautiful.  I can't to get my Christmas tree set up so that I can hang it with my other treasured directions.  I used Whisper White cardstock with Gumball Green and Real Red inks.  Gorgeous.  For full instructions on how to make the ornament, click on this link!

If you have photos of your ornaments, please send them through or upload to my Stamp with Me Facebook page.  We can all go ooohhh and aaahhh together!

Bright Blossoms

Wow!  What an incredibly busy weekend I've just had and from this time of the year, I think it's going to stay at that pace!  Today I had a lovely day crafting with a group of the loveliest girls and I got through a huge list of Christmas cards I had to make.  I also showed the girls how to make the gorgeous ornament featured on the Christmas Holiday Catalogue!

So as I don't have those projects ready for show & tell (a minor need to take a photo issue!!) I thought I would show a card I made earlier!!

 I made these little cards from the Bright Blossoms stamp set.  And of course I had to use lots of bright colours as well, such as Daffodil Delight and Calypso Coral.  I used these little cards to thank guests at a recent workshop.  They were so cute to make, so a pleasure to send too!!

Now I need to put making more thank you cards on my list.....

Packaging

At this time of the year, it's all about gift giving.  There's something about Christmas that just wants to make you give gifts, well it does for me. 

So when I have orders or loyalty reward gifts to deliver, well they just need to be packaged and made pretty.  I always try to do something different, and make each one unique!!  So here's a few of my recent packaging ideas:

Rosettes are a wonderful way to decorate your gifts.  I added this rosette to the front of a boring plain kraft gift bag.  Just by adding a rosette on top of a doily just made it so much better!!  I also tied a bit of matching ribbon around the handles (not shown in this pic).

I've also used a rosette (using same papers, stamped images) and layered it on top of a hand made gift box.  I've embossed the box top and used vintage lace and seam binding for embellishment.  So pretty!!  I love the butterfly from the Creative Elements stamp set, one of my favourites!!  This box is perfect for packaging gifts!

This kraft gift bag has been covered with a doily folded in half.  I've added a white tag and bakers twine to add some bright colour.  I love Melon Mambo, it's such a pretty pink and I used it to stamp my thanks.  And of course, I just had to add a glittery star!!

See!  So much better than a boring brown bag.  So what can you do to make your packaging pretty!

Scrappin Inspiration

Oh my goodness.  That's all I can say, after what has to be one of my most busiest weekends EVER!!  And it was mainly about my kids.  All three of my kids who seem to have a busier social and sporting life then me.  Although I not really complaining as I was so lucky to see my wonderful friends over the weekend too.  Sadly no time for creating, so I come today with an inspiration project just for you, from my Stampin' Up! page!

It's a really cute 8" x 8" page that you could take to the next level with a 12" x 12" page!  Even I can made this one (and I'm not a scrapper)!!  So here's what was used for this project:

Stamps: Chock-Full of Cheer
Papers: Real Red, Whisper White Cardstock, Neutrals DSP Stack, Polka Dot Parade DSP & Silver Glimmer Paper
Inks:  Basic Gray, Marina Mist & Real Red Classic Stampin’ Pad, Marina Mist Refill
Stampin’ Up! Accessories: Rhinestone Basic Jewels, 1/2" Circle Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch
Big Shot: Big Shot, Snow Flurry Bigz™ Die* & Typeset Alphabet Bigz Die

*From the 2012-2013 holiday catalogue 

 So for more inspirational projects, why not check my page - there will always be something to tempt!

Change in Pace

Just a change in pace today.  With Christmas only weeks away, it's turning my focus onto making Christmas cards, gifts, tags you name it.  But every so often, you get a reminder that there is more to this time of the year to Christmas, such as birthdays, thankyou's and cards to girls on my team!!

This card was one inspired by a swap I received at the SU Convention earlier this year.  And it just happens to use some of my favourite stamp sets: Creative Elements and Elements of Style.  Sometimes it's nice to pull out your favourites, old and new.  Just to refresh and have a play!

I've used Marina Mist and Old Olive as my feature colours.  They go so well with Early Espresso!!

Now back to my Christmas cards.....

Scented Gingerbread Men!

I've been playing with my Sugar & Spice scented embossing powder. The room is smelling gorgeous, scentsational actually!! And by the way, all the girls in my team will be getting a sample so they can play too!

My little gingerbread are all off in the mail to visit my SU team friends. The mail will be smelling beautifully!!

I am loving my Scentsational stamp set.  The gingerbread are so cute.  I've stamped them in Early Espresso and added a little Cherry Cobbler heart cut with my Owl punch.  I've made tags with scrap pieces of cardstock and tied with bakers twine.  Perfect!! 

That Christmas Ornament

Wondering how to make the beautiful Christmas Ornament featured on the front page of the Stampin' Up! Holiday Christmas Catalogue?  This has been a wonderful project adored by many and now you can make one too using the instructions below or click on the link to my Christmas Ornament Page.  

You’ll be surprised how quickly you can create such a beautiful ornament from paper. It only takes a bit of time, but is actually pretty simple to do. And it makes a great gift for yourself or your family and friend.

Here’s how!

SUPPLIES:
Stamps: Ornament Keepsake stamp set 
Big Shot: Holiday Ornaments Framelits Dies & Rosette Die
Inks: Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive Classic Ink Pads
Papers: Very Vanilla card stock & Candlelight Christmas Designer Series Paper
Other: 1-3/8” Circle Punch; 3-1/2” Scalloped Tulle Ribbon, Vintage Faceted Designer Buttons, Large Pearl Basic Jewels, Linen Thread, 1/8” Taffeta Ribbon or other ribbon for hanging ornament
Tools: Simply Scored Scoring Tool, Bone Folder & Silicone Craft Sheet
Adhesives: Tombow Multipurpose Liquid Glue & Hot Glue Gun and Glue

INSTRUCTIONS:
Step 1: Stamp 20 of the larger ornament images on Very Vanilla card stock with Old Olive ink. Cut out with the coordinating Holiday Ornaments Framelits Die using the Big Shot. 

Stamp 20 of the small ornament images on Very Vanilla card stock with Cherry Cobbler ink. Cut out with the coordinating Holiday Ornaments Framelits Die using the Big Shot. 

Score 15 of each ornament in half from top to bottom using the Simply Scored Scoring Tool.  Fold in half along the score line. 

Step 2: Use the Tombow Glue to adhere three of the scored ornaments together. Adhere one half of the first ornament lined up with one half of the next ornament and then do the same
with the third ornament. Leave one half of the first and last ornaments un-glued. Repeat the steps until you have created 5 sets of the 3-ornament groupings in each ornament style. 

Add Multipurpose Liquid Glue to the halves of the first and last ornaments in the 3-ornament grouping. Adhere to the back of an un-scored ornament of the same style. Repeat for all 5 sets of each style.


Step 3: Punch a circle from scrap Very Vanilla card stock using the 1-3/8” Circle Punch. Place the circle on the Silicone Craft Sheet. Add a line of hot glue around the edge of the circle. Position the necks of the larger Old Olive ornaments, flat side down, evenly around the circle. Press into the hot glue. Use the Bone Folder to avoid burning yourself. Nest the smaller ornaments with the larger ornaments.

Tip: Once the glue is set on the green layer and you have your red ornaments assembled, put hot glue at the top (flat end) of one red piece and attach to the glue puddle in the centre. The red ornament should lay between two of the green ornaments at an angle. Continue adding the red ornaments until all 5 are attached.

Step 4: To finish up, add Cherry Cobbler Tulle Ribbon and linen thread.  Cut lengths of tulle about 3 scallops long and bunch at the centre.  Apply hot glue to the point of the tulle and insert in between two of the green ornaments.  Cut TEN 6” lengths of linen thread and use your glue gun and silicone craft sheet to make loops.  Place two loops of linen thread onto the top of each green ornament, making sure to hide the ends.

Step 5: Create a rosette from the Candlelight Speciality DSP to add to the centre of the ornament.  Attach a large clear button using hot glue on top. Punch a hole for ribbon at the top.
 
Optional: Add Dazzling Details Stampin’ Glitter or Champaign Shimmer Mist to add sparkle! 

Christmas Box

Are you looking for Christmas inspiration so you can get your Christmas gifts started early (or finished on time!!)?  Well how about this month's feature project over at my Stampin' Up! website?

This month's feature project is a gorgeous Christmas in the Heart Box.  It's a great box for putting in small gifts, perfect for teachers, work colleagues, neighbours, friends, family.  Well anyone really!!

All you need are the following supplies, and you can make this box in a flash!

Stamps: Heart of Christmas*
Papers: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla Cardstock,  Snow Festival Designer Series Paper &  Champagne Glimmer Paper*
Inks: Cherry Cobbler &  Old Olive Stampin’ Write Marker
Accessories: Old Olive 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Stampin’ Dimensionals®, Owl Punch & 1/16" Circle Punch
Big Shot: Fancy Favor Bigz™ XL Die &  Apothecary Accents Framelits™ Dies

*From the 2012-2013 holiday catalogue

So if you're ever in need of inspiration, head on over to my Stampin' Up! Featured Projects & My Favourite Ideas page.  And of course, if you need help or any of the products, please contact me!

Party This Way

I just wanted to pop in (late on a Sunday night) with a card I made over the last few days.  I loved the card - it was for my son's friend who recently turned 9.  Two things on the agenda: Nothing girly and his favourite colour was orange.  Hmmm.  Gets you thinking!!  So this is what I came up with:

 Isn't it cute?  Well in a non-girly sort of way.  I was really pleased with it.  Black, silver/grey and orange.  The right colour combo and I think it works.  The Howlstooth & Scaringbone DSP in the Holiday Catalogue was perfect!

 

 

For the spider web background I covered a scrap piece of cardstock with some aluminium foil and ran it through the Big Shot with the Spider Web Embossing Folder.  TIP:  Use a glue stick as it's easy to spread and gives great coverage.  But the card needed something.

So I added the number 9.  I wasn't going to add the number, in fact we had already written inside the card and it was ready to go inside the envelope.  But I had a last sneaky peek and decided to do a little number.  Hooray for the Big Shot!

So lots of details, but nothing girly - check.  Card had orange - check, check, check!!

INK-redible!

INK-redible Hostess Promotion!

Hostesses who hold a minimum $650 party between 1 November and 16 December 2012 will receive a FREE collection of Classic Stampin Pads*- they can choose from Brights, Subtles, or Regals. Plus, the free ink is in addition to the regular hostess benefits-INK-credible!

Your Party Sales**	Free Ink Collection	Hostess Dollars	Items at 50% Off
$650	Yes!	$100	1 item
$800	Yes!	$130	2 items
$1000	Yes!	$160	3 items
$1250+	Yes!	$200	4 items

Click here for the flyer with all the information you need!

If you would like to hold a Stampin' Up! workshop during the INK-redible promotion, please contact me as soon as possible, as availability dates are limited.  You can also hold a 'catalogue' party too!

Contact me for more information

Christmas Gift Pack

Merry Christmas from Stampin' Up!

It's only November, but Stampin' Claus is coming to town! Get a FREE Festive Paper-Piercing Pack when you purchase the Ornament Keepsakes Set and Candlelight Christmas Specialty Designer Series Paper Bundle.*

Item	Description	Retail Value	Special Price
132260	Christmas Gift Pack (wood-mount) Includes Ornament Keepsakes Set (wood-mount), Candlelight Christmas Specialty Designer Series Paper, Festive Paper-Piercing Pack	$96.85	$82.90
132261	Christmas Gift Pack (clear-mount) Includes Ornament Keepsakes Set (clear-mount), Candlelight Christmas Specialty Designer Series Paper, Festive Paper-Piercing Pack	$84.85	$70.90
132262	Christmas Gift Pack (wood-mount bundle) Includes Ornament Keepsakes Bundle (wood-mount), Candlelight Christmas Specialty Designer Series Paper, and Festive Paper-Piercing Pack	$123.85	$109.90
132263	Christmas Gift Pack (clear-mount bundle) Includes Ornament Keepsakes Bundle (clear-mount), Candlelight Christmas Specialty Designer Series Paper, and Festive Paper-Piercing Pack	$113.85	$99.90

 

Click here for your Christmas Gift Flyer

Be sure to contact me to make an order for your very own Christmas Gift Bundle! 

*Offer is only available during 1 - 30 November 2012