Jingle Bells

Arrgh! It's December already...Christmas will be here before we know it! Thank goodness for this fortnight's "Christmas Card" challenge at Creative Cutting Challenge, or I wouldn't have a single card done yet!

I decided to start with family cards and created this cool gift card holder for one of my nephews. It's a fantastic idea I gleaned from Cindy at The Creative Pointe. It's the perfect size for holding a gift card, but I typically give cash, and this works for that too!

I wanted this to be fairly masculine and mature enough looking for a 17-year-old. I chose The Creative Pointe's 'Christmas Bells' SVG file to cut a large jingle bell to adorn the front.

To make the bell look aged metallic and give it some interest, I clear embossed some French writing and then layered on metallic Distress Stains. The ribbon was colored with an Aged Mahogany Distress Marker.

I modified the inside a tad since the flap on my invitation envelope comes to a point, unlike the one in the example from Cindy. Instead of using the right half of the flap, I tucked it in to create a little slant pocket. A row of jingle bell garland (colored just like the bell on the front) adorns the pocket's edge.

On the left side, I added more patterned paper and stamped "Merry Christmas". Here you can see how the inside looks with the "gift". It's just the cutest little gift card!

Other Challenge Fun:
613 Avenue Create: Challenge #48 - Anything Goes or twist of gift packaging
House of Cards:  Holiday Blog Hop
Perfectly Rustics:  PR Design Challenge No.12 – Christmas Gift

Supplies:
Cardstock:	Papertrey Ink ‘Kraft’, ‘Ivory’
Patterned Paper:	My Mind's Eye Lost & Found 'Christmas' 6x6
SVG:	The Creative Pointe ‘Christmas Bells’
Stamps:	Croppy Cat; Stampin' Up!
Inks:	Distress Ink ‘Walnut Stain’; Distress Stain ‘Pumice Stone’, ‘Brushed Pewter’, ‘Tarnished Brass’, ‘Antiqued Bronze’; Top Boss embossing pad; Distress Marker ‘Aged Mahogany’; Archival 'Coffee'
Embellishments:	Zing embossing powder ‘Clear’; twine
Tools:	Foam ink blending tool; heat tool; SCAL; Cricut Expression; 3M spray adhesive; Tim Holtz paper distresser
Misc:	A4 invitation envelope ‘Ivory’

Grandma's Sequins

Christmas is really sneaking up on me and I am soooo behind!  Get a jump on your own Christmas projects by joining our "Christmas - Not a Card" challenge this fortnight at Creative Cutting Challenge.

I was inspired by this Pinterest project for my design team project.  Man, do I love Pinterest!  I only wish I had enough time to apply all the fantastic ideas I see there...sigh.

Some months ago, my mom let my sisters and me divide my paternal grandmother's stash of vintage pearls, sequins, and beads.  Grandma was a wonderful beader and we are fortunate to each have several beautiful Christmas ornaments created by her very own hands.  When I saw the Pinterest post, I immediately thought of my grandma's beads.

I used The Creative Pointe's "Joy Ornament" SVG to cut four layers of cardboard.  I replaced the center oval cut-out with a large heart shape. The top layer of cardboard was embossed with Tim Holtz's woodgrain texture fade and all layers were given a coat of artist gesso.  Clear Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint and layers of Distress Stains add just enough vintage-ness.  

I recycled clear acrylic packaging to create the windows at the center of the ornament.  These were sandwiched between the layers of cardboard...adhered with Glossy Accents...with the sequins loose in between.

I actually broke into my cherished antique glass glitter to decorate the edges of the ornament.  It was the perfect touch.  A simple ribbon loop hardware piece and wired tinsel create a hanger and a big fluffy bow finishes things off.  Overall, I kept the ornament neutral to really make those colorful sequins pop!

Other Challenge Fun
Make It Monday:  MIM #167
Paper Playtime:  Challenge #23 - Sparkle
Crafty Calendar Challenge: All Things Christmas!
My Time to Craft:  Challenge #243 - Baubles

Supplies:
SVG:	The Creative Pointe ‘Joy Ornamente’
Inks:	Delta Ceramcoat artist gesso; Distress Stain ‘Pumice Stone’, ‘Tarnished Brass’, ‘Brushed Pewter’, ‘Picket Fence’; Distress Crackle Paint ‘Clear Rock Candy’
Embellishments:	Grandma’s sequins; Stampin’ Up! hardware; Hug Snug seam binding ‘Ivory’; wired tinsel; Cody Foster & Co. vintage glass glitter ‘Silver’
Tools:	SCAL; Cricut Expression; Sizzix Texture Boutique; Tim Holtz texture fade ‘Wood Grain’; Glossy Accents; SU! eyelet tool
Misc:	Cardboard; clear acrylic packaging

Joyful Tree

Sharing a 3-D project with you today that was an inky, glittery delight to make!  Sometimes it's so good to just get messy!  (Although my studio looked like it had been hit by a glitter bomb and you know how hard that stuff is to clean up...ugh!  Oh, and I now own a box of latex gloves for when I want to get super inky. J)

The Details:

• This tree stands about 8" high including the base.  To create the tree, I cut two pines from The Creative Pointe's 'Pine Trees & Pine Cones' SVG set from cardboard.  

• This is where things get messy.  I embossed the trees with Basic Grey's 'Flowers' embossing folder, then added layers of color with Starburst Sprays and Distress Inks until I was happy with the piney color.
• Once completely dry (they were pretty saturated), I aligned the trees and marked my center points on the tops and bottoms of both.  I drew a center line from the top to halfway on one tree and from the bottom to halfway on the second tree and then used my craft knife and a metal ruler to cut along the lines.  This allows you to slide the two trees together to create your dimensional pine tree. I used Glossy Accents to glue the two pieces in place.
• A light coat of Future floor polish and a dusting of crystal glitter works well for the frosted look.
• For the icicles, I found that the best technique is to use GA and glitter.  I applied heavy lines and drips of GA along the branches and then sprinkled on mostly crystal and some white-gold glitter.  For best results, do not apply Stickles for your frost or icicles.  It will look good at first, but as it dries it sucks up the green ink.  You can see some of this still on my tree.

• Now for our base.  I recycled an empty ribbon spool to create the tree base.  First painting it with brown acrylic paint, then adding patterned paper circles to the top and bottom, and finally wrapping some jute twine around the center.  I just love the look of it...and it was so easy!

• The tree is attached to the base with generous amounts of Glossy Accents...that stuff is amazingly strong!  I added a bit of reindeer moss and more glitter along the base of the tree.

• "JOY" was stamped on light green patterned paper and embossed in red.  I cut the sentiment apart and into tag shapes and punch small holes in the tops.  A piece of twine was strung from limb to limb and the individual JOY tags were tied to it with more twine.  To keep everything in place just as I wanted it, I applied more GA to the twine near the knots and on the tree limbs and added glitter.  Two birds with one stone:  the twine is now frosty and it locks the banner in place.

Challenge:
Simon Says Stamp Challenges: Simon Says...Anything Goes

Supplies:
Patterned Paper:	Basic Grey Figgy Puddy ‘Nestled’ 12x12; My Mind’s Eye Lost & Found ‘Christmas’ 6x6
SVG:	The Creative Pointe ‘Pine Trees & Pine Cones’
Stamps:	Stampin’ Up! ‘Merry Merry Messages’
Inks:	Lindy’s Stamp Gang Starburst Sprays ‘Ponderosa Pines Olive’, ‘Cattail Copper Brown’; Distress Ink ‘Peeled Paint’, ‘Forest Moss’, ‘Walnut Stain’; VersaMark; Delta Ceramcoat acrylic paint ‘Dark Burnt Umber’
Embellishments:	Glossy Accents; LSG micas ‘Oak Leaf Olive’, ‘Pine Cone Brown’; LSG two-toned embossing powder ‘Terra Cotta Rust’; jute twine; Papertrey Ink rustic button twine; Martha Stewart glitter ‘Crystal Fine’, ‘White Gold’; Distress Stickles ‘Clear Rock Candy’; reindeer moss
Tools:	Sizzix Texture Boutique; Basic Grey embossing folder ‘Flowers’; SCAL; Cricut Expression; Future floor polish; Makin Memories ribbon glue; heat gun
Misc:	Cardboard; empty ribbon spool

Merry 25th

Merry Christmas!  The big day is finally here and I'm sharing one last Christmas card.  This one went to my mom and dad.

Some Details:

• A Tim Holtz Santa is stamped on cream cardstock in black Archival ink and given a bit of color with Distress Markers.  I gave him a spritz of water to blend the colors a bit.  Once dry, he was fussy cut and the edges accented with Old Paper Distress Ink.  Ol' Saint Nick forms the focal point of the card and is layered with foam tape onto a festive Christmas bingo card image.

• I am in love with Ranger's new Sticky embossing powder.  Now any of my stamps can become glittered images!  I made this little medallion by glittering the "25" in red on green cardstock, punching it out with a scallop circle punch and inking the edges with Crushed Olive DI.

• For a finishing touch, I cut some ordinary floral leaves into the shape of holly leaves and gave them an icy coat of Rock Candy Distress Stickles.  
• For the "berries", I colored cream millinery flowers with Starburst Spray and Barn Door Distress Stain.  Fired Brick Distress Stickles cover the centers.

Supplies:
Cardstock:	Stampin’ Up! ‘Basic Black’, ‘Confetti Ivory’, ‘Old Olive’
Patterned Paper:	My Mind’s Eye Lost & Found ‘Christmas’
Image:	The Creative Patch ‘Merry Digi’
Stamps:	Tim Holtz Stamper’s Anonymous ‘Mini Holidays 3’
Inks:	Archival ‘Jet Black’; Distress Ink ‘Old Paper’, ‘Black Soot’; ‘Crushed Olive’, ‘Forest Moss’; VersaMark; Distress Stain ‘Barn Door’; Lindy’s Stamp Gang Starburst Sprays ‘Rhodendron Red Rose’, ‘Autumn Maple Crimson’
Embellishments:	Distress Stickles ‘Old Paper’, ‘Rock Candy’, ‘Fired Brick’; floral leaves; Darice silk flowers; ribbon; glitter
Tools:	3M foam tape, spray adhesive; Glossy Accents; Fiskars punch ‘scallop circle’; TH paper distresser, tiny attacher; Mister; heat gun; Ranger embossing powder ‘Sticky’; foam ink blender

Again, Merry Christmas!  

Wishing you a blessed holiday season 

and a prosperous New Year.

Believe

Some months ago, I was inspired by Anabelle O'Malley's use of white embossing on kraft cardstock.  So simple and elegant!  I decided to finally try it for myself on this Christmas card.

Some Details:

• After embossing the reindeer, I added some small dots of Platinum Stickles to create a collar. 
• The background needed just a little something, so I stamped a snowflake cluster in VersaMark and gave it a light spray of Perfect Pearl mist.

• "Believe" was stamped in Archival Coffee on a banner cut from My Mind's Eye 'All is Bright' 6x6 paper.  That paper pad is soooo lovely that I've only been able to cut this one piece so far.  It's okay to cut the "good" paper, it's okay to cut the "good" paper, it's okay to cut...  I guess I just have to keep reminding myself of my own motto!! 
• A strip of washi tape adds the only color...a lovely icy blue.
• I used a white gel pen to add a line of faux stitching below the washi tape border.
• Finally, a fluffy white seam binding bow accented with a small jingle bell finish things off.

Challenges:
Christmas Card Challenges: Week #4 - Jingle Bells
2 Sisters: Challenge #123 - Krafty Christmas

Supplies:
Cardstock:	Papertrey Ink ‘Kraft’
Patterned Paper:	My Mind’s Eye ‘All is Bright’ 6x6
Stamps:	Tim Holtz Stamper’s Anonymous ‘Mini Holidays’
Inks:	Top Boss embossing ink; Archival ‘Coffee’; VersaMark; Adirondack paint dabber ‘Snow Cap’; Perfect Pearls Mist ‘Perfect Pearls’; Glaze gel pen ‘White’
Embellishments:	Zing embossing powder ‘Opaque White’; Hug Snug seam binding ‘Ivory’; jingle bell; crochet thread; Stickles ‘Platinum’
Tools:	Heat gun; TH tiny attacher, paper distresser

Be Jolly Pocket Ornament

Here is the last pocket ornament for this Christmas.  This one is for my only niece and after four boy ornaments, I was so relieved to be able to play with the frills and flowers again!

The Details:

• This ornament has so many elements that I personally LOVE that it's hard to choose a favorite, but I do adore the uniqueness of the feather fill.  I was going to use the same fill on all five pockets, but while digging in the much-picked-over Christmas floral section of JoAnn, I happened upon some feather picks with little jingle bells mixed in.  How could I resist?!
• Working our way down, I used ribbon as the hanger for a soft, feminine touch.
• I found this gold mesh ribbon last season in the clearance bin...what a fabulous find!  It makes a lovely topper and the pearls add a creamy softness.

• Christ is the reason for the season, and this vintage image from The Graphics Fairy is just gorgeous!  I added just a bit of Stickles to His halo and the dove.
• The dimensional "Be Jolly" sticker is nestled in with a felt and silk poinsettias, some leaves, and a bridal pick.

• I used my tiny attacher to seal the bottom of the tube and covered the evidence of my shortcut with some velvet ruffle ribbon.

Challenges:

For Fun Challenges: Christian Christmas

Ruby's Rainbow Challenges: #44 - Nativity

Flourishes: Timeless Tuesday #200 - Deck the Tree Trimmings

Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge: Vintage Christmas

The Ribbon Carousel: RCC75 - Holiday Spirit
The Graphics Fairy:  Brag Monday #168

Supplies:
Patterned Paper:	My Mind’s Eye Lost & Found ‘Christmas’ 6x6
Image:	The Graphics Fairy ‘Baby Jesus in Manger’
Embellishments:	K&Co. stickers ‘Christmas Cheer’, ‘Snow Globe’; floral picks; Webster’s Pages designer trim; Stickles ‘Platinum’, ‘Crystal’; Celebrate It mesh ribbon; Crystal Stickers pearls; Hug Snug seam binding ‘Ivory’
Tools:	Glossy Accents; hole punch; tweezers; 3M spray adhesive; hot glue
Misc:	Empty toilet paper tube

Teen & Twenties Masculine Pocket Ornaments

In the essence of time on our mad dash towards Christmas day, I'm sharing the pocket ornaments that I made for my older nephews all in one post.  They don't vary much from each other in layout, but the elements are all different.  The age range of the older boys is 16-20, so I wanted these to be youthful and masculine, but not stuffy.

Let's go youngest to oldest, shall we...

Jake's

• Who's my go-to guy for masculine elements?  That's right, Mr. Tim Holtz.  I used Christmas salvage stickers on all three of these ornaments.
• I added some chunky glitter to the top of the "Christmas Snow" lettering for a little extra detail.

• My new favorite way to do banners!  Wrap a short length of ribbon around a wire (or string) and staple very close to the wire with your Tim Holtz tiny attacher.  Cut one end at an angle and cut the other end at the opposite angle to get a fishtail banner.  
• Another fun banner element is to just tie a button onto the wire with baker's twine.

Cody's

• Color is key.  Pom pom trim is not girly if it's grey!  Each one of these pockets is stapled along the bottom with the tiny attacher.  Glitter ribbon hides the staples on the other two and pom pom trim makes for a fun fringe and staple disguise on this one.

• Another easy banner trick that I'm sure you've been seeing out in blogland is to use washi tape.  Just wrap, stick, and trim...cute!

Calvin's

• Look beyond the Christmas stash...this blue glitter star is from a K&Co Americana set and the ticket twill tape is just from the everyday stash, but both add a fun, but grown-up, touch to Cal's ornament.

• I employed my tiny attacher once again here to attach the wire handle to the base.  It's just a heck of a lot easier than running the wire through punched holes and then having to wrap the wire without any sharp ends or ripping your pocket.  Just curl the ends and staple!

Challenges:

Simon Says Stamps: Simon Says...Merry Christmas (Calvin's)

Anything Goes Challenge Blog: Challenge 82 - Traditional Colours (Cody's)

The Crafty Bloggers Network: Challenge #6 - Anything Goes

Make It Monday

Pretty Little Ribbon Shop: December Challenge # 17 - It's Christmas! (Jake's)

Simon Says Stamp & Show: Gift-spiration

Unstampabelles: Challenge #18 - Christmas

Jake’s Ornament Supplies:
Cardstock:	DCWV
Patterned Paper:	My Mind’s Eye ’12 Days of Christmas’ 6x6
Inks:	Distress Ink ‘Old Paper’; Distress Stain ‘Barn Door’
Embellishments:	Joann glitter ‘Crystal’; Darice baker’s twine ‘Red / White’; wire; Holiday Inspiration glitter ribbon; Tim Holtz salvage sticker ‘Seasonal’; K&Co stickers ‘Snow Globe’, ‘Yuletide Border’; buttons; ribbon
Tools:	TH paper distresser, tiny attacher; wire cutter / pliers; Wondertape; hot glue; glue dots; Zig 2-way glue pen; hole punch; 3M spray adhesive
Misc:	Empty toilet paper tube

Cody’s Ornament Supplies:
Cardstock:	Stampin’ Up! ‘Real Red’, ‘Sahara Sand’
Patterned Paper:	My Mind’s Eye ‘Winter Wonderland’ 6x6
Inks:	Distress Ink ‘Old Paper’
Embellishments:	Tim Holtz salvage sticker ‘Seasonal’, tissue tape ‘Symphony’; washi tape; We R Memory Keepers washi tape ‘Red Tape’; Hobby Lobby felt snowflake; K&Co sticker ‘Snow Globe’; buttons; Darice baker’s twine ‘Red / White’; MME Lost & Found Two pom pom trim ‘Breeze’; wire
Tools:	TH paper distresser, tiny attacher; wire cutter / pliers; Wondertape; hot glue; glue dots; 3M foam tape, spray adhesive; hole punch
Misc:	Empty toilet paper tube

Calvin’s Ornament Supplies:
Cardstock:	Stampin’ Up! ‘Confetti Ivory’
Patterned Paper:	My Mind’s Eye ‘Winter Wonderland’ 6x6
Inks:	Distress Ink ‘Old Paper’; ‘Faded Jeans’; Distress Stain ‘Barn Door’
Embellishments:	Tim Holtz salvage sticker ‘Seasonal’, epoxy sticker; Paper Studio ribbon ‘Ticket Stubs Twill’; Holiday Inspirations glitter ribbon; K&Co die cut cardstock ‘Americana’; wire
Tools:	TH paper distresser, tiny attacher; wire cutter / pliers; Wondertape; hot glue; glue dots; 3M spray adhesive; Glossy Accents; decorative scissors ‘postage stamp’
Misc:	Empty toilet paper tube