Santa Clause is Coming to Town!

How are YOU doing on your Christmas preparations? I'm so behind! My to-do list is long....but I hope to get a good part of the items done this coming week! One of the many things on the list, is to get all my gift wrapping done. Since my kids are older, there aren't as many things to wrap...it seems like the older they get, the more expensive things get. So, naturally, there are fewer things to put under the tree! (See?! Not a difficult job at all!)

Well, this little package is one of the projects I made with my Stamp Club ladies awhile back...this little guy would be a fun addition to a gift to make it just a bit more special! Add in a sweet treat...or a gift card...and you are sure to be a hit! Simple to make.....but this is NOT my idea....just copied from one of the many I've seen floating around on the net.

I actually printed out directions on assembling this little package a few years back, but can't find the source. This time around, I just updated it with the Santa look. Check out all the punches used to create this festive look...there's NO stamping! Isn't he just the cutest?

Stamps: N/A
Inks: Pretty in Pink (for sponging on the face)
CS: Real Red, Very Vanilla, Whisper White, Basic Black
Punches: Word Window, 5 Petal Flower, Scallop Round, 1/2" Round, 1/4" Round*, Cropadile, Narrow Basic Black Grosgrain Ribbon, Hodgepodge Hardware (buckle)*, Silver Cord*, White Gel Pen
*Retired

Thanks so much for stopping by today and visiting!

Christmas Gifts with the Big Shot

A few weeks back....it was just before Thanksgiving....I made up a few of these packages as gifts. There are sets of 4 coasters inside the box....and they were created with my Big Shot! I found the sparkly red and plain white felt at a craft store....don't they look festive? To create the simple coasters, each one was created by cutting out 5"x5" squares. I ironed a slightly smaller square of the Big Shot Adhesive Roll in between 2 scallop rounds. Then put each completed sandwich into the Big Shot with the Scallop Circle Die. The snowflakes was created by using just 1 layer of simple white felt, the Big Shot Adhesive Roll and the Snowflake Die. How easy, right?!!

The box bottom, which I know you cannot see well, was rolled with the now retired Bold Snowflakes Jumbo Wheel and Real Red ink......it just matched so perfectly, that I HAD to use that wheel!!

A clear window sheet was used to create the box top....it's just held together with Mini Glue Dots. That cute little tag was made with Real Red CS, the Simple Snowflake single stamp in Real Red ink, and the Snowflake Punch. Add in a little dazzle in the center with a Basic Rhinestone (LOVE those!!), and trim the edge with the Eyelet Border Punch and there it is! Not sure who will be getting these sets, but they'll be good to have on hand for those "just in case" gifts...hopefully, the recipients will like them!

Stamps: Simple Snowflake, Delightful Decorations, Bold Snowflake Jumbo Wheel*, Punch Pals (for the To/From stamped inside)

Inks: Real Red CS: Real Red, Whisper White, Window Sheet

Misc: Snowflake Punch, 1" & 3/4" Circle Punches, Basic Rhinestone, Eyelet Border Punch, Mistletoe Ribbon*, Scallop Circle Die, Snowflake Die, Big Shot Adhesive Roll, Big Shot

*Retired

Thanks so much for stopping by today.

Bloggers' Challenge -- Create a Christmas Ornament

I was cruising the web recently, and found a blog that had beautiful ornaments. I finally gathered up all the needed supplies and then, wouldn't you know it...I couldn't find the blog! So, I think I sort of duplicated hers, but maybe not....I certainly tried. If you happen to have seen, or know of a blog where the owner created the look of old-fashioned mercury ornaments, please let me know! (I'd love to go back and visit....and, of course, give her credit!!)

It was easy to create this...I used a plain, glass ball from a craft store.
-First, rub it down with rubbing alcohol to be sure it's good and clean.
-Remove the cap.
-Then using a piece of felt, I wiped alcohol ink over the entire ball. I used Adirondak Carmel ink. (Set aside to dry for a bit....I was impatient, so I only waited about 10-15 minutes.
-Drop dots of ink onto the felt piece once again, and dab over the entire ball. The ink spreads and gives it a really pretty mottled look.
-Set aside to dry overnight.
(NOTE: I added in dabs of Silver Encore ink.....do NOT do this! Although it gives the ornament a wonderful glow, it simply does not dry. I knew this and thought it might work anyway on the glass....NOPE! It doesn't!! I had to spray it so it wouldn't be tacky.....and then it lost some luster.)

To decorate the top, I added a piece of SU retired silver cord (I sure hope they bring that back one day...my supply is running low!!). The bow is made with the fabulous Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding and Chantilly Lace. Top the bow with a Designer Button from the Holiday Mini in Cherry Cobbler, into which an Antique Brad was inserted. This was added to the bow with a Pop Up Glue Dot (now retired) and then I added in some leaves created with a now-retired Martha Stewart punch in Always Artichoke.

So, there it is....I'm loving the finished product and can't wait to see how it looks on my tree....which we are putting up today! Thanks so much for stopping by and please take some time to visit the other bloggers who participate in our Challenges. I can't wait to see what they have all come up with....see you there!

Christmas Towels

Today was such a nasty day that my plans were cancelled. So, that meant I had a chance to spend time in my craft room. So, look what I made today! I've been wanting to try this ever since I bought the new Scallop Squares Duo Bigz Die. First, it took me some time to find the right towels....and even though I finally purchased these, they really weren't what I had in mind. But, I just couldn't seem to find plain white...or off white....kitchen towels anywhere! So, these were as close as I could get....at least there was no embellishments or other colors woven in.

Using the smaller of the 2 scallop squares on the die, I punched out a bunch of squares with my Big Shot. Do you recognize the fabric? These squares are from the Deck the Halls collection....there are 15 squares across each towel and I used each of the fabrics, but as you can see, every other one is the red pattern. These squares are really cute....a smaller version of the Clear Square Scallop used for the rag purses. And that's just how the embellishment was made....except, I didn't add a backing since the strip of squares was added to the towels. They still had a small square of cotton batting underneath (between the fabric and towel).

Anyway, I originally thought I'd give them as a gift, but now I'm thinking maybe I'll just keep them for myself!

Stamps: N/A
Inks: N/A
CS: N/A
Misc: Deck the Halls Designer Fabric, Scallop Squares Duo Bigz Die, Big Shot, Thread, Cotton Batting, Sewing Machine, Terry Kitchen Towels

Thanks for stopping by....these were fun to make!

Edited to add: GOOD NEWS! SU! just announced that the Scallop Square Duo Bigz Die will still be available after the Holiday Mini retires.

Vintage Thank You

Taking a bit of a break from holiday-themed items! This was a recent submission for a small swap I was in. Come January, we'll be needing a few thank you cards, right? And that was the theme of the swap.

This was a fun one to make....as you can see, I used the Vintage Wallpaper EF in the background. See that it is 2-toned? Well, all I did was brayer on some Crumb Cake ink onto the folder and impress as usual onto a piece of Whisper White CS. Pretty cool, don't you think?!!

The remainder of the card should be pretty easy to figure out. I wanted just a pop of color so that it didn't look too manly, so the layer and ribbon in Daffodil Delight was added in. I really like how this one turned out!

Stamps: Elegant Engravings
Inks: Basic Black, Crumb Cake
CS: Whisper White, Basic Black, Crumb Cake, Daffodil Delight
Misc: Brayer, Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper EF, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border, Daffodil Delight 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Mini Glue Dot

Thanks so much for stopping by today!