Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts

Monday, November 25, 2013

Christmas Card Making Made Easy with Coordinating Papers

Merry and Bright Cards 1

Products in this post were supplied to me by Oriental Trading Company. Project ideas and opinions are my own.
I love making cards and some of my favorite cards to make are Christmas cards. Since I make a lot of Christmas cards, I look for ways to make them unique but not too time consuming. One way to do that is to use coordinated papers like the Bright Christmas pack from Oriental Trading Company. 100 sheets of light cardstock weight scrapbook paper in coordinating patterns for $16.
Merry and Bright 5 Papers

I chose 5 different papers from the pack and since all of the colors coordinate, I just went with a combination of patterns and prints. A couple of the sheets had images perfect to use as focals for the cards. This is a great way to make cards if you don’t have a lot of cardmaking supplies and you don’t even need to be a stamper since you’re using the images from the papers.

Oriental Trading Findings

Santa was in the corner of this green polka dot paper so I cut out a panel, and layered him to a slightly larger piece of black paper. Using coordinating embellishments ( also from OTC) I added a little candy cane brad to Santa and finished him off with a couple of dabs of glitter glue on his hat and holly berry.

Merry and Bright Cards 2

For other cards, I combined papers using some as borders ( top and bottom here) and then as the focal point of the card.  I used more glitter glue in places to give the pieces more dimension.

Merry and Bright Cards 3

I made 8 cards with combinations of the 5 papers. I did some stamping on a couple of the cards but used one stamp and one ink to keep things simple. I had so much fun playing with the papers I can’t wait to sit down with them some more.

Merry and Bright Cards



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Thursday, November 21, 2013

BFF Open House Link Party #132

The Answer Is Chocolate

Welcome back to another party here at The Answer Is Chocolate. I want to start off with a big thanks because last week's party was the biggest ever. I never get tired of seeing the amazing ideas you all continue to come up with. Here are just a few:

gobble

If you need a quick and easy piece of Thanksgiving decor, you don't want to miss this printable from Tara at A Spectacled Owl

Chain Reaction Necklace - tutorial by Rena Klingenberg

Looking for a stunning necklace to wear for Thanksgiving or the holidays check out this tutorial from Rena at Jewelry Making Journal


How stinkin' cute is this piece of embroidery hoop art from Bethany at Pitter and Glink? Think of all the images you could use for this idea!

Brownie Snowballs - A fun, festive treat to add to your holiday baking list! http://backforsecondsblog.com #christmasdessert #snowball #brownierecipe #shop #KraftEssentials

Finally, I can't wait to try this week's chocolate feature that combines my favorite duo of chocolate and coconut: Brownie Snowballs from Stephanie at Back for Seconds ( and Thirds, Fourths etc. ) 

Now time to see what you've been up to this week! Who's already started decorating for Christmas?



Sunday, December 16, 2012

Bead Embellished Stamped Ornaments

beaded star

When I received a supply of beads from Blue Moon Beads to play with, I knew I’d use this collection for something Christmasy. I wasn’t sure what. Then after playing with my French Script paper mache ornament idea, I knew.

red velvet

OK I mostly knew! I gathered up some of the supplies I’d been sent. My “creative process” is to have a bunch of stuff out and then see where it takes me.

paper mache red velvet

This idea came from a mixed bead tin called appropriately, Red Velvet. I mixed in some glass pearls that were also in my supplies.

red velvet mix

I grabbed some eye pins and then added some of my bead mix.

rv eye pin

I stamped my plain paper mache ornaments (more detail here) and then pierced the bottom of each ornament with a needle. Threaded my beaded pin through and secured with a dab of super glue. Then went around the edges with metallic red glitter.

french script red glitter

Embellished with self adhesive rhinestones and pearls, but I think the beaded ends make all the difference.

glitter star


glittered ornaments

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Sunday, December 2, 2012

Easy Christmas Signs "Joyeux Noel"

Joyeux Noel Signs Border

I made these signs for a treat exchange as a little something to go with the chocolate butter cookies I brought.

For this project you will need:
  • Wood Scraps ( these are from a package of scraps found at Michaels)
  • Craft paint, your choice of colors. I used Martha Stewart Metallic Gold and Wedding Cake
  • White glue ( Elmers or generic)
  • Vinyl for lettering ( or you could stencil)
  • Die Cuts
  • Embellishments ( I used paper roses, washi tape and adhesive rhinestones)
Joyeux Noel Crackle

Paint your wood pieces with desired base color ( mine was gold). Let dry, apply white glue and when almost dry, go over with top color ( white). If you’re impatient, use your embossing gun ( lightly) or hair dryer to speed up drying. This also helps the crackling.

Joyeux Noel Vinyl

I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut out vinyl letters from green vinyl.  I like to use transfer tape to apply lettering to get it somewhat straight.

After my letters were on, I cut a branch and holly leaves using my Cuttlebug and Tim Holtz Holly Branch die:
*Tim Holtz Sizzix HOLLY BRANCH Die Bigz 657468
Getting a lot of use from this die. It’s the same one I used in my wreath makeover here. Mod Podged a branch and one leaf onto my signs and outlined the branch with iridescent glitter glue, and used red rhinestones for the berries.

Joyeux Noel Signs Border


Joyeux Noel Signs Border

I’ve gone crazy for washi tape so grabbed a roll of peppermint striped tape and put a piece on just because. 

Finished by hot gluing a silver tinsel pipe cleaner to each.

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Saturday, December 1, 2012

Vintage Paper Snowmen Under Glass

Vintage Snow Jars

When I was at a scrapbook show a few weeks ago, I saw some really cute domed jars. I fell in love with them but they were $5 each and I couldn’t justify it knowing I’d want to use more than one.

So I kept walking. Then I was at Dollar Tree and saw these clear glass candle holders that were similar in shape. Ding Ding Ding. Idea!


For this project you will need:
  • Clear glass jar or candle holder
  • Paper snowman 
  • Small tree
  • Epsom Salts
  • Glitter
  • Pipe Cleaner
  • Chipboard
  • Scrapbook Paper
  • Tinsel Pipe Cleaners

Vintage Snow Jars

The diecuts I used are actually vintage cards I picked up somewhere. You could print a vintage graphic on cardstock and trim  to get the same effect.

Stickles Snowmen

I added some Stickles glitter glue to the buttons on these snowpeople to give some dimension. Since these are cards they open and are hinged in the middle. The bottoms aren’t connected so I made a stand by folding the front one way and the back the other.

Using your candle holder as a guide trace circles around two pieces of scrapbook paper and a piece of chipboard. Apply scrapbook paper to either side of chipboard.

standing snowmen

Hot glue your snow people to the circles. Hot glue your trees in place.

Snowman jar

Pour Epsom Salts and glitter into candle holder and then hot glue your diorama in place.

Frosty Snow Jar

I added some coordinating washi tape just cause and finished by hot gluing tinsel pipe cleaners around the bottom.

Frosty Snoman Jar

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Thursday, November 29, 2012

BFF Open House Link Party #81

Can you  believe that tomorrow is the last day of November? I can't believe Thanksgiving was just / already  a week ago. It's full steam ahead for December holidays.

Hanukkah starts December 8th  and then Christmas is just three short weeks or so after that. Fuel up on your favorite energizing beverage, protein bars, and of course chocolate because it's turbo holiday time! I hope you'll bear with me as I'm counting down the days until College Boy comes home for a month. 24 days from today!

So let's see what everyone's been up to this week.

Please remember to link to your specific post and not your main blog page and spread the holiday cheer by visiting a few other links.  You can also meet some other bloggers here: 





Monday, November 26, 2012

Wreath Makeover With Paper and Ribbon Scraps

Scrappy Wreath

I had a productive weekend getting some Christmas crafts and gifts done, including this wreath makeover  that’s going to hang next to one of my trees. Yes, I said “one of”. No, the Hoarders people are not parked outside my house. Yet.

Scraps Wreath

I started off with a pressed wood wreath frame that you can find at most craft stores. I had a wreath from last Thanksgiving that I decided I no longer loved so I pulled all the stuff off of it which is what the white spots are. If people open gifts at my house, guess who hoards the scrap ribbon to re-use? I pulled out a couple of pieces and wrapped my wreath form.

Wrapped Wreath
The rough ends where the ribbon joined won’t matter since they’ll be covered up. The next part I thought I tool pictures of and oops. But to decorate my wreath, I used a Tim Holtz die to cut holly leaves, and branches from chipboard. Ran those through an embossing folder to give them some texture and then dabbed on some inks in metallic brown, green, and gold.  Went to my paper scraps and pulled out some black and white polka dot papers and made rolled flowers. And then to my embellishments stash and grabbed some off white paper roses.
Embossed Holly Leaves

Hot glued the leaves and flowers on over my ugly ribbon spots.

Frosty Scrappy Flowers


Woodland Wreath

I finished the whole thing with a bright red ribbon ( another scrap) and it will hang next to my Whimsical tree that’s filled with lots of red, lime green, black and white.

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