BFF Open House Link Party #78

Happy Friday Eve everyone! Hope it's been a good week for all. Can't believe it's time for another party already but here we are so let's get right to it.

Punched Leaf Wreath for Cards, Packages, Etc.

I love my die cutting machines but sometimes you just have to punch things ya know? I like to use up scraps if I can and punches are a great way to do that. So here’s how I made my punched leaf wreaths that I used on the gift bags I shared yesterday as well as some cards.

For this project you will need:

• Paper scraps
• Leaf punch
• Glue

Punch an assortment of leaves from your paper scraps.  I had some embossed papers and some patterned papers in my scrap stash.

For the wreath base, punch a large circle from another scrap. This one is 2 inches. Then use a smaller punch and punch out the middle of your circle.

Voila. Wreath form. Glue your leaves so they cover the wreath base. I kind of angled mine and used Ranger Glossy Accents but any quick adhesion glue will do. You could use glue dots or foam dots too.

This one I adhered to a card using foam dots. The one below I used on my gift bags.

Sharing At:

Got Lunch Bags? Wrap Your Gifts In Them

Last week I shared some candles I made for a couple of girlfriends I’m having lunch with this week.  I needed something to wrap them in so I turned to my pantry and used brown paper lunch bags.
For this project you’ll need:

• Plain brown paper bags
• Inks
• Brayer
• Cosmetic sponge

I wanted my bags to have some texture so I scrunched them up, smoothed out, then scrunched up again.  I used this Mica Gloss inks but pretty sure any pigment re-inkers, alcohol inks, or acrylic paints would work.

Randomly scatter drops of inks on your surface. The goal here is not perfection! I was going for a natural look mimicking Fall leaves.

Using a brayer, spread your inks. I wanted a more blended look , so after I brayered, I used a cosmetic sponge ( Dollar Tree craft supplies !) to blend the inks.

My bags ended up being very pliable and soft. Not sure if this is from the inks or all of the working of the paper or both.

This made it really easy to use them as wrapping. Tied the tops with some ribbon yarn and then adhered the tags I made last week with baker’s twine.

Finished with a punched leaf wreath. I’ll show you how I did that in another post.

Sharing At:

My Super Cool Magic Box Birthday Present

I mentioned last week that I had a chance to get together with one of my besties for a belated birthday celebration. This is the same friend who last year made the cutest gingerbread house Christmas “card”. Well she surprised me with this incredible magic box.The photos don't do it justice.

 

I’ve seen this done on a smaller scale as a card but she went big and did three levels.

Knowing my love of black and white and grey, she picked some gorgeous papers and made it so the lid and the sides alternated patterns.

Using more coordinating papers, she lined the inside of each layer and made a pocket for quotations that she printed in black and white and laminated. Each pocket contains a different quote.

In the very center was a birthday crane with a Happy Birthday Wish. I love all of the fibers and embellishments she used.

This is one of my favorites! My party pants are right next to my Big Girl Panties!

I will treasure this treasure forever!

BFF Open House Link Part #77 Wrap Up and Features

Thanks to everyone who linked up to last week’s party ! You all are way ahead of me on Thanksgiving and Christmas ideas! Here are just a few to share:

Let’s start with this gorgeous burlap wreath from My CreativiT:

I am in love with all of those gorgeous ruffles!

Would you believe these leaves are made from brown packaging paper? Me either!

Go visit Twigg Studios to learn how to make some of your own.

Jenn, over at One Thrifty Chick, gave out mulling spices to teachers for Halloween. I love this idea as something you could send home with guests at Thanksgiving ( or take as a hostess gift).

Rachel over at Holy Craft shared how to make these lovely twine and book page pumpkins:

Jumping ahead to Christmas, could this be more adorable? The idea and the model?  Visit Cherished Bliss to get the hat pattern. You’re on on your own for the model.

Awwwwwww!

And finally, this week’s chocolate feature. OMG:

Cookie Dough Truffle Cake Balls from Lemons for Lulu. There are no words to describe how yummy these look!

Thanks again for choosing to share your creativity here at The Answer Is Chocolate. Make it a creative week!

BFF Open House Link Party # 77

Happy November 1st everyone. How surreal does it seem to be typing that? I hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween, and also that those whose Halloween was delayed by Sandy are continuing to recover from the storm. Fess up, how much candy did anyone raid from their kids haul?

With Halloween behind us can’t wait to see what Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Hanukkah crafts people are working on! Or if you have Halloween ideas people can pin for next year those are great too. So let’s get the party started!

Softball Charm Necklace

I recently got together with one of my besties for a belated birthday celebration. We’ve been friends since seventh grade, and our birthdays are 9 days apart. We’ve celebrated them together for um, let’s just say ever!

Her daughter is a college softball player so when I saw these baseball / softball charms, I knew what her gift was going to be.

I made this just like the two ribbon necklaces I’ve previously shared. I put extra large jump rings on the necklace, then decided where to add the charms. I used three: one on each end and one in the middle.

Then I played around in my stash to decide what to put with them and decided on two large faceted crystal beads, Trinkettes beads, and some silver patterned charms.

Stay tuned to see the amazing thing she made me!