Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas a little late and Happy New Year a little early!

 

I've been so busy I haven't taken the time to post anything here- sorry! Hopefully you've been busy spending time with family and friends so you didn't notice!

 

This is our new Christmas tree- all 9 feet of it! I've always wanted a really tall tree, and with the vaulted ceiling in the new house this was the first time we've had a place for one. We had to buy a new tree and decorations since our old ones were all lost in the fire. I used to love unpacking them each year and remembering where they came from or why we got them. It just wasn't the same starting over with new ones this year.

 

 

Here it is with the lights on:

 

 

Whoever came up with the idea for pre-lit trees should win a medal or something! SO much easier!

 

I wish you a healthy and happy New Year!

 

Candy Cane Elves

Aren't these adorable? I love punch art projects and Jackie Topa is the Punch Art Queen! She shared these little guys and the directions on her blog. Sandy, who is in my downline, made these as her swap at the November Stamp Share. I had to make them be a project for the December Stamp-A-Stack, even though there was no stamping invloved.

 

 

Jackie has a video on her blog that shows how to make these and what punches you need for the pieces. When I was getting everything ready for the S-A-S, I decided to lay out all the pieces and take pictures so everyone would know what pieces go where.

 

Boy Elf

 

Girl Elf

 

Of course I forgot to put the red circles for the top of their hats in the pictures!

 

Colors: Real Red, Garden Green, Daffodil Delight, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White

 

What are you waiting for? Go get some candy canes and make these! And I hope you'll join us for a Stamp-A-Stack some time! Or join my team and become a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator so you can attend a Stamp Share!

 

Fancy Santa Favor Box

Here's a cute little open-topped box to hold candy or a small present. Nothing like a non-stamped project at a Stamp-A-Stack, huh? :)

 

 

Colors: Real Red, Basic Black, Whisper White, silver

 

Accessories: Fancy Favor Die, Silver Glimmer Paper, 1" Square Punch, Neutrals Button

 

I suggest using Sticky Strip to put the box (and most 3D projects) together.

 

The belt is a 3/4 x 12" strip of Basic Black card stock wrapped around the box. I should have put some adhesive on the sides to hold it better so you wouldn't see the bowed out sides! The belt buckle is a 1" square of Silver Glimmer Paper with a 3/4" square of Basic Black card stock centered on it. Any time I layer glimmer paper I use Sticky Strip to attach it. That stuff holds everything together! 

Snow Festival Pocket

It seems like you always need a gift card holder for the holidays. I like to make my own so they're cuter than the ones most stores offer with their cards. This version was CASE'd from Becky E. The pocket is just wide enough for a gift card.

 

 

Color: Cherry Cobbler

 

Accessories: Petite Pocket Dies, Snow Festival Designer Printed Tags, Baker's Twine

 

I suggest using Sticky Strip to hold the pocket (and most 3D projects) together.

Scentsational Tags

I decided to mix things up a little and do some projects that weren't cards at the December Stamp-A-Stack. One of them, which I will share later in the week, is quite putzy, so this one is really easy to balance everything out!

 

 

Stamp Sets: Scentsational Season & Owl Occasions

 

Colors: Garden Green, Real Red, Marina Mist, Soft Suede

 

Accessories: Holiday Collection and Apothecary Accents Framelits

Sparkly Shaker

One of the things I love most about being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator is getting together with my upline Betty's group for a Stamp Share. We do a card swap and take turns doing a demonstration and make-n-takes, so we get lots of great ideas! When we got together in November, Jen did a demo on shaker cards using the Shaker Frames (page 177 of the Catalog). Wow! So cute and she made it look so easy! I CASE'd one of the cards she showed us for the December Stamp-A-Stack:

 

 

 

Stamp: Frosty Friends

Colors: Bashful Blue, Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Silver

Accessories: Shaker Frames, Northern Flurry Embossing Folder, Silver Glimmer Paper, Silver Sparkle Dazzling Details, Window Sheets, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Scallop Circle Punches, Organza Ribbon

 

Here is an ornament, also CASE'd from Jen, that shows another way to use the Shaker Frames:

Twisted Christmas

Saturday was the December Stamp-A-Stack. I'm so glad it fit in between snow storms! Friday afternoon we got a couple inches and the roads were slippery in spots. Saturday evening it started snowing again and we woke up to about 6". It snowed all day, then the wind picked up and the temps dropped. I haven't heard an official total, but I would say there's close to a foot. Merry Christmas!

 

The first card I'll show you is a "Twisted Greeting" card. Something different that can be used to hold a gift card, money, etc.

 

the front

 

the inside

 

how it's folded

 

The card base is the normal 4 1/4 x 11, It's folded diagonally, then folded in half. This created a pocket on the front and the inside. For the Designer Series Paper, I cut a piece that was 2 1/8 x 5 1/2 and then cut that in half diagonally. Just watch which way you cut it so you get your triangle going the right way for the side of the designer paper you want! Ask me how I know that! :)

 

Stamp Set: Delightful Decorations

 

Colors: Cherry Cobbler, Lucky Limeade, Very Vanilla

 

Accessories: Festival of Prints Designer Seeries Paper Stack, Ornament and 1" Circle Punches, Labels Collection Framelits

 

Puppies - 6 Weeks Old

The puppies were 6 weeks old yesterday! I took these pictures on Wednesday, but haven't had time to post them until now. I was busy getting everything ready for the Stamp-A-Stack today! Pictures of the projects will post soon- I have to take them first!

 

 

Laynie

 

 

Lenny

 

 

Lex

 

 

Link

 

 

Loki (he never holds still!)

 

 

Lola

 

 

Watercolor Winter

 

This is the last card from the November Stamp-A-Stack. It's CASE'd from LeeAnn G. Look! I even tied a bow! It even looks like a bow!

 

Stamp Sets: Watercolor Winter, Greetings of the Season

 

Colors: Always Artichoke, Bravo Burgundy, Very Vanilla

 

Accessories: Petals-A-Plenty Embossing Folder, 3" Circle Die, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Seam Binding, Basic Pearls, Dimensionals